Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-07-19

EDIToRs LEADER A few days ago you copied
an extract from a in Cincinnati paper an
nouncing a grand excursion of the Sons of Nal
ia to the Falls of St. Anthony where the magui
ficent ceremony Of the " Feast of the Nine Cardi-
mails" would be performed, the Injunction of Sc
crecy having been removed by the "Graud Lodge
Of the inverse" You stated, judging from the
fact Of the Sons going through the ceremony Of
feasting on Cardinals, that the Order must be the
old Know Nothings revived uuder another name.
This is not 50. The Order OF the Sons of Malta
existed for nearly five hundred years before the
Know Nothings we're known. It was first estab-
lished by the famous knights of Malta, in the l4th
Century. The existence Of this Order was kept
entirely unknown until January 1857, when by a
decree Of tho "Grand Lodge Of the Universe" the
secret Of the eSisteuce of the Order was first made
public, when the Lodges almost iustantaneously
became known oil over the country
The mission OF this order is mainly to "fCcd the
hungry and cover the naked The ceremonies,
constitution, obligations and objects Of The Order
are of such nature that each and every member
has au Individual interest in preserving invioaie
It's secrets--hence the remarkable period OF time
that passed before its existence was known.
| At the same time that the decree was issued
making known the existence of the Order another
decree was issued by the same authority, allowing
the Lodges to exbibit before audiences. who are
examined and sworn ''not to reveal what they see,
the "subterraneGn mysteries of the Ceremonies
of the Feast Of the Nine Cardinals" )" for the pur
pose of raising funds TO enable the Order ia
'ieed the hungry aud cothe the naked"
So far none Of the Lodges have avaiIed ibem-
selves of this permission The Chicago and Gin
cuuati Lodges however, for the first time intend
to exhibit these epmones 80 those who Join Il G
expedition" IN the silent wilds OF Minnesota. The
spectators, both ladies and gentlemen, will be re-
quired under solemn obligation or affirmation tC
keep secret all that may be seen on that occasion
The fees for witnessing the ceremonies will be
fixed after the arrival Of the Sons at the Jcstiuu
ton.
Although the Order has a princely revenue
which has been disbursed in acts Of charity unde
the direction of the Grand Commander and hl
associate J, AS, yet it is the intention of the Or
der by means ofthe exhibition of the ceremonies 0
tbe "Feast of the Nine Cardinals" to selected an'
sworn audience to increase this revenue TO sucl
an extent as to enable the Order in obedience {,
its cardinal principle, TO feed the hungry AM
cloth the naked" wherever they may exist.
Itis the intention of the Cleveland Lodge to I'D
limit spec ;ators to an exhibition of this wondeliu
ceremony, on the 25th Of next October, The pro
ceeds, after dednoting oDe-fourth, which has to b
sent to the Grand Treasurer of the "Grand Uni
verse Lodge, will be appropriated TO relieve th
needy next Winter
The Order has amongst its members, some {
the most distinguished men IN the world. L
Great Britain, His Royal Highness, Prince Aber
holds the Office Of G. r. j. A., which is the highei
Office In the gift Of the Order Lord Brougham
"A G. r.. j. A2' ofthe Order. Young SIR Robel
Peel Charles Dickens. and other eminent men AZ
members. 10 this country the grand office Of c
~ A. is held by Archbishop Hughes, and Sec
retary Floyd holds the ofhee Of A. G. II. J, A.
A SoE og MALTA.