The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1859-12-15

IN an ohIong ring, passing farthest from
the coffin and nearest TO the members and
oiIieers--thus leaving the old man room
to pass to and fro, up and down the
room. The Grand Conductor marches
with drawn sword at tho head, and the
Grand Sargent Of the sappcrs and min.
ers marches also with drawn swords, at
the tail Of the line of candidates for in :
itiation. Three times around the line
marches-'-twice in pain ful silence through
which nothing is heard but the clankiny
OF sword scabbards as they strike, at
each step, the legs Of the Conductor and
Sargent--du'ing the third round an or
gan or melodeon strikes up a low, wall
ing. tremulous, wild, hollow tune, which
is echoed back by the members in low
death song, while the old man marches
more rapidly and mutters louder aud
loudar until, MS the candidates finish the
last round the &C. Gas the chief is called)
says in deep voice:
"llencc, venerable father! Lille is made
up Of sorrow, and the world is rpcuing
for sorrow greater than thine! Peace!
Peace! Be- still thou wounded hsartI''
To which all the members respond:--
"Peace! Peace! Be still !'--then the
music stops and the old man resumes hia
quiet march.
The candidates are now arranged around
the G. G. who questions them as to their
motive and intentions. II the answers
are satisfactory (as they always are tie
candidates are conducted to the chair OF
the skeleton where person, hidden be.
hind the grim figure, administered an OBJ
l,gation 10 each which binds him from the
cradle represented by an infant! never
to divulye what he may there see or learn.
After assuming the obligation the can.
didates are conducted back to the G.. c.,
through the same scene Of silence and
sorrow, who gives them some advice, af.
Ter which thsy are conducted out to
Tho ante-r room. And this ends the first
Besne.
sCREE sECoED.
After the candidates 60 out an d the
door is closed, the members in an instant
spring to their feet. light up the room,
throw off tLcir gowns, put away the cof-
in, &C., and prepare for fun, In the
meantime the candidates are being blind.
'olded SO that they cannot see; in this
they are conducted to the door
again by the same parties as before; the
door is again raped upon, and this time,
G. G., says in loud voice:
"What makes the alarm?"
To which tho sentinel replies:
"Friends! Who will do us no HARM
To which G. G. answers:
"Bid them, Beware! Beware!
And welcome TO enter here!"
To which all the members respond:
"Welcome to enter here"
The candidates are then led in, in sin
gle file each holding to the coat tail Of the
other. In total blindness they are thus
about the room several times
while the room is lighted brilliantly. -
All is now silence and grins--except on
he part Of the candidates; who are stern
y commanded to indulge in No Levity,'
They are brought to the chair Of the
Grand Commander, where they are ask
ID all manner Of questions, touching
heir fitness to bear arms, to swim, to
march, as to the condition Of their health,
heir teeth, &C., &e.,--as to their NOR
i character--whether they have been or
IRE, intemperate-whetber they have
'verstepped the bounds Of chastity. and
% on. In order to get this information,
me Of the previously initiated he ads the
inc and stammers out answers TO the
questions, gradually and painfully making
himself out a mighty bad fellow. The
'thers. who are blinded and cannot see
Il course hold themselves in honor bound
o speak out the whole truth in such .
olemn place as they imagine this sill to
'e--as they cannot see how the scene
las changed. At each answer the 9. c.,
ays "let it bs recorded" and the recor-
Ter sings out in low. hollow tone, as he
writes it down in great book:
at has been 50 recorded
TEorE.-The records in that book must