The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-06-04
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, JUNE 4. 1859.

who has Just entered and is standing In
the light, while he is clearly seen by this
strange group as they remain in their dark
covert. Suppose fifty persons. more or
less, to be thus assembled, some of them
seated in chairs, while others are lying
upon the floor.
Let US pass behind the dark lantern
Be careful or we shall stumble against
the Grand Chief, who sits here with a
sword in his hand. Have a care, for he
bears not the sword in vain.
There is an alarm at the door! There
is brief parley, and the door is opened,
and stranger is admitted he is blind
folded he sees nothing, and yet is seen
of all here. He is advanced and halted
near, and directly in front of the dark
lantern.
There is at this time, profound silence
in the room. The stranger knows not
the mystery around him, nor the obliga-
tions which he is about to take upon
himself. He may now retire if he
chooses he has seen and can reveal moth
ing.
There is a movement behind the dark
lantern. The Grand Chief grasps the
hilt of sword, and reaches the blade
forward within reach of the strangers
hand. His hand is placed upon the
blade by the conductor, and now, he
thus stands, with his hand upoa
that sword, blindfolded, in a strange,
darkened room, seen, but not seeing
conscious that the darkness covers the
forms of many individuals around and
near him ; he hears low whispers, and is
about to hear strange and startling words
and take upon himself new and terrible
obligations.
Let it be here promised, before we pro.
coed further with the initiation on hand
that this imaginary Cabal keep nc
records of their rules o. procedure
bylaws, oaths, limitations, acts, plans
neither do they keep list of the name:
of members.
! How, then, can it be reasonably expected
that an exact form of oath, administered
to candidate, can be given, seeing the
scene is imaginary, and if it were real
must forever be matter of tradition.
1t is hoped, therefore, that Statement
of the substance of the obligations i'm
posed, will be abundantly satisfactory.
Hark! there is strange, deep gutter
al, unearthly sound proceeds from behint
the dark lantern. A voice says: "Stran
ger, you seek to know the mysteries ant
the objects of our Order. Before doins
so, you must take upon yourself certain
obligations, the same we have all taken
Are you prepared thus TO join US ?"
The initiate assents. The voice pro
ceeds:
"You swear that you will never divulg
the secrets of this Order, the names o
members, their acts, plans, purposes
oaths or obligations; that their secret
you will faithfully keep, and be true t.
the interests of the Order, upon the for
fixture of life, if you in any manner be
tray the confidence now reposed in you?
The initiate assents:
"You promise to take the sword an,
never lay it down, until slavery ar
shareholders are bauished from the Terri
tory?"
II do"
"You solemnly swear, that in case yo
see or know of a member of this Orde
being in difficulty, in limbo, or in peri
of any kind, that you will rescue him a
any hazard, by any means in your powe
) upon the peril of your life and limb"
Il do"
"You solemnly and truly promise al
solute and unconditional obedience t
every order Of the presiding officer, upo
the forfeiture of your life by being CT
to pieces?"
II do SO promise"
conductor, remove the bandage frol
our brothers eyes that he may be il
structed in the secret tokens of the Orde
and become acquainted with the brett
rem here assembled"
The bsudage is removed, and the flu
glare of the light from the dark lantel
meets the gaze of the new member;
is still blinded and bewildered. No
he turns his head and endeavors to pen
trate the gloom; by degrees he is alb
to perceive human forms moving indi
tinct and shadow-like around him ar
now more light is introduced, and Il
recently initiated member receives Il
mystic signs and passwords, after whit
= he exchanges civilitiss and congratul
;, tons with the members present.
o Yonder goes parson Grabhorse. T
4 has been arrested for assumption
Office" as Judge of the far-fam,
n Squatter Court. There was no just eau
. for his arrest, under the Grabhorse Cod
h but according to the laws of Fort SEQ
!. he was transgressor. He has been d
n tanned as prisoner at the Fort, but b
}, at length procured bail, and now he
mounted on his bay steed, called Die
d and is rapidly leaving the vicinity of i
u Fort for northern tour. He has ma
two previous attempts to get away, b
}. has been closely watched, and his effol
, have been abortive.
T. He has now for the third time left l
= covert, and he rides rapidly, hopeful
u forward. The atmosphere Of the Fort
r not congenial to the parson, and |