White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-19

and communicated to rs the whole pro
ceeding-pass worl, grips, signs, etc.
When about, to become q member o
Of the I. o. S. M. Independent Orde
Sons Malta, the candidate or candidate,
present himself or themselves in an QUITE
room. where be meets Q committee o
officers of the lodge who come to him
out of the lodge with drawn sword
in their hands, and a kind of tire,
barred sheet iron hats on, which hide.
their faces; these officers put test ques
tons to each candidate; and any candidate
who hesitates or falters is allowed to de
part in peace; those who remain pay IS
each, and the committee returns to
the lodge room to report on the cases
and have them ballotted for.
The funds thus raised pay the rent Of
the room, and the balance is expended
in charities-there are no other dues, fol
reasons which will appear hereafter.
After the candidates are bsllolted fol
and elected, the grand conductor goes
out to the ante-room and escorts the can.
didates to the inside entrance door, where
he pounds on the door with the hilt OIL
hiss word three times-the inside sentinel
raises little slide in the door-peeps out;
and the chief officer from the inside ask.
in loud voice "What is the cause
of this hub-bn % The sentinel answers
strangers coming into the camp - To
which the chiefs reply is: "Let 'sm
rip"
What sight breaks upon their WIS.,
ion! The room is nearly dark, and is
only lighted by lamp of alchohol, which
sits upon coffin in the middle Of the
room and throws it's Pickering light
around upon the scene The members,
dressed as our citizens have seen them
upon the streets, are ranged around the
room, thus one lies upon his back like
a corpse, and another kneels down upon
his knees beside him in the attitude of q
mourner. All is as still as tomb around
the room, except in the centre where the
coffin lies upon the bier and the pale
lamp flickers upon the scene. Beside
that coffin, which is covered with pail
or black cloth, marches an old man who
carries musket and bayonet upon his
sIloulder--an old man whose white locks
Of hair hang in weird and tangled masses
abont his neck-with his left hand he
snatches unmeaningly at his hair, and
then mutters to himself as he turns upon
his heel with military precision, and
marches back and forth, passing and re
passing the black palled coffin and flicker
ing light. At either end of the coffin stands
figure draped in white from head to
foot, with uplifted hands and upturnei
eyes. muttering lips from which no sounds
Issue, and nothing of the face visible but
the eyes and month. At one end of the
room sits the Chief-blazing in red and
gold colors, but motionlsss--at the other
sits skeleton with gilded crown upon
his head; with one bony hand pointing
upward, while with the other he clasps
to his Aeshless ribs the figure Of an infant
at either side Of the room sits the
Grand Chancellor and Recorder. Each
and all as motionless as the coffin or the
skeleton. 81
Around the coffin the candidates march
in an oblong ring. passing farthest from
the coffin and nearest to the officers and
mem bers-thus leaving the old man
room to pace to an fro, up and down the
room. The Grand Conductor marches
with drawn sword at the tail of the line
of candidates for initiation. Three times
around the line marches-twioe in pain
full silence, through which nothing is
heard but the clanking of sword scab-
bards as they strike at each step, the legs
of the Conductor and Sergesnt-during
the third round an organ or Tnelodeon
strikes up low. wailing. 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 and louder, until ss the
candidates finish their last round, the G..
G. las the chief is called says in deep
voice, peace, venerable father ! Life is
made up of sorrow, and the world is rip
ening for sorrow greater than thine
Peace! Peace Be still, thou wounded
heart" To which all the members re-
spond:-'Peace! Pescea Be still p
then the music stops, and the old man,
resumes his quiet march. .1i.O
The candidates are now arranged
around the G. R., who questions them ~
to their motive and intentions. II the
answers are satisfactory as they always
are) the candidates are conducted to the
chair Of the skeleton where person, hid
den behind the grim figure, administers
an obligation to each which binds him
from his cradle represented BY the infantl
never to divulge what he may there see or
learn. After assuming the obligations
the candidates are conducted back to the
G. G. through the same scene OF silence
and sorrow, who gives them some advice,
after which they are conducted out to the
ante-room. And this ends the first scene.
5ui CD scKHE SECOND. s5f 1sT
After the candidates go out and the
door Is closed, the members in an instant
spring to their feet. light up the room,
throw offtheir gowns. put away the colin,
etc., and prepare for fun. In the mean
time the candidates are being blindfold.
ed so that they cannot see: in this condi-
ton they are conducted to the door again
BY the same parties IS before; the doo'
is again raped upon. and, this time
the g. c. says in . loud voice -
"What is it makes the alarm
To which the sentinel replies