The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-01-12
SONS OF MALTA.
Grand Disclosures Of the Ceremonies and Mys
teries Of the Wonderful Order.
From the GAINESVILLE Aurora.

From the GAINESVILLE Aurora.
In almost every town and city in this
country. there is lodge of the Sons of
Malta. This mysterious order took its
rise in New Orleans some three or four
years ago. There are two accounts Civ
en- Of It's origin. 1t is said by one ac-
count, to have originated with the army
Of Walker the Fillibuster," at the time
that worthy was preparing to take Cuba.
Another account says it itoriginated du-
ring the ravages Of the yellow fever, and
was intended to divert the minds Of the
frightened people, AS well as to supply a
fund for charitable purposes-such as
burying the houseless dead, &C., DC.
However it may have originated. it is
not the order that outsiders take it to be !;
as We shall presently show.
One Of the brethren, who had been
turned out of the important and secret
office. the initials of which are g. r..
j. A." has taken offence at the order
and communicated to us the whole pro-
ceedings-pass- word, grips, signs, DC.
When about to become member of
the l. o. s. NJ. Independent Order Sons
Malta, the candidate or candidates pre-
sent himself or themselves in an outer
room, where he meets committee of Of
fcers Of the Lodge who come to him.
out ofthe lodgeroom. with drawn swords
in their hands. and kind of three bar
red sheet iron hats on, which hide their
faces; these officers put test questions TO
each candidate and any candidate who
hesitates or falters is allowed to depart
in peace those who remain pay $500
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, for
reasons which will appear hereafter.
After the candidates are balloted for
and elected, the grand conductor goes
out to the ante-room and escorts the can
didates to the inside entrance door, where
be pounds on the door with the hilt OF
his sword three times-the inside senti-
mel raises little slide in the door-peeps
out and the chief officer from the inside
asks in loud voice:
"What is the cause of this hub bub %
The sentinel answers :" Strangers coming
into camp!' To which the Chiefs re-
ply is: "Let 'em rip"
What sight breaks upon their vision
The room is nearly dark. and is only
lighted by lamp of alcohol. which sits
upon coffin in the middle of the room
and throws its blue, Pickering light
around upon the scene. And such a
scene J! The members, dressed as oul
citizens have seen them upon the streets,
are ranged around the room, thus one
lies upon his back like corpse, and an
other kneels down upon his knee beside
him in the attitude Of mourner. All il
still as tomb around the room, except
in the center where the coffin lies upon
the bier and the pale lamp flickers upor
the scene. Beside that coffin, which j.
covered with pail or black cloth. march
es an old man who carries musket ant
bayonet upon his shoulder-an old mar
whose white locks of hair hang in weird
and tangled masses about his neck-witl
bis left hand he snatches unmeaningl,
at his hair, and then mutters to himsel
rs he turnes upon his heel with military
precision and marches back and forth
passing and re-passing the black palle'