The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-08-21
The X. g G.


matter Of considerable interest. 1t has long been
known that this organization WAS at the bottom
Of the conspiracy which has ripened into rebel
lion In the Southern States, but until recently 1t
has worn the mask so successfully as to battle
inquiry.
The authentic exposition before u. though
Only in outline, gives clear view Of Us prnci-
Piles, workings and objects. To avoid discOv-
ery, the rituals of the Order are mostly in cyph-
ers, and entirely unintelligible, except to the
possessor OF key. Its members are bound TO
secrecy by solemn oaths, and facility OF inter
course is promoted by means of signs, grips,
pass words and tokens, given only to the iuitia-
ted.
The Order has three degrees: the first, Mill
tary the second, Financial the third Govern
mental.
The scope of the first degree is fairly set forth
by the following paragraph taken from the obi
CATION imposed upon all those received into it.
IL is addressed 10 them by the Treasurer.
Treasurer-Gentlemen,w must now tell you
that the first field OF operations is tMexco) !;
but We hold IL To be our duty 10 offer our seIyi
ces to any Southern Stale to repe a Northern
army. We hope such contingency may not
occur. But whether the Union Is reconstructed
or not, the Southern States must foster al,
scheme having Tor its object tue An,ercanizatou
and Standardization OF = (Mexicoy, SO that in
either Case our success will be Get tain.
Having bound those admitted by this nsidious
obligation, which, it will be seen, looks to future
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, as well "a present Independence
The Captain proceeds TO give them the following
inform alton:
Captain-I will low give you the signs
grips, password and token OF the first degree OF
tue X Il. q. TINS degree has name. which
may uOw give yOu-iti- he - l." Knight OF the
Iron hand.) The first great sgn vi Ihe Order is
thus made, Z, (hancs open, pa''ls touching aud
resting upon the top oi The head Eagers point.
ing upward The answer To THIS Is 8, toprH
hands touching shoulders where epauiet,es ale
worn elbows close To the side.) hese
battlefield sigLs, and are nos to DC used under
ordinary circumstances. The eOEmou sigu vi
recognition is ., fright fore finger drawn across
upper lip under nose, Il, IT ruobing) The All
-aer TO- twin fore tiuger aud thumb OF lett
MAID take mold vi lett car To gam admission
a " orking Castle or tue IooUs al any X. q
u, give IL, tone distinct rap at tne doof) The
sehIiI..l ou duty viii ticH raise the wicket and
u -,Daud the counter siSu, winch Is IL, tSOL-
DlEno always etterrd EXCEPT at Castle door.
lou will theu pass the centre OF The room and
give The tue -igns Oi fhe X II. c, It Is I3 tieil
hand Ul heart. iISht h.,.,.i '.--dl 1DIs VIII be
ecognIZrd 10y Uos ifoG. tue sptaiu, When
you viii at once take Aour seat ihe ssn
oi arrest Is X, (bOtn hahos app OF d-s.n
%, toue HAND uy,) tie giip AZ 10, tpiess with
thumb one ZACH bo'e second h,lacsie,i the
token Ii (Gvdcn Circie enca,ins Di"es hands
closed GU scroll the ~ hole To be:ae SIZE OF a
duie.) Every memoer NAV wea'tae sign OF lis
degree.
This extract FROM the E.tuh of the Order
shows the perfection OF the 0rs~Di.ailoH, even Iii
the minutes details Ii also embraces - s!SIs,
grips ard tokens of the kng6ts oi the
| Lon Hand, or the First Degree OF the
Knights of the Golden Circle. The Second OF
Financial Degree contains nothing OF special im
poftapce. Its emblem is Gold Circle encasng
Greek cross in centre of which is a star, and its
members are named Is, True Faith The third
or Political Degree is most important Of all and
develops the the rea! purpOs, of the Order. The
members OF this Degree called 81 knights
OF the Columbian STAR 81 Roman Catholics,
and foreign born citizens are entirely excluded
from it. Candidates for admission must be born
in slave State, or il born in free State, must
be citizen of u slave State, protestant and q
stakeholder. II born in slave State, he need
| not be STAKEHOLDER, provided he can give sew
| ldence Of character as Southern man"
pn.I e, II 4.
members of this degree declares that /" all civil
places of prominence shall be given, as far as my
influence goes, to 81 knights of the Columbian
Star } and when these are supplied, to the ls,
True FAITH then to the /, knights OF the
Iron Hands.') They arc also pledged to sus
tain the effort reduce she Peon system OF
Mexico to perpetual slavery, and to divide its
| victims between the members of their Order.
But perhaps the most startling feature OF the
obligation taken BY the Knights of the Coluu.
bian Star is the following:
llth. Until the whole civil, political, financial
and religious reconstruction OF (MexicC9 has
been completed, viii recognize II 80 llimited)
monarchy as the best iorIs OF IS (governmen.)
| for the purpose in view, since it can be made
suohS dnO eucCtNe'
The conclusion Of the obligation taken il as
follows:
Secretdry.--You will therefore see that we
lat or not only for the extension of 81 lDomest-
ic Slavery in = (Mexco,) bu; we seek to make
IS Ia government strong enough To protect and
perpetuate it. The means for erecting a so
limited monarchy are in (Nexco) They on
ly require to be used well We require A vast
number Of oficers-some thousand in all. Now,
help US make Is Ia governmeut,l and 90 you
and send your son and let him take his place
The work is large. ard there are plenty of us to
do IL. OF course the whole thing must be man.
aged well. As soon as everything is reduced to
OF der, then We may canvass the question of a
Republic.
The word Mexico, as used by these Brigands,
evidently has double meaning, and applies to
Southern COnfederacy. as well "a To Mexico it.
self. But probably they thought it best not to
mark the name upon the instrument TO be en-
poyed in accomplishing the object.
This Order ia powerful in all the slave States,
ard doubtless has It's amifcation in the North
perhaps has members in our very midst.
1t is not necessary to say word with regard
to the horrible features of this league with hell.
The simple statements of its own damnable Rt.
tuals, are enough to brand it with eternal ii.fa.
my. Do you wan, compromise with such
ieauge or will you unite with the friends
Of Republican government to crush it out, and
wipe it from the face Of the esrths
DISTRESSING CAsUALTY.-The number Of dis.