Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-25
Secrets of the Knights Of the Golden Circle

Secrets of the knights of the Golden Circle
It is stated that there are upwards OF
1000 nemhe ers OF this Order in this state,
most Of whom, however. have only been nd-
ed into the First and Second Degrees.
ln late issue of the Loui+viIle Journal ap-
pears IA complete expose of the secrets OF this
Order, which the editor of that paper pledges
his honor as man is correct As the Third
Degree only explains the political principles
and objects Of the Order. we content ourselves
with copying what pertains to that Degree
The Third Degree is the Political Degree
Of the So (K G c. named 81 (knights OF
the Columbian STAR The qualifications for
membership are:
Candidate must be familiar with the work
Of the two former Degrees must have been
born in SO Ia slave State). or if in SO IA free
>tate) lie tntst be- citizen. 5"(n ProlesauD,
and 6l Ia slaveholder) A candidate who
was rorn in So ia slave State) need not he 81
IA slaveholdrr) provided he can give 62 (evi-
dence of oh ,racter as q Southern mani
Object. To form Council for tie 33 (K
G. C. }, and to organize 6S IA Governmeut) for
(Mexico) No 81 (Kuiyhts of the Colum-
bIan St"r) shall not admit. except to brother
81 that he has this Degree, for reasons that
viii hereafter appear. Any two SIS can
confer thesDegree on others, the Oldest 81
acting as Governor
Captaim-l shall now give you the un-
writ ell parts Of this work. and trust you
will lie careful in it, use. If Il general war
en-ue-. We shall di.pense with the First De
gree. and rely on this aud the Third
T,r following is the opening ceremony Of
initiation:
"Whrn in The room The Governor will take
the Bible, and will cause nll to lay their
hands thereon, when each will repeat after
the Governor the tol oNing
IMITATION:
We three (or other nutnher, as the case
may ht,) citzen4 of 50 Ia slave Statc) do
hriel'y aud herein, in the presence OF each
other and the Great jehovah solemnlv and
sincerely pledge our filth and honor to con
c,a aud never reveal to any mortal being,
save such as we know to be 81 (Knights of
the Columbian otar). any circumstance or
thing that may here transpire during the next
hour. and to Keep the know ledge Of this hour
forever secret from all but 81 the name
OF God. Amen IAN take seats.
We omit the Ritual aud come directly to
the chief features of the "obiigation" which
every member of this Order takes, promising
that the members of this Degree are not
known even to each other by name or other
signs of individuality in private life 1t is
claimed, III the language of the Ritual that
this is lhe only real secret Order in the
word"
After n long and searching examination of
the candidate, he is to take vow of which
the prnci pal requirements are as follows:
And | avow will never desert the 81 or
their cause and aims while three members
remain and consent to propagate it. And
should they succeed in 81 (conqutring and
Southelnizing) the who.e or any part Of >
(MrXico,)I will do all | can o prev ent any 81
Roman Catholic) from being appointed to
any office of profit or trust. and even IN the
y (U. > | will always give the preference
to So IA Pr"testanr), and especially to 81. !
will do all | can us All honorable man TO
make 90 ia slave >tatr) OFF, As such. Will
urge its o3 lannexation) to 70 u. - other
wise will oppose it with equal zeal. In ,
| VIII ehdeavor to cause to lie opened to the
public all 81 (Nunneries MunaSieries or Con-
vents) and there shall be no advantages to 81
81 (Ruman Cntholic,) which is not equally
accorded to 60 (Prulestnni) The 60 (Bible)
shall be adopted for use in all public schools
aUQ any co It nretJ wuu suaII ue detected In
50 (gambling or violating the ordinances of
religion) shall be expelled from Any min
lister holding any PLACE under the Govern
ment must he 60 (Pro,est
10th. All civil places of prominence shall
he given. as far as my influence goes, to 81
(knights of the Columbian Star. )pnd when
these are supplied, to the Is (Irue Failh) ;
then 10 the (Knghts of the Iron Hand
will advucte the establishment of 63 Ia Go
vernment.) which shall place the power in
the hands of the most educated and moral
and oppose the recognition Of any 81 (Negro
Muatto Indian or mixed hlood) to ciizeu-
ship. i will sustain the efforts to rednce the
3S (Peon systen) to SO (ptrletuGl slavery. J
and To divide them to (knights of the Iron
HANDY Is (rrue Faith) and 81 (Knights of
tie Columbian STAR IN the proportion TO / ;,
2 3, to have aud hold forever But the same
laws shall be enacted for their protection MS
are recognized IN every other 5S (Slave
State.)
llth. Until the whole civil, political, fl
nanciai and religious recunslruction of 2
(MeXico) has been completed, | will r. cognize
80 (Lrm'ted Monarchy as the best form of
63 Government for the purpose in view 3,
sluce IL can he mude strong and effective.
l2lh. 10 prevent the entrance ofany 6S
(AUoitionits) into 2 ( Mexico) l will sustain
u lessport system, and any and every 73
| (Stianger or 1raveler) shall 60 before the
Custom officer ut the port OF his entry, and
there take an oath, stating whether he in
tends to besrule !. citizen aud if So that h.
viii sustain and support the Government
then in existence, and That he will not inter
fere with lhrsystrm OF so (ferpelual Sinvely)
| then recognized, but that he will obey the
Jaws then recognized If he be IA traveller
merely. he shall give up his passport to the
thiet of Police ON his entrance into each
Town. ana "hleh shall lee returned to him on,
demand of the same officer when abuut 10
lea'e tor another place. And any 70 VITO
shall puss ."r attempt to pass withu, u pass
port shall be arrested aud expelled from the
country, and upon resistance ne shnh ue sho /;
ont every tray elrr 20 entering tMeXicu)
must he Informed Of tins rule
18Th he successor 10 56 George Bck
ley must he over 30 Years OF age OF southern
birth, Literally educated, "a 81 Knight OF the
C"lunIbi II starr sound OF body aud mind.
and married, and % (Protestantl Jle shall
swear to carry out this policy. and extend 81
(Shver)) over the whole of 81 (CeuteraI
Amrrca) If in lis power. He stall try to
acquire 93 (Cuba) and control 81 (lhe Gnll Of
Mexico No one else will | sustain. But
for such one, who must tie proposed hy d
30 NCaUlnet Mihlster) and elected by all u or
| majority of them 1 will su.fain h.ra tI,.r,,