The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-03-14
The s. B.

h One morning last week, between the
suspicious hours of and o'clock, about
800 men were seen to issue from Stone l.
Eels Hall, and, "by the light of the
sweet silver MOON" marched and counter
marched, and went through all the evolu
tons of a military drill, in the streets of
Ottawa This nocturnal battalion we are
told composed the bone and muscle of the
s. 3. conclave Of this city. The person
who saw them recognized in this company
most of our leading republican politicians,
but no democrats. What were they con-
cocting to such late hour in the Hall,
, and what is the meaning of the drill?
We have before us the Carthage, ILL.,
Republican, containing some revelations
in reference to the S. B., which may cast
some light on this dark subject. The way
the editor got his information was this.
Seeing the usual emigmatical ADVERTISE
ment (Which can be found in any Repub-
licaa paper) headed s. B. and signed
John Trimble, Jr." in Burlington pa
| per, he got friend named Griffits to adj
dress MIR. Trimble on the subject, propos-
ing to form Society or Company in Car
thage. John Trimble, Jr., replied prompt
ly. forwarding the necessary Ritual, in
struction, &c, to enable Mr. Grifits to 20
ahead. Griffits pretends to be doing a
smashing business, asks for authority to
organize two or three companies, and
having his hand now fully in, asks to be
commissioned Captain" The commits
sion is promptly forwarded by MIR. Tumble
-afinely Illuminated parchment-cbarges
IS, to be collected out of the faithful and
forwarded to Mr.. I Captain" Grifits having
his commission, Ritual, &c, and having it
was to be supposed, his company in work
ing order, hints to "Adutant General
| Trimble" that he is now entitled to be
entrused with some of the secrets Of the
order To this end he writes him:
| Have the kindness to send the pirate
Key, and such other Instructions as | may
need. desire to ask confdentinlly " neither
you think We had better quietly procure
arms to use or not We do not know
| what contingency may arise and hence
osN III iiiIOi uAaliou
In reply Mr.. Trimble encloses the pri-
vate Key, and adds:
We leave the matter of arms to the
State Division when formed ] will say
this individually that arms ,ciR not be
wanting to defend our Flag when the times
require it. | will send you the Camp
Ritual to day. You can have arms in your
Camp if you desire it.
The Key supplies number of omissions
in the Ritual that are used orally in the
lodge or meetings only and the seven
points of recognition among members.
These are thus given:
The .hrst is to EXHIBIT the REGISTRATION
Certificate Without this no Comraie can
be recognized outside of the immediate
cIrclc OF his Appropriateness Second The
Signet Ring, which should always be worn
by comrads when travelling Use it by
explaining to each other alternately the
initials, beginning with the letter B.
tIhere are five letters on the signet ring
u. NJ. 3. 5. Y, which have a fanciful ex-
, planation.) Third The Medal This is
worn as breastplate or suspended on the
watch guard, DC. and the wearers name
and number on it. The touM is the
Quarterly Password, used for gaining adj
mission into the Camp. The mn is a re-
ference to the five worthless of the 5. B..
viz: Warren, Webster, Clay, Jefferson. and
Washington. The sirth is reference TO
the thirty four States as on the seal of the
Registration Certificate The SsrenM is by
, tie use Of fire tarreL rsroEser
! The main portions of the Ritual are de-
voted TO initiation ceremonies, to exhor-
tations to be faithful to the cause, &c and
matters of military drill and discipline.
The whole tone and bent Of the Ritual
leaves no room to doubt that the object in
view is close, firm military organization,
ilrst into companies, then regiments, then
briGades, divisions, &c, with a Captain
General over the whole That for the
present, the only arms en- joned to be pro-
cured by the members are IRE t1rrettoi re-
eo'r'rs' but that the subject of muskets,
artillery, &c, are to be left 10 the state
conclave, to meet in July. At present the
protested object is to support the govern,
ment, that is, probably, to keep down
the democracy; but it is easily seen how
such an organization, prevailing the whole
country, under bold, INSCRIPTIONS Cap
tain General could soon be in a position
to set the Government at defiance.
, AS for Mr.. Trimble, General Secretary
"Adjutant General or whatever bis pro.
> per title may be, the s. he gets for issuins
Captains commission, sic for Majors
3 SIS for Colonels, &c, explain very readi
ly the moving power of his zeal in the
matter-for it is hardly to be supposed
that one SO apparently simpleton, could
: be inspired by the more ambitious view,
with which the concern will be so apt tc
inAame more reckless and daring spirits