Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-01-14

ooul; may appear llRnly cnTlStlan-like anu
pious TO the Leaguers, but to all others il
will appear blasphemous in the extreme.
The above patriotic ode" having been
sung, all but the new members take their
seats while the President proceeds to deliver
the following charge to the candidates:
CHARGE.
'The oath which you have now taken of
your own free will and accord cannot rest
lightly Oh your conscience, (self-evident)
neither can it be violated without leaving
the stain Of perjury on your soul You
have declared that, under God, your first
and highest allegiance is to the Government
Of the United States. You have taken
such AN oath upon the Holy Bible, Consti-
tuition and Declaration of Independence, "
ing within the folds Of the Fag of tho I'm
ion. These contain the enduring records of
our rights and privileges.
'The Flag is the ensign Of our American
nationality-the visible emblem of the SOW
ereignty ofthe Union. It's stars respect the
sister States; its stripes the thirteen original
States; its colors, Courage, Purity and
Truth. The Bible contains mans moral
code and the principles of his religious faith;
points out his dependence on the Author of
his being, his duty to his fellow-creaturcs,
the reward of virtue and the punishment Of
evil.
The Declaration Of independence declares
as evident truths, that all men are created
equal-that they are endowed by their Gre
ator with inalienable right to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. 1t denies the
despots dogma Of the "diyine right of
kings" to rule over mankind. 1t asserts
that Governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the goverened; and sol
; EMMY afiirms the right of the American
People to govern themselves as free and
independent nation.
The Constitution is an instrument redu-
cling to practice the precepts Of the Dccar
alton. 1t is liberty regulated bylaw II
defines and circumscribes the powers and
duties Of the National Government. 1t
was ordained by the fathers, in order to
| form a more perfect Unien," &c. (quoting
, the preamble Of the Constitution,)
The sword il weapon of protection and
defense By it and the aid of divine Prov
idence the independence of the American
people was obtained With it We may de-
fend the rights and liberties belonging to
I free people, jealous of their country's glo-
ries. greatness and grandeur.
Lastly, the light you behold burning upon
the altar is emblematical of the sacred fires
of Liberty that burn forever in the breasts Of
: all true patriots
a We inculcate the spirit and artsof peace,
Q as essential to our national happiness and
prosperity: but when foreign foes or treach-
= erous hands attempt to rob us OF our ma
! tional inheritance. let a million Of cleaning
i swords leap from their rests and turn every
= way to guard the Temple Of our liberties
Here the President instructs the new
j members in the signs. pass words &c.--
q These are not laid down in the ritual, but
: have them in black and white before me,
q and will not withhold them from the anx-
: ious reader.
= UNION LEAGUE SIGNS &C.
The signs, grips and passwords vary ma
terially in different localities. | will give
t such as are used most generally Upon Wis
e iting a stranger, Lacquer, in order to test
i him, strokes the right cheek downward
: with the right hand twice. The reply is
e tive strokes on the left cheek, with the left
e hand, in the same manner. 10 filrtherprOve
: each other, one puts his right thumb in the
e lap sometimes in the sleeve-hoel of the
h vest and let the fingers drop down. The re-
+ ply is the same with the left hand. If the
i parties would put their thumbs in their ears,
and, with their fingers extended, initiate the
l., ears of an ass, the sign would strike every
II one as most appropriate and Suggestive
/ Now suppose one Of the parties to he named
/ Mr.. lincoln and the otherMr. Douglass,
e Erred. of course,) the following hand-sha-
and
:. NJ T;rcnln advances exten5ed his riobt
re hand wb;cb i T rrasned bv Mr. Donglass7-
~ Eanb +bnn a-as,1s tbe r;g6t wrist of the 9th
le -. ,,,;tb tha Iaft hand when = cordial ond
he tha f,iioIr;,1r coIoouv ansnes
~ my NJ TincGIn~Hdw i times2
,e NJ, NJ ifSl' nnnglassN4 GOOD
f NJ Mr DouS', WSrs Won member gyb Of the Union
y ~ MI - > -Ai' 'o0 g '''''-l'o-
n League ,,r,,.o ,,o
10 Al al y P.Ur1 are-,,nn n r. no nrorod >
NJ Nj n n r., tha 90, roS;t;ons ~ ~ ~
j. A., A. T-Nata ,prr noa;tions
of A. NJ IN" on mpate tbnm and I'll
a. M +bo,r --'''
es 'i'Iir Ne 'Iiei tbor locos +be tbuub If the len
III - - tbn Il III I fngnr IF That hand and
n ti than bnidS b;s lnf arm stroight out from tho
ed bdJ iieLl ''o'I T+tIa aiavatnd wba6 Mr. d SAWS
e. NV! .h;mgtor r'rtiV Nv rs arm is then low
ar "siilils hs 'en e,.. a. donroeS when Mr. ID
1d eieu apou, i4ia ~ NV ,ord uef Ioc,on Mr. /
ny | iat, hand to his breast and saws
le !ITn ndn put' h Mr. d will then nnt his r@ht
re tbumb on tbe nail of the third Anger of the
Il same hand and will extepd his hand Tins "a
, lar nosition: the fingers and thumbs are
$, onened cnough to form link. when Mr.; d.
st pIonounces the word League" "
te In order to enter Council. an additional