The Van Buren press., 1867-08-23

The members of the Council VIII nv" w
seated, the candidates will now take uheir
place, before the altar.
Charge.
The oath you have now taken OF your oMn
free " i'll ami accord, cannot now be Nloiap"
without leaving the stain ofpcrjury ON your
souls. You have declared that, under uou'
your first and highest allegiance i to The gov
crnmcnt of the United States. You nave
taken such an oath of allegiance upon the
Holy Bible, Constitution and Declaration oil
Independence. living within the folds of the
flag of the Union. This contains the endur-
ing records OF our rights and privileges
The symbols OF industry which greet you
upon the altar, are To remind you oi one oi
the main purposes of our order and To repre-
sent the foundation on which our institutions
rest To strengthen and elevate this. is 10 add
To the grandeur aud durability of the structure
we uphold.
The flag Is the ensign Of our American ma
tiunality-the visible emblem of the soyer-
eighty of the Union. Its stars represent 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
hi, duty to his fellow creatures: the reward OF
virtue and the punishment of vice.
The Declaration of independence declares
as sclf-evident truths, that all men are created
cqual-that they are endowed by their Creator
with inalienable rights to life. liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness. IL denies the despot's
dogma OF the "Diyine rights OF kings" to rule
over mankind. Ii asserts that governments
derive their just powers from the consent OF
the governed, and solemnly ailirms the righ,
OF the American people to govern themselves
| n Il free ana independent nation.
| The constitution is an instrument reducing
| to practice the preccpts ofthe declaration. 1t
/ is liberty regulated by law. 1t defines and
circumscribes the powers and Cutes of the
national government. Ii was ordained by the
! fathers - in order to form more perfect
! Union, establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty. provide for the common defence, pro-
mote the general welfare and secure the bless
/ ing, of liberty to themselves and their poster
/ ity.'
The sword is a weapon of protection and
defense. BY it and the aid of Divine Provi-
dence the independence of the American peO-
pie was obtained. With it we may defend
the rights and liberties belonging to free
and loyal people, jealous of their country's
glorics, greatness and grandeur.
Lastly. the light you behold burning upon
the altar is emblematical of the sacred fires O
liberty that burn forever in the breast of all
/ true pdtTlOtS. we lncllcdtc lHe spirit anu
arts of peace as essential TO national happi-
ness and prosperity; but when foreign foe,
or treacherous hands conspire to rob us ofthai
national inhertence let million with th,
sword, leap from their rests and turn every
way to guard the temple of our liberties
Here the NJ. instructs the new members in
the signs, etc. When these have been i'm
parted, the L. may give short history of the
origin and history ofthe organization II,
should caution them not to use the signs toe
often, or uncautiously) 1t is enjoncd OF
each officer to commit to memory his part o.
the initiatory ceremony.
The council rooms should be made attrac
tive by emblcms and ornaments, and by a sup
ply Of reading matter. If any person belong
ing to the order cannot read, he must be in
structed
ITO pass yourself as a Lacquer. when ques
toned. give the -Four L's.' as follows, righ
hand raised to Heaven, thumb and third finge
touching their ends over the palm, and pro
nounce Liberty" Bringing the hand dowl
on line with the shoulder, pronounce "Lin
coin" Dropping the hand open at your side
pronounce Loyal" With your hand an,
+ fingers downward in the chest. the thum
, thrust into the vest or wa>tband, across tn
body, pronounce League"