New-York tribune., 1872-09-02
DEPARTURE OF o'BRIEN's SCOUTS.
THE KNOW-NOTHING INITIATION AND
OATH.

The pressure on THE TRIBUNE on Saturday
made it impossible to print the whole OF Mr. f. W. Birds
crushing letter to Senator Wilson on his alleged denial
OF his connection with the Know-NOthing Order since
then Senator Wilson's apparent denial OF his Ietter
through the New England Associated Press has come TO
an end and is elsewhere treated As Mr. Birds coon has
come down 1t seems needless to expendmo ammunition
upon him. but the following extract is too good 10 lose
You were first proposed a a member Of the Know
Nothing Council in Natick and were black baed bus
heng considered yourself and friends important tat
Won Should either Governor or Senator Anson Bur
ngame Charles W. Slack. and others OF your lniinate
friends proposed you for admission TO the COnhe OF 10
that concern" in Ward Ten Of this city You were pro
posed and Charles A: Phelps, as am told on good %
authority, presided at the meeting Dr. Mhnah W CoL
nell protested against your admission ana mace speech
opposing you the ground that you would c1eat then
that you would not be true TO the party Lou we're
however, admitted that evening ana were ihluated'
will here copy authentic document, containing
the entire ritual Of the order the form OF the
by the way oath purportng to be the
oath has been recently published That think was the
org}na one that YOU took This which copy is from
the ritual revised by committee OF Whcn you MeIe
meeting at which John W. Foster presided and Charles
A. Phelps was Instructor" You remember IL, nave
no Doubt Here is the ceremony OF the lnila'lon'
NV FRIENDS: II is customary with to exact Of all
who come here promise that they will not make known
to any one any information that they may obtain. You
will therefore please repeat after me- using your name
"a b. solemnly promise affirm and declare that
will not dvuge or make known TO any or persons %
or any information that may obtain respect
@ tbis Society and furthermore promise that will
trny answer such questions may be asked me al this
time, to the best Of my knowledge and belief ~
Friends you here for the purpose OF being Initiated
in due form to all the privileges mmunites of this
Society, and is the CUSTOM we Will PROFOUND few
necessary questions. which you will answer in the
affirmative or negative, as the case may be.
First: Are you all Of the age OF 2l years
Second: DO you believe in the existence Of Supreme
Being the Creator and Preserver Of the Universei
Third: Were you, and either OF your parents and
grandparents born in the United States Of America
active part in the war of the Revolution on the repub
Fourth: In religious belief are you Csnake) lRoman
FT% Are or were either of your parents Csnakes
fRonan Catholesl in religious belief
SIu: Are you willing to use your influence and (Box
Votel only for natvebOrn Eagle) American citizens for
a hairs)lOhcesl Of honor and trust in the gf Of tbs
people 70 tne eAGusIo H @ oi m ohs anu pears ro[elgh
ROman CathOcs in particular, for local, State Gene
raj Csteamer)lGovernmen exclusive OF all party pre-
dileetionsf ,.,o,
P-I present these candidates 10 you for obligation,
having, after careful examination found them worthy
and eligible TO be admitted to membership IN this So
ciety.
MY FRIENDS: Previous TO your uniting with and be-
coming members Of this organization 1t will be necessary
for Won take upon yourselves solemn Obigaton-one
which we have all taken and intend sacredly to keep
through life. II is which Will not conflict with the
dntes Won owe to yourselves your families, your
try or your God With this assurance are you willing
to take such an Obligation
(Answer) o,,,..,,o,
a. j,
presence OF Almighty God my right hand resting His
Sacred Word, and my left hand raised toward heaven
fmv left hand resting my breast and my right hand
raised toward heaven, In token OF my sincerity, 90
soemny and sincerely promise a. ana GeoaIe tnat %
any OF the signs secrets, mysteries or Ouects OF TINS
organization, either OF those hat nave taken % OF a
due examination, lawful information md worthy OF
my confidence and fraterna regard such; and fur
thermore promise and declare that will not cut, carve,
print WRITE stamp stain any OF the secrets or objects,
nor suffer il to be done by others my power pre-
vent
purposes and / furthermore promise and de
social SO far as this order is concerned comply with
the will Of the majority when expressed In lawful man
ences so long as it does not conflict With the National
State, subordinate Constitution; and furthermore
promise and declare that will not under any crcun
stances whatever, recommend an unworthy person for
initiation nor suffer it to be done If in my power to pre-
vent IT, furthermore promise and declare that will
not box)-(yOtelor give my influence for any man for
the gt OF the people except he
(Eagles)-l lAmericansl-bor ruling America, nor II he
be tsnakel Catnone 10 NOT VIII under any
Of this Order the existence OF such an Association
All the foregoing obligation do solemny promise and
declare 10 the best OF my aDhy 70 sustain under the
no penalty than the fearful apprehension Of being
Fellow men as a wiufu Traitor and Perjurer to God my
Maker and the land that gave me birth. so help me
God and keep me steadfast
nv FeIKSps; You are entering society which il far
mort important than you may at first imagine It's
Won advance TO a knowledge of Its objects. You will
now record your and places OF residence
mysteries and objects OF this Society
[After the candidates have signed their naJnes]
BROTHER u: .
dnal Instructions
WORTHY J. A:
nv direction of our w. r., present these candidates
before you for hnal INSTRUCTIONS
j. A.
FRIENDS: Previous TO instuctipg you in the secrets
and OF this Society II becomes duty 10 ad
nonsh and warn you ~ the necessity OF keeping every
thing Won see aud hear in this or any other Twig)
GIcdge-Of this order profound secret because our
Zoe IL as secret as the grave as cunning the fox and
as iDsdOus as the serpent He works in the dark and
never shows himself 70 his victims. But his existence
we know only by his pestilentia breath and slimy
tracks and other unmstakabe evidences which can
eyerywnere see and feel This Toe my friends, In Its
various forms Is (snske)-lR Roman Cathoic Therefore
YOU will at once see necessity OF our being as secret
and more 80 IL possible than he Is. You have pledged
your word Of honor before God aud these witnesses the
most binding obligation that be given or received,
that you will keep secrets mysteries ana objects In
yOlable BE careful, therefore, that you do not im-
prOperly reveal them Then follow the instructions
&c.l go, .,,. ...- - 80 ,
i charge that you went through this ceremony aud
were inflated and took Substantially or literally these
Oatbs and obligations and ] can prove this by many
reuuLable witnesses present on tlAt sYeAlUk.