River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-03-03
Grange secrets Re-
Vealed.
HOW INVITATIONS ARE CONDUCTED.

-AANA4
The Raadoipk Enterprise, publish
ed down in Ohio, gives the following
account of graugers initiatory cere-
moDy:
On being brought into the aste-room
of the lodge (Greengrocer Temple, No.
l0l } l was told that | had been ball
oted for and accepted Ny informant,
who was securely masked by what |
afterward learned was large burd0d
leaf, perforated with holes for the eyes,
told me that it | valued my life it
would be necessary for me TO strip. As
l did consider that Of considerable worth
to ne, and as he italicized his wishes BY
carelessly playing with scyen-shooter
withdrew from ny garments with
eageruess My masked friend then
! furnished me with the regalia Of the
first degree called The Festive
Ploughboy" which consists merely Of
one large cabbage leaf attached to q
waist-band Of potato vines In this
AIRY costume | was conducted to the
door, where my companion gave three
distinct raps. was securely blind
folded by binding slice of ratabaga
over each eye.) A sepulchral voice
from Within asked: "Who comes!"
Ny guide answers: "A youthful agri.
eultuiist who desires to become gran
ger.
Sapulchral voice Hive you looked
/ him carefully over?
Guide have, noble gate keeper.
S. Y.-Do YOU end auy agricultural
marks about his person.
Guide DO
S. What are they
Guids-The candidate has carroty
hair, rlilish whiskcrs, aud turuup
nose.
Wis well Why do yoa de.
/ sire to become granger.
Guile answering for caudidate) l.
That may be thereby the better ens-
blcd to harrow up the feelings of The
ra>callJ politicians
S.V.-Yon will bring in the caad-
date. Ny worthy stripping Is yal caa.
not see, VII cause you to feel that
YOU arc received az the door on the
three points Of pitchtork, piercing tho
region Of the stomach which Is to teach
you the three great virtues faith, hope
and charity Faith in yourself, hope
for cheaper farm machinery, and chali
ty for the lightning rod pediar. Yo,
will now be harnessej, aud in represen
tation OF the horse Pegasus, will be ties
, ted as to endurance and wind.
The candidate Is here attached to
small imitation plow, By means OF
hempeu harness. dried pumpkin
vine is put 10 his mouth for bit an
bridie--he is made to get down upoi
all TOURS, the guide seizes tho bride
and urged on by granger armed wit
a Canada thistle, which he yigorousl,
applies OF the terminus Of the spine, til
? candidate is galloped three times aroun,
{ the room. While making the circui
the members arise and sing:
Getup aud dust you bully boy
Who wouldn't be a granger
II the thistle's prick don cause you JOY
To feelings you must be estranged, ah!
After this yiolens exercise he il
rubbed dry with corn.cobs. beeswaxe,
5 where thistled, and brought standing
up before the great chief--the mos
worshipful pumpkin head.
NJ. W. 7. H.--Why do you desire t.
be a granger!
Candidate answering for himself
+ That ! may learn to extinguish sew
ing machine agents.
NJ. W. p. H.-Ilaye your hands beer
hardened with toll?
2 Candidate-Not extensively, but thet
? am not running for Office.
NJ. w. p. H-'Tis well, for on
lodges contain several who are suppose.
to be ready TO sacrifice themselves fo
the good Of their constituents. Do yol
fell pretty smart this evening"
Caudidate-Yes, where the bustl
! goes on.
NJ. w. Z, (savagely) Give M
f, chaw Of tobaker
Candidate searching himself thor
oughly but as there Is 20 place abou
him to stick a pocket, tries to explain
&. but the aost worshipful pumpSiu.heac
e interrupts him with;
"Neyer mind, my young friend
avn well aware that 10 your prcsen
u condition you eau 10 more furnish you
friends with the weed, than Adam
could be comfortable in a plug hat an
ti4ht boots, II IS merely to teach 20
]. the great lesson Of economy--doing I
If others as you'd like to have them do /
d you You will now be conducted !