Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-31
swear that they never had anything

swear that they never Ind anything
to do with II. But now To the elec-
ton of members and the ceremonies
Of initiation. As rule the candi-
date knew nothing Of the presenta-
tion Of his name fox membership
until the election was over; and not
even then till he was safely housed
in the ante-roOm Of the Lodge under
the charge OF the outside sentinel,
where, having taken An oath of &C.
cresy, he was grRvely informed he
| was about to see "Sam." 1t some
times required skilled maneuvreing
to entice the candidate to the ante.
room Of the Lodge, for all the men,
bers were instructed to deny any
knowledge Of such an Order. 1t
was generally managed by u brother
proposing to the victim to take a
walk In the evening. The brother
would, after time, commence talk.
ing about the Know Nothings, and
gravely wonder whether there was
any such Order, and would express 4
determination to try and find nut the
facts In the case. After walking
around for some time and finding
that the curiosity of the victim was
aroused the brother would discover n
light In the upper room of building
and suggest that "Sam" must he at
work up there, and suggest that they
should 60 up and see. AS n mattrY
Of course they were certain to find
the Lodge room. The writer recalls
nm amusing incident connected with
the finding of Lodge room. He
had been a member for some time
when business called him to town
some seventy.five miles distant.
The evening after his arrival he
was called upon by q couple of prom
nent politicians, who soon infroduc-
ed the subject Of Know Nothfnism.
and enquiries were made RS to its
progress In the writer's locality. A
instructed in my initiation 1 denied
all knowledge of It's existence. After
a time / was invited to take a walk
and determination was expressed
hy my friends to find out II there
was u lodge in town. After walking
once or twice around the public
square, one OF my friends discover
ed light In the third story Of n
building, where both my friends a.
sured me that they believed "Sam
was at work there, and proposed I
should 90 up with them. We went
up, and / was left In the ante.room
while my friends gave the proper
signal and went In to secure my plec-
tiOn. waited a few minutes, went
to the door, gave the proper signal
and vooarnvA nnA xxsau
the ballot for my election WAS In pro-
gress, and the surprise Of my friends
can well be imagined.
When the candidate was admitted
to the body Of the Lodge, after hav-
lug been duly obligated. he wasir-
struotsd by the grand officers presif-
ing at the different stations. The
psancip&i mart Of the Instructions WAS
the manner IN which hfethf&n sxsulSls
find each other 0ah hnd the lodge
rooms, etc.
The candidate was instructed tn
deny, all knowledge of the existence
Of the Order. III . brother should
wish to And out whether a stranger
WIS affiliated with the Order, after
few remarks he would say to the
stranger, "What timer" II tho
stranger was an initiate he would
say "'Time for work" The brother
would reply "Are you ?" The an
swer would be, ~ am.' This test,
with the proper signs, WAS sufiicisnt.
When 10 was deemed necessary To
assemble the lodge Mt unusual times,
the Secretary would drop along the
principal thorOughfnres Of city, In
the evening or during the day, small
pieces OF red paper cut In the shape
Of q diamond. II brother should
see such paper IL became his
duty to accost every persOn
whom he might claim to be
n brother with the enquiry,
"Have you seen Sam ?" The prop.
er reply would be, "Is he out?''
The response would be. Sam will DO
on watch tonight, the faithful and
true will be there" The advent of
the Know Nothing party was =
source OF trouble to the old pOliticisns.
Prior TO the frst election their
strength WAS unknown, and they
were feared - an unknown evil.
Every man was suspicious OF his
neigiibor. The first election after
their organization politicians whom
they wished TO be suspected would
be elected to some miner Office, and
II would require months OF hard
swearing 10 dlvest the victim OF sus-
picion."
At least ono Des Moines man hes 4
lively recollection OF Know Nothing
ism, for II defeated him for Cover
nor OF New Hampshire. Another
remembers that he was Q candidate
on the Democratic ticket for Ons
once and was elected to another for
which he was not candidate.
Holmes county, Ohio. WAS carried
for w. Il. Sapp. Know Nothing NOM
inee for Congress, for the first aud
last time against the Democracy.
He was an uncle Of General Sapp,
OF Council Bluffs. and the law part
ner Of Columbns DelanO. In Ohio,
many preachers were members, Anti
Catholicism being the lever to hoist
them into the charmed circle. Gov.
pnllocL xz,ea oloctpd Governor Of