Middletown transcript., 1874-04-18
Grange Initiation Rites Revealed.


ing account Of the terrible ordeal through
which they will have to pass as revealed
by the Randolph, Ohio, Enterprise:
On being brought into the ante-room
of the lodge [Greengreen Temple. No
10l was told that had been balloted
for and accepted My informant. who
was securely masked by what afterwards
learned was large burdock leaf perfora-
ted with holes for the eyes, told me that
if valued my life it would be necessary
for me to strip. As did consider that
Of considerable worth to me. and as he
italicised his wishes by carelessly playing
garments with eagorness My masked
friend then furnished me with the regala
of the fret degree, called The Festive
Plowboy.' which consisted merely Of one
large cabbage leaf attached to a waist
band Of potato vines. In this airy s.
tune | was conducted to door. where
my companion gave three distinct raps-
(I was securely blindfolded by binding n
slice Of rutabaga over each eyo.) A Sc
pulchral voice from within asked who
comes :?
|
agriculturist who wants to become gran
ger
Sepulchral Voice Have you looked
him carefully over?
Guide-'I have, noble gatc-keeper.'
S. V.-Do you find any agricultural
marks about his person 2
Guide-'I do
| S V.-'What are they 2
Guide-'The candidate has carrotty
hair, reddish whiskers, and turn up
nose
S. V-''Tis we'll. Why do you desire
to become a grangerT
Guidc-(answering for candidate)-
That | may be thereby better enabled to
harrow up the feelings Of rascally polili
clans
S. V.-'You will bring in the candi-
date. My worthy STRIPPING, as you cannot
SIC, will cause you to feel that you are
received at the door on the three prongs
of the pfchfork, piercing the region of
the stomach, which is to teach you the
three great virtues-faith hope and char
ity. Faith in yourself hope for cheaper
farm machinery, and charity for the light
ming rod peddler You will now be har-
messed, and in representation of the horse
Pegasus. will be tested as to endurance
aud wind
The candidate is here attached to a
: small imitation plow by means of hem
pen harness. A dried pumpkiu-vine is
put in his mouth for bride, he is made
to get down on all fours the guide seizes
the bride, and urged on by n granger
armed with Canada thstles, which he Wig
orously applies to the terminus Of the spine,
the candidate is galoped three times a
rennd the room. While making the circui,
the members rise and sing:
Get up and dust on bully boy
Who wouldn't be granger2
If the ihisles prick don't cause you JOY,
To feeling you are estranged, vh
After this violent exercise he is rubbed
dry with corn-cobs. beeswaxed where this
tied, and brought standing up before the
great chief-the Most Worshipful Pump,
kin Head
NJ W P H.-'Why do you desire tc
be granger !?
Candidate-(auswsring for himself)-
That | may learn to extnguish sewing.
machine agents.
NJ w. p H-'Have your hands been
hardened with toll ?
Candidate-'N Not extensively; but thel
am not running for Office
NJ w p Hits we'll. for our lodges
contain several who are supposed to be
/. ready to sacrifice themselves for their con
| stituents. Do you feel pretty smart thi
eveningT
Caudidate-Yes, where the hustle goe
l on
! NJ. W P. H.-(savagely)-'Give IN.
, II chew of tobacco
! Candidate searches himself thoroughly
but there is no place about him to sticl
pocket, tries to explain, but the NJ. w
P Ii interrupts him with:
Never mind. my dear Young friend
e am we'll aware that in your present con
] dition you could no more furnish you
friends with the weed than Adam coul,
e be comfortable in plug hat aud tigh
boots. 1t is merely to teach you the grsa
t lesson of economy-doing to others a
o you'd like to have them do to you. Yo
; will now be conducted to the Most Emi
b nent Squash Producer, who will teac
r you the grand hailng sign Of distress. =
! The sign, my worthy friend, will insur
you against many of the ills of the agri
n culturist-among others, draughts an
J. being bit by the ferocious grasshopper.'
a The candidate is now conducted to tn
f Most Eminent Squash Producer, who thu
% says:
il MY worthy brother, I will now inves
's you with the order Of the Festive Plsu
f. boy, which you have well won by you
is heroic achievement while harnessed :
10 May you ever wear it with pleasure I
'e yourself, and may it bo means of terro
10 to your enemies
N The M i S. P. then proceeds to il
vest the candidate with the regalia of tt
!" Festive Plowboy which consists Of a Ion
e. temato necklace.