The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-23
Secret Order Of American
Union.
President Grant a Member.
Object and Principles OF the
Order.
The Oath Required OF Can
didates.
Signs, Grips and Passwords

SlSQS, GIlpS d1Nt L c'A0'
New York, December III n'
UernH contains the following: the re-
cent publication OF letter from JONI. 'onn
Foster TO ex-Speaker Blame, louen'nS
tine tenets and purposes AT u mysterious
and secret society or order' KNOWN ~
Tho 40 A L." has naturally ere
o,ed treat deal of comment. The
"Hbsoopcnt and somewhat contradictory
.tstcmcnts made to different persons by
Mr. Foster, the denials OF Mr.. Blame
and the remarkable speech made by
President Grant to his old army com
rades at Des Mojnes. Iowa, were all cal
cuated to attract attention to this anti
Catholic order. People of conservative
,oudet c.rs. 50 far rs religion is concerned,
became alarmed ut the idea that We
might one day find two great bodies OF
our citizens arrayed against each other
ON the question whether belief in certain
dogmas should dcbAr a man from hold
ing official position or power.
The Know Nothing movement, with
all its attendant excitement and fevcrlsh
public pulse, was remembered, and in
the presence OF this new dange- to the
peace and material welfare OF the coun-
try, people began to ask OF each other
what the so. y. u meant.
The Order said to he in the hands OF
Grsnt and Blaine. +. CowicS, from
Cleveland, member Of the National kX-
ecutive Committee, which met at the -.
Nicholas Hotel last week, went to Wash
ington last Thursday night to initiate
Blaine and talk with the President.
Grant will be run by the Order for II
third term as political necessity. Most
of the men employed by the government
in Postotiices and Custom Houses are
believed to be members Of the Order
Plenty of money has been obtained TO
carry out the operations. ChIet Justice
Dunn, of Arizona, was removed, It Is al
lcgrd. by command OF the American
Union because he was Papist. 1t Il
also said Tom Murphy, of New York,
was as ked to resign the Collectorship tor
the same reason, but of this there Is good
reason to doubt.
Grant ~ nPutDtE.
President Grant is member Of the
Order without doubt. Fosters letter
proves it. if nothing else. National
Deputy Edgar initiated Grant privately;
also PGstmaster-General jewell
J: Y. Foster says General Grant is a
member of this secret order, having
been privately initiated. That Is true
according to our information. lie did
not name what order, because he was
oath bound not to reveal the name
When pressed by a reporter he fell back
on the United Order of American Me
| chanics. There is no secret about the
existence Of this latter order. Every
directory of every city publishes 1t with
the names of their councils, and places
and DAYS of meeting. Besides no man
can be privately initiated into the order,
but in open lodge. No other secret or
/ der has private limitations.
This o. A. L. is political and stupen-
dous secret organization. 1t Is the only
one that admits private initiation. The
| National deputy and State or County
Deputies can initiate any person private
. ". and secretly assign item to council.
| This is done to initiate INTO the Order
| "blg guns" who do not care to be lnltl-
ated in the presence of many witnesses,
90 that If you charge them with with be-
! ing members of the Order they deny IT.,
and if the members of the Order charge
them with not being members they SAY
th.y are. 1t bids fair TO be the most
dangerous, most complete and powerful
secret order in this or any other country.
1t is already ruled by the most consum-
mate politicians.
Proceedings i'm Council.
OHrcrS Of the C0tmciL-President, Vice
! Prr.,.,,nt. Secretary, Treasurer, Chap
lain. Marshal, Assistant Marshal, Inside
Sentinel, Outside Sentinel.
The hour of meeting having arrived
the President, having taken his seat,
/ savs:
"AI persons present not entitled 10
/ parilkc of the secret deliberations OF the
Order will please withdraw. The Out
side Sentinel will fasten the door The
officers will take their respective stations.
Marshal, satisfy yourself that all present
are worthy members OF our II Mon.
The Marshal then passes around and
takes up the password, and, after report
inc TO the President that all are correct,
he proceeds to prepare the altar Inc
table. which stands in the center OF the
room. is covered with the United States
hag. and on it is placed an open Bible.
The President then calls attention, and
saws: "The Chaplain will now invoke II
divine blessing
Order OF Business.
!. Calling the roll OF officers.
,. Reading of the minutes OF last meet
lng.
>. Report of Committee, or C"ndi'
dates.
I. Buuoting tor candidates.
y. Initiation of candidates
The business being in order, the Presl-
dent says: Brother Marshal, proceed
into the antc-rocm and see whether
there are any candidates to be initiated
into the mysteries of our Union
The Marshal rctircS. and on returning
announces THAT there are candidates,
naming each by his luli and proper name.
Brother Marshal, proceed
again to the antc-room and propose the
constitution and ques tions to the candi-
dates, and make known 10 them the OBJ
iect of our secret Order.
The Marshal again retircs, and adj
dresses the candidates as follows;
I GENTLEMEN-By direction of my su.
perior officer have the following Ques-
tions to ask;
1. VIII you support the constitution
of the .. \. L.?
II. Are you in sympathy with Roman
Catholicism?
III. Are You in favor of the Bible in
our free School.7