The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-01-05

The first verse of sAmerlca ls
then sung and a second series of
questions is asked as on additional
test of the candidates sincerity.
The questions are these
1. Do you believe in the perpet-
uation of this glorious American
Union?
2. Are you opposed to the politi-
cal power of the church of Rome?
3. Are you in favor of our free
school system?
4. Are you in favor Of the Bible
being kept in the public schools?
8. Are you opposed to the appro-
priation of public money for sectari-
an purposes--schools in particular?
6. Are you opposed to Roman
Catholics holding political office?
The following oath is then ad-
ministered by the President of the
Council:
s'I,-,in the presence of AL
mighty God and these witnesses. do
solemnly swear for affirm that /
viii support and defend the Con-
stitution of the United States and
of this State; that l wils keep in
violate the secrets of this order of
the American Union.
THAT I will obey the constitution
and laws that | will not knowingly
vote for, recommend, nor appoint,
nor assist in electing or appointing a
Romanist or papist or any person
sympathizing with the Roman
Church to any political Office of
honor or trust whatever; that [ will
oppose to the utmost Of my power
all attempts to use the public funds
for any sectarian purpose whatever,
and will ever maintain the great
principle of one general unsectarian
free school organization.
''That | will not permit my chill
dren to be brought up in a Romish
school of religious or secular instruc-
tion; that | will never propose, nor
second the proposition nor initiated,
or cause to be initiated into this or
der A. u, any Romapist or Papist,
knowing him to be so; that | will
never reveal nor betray any secret
that may be entrusted to me in the
workings of this Order A. u, or
that may be entrusted to me by any
brother of the same that l will new
er use any Of the signs, grips, words,
passwords, or other mysteries of 0.
A. u, whereby any knowledge of it
may be made known to the uninitia-
ted. All this | voluntarily promise,
declare and swear, without hesita-
tiou, or mental reservation. So help
me Cod
The members Of the council then
repeat the following words:
"To perpetuate the American I'm
ion; to oppose the power of tho
Church of Rome; to sustain our free,
unsectarian schools; to oppose ap-
preparation Of public money for sec
tartan purposes to oppose the cleo
tion of papists to political offiee-to
all of which L pledge my life. my
fortune, and my sacred honor. So
help me God
The primary bodies of the order
arc called councils. of which there
are 43 in New York, 21 in Ohio. Is
in New Jersey, 16 in Illinois, Is in
Pennsylvania Z in Connecticut, A in
Maine. 2 in Vermont. in New
! Hampshire, 5 in California, z in
Michigan. The membership in this
country is said to exceed 10000
The strength of the order in New
York is over $4,000. There arc
State and national governing bodies
The former are known as legisla
lures, and the latter. is called the
senate. The president of the sen
ate is George ID. Weeks, of Brook
lyn; the secretary is Henry j. Holt
a printer of No. 81 Nassau street
Among the members of the senate
named by the Herald are ex-Gover
nor Newell, of New Jersey Rev. DIR
Eddy, Jersey City; Major Pang
born of Jersey City; +. Cowles o
Cleveland DR.. Van Epps of Cleve
land, Ohio; Rev. DIR. Forbush, uni
tarian). Cleveland, Ohio; Rev. DIR
White of Illinois, The president o
the New York Legislature of the or
der is Dr. Newton, of No. 1877 Wes
Forty street, New York.