The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-02-08
The s'HuDg'' League-The Great Secret
Society of China. ~

Society OF China. ~
In peaceful times the ranks of the
society are recruited BY volunteers, but
when the league is preparing to take
the field, threats and violence are often
fused to secure khembers. At such, q
crisis man returning home finds a
slip of paper bearing the seal of the
! league awaiting him, which calls on
him at given hour to betake himself
to certain spot, and warns himthat
the murder of himself and his family
will be the penalty OF disobedience to
| the command. Sometimes it is said,
also, that one of the brotherhood in
suits a stranger on the road, and, pre-
tending to fly from the just conse-
quences of his act, leads the unsuspect-
ing wayfarer to some lonely spot where
he is seized upon by number of broth
ers and carried away to the place where
the lodge is-held. On the appointed
/ evening the recruits present them
selves at the "City of Willows"
as the lodges are called, where
they are met by the Vanguard" who
carefully enters their names and places
of residence in a book kept for the pur-
pose. The Vanguard then gives orders
to form the "bridge of swords"
whereupon the brethren place them
selves in double row, and drawing
their swords cross them in the air in
the form of a bridge or arch. Under
this arch the new members are led, and
at the same time are mulcted of an en-
trance fee of twenty-one cash. After
this they are taken to Hung Gate,
where stand two Generals, who intro
duce the "new horses" to the Hall of
Fidelity and Loyalty. Here the
neophytes are instructed in the objects
of the society; and, finally, they are
conducted IN the presence of the assem-
bled council in the Lodge of Universal
Peace" AS a preliminary to the adj
ministration of the oaths, the master
examines the Vanguard in the 5333 ques-
tons of the catechism of the society,
and then orders him to bring forward
those neophytes who are will
ing to take the oath, and
to cut off the heads of those who refuse
to do so. As the Vanguard is supposed
not to bear the sword in vain, few de.
: cline to take the oath, and the cerc.
mony of utilization is proceeded with
by cutting off the queues of the recruits
Though this operation is dispensed
with if the members are living among
Chinese who are faithful to the Tartar
5 rule), by washing their faces and ex
changing their clothes for long white
s dresses as tokens of purity and the com
}. mencement of new life. Straw shoes
k signs of mourning, are also put on theil
" feet to signify the death OF their ole
nature; and thus attired they are lee
o up to the altar. Here some question.
| with reference to the immediate object!
e of the league are put to the Vanguard
It and then each member offers up nine
% blades of grass and an incense stick
n while an appropriate stanza is repeated
'e between each offering. A red candl,
|, is now lighted, and the brethren wor
ship Heaven and earth by pledgins
three cups of wine. Thi
done, the seyen-starred lamp
the precious imperial lamp, and tn
n Hung lamp are lighted, and prayer i
le made to the gods, beseeching them t
2. look down upon the members and
IS accept the incense burned in their hon
r. or. The oath binding them to observ
W obedience to the league and to displa
N spirit of fraternity, devotion an
ID righteousness toward the brethren
ID then read aloud, and is followed b
v each member drawing some blood fror
ct his middle. finger and letting it drop il
a. to a chalice partly filled with wine
lie Each neophyte then, having drank {
ID the mixture, and repeated the appoint
r ed stanza, strikes off the head of whit
a. cock, as a sign that SO shall all unfaiti
e. full and disloyal brothers perish. An
le now the ceremony of utilization is ovel
M and it remains but for the President
Y. give to each recruit a diploma, til
ar book containing the oath, law, secrt
s, signs, ETC., pair of peniards and thrt
or Hung coins. With these emblems
ly their obligations the new members r
IS turn to their homes at break of day.