Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-08-30
ANUT FOR THE ODD FELLOWS.

unquestionable that some dav she will
ANUT FOR THE ODD FELLOWS.
We know nothing about the "OlC
Work" or the ''New Work" of the Ode
Fellows, but can certify to their beinI
good fellows, whatever their "Work" MAY
be, as they term their ceremonials. The
following comes to Us, unvouched for
and it may be true or it may be not
we leave that for. the Odds to say, as il
makes no odds to us. 1t purports to be
the personal experience of an initiate
under the "Old Work" whatever that
may be, and there really seems to be
something in it:
NY INITIATION.
Ny experience, which here describe,
occurred under the "Old Work" SO
called to distinguish it from the ENeW
Work" and people who are posted will
know what l mean. / made up my
mind 10 join the order, and well remem-
Der the emotion that filed me, as put
on my best clothes to attend to initia-
ton, after my worthiness had been
tested by ballot in the lodge. The
guardian angel of my domestic peace, as
| informed her where / was going, told
me not to make fool of myself She
is wonderful woman, and her rhetoric is
original. | looked at her earnestly for a
moment, and then kissed her tender
good bye, on her nose, as did not know
positively as should ever see her again.
| was always timid, and the ordeal
through which l had to pass seemed
dreadful.
had brother-in-iaw who was an Odd
Fellow, and wore a breast-pin composed
of three links, bow and arrow, and 1
don't know what else-all of solid Attle-
boro gold-and he had savage way Of
speaking about putting me through" as
though they were going to kill me. But
I suppressed my fears, as well as l could,
and l presented myself at the lodge room,
up seven pairs of stairs, for admission.
l tried to knock at the door boldly,
but it was the feeblest of summons
enough, however, to attract attention on
the inside, when the door swung open,
creaking on its rusty hinges, hand was
laid upon my collar, and / found myself
standing in the middle of a dimly-
lighted room, smelling strongly of burn
ing sulphur, small dish of which was
upon a bracket, and gave all the light
that was visible. My sudden entrance,
my fear, and waxed floor, brought me
suddenly to a sitting posture, when a
small door to the right opened, and
little old fellow, the warden, approached
me, dressed in a black robe and wearing
a huge white wig, bearing q book in his
hand, who addressed me:
ffMorfo1l Whof cooboaf fhoT1 o,'
/ told him, very timidly, that, just
then, l thought should like to find my
feet.
He took me by the hand and lifted me
to perpendicular position. then said:
my distinguished friend, came here
to present myself for the honors of this
worthy order, and should like to be
taken in"
He gave a loud "Ha I" and 1 heard it
reverberate half dozen times, as though
fiends were laughing. As the echoes
ceased, an invisible door was thrown
open. through which burst stream of
light that overwhelmed me. Heads
piled DER heads, beyond the door, and a
hundred eyes were gazing upon me,
filing me with terror. There then filed
in the oldest looking crowd had ever
seen, dressed in all sorts of fantastic
ways, the leader of which said, In two
story voice:
aMortal! You are standing in the
yestibule of an Order that antedates
Moses; that numbered the Patriarchs'
among its members; that kings and po-
sentates have patronized; and that en-
bodies to-day all the known virtues OF
and many that are not known
and never will be. Are you prepared to
enter upon its experiences p
eyes, sir, am,T 1 managed to say.
He reached his hand towards
which I, not rightly comprehending
seized and shook warmly.
Hand over your entrance fee, then"
;ried he, in a voice Of thunder and |
lightning, which 1 did.
'ENow wait the coming of your con-
1uctor," he said as he and his retinue |
passed within the door.
By-and-by a huge fellow, fully five
eet three inches tai, dressed in a sheep |
kin coat which hung to his heels, with |
tall cap of the same, came up through |
| trap-doorjust in front of me. He bore
IN immense spear in his hand, the butt |
# which he brought down violently on |
ny toe, and shouted: ...l. f-I,'5.
''StandT
This command seemed unnecessary, as |
was already on my feet; but I stood |
ONE more, as he required, and waited
urther orders.
%Come with me-" said he, "along those |
'aths, we all have trod, which lead
trough trials. to the perfection of peace,
omeP i'-
He led on, through an opposite door
D that by which had stood, into what
eemed to be a sort Of cavern, dimIy
Ighted, and as we crossed the portal
wo ruffans, masked, and armed with
uge wooden axes, jumped out and i'm
eded our way. One of them, in hoarse
ThisDer, as if he were troubled With
ronchial difficulty, said, as he brand
shed his axe,
"Tother or Whichr'
My conductor said (Which" when
he axes threatened no more and we
7ere allowed to pass. Soon we came to
Thich sentinel sat, seemingly asleep.
! candle burning in the neck of a bottle
ave the only light, by which we could
ee huge sword lying across his knees.
Ly conductor touched his foot, saying
"M0st vigilant sentinell"
No answer but a snore.
"Most wide-awake old stopwatch"
Another snore.
"Most lively old guardian of the
pproach to the Temple Of Mystery,
eign to heed u.s." rt 1881
He gave, as he said this, vigorous
LEX to the old sentinel on the shins,
ho leaped to his feet, swinging the
word over his head and yelling:
"Who comesP
"a stranger, unsophisticated and unen-
ghtened, who, having gained admission
the vestibule of all virtues, is now
ssirous of pushing on to where those
1ceedingly Interesting articles are dis
snsed with"
"Push 70 was the answer.
NV conductor bade me push at the
oor, which I did but could not move it.
he sentinel then spoke:
stranger, these hinges only turn when
Ibricated by the oil Of palm"
He held out his hand, when / gave
i'm quarter, and then / tried the door,
hich swung easily on its hinges. We
ltered a vaulted chamber, lit by a
49,, Az ,1,.tav. nf fhn l