Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-28
FUN ON THE FRONTIER.
Il SECRET SOCIETY THAT ECLIPSEs
THE SONS OF MILITIA.

n SECRET SOCIETY THAT ECLIPSES
THE SONS OF Militia.
How st. Paul Drummer was lnitiated--A
Rigid Physical Inspection--The Candidate
Consents to Treat all Around--The Candi-
dates AIodesty Shocked by the Entrance
of "Sister Margood"--The "Royal Arch
through Which the Victim was Spanked
Elegant Position for Lecture which Ter
inmates With Well Directed Stream of
Water--He Wanted a Travelling Card and
PasswOrd--How "Snoddy" Took it Back
A Model Theater.
Correspondence of the Daily Globe.l
B1sMARoK, April 23-Bismarck may have
many reprehensible characteristics, but in
part mitigation thereof she has one society
that merits the esteem of the entire country.
The name of this exceptional organization is
the Pioneer Relief Association, having for
its object benevolence and the cementing of
brotherly love and affection among travelling
men. The society was formerly known as
the Ancient Order of Red Men, but its doc
trine and forms of government were SO diff
ferent from those of the order of that name,
SO extensive throughout the States, that its
title was changed to the one first mentioned.
The parent society was first organized at st.
Louis in 1849, by the emigrants there gath
cred preparatory to starting npon
q long and perilous journey
across the plains, to the alluring
recesses of California. These Adventures,
realizing the dangers that would beset them
while en- ronte, and approaching the neces-
sity of an organization, and the enforcement
of discipline, banded together; registered
oaths of the greatest solemnity; adopted a
code of signals, grips, signs and tokens by
which one brother might know another in
the darkness as we'll as the light, and sub
scribed to the enforcement of direst penal
ties upon all who shonld in the least, know
ingly or Willingly reveal any of the secrets
impaired, or transgress any part of their OBJ
legation. ''The Argonauts of 40" have, as
class, passed into that undiscovered coun-
try from whose bourne no traveller returns,
but, as the good that men do lives after
them, their noble work of establishing what
is now known as the Pioneer Relief Asso-
cation remains, perpetual monument
of honor. The Bismarck society, the strong
est in the country, numbers SO, 1865 members,
all of whom must Of necessity be, or have
been, legitimate travelling men-"drum-
mers.' if you please-and must either have
passed through Indian country, or contem-
plate an immediate trip of such character.
AS the immense Black Hills trade has drawn
through Bismarck very many commercial
tourists, all of whom were eager to become
members of the order, it is not strange that
the society here is numerically large, par
ticularly so when we consider that upon the
death of member tax of $1.O1 is levied
upon survivors for the benefit of the family
of the deceased. St. Paul is largely repre-
scented, including "Fatty" Chase, of P. 81.
Ter; Thompson, of Dyer & Howard; Harrison,
of Benz & Becht's liquor house; Keene, of
| White, Stone & Co., and many others. The
ceremony of imitation and declaration, is of
striking impressiveness, and was recently
beheld by your correspondent "a non-mem-
berg through convenient knot hole. The
candidate CHANGED to be Black-Brick's
man, Jones, on his return from very sue
cessful trip to the hills. On his way out, he
learned of the order, and seeking informa-
ton concerning it, called upon the Grand
Sachem, j. A. McClain, who impaired as
much information as his obligations would
| permit, and, upon Jones declaring his in
tention to affiliate upon his return, gave him
freternal letters of introduction to members
in the Hills. AS stated, his trip thanks to
the letters) was eminently successful, and he
| returned in the most exuberant
spirits and declared his readi-
ness to receive the degrees. The
lodge room is temporarily located in the
second story of the city hall-which is also
occupied on Sundays by an Episcopalian
Church society, much to the advantage OF
both in that rents are cheapened, and one
organ, or piano, sufficient for all purposes
This room was deliberately fitted up for the
occasion, and was densely crowded. At the
north, stood an immense affair, much like an
old Dutch pulpit fifteen feet hign-occu.
pied by the Great 1ncahone Joseph Hare
magnifcently attired in q calico suit spang
led with paper stars, and striped and girdled
with beautifully colored paper two inches
wide. Bridging his nose were a pair Of
goggles with glasses of green, and
large as saucers, while upon his
noble brow rested funnel shaped paste.
board cap three feet tall, from the apex Of
which dangled luxuriant tassel of black
and white fringed paper. In his hand he
held club, whose ponderosity may be con
jectured when affirm twas three feet long
Perfectly degage sat the great Incahone, tn.
very embodiment of regal splendor and
power.
The Grand Sachem in the South, Crane
Advisor in the East, Grand Inquisitar in tn,
West, and Grand Recorder and Syndicato
on either side of the Great Incahone, wer,
likewise elevated DER the. brethren, ant
we're richly attired, although
less extensively than the pre-
siding officer. The candidate was met at hi
uotel by committee of sixteen and take,
into private room, where the chairma,
said:
Mr.. Jones we are directed by the Grea
Incahone (here the sixteen salaamed) Il
wait upon you in obedience to your reques
to become one of the order known as th
Pioneer Relief Association. Do you still
cherish such desire?
Jones-1 do.
The Sixteen-'Tis well.
Observation-Disclosures we nroceed II hecoma