The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-02-06
NY INITIATION.


My experience, which I here describe,
occurred under the "Old Work." SO
called to distinguish it from the "NeW
Work" and people who are posted will
know what / mean. / made up my
mind to join the order, and well remem-
Der the emotion that filed me, as 1 put
on my best clothes to attend to initia-
ton, after my WOrthiness had been
tested by a ballot in the lodge. The
guardian angel of my domestic peace, as
l informed her where 1 was going, told
me not TO make a fool Of myself. She
is a wonderful woman, and her rhetoric Is
original. 1 looked at her earnestly for a
moment, and then kissed her a tender
good bye, on her nose, as did not know
positively as I should ever see her again.
[ was always timid, and the ordeal
through which I had to pass seemed
dreadful.
1 had brother-iI-iaw who was an Odd
Fellow, and wore a breast-pin composed
Of three links, a bow and arrow, and L
don't know what else-all of solid Attle-
bOrO gold-and he had a savage way Of
speaking about putting me through" as
though they were going to kill me. But
l suppressed my fears, as well as 1 could,
and presented myself at the lodge room,
up seven pairs Of stairs, for admission.
I 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, a hand was
laid upon my collar, and I found myself
standing in the middle of a dimly-
7sIt1 ,,r,- rv,,o1lir,cr ef-or, rrlvr of 1,r7r.1,
ing sulphur, a small dish Of which was
upon a bracket, and gave all the light
that was visible My sudden entrance,
my fear, and a 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
& huge white wig, bearing a book in his
hand, who addressed me:
Mortal! What seekest thOU%
I told him, very timidly, that, just
then, thought I should like to find my
feet.
He took me by the hand and lifted me.
to a perpendicular position. then said:
my distinguished friend, I came here
to present myself for the hOnOrs Of this
worthy order, and should like to be
taken in"
He gave a loud "Ha /" and I heard it
reverberate half a dozen times, as though
iends were laughing. As the echoes
ceased, an invisible door was thrown
open, through which burst a stream Of
light that overwhelmed me. Heads
piled Ger heads, beyond the door, and
hundred eyes We're gazing upon me,
filling me with terror. There then filed
in the oldest looking crowd I had ever
seen, dressed in all sorts of fantastic
wavs, the leader of which said, in a two
story voice:
"Mortal! You are standing in the
vestibule of an Order that antedates
Moses: that numbered the PatTiarchs
among its members; that kings and po-
tentates have patronized; and that em-
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 y
"Yes. sir, I am, " 1 managed to say.
He reached his hand towards
which I, not rightly comprehending,
seized and shook warmly.
Hand over your entrance fee, then"
cried he, in a voice Of thunder and
which did.