Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-20
THE SILENT SEVEN.

A Unique Organization in Baltimore That
Serves as n Matrimonial Agency
Referees Appointed Who Decide All
Matters of the Henrt-The Clubs Good
Work.
There is . club in Baltimore which is one Of
the most secret and peculiar organizations
ever known. The constitution limits the num-
ber of members to IL. 1t has been in existence
about two years, but SO cautious are those who
belong to it, that there are at present but seven
members. Eleven was fixed upon as the maxi
mum limit, because, it is said. only few we're
wanted. and an odd number was desired so as
to avoid ties in voting. 1t is not known for a
certainty where this club meets. 1t is believed
that the members come together once week
somewhere in the center or western part of the
city, but it is probable. from certain indica-
tions that they change their place of meeting.
The seven are all under IS years of age,
of good standing in society, sober, in
dustrious fellows, but none of them
are rich. though they are all fairly wellto-do in
the world. The club has, outside of its social
pleasure, but two objects. Each man has
sworn that he will act as brother to every
other man in the club, as respects two things
to see that he is not imposed upon in marriage
or in business. They do not care what one
another's religion is, nor how much money any
man has. nor how he spends it. They visit
good deal, but not all in the same set Not In
frequently several meet in drawing-rooms where
ladies are, but no hint is ever dropped that
they belong to the same club, or to any club. 1t
has happened several times that two or more
have been introduced by ladies. and they have
met as strangers. AS soon, however, as any
man begins to take SO close an interest in
lady that he is satisfied it is beginning OF
love, or contemplates enlarging or changing
his business, he reports it to the club, and the
seven take counsel together.
All Are Honorable Men.
Three have been married in the last Is
months, says the american, and there are no
happier couples in Baltimore. So secret are
the members in their work that these three
wives do not know that their husbands belong
to the silent seven. These seven are high
minded, honorable gentlemen, and in their in
vestigations they do no underhand work. There
is no trickery, no system Of espionage or mean
spying into lady's character. They use fair
methods, and endeavor simply but safely to de-
termine whether one Of their number ought to
marry the lady he has become interested in.
They have lots of fun when one gets his first
attack of love- and confesses his sickness to the
brethren. He has to stand q good deal OF mild
guying as sort OF preliminary test OF his
passion, and then the club proceeds to business.
They make inquiry into everything connected
with the lady that should be considered in de-
Gliding whether she is the proper person for
their brother to marry. The discussions are
said to be interesting They do not allow any
of their number to impose upon lady by pre-
violate his oath so far. No case of member
getting into lady's heart by making her be-
lieve he is different from what he is, or by
practicing deception about his worldly estate,
has come before the club. Each believes his
brother to be a man of honor.