The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-26
GENERAL GORDON INITIATED.
He Was Shown the Mysteries of the Order
The Order Through Which He Passed.
TAthens Banner.l

made TO toe tne marx, auu auuIeo9 h''
ingston, Macune and Harry Brown as
brother The initiation of this dis
tinguished gentleman went through
without a jostle, and was witnessed oy
a large and enthusiastic audience OF
Alliancemen.
At the risk of being shot for exposing
the secrets of our order, will give the
Banner full report of the impressive
ceremony that sn.tched General Cor
don from the clutches of the politicians
and made him an humble disciple Of
the plow.
The candidate was escorted into the
ante room of the Alliancemen by a body
guard of farmers. He manifested some
nervousness when his conductors de-
manded that he partially disrobe and
submit to the ordeal of being currled
off with a corn cob and rubbed down
with bundle of fodder; the reason for
this phantom agricultural bath being
that it was necessary to cleanse his
person from the communicating effects
of too close a contact with Atlanta poll
ticians, Jefersonian Democrats, lnde-
pendents and other unclean elements,
and that he might enter the realms OF
agricultural bliss. He was then arrayed
in a pair of copperas pants, upheld by
one suspender, and a hickory shirt
wool hat and brogan shoes. The ALI
ance This guide explained) was no re-
specter of persons and every member
must be on an equal footing.
Three raps were given on the lodge
room door, and sepulchral voice with
in demanded:
"Who comes there?
ga poor penitent who is groveling IN
darkness, and asks that the light of the
Alliance be turned upon him, )" was the
reply.
"Is the candidate tiller of the soll?'
was the next query from within.
"He says he has always been the
best friend the farmers of Georgia ever
had" was the evasive response.
"See if there are any corrs in his
hands, or cookie burns in his hair" was
the command.
"The seeker of light says he is only
farmer by proxy, and the corns are IN
the hands of those who work his land,"
was the response.
"Does the candidate ask admittance
into our order in his own volition, and
is he prepared to pass through the Or
deal of initiation?"
"He does and he is" was the reply
from without.
"Let the candidate then remain IN
darkness until his eyes are prepared to
receive the great light that the Alliance
will turn upon him and he can enter
into our sacred precincts" was the
next order.
The eyes of theapplicant for Alliance
knowledge were bandaged with a Sec
ond hand guano sack, the door OF the
lodqe-room thrown open, and Georgla's
Ex-Governor and United States Sena-
tor. for the first time in bis life, found
himself in the inner sanctuary OF the
farmers lair. He was marched three
times around the room, while the men,
bers welcome him with
"WhiIe the lamp holds out to burn
The yilest sinner may return"
With ''gee" and ''haw" the candl-
nate was escorted to the Grand Tycoon,
who used as chair Of state the smali
end of a bale of cotton.
-, "Our would-be brother, your humlll-
ating entry into this room teaches you
useful lesson. A few minutes ago
YOU came to US reeking with the odor
of the politician, and arrayed IN the
paraphernalia Of great man. You
were stripped of your fine apparel
which means that you must also leave
behind you in your future conmunlca-
tions with farmers your worldly dig
nity, or the Alliance will strip you OF
your honors as easily as it did OF your
tailor-nade garments. All men lex
cept the nigger) are free and equal.
"The odious bandage that obscureo
YOUR vision is necessary attachment
to the farm; and while it teaches an
Allianceman that he must not expect
his pathway through life to be sprln-
killed. with the ottar of roses, will be
special reminder to you ofthe offensive
manner that you spoke of our leaders
and friends during your recent cam
paign. The conductor will now con-
vey the candidate before the high and
mighty hister for further instructions,
while the brethren will please sing
"On Jordan's stormy bank stand"
The H. and NJ. hister was squartlng
. betweet the handles of a ploW stock.
Without further ado the candidate had
an iron hook fastened in the seat of his
pants, to which a rope was attached
and thrown over beam above. With
steady pull by two sinewy Alliance
men, the distinguished gentleman was
soon dangling in the air, with hands
and feet vainly clutching at the floor.
Now hold the candidate in that po-
sition, where he can better appreciate
the beautiful lessons inculcat"d by the
Alliance - remarked the G. and NJ. H
"It is needless for the practically initi-
ated brother to longer clutch at the
floor. He has already had some expe-
rience at resigning and the wisesU
thing he can do is to put into practice
that virtue and be resigned to the po-
sition we have placed him in, and not