The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-16
SECRETseALLIANCE WORK.
FoRMALITY IN OPENING LODGE MEET
INGS.

ceremonies of the Initiati"n---H"""
Advice Shot AT Candidates from
all Quarters ..- The Grips''' The
words -. Prayers and Scripture
Quotations Galore.
From the New York SUM
The Sun is enabled 10 lay before its readers
the ritual the symbols, Tue ,h stihp ,ba eripS the
narnphernnlia of the Farmers, Alliance. inc
uterest eSs especiai
" ,o members of Masonic institutions
and all other secret societies, Inc lhIortna
tion did not come voluntarily 10 lhe sun
Thenature of the secret vows oi 'ne idanno
hers OF the Alliance Is Tie s'ionSe''
of that. ,,o au,.ncsit will
he observed that 1t is simple. IL seems 10
have been built upon the premises thaI cne
,nembers could not necessarily devote much
time TO study OF Intricate forms. All the
onpstion asked by the presiding oHlcers OF
candidates are direct ana simpei ios 90 most ' ne
do with the conduct Of the Initiated mem
hers The sun has not authority to publish
The initiatory ceremonies, tnougn Lhese Ger
enonies are also of the simplest klnu.
The first essential feature OF me proceed
,,ss in Lodge OF Farmers Alliance men
is found in the position OF us otncers. oWine
TO the great diversity OF snaps, or me csn he
ent da nai,s hat cnuld be followed by ALL But as
near as possible several general rules are
followed. The position OF ine preS'uems @ onst re- re-
,noIe ,no from The place of entrance. The vice.
nresident is at the left and close TO the pres
ident. The treasurer is on the IeiI Oh aS rne
ice nresident. The secretary IS on the pres
ident,s right. and usually midway between
the president and the corner of ~, tne roo,,' oon,
The altar is in the exact centre oI liz IHe 'oo'i''
There Is always big Blole on tne ailai' M ,r,o
i,i,, lat.tnrer are Oh ODpO-
S,ta NE s,Ses H of The room. the chaplain on the
right and the lecturer on the let rom tne
The sosr TSe asssn is
raener isamdway between the aoorE1Eper
md the lecturer. Whatever variationSSay
be necessary in the position Ol nag, ne of the
nresident and the doorkeeper. Inc genera
Instruction guiding the lodges OF Inc AN,
amce insists that candidates VINO nave haye
been regularly elected TO membership may De
;mitiated at q meeting called for that pur-
Insa Rut the ballot cannot be spread at a
called meeting. .,,, ,,,st ,1vovs
Application for membership nlusS Ss,a ai%"ys 49,
be made at q regular meeting: me aoor,
Eeener must not step outside OF the door 10
receive the word, neither may he receive IL
in the doorway with the door open. ne may
not attend any aarm eIsea be admits The Brother
, inside the dooI, shuts the door, and receives
The word. he reports a wrong alarm. ana ,i
the president requests me 1Te s'd% doorSe may
anu AM eIImit anyone during the opening,
initiatory or closing ceremonies. Ihe vice
president has gayel; ana ,u,n IL any hgn en tbe sal
nniion sign he gives one rap, calling tne
house 10 order and reporting the member 10
The nresident. The president OF the lodse
has full charge of the secret Work.
OPENING OF A MEETING.
The form Of opening lodge OF the an,
ance is unihteresting. The following are the
,,rocoelippS.
PresiIent: The hour has arrived for open
ing this-(The ritual does not say whetheT
The assembage is a cnaP'ep nap re or not mem Numbers
nf the Order In good standing, they Will
nlease retire Brother doorkeeper, please
Secure the door and admit no one during the
The assistant doorkeePer and steward ap
n,onch the president and give the room word.
the president finding them correct, cohtin-
ues: You will now proceed TO MAKE up Ihe
room, word and report 1t all correct.
MMembers when approach, should rise ana
olive NE word in u whisper, and when reauy
10 report these officers advance to the centre
of the room, salute the president with sign
Of courtesy, announce their report by say
ing: I'VE find all correct or All correct ex,
cept'-(naming such as are not correct( and
any person not In possession OF ene wore wore
mHsi be excluded from the room, unless some
member will vouch for such person.
President: LET us all join our chaplain In
invoking The blessing of Almighty God
The chaplain auFunces W .ae IL ra,in,n
Ing form is inserted, to be used by the chap
LAIN or not, as he may choose.
Almighty and Everlasting God In whom
Is all power and wisdom. on which we must
depend for everything that we have and are,
realize that Thou art omnipotent and omnis'
cient. We adore and worship Thee for Thy
Thy mercy and InS SSonoSess st
Ihe many blessings Thou hast bestowed upon
MS and the redemption offered through Thine
onIy begotten Son, our LORD ana savior Jesus
Christ We most earnestly beSeech Thee
That Thou wilt look in mercy upon us, Tor
give US our sins, and let Thy blessing be shed
abroad in our midst We humhly invoke
Thy spirit to guide us IN al 1ne wa'KS o n, 'ie hn
with us in our deliberations rs body. May
we be drawn 10 each other In that spirit oi
fraternity, Of love and Justice which Thou
wilt bless. May oil that we do be for the
betternent OF humanity and for the honor
and glory OF Thy great name"
PRESIDENT: You will now assist me In ad-
yancng the signs.
for The transaction or business.
The next proceedings are always the inltia-
tIon Of new members. The form OF inltia-
tion follows:
CEREMONY OF INITIATION.
President: Brother Secretary Is there any
candidate present for Initiation
Secretary: Brother President, report can
didates present seeking admission who have
been duly elecled. as lOllOWS:
President: Brother Steward, you will now
introduce the candidate for initiation.
The steward and Canidate approach the
door and give any simple alarm.
DoOrkeeper: There Is an alarm at the door,
brother president,
President: Seek the cause and report.
Doorkeeper: A candidate seeking admis.
sion to our Order.
President: Admit him.
The body of the lodge or chapter here sings
n stanZa of q hymn or any familiar solemn
song, while the steward conducts the can.
didate to position Immediately in front OF
and facing the president.
Steward: Brother President, l have the
honor to present to you Mr.-for initia'
tion.
President: Brother Steward, why does he
seek adm iSsion into our Order?
Steward: Because he desires TO aid by
every means in his power cur efforts In be.
half of the wealth producers of the land.
President: Before we proceed 1t will be
necessary that you take on yourself sol
emn obligation, which assure you will not
conflict with The freedom of your political
or religious Views. With this assurance, are
you willing TO proceed:
Candidate: | am.
President: Mr., doyou believe in the