The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-10-27
G1ID.E(ON'S BAND,
THE OATH ANDFORMOF mi
TIATION.
The Order: Was Gotten .up by
Macune and Organized at Ocala
Two Years Ago-A Complete
Account Of it's Plans and Pur-

Macune and Organized at Oca]
Two Years Ago-A Comple1
Account Of it's Plans and Pu,
poses.
lChicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14.-"Gideon
Band" is the newest factor in tn
years campaign. 1t proposes t
smlte the heather of the old partit
after the biblical method. This develor
ment of Alliance pelitics, as unfolde
to the Tribune correspondent, is
remarkable one. Yet every detail ca
be taken as absolutely correct, an,
the Alliance leaders will be slow +
deny the existence of the secret oath
bound order within the order.
National Lecturer Willetts. Be,
Terrell, of Texas, and Jerry Simpson
can enllgbten the public if they will
Maybe Chairman Taubeneck has ais,
heard of it.
Time and again it has been charged
by the politicians of the two old partie
that the order of the National Allianc,
and industrial Union was bein9
manipulated by certain of its leader:
Tor their personal aggrandizement ant
preterment, but not until few day.
ago were these complaints and charge.
verified, and the motor, the whee
within a wheel, by which the mass O
Alllancemen are moved, fully ex.
oosed
lhe story is strange one, and goes
% illustrate the folly of the farmers in
allowing themselves to become bodily
incorporated into an order whose
work is hidden from sight and whose
public demands are both unjust and
unreasonable.
This wheel within the Alliance
Wheel is preferred oath bound
society, to the few known as the
Band of Gideon" which was organ
zed by Dr. Macune and others at the
ocala meeting two years ago. 1t was
iuly ottlcered at the meeting and EN-
braces in its membership all, or nearly
all OF the Alliance leaders. Its object
s to strike the two old political
.'arties wherever they may be in con.
crol. The plan of this secret society
as laid down by Macune, its origina-
sor, is a simple one, but the results
expected were to be widespread. 1t
rontemplates the raising of political
legion of 800 men in each Congress
alonal District in the Union. This
secret inter-society seems to have been
suggested by the biblical legend laid
down in the book of Judges, wherein
IS recited the story of the overthrow of
the Midianite and Amalekite host and
the deliverance of Israel under the
leadership of Jerubbaal, who is
Gideon.
EXT OF THE IRONB BOUND OBLIGATION.
Not even the despised "Know-
Nothings' ever adopted an oath SO
sweeping as the one given below. The
Gideons are not only required to
subscribe to it but to pledge their
lives to obey it. The form is copy
Of those printed for general use
throughout the country. 1t runs thus:
T., a free citizen of this re-
public, do hereby, in the presence of
iod and these witnesses, solemnly
wear never to reveal to any human
helng on earth any of the signs or
secrets of this order or the existence of
the same.
That l will not divulge by any
means calculated to convey an idea,
either directly or indirectly, the name
of any person belonging to this order,
CT the method by which its work is
conducted or any work that has been
Gone or accomplished or sought to be
accomplished.
That l will implicitly obey all laws,
rules, and regulations of this order and
udquestioningly carry out all instruc-
tons and commands from superior
officers.
That will, without any evasion or
reservation whatever speak the
exact truth when conversing with a
brother of this order under the n
That l will Immediately, upon
r :ceipt of any information which leads
ME to suspect the fidelity to the cause
o. integrity of any brother, report the
SINE to my superior officers.
That l will not make or preserve
for my own use or qualification any
W rltten or other evidence calculated
to convey the names of brothers, or
81 sns, grips, pass words, or other
secrets of this order.
That l will never propose any one
for membership who is not honest,
true and devoted to the cause
" hich we espouse.
That will labor for the accomplish
nent of industrial freedom from mo-
n opolistic greed.
That l will, upon any and all oc-
,csions defend the principles of this
order and the good name of the men,
ocrs thereof
To all Of aOhifh I most solemnly
7zoear and sign my name, binding
nyseJf nnaey no less penalty than that
y being held up to the contempt Of oil
Hankina. And I further pLe4ge my,
ye, my liberty, and my sacred Aono,,
zaa should I aoilyfuIy 6yeak this
'nh I hereby surrender my body to
h just vengeance of the members of
his order.
P. o., County Of, State or
-, District No..
Read and SIGNED in the nresence /,