Bridgeton pioneer., 1895-05-09

WI y oll, tiuQ R6 dSCCAQOu UllO SbdlIS W
enter upon the ordeal with considerable
| nonchalance.
70 his surprise he found that the in
itation ceremonies were dignitied and
| solemn. A great deal was said of phi
lanthropy, Friendship and loyalty, and
he felt as though he were being received
! into church. Then he was given the
passwords and grip and soon after was
the center o. crowd of men, receiving
congratulations and slaps on the back.
He passed delightful evening. Music.
cigars and well told stories followed ono
another rapidly, and it was after mid
night when he reached his home and his
worried wife. A few days later he
placed i'll his buttonhole the figured
3utton Of the Triple Platers and prac-
iced the grip with his friend until he
lad it perfect
.Jarley for the second time in his
married life broke his stay at home rule
by going to the lodge the next Tuesday
evening, and the week after found him
there again. The pleasant evenings with
the Triple Platers and the novelty OF it
all turned his attention to the dull life
led by his wife, aud he took her to the
theater
Soon after the Triple Platers held an
open lodge for the wives and friends Of
the members. farley bought Mrs. jar
ley dress for the occasion, and the
breath nearly left the good woman when
she found that he had ordered carriage
The friend who had induced him to
Join the society had not painted its ben
efits too gaudily, for a member Of Jar
ley's lodge died, and farley was ap-
pointed one of the pallbearers and was
one of the committee to take check
for So, 900 to the widow. The assess
ments were not numerous, and farley
figured that he was carrying a~life in
surance of So, 900 for about $15 thou
sand. He also wore his Triple Plate
button, and one week when he was sent
out of the city on business he attended
b lodge meeting in the country town
and made some valuable business ac-
quaintances.
farley had been a Triple Platter for
six months, when he was approached
by member of his church with propo-
sition to join the B. of G. T. X, Sc
cret mutual accident and sick benefit
association.
"You say that you are Triple Plat
er, "'said the church member. "Your
lodge meets Tuesday evenings That's
all right. Ours meets Thursdays. The
Triple Platers have no accident and sick
benefits. Twenty five dollars a week if
oc.o1 4, md r
by the B. of @. T. X. You had better
come in. 1t won It cost over $25 a year. "
In his methodical, businesslike way
farley figured it out, and few weeks
later he was initiated into the B. of c..
T. X. He placed the gold button of the
B. of @. T. x on the lapel of his vest
and felt that his family was well pro-
vided for
Feeling that he ought to encourage
that which was of so much benefit to
himself he brought in numerous mem
bers to both associations and subscribed
for the organs of both orders. He was
looked upon as valuable man by both
societies and in short time was elected
outer guard of the Triple Platers and
inner guard of the B. of Q. t. x.
Soon after his election he was invited
to join an order which was composed
entirely Of men in his line of business,
the Benevolent and Supreme Order of
the Princes of the Seven Sleepers.
This met on Saturday night, and the
same enthusiasm which he had display
ed in keeping up his self acquired repu-
tation as great home body led him to
assume leading part in the Seven
Sleepers He was elected secretary of
the association and soon after was elect
ed warder in the Triple Platers and high
counselor in the B. of Q. T. X Three
evenings week were taken up by the
three societies, and his front parlor be-
came a committee room Mrs. farley
rather liked the change. The Triple
Platers, B. of @. T. KS and Seven
Sleepers We're pleasant men, and her
home life had variety and hvellness
which contrasted most pleasantly with
the ten years of monotony.
farley was now full fledged secret
society man. He joined the American
Order of the Kickapoos, the High and
Mighty knights of the Supreme Coun-
Gil of the Eclipse, the Brethren of the
Order of the Lost Pleiades, the Sons of
Neptune and the Baronial Order of the
Ancients. He was elected to office i'll
each one of the associations, and when
he was not at lodge meetings he was
poring over books and accounts, address
ing postal cards, attending committee
meetings, making out programmes for
open meetings, examining applications
and ufacticing grips.
He attended two lodges on one even
ing sometimes, and his multitudinous
responsibilities, his numerous member
ships end his lodge acquaintances
brought about confusion of grips, pass
words and rituals which caused him to
introduce Triple Plate procedures in the