The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-10
BY FORCE OF HABIT
How the Faithful Address Their Ex-
allied Ruler in Meeting.
THE A. P. A. HEART AND HAND
Inner and Outer Workings OF the
Densely Secret Order Exposed
Officers and Pass Words
How to Gain Admittance.

Considerable worriment was occa-
siened by those who were ION" at the
republican county convention Thurs
day by one Of the leaders of the left
wing" rising and placing his right hand
on his heart in addressing the chair
man during the afternoon session. His
fellow friends" in the order laughed,
and so did others who knew what it
meant, and IL gradually became whis-
pered around that this was the hailing
sign at A. p. A. or Amorean meetings
This has added to the general interest
in the matter of the secret work of the
A. p. A, and many have requested
that the Standard give the details of
the movements necessary to gain ad-
mittance into the hall. In connection
with the pass word at the outer door,
the friend" desiring to gain admission
gives any signal to the sentinel that
he pleases to attract his attention. To
the sentinel he gives the password, as
already published in the Standard.
Entering, he approaches the inner door,
where he gives five raps-two first,
then two more, then one. The inside
guard then opens the wicket and the
one desiring admission gives him his
name and the name and number of his
council. II he is correct, the guard
again gives the raps-2, 2 and /. The
member answers with the same raps
He is then admitted and approaches
the altar in the center of the hall, and
salutes the president by placing his
right hand over his heart. The pfesi-
dent responds by placing his left hand
over his heart. The member then turns
around and faces the vice president and
salutes this official with the left hand
placed over the heart. The vice presi-
dent responds with the right hand over
the heart. Then the "Amorean" takes
his seat among the faithful.
When desiring to address the pres
ident. a member arises. places his right
hand over his heart and says, Friend
President" etc.
Should the member be a visitor, the
president sends out a committee of
three to investigate and see that no
one comes who is not o. X. The fol-
lowing test is used: One of the COM
mittee advances and offers his right
hand. This Is ignored by the visitor.
who extends his left hand at the same
time asking the challenger:
Did 1t ever occur to you that there
is one nearer than a brother?"
One of the committee answers:
Yes, a friendr
IL he is able to give this dialogue
correctly and has the passwords. he is
introduced to the council by the COM
mittee and takes his seat among the
Friends
There are several signs Of distress to
be used in Fourth of July riots and
other occasions of the sort. The one
most commonly used is as follows: The
member in trouble cries out: Hail, he
roesr' II there are any Friends around
they respond by saying: Here" and
going TO his assistance.
The idea in having two names to the
organization-"A. y. A" and "Amore-
ans" is to allow a member to deny his
connection with the A. =. AS. He is. IL
he chooses TO so construe IL, member
OF the Amoreans not of the A. Z. As.
In this same way they are permitted
TO deny membership when under oath
in court.
Since the publication of the pass
words In the Standard. the outside
sign or term and the state passwords
have been changed. The inside pass
word, "Omer," has not been changed.
The state officers of the organization
for the present year are:
President-J. ID. Caldwell of Butte.
Vice president-Dave Marler of An
aconda.
Chaplain-Rev. w. h. Combs of Phil
ipsburg.
Secretary. ]. Anderson Of Butte.
Treasurer-N. II. Morley of Ana
conda.
sergeant-at-arms-Th Amos of
Butte.
Guard-William Talbot of Butte.
National trustee-W. J. Palmer OF
Butte.
Delegates to national convention at
washington-H. II. Cullom OF Butte
and Rev. W. Is. Combs of Philipsburg.