The San Francisco call., 1897-03-10
FELLOWSHIP.
An Interesting Meeting of Sequoia Par
lor of the Native Sons-The
ROYAL Arcanum.

Sequoia Parlor, one OF the most active of the
Native Sons of the Golden West and
the ore among the local parlors which has
the reputation of having the largest average
attendance a each meeting had an eventful
time in Yosemite Hall, Native Sons building,
last Monday night. In the presence of large
membership ii initiated six candidates in due
form, and after the close OF the parlor the de-
gree team of the Exalted Order of Nincom-
poops took charge OF the hall and guarded the
outer portals while they went through their
wonderful, exhilarating and highly instruc-
tive ceremony of initiating a candidate into
the mysteries of the order.
Six members, attired in long flowing robes
OF crimson silk ornamented with Jewels and
lace OF great value and wearing strange shaped
hoods and having their faces partly concealed
by half masks and boards, entered the hall in
which the glare of the brilliant light had been
subdued, led by High Potential Nincompoop
John GrIH, TO the sound OF brass ins rumonts
that were recovered from some of the buried
cities OF the Orient In a silent manner the
seXtet projected to build an altar aud 10 lay
upon the floor carpet of Mississippi silk of
extraordinary design, constructed with view
TO instant removal from its position by strong
and willing hands at some time during the
ceremonies.
The altar hastily erected, was a wonderful
one, and Tor fear that some one who was not Il
memb Der OF the order might be tempted to steal
IL there was tring IL 1t. All being in readi-
ness, the high potential nincompoop called
the roll, each member answering to his title
in phrases classic, but strange, that none but
the initiated understood. Then the candidate
who had dared to express the opinion that he
would ike to solve the secrets OF the great
order was marched into the hail. LED by Two
attendants-for he was blind 10 the world his
eyes having been bandaged by kerchlef of
silk that had once been worn by one of the
Oriental monarchs when taking the degrees
in the days just after the flood. Having an
swered NUMBER OF questions in a satisfactory
manner, he was led 10 the station of the high
potential sub-nincompoop and initiated into
the first degree in most impressive manner
So impressive was this that it will be a long
time before he will forget the effect it pro-
duced upon him.
Then he was led to the cloth of silk for the
second degree, which a solemn lesson of
the manner in which young man by the aid
OF those ready to lend helping hand can rise
In the world, and then the candidate VINO had
stood both tests with remarkable fortitude
and showed that he would not finch in the
hour OF need was led 10 he high eXecutioner
and by him conducted to the altar and there
given a lesson to show how young man can
fall when there is combination against him.
After that he was given the secret work the
language OF which is full of meaning that the
candidate cannot forget and then he was noti-
fed tnat 1t became his life duty 10 find addi-
tional candidates for mem Dersnip and he
promised that he would per oTIn it.
These ceremonies over, the parlor was
thrown open and programme presented.
This under the direction OF President s
A. White, and had been prepared by Louis NJ
Bannan, chairman OF the good of the order
committee. There vas ins trumental music
by the Native Sons band, composed OF mem
bers OF Sequoia Parlor, Professor Souser,"
leader; vochItZation by NJ. Gamble. w. Fen
stermacher, Joe Morrison and George Little,
and well-executed piano solo by Paul
Dunphy, the candidate of the Nincompoops.
1ce-cream, cakes, lemonade and pipes and
tobacco were distribu ted during the evening"
Argonaut Council, Royal Arcanum.