The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-24


ton Of the Work of Conferring
the Degree.
One of the largest crowds that ever
assembled at Farview was present
there on Saturday. The occasion was
the reunion of the Odd Fellows from
Wayne, Luzerne and Lackawanna
counties. The principal attraction,
however, was the comforting of the de-
gree of chivalry upon over twenty
five women and four chevaliers.
The members of the Department
Council, Patriarchs Militant, who were
in session in this city on Friday, aC-
companied by the Scranton Canton of
this branch of the order in full dress
uniform, paraded over the principal
streets OF the city Saturday morning
and then took the train on the Della
ware and Hudson railroad for Far
view. They We're accompanied by over
1900 persons from this city.
Excursions were run from all of the
places within a radius of fifty miles of
Farview and it is estimated that near
ly 10000 persons were in attendance.
The ceremony Of comforting the de-
gree took place at 3 o'clock in the af-
ternoon. 1t is the most elaborate ritual
istic ceremony in the ritual Of the or
der and held the attention of all pres
ent from start to finish.
A plot of ground 250x15O feet was
staked off for the use Of those par
ii, 'pating. The stakes used we're each
topped alternately with American and
English silken flags making a very
pleasing effect and showing the Anglo
American sentiments of those in
charge.
At one end of this space were three
tents for the use Of the department
commander and his staff. At the other
end and facing the tents the Scranton
Canton, which participated. was
dlawn uD in line with swords at
carry. The Lawrence Band was sta
tened in front of the commando
tent The ceremony was as follows:
INTERESTING CEREMONY.
The male candidate for the degree
| entered in fun uniform and after sur
rendering his sword and uncovertng
| mis- head passed under the eros sell
! swords of the participating canton
! called the arch of humiliation" He
was then conducted to a font of water
! in which he washed his hands signify
ing his desire to cleanse the body OF
| sin
lie was then presented to the De
| partment Commander, who was seated
| In his tent surrounded by his staff A.
| ter having examined the candidates
| credentials, the latter stepped back in
| c'nIreny With a captain, wh1 acts as
| his conductor. Four young ladies at
| tired in white and wearing a bow of
| red ribbon, one Of pink and green, one
| of royal purple and one of scarlet
white and purple, respectively, then
appeared and took up a position be-
| tween the commander and the candi-
| date.
| The candidate was next required to
| kneel on his right knee and placing
his hand upon a Bible placed on a
| drum before him he repeated the fol-
| lowing obligation: "I - - of my
own free will and accord before these
! living witnesses, do thus voluntarily
| promise and obligate myself to defend
| maidens, wives, widows and orphans
| in their rights; to relieve the dis
| tressed; permit no eXtortion, so far
as | may be able to prevent it; to sup
port those who are weak and power
less to maintain their rights, and to
administer Justice 10 hhe advance
ment of honor and the suppression
of vice. All of whicn 1, in this pres
ence, do avow it my purpose and
! intention to perform, to the extent of
my ability, under penalty which shall
be no less than degradation caused
! by the loss of my personal and mill
tary honor should / violate this SOL
emn obligation" At the conclusion of
this vow the drum rolled and the
members present presented swords.
LADIES TAKE A HAND.
The first young lady then stepped
forward and placed upon the heel of
the candidate golden spur giving the
instrument Of coercion to the strong
est member Of the body and beseech-
ing him to go on in the chivalrous
work.
The second young lady then ad-
vanced and presented the candidate
with his sword, telling him to unsheatt
it only in the right and to use il in
defense of the principles he had just
voluntarily esDoused.
The third young lady next stepped
forward and handed the candidate @
steel gauntlet, as a symbol of firmness
and warned him to be ever firm ant
true and exercise the quality of mercy
The fourth lady then advanced and
gave the candidate white silk glove
symbOlizing that however bold anC
firm he might be that kindness anC
gentlcness must be used before force
of arms is resOrted to-
The decoration of chivalry was mex
pinned upon the breast of the kneel
ing candidate by a tiny girl clad il
white, typifying innocence and purity
The decoration consisted of a whit,
cross of ancient design having mount
ed upon the face a scarlet heart an(
bearing a golden crown, with the fol
lowing motto on the back: BE Just
merciful, honorable and brave"
The whiteness represents purity, up
on which all justice is built; the scar
let heart the heart of man, from
which flows the fountain of mercy; thO
golden crown is indicative of tn,
crowning virtue, honor, when prac
ticed to defend helpless women. Tn,
, candidate was then struck slightly OF
the back by the commander with hi
sword and was q created a chevalier
DECORATION OF WOMEN.
In the comforting Of the decoration
upon women the presentation of tn,
various emblems was omitted and tn
wording of the obligation changed
but the ceremony was otherwise al
most Identical
1,ha 1a0raa ,yas confarrnd b,r M