The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-17
STRANGE SECRET ORDER
"F. ID. l.. G." THE MOST REMARKABLE
SOCIETY IN EUROPE.
schOoIbOys Arc Its Members and They
Are Organized against the Cath
Ollie Church.

constantly threatened by almost countless
dangers. but by none more powerful than
by that extraordinary secret society known
60 its members as the -. ID. L. c." which.
being interpreted. stands for Les Freres
de la Cote The Brothers OF the Coast.
Few Englishmen. and not many French
men either. for the matter Of that, have
ever heard Of this remarkable society. Its
Members. to the number OF 2.500.Oo0. consist
entirely Of boys from the ages OF fourteen
10 twenty. the majority Of whom are re-
ceiving education at the hands OF the
priests in the ecOles ibres. or free schools,
which are controlled by the Roman Cath
Ole Church.
The society has two objects in view. First
and foremost. they are bound together for
the propagation and encouragement OF
atheism and the destruction OF the power
of the PaDal Church. On the arm Of each
member is tattooed in large print the let
tiers "A. D." signifying Anti-Dieu. These
letters carry with them a vow to observe
as little as possible the rules OF the Roman
Catholic Church If complete abstinence
from her be Incompatible with
home life. No Brother Of the Coast
must genuhect before the altar; he must
never confess unless practically dragged 10
the confessional, and even then he must
treat the ceremony with ridicule; he must
never communicate unless under parental
compulsion; and he must not only not fast
or eat maigre. but he must starve himself
at the family dinner table only TO stun
himself with forbidden meat at som cosi-
venient restaurant.
He must. in fact. do all in his power 10
associate himself from the church. And TO
prove how thoroughly the Brethren OF the
Coast fulfill their vows. 1 have only 10
point TO the fact that at a recent examine
ton in which one hundred OF the brethrcn
took part, they one and all. in reply TO a
question asking them 10 show the truth Of
Chrlsts miracles. answered that they were
an invention, an absurd fairy talei
USHERs TERRORIZED.
The second object for which the society
is constituted is for the UNFOLDING Of is
members supposed rights. If a master lie
too severe he has at once to reckon witt
the F. ID. l. c. a deputation is formed to
wait upon the headmaster and complain Of
the offending tutors conduct.
Then the +. ID. l.. c. await results. IL the
masters behavior does not at once show a
radical change they take action. A sheet
OF paper, with the letters +. ID. L. c. print
- - - nm - AA1HILA III
the headmaster's letter box, who knows by
experience that unless his colleague menas
his ways he will have to look out FIR
squalls. Generally the mysterious piece OF
Papef mas an instant and an excellent
eHect, but N the head be obstinate the
brethren show their teeth. Tn unfortuna. e.
tutors life Is made a burden 10 him. Let
him look away for one instant while in
class and a book is flung at his head: I
MN turn away for another moment and al
inkpot follows the volume. Punishment is
useless, for the Brethren OF the Goa Z
cheertully bear one another's burdens. and
II is a rule Of the society that no member
snail perform the punishment task metcd
out to him. IT is invariably undertaken 10y
another.
Again. if the food allotted to the boys lie
In their opinion not Of sufficient qualit
the f. ID. l.. G. step in TO mend matter a
A favorite method IS 10 abstain from fool
altogether, with the effect that on return
ing 10 their homes they are in such a state
OF weakness and W-health that the pa
ents insist upon an alteration OF diet. One
boy OF whom / know actually died OF II :
abstinence ordered by his society. Another
way Is to actually fling the food in the
masters faces, and the members have been
known 10 go so far as to take the masters
dinners and leave them their own in their
place. SO powerful, indeed, are the Breth-
rem of the Coast that discipline is made
a practical impossibility, though to Their
credit let II be said that II they are gener-
ously and kindly treated they behave them
selves and cOnhne their attention entirely
TO the propagation Of pure and unadulte.-
dlcQ dlnelSfn.
The punishment melted out by the society
to those OF its members who break their
vows Is terribly severe. The most disgust
Ing and ignOminious barbarities are re-
sorted 10. Sometimes the lobes OF the ears
are cut; at others a great cross is scratched
on the sinners arm with a penknife while.
II his ofense is small, he is merely fined.
Blu just as the vows are terrible. so are
the punishrnents for the breaking OF them
cruel and severe. Punishment. however, IS
rarely resorted TO, for the Brethren OF the
I CnnEF ~ Rnnra Fhnn Inx~aN - 49, -
and their osths.
THE MYSTERIOUS CHIEFS.
The society is controlled by three So
called Chiefs who have their head
quarters in Paris. The head chief. who is
practically a despot. is unknown 20 all the
two and a half million members save the
second chief. Through this second chief
he issues his DEGREES. and no one else il
even cognizant Of his name. All that the
other members know is that he is a boy
like themselves. His term OF office expires
at the end Of his school life. Just as the
membership Of each one OF the brethren
ceases when he leaves the tutors hands.
The three head chiefs appoint three local
chiefs for each town. These arrange meet
ings. collect subscriptions. and generally
control the local affairs Of the society.
but they are directly responsible 10 the
headquarters staff in Paris. All the meet
llSS are nelQ IN absolute secrecy. ana gen.
orally in the open air. while sentries are
posted In every direction 10 give warning
Of the approach OF some curious cleric.
Often not a word Is spoken. but PROPOSE
tons. statements. or commands are writ
ten down and passed from hand 20 hand.
The meetings are held frequently and are
invariably attended by the full local
strength Of the society. for absence. unless
a good excuse is forthcoming means
prompt punishment.
The subscription 10 the society Is ten
francs a year. For this each member IS
entitled 20 relief 10 the extent OF thirty
francs. provided that he can show 10 the
satisfaction Of the local chiefs that he Is
absolutely destitute Of money. Each men,
Der. in addition 10 having his arm branded
with the letters "A. D." wears "A badge
IN the shape Of a red moon. and the local
chiefs bear distinguishing tattoo marks on
their right hands. The society also pos
sesses secret signs and grips"
OFFICIAL APPROVAL.
The origin OF the society dates from about
1870. II was formed by two DISCONTINUED
boys who ran away from school 10 Amer
lea. where they lived by the seashcre-
hence the title Brethren OF the Coast"
So far the priests have been powerless
10 put down this extraordinary. this ter
rible institution. which is winked at. II
not actually supported. by the French
government. whose great object Is 20 de-
stroy the power OF the Roman Catholic
Church In France. Hitherto the church