Evening journal., 1903-10-27
UNIQUE SECRET ORDER
Customs and Origin of the
Society of Capitalists.
THEIR ONLY DUES PAID AT DEATH

Each of the Four Hundred ana
Twelve Thousand Members Cedes
his Skull 10 the society-Banquets
Are Held Amid Grewsome Relies OF
Friends-CircIes Are being Formed
she World over.
Many versions, mostly fanciful, con-
corning the secret society Of Capitalists
have been published, but the truth far
exceeds In interest the uncanny tales
all have read, says the New York
American.
The Capitalists number 412,000, ac-
cording to the general secretary and
founder, Max Schroff, a prominent
architect Of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
Starting with the idea that the mem
bership be cemented with a pact devils
ing the skulls Of all to the society, the
original thirteen have added to their
number until the half million mark is
in sight. The Capitalists have no lodge
rooms and pay no fees or dues save the
one paid after death, the skull. Each
member signs the following pact:
I hereby redeem my promise and cede
my skull 70 the above (CephalisD fra
ternity.
The members are mostly free think
ers, men who feel no qualms over as
soclatioD with the skulls of their for
mer associates. Each year or oftener,
as occasion offers, they sit down to
r,t f.. % Of er1r. Of
the departed, each labeled across the
frontal bone with the name OF the
owner.
No. j is the skull of l.. G. Krueder,
who was one of the original thirteen
and held the Office of Diogenes. The
original society was like a Portuguese
company, all officers save one. The Of
fcers were fancifully named from
president down to Buddha, Vishnu.
Confucius, Brahma, Faustus, Ammon,
Diogenes, Ganymede, Giganticus, Osi-
rls, Vosnius and Aristoteles. Mr..
Schron was Faustus, or secretary.
The secretary, who is the planet
about who1sAall the lesser lights swing,
conceived tie weird idea of the society
in the sixties through an odd expert
ence. He formed one Of a party Of
students Of the University Of Stuttgart
who in 1865 undertook the exploration
Of the Nile.
Among the party was Homer Clarke,
a young American, son Of former Gov
ernor Clarke of Ohio. who sickened un-
der the fierce sun of the desert and fell
dead from the back of his camel. The
body was temporarily buried in the
sands. The party continued its explo-
ration to the third cataract and, re-
turning, exhumed the body. 1t was
found impossible to transport the re-
mains; still Mr.. Schron was unwilling
to permit his friends remains to rest
in the sands.
Il pondered a long time" says Mr..
Schroff. IL had always believed that
the seat OF dignity in man rested in the
skull; so / decapitated my friend and
took the head home with me. At first
/ intended sending it to his father, but
| friends restrained me. representing
that it might be considered ghastly.
Finally 1 had it prepared and brought
It to this country. There it is"
Mr.. schroff nodded to a polished
skull over his head resting upon the
top Of his desk. The grinning relic
held a long French brierwood pipe be-
tween the teeth.
Eyes, Homer. old boy" continued the
secretary, addressing the skull, ''we
have been companions for many years
and when l go my headpiece will join
you"
"A good many die" he resumed
"There are 40 skulls within ten feel
OF me. They are ali properly labeled
and numbered, and with each is a rec
ord Of the owners achievements, to.
gether with a chronological estimate
of the skull. Only one Of the original
thirteen Is dead. But we are all get
ting TO be old fellows, and our head
! pieces must soon 60 on to the shelves
with the others.
I'VE are not cranks. We believe that
the head, the birthplace and repository
Of noble thoughts, should not be com
mitted to the annihilatlng flames MOI
get to the worms IN the grave; there
fore we preserve the skull. We are
performing great scientific service
for our phrenologists are enabled tC
compare the bumps upon the skulls
with the known attainments, peculiari
ties and attributes of the owner.
Capitalists have grown to the mum
Der Of $4,000 in twelve years. We
form circles all over the world, and the
circles are growing. By and by tn,
circumferences Of the circles viii
touch7
INITIATION SONG OF THE CAPITALISTS.
Our mission is to have in trust
The skulls Of men OF our kind.
lsTheir bodies may decay and rust;
Their skulls with us a place win find,
That they may prove in ages hence
They have not lived for priest and pail,
Which shows they had enough Of sense
To gain niche In our skull halli
The basis Of this brotherhood
In number thirteen is expressed
Each one in compensation should
Consign his skull TO as addressed
And add 20 II each year one head
From friends, who may with us concede
That We may claim, when they are dead,
Their skulls. by their own viii and deed
Fill out this blank. your name and seal,
And in our honor do confide
That when you soon take your last meal
Your skull we shall claim on our side.
At present the headquarters Of tho
society are in the luxuriously fur
nished Schroff home. A fund is being
nmassed by voluntary contributions
from members for the purpose Of erect
ing home for the order. which shal
be known as Skull hall, where will re
pose the headpieces OF thousands o.