The Coolidge examiner., 1933-08-11
CHAPTER /
The Initiation.

= Mu Beta Sigma Fraternity
house, located along Locust street,
just beyond the confines Of the Uni
versity of Philadelphia campus, sug-
gcSJed that il was deserted. Out
side. in the darkness of the street,
no lights were visible though ii was
scarcely more than nine o'clock in
the evening. Along the curb the
sole Indication of habitation was a
parked. luxurious and expensive
yellow roadster. fitted with every
modern device and Improvement.
Within, too, a strange, forlorn
silence proclaimed the house TO be
vacant. Yet one chamber, on the
right side of the building, hidden
from the street by the adjacent al
ley. was occupied. crowded with
people. II was a long bare room, Of
rough wood, in imitation of a hunt
Ing lodge. with a beamed ceiling,
supported by heavy timber trusses.
Perhaps the most conspicuous ar
ticle In the room was raised altar
before the rear wall. OF carved ma
hogany wood. il stood upon a dais
Of white stone that reached the
floor by a single step. A figure
posed behind 1t. tall and imposing,
as he lowered above every one else
present a long black gown, tight
ened about the waist by a black
cord. hid his entire body, while an
attached hood masked his head and
features; only his eyes visible
through two narrow Sits in the
cowl Below him. on the step lead
Ing from the dais. two other fig
ures faced the length of the cham
her. one on either side OF him. Sim
Harry garbed, their robes were blue,
however A large book Of vellum,
richly bound, lay open on the altar.
On the floor, at the feet of the
platform. a group was arranged in
long line. turned toward It.
Twenty hooded and gowned shapes,
their costumes alternated In color;
half of them were yellow, and the
rest flowing white. But whereas
the yellow -cloaked figures stood up
right and unrestraineG, their alter
nate companions in white all knelt
on the hard unpublished floor They
were blindfolded and cords bound
their hands tightly behind their
backs. Each had jeweled gold pin
in the shape of a clover leaf, uni
formly attached TO the white robe
at the level of the breast. Behind
them was another group, larger in
number: il, however, was seated on
chairs. ranged in a wide semicircle
from the right wall of the room TO
the left, and almost back to the
entrance. Its members were un-
varyingly dressed in the same yell
low garments of the standing, mo-
tionless images within its arc.
A solitary figure in gray stood
alone, keeping vigil beside the door
az the front.
The only light came from two
large candles, set in long brass can
dleSticks on the pedestals on each
side OF the altar. For a long sol
emn moment the silence continued,
then the black figure behind the
altar broke it. In sepulchral
voice. he read from the volume be-
fore him the solemn ritual of the
Mu Beta Sigma fraternity, ending
with the words:
Like a fond father, the frater-
fly welcomes tou; and in return,
you promise that loyalty, obedience
and support which are the obliga-
tions of every SON"
Slowly his voice died away and
he closed the book. With precision,
he raised his eyes toward the seated
line of yellow-robed figures in the
semicircle behind the PLEDGES and
their sponsors; he addressed them
directly.
And now brOthers-thOse who
are near-come forward; prepare
the initiates for their final rites, to
induct them into the folds of Mu
Beta Sigma" To the white gowns,
he said: Hold yourselves in readi-
ness for the last mysteries"
At his words of command, ten
spectators in yellow left their
chairs, one approaching each of the
kneeling group at the altar step.
Bending over them, they unbound
the cords that fastened their wrists
behind them. There was some de-
fifth of the ten initiates appeared
10 meet difficulty, in the darkness,
In lOosening his knots. While the
subject of his efforts braced himself
stifly. he struggled, shadowed, over
the fettered hands. Finally sue
cessful in freeing them, he placed
the cord on the floor as his associ-
ates had already done; then he re-
treated one step into line with them,
awaiting the black leaders next
order.
II came after a solemn pause.
Brethren, now remove their blind
folds"
They performed this direction
more promptly, and returned again