62

OBLIGATION.

You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will never reveal any thing
said or done in this room, the name of any persons present, nor the ex-
istence of this society, whether found worthy to proceed or not, and that
all declarations shall be true, so help you God.

Ans. I do.

Marshal. Where were you born ?                                                     

Marshal. Where is your permanent residence ?

[If born out of the jurisdiction of the United States the answer shall
be written, the candidate dismissed with an admonition of secrecy, and
the brother vouching for him suspended from all the privileges of the
order, unless upon satisfactory proof that he has been misinformed.]

Marshal. Are you twenty-one years of age ?

Ans. I am.
Marshal. In religious belief are you a Roman Catholic ?

Ans. No.

Marshal. Were you born of Protestant parents and were you reared
under Protestant influence ?

Ans. Yes.
Marshal. If married, is your wife a Roman Catholic ?

["No" or "Yes"—the answer to be valued as the constitution of the
State council shall provide.]

Marshal. Are you willing to use your influence, and vote only for
native-born American citizens for offices of honor, trust or profit in the
gift of the people, to the exclusion of all foreigners and aliens, and Ro-
man Catholics in particular, and without regard to party predilections ?

Ans. I am.

INSIDE.

[The marshal shall then repair to the council then in session, and pre-
sent the written list of names, vouchers, and answers to the president,
who shall cause them to be road aloud, and a vote of the council to be
taken on each name in such a manner as prescribed by its by-laws. If
doubts arise in the ante-room, they shall be referred to the council. If
a candidate be dismissed, he shall be admonished to secrecy. The can-
didates declared elected shall be conducted to seats within the council,
apart from the brethren. When all are present, the president, by one
blow of the gavel, shall call to order, and say:]

President. Brother marshal, introduce the candidates to the vice
president.

Marshal. Worthy vice president, I present to you these candidates,
who have duly answered all questions.

Vice President, (rising in his place.) Gentlemen, it is my office to
welcome you as friends. When you shall have assumed the patriotic
vow by which we are all bound, we will embrace you as brothers. I
am authorized to declare that our obligations enjoin nothing which is
inconsistent with the duty which every good man owes to his Creator,
his country, his family, or himself. We do not compel you, against
your convictions, to act with us in our good work; but should you at
any time wish to withdraw, it will be our duty to grant you a dismissal