CHAPTER XLII. ' .: ■ -

THE GLOBE FRATERNAL LEGION. ]
The Ritual does not make the Chaplain a necessary figure at the meetings; but we have the religious hymn and the oath as in other secret societies.
INIATORY ODE. - ■
r - Witness ye men and angels ; now
Before the Lord we speak
To Him we make our solemn vows, •
A vow we dare not break. - -
Lord, guide our doubtful feet aright And keep us in Thy ways ; ,
Turn Thou our prayers to praise. Etc.
President: The Instructor will please conduct the candidate to the Altar, where he will assume the solemn obligation that all of you have assumed.
President to Candidate: You will now place your right hand on your heart, your left pointing heavenward,
bent at elbow, and repeat after me. I In
the presence of Him from whom emanates every good, and of these tried brethren, do promise that I will not knowingly wrong, cause or permit to be wronged, if in my power to prevent it, any member of this Order. I will protect to the utmost of my ability the fair name and character of any one v^hom I know to be a member of this Order; will go to the aid and assistance of any member of this Order if in distress, whenever called upon so to do, and will if found worthy, relieve or aid in re-
276
lieving them to the utmost of my ability. I will also patronize, or aid any worthy member of this Order to t)l)tain employment when I can consistently do so with- out detriment to my own interest or interference with any of my civil or religious liberties. I will not com- mend for membership in this Legion, any person whom 1 know to be of immoral habits, or whose character I know, or have good reason to believe, to be other than good, and who is not of sound mind and body, and in every wa}^ worthy to become a member of this Legion. I will use my best efforts in promoting the interest of the Legion, when I can do so without interfering with my regular business. I will not while a member, or if at an}^ time I cease to be a member, ever while I live, reveal to any one not entitled to know, any of the secrets of the Legion. All this I promise on my honor, and for any violation thereof, I consent to be punished as pro- \ ided for in the constitution, by-laws, rules and regula- tions of this Legion.
President : We have in use in our Legion, as ;you have already been informed, certain passwords, grips, signs, countersigns, etc., that our Instructor will now make known to you.^'
But why occupy time in discussing more of the three hundred or more similar societies, one by one, in detail ? They all agree substantially in their first principle. They all teach the same religious doctrine — naturalism and salvation without Christ. They all belong to the Mas- onic family, "which is the mother of all, in fact as well
CHAPTEE XLIII. COLLEGE SECEET SOCIETIES.
About One hundred and fifty thousand of our college students in the United States belong to so-called Greek Letter or College Societies. College bred men and women, the so-called better educated class of people among us, are thus imbued with the principles of secret societies, and after returning to their homes, are, as a Tule, prime movers in such societies, as stated in the be- ginning of this book.
Tradition has it that Thomas Jefferson introduced the first Greek Letter Society from France into the William and Mary College of Virginia, and that from there the society spread to Yale, Harvard and the other seats of learning, about the time of the Declaration of Indepen- dence. Outside of the "ha^ing'^ and other "horse-play'' practiced in some colleges or universities, the mode of initiation varies but little. From time to time the offi- cals in the seats of learning interfere and it is conceded that in nearly all the schools the former brutal treatment is abolished.
The mode of initiation is described thus : "About two weeks after the scholastic term in September has com- menced notice is given to all newly arrived students, who are of the required age and standing, to join the society, if so they desire. A day is set for the ceremony of initia- tion. Those v^ho have signified their intention to join
273
receive on the afternoon of the appointed day, a black envelope containing a black-edged card or sheet of paper, bearing the badge of the society and the summons : You, N. N., will be waited upon at your room this evening and be presented for initiation into the dark and awful mys- teries of Fraternity. Per Order."
The half of a card of fantastic design and peculiarly notched edge is also enclosed, and the candidate in- structed to surrender himself only to that person who presents him with the other half of the card ; care being taken that no two cards are notched alike, so his card must exactly match the edge of the card of the bearer. At a convenient hour in the evening two masked students present the card and conduct the candidate to the place of initiation. Here he is blindfolded, led forward, hears doors open and close, and, the hoodwink being removed, he finds himself in utter darkness, but is made aware that he is not alone. He hears pandemonium break loose, as it were, all around him. His name is called, a skele- ton redolent with phosphorus and a red demon take hold of him, blindfold him anew and he is led up an elevation. Having answered the last question put to him, he tum- bles, falls down apparently deep on a blanket held in readiness, is tossed high up in the air amid admiring shrieks o^ "Go it Freshie," "Well done," "Shake him up," "Go it again," and so on until a new candidate de- mands the attention of the tossers. Then he is officiously told to set himself into a chair, the seat of which lets him into a pail of water beneath, though a large sponge prob- ably saves him from an actual wetting. His head and hands are thrust through a pillory, and he is reviled whilst in that awkward position. He is rolled into a
279
exaggerated squirrel-wheel, a noose is thrown around his neck and he is dragged beneath the guillotine, when the bandage is taken from his eyes and he glares upon the glittering knife of block tin, which falls within a foot of his throat and can not possibly go any farther. Be- ing thus executed he is thrust into a coffin, which is hammered upon with such energy that he is at length recalled to life, pulled out again and made to wear his coat inside outward. This is the sign that his initiation is over and he can now stand by and enjoy the fun of the initiation of others. Ranging himself with the turn- coated class-mates, whom he finds have preceded him, he looks upon a motly throng of struggling sophomores arrayed in every variety of hideous and fantastic dis- guise, shouting, screaming, horn-blowing and putting the freshmen through the various stages of ceremonies which in his own case have just been completed. He is then made to take the oath and promise secrecy, as required by the respective society.
In the old country the university students had and have their different secret societies ; some of them harm- less and others not so.
Initiation in one of the oldest seats of learning into the companionship of students is thus described :
The ceremony of initiation was called "deposition." The candidate announced himself to the dean of the philosophical faculty, and asked that he might, through the "deposition," be received among the fellowship of the students. The candidate was called a "Branen," and when the number of Branens for admission was suffi- cient, the dean appointed a day for the "deposition." On the appointed day, the "depositor" appeared in a bur-
280
lesque dress before the assembled Branens and ordered his assistants to dress them in the most ridiculous man- ner, especially with horned hats and caps. Then the in- struments for the deposition were distributed, viz. : coarse wooden combs, shears, axes, hatchets, planes, saws^ razors, looking glasses, etc. The Depositor then marched the Branens in rank and file, placed himself at their head and conducted them to the hall where the deposition was to take place. The dean and spectators being already awaiting them, the Depositor addressed them in a speech. Then he commenced the deposition by striking each Branen with a bag of bran or sand and compelled them to scamper about with all manner of laughable gestures and duckings in order to escape the stroke of the bag. Eiddles and questions were put to them and whoever failed in answering them correctly was subjected to new attacks with the bag. The Branens now give up the instruments they hold in their hands, lay down flat on the ground, their heads together. The Depositor then planed their shoulders, filed their nails, pretended to bore through or saw off their feet, hewed every limb of their body into shape, knocked off their herns and tore out of their mouths with a pair of long tongs the satyr's teeth, placed there on purpose. The Branen had then to sit on a stool with one leg, a napkin n^as placed around his neck, he was soaped with brick- dust or shoe-blackening and shaved so sharply with a wooden razor that the tears started down his cheeks. The combing with the wooden comb was equally rough,, and after the combing, the hair were sprinkled with saw- dust and shavings. Then the Branens were driven out of the hall, amidst a great noise, changed their suits and
281
returned in their ordinary dress to the hall, where the dean addressed them in an advisory speech. As a symbol of wisdom each tasted a grain of salt, as a sign of joy a few drops of wine were poured over the head of each one by the dean and the certificate of the accom- plished deposition ended that part of the ceremony.
CHAPTEE XLIV. THE SO-CALLED "SECEET WOEK."
In each oath, mentioned in the foregoing description of the different secret societies the words "secret work'** or the equivalent thereof occur. What is this secret work? To whom is it known? In each local lodge and in each Grand, or State Lodge, and in the so-called Xational Lodge of each of the three hundred or more secret societies, there are the "Select Few" and the "In- ner Circle". What does this mean?
When a new lodge is established, of any secret society, the organizer has his eye on the more intelligent and prominent applicants. In his application for the Char- ter, he states the local standing of his candidates, and makes particular reference to the character, etc., of a few, whom he calls 'No. 1. These few are watched for a year or so, and a correspondence is kept up between them and head-quarters about apparently indifferent sub- jects; and, by the time they have been "sounded" on topics of the day, and this and that, one of the leading men at "headquarters" under some pretext or other finds a reason to visit the local lodgs and come in contact with the "select few" who have been the object of special observation. There may be a banquet, or a reception, or a something, according to local circumstances, to bring the members and their friends together. The "expert" from headquarters, after some speeches or conversation, has made his pick, has his "selected few" spotted. He
283
approaches them in a most pleasant manner, is glad to llnd so much intelligence in a place where he had ex- pected less, and surely all the superior qualities the com- nmnity enjoys were due to such men as they, and he thinks so much of them that he desires to he their par- ticular friend, and would like to establish a mutual friendship. During the course of the conversation fol- lowing, our agent from headquarters has his men "all attention^-'. He explains to them why "all must not be told to alF^, but they, having superior education and talents, might be told the "secret work". As they are leaders in local affairs, a great advantage will acrue to them by being promoted in their respective lodge ; it will be to increase their standing with their local people. Hi means better trade and more money, or greater honor ' an4 a higher oihce and more money, etc. Gradually it comes to a point that there are two or three in each local lodge who have gained the confidence of the higher of- ficials. An annual conference is arranged to which these "select few" will be sent as "Delegates". The "Su- premes" in each organization will repeat the process of the local organizer and the "State-Picker" and will "'spot" their men and sound them. Out of these "State and National Select Few" an "Inner Circla" is formed which rules the whole organization at the dictates of "a few" of a circle within the "Inner Circle". These final "selected few" direct the "secret work".
In every secret society of "good financial standing" these "select few" are Ffeemasons. From the timber, they find most suitable for their purpose, they recruit the ranks and file of Freemasonry. Thus Freemasonry is the mother in fact as well as in name, of all secret
284
societies; they emanate from it and in their end-object, return to it, and thus make possible the great strength of this enemy of the Catholic Church. Thus an edict from the head of Freemasonry reaches all those mem- bers of any secret society who have shown the necessary qualification and thus united action is assured. No Catholic will ever be allowed to belong to the "select few" because he is not trusted. "If he is a traitor to the church of his mother, we can not trust him; when death is near he will, generally, prefer the Pope and his Priest to our friendship, and he may tell all he knows ; therefore ^not all must be told to alF and we Masons prefer to know our own". Such and similar remarks were made to me by friends who belong to Freemasonry. In other words. Catholics who join the Masonic Orders, or any secret society, are considered fit for swelling the ranks and the coffer, and the votes at election day, and are despised by their very so-called masonic or lodge brethren.
Now what is the "secret work" ? What else but pol- itical wire-pulling and practical work against the Church of Jesus Christ. I have been asked time and again, in my twenty years of Priesthood, at the time of election, to use mv sacerdotal influence for some or other candi- date. Keeping my political views pretty well to my- self, as far as party lines are concerned, but at the same time not idle in using my privilege as an American citi- j:en, I heard often these words: "Well, Father Rosen, you know that So, and So. and So. are prominent mem- bers in our lodge: we. all are in for him, he must get there; he is a good man, and though you may not like his principles as a "Mason or a lodge-member, it is well
28-3
for you to stand in, be with ns this time ; we want your friendship; we helped you in building churches; why! the other Sunday before the election, I went to hear you preach ; it was I who put that Five in the Collection box and if there is any thing we can do for you call on us, etc/'
Some Catholics have been foolish enough to be ^'eaughf ' by such talk. Account for the many Bills be- fore State and National Legislation interfering with the rights of parents in regard to the religious education of their children, whether they are Indians or whites; whether they live in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, or the Dakotas, or any other State in the Union. When there is a question of electing a Freemason to an office, or having a bill passed which tends to annihilate Christian- ity, an edict from the head of Masonry is sufficient to set the whole machinery of Masonry and all secret so- cieties in motion to obtain the desired end.