Know Nothing Lodge
Ritual of the Third Degree Council
Marshal: Worthy President; these Brothers having been duly elected
to the Third Degree of this Order, I present them before you for obligation.
n.d.
President: Brothers, you will place yourselves in a circle around
me, each one crossing your arms upon your breasts, and grasping firmly each
others’ hands, holding the right hand of the brother on the right, and the
left hand of the brother on the left, so as to form a circle, symbolical of the
links of an unbroken chain, and of a ring which has no end.
Note: This Degree is to be conferred with the National Flag elevated in the
centre of the circle, by the side of the President, or Instructor; and not on
less than five at any one time—in order to give it solemnity and also for the
formation of the circle—except in the first instance of conferring it on the
officers of the State and Subordinate Councils, that they may be empowered to
progress with the work.
The Obligation and Charge in this Degree, may be given by the President or
Instructor, as the President may prefer,
Obligation
You, and each of you, of your own free will and accord, in the presence of
Almighty God and these witnesses, with your hands joined in token of that
fraternal affection which should ever bind together the States of this Union—forming
a ring, in token of your determination that, so far as your efforts can avail,
this Union shall have no end—do solemnly and sincerely swear (or affirm,) that
you will not under any circumstances disclose in any manner, nor suffer it to be
done by others if in your power to prevent it, the name, signs, passwords or
other secrets of this Degree, except to those to whom you may prove on trial to
be brothers of the same Degree, or in open Council for the purpose of
instruction; that you do, hereby solemnly declare your devotion to the Union of
these States; that in the discharge of your duties as American citizens, you
will uphold, maintain and defend it; that you will discourage and discountenance
any and every quarter, which you believe to the designed, or calculated to
destroy, or subvert it, or to weaken its bonds; and that you will use your
influence as far as in your power, in endeavouring to procure an amicable and
equitable adjustment of all political discontents or differences, which may
threaten its injury or overthrow.—
You do further promise and swear (or affirm,) that you will not vote for any
one to fill any office of honor, profit, or trust of a political character, whom
you know or believe to be in favour of a dissolution of the union of these
States, or who is endeavoring to produce that result; that you will vote for,
and support for all political offices Third or Union Degree members of this
Order, in preference to all others: that if it may be done consistently with the
Constitution and laws of the land you will, when elected or appointed to any
official station, which may confer on you the power to do so, remove from office
or place, all persons whom you know or believe to be in favor of a dissolution
of the Union, or who are endeavoring to produce that result; and that you will
in no case appoint such parsons to any political office or place whatever.—
All this you promise and swear (or affirm,) upon your honor as American
citizens and friends of the American Union, to sustain and abide by without any
hesitation or mental reservation whatever. You also promise and swear (or
affirm,) that this, and all other obligations, have previously taken in this
order, shall ever be kept sacred and inviolate.
To all this you pledge your lives, your fortunes, and your sacred honor. So
help you God and keep you steadfast.
Each one shall answer: I do.
President: Brother Marshal, you will now present the brothers to
the Instructor for final instruction in this Third Degree of the order.
Marshal: Instructor, by direction of our worthy President, I
present these brothers before you, that you may instruct them in the secrets and
mysteries of this the Third Degree of our Order.
Instructor: Brothers, in this Degree as in the Second, we have an entering
pass-word, a degree password, and a token of salutation. At the outer door ….
This will admit you to the inner door. At the inner door you will make …
distinct …, then announce your name, with the number (or name) and location of
the Council to which you belong, giving the explanation to the pass-word, which
is …. If found correct you will then be admitted, when you will proceed to the
centre of the room, and placing the … give the token of salutation which is
…. You will then quietly take your seat.
The sign of recognition is made by …; and the response is made by ….
The Instructor will here give the grip of this Degree, with explanations and
also the true password of this Degree, which is ….
Charge
To be given by the President: Brothers: It is with great pleasure
that I congratulate you upon your advancement to the Third Degree of our Order.
The responsibilities you have now assumed, are more serious and weighty than
those which preceded, and are committed to such only as have been tried and
found worthy. Our obligations are intended as solemn avowals of our duty to the
land that gave us birth: to the memories of our fathers; and to the happiness
and welfare of our children. Consecrating to your country a spirit unselfish,
and a fidelity like that which distinguished the patriots of the Revolution, you
have pledged your aid in cementing the bonds of a Union which we trust will
endure forever. Your deportment since your initiation, has attested your
devotion to the principles we desire to establish; and has inspired a confidence
in your patriotism, of which we can give no higher proof than your reception
here.
The dangers which threaten American Liberty arise from foes without, and from
enemies within. The First Degree pointed out the source and nature of our most
imminent peril, and indicated the first measure of safety. The Second Degree
defined the next means by which, in coming time such assaults may be rendered
harmless.
The Third -Degree, which you have just received, not only reiterates the
lessons of the other two, but it is intended to avoid and provide for a more
remote but no less terrible danger from domestic enemies to our free
institutions.
Our object is briefly this:—to perfect an Organization, modelled after that
of the Constitution of the United States, and co-extensive with the Confederacy.
Its object and principles, in all matters of National concern to be uniform and
identical, whilst in all local matters, the component parts shall remain
independent and sovereign within their respective limits.
The great result to be attained—the only one which can secure a perfect
guaranty as to our future—is UNION: permanent, enduring, fraternal UNION!
Allow me then to impress upon your minds and memories the touching sentiments of
the Father of his country, in his farewell address:
"The UNITY of government which constitutes you one people," says
Washington, "is justly dear to you, for it is the main pillar in the
edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at, home, of
your peace abroad, of your safety, your prosperity, even that Liberty you so
justly prize.
… It is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense
value of your National Union, to your collective and individual happiness. You
should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming
yourselves to think and speak of it, as the palladium of your political safety
and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety;
discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event
be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt
to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred
ties which now bind together the various parts."
Let these words of paternal advice and warning, from the greatest man that
ever lived, sink deep into your hearts! Cherish them, and teach your children to
reverence them, as you cherish and reverence the memory of Washington himself.
The Union of these States is the great conservator of that liberty so dear to
the American heart. Without it, our greatness, as a Nation, would disappear; and
our boasted self-government prove a signal failure. The very name of Liberty,
and the hopes of struggling Freedom throughout the world, must perish in the
wreck of this Union! Devote yourselves then to its maintenance, as our fathers
did to the cause of independence; consecrating to its support, as you have sworn
to do, your lives, your fortunes, and your sacred honors!
Brothers: Recalling to your minds the solemn obligations, which you have
'severally taken in this and the preceding Degrees, I now pronounce you entitled
to all the privileges of membership in this Organization; and take pleasure in
informing you that you are now members of the Order of ….