History of Atchison County, Kansas. Sheffield Ingalls

the State; and for this purpose each subordinate club will report weekly to the county club the number of members enrolled therein; and the County Club will report monthly to the Ex. Com. at—— the number of clubs and number of members in the county. These reports should be carefully sealed and addressed——.

      “The officers of County Clubs will be supplied with a printed constitution and ritual, and they will furnish officers of subordinate clubs copies of the same, with a strict injunction to secrecy.

      “All correspondence must be secret as possible; and in order that this may be accomplished the monthly reports may consist only of the place, date, number of clubs in the county and number of members. No signature must be attached. These reports will be summed up and published by the Ex. Com.

      “Strict secrecy as to the working of the organization is enjoined and promptness and vigor in its extension is very important. We must work now and work rapidly. No time is to be lost; our opponents are working vigorously and secretly, but it is not too late to counteract their machinations and utterly overthrow them. Work! Work! Work!

“CONSTITUTION.

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      “OBJECT.

      “The object shall be to preserve and maintain the Union and the constitution of the United States and of the State of Kansas, and to defend Kansas against invasion, insurrection, civil commotion and to protect Union men against assassination, arson, robbery, prescription and all other wrongs inflicted by the enemies of the Government of the United States and of this State upon loyal persons.

      “OFFICERS.

      “The officers shall consist of Pr., V. P., R. S., T., M., and S., who shall hold their office for three months.

      “DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

      “The duties of officers shall be the same as in similar organizations and all business shall be conducted in the usual parliamentary form.

      “ADMISSION OF MEMBERS.

      “Persons may become members who are eighteen years of age and upwards, and are citizens of the United States.

      “INITIATION.

      “All initiations shall take place in and with the authority of the officers of the club who may delegate suitable persons to initiate members from time to time as occasion requires outside of any regular meeting of the club. Branch clubs may be formed by proper application to this club when the president may appoint suitable persons to establish the same.

      “WITHDRAWALS.

      “Any member may withdraw from this club by giving written notice of the same to the R. S. at any regular meeting; but the obligations of such member shall remain the same as before.

      “AMENDMENTS.

      “This constitution may be altered or amended by giving one week’s notice thereof, by a vote of two-thirds of the executive committee of the State. Each county club may make by-laws for its own organization, not conflicting with this constitution.

      “RITUAL.

      “Eternal God! Supreme Ruler, Governor and Architect of the Universe! We humbly beseech Thee to protect the people of the United States in general and especially the members of this organization. Wilt thou be pleased to direct and prosper all our consultations to the advancement of Thy glory, the good of Thy country, the safety, honor and welfare of Thy people, and may all things be ordered and settled by the Legislature and Executive branches of our Government upon the best and surest foundation, so that peace and happiness, truth and justice may be established among us for all generations. Wilt Thou be pleased to guide and direct us as Thou didst our Fathers in the Revolution. With the strength of Thine almighty arm Thou didst uphold and sustain them through all their trials, and at last didst crown them with victory. May charity, and brotherly love cement us; may we be united with our principles founded upon the teachings of Thy Holy Word and may Thy Good Spirit guide, strengthen and comfort us, now and forever, Amen.

      “All candidates for membership to this club will be required to answer the following questions to be propounded by the marshal before initiation:

      “1. Are you opposed to secession or dis-union?

      “2. Do you acknowledge that your first and highest allegiance is due to the Government of the United States of America?

      “3. Are you willing to take such an oath of allegiance to the United States of America?

      “4. Are you willing to pledge yourself to resist to the extent of your power, all attempts to subvert or overthrow the constitution of the United States, or the constitution of the State of Kansas?

      “Should the candidates answer affirmatively, the marshal, after repeating to the president, will conduct them into the club room and present them to the president, who shall then address the candidates as follows:

      “Gentlemen:—We rejoice that you have thus voluntarily come forward to unite yourselves with us. The cause we advocate is that of our country; banded together for the purpose of perpetuating the liberties for which our fathers fought, we have sworn to uphold and protect them.

      “It is a strange and sad necessity which impels American citizens to band themselves together to sustain the constitution and the Union; but the Government under which we live is threatened with destruction. Washington enjoined upon us that ‘the unity of the Government which constitutes us one people is a main pillar in the edifice of our real independence; the support of our tranquility at home, our peace abroad—of our safety, of our prosperity, of that very liberty which we so highly prize.’ He charges that we should ‘properly estimate the immense value of our national Union to our collective and individual happiness; that we should cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it; accustoming ourselves to think and speak of it as the palladium of our 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.’

      “He tells us again that ‘to the efficiency and permanency of the Union, a Government for the whole is indispensable. No alliances, however strict between the parts, is an adequate substitute.’

      “It is to sustain this Government we are banded together, and for this purpose you are now required to take a solemn obligation.

      “Place your left hand on the National Flag and raise your right hand toward Heaven; repeating after me:

      “We and each of us do solemnly swear in the presence of God and these witnesses to support, protect and defend the constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Kansas against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to maintain and defend the Government of the United States and the flag thereof, and aid in maintaining the laws of the United States in this State and to defend the State of Kansas against invasion from any State or States and from any other rebellion, invasion, insurrection to the best of our ability without any mental reservation or evasion—So help us God.

      “The members will respond.

      “To this we pledge ourselves.

      “We do severally solemnly swear and affirm that we will protect, aid and defend each member of all Union clubs, and will never make known in any way or manner, to any person or persons, not members of Union clubs, any of the signs, passwords, proceedings, purposes, debates or plans of this or any other club under this organization, except when engaged in admitting new members into this organization.

      “The