The Commander then says, in a stentorian tone of voice, "_Let the blood of
the traitor be spilled: bring the victim forth._"
The members here make a rustling noise, to resemble a struggle, a heavy
blow is struck upon some appropriate substance, and a few drops of blood
are trickled over the hand of the initiate that rests upon the skull. The
brethren then surround him with knives and pistols presented in a circle
about his head and neck, when the Commander then says:
"Must I swear him by the oath that shall forever bind, and never be
broken?"
The brethren, placing their hands upon their left breasts, respond
sepulchrally as before, "_Swear him!_"
The Commander now addresses the candidate as follows:
"_My Brother_, kneeling at the solemn altar of our faith, as one who
desires that no government but the white man's shall live in this country;
and as one who will fight to the death all schisms, and factions, and
parties, coming from whatsoever source they may, which have for their
design the elevation of the negro to an equality with the white man, I am
now about to administer to you the oath of this, the supreme degree, of
our Order--that oath which shall forever bind, and never be broken; at the
same time informing you that this oath, being taken in a cause which has
for its object the deliverance of your country and the land of your birth
from the rule of the negro-worshiper and the fanatic, is paramount to
every other oath which you have taken, or may hereafter take, outside of
this Order. You will now repeat after me, pronouncing your name in full,
and your words aloud, on pain of instant death:
_Oath of the Second or Supreme Degree._
"I, A. B., in the presence of Almighty God, and these my friends here
assembled, kneeling at this altar, with my right hand upon the holy
Bible, and my left washed in the blood of a traitor, and resting upon
the skull of his brother in iniquity, and being fully impressed with
the sacredness of this act, do solemnly swear that I will uphold and
defend the Constitution of the United States, as it was handed down
by our forefathers, in its original purity; that I will reject and
oppose the principles of the Radical party in all its forms, and
forever maintain and contend that intelligent white men shall govern
this country. And I furthermore swear that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the Order of the Constitutional Union Guards, and will
never make known, by sign, word, or deed, any of its secrets now
about to be, or that may hereafter be confided to me; that I will
obey all its precepts, mandates, orders, instructions, and directions
issued through the Commander, and aid and assist the brethren in
carrying out and enforcing the same; and that I will keep secret,
even unto death, the plans and movements of this society. I
furthermore swear to obey the South Commander in the Camp, in
preference to any known law, precept, or authority whatever, and to
defend the brethren, if need be, with the sacrifice of my life. I
swear that the enemies of the white man's race, and the white man's
government, and the friends of negro equality shall be my enemies,
and that I will uphold and defend the white man's government against
all comers, whether in the name of Radicals, Negro-worshipers,
Carpet-baggers, Scallawags, or spies in the land. I swear to forever
oppose the social and political elevation of the negro to an equality
with the whites, and that I will come at every hour of the moon to
execute the trust confided to me by the Commander and the brethren. I
furthermore swear that, in case of our being interrupted in the
establishment of the principles for which we are contending, that I
will regard no oath that will convict one of the members of this
Order, but under all circumstances will stand by the Order in blood
and death. I furthermore swear that I will not give the signal cry of
distress, only when in real distress, and that I will yield my life,
if necessary, in aid of a brother giving the double cry of this
degree. Lastly, I swear by this Bible, and this skull, and this
blood, that should I ever prove unfaithful in any particular to the
obligation I have now assumed, I hope to meet with the fearful and
just penalty of the traitor, which is _death_, DEATH, DEATH, at the
hands of the brethren. So help me God."
The candidate having kissed the book, the bandage is removed from his
eyes. He sees before him a human skull upon one side of the Bible, and a
small chalice or cup filled with blood upon the other. The brethren are
all disguised in long black gowns, covering them completely from neck to
heels. Black masks and black conical shaped hats of enormous height,
decorated with representations of death's head and cross bones, complete
the costume.
Some of the members bear pine torches, which throw a wierd and unearthly
glare upon the unholy scene, and render it a fit counterpart to the abode
of the demons who seem to have instigated the proceedings. When the
bandage is removed, these torches are swung violently to and fro, and the
brethren simultaneously utter a loud cry.
The candidate is now informed that the signs, grips, and passwords of the
preceding degree are used in this, with the exception that the signal cry
of distress in this is composed of two words: "SHILOH, AVALANCHE."