oly Brotherhood, to shut from me the
light of thy countenance--to visit the wrath of thy indignation
upon me--to let my walks here on earth be paths of desolation, at
the end of which be famine and death, and, in the world to come,
torment and more tormenting pains racking my soul for ever! But,
Almighty God! should I keep and carry out these, the only true
principles, which thou in thy wisdom hast set aside for thy
children to follow, then mayest thou be pleased to grant me a
well-spent closing life on earth, and an undying existence with
thee in thy holy kingdom of heaven!--Amen.

_Art. 18._ The foregoing articles having been read and acceded to by the
candidate for membership, and the prayer having been repeated by him, he
shall be considered a member of this fraternity--known as the Secret
Band of Brothers--and the Grand Master shall then proceed with the
following:--

Most worthy Brother! You have now been initiated into some of the
secrets of the Holy Brotherhood, otherwise called the Secret Band of
Brothers; you have become a member of an Order which, I trust, you will
ever cherish--feeling it is worthy of any of God's children; and, if you
so consider it, and also consider yourself a true and lawful member, you
will now make the same manifest by an inclination of your head, in token
of assent,

_Art. 19._ The member having bowed in assent, the Grand Master shall
again proceed, as follows:--

Now, Brother, you, through choice, can take one degree, which will
entitle you to a benefit in sickness or in distress; and likewise
entitle you to the use of the SCALE, which will enable you to converse
with any Brother without any possible chance of detection, by paying the
trifling sum of twenty-five cents per month, to the Worthy Grand, who is
the proper person for you to apply to for assistance, which in all
cases must be done verbally:--in token of assent that you wish this
degree conferred upon you, you will now lay your hand upon your heart
and answer in the affirmative.

_Art. 20._ After conferring the foregoing degree, the Grand Master shall
again proceed, as follows:

Brother, it is now my pleasant duty to inform you that the degree just
taken entitles you to a full membership of the Holy Brotherhood, and
also entitles you to a benefit of thirty-three cents per day, if
imprisoned, or confined by sickness, caused by exposure or
otherwise,--which you, in all cases