and commodious
residence. The front, or main building, was of brick, the "L" of wood.
In December, 1865, the brick portion of this house was demolished by a
cyclone. The "L" remained standing, but tenantless. It consisted of
three rooms. A stairway led from one of them to a large cellar
beneath. No other house stood near. Around these ruins were the
storm-torn, limbless trunks of trees, which had once formed a
magnificent grove. Now, they stood up, grim and gaunt, like spectre
sentinels. A dreary, desolate, uncanny place it was. But it was, in
every way, most suitable for a "den," and the Klan appropriated
it.[28]

When a meeting was held, one Lictor was stationed near the house, the
other fifty yards from it on the road leading into town. These were
dressed in the fantastic regalia of the order and bore tremendous
spears as the badge of their office.

As before stated, and for the reasons assigned, the Ku Klux did not
solicit any one to join them; yet, they had applications for
membership. While members were not allowed to disclose the fact of
their membership, they were permitted to talk with others in regard to
anything that was a matter of common report with reference to the
order. If they chose, members were allowed to say to outsiders: "I am
going to join the Ku Klux." If the persons addressed expressed a
desire to do likewise, the Ku Klux would say, if the party was a
desirable one: "Well, I think I know how to get in. Meet me at such a
place, on such a night, at such an hour, and we will join together."
Other similar subterfuges were resorted to, to secure members without
direct solicitation. Usually, curiosity would predominate over every
other consideration, and the candidate would be found waiting at the
appointed place.

As the Ku Klux and the candidate approached the sentinel Lictor, they
were hailed and halted and questioned. Having received the assurance
that they desired to become Ku Klux, the Lictor blew the signal for
his companion to come and take charge of the novices. The candidate,
under the impression that his companion was similarly treated, was
blindfolded and led to the "den." The preliminaries of the initiation
consisted in leading the candidate around the rooms and down into the
cellar, now and then placing before him obstructions which added to
his discomfort, if not to his mystification. After some rough sport of
this description, he was led before the Grand Cyclops who solemnly
addres