Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1888 — A RIDE UPON THE GOAT. [ARTICLE]

A RIDE UPON THE GOAT.

A Splash, a Gurgle, and the Candidate was Wet and Duly Initiated! Baltimore American. Last night a reporter attended the taking of the first and third degrees by two new members of a secret life insurance fraternity, composed mainly of employes of Posner Brothers. The heartrending ceremonies took place in the dead of night in the Covenant Hall, corner Lexington and Howard streets. Thirty “brothers,” in black shrouds and their faces covered with ditto masks, sat in a semi-circle in the dimly-lighted hall in secret session. The first victim was then oound and gagged and dragged before the “altar,” the Super Divine Grand Master and the Extra Fine Lord High Executioner asking the members what they proponed to do with the prisoner. Five sh ning daggers were at once pointed at his heart. But wiser counsel prevailed. At a signal—three loud raps, followed by a dull, sickening, etc., thud—the entire society formed in single file and marched about the hall. When they were breathless the candidate was made to climb the “heavenly ladder,” with a bucketful of coals in one hand and a dozen volumes of the Congressional Record in the other. After this climbing of the all but golden stairs he was made to face a grinning skeleton and totouchit,being informed that “this was all that was left of a traitor to the society.” When they sung the doxology later, a red-hot iron rod was brought on and the sufferer’s breast was bated that the “secret letters” might be branded upon it. But they didn’t. At last he was placed before the “altar,” behind which wasw huge-tank-mid' coid bucket. - , “Watchman, what of the night?” was the awful question. 2, “The night is dark and dismal.” “How stands the water in the tank?” “Three foot* sir.” ’ A splash, a gargle, a struggle ,and a sneeze—and the candidate was wet and initiated.