to the vow or vows I now make, in becoming a member of this Holy 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, must make known to the Worthy Grand, if possible, through a Brother, but by no other process; and you must be careful to observe one particular point, which is, NEVER, under any circumstance, to approach the Worthy Grand as an intimate acquaintance, for fear of being suspected as such, and thereby bringing mistrust upon him through some person who may have had their eye upon you, as a man not carrying out the principles which they approve of as being the ones best calculated to promote their priestcraft.