“I will now proceed,” said the presiding officer, in a pompous and affected tone of voice, “to explain to you the objects of the Ancient Order of Hibernians: ‘We are joined together to promote friendship, unity and true Christian charity among our members, by raising money for the maintenance of the aged, sick, blind, and infirm. The motto of the order is, Friendship, Unity, and true Christian Charity; unity, in uniting for mutual support in sickness and distress; friendship, in assisting each other to the best of our ability; true Christian charity by doing to each other and all the world as we would wish they should do unto us.’ It is the desire to promote friendship among the Irish Catholics, and especially to assist one another in all trials. You are expected to keep all matters occurring within the division room a secret in your own heart. None of the workings of the society are to be recalled to those not known to be members.” Here there was a short pause, and the initiate was asked if he subscribed to all these things, to which he made audible answer in the affirmative. “I will then proceed to administer the solemn and binding obligation with which all present have already pledged themselves. You will repeat these words after me:” McKenna, still upon his knees, and guarded by Monaghan, repeated the oath, or obligation, as Lawler read it from the paper, as near as may be, as follows: “I, James McKenna, having heard the objects of the order fully explained, do solemnly swear that I will, with the help of God, keep inviolably secret all the acts and things done by this order, and obey the constitution and by-laws in every respect. Should I hear a member illy spoken of, I will espouse his cause, and convey the information to him as soon as possible for me so to do. I will obey my superior officers in every thing lawful, and not otherwise. All this I do solemnly swear!” Then McKenna was told to cross himself once more, the surrounding brothers doing the same, and the test-paper, as it was called, was handed to him by Lawler, and, still in a kneeling posture, he reverently kissed it, and was prompted by Monaghan to rise. This concluded the brief initiatory ceremony. Afterward, the new-made member walked to the treasurer’s table, which was the bureau, and there paid three dollars, the sum assessed as the initiatory fee. He should have subsequently signed his name in a book containing the constitution of the body, but this was omitted, as were many other things which in regular lodges of the order of Ancient Hibernians are always insisted upon. All present now came forward and warmly shook hands with McKenna, welcoming him as brother. The next thing was the instruction of the new member in the passwords and signs—or secret work—commonly called “the goods” of the society, by Lawler, as follows: