"By all the loved memories of my native land, by all the hallowed associations of home and family, by the memory of friends and brothers slain, by the lurid flames of war and desolation spread over our happy homes by the Lincoln hordes, I swear that by day-light and darkness, at all times and on all occasions, THE STEEL SHALL PAY THE DEBT OF STEEL, THE LEAD SHALL RECOMPENSE FOR LEAD, THE SOUTHERN CROSS SHALL YET DEFY THE WORLD!" The Southern Cross in the order has a double significance. It represents the dagger of the assassin as well as the cross. The Captain then declares: "WELCOME THE NEW BROTHER OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS!" And thereupon the band make the challenging sign of the order, by cocking and snapping their gun-locks. The Captain then proposes the second oath, the candidate repeating it, as follows: "By southern homes despoiled and broken, by southern women outraged, by the lingering torments of northern prisons, by all the desolation brought on our people by famine, pestilence and sword, I swear that DESOLATION SHALL ANSWER DESOLATION, PESTILENCE SHALL PAY FOR PESTILENCE, UNTIL THE SOUTHERN CRESCENT SPAN THE CONTINENT, AND CARRY OVER THE NORTH THE FURIES THAT HAVE DESOLATED THE SOUTH." The Captain then declares again: "WELCOME THE NEW BROTHER OF THE SOUTHERN CRESCENT!" And the band respond as before. Then comes the third and final oath, as follows: "By all that is sacred, I swear to remember Jackson, and Johnston, and the thousands dead; the humiliation of Davis, and Lee, and Bragg, and Beauregard; the noble deeds of Southrons on many a gory field; and by the memory of all these, I swear to be TRUE TO THE LONE STAR OF THE SOUTH, TILL THESE AND ALL OUR WOES ARE A THOUSAND TIMES AVENGED!" The Captain again declares: "WELCOME THE NEW BROTHER OF THE LONE STAR OF THE SOUTH!" And the band respond as before. The Captain then spoke the following adjuration: "Let the heavens be lit with the lurid flames of worse than fratricidal war! Let the dagger, the bullet, the flames and the pestilence, smite every vulnerable point! Let the desolation of death reign in the Northern homes enriched by plunder of the South! Let the audacious minions of the tyrants in our country be met in silence and darkness, struck down by a power they see not! Remember the oath! The Crescent is broad enough to include all the enemies of the South! The Lone Star shines brightest in the darkness! The Dagger is the emblem of the silent work! Remember the oath! Bring the consecrating bowl." The last sentence was responded to by one of the band, and something like a bowl was put into my hands. "Dip your finger in the consecrating drink!" said the Captain. I did as directed, and the Captain then continued: "Now drink it to the dregs, to the enemies of the South!"