Secret Band of Brothers Part 7

First: HUSKA--a flash word, signifying GOOD--is fully described by the subjoined numbers, the signification of which is annexed:

No. 1 signifies Bold.

" 2 " Intrepid.

No. 3 signifies Artful.

" 4 " Undaunted.

" 5 " Cunning.

" 6 " Active.

" 7 " a.s.siduous.

" 8 " Temperate.

" 9 " A true Brother, without cultivation--meaning one who, from infancy, has had sufficient strength of mind to carry out his principles. This number is considered highly honourable to the Brother bearing it, who is said to have the same conferred upon him by the G.o.d of Nature.

Second: CAUGH--a flash word, signifying BAD--is also described as follows:

No. 1 signifies Treacherous.

" 2 " Ungrateful.

" 3 " Presumptuous.

" 4 " Meddlesome.

" 5 " Quarrelsome.

" 6 " Impudent.

" 7 " Imprudent.

" 8 " Dilatory.

" 9 " Intemperate.

This last number is one which will prohibit whoever is ent.i.tled to it, from holding the high and honourable office of Grand Master; and whoever is known to sell or give intoxicating liquors to a Brother, for the purpose of making him subserve to his avaricious purpose, shall be highly censured, and made to pay over double the amount which the victim has lost. If a Brother sees proper to distil, or vend intoxicating spirits, and at the same time notifies the Brethren, when they call on him, that he does not make and sell the same for any other purpose than to prostrate the minds of the tyrannical priestcraft, and their victims, he shall be sustained in his n.o.ble enterprise.

Third: NAUGH--a flash word, signifies SIZE AND COMPLEXION--and, therefore, each number has a double meaning.

No. 1 signifies the person to be Large and Tall.

" 2 " " Low and Heavy.

" 3 " " Tall and Slender.

" 4 " " Medium.

" 5 " " Small.

" 6 " " Sandy Complexion.

" 7 " " Light Complexion.

" 8 " " Dark Complexion, " 9 " " Coloured.

A person of the last-named colour is never to be admitted, unless as an outlaw, who is to be used by the Worthy Grand, and who is to be so educated that he will not dare to commit any daring act, without permission from the Worthy Grand; and it shall be highly reprehensible in any Brother to converse with any coloured Brother, upon any business pertaining to the Brotherhood; and all such shall lay themselves liable to a vote of censure--as the man of colour is not admitted for other purpose, than to carry out deeds thought highly honourable, but which many worthy Brethren dislike to execute, but for which the Worthy Grand can always depend on his coloured Brother; and, furthermore, should he be detected, the Brotherhood will be in no manner endangered, as the coloured Brother's testimony cannot be used against them.

Fourth: MAUGH--a flash word, signifying PROFESSION--is designated thus:

No. 1 signifies a Brother of wealth and a Labourer.

" 2 " Seaman.

" 3 " Lawyer.

" 4 " Physician.

" 5 " Mechanic.

" 6 " Merchant.

" 7 " Sporting Man.

" 8 " Planter or Farmer.

+ " 9 " Felon.

This last number is considered in a different light from any of the others. When a cross is placed over it, it signifies that the Brother bearing it has been a martyr in the great and n.o.ble cause of Equal Rights; or, in other words, that in performing his duty as a freeman, he has been seized and cast into prison by the tyrants of the world: and it shall be considered a deed worthy of censure, for any Brother to mistreat, or throw any obstacle in the way of another, who may be ent.i.tled to the cross over the figure 9, in the fourth line of Quality;--and all members, both officers and privates, are ent.i.tled to know the meaning of the mark over the figure 9; and if any Brother says he is ent.i.tled to said mark, all Brethren are, in a measure, bound to believe him--as it will be expected that no Brother will be base enough to attempt a deception of this kind; for the truth can always be ascertained by writing to the Worthy Grand of the District where he was sentenced--whose duty it shall be to answer the epistle correctly and promptly; and in case any Brother shall make a false statement in this respect--or in fact in any other--he shall be branded as dishonourable--shall be publicly exposed to all of the Brethren present--and his name sent, by the Grand Master, to all other Grand Masters of the several Districts, so that it may be marked on their several books as a Brother who cannot be depended upon under any circ.u.mstances.

Fifth: HAUGH--a flash word, signifying DISEASE--embracing under it, imperfections, scars, marks, &c.--is described as follows:

No. 1 signifies Consumptive.

" 2 " Rheumatical.

" 3 " Gout.

" 4 " Dropsical.

" 5 " Hypochondriacal.

" 6 " Scrofulous.

" 7 " Stoppage in Speech, or Stuttering.

" 8 " Pox-marked, or Hair-lipped.

" 9 " Loss of an eye, tooth, or limb--a bald head, or any noted scar exposed. This number will require close inspection, in order to avoid being deceived; as the mechanical construction of wigs, gla.s.s eyes, false teeth, wooden legs, false whiskers, &c., has been brought to such perfection, that, without the very closest scrutiny, they will, many times, escape our observation, and pa.s.s as the real members created by the G.o.d of Nature.

Sixth: GAUGH--a flash word, signifying AGE AND MANNER OF SPEECH--is described as follows:

No. 1 denotes the person to be 70.

" 2 " " from 50 to 60.

" 3 " " " 40 to 55.

" 4 " " " 30 to 40.

" 5 " " " 21 to 30.

No. 6 denotes the person to be Very Gray.

" 7 " " Dappled.

" 8 " " Quick Spoken.

" 9 " " Slow and Indistinct.

These private Qualities are not to be explained to any but Grand Masters; and when a Brother becomes familiar with these private dualities, he can correspond with other Masters, without any fear of detection, as all of the Qualities, though apparently simple, are impossible for any one to understand, unless he has the key; and he who shall DARE to instruct another in this mystery, unless ent.i.tled to it by the law of our const.i.tution, will find it would have been better for him had a mill-stone been tied about his neck, and he been cast in the bosom of the deepest sea.

[The table of "flash" words contained in article sixth, section second, are words used among the fraternity in general, and by the common members believed to be the only secret language of the order. In this they have been kept wholly ignorant, by the cunning of their leaders. We have but little doubt in our mind that there may have been a great many words added to the original vocabulary, since the adoption of the const.i.tution, as we find among the gamblers, and other dishonest men, language entirely incomprehensible to all without a key. The gambler, though not anywise connected, stands in his profession ready to conciliate them in their works of death, under the horrible idea that Nature, as their G.o.d, has plainly sanctioned the profession. And the religion of Nature they aver to be the only true religion on earth.]

_Art. 6._ It shall be the duty of the Grand Master, upon the initiation of a member, to supply him with a list of flash words used by the Brethren of this society, and shall likewise inform them of the great importance, for the safety of the Brotherhood, that they commit the few words given them to memory,--which they will also find of great importance in conversation and correspondence--as, in the few words which are diffused in their respective places, no person, without a complete key, can explain or interpret their true meaning. The words adopted are but few, yet answer, with common language, to enable the Brothers to converse with ease without being understood by others concerning their business, or matters and things pertaining to the Brotherhood. It likewise enables a Brother, in common conversation, to designate another; or, in addressing thousands, he may be identified by, as it were, accidentally using any one word of his discourse in connection with the Brotherhood:--the latter, however, is never to be done, unless in extreme cases. The most essential service is in conveying the meaning, which, in all cases, must be done in its proper place.

If you wish to ascertain if a Brother be present, you can easily do so by SOUNDING. SOUNDING signifies FEELING, or ASCERTAINING; and if you wish so to do, use the word CULLEY, which signifies Brother, Friend, Partner.

The word CONEY means Counterfeit paper money.

" BOGUS " Spurious coin, &c.

" CRABBING " Robbing, Stealing, &c.

" DUMBY " Pocket-book, purse, &c.

" DROP " Pocket, &c.

" CADY " Highwayman, murderer, &c.

" GLIB, STRIKER " Incendiary.

" CRACK " Break. As crack a crib.

" CRIB " House, trunk, desk, &c.

The word THIMBLE means Watch, crome, clock.

" PRAGUE " Horse, mule, or a.s.s.

" GLIM " Light.

" SIFTER " Burglar, house-breaker, &c.

" GEISTER " An extra thief.