(d) The Princely Knights of Character Castle is an organization founded in 1895
for boys from twelve to eighteen to "inculcate, disseminate, and practise the
principles of heroism—endurance—love, purity, and patriotism." The central
incorporated castle grants charters to local castles, directs the ritual and secret
work. Its officers are supreme prince, patriarch, scribes, treasurer, director, with
captain of the guard, watchman, porter, keeper of the dungeon, musician, herald,
and favorite son. The degrees of the secret work are shepherd lad, captive,
viceroy, brother, son, prince, knight, and royal knight. There are jewels, regalia,
paraphernalia, and initiations. The pledge for the first degree is, "I hereby
promise and pledge that I will abstain from the use of intoxicating liquor in any
form as a beverage; that I will not use profane or improper language; that I will
discourage the use of tobacco in any form; that I will strive to live pure in body
and mind; that I will obey all rules and regulations of the order and not reveal
any of the secrets in any way." There are benefits, reliefs, passwords, a list of
offenses and penalties.
(e) Some 35,000 Bands of Mercy are now organized under the direction of the
American Humane Education Society. The object of the organization is to
cultivate kindness to animals and sympathy with the poor and oppressed. The
prevention of cruelty in driving, cattle transportation, humane methods of
killing, care for the sick and abandoned or overworked animals, are the themes
of most of its voluminous literature. It has badges, hymnbooks, cards, and
certificates of membership, and a motto, "Kindness, Justice, and Mercy to All."
Its pledge is, "I will try to be kind to all harmless living creatures, and try to
protect them from cruel usage," and is intended to include human as well as
dumb creatures. The founder and secretary, with great and commendable energy,
has instituted prize contests for speaking on humane subjects in schools, and has
printed and circulated prize stories; since the incorporation of the society in
1868, he has been indefatigable in collecting funds, speaking before schools and
colleges, and prints fifty to sixty thousand copies of the monthly organ. In
addition to its mission of sentiment, and to make it more effective, this
organization clearly needs to make more provision for the intellectual element
by well-selected or constructed courses, or at least references on the life, history,
habits, and instincts of animals, and it also needs more recognition that modern
charity is a science as well as a virtue.
(f) The Coming Men of America, although organized only in 1894, now claims
to be the greatest chartered secret society for boys and young men in the country.
It began two years earlier in a lodge started by a nineteen-year-old boy in