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The written oath, which has remained on the censer during the whole performance of the 

 above ceremonies, is now taken down by one of the affiliated, and read aloud to the new 

 members, who remain kneeling during the reading, 



The thirty six articles of the oath. ( l ) 



Art. 1. 



From the moment that you have entered the Hung-league ( 2 ), you must "quietly fulfil your 

 duties, and keep to your own business. It has, always, been said that filial love is the 

 first of all virtues; therefore you must respect and obey both your parents, and obey and 

 venerate your superiors. Do not resist your father and mother and, so, violate the laws 

 of the Hung-league. 



He who does not keep this command, most surely, will not be suffered by heaven and 

 earth, but he shall be crushed by five thunder-bolts ! Each of you ought to obey this. 



Art. 2. 



When you have entered the Hung-league, you ought to keep secret everything for your 

 wife and family, for fear that something might leak out before strangers; even so that, as a 

 father, you don't teil it to your son, as an elder brother, you don't teil it to your younger 

 brother. Do not betray the secrets ( 3 ) of the Hung-league! 



He who does not keep this command — may Heaven not suffer him; but may he die and 

 become a headless ghost! 



When it is found out that a brother has betrayed the secrets to strangers, one of his 

 ears will be cut off and he will, besides, be punished with 10S blows, 



O f S H f ~ " 



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