The Old Anti-Masonic Conspirators.

stigated by a view to our own selfish purposes and the hopes of political advancement , do each most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear : — " That we will for ever conceal from all mankind , except from a true and fnlly initiated anti-Mason , all tho secrets of that party that

may have been , are now , or shall at any future period , be communicated to us as such . "That above all things , we will keep tbe mass of the ignorant and honest antis in their present state of ignorance with regard to our true designs—that although we may believe Freemasonry to be

a harmless , charitable , aud social Institution , we will unceasingly represent it as a most dangerous i ' oo to tho religion and liberties of our country . " That where tho fears of individuals , or societies , can best be excited by representing it as anti-christian and impious , we will

never fail so to repx-esent it ; and when , on the other hand , we may have Liberals and Free-thinkers to deal witb , we will represent the "Handmaid" as being yoked with the Orthodox , to promote the union of Church and State , to trample the liberties of the people under their feet .

" We furthermore swear , that although on all occasions we shall denounce every Mason as a traitor , murderer , and blasphemer ; yet whenever any contingency shall arise , 'in whioh the interests of the Anti-Masonic party may require the election of a Royal Arch or a Templar Mason , we wil promote such election to the utmost in our

power . "Each and all of us do furthermore swear , that from this time forward , we will hold ourselves devoted , soul ancl body , and estate , to the interest of the Anti . Masonio partv—that we will postpone to

it all considerations of religion , patriotism , and common sense : and will receive as our reward , such honours and emoluments as it may be in the power of the party to bestow . "Toeach and all of whioh , we hereby severally bind ourselves most solemnly , by subscribing our names . "

The firsfc scene of the second act is a farmhouse , where farmer Credulous and his wife Judy and Aunt Debby on one side , and Hawk Eye on the other , discuss the Morgan murder , the resurrection of Burnham , & c . Credulous and the two ladies of course stick to their belief , in spite of the

arguments of Hawk Eye . There is also a scene in a courthouse , where lawyer Long-jaw lays down points of law with all the acumen of the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe . I must , however , proceed with the anti-Masonic plotters . Well , then , after full discussion , the above oath was signed

by all present ; the assembly was called " The Secret Divan , " with a Wor . Master , Grand High Priest , Scribe , Ac . as Officers . The establishment of a party paper , with Parson Rawlimbs as editor , was agreed to . The Burnham

plot was discussed and approved of ; numerous other Masonic outrages were invented , and for a while things went on swimmingly . The party , however , afterwards received two checks , which threatened its immediate extinction : First—In the words of Sir

Rodrick—Friend Rawlimbs has done very well since he began , Has spared no pains , and made a wide impression , But the revival of some old affairs , By some young scoundrels , through that d— -d Observer Who made some thrusts that Rawlimbs conld not parry ,

Has dulled the edge of his reforming scythe , And palsied half the power of his arm . At first they said he was a vagabond , Expelled from the Chnrch , by honest men detested , And said , boldly , in public meeting .

He tried to gain redress , but who would think of it ? They charged him boldly , in the public prints , With ' smoke-house' feats of most unseemly odour ,

And sundry capers of his earlier days , Which grated harshly on the public ear . There was a slight foundation for a part , So that he could not court investigation .

Rawlimbs had to be thrown overboard , and Master Slender was induced to conduct the paper . It was also deemed necessary to change the location of the paper to where the lying character of the party was less known . The second check was the report of the Legislative Committee

on the Burnham resurrection . This was remedied by all agreeing to swear that the Lodge-money bribed Mower to unsay what he said and swore before . It seems to have answered their purpose—the party carried the election , and the offices were divided among those worthies . After

which , defections from the party began to take place ; the next election , when it drew near , seemed doubtful ; new recruits for the " Divan" had to be sought after ; hence , at one of the Divan ' s meetings , Master Slender announced tbat Lord Mansfield , one of the Vermont judges , would join the Divan , * but his ambition soared for a Senatorship .

Sir Eodrich—That is good , by George—if we could catch the old one , The Lord Sage Mansfield , it would be a grand one .

Suppose yon send him your whole collection Of tracts ancl pamphlets for examination . Slender—1 * 70 had him nnder diet several weeks , Reading Bernard , Slade , Ward , and Rush , and Allyn ; He feels quite sore about tho last fall ' s defeat , And does expect that Masonry produced it .

In the next scene Lord Mansfield is introduced to the members of the Divan . In the course of conversation Lord Mansfield says : The termination of the late election Was one of those which caused my first suspicions .

I could not for a moment doubt that something Unseen , but potent , ruled that fatal day . Six years before I was a candidate For the same office , and my friends assured me That nothing could prevent or check my triumph .

I really thought the appointed time had come , When all my hopes and fond anticipations Would be resolved in unalloyed fruition .

The day arrived , with all its high excitements ; My friends were busy—I was all on tiptoe ; But maugre all I had been told or dreamed of , My rival left me at a sightless distance .

At length the period hastened to its end , Ancl a new Senator mast be elected . In the meantime I had made up some losses Of popularity beneath the ermine 5

In loud professions of devotedness To a protective tariff , none excelled me . I had been studious of the pnblio whims , Watched each pulsation , noted every change , And had my creed adapted nicely to them . "

It is only necessary to say that Lord Mansfield was convinced that his defeats were due to the secret influence of the " Handmaid , " hence he was willing even to take the anti-Mason ' s oath , and to work for the party with all his might . The result was , the Antis triumphed at the next

election . Landlord Slatestone invited the Divan to a grand feast , where a jolly time was anticipated by the party . Unfortunately , in order to ensure success , it was deemed expedient by the Antis to suffer the election of a few Masons for some offices . This , however , gave

mortal offence to Old Mordacioas , ( a member of the Divan ) . They tried to pacify him , they bore his insulting taunts with great patience , they even coaxed him to join them in the banquet room , which he finally did , but this did not mollify him . Well , liquor was abundantly served , each in

his turn gave his toast , which toasts were received with three cheers . As the party warmed up , six cheers , with the help of a bumper , were given . When it came to the turn of Mordacious he gave for his toast , " Starving office seekers , our ranks are overrun with them ; " which was

received with "a dead silence . " Again and again the toasts went round , but when it came to Mordacious ' s turn , he proposed , " Deacon Lovely and Makefuss , a brace of d d detested hypocrites and office seekers , that ever went unhung ; " thereupon Makefuss returned the compliment , and

the party began to become noisy . The next toast of Mordacious capped the climax ; it was , "Master Slender , a , d—d slender concern , the mere jackal of hypocrites and scoundrels . " Slender thereupon became terribly excited , and began to threaten chastisement . Toasts , however ,

continued to go round , and the next toast of Mordacious was , " Makefuss and his man ' Friday . ' One wants to go to Congress ; may both go to the devil . " Slender then

jumped up to fight Mordacious ; the others tried to interfere , but were too drunk to stand long on their feet ; the fight then became general , and amidst the noise , uproar , and confusion , the curtain dropped .

BOSTON , U . S ., 20 fch April 1883 .

A meeting of the North London Chapter of Improvement was held at the Canonbury Tavern , St Mary ' s Road , on Thursday , 3 rd May . Comp . Hunter occupied the chair of Z ., G . Briggs H ., Brasted J ., W . J . Hunter S . N ., Hubbard P . S . There was a large attendance .

The Installation of M . E . Companion Frederick A . Philbrick , Q . C ., P . G . Soj ., as Grand Superintendent of Essex , will take place at the Shire Hall , Chelmsford , at three o ' clock p . m ., on Wednesday , 16 th instant . The installation ceremony will be performed by M . E . Comp . the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Lathom Grand H . of England .