The Sect Of The Druses.

another creed , and in defence of the Druse religion . The second is " mutual help , watchfulness and protection . " The third is to renounce all other religions . The fourth is to be separate from all infidels of every kind , not externally , but only in heart . The fifth , sixth and seventh , are

semitheological , in which the believer is commanded to " recognise God ' s eternal Unity , " must bo " satisfied with God ' s acts , " must be " resigned to God's will . " Under these seven commandments numerous minor moral precepts

are g iven , and special crimes are prohibited . Chastity , honesty , poverty , meekness and mercy are Druse virtues ; murder , theft , covetousness and cruelty , are sins . It is crenerally conceded that the average morality of the Druses is as high as that of any other oriental religious sect .

In regard to their worship , their writings furnish but little information . No unbeliever is permitted to listen to tbeir prayers or preaching . So secret have been all their relig ious performances that they have been reported to be without religious worship . They observe no Sabbath ,

have no priestly class , their ceremonies are of initiation rather than ritual , aud except in their holowes andTockals , there is nothing to connect them with religious symbols . The holowes , or places of meeting are in large rooms bare of furniture or sacred emblems . The brethren meet every

Tuesday evening . The ochals ( whose name ia derived from the Arabic meaning intelligence ) , are the wise men of the Druse Sect , who havo taken all the degrees , and have charge of the highest religious interests of the community . They are chosen after long probation , in which

severe self-denial , including abstinence from tobacco , are required . A year must pass before the first degree can be taken ; and after initiation the strict rules of discipline continue to bind them . Any class , and either sex may furnish candidates , and any one , however holy , is liable to

fall from grace . The Ockals do not receive any salary , but must support themselves by working with their own hands . They take the lead in the meetings , read the

Koran or the Christian Scripture . Some of them are ascetics , but asceticism is not required , some of them will fight in time of war , though by profession they are bound to peace .

The number of Druses in the whole of Syria , from the plain east of Damascus to the western coast is reckoned at about seventy thousand . Some of these dwell in scattered families in the larger towns and in the villages of the Maronites . In the towns at the foot of Mouut Hermon

they make a considerable part of the population , aud have great influence . The Druses of Anti-Libanus are a more warlike and restless class than their brethren beyond the Litany . But the proper homo of the Drusos people is in the Lebanon mountains extending from Beirut to Tyre .

The principal towns are Deirel Kainer , aud the capital of Shwyfat , near Beirut , whore tho Emir Emeen , the present governor of the Druses , resides ; Heittat and Allayo ; Abeigh , whore the American Protestants have a flourishing mission ; Bakleen , Muchtava , Barook , aud Ainsbalti ,

where there is also a missionary station . In spite of their adoption of the religious customs of the Moslems , of their readiness to educate their children in Christian schools , of their use of the Arabic language , which they speak and write as purely as any tribe in Syria , and of their free

intercourse with strangers , the Druses remain , even more than the Jews , a peculiar people . They are rarely converted to Christianity , they marry within their own race , they adhere tenaciously to their traditions , and they baffle all efforts to discover their cherished secrets . They are

stigmatised as infidels , robbers and savages , yet they seek for knowledge , observe honour , and practice domestic and social virtues , in a way that compels tho praise of

intelligent Christian observers . In their religion there is no sign of idolatory , they are less fanatical than the sects around them , and they covet no proselytes . —Masonic Chronicle .

Masonry relies on the quality and not on the quantity of the Brotherhood , and its firmest support is to be found in the happy choice of its initiates , and not in the frequoncy of its initiations .

< li « £ V t \ "''' A ! , " D Oi . vi ; , tn : iT . —Influenza , Coughs aud Colrls . —In , ' , S ot bhe > Nivoiic and chest , so prevalent iu our changeable climate , 'fW r ° ? eedlly relieves , or so certainly cures , ; is thoso inestimable remedies , iniiuiio- i ers are t 0 ° ot ' ten "eglected at their commencement , or are WhotJ ? . 1 treated , resulting in either case iu disastrous consequences . Whnfn . rn . 7 ii - •««•« . ;« , 'sauium 5 m cimer case iu uisaswous consequences . ltl of the

recovn , ^ ii c 9 ^ ^ patient , Ilolioway ' s remedies will restore , if i ) urin ^ i . « i s ! ° ; they wiU retara th 0 alnrraintr symptoms till the blood is vita 1 nnrtn „ a ^ ° ? , summates < ke cure , gradually restoring strength and tone i , r ' nnf L T ° ' \ J j Purring , in tho use of Hollowav ' . s preparation * , Co testifind H , ^ M ^ 2 » mw ! h and frame generally . Thousand of persons toheaUh ^ ftl fn by ' ° 0 I thc 3 e remedies al 0 Qe they ll » vo been restored w aeauu after every other means had failed .

Masonic Literature.

MASONIC LITERATURE .

IT has always been a matter of groat wonderment to us why there are so few Masous who take any special interest in Masonic literature . It cannot be because it is of no value or interest to them , for every reading Mason

will bear testimony to the contrary . More than that , it is essential to every Mason wlio would acquire a sufficient knowledge of Masonry to ouable him to appreciate its purpose and enjoy its benefits .

There are hundreds and thousands of Masous who know

nothing of Masonry beyond tho little communicated to them while receiving tho various degrees . They were then simply learning the alphabet oi Masonry , and wero thus given the right and privilege to attain a more complete

knowledge of the marvellous wonders of this great and mysterious institution . Stopping at this point iu their search for lig ht and knowledge , they may appropriately be compared to the child who has just entered school and learned his letters . Much more must be acquired before

he becomes a ripe scholar . Again , it seems strange that men will go on and take all the degrees and orders in the several branches of Masonry , at an expense of some two hundred dollars or more , and thus entail upon themselves the payment annually of quite

a sum of money in the way of dues , and be content to get so little in return . Having satisfied their curiosity , their interest likewise seems to be satisfied . They might

advance and explore the vast fields of Masonic history , traditions , symbolism , laws and regulations for the government of the Craft , all of which are exceedingly interesting and instructive . Eminent and learned authors have

furnished valuable works on these and many other Masonio subjects . The Masonic journals of the day enable their readers to keep posted in all important events as they transpire , and present to them the best thoughts of wellinformed brethren on all matters affecting the welfare of

the Craft . At a very small sum in addition to what he has already invested , a Mason can thus acquire a knowledge of the science of Freemasonry which will benefit him an hundredfold more than the little smattering of it unfolded to him while taking his degrees .

In our experience of nearly a quarter of a century a 3 publisher of the Masonio Advocate , we have found it much easier to get renewals of subscriptions than to obtain new subscribers . From this we infer that a Brother who has

beeu reading the paper inoro fully appreciates its vuluo to a Mason than one who has not onjoyod the benefit of it . In our experience wo have learned , too , that the best and most prosperous Lodges are generally those which have tho largest number of members who read Masonic

literature . Is it not then the duty of every brother who appreciates the value and importance of Masonic reading to recommend it to his less informed brethren ? Is it asking too much of the readers of the Advocate to request each one to uso his iufluetice iu extending its circulation , even to

soliciting subscriptions from the brethren around them who are not taking it ? We would greatly appreciate such favours , for they would be of great benefit to us , while at

the same time every new reader thus obtained would be more largely benefited . Brethren please act upon this suggestion , and Masonry in general , and your Lodge iu particular , will also reap a benefit . —Masonic Advoaate .

We have received , from Messrs . T . C . Turner and Co ., of 10 Barnsbury Park , London , N ., some photographic views of the funeral of the late Duke of Clarence and Avondale . They wero taken for Messrs . Turner by that firm ' s manager , Mr . C . Wyrall , who we can congratulate on

having secured some excellent pictures . Taking into consideration tho state of the weather on the day in question , tho photographs are admirable ones , while the position selected by Mr . Wyrall could not have been better . There are six views , one with the coffin as the

centre piece , another with the Prince of Wales and his supporters as the principals , and another showing tho full length of tho procession . The price of the photographs is 2 s 6 d each , and wo advise our readers to secure these pictures , they form a memento of the sad event .

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The Towsn FciwisniifG COUPASV LIMIIBB suppy goods on Hire direct from I Manufacturers ; ono , two or three years' credit without seenrity . Purchasers havo the choice of luo Wholesale Houses . Call or write for Prospectus . [ Address—Secretary , 43 Great Tower Street , E . C .