Tortured By Degrees.

TORTURED BY DEGREES .

FOUR hundred years ago men were tortured by degrees—but not for tho first timo , nor for tho last . Tho " good" Queen Isabella was then on tho Spanish throne , with Ferdinand of Arragon for her consort , and Torquomnnda for Inquisitor-General . Then of all other times in tho world , mon—ayo , and women and children

toowero tortured by degrees . Tho thumb-screw , tho rack , and tho pulley depiived thom slowly of life , and fire , faggot , and stake often ended their torments . An Innocent Popo ( the Eighth)—innocent in namo only , but thrice guilty in deed—inaugurated the horrors of tho Spanish Inquisition , and thus made it possible for such a

heartrending book to bo written as " Fox ' s Book of Martyrs . " It is fortunate for us that those days are pasfc . No ono finds it a pleasnro , even for conscience sake , to enlighten the world afc tho stake . But ours is a liberal ago—too liberal , perhaps , when , in this country at least , ono may say and do pretty much as he pleases . Our liberty

reaches license , and hence , although the punishments of tho nineteenth century aro different from those of tho fifteenth , wo yefc are , iu a certain sense , tortured by degrees . Our rules have been changed , but our burdens aro still npon us . Thus , tho so-called Holy Office is without business , and its inquisitors can no longer enforce their

saying , ' •' Believe as I believe , or I'll roast yon , " yefc any man may now bo a sort of " Holy office , " and still torture us by degrees . All our troubles 'low from tho vanity of men who assume to be wiser than Solomon . Wo are tanght in tho Craft thafc King Solomon , iu his supreme wisdom , established but thrco degrees among tho

Craftsmen of Jerusalem who wero builders of tho Temple—viz ., Entered Apprentices , Fellow Crafts , and Masters . Now according to recently published accounts , thero are two hundred and eightytwo degrees that claim to be Masonic ! Could Beaumont and Fletcher havo had prophetic reference to this mushroom growth , when they wroto : —¦

" There is a method in man ' s wickedness—It grows up by degrees . " Surely the world would nofc suffer if , say two hundred and fifty of these degrees , wero to be buried out of si ght and hearing ! Let us consider this somewhat .

Degrees , when multiplied by hundreds , and costly in money , unduly absorb a man ' s timo from himself and his legitimate business , to say nothing of his family , and ( ill his head with a lot of verbiage , which likely crowds out knowledge thafc would bo moro profitable to him , if not moro pleasant .

Jack Kitchener is ono of those who is tortured by tho nnmerosity of his degrees . Monday night comes . Supper is jnst over . Jack jumps np , with the remark , — " Wife . I ' ve a Lodgo meeting to attend this evening . " " Pray , what Lodgo ? " she asks . " Oh I" ho replies , "tho A . B . and C . Rite holds ono of its meetings to-night . " Tuesday

evening arrives . Supper is hurriedly despatched , and Jack is up and goiug . "And whither to-night ? " the wife inquires . "ThcD . E . F . Itito holds an important Communication to-night . " Wednesday comes . Tho G . and II . Rite meets in high carnival then . Thursday brings with ifc a Lodgo mooting in tho " I . J . and K . Rite . " Friday

is illustrated by a cut from supper to attend a meeting in the "L . and M . Rite , " and poor Saturday is crowded also with the " 0 . P . and Q . Rite . " Tlio following week is also fall , to tho end of the alphabet of rites . And so on from week to week , and month to month , and year to year . Thus , as Drvden says ,

aro" IU habits gathered by unseen degrees . " This multitude of degrees that requires a man with a head for figures to number , is an inverted pyramid , unnaturally based upon a point that is a very diamond for endurance . This pivofc-poinfc is

composed of tho degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry . These all men ( who can ) may take with benefit to themselves , and without detriment to their families ; but tho large majority of the degrees beyond them

grow" Fine by degrees and beautifully less . " The Scriptures appear to be uniform in their testimony on this point . Men of "high degree" arc by no means commended , while men of " low dogrco " aro often praised . In Chronicles wo read of " brethren of the second degree , " who chanted songs of praise when

the Ark of the Covenant was carried up to Zion ; and St . Luko says : " Ho hath put down tho mighty from their seats , and exalted them of low degree . " It is trno David wrote , in tho Psalms , thafc " men of low degree aro vanity , " but then ho added , " men of high degree are altogether lighter than vanity I" We do well to be faithful with our first love . Let no oue ever

" Look in the clouds , scorning the bare degrees By which he did ascend . " By base degrees he meant ( whatever Shakespeare meant ) tho foundation degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry , on which all other Masonry , or alleged Masonry is bnilt . There are iu Masonry degrees useful and ornamental , aud iu mis-called Masonry dogrees that aro

neither oue or the other . We should class the degrees of tho Lodge and Chapter as useful , and those of tho Commandery and Ancient and Accepted Rite as ornamental . Somo brethren of course will differ from ns , but with tho mojorifcy wo aro iu accord . As to what may bo termed the Alphabet Rites , there is no Masonry iu them but the name .

What shall wo say then of the mills and millers thafc grind out the multitudinous modern degrees , which promise to outnumber Abraham ' s seed ? The millers are doubtless Masons , ingenious mon , ambitious men , presumptuous men , aud sometimes successful men ; but they cannot make any of their modern rites right . They are not Masonry , and they overlay and tend to obscure Masonry . Think of auy one assuming to overtop King Solomon ! " Angels aud ministers of grace defend us !" —Key-done .

Madame Tussaud's Exhibition.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION .

rnO cater successfully for the million is a heavy task , and when -L achieved must bo gratifying to thoso who havo accomplished it . Tho conductors of this Exhibition aro to bo ranked amongst tho mosfc successful of caterers , as no matter at what time of tho year our readers may bo minded to visit Baker-street to inspect tho wax work , thoy will be suro to find a good company of sightseers eager to join them . This happy result is doubtless duo to a variety of causes , not

the least being tho tenacity with which tho taste of the clay ia studied . If a political Conference is sitting , to discuss fche affairs of nations , wo immediately have portrait models of tho distinguished statesmen who compose it , habited as they live . If a gallant naval or military officer distinguishes himself iu tho cause of his country , the public afc largo may soon make acquaintance with his

lineaments and personal appearance . No expense is spared , no demand for costly dresses and surroundings is left unconsidered , and as a consequence , an air of comfort and prosperity pervades the entire scene . We dropped in casually the other evening , aud wero immediately accosted by a musical brother who has beon associated with this establishment for upwards of twenty years .

Ho took ns in tow , and pointed out , with evident pride , thafc ho had somo talented confreres , who would bo sure to gratify us with a tasto of their quality . This indeed they did , as tho symphonies and selections thoy played woro executed faultlessly . The principal features of this well known resort havo beon so frequently described in press notices , thafc wo scarcely deem ifc necessary here to recount

them in extenso . However , wo will not omit to mention tho suecessful arrangement of the new group of tho Napoleon Family , from the First Napoleon to the lato ill-starred Prince Imperial . Those who desire to become better acquainted with notorious characters will here find life-like figures of such individuals as Kate Webster , Peace of Banner Cross , Benson , Kurr , & c . & c .

Tho Consecration of the Victoria Park Lodge , No . 181 G , will take place on Friday , 25 th inst ., at the Queen ' s Hotel , Victoria Park-road , South Hackney , at two o ' clock . Bro . James Terry , Prov . J . G . Warden Herts , Avill perform tho ceremony . The Officers designate are Bros . Carter W . M ., G . Edwards S . W ., ancl W . Snellgrove J . W .

Tlie efforts of Bro . Georgo Smith of Coalville , which resulted , first , in the passing of the Brickyard Children ' s Act in 1871 , and nexfc in the Enactment in 1877 of tho Canal Boats Act , having occupied a large part ; of his energies during fcho pasfc sixteen years , it has beon felt that some recognition , in the shape of a provision for his future

needs , should bo accorded him , sufficient , if possible , to enable him to dos r oto the remainder of his life to philanthrophic work . Accordingly , a very influential committee has been formed for tho pnrposo of carrying out this object . Subscriptions may bo sent to cither tho Treasurer ( F . A . Bevan Esq ., 51 Lombard Street , London , E . C . ) or tho Secretary ( P . W . Clayden Esq ., 13 Tavistock Square , London , W . C . )

MASONIC ELECTIONS . —I desire to call your attention to one evil that too often enters into tho Government of Masonic bodio * , both supreme and subordinate , a disposition of well-meaning but ambitious brethren to enter into combinations to secure rank and preferment . It may bo pardonable for tho citizen to adopt tho usual methods of politicians as a meaus to securing place and emoluments in the

governmou of the State ; but such methods are reprehensible in tho highest degree in a Masonic Lodgo . The highest trust committed to you , as tho representatives of our Order in this jurisdiction , is tho choice of Grand Officers for tho ensuing year . These Officers should bo chosen for their meritorious worth , and the facfc that a brother wishes the post of honour , or that he resides in some supposed

favourable locality , should nofc influence a single vote . I havo been impressed with the conviction that ifc is always a safe rule , in choosing Officers , to vote against ; Masonic politicians . The brethren of a Lodge , unembarrassed by the importunities of ambitions candidates , will usually make a wise choice in tho selection of Officers . And the brother , who by his industry serves tho Craft well and

faithfully , will finally secure his reward . Tho great principles of out-Order , and tho laws laid down in our ancient Constitutions in regard to these practices , aro so well understood by the older and more experienced members of the Craft , that there is need only of calling your attention to them to be appreciated and faithfully practised by

our brethren . Our Order is designed for higher aud nobler purposes than that of gratifying tho ambition of mon , and the Mason who would prostitute the Order to promote his business , or gratify his ambition is unworthy the fraternal regard of tho Craffc . —M . W . JOIIM Guxniurc , G . M . Kansas .

Tho Freemasons of Portland , Maine , on the 2-lth ult ., indulged iu a grand procession through the chief streets of tho city , and then in an excursion to ! i Littlo Hog Island , "„ 'in tho Bay , where an old-iimo clam-bake was enjoyed . The celebration was very imposing . Fortland Lodge , for 110 years past , has been accustomed to eat a big dinner on St . John ' s Day . The first dinner was sat down to at Daniel Isley's tavern , Deoring , in 17 G 3 . The old custom is still joyfully kept up . —Keystone .

ItoM . ow . vv ' s I ' n . i . s . —The chief wonder of modern times . —This incomparable medicine increases the appetite , strengthens the stomach , cleanses the liver , corrects billiousness , prevents flatulency , purifies the system , irm ' pimifes tho nerves , and re-instates sound liunltli . The ' . mormons demand for these i'ills throughout the jjlnbu astonishes everybody , ami a single trial convinces the

most sceptical that no medicine equals llollowayd- ; Tills : n its ability to remove all complaints incidental to the human race . They are a , blessing to theafllictcd , and a , boon to all that labour under infernal or external disease . The purification of the blood , removal ol ' all restraint from the secretive organs , and tfeiitlo iiiicrutivc action iU'c the prolific soiu'cto of the extensive curativo range of lioiloway ' s Tills .