The. Order Of St. John.

appreciated that alms ancl contributions soon flowed into their coffers from all the nations of Christendom . Many a weary wanderer was sheltered in the hospitable home of this charitable community , many a sorrowful heart was cheered

and comforted by their benevolent assistance , the sick ivere carefully tended , and the dead sepulchred ivith Christian rites . But this happy state of affairs was not of longduration ; in 1065 , the Turks captured Jerusalem

from the Saracens , and inflicted horrible barbarities upon the helpless inhabitants of the Holy City . The Hospital of St . John did not escape their ravages , and even the Holy Sepulchre ivas plundered of the many valuable gifts ivhieh had

been presented by wealthy pilgrims to the ecclesiastics of the Greek and Latin churches . After this event the perils of a pilgrimage to Palestine ivere greatly augmented . Turkish banditti infested the country , and robbed the

unfortunate Christians ivith impunity—in many instances cruelly mutilating - ancl even murdering their victims . But , although all Europe rang ivith the tales of oppression ancl bloodshed related by those who were fortunate enough to survive the

dangers of their Eastern travels and return to their several homes , for along period no help came in response to the sufferers' cry for protection . At length the zeal of a poor ascetic accomplished an enterprise which the most powerful princes were reluctant to undertake .

Boldly preaching a crusade against the enemies of Christ , he hastened from land to land ; his spirit-stirring appeals ivere crowned ivith success ; and the chivalry of Christendom rose as one man at the call of Peter , the Hermit . Pope Urban the

second , encouraged by the martial enthusiasm thus evoked , decreed the assembly of two grand councils ; one at Placentia , and the other at Clermont , in Auvergne , for the purpose of consolidating and directing the efforts of the mighty

host of warriors leagued together for the purpose of expelling the infidels from that city , ivhieh ivas once " the beauty of holiness , and the joy of the whole earth . " At Clermont , where an immense multitude of all ranks—from the prince to the

peasant—congregated , the assembly answered the eloquent address of the Pontiff by shouting , " Dieu le vent , " " God wills it , God wills it ; " words that were afterwards the battle-cry of the Crusaders in many a sanguinary field . ( To be continued . )

Divulging The Mason's Word.

DIVULGING THE MASON ' S WORD .

The following amusing anecdote has been forwarded to us by a correspondent , ancl , as it shows what ideas are formed by those not of the Craft , we insert it : — The mysteries of Masonry have been publicly

divulged ! The secrets that have defied the curious in every age and clime are noiv common property ! Awake ! arise ! brethren of the ancient and honourable Craft , ancl wreak vengeance on the traitor ! An unworthy Mason , not having before his mind ' s

eye the fate of the recreant Morgan—whatever that may have been—has proved false to his trust by divulging the Masonic password . Curiosity

and timidity are tivo important traits in the character of Ralph Sloog-ey . The former quality some years ago made him desirous of learning the secrets of the Masonic fraternity ; but as he had heard that hot gridirons , ancl pugnacious goats with

sharp horns , are made use of during the ceremony of initiation , Ralph's timidity warned him that , as he was not copper-bottomed , he should first strive to ascertain , if possible , ivhether buck-goats , aud red-hot spears ancl gridirons formed indispensable

adjuncts in the mysterious ordeal of Masonry . To satisfy himself on this point he endeavoured to " pump" an intimate personal friend , Jacob Sleeton , whom he knew to be a Mason .

| " Now , Jacob , " said he , during a conversation on the mysterious subject , " I would like to become a member of the fraternity ; but before doing so I think you ought to tell me something about them . Do they really brand you with a hot

gridiron ?—and if so , on ivhat part of the body ?" Like all Masons , ivhen such questions were asked , Jacob would smile , and say , "After you shall have taken the three degrees , you will know all about it . I can't answer your interrogations . "

For a long time Ralph tried to worm out something concerning the fraternity ; but in vain . On every possible opportunity he would reneiv the attempt , until , at last , Jacob became offended with Ralph ' s persistency , ancl determined to punish

him . Early one morning , as Ralph ancl Jacob were hurrying to their respective places of business , the former renewed his inquiries . " I'd give fifty dollars if I knew the signs and

password . If you tell me about the password and grip , I'll promise never to ask you another question in regard to the secrets of Masonry . Come , noiv , Jacob—you ' ve knoivn me since I was a boy , and