Advancement Of Candidates.

the ritual , and yet who , taken from the beaten track of old routine , are as completely ignorant of the history , the nature and design , and the true symbolism of the Order , as if they had never entered within its portals . It is time that such men should be deprived of the laurels which they have

assumed , and be told thai something more than a mere knowledge of the words of a ritual are ne- „ cessary to make a " bright" Mason or a competent teacher in Masonry . Masonry has its science and its literature , and to these the attention of the Masonic student should be directed . The ritual

is its alphabet . A knowledge of ifc is , therefore , it is true , necessary to a full comprehension of its language , * but he who has gone no further than the alphabet , however competent he may be to instruct others in the same rudiments , can hardly discharge the duty of a teacher of the science . — Masonic Record , of Western India .

A Federal Mason In Danger.

A FEDERAL MASON IN DANGER .

In the fall of 1864 , several squadrons of Federal cavalry went out on a raiding expedition through one of the most Southern States . The expedition was successful , completely so . The enemy had fled before it . Artillery had been captured , hundreds of prisoners , and an indefinite amount

of horses , mules , & c . The country had been raided successfully . To the initiated that sentence speaks volumes in itself ; it means a country has been devastated , plundered—private property not excepted—a people ' s feelings aroused to the highest pitch of exasperation , & c . As a general

thing , those captured from a raiding party get but sorry treatment . Well , this successful expedition spoken of had been out seven days , and was within one day ' s march of its home or camp destination , when the enemy who had been following warily , made an attack on the rear of the column , in hopes of recapturing some of the plundered booty , & c . The attack was soon and easily

repulsed , but with the loss of one officer and five "men to the raiders , which happened on this wise : A little party of six made a dash into the woods after the same number of rebels ; the chase became exciting ; several miles of ground had been travelled , when the rebels made a stand and

showed fight . ( The 'Federal column had passed on its route * the six troopers were nut missed until the next day . ) The Union soldiers opened on them with carbines and pistols immediately , and thereby emptied six rebel saddles ; but the firing brought more troops fco the scene of action .

Our little partystillfired away , until they saw themselves being surrounded ; then they attempted to retreat to their column ; but , alas ! 'twas too late they were hemmed in on every side fchey were raiders—need I say any more ? No my horse threw me from fche saddle ; he was captured and so was I . When I began to look about me , I found myself between two regiments cf Confederate

cavalry I saw no other Union prisoners besides myself ; I was hooted and jeered at ; one party rode up to me and demanded my arms , another wanted my spurs , another took a fancy to my coat and hat , but one who considered that coats and hats could be bought with money , modestly requested

that I should give him something , if it was only my Yankee manufactured pocket book , with its contents of greenbacks , as he had heard very much about such things , and wished to see some . His wish had to be gratified , but my wish to see the book and its contents again was never gratified .

Next , some one suddenly wished to know what time it was , and a special requisition was made for my watch , no objection being made to the chain and ornaments attached . Thus far the privates had their own say ; then I loudly protested against giving * up my watch , as it had some Masonic engravings

upon ifc , and Masonic ornaments attached to the chain . While pleading for the watch , an officer rode up and overheard a part of the conversation , and understanding that I was a Mason , took the watch from the trooper who had taken it from me and put it in his own pocketat the same time

, drawing a revolver and declaring that he would take charge of me and my property ; and as tlie others seemed to demur at it , the officer ordered me to walk ahead of him , at the same time telling the men he would defend me with his life , and that he was bound to do it .

I hat officer was a Mason , and through his instrumentality my life was spared , for I was informed by one of the men who helped to strip me ( some time afterwards ) , that when they had finished plundering me , I was to have been taken into the woods and shot , as the other prisoners had

been . I must here say that my watch and chain were returned to me intact . Before the officer left me he put a guard over me , with strict orders to bring me safely to their head-quarters , while he himself galloped on ahead , and reported a Federal prisoner coming * . Shortly after the

commanding officer privately gave orders to one of his subordinates to take me into the woods and see that I was shot . As soon as I understood what disposal was to be made of me , I very

naturally expostulated upon tlie unlawfulness of the act about to be perpetrated . In doing so , I gesticulated with my hand . I happened to have on my finger a ring , with the Masonic emblem engraved upon it ; the officer saw it , paused suddenly , and asked me two or three Masonic

questions . I answered him correctly . Thafc officer was a Mason also , and , when he knew me to be one , he couldn't find it in his heart to execute his order . His commanding officer was likewise a Mason , and , when informed by his subordinate that I was a brother life was nofc

, my only spared , but many little kind attentions were shown me , and within a short time afterwards , through the influence of my Southern Masonic brethren , I was paroled and sent within our lines .