Superstition In The Interior Of Africa.

king , no sooner learnt what had happened than they were greatly terrified with the consequences of his indiscretion . They assembled , and repaired to the prince ' s palace ; they ordered him to appear upon his knees before the mumbo-jumbo , when he was severely reprimanded by the idol . He was then commanded to call together his wifehis friendsand

acquaint-, , ances , and particularly all the women belonging to the palace . The King of' Jagra , touched with remorse , and greatly intimidated by the resolute manner in which these orders were given , obeyed . All the women were convened ; and the same negro who had been hitherto the orator ordered that they should be

instantly massacred , which command was executed in such a manner that this important secret , so imprudently revealed , was restored among the class of mysteries . " At Jagra , and in the neighbouring countries , where the same superstition prevails , all those who

are initiated into the secret of the mumbo-jumbo , engage by the most terrible oaths never to communicate to the women the end of this institution , or the manner in which the oracles of the idol are delivered . The negroes are not admitted but at a certain age , according to the ritual of their religion , into the society of the servants of the mumbo—a kind of association or fraternity which , in many respects , resembles Freemasonry . "

Red Cross Of Constantine.

RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

TO THE EDITOK OF TIIE FREEMASONS' 3 IAGAZIJ .-E AND 3 TASOSIC itlXROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , ¦— " Audi Alteram Partem" refers to one printed z-zfcual of a Red Cross degree ; but there are at least two in print , and one of them refers to events in the Christian era . Tours fraternally

, N . B . TO IDE EDITOR OF TIIE FREEMASONS' MAOAZItfE AND MASONIC 3 IIEHOR . DEAR SIR ASD BROTHER , — I content myself with asking your correspondent at page S 90 , Who has responded to the demand about the warrant of 1796 ?

The question was and still remains , What is tbe Constitution of the Grand Council of tho Order of the Premier Conclave ? He says the Grand Council existed under Lord Rancliffe in 1796 , and is continued under Lord Kenlis now . Did the Grand Council proceed from the Premier Conclave , or the Premier

Conclave from the Grand Council ? or were they merged , and one or the same thing ? The warrant of 179 ( 5 to Sir Knight Robert ; Gill and others " is still extant , and in the possession of the proper authorities . " Is this the warrant of the Premier Conclaveor of any other Conclaveand i 3 it worked

, , by the proper parties ? If tho order has nothing to do with the American order , how came the American brother afc a late ceremonial , as recorded in your Magazine , to he received , and to perform the ancient evolutions of the order ? The statement that there is a ritual of Grand Cross of 1812 does not satisfy

me , because this ritual was cut down or doctored in 1 S 65 , and there are several rituals , including the installation of the Sovereigns , degrees of Viceroys , degrees of Knighthood , & c . So far as it is on record in your page 3 , the order

Red Cross Of Constantine.

collapsed on the death of the Duke of Sussex . " At the revival" Bro . AV . H . AVhite is elected Grand Sovereign , a drop from his Royal Highness to Bro . White ( like that from Lord Rancliffe in 1804 to Bro . W . R . Wright ) . After Bro . AVhite ' s death there is another interregnumand it must be another

, revival , until Lord Kenlis . Under Lord Kenlis we have in operation degrees and ritual which must have slumbered since the death of H . R . H . tbe Duke of Sussex , Grand Sovereign . The explanation at present makes the matter worse than before . It is a tissue of inconsistencies . Is

the only ritual named—the beautiful and ancient ritual—so much paraded ? Hardly so , I think , because the ritual was "wisely curtailed" in J S 65 . Tours fraternally , R . T .

French Masonry.

FRENCH MASONRY .

TO THE EDITOI 1 OF TIIE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND 3 TASONI 0 MIBROH . Dear Sir and Brother , —It is but justice to the Supreme Council of France to state that the very first article of its constitutions expressly requires as the first duty of a Mason faith in the Great Architect of the Universe . Tours fraternally , R . T .

Masonic Lifeboat Fund.

MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND .

The following subscriptions have been received : — Kemeys Tynte Encampment of Knights Templars , afc Woolwich , by Oapfc . W . F . Porfclock Dodson , B . AL , Treas . ( paid to Bro- Hyde Clarke ) , 10 s . 6 d . ; Bro . Boulton , of the Bank , Bedale—Lennox Lodge , No . 123 , Richmond , Yorkshire —( paid to Bro . Hyde Clarke ) , 10 s . 6 d .

"DKDVIKQ- MmiOEr . —How vividly oamo the period of ray early days stealing on my remembrance at this terrible time . I do not say stealing- on memory , for the one is far nobler than the other . Often , in a moment when man is not aware , does memory assert majestically her undying nature , and bring forfcli from her mysterious crypt in the soul the deeds of the distant past , unasked , and full often unwished . The sir . ner

sitteth at ease , cherishing many a false way , but an avenger is within him , who starts forth with the deep diapason of a lion , and tho crushing grip of a bear , crying , " I am memory ; remember the sins of years gone by . " It is as if poison were poured into the goblet , the cup falls from the conscience palsied hand , music ceases to breathe melody , tho cyprian eye of beauty loses its fires , ill-gotten gains are loathed , and the cringing soul shrinks within itself , crying , " Hast thou found

me , 0 mine enemy ? " What would not a fallen world give , could it when it listotli destroy memory . But it cannot be . So far from this , memory ' s greatest , grandest part has yet to be enacted . Deity—to whom be glory—will one day fire it like a train , and then , will ifc light up the remembrance of the whole arcanum of the past , "for God shall bring every work into judgement , with every secret thing , whether it be good or whether it be evil . " The day of judgement that .

—Vander-Iciste ' s Lost but Not for Ever . " How CAJT I JPAMI ASLEEP ? " —As a general rule , all mental exertion should be avoided in the evening hours , and strong tea , especially green tea , ought to be eschewed . The latter baa an extraordinary power of prolonging sleeplessness—more than any drug we know of . The perusal of a book late in the evening-, requiring active thought to keep tip with it , will induce wakefulness in excitable brains for many hours after going to rest .

In such cases , only light literature ought to be hidultcod in . Exciting conversation and exciting music have also the effect of keeping the brain active for many hours , and , therefore it is better to avoid these late at night , if you would sleep soundly .