BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS.

The Order of Elks was first organized in New York City, May 21, 1868, by a few gentlemen of the theatrical profession drawn together for social intercourse. It has now developed into a widespread and powerful Order of Benevolence, with Lodges in over 300 of the principal cities of the United States. It aims to promote the brotherhood of man, and it designs to offer to its members the certainty of warm hearts and welcome hearths in the various cities to which business or pleasure may summon them. One of their first tenets are these lines: "The faults of our brothers we would write upon the sands; Their virtues upon the tablets of love and memory."

The Order is a child of America, and its founders had no conception of the scope and possibilities of the present organization. The first four officers are Exalted Ruler, Esteemed Leading Knight, Esteemed Loyal Knight, and Esteemed Lecturing Knight. It is a very popular organization with an excellent suggestive ritual.

It was organ

We need say but little about this well known Order. ized in the United States at Baltimore, Md., on April 26, 1819, by five members of the Order of the Manchester Unity, England. The leading spirit in this movement was Thomas Wildey, who has the bonor of being "The Founder and Father of American Odd-Fellowship. The other four associates are worthy of record: John Welch, Richard Rushworth, John Duncan, and John Cheatham. Wildey, "The Father of American Odd Fellowship," very appropriately corresponded with Washington, "The Father of his Country," which was the name of the first Lodge of Odd Fellows. There are at the present time almost 11,000 subordinate lodges with a membership of over 800,000. There are nearly 2,700 subordinate encampments with a membership of over 133,700 There are over 4,000 Rebekah lodges with a membership of over 253,000. The Order's supreme power for all its subordinates - Grand Lodges and Grand Encampments, subordinate lodges and encampments, Rebekah lodges and Conventions, and Patriarchs Militant is contained in a "Sovereign Grand Lodge," meeting annually. The principle of the Order, its degrees, symbols, benefits, and general work, are too well known to require any further details.

ORDER OF B'NE B'RITH,

This is an Order composed of the Hebrew race and devoted to its people, race, religion, and interests. The official organ of the Order is The Manorah, founded by Benjamin F. Peixotto, published in New York City. This monthly has published a complete history of the Order.

ORDER OF THE SONS OF TEMPERANCE.

This Order was organized in the city of New York, September 29, 1842, by sixteen persons, at Teetotallers' Hall, in Division Street. The National Division was organized June 17, 1844. Its membership in 1850 reached to little less than 300,000. It has done and is doing a great work, notwithstanding its decline in membership, which has been caused by other similar societies, organized in more recent years on the same principles. To the inquiry, "Why this Order had Secrets connected with it?" the following apt reply was published: "There was an ancient allegory which taught that Envy and Idleness, once upon a time, got married. They had one child, and its name was Curiosity. That child is still living upon the earth, and it seems to be a sort of omnipresent being which sustains itself by petty thieving, taking a little from one, a little from another, and some from all. It was to prevent the too frequent incursions of this inquisitive, meddlesome little creature, that secrets were introduced into our Order."

The Sons of Temperance was for gentlemen; the Daughters of Temperance was for ladies; the Cadets of Temperance was for boys

ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS.

This Order had its origin in Central New York, in 1851, and grew rapidly, soon spreading to all the States and the Queen's Dominions. It is a total abstinence society and admits both ladies and gentlemen to its membership. It is prohibition absolutely. No license in any

form and under no circumstances. It has several features different from the Sons, Daughters, and Cadets of Temperance, yet is in harmony with them as a factor of the temperance movement. The Order is too well known for further remarks.

IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN.

This Order was really organized in Maryland, in 1835, although there were associations under the name of Red Men at Fort Mifflin during the Mexican war in 1812. The Order adopted for its "Freedom, Friendship, and Charity." Its tribes are found in nearly every State, and it has many attractions that find a response in the bosom of the American people. Its vocabulary is attractive and perpetuates the history and customs of the red race. One thing it has done to perpetuate itself; it has been the means of bringing to light many Indian names which were fast passing into legends. The sonorous words are music in almost every locality through this coun try and the Red Men have unearthed many from tradition and legend

THE E-SOTER-ISTS OF THE WEST. ·

We have not been able to get much information of this circle or Brotherhood. It seems to be incog to the outside world. The word West we are told means distinctly the western hemisphere in contrast with the eastern hemisphere. The peculiar manner that the word SOTER" is exposed would indicate that the meaning of that word (saviour) might have an arcane significance with the members. The Ichthic acrostic in the Sibylline Oracles contains the quoted word: IESOUS CHRIESTOS THEOS UIOS SOTER. Godfrey Higgins says there is in the Adyta of St. Peter's Church a column or lithos on which are inscribed the words, "ZEUS SOTER." There is esotericism in this.

THE TEMPLE OF ISIS.

This Temple is located in Chicago and is presided over by one of the Magi. Its symbol is a four-winged kneph surrounded by a cobra. Hermetic lectures are delivered twice a month to the members on a variety of arcane subjects, which are printed and distributed to the appreciative. Five volumes have thus far been published. The talks penetrate beneath the surface, and many hermetic crypts have been brought to light for study and enlightenment. The volumes are for sale at one dollar twenty-five cents each. This Hermetic Brotherhood also publish other works on the Mysteries, the Sphinx, the Pyramids, and hermetic teachings.

ORDER OF THE S. E. K.

This Order is a circle of students for the study of symbolism and its application to the psychical aspects of man" I think, therefore, I am." The unfoldment of a cube is a crucifixion cross. The esoteric student can penetrate within the veil. Some of its members are also students of Egyptology. The membership is quite limited and scattered. The head of the Order, we think, resides in Massachusetts.

ORDER OF THE TALL CEDARS OF LEBANON.

This Order is founded on some words of Job (xxxi, 48) and of Solomon (Cant. v, 15). The Stranger takes a pilgrimage to the Temple, and is shown the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and there taught a lesson that sooner or later he will pass to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." Enough has been said.

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THE KNIGHTS OF BIRMINGHAM.

This is military degree. It was introduced into Louisiana in 1844, and is conferred in some of the States at the present time, although it is gradually becoming obsolete. Enough has been said to a P. S.

THE FIFTH ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK AND EGYPTIAN SPHINX.

We are not sure that this Order is in activity at the present time; at least, a session has been held within two years in the city of Boston, Mass. Its heads are Prince and High Priestess, both arrayed in gorgeous apparel. The Order claims great antiquity, even several thousand years before A. M., which may stand for Ante-Melchizedek, and not "After the Order of Melchizedek " (Ps. cx, 4). This Order is also known as "The Solar, Spiritual, Progressive Order of the Silver Head and Golden Star." Its place of meeting is called a Grotto.

ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS.

This Order is a well-known Catholic institution for the purpose of promoting Friendship, Unity, and True Christian Charity among its members, by raising or supporting a stock or fund of money for maintaining the aged, sick, blind, and infirm members. It is an adjunct to the Catholic religion, and too well known to be further described.

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS, FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

No

This Order claims to have records that date back to October 29, 1745, under the name "Royal Foresters," at Knaresborough, England. That name was changed to "Ancient Order of Foresters "' in August, 1834. In 1850 the Order numbered 100,000 members. Order grew more rapidly in the same length of time. It organizations are styled Courts and number now in the United States almost 10,000. It is a benefit association. Its head officer is Chief Ranger.

RITE OF LAX OBSERVANCE.

When the Rite of Strict Observance was established by Baron von Hund about 1754, he and his adherents termed the English Rite the "Lax Observance." We are quite sure there is a Lodge of the Lax Observance in one of the Western States in activity. The Strict Observance comprises six degrees, viz.: 1. E. A. 2. F. C. 3. M. M. 4. Scottish Master. 5. Novice. 6. Knight Templar. 1754, there was added the 7th, Professed Knight.

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.

Later than

This Order had its origin in in Meadville, Pa., in 1868. After four years of local operation it spread over the country. It is a beneficiary organization. A few years later were organized on a similar basis the Knights of Honor, American Legion of Honor, Royal Arcanum, Chosen Friends, Golden Cross, Pilgrim Fathers, Order of Solon, and scores of others too numerous to mention.

Space forbids to give a resumé of several mystical organizations noted down for this paper.

MONOSYLLABICS.

Think not that strength lies in the big round words
Or that the brief and plain must needs be weak.
To whom can this be true who once has heard

The cry for help, the tongue that all men spea
When want or wo or fear is in the throat,

So that each word gasped out is like a shriek
Pressed from a sore heart, or a strange wild note
Sung by some fay, or fiend. There is a strength
Which dies if stretched too far, or spun too fine,

Which has more height than breadth, more depth than length.
Let but this force of thought and speech be mine,
And he that will may take the sleek, fat phrase

Which glows and burns not, though it gleam and shine-
Light, but no heat-a flash, but not a blaze!

Nor is it mere strength that the short word boasts:
It serves of more than fight or storm to tell;
The roar of waves that dash on rock-bound coasts,
The crash of tall trees when the wild winds swell;
The roar of guns, the groans of men that die

On blood-stained fields. It has a voice as well
For those that fur off on their sick-beds lie;

For them that weep, for them that mourn the dead,
For them that laugh, and dance, and clap the hands,
Or joy's quick step, as well as grief's slow tread,
The sweet, plain words we learnt at first, keep time;
And though the theme be sad, or gay, or grand,
With each, with all, these may be made to chime,
In thought, or speech, or song, in prose or rhyme.
-Dr. Addison Alexander.

These mystical

ASKI KATASKI-HAIX-TETRAX-DAMNAMENEUS-AISION. words, Athanasius Kischer tells us meant "Darkness, Light, Earth, Sun, and Truth," were, says Hesychius, engraved upon the zone or belt of the Diana of the Ephesians. Plutarch says that the priests used to recite these words over persons who were possessed by devils.

THE CONCEALED M. The Letter M is concealed in the following Latin enigma by an unknown author of very ancient date :

Ego sum principium mundi et finis seculorum;
Ego sum trinus et unus, et tamen non sum Deus.