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1. Be brief. This is ihe age of tele
graphs and stenograph.
2. Be pointed. Don’t write all
around a subject without hitting it.
3 Strike facts, but don’t stop to mor
alize. It is a drowsy subject. Let the
reader do his own dreaming.
4. E.sohew prefaoe.s. Plunge at juoe
into your subject, like a swimmer in cold
water.
5. If you have written a sentence that
you think particularly fine, draw youi
pen through it. A. pet child is always
the worst in the family.
6. Condense. Make sure that you
really have an idea, and then record it in
the shortest possible terms. We want
thoughts in the quinte.^^sence.
7. When your article ks completed
.strike out niue-tenihs of the adjectives.
Running Newspapers in Hard
Times.
No task is more difficult than that of
“running a newspaper’’ when there is a
complaint of scarcity of money, and the
reason is obvious,
W’hen a man owes fifty or a hundred
dollars he feels it to be an imperative
duty to pay the debt—he will take any
amount of trouble to do so—but when it
is only two, four, six or eight, he th.nk.s
so small an amount as that of no impor
tance to his creditor, and consequently
neglects paying forgetting that two or
three thousand ol these small claims
amount to a very large aggregate.
The fact is, newspapers ought nevei to
be published on a credit Every one of
them, from the greatest to the smallest
ought to adopt the cash system. It will
not only save the proprietors untold
trouble, but it will be infinitely better for
subscribers. A mail can read a paper
with much greater satisfaction when he
i-ias fiaid for it,—Athens Watchman.
‘A Sun Dance.”
Once a year the Sioux Indians engage
in the “su.i dance.’’ It is the gieat event
of the year. Then the young braves,
.ambitious to becomewarriors, are attired,
and their fitness for jiromotion are deter
mined. 'Ihe examination that sifts the
strong nerved from the weak nerved is
very simple but cruel. The test is the
ability to endure ; without the winking
of an eye-lid or the movement of a mils,
cle, prolonged and intense torture. This
power is regarded by the Indians as an
indispensible qualification of a warrior.
The greater amount of to.-ture that the
young brave can stand without flinching,
the higher does he stand as a warrior
with his tribe. The stoic is the “big in-
;nn.
The Sioux City (Iowa) Jounal givcs
the following descripi.ion of the “sun
riance’’ that was held by the bands of
Spotted Tail and fled Cloud on Bordeau
Creek;
The dance is kept up continuously for
Three days and nights, and the only nour
ishment allowed is the heart of a doo
O
torn warm and reeking from the body of
some unfortunate canine. Of .sleep not
a moment is jiermitted, and woe to the
youthful Sioux who enters the arena and
i.s not able to withstand the fearful strain
upon his energies to the end; for if he
ills fainting from weariness and i,s una
ble to hold out for the three days, he is
ki 'ked out of tho enclosure bv squaws,
and is ever known as “a Squaw Indian,”
which to an Indian is the most approbri-
iHis ephilhot that could be applied to
him.
“Guild” Oeigih of Fbeemasonry.—
Bro. Woodford, who has closely stud.ed
the question, savs in relation to it in the
London Freemason:
“That Freemasonry existed before 1717
we have the most undoubted proofs. We
have the evidence of Ashmole in 1643,
and again in 1632. We have about the
same lime the evidence of Dr. Plot, who
was a non-mason, and not very friendly
to the Order We have Robert Padgett,
Clerke to the Society of Freemasons, 1685;
we have a Lodge at Yorx in 1693 ; and
we have the minute book of the Lodge in
Alnwick in 1702. We also read of the
Freemasons as an organized body, with
signs, etc , in the‘Tatler.’ in 1709. and
which quotation is verified in the old
Freemason's Magazine for 1863. Vol. IX,
new series, page 3, I say nothing of the
Scotch Lodges, as I do not wish to poach
on Bro. W. J. Hiighan's manor, but cer
tainly I know that in his mind, as in
mine, the evidence i.s irrefragable that
before 1717, speculative Masonry existed
both in England and in Scotland, and
that we, the revived G.'and Lodge of 1717,
ai'd the continuation of the operative
guilds.
“Does Bro. Buchan mean to contend
that our Sfieculative system took its rise
in 1717?—that it was entirely distinct
from the operative guilds and the quasi
speculative lodge,? in Scotland ?
“Who then were the Freemasons at
Warrington who received Ashmole ?
Who were the Freemasons who met in
Basinghall street, in 1682’? What was
the Worshipful Society of Freemasons of
which Robert Padgett was ‘Ulerke,’ in
16S5 ? Wlio were the Freemasons at
York, in 1693? Who were the Freema
sons in Staffci-flshire ? It is quite clear
that the Ma.sons’ Company and the Soci
ety of Freemasons were two distinct bod
ies, and, therefore, we are brought back
to this, that toward tlie end of the 17th
century, a society of Freema.soiis existed
in this country, which we have every rea
son to believe is certainly identical with
our pre.sent speculative Order.”
Bro. Hugban adds :
“I am more convinced than ever of the
reasonableness of what is termed the
‘Guild Theory,’ in explanat’on of the ori
gin of Freemasonry, and ,so lam working
with Bro. A. F. A. Woodford, in unearth
ing all documents bearing in any way on
Freemasonry which are to bo found in
old lodge chests and in munimer.t rooms,
which have been considered heretofore of
no account in cur researches.
"The last few years .speak of the suc
cess which has crowuied our efforts, and I
purpose shortly to enumerate the MSS.
known by, or familiar to the Graft, a doz
en years ago, and those accsssibie to the
Fraternity of to-day.'
“I am cpiite convinced that Freemason-
ing press to dioieminate the laws, trar„,
actions and usages of the Fraternity ][
also states that “experience has
Knowledge is Power.
Few will care to dispute this pithy say
ing of Lord Bacon. Man has the capac
ity for study and the acquirement of
knowledge, and only as he is faithful to
use his reasoning powers and the means
of mental acquisition doe.s his life take on
its r.oblest character and its largest in
fluence. Philosophical attainments, the riighied Brother declaie that if he coii'„l
wisdom of the world oisuch varied order, -have tiis way there siiould be no Masonic
knowledge however denominated, will j literature ot any kind. The thoughtfn)
always be sought after and delved for by | intelligent Mason desires to become ac-
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Proven
that such fears were groundless; forFre,
masonry made little or no progress u-fc
its claims to respect and veneration wef,
fairly laid before the world in printnl
form.” Happily such fears no longer ex.
ist, albeit we occasionally hear some bf.
quainted with the history and aims of the
Institution, tiie origin and significance of
its ceremonial, the meaning of its em-
earnest souls, who know full well that
this is the way to give life its grandest
endowment of might and energy.
Masonry makes express recogoiti-.,n | blems, and its work and progres.i’ in the
this law. It pints no bars nor limitations | world. To acquire this knowledge, lie
on human thought, but on the eonti'ary | may piropierly avail himself oi the labors
gives encouragement to the meotai ffio- j and researches of able minds who have
ulties to range far and wide in tlieir brought to light a wealth ol mateiial; he
search after truth, and to gather wisdom
from every source. In one of the degrees
especial stre.ss is laid on the duty of im-
pirovii a the mind, and storing it with the
fruits of general knowledge. The .stmly
of tlie arts ami science.-i is recommended,
togethe'r with such inve.stigation into the
laws of nature and attention to the wis
dom brought to light by the labors and
researches of great minds, as will have a
tendency both to enlarge the scopie of
thoiiglil and imjiarta true enlightenment
to the soul.
Masonry desires a membership that
sh.ill be dispose,1 to much active thought,
tliat shall lie anxious to quaff deeply of
the fountains of wisdom and truth. It
knows that its strength is the greater
ot intelligence, and give eviilence, of their
when the Craftsmen all wear the stamp)
large acquisitions gathered every depart
ment of knowledge.
But Masonry has a knowledge pecul
iarly its own to be studied and treasured
up, A man may he called a Mason and
have membership in the Fraternity after
two or three half hours of ceremonial ex-
pierience and when he has been puit in
possession ol certain signs and pass words,
but he is only a Mason vn name if he puiiis-
f,8 and rests content with the acqu-remerit
of this much of ceremony and formal
practice. He wants the key to the sig
nificance of everything he has witnessed.
He needs to realize the fact that Masoni v
as an art and science that makes l.arge de
mands on the thought, ...nd amply re-
puiys the most careful investigation. Fie
is to consider that the wonderful symbol
ism by which it seeks to illustrate its
truths and principles can only be under
stood by giving close and unwearied at
tention thereto. Then he is to remember
that Masonry has bith a history and a
literature of its own, and that ignorance
here is wholly inexcusable As it exists
to-day. making itself felt all over the
globe, unfolding its character in a mul-
may read the books they have written
together with Masonic journals and pro
ceedings that show tire present working,,
of the Institution, gratifying thus the
desire for knowledge which should be i,
working element in the Masonic charac
ter.—Freemason's lieposUory.
speculative, sometimes both, and at othe
times one only of these two departments,
existed centuries before Ihe Grand Imdge
of England w-as ooristituted in 1717,
which w.is the first Grand Lodge ever-
formed, and at which meeting the first
Grand Master ever elected was installed :
b'lt I am not prepared lo admit that our
ry, as a secret institution, operative and ^ titude of ways, it is doing a wo>-k which
the intelligent Craft-man can not afford
to let pass without thought or notice.
Masonry i.s a secret Institution only as
regards those essentials which constitute
the bond of working fellowship among its
members. These e,ssentials should be
sacredly lield in tlie Lodge room and in
the recesses of faithful bi-ea.sts. But
Masonic work means more than tLc
ceremonial of our beautiful ritual in the
lodge room ; wherever moral comiption
shows its front; wherever haggard want
wastes the wid.w and orphan ; wherever
evil struggles with good. Fight with dark
ness, error with triuh, wrong wit-h right,
there is Masonic work to do, battlingfci
truth a-id right. The crying evils of thh
age, among others, are intemperance,
gambling, inordinate love of nioaev.
which 18 the mother of gambling and the
root of evil. The Mason who has not the
moral courage to condemn and war
against vice is a moral poltroon. The
Mason wiio is addicted to and infliienceJ
by vice and lends himsell to prevent dis-
cipjline, is a traitor and spiy of the enemv
—Kentucky Freemason.
Said a wife to lier husband ; “How isit
thaf you can't come home nights iu soma
sort of season ?” The gentle I'etort wan;
"You got mein the way of it. Belorewo
were married you used to throw your
ai ms about my neck at three o'clock and
say; ‘'Don'tgo darling it is early yet,”
but now if 1 liapipeu to stay out until twn
it is a terrible affair.”
three degrees, including the Royal Arch, the general history, character, prinoipiles,
are .so ancient.” j proceedings and work of the Institution
! may have the widest publicitv A pub-
.rhe Cincinnati Enquirer m.akes this ! lie installation, or other meeting to which
iimvarranted attack on the woman kind : | the profane are admitted, ami where the
“ihe latest thing out is a private account | teachings and spirit of Mraonry are shown
We saw one yes- ; will often be of service, while the knowl
edge that may be properly communicated
ui books and papers will add power to the
Institution in a variety of ways.
Dr. Oliver telis of a time, only a hun
dred and fifty years ago, when universal
hook witli a lock to it.
terday made to- order for a gentleman of
this city. He is in. this way able to go
away from home with the key of his little
book in his pocket, and feeling quite sure
that liis “women folks” will not “put
their meddlesome noses" into bis'private
affairs.
consternation prevailed among the Craft
in England, at the idea of using the priiU-
Getting Married.—People don’t
take the time and trouble to find each
other out. They ought to know each
otlier iniimately before they make their
vows. If we live in the country, we at-
lend school togetliei-, go to singing school,
and spelling schools, and h-uskings. The
man knows the bread, butter, pies.do'ogh-
nuts, and cheese, and eve.-ythnig she can
make, and the woman knows his furrows,
width of swath, his appearance on noree-
liack, and everything of that sort, and
if they love and interchange vows, and
he should kis.-> her, us he has a perfect
riglit to do, his breath doesn't smell of
cloves. TTiere is no attempt at hypocrisy
between them; they are frank and fair
as they talk ; and their lives, purified by
the salt of reality, blend together as two
rills run lo make a river.
It is possible that a couple may court
too long. We lieard once of a couple
courting five and thirty years, and then
they didn’t get married. But it is an
exception.
Of all the step.? in life that American
men and women can take, this demands
the closest watchfulness and intimacy be
fore the solemn obligation of husband
and wife are entered into. Now we
don’t say that a husband and wife shall
never dili'er in opinion and say sharp
things, and be now and then a touch un
reasonable, and after a thunderstorm
there is apt to be a clear sky. When we
hear.a couple say that they have lived
togetlier five and twenty years an-l never
had the slightest difference, we wonder
if they have no opinion of their own.
Why, oysters couldn't live together as
quiet as that.