Too Many Degrees.

TOO MANY DEGREES .

A MIDDLE-AGED lady , with a black alpaca dross , worn shiny at tho elbows , a cheap shawl and bonnet , and her hands puckered up blue , as thongh sho had just got her washing ont , wont into the office of a prominent Mason a few mornings since , and took a chair . Sho wiped her noso , ancl tho perspiration from hor faco on a blue checked apron , and when tho Mason looked at her with an interested brotherly look , as thongh she was in trouble , sho

said" Aro you tho Boss Mason ?" Ho blushed , told her ho was a Mason , but not the highest in tho land . Sho hesitated a moment , fingered tho corner of her apron , and curled it up liko a boy speaking a piece in school , and asked : — " Havo yon taken tho whole 233 degrees of Masonry ? " The man laughed and told her thero wore only thirty-throo

degrees , and that ho had only taken thirty-two . Tho other degree could only bo taken by a very few , who wore recommended by tho Graud Lodgo , and thoy had to go to Now York to got tho thirty-third degree . Tho lady studied a minute , unpinned the safety pin that hold her shawl together , put it in her mouth , took a long breath , aud

said"Where does my husband get tho other two hundred degrees , then ?" The prominent Mason said she guessed her husband never gofc two hundred degress , unless he had a degree factory . Ho said he did not understand tho lady . " Does my husband have to set up with a corpse three nights a

week ? " sho asked , her eyes flashing fire . " Do you keep a lot of sick Masons on tap for my husband to sot up with tho other three nights ?" The prominent Mason said he was thankful that few Masons died , and only occasionally was one sick enough to call for Masonic assistance . When a Mason was sick , and away from home , or when his

family desired it , tho brethren were only too glad to sit np with him , but there wore so many Masons , ancl so few sick , that it was only once in two or three months that a brother was called upou to sit up with anybody . " But why do you ask these questions , madam , " said the prominent Mason . The woman picked the fringe off her shawl , hung her head down ,

and said : " Well , my husband began to join the Masons about two years ago , and ho has been taking degrees or sitting up with people every night since , ancl becomes home afc all times of the night , smelling of beer and cheese . 1 thought at first that the cheese was the result of his going to tho Morgues to help carry Brother Masons home after they

had been found in the river . He has come twice with the wrong pair of drawers on , and when I asked him how it was , he said ifc was a secret ho could not reveal underpenalty of being shot with a cannon . All he would say was that he took a degree . I have kept a little track of it , and I figure thafc ho has taken 233 degrees , including the Grand Sky Fuglo degree , which he took the night he came home with his lip

cut , and his ear hanging by a piece of skin . " Oh , madam , " said the prominent Mason , "there is no Sky Fugle degree in Masonry . Your husband has lied to you . " " That's what I think , " said she , as a baleful light appeared in her eye . " He said ho was taking the Sky Fugle degree , and fell throngh tho skylight . I had him sewed up , and he was ready for more degrees .

After ho had taken , I should believe , about a hundred and fifty degrees , I told him I should think he would let upon it , and put some potatoes in the cellar for winter , but he said when a man onco got started on Ihe degrees ho had to tako them all , or he did not amount to anything . Ono timo I wanted a hat to wear to church , with a feather ou , aud ho said feathers were all nonsense , and the

next clay ho brought homo a leather case with a felt coal scuttle iu it , aud a feather on it that could not have cost less than ten dollars , tbe way I figure millinery . And when he put it ou , and I laughed at his ridiculous appearance , ho began to throw his arms around , and I asked him what was tho matter , and ho said that was the grand hailing sign of distress , ancl if I did not look out an avenger would

appear from a dark closet and run a toad sticker through me for a scoffer . He must havo spent a fortune on Ihe last hundred and fifty degrees . Ono morning ho camo homo with his coat tail split right up his back , aud his pants torn just as thongh a dog had chewed him , and ono eye closed up , and a wad of hair pulled ri ght out of his head , and ho said he had been taking tho 200 th degree , but he would nofc

tell me how ifc happened , because it was a dead secret . Sometimes a brother Mason conies homo with him along in the morning , ancl they talk about a 'full flush , ' and thoy both act full as they stand on the steps and talk about their ' pat hands , ' and ' raising ' em out , ' ancl ' calling , ' and 'bobtail flush . ' One night when he was asleep , I heard him whisper , ' I raise you ton dollars , ' and when 1

asked him what it meant , he said they had been raising a purse for a poor widow . Another time ho raised up in bed , after ho had been asleep , ancl shouted , ' I stand pat , ' and when I asked him what it meant , ho said ho was ruined if I told ifc . Ho said ho had spoken fcho pass word , ancl if tho brethren heard of ifc thoy would put him out of tho way , oven aa Morgan was put out of the way . Mister , is 'I stand

pat , your pass word ? Tho Mason told her it waa not . That the words sho had spoken was an expression used by men when playing draw poker , aud ho added that ho did not believe her husband was a Mason afc all , but that he had been lying lo her all theso years . She sighed ancl said , "That ' s what I thought when ho came homo with a lot of ivory chips in his pocket . He said thny used them at

the Lodgo to voto on candidates , and that a white chip elects and a blue chips rejects a candidate . If you will look the matter up and see if ho has joined tho Masons , I will bo obliged to you . Ho says ho has taken all the two hundred aud thirty degrees , and now tho boys want him to join the Knights of Pythias . J want to get out an injunction to prevent him from joining anything else until we gob some under clothes for the winter . I will tell you what I will do . The

Too Many Degrees.

next timo he says anything about Sky Fugle degrees , and consistory nonsense , I will tako a wash-board and make him think thero is one degree on Masoury that he has skipped , and now good-byo . You havo comforted me greatly , and I will lay awake to-night till my husband comes from the Lodge with his pat hand , aud 1 will make

him think he haa forgot hie ante . " Tho lady wont out to a grocery to buy some bar soap , and the prominent Mason resumed his business with a feeling fchafc we are nofc all truly good , and there is cheating going ou all around . —Geo , Peck .

Tho many friends of Bro . Jacob Norton will be deepl y grieved to hear that for tho last three months he has been stricken with a severe illness . From a letter just to hand from his son we learn that our worthy brother is now on the way to recovery , but when wo bear in mind tho age

of Brother Novton , wo can scarcely hope ho will regain strength so rapidly as wo feel all our readers could desire . Bro . Norton requests thoso of his correspondents who may deem him somewhat remiss in replying to thoir communications to accept this statement as a reason for any

apparent discourtesy . Wo tender our deep sympathy with him in his affliction , and feel assured all English Craftsmen join us in the hope he may be spared for many years to continue the literary labours he has hitherto so ardently followed .

Royal Kensington Lodge, No. 1267.

ROYAL KENSINGTON LODGE , No . 1267 .

TUB installation meeting of this popular Lodge was held on the 3 rd inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , under the presidency of Bro . J . Stevens W . M ., Eugene Delacoste S . W ., J . L . Mather P . M . as J . W ., Soppet P . M . Treasurer , D . M . Dewar P . M , Secretary , Waters S . D ., Tanner J . D ., Hay I . G ., Higgins Steward , P . M . Cramer , Percy Leith P . G . D ., and a numerous attendance of

members and Visitors , amongst tho latter being the Grand Secretary Colonel Shadwell II . Gierke , and several distinguished Provincial Grand Officers . Locige was opened , and the minutes were confirmed . Bro . Charles Toope , Corinthian Lodge No . 44 S , New York , was proposed as a joining member . Bros . Driver , Waters , Cowie and Rumsey wero passed to the second degree , the work

being ably carried out by the W . M . A Board of Installed Masters was opened , ancl Bro . Eugene Delacoste S . W . and W . M . elect was presented to tho Lodgo and , in the presence of thirty W . M . ' s and P . M . ' s , duly installed iuto the chair by the retiring W . M . Bro . Stevens , who carried out the duties in an impressive manner , that merited the encomiums passed on him by the brethren aud Visitors at the

conclusion of the ceremony . Bro . Dewar P . M . very efficiently acted as M . C . The newly-installed W . M . appointed and invested the following as his Officers : —Bros . J . B . Stevens I . P . M ., C . Waters S . W ., W . Tanner J . W ., Soppet P . M . Treasurer , D . M . Dewar P . M . Secretary , H . P . Hay S . D ., H . Langridge J . D ., T . L . Higgins I . G ., 0 . Richardson Steward . Potter Tyler . The selection of Officers seemed to give

every satisfaction . Letters of apology were read from . Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett P . G . M . Middlesex , Col . Creaton G . Treasurer , Sir John Monckton President of the Board of General Purposes , and Bro . Hydo Pollen P . G . S . B ., regretting their inability to be present . Hearty good wishes were tendered by tbe several Visitors . Bro . Percy Leith P . G . D . proposed that a Lodge of Instruction be

establishecl , to work under the warrant of this Lodge . The W . M . seconded , and tho proposition was carried unanimously . Lodge was then closed , ancl tho brethren , seventy-eight in number , sat down to a recherche banquet and dessert , provided by Messrs . Spiers and Pond ( Limited ) , which was superintended by Brother Dawkins . The repast gave unqualified satisfaction , the tables wore artistically

decorated , and buttonholes provided for every one present by the W . M . Grace having been sung , the W . M . proposed the toast of the Queen ancl tho Craft , and Madame Worrell sang the solo verses of the National Anthem . This was followed by that of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M . Bro . Egbert Roberts sang " God Bless the Prince of Wales . " With the toast of tho Grand Officers was

coupled tho namo of Bro . Colonel Shadwell Gierke Grand Secretary , aud Bro . Percy Loith P . G . D . Hero Miss Isabella Stone sang a popular selection , with great taste and feeling , and was deservedly applauded . Colonel Shadwell Gierke said it was a great pleasure to return thanks on behalf of the distinguished Craftsmen the Grand Officers . Thero aro only nine or ton offices iu the gift of the Grand

Master , and thoso brethren who receive them have to bear tho heat and burden of tho day . Personally ho thanked them for inviting him . Ho had tho pleasure of knowiug tho W . M . before he was a Mason , and was pleased to sec him in tho chair ; ho was also gratified to seo how ably the I . P . M . had performed tho ceremonies of passing and installation . On behalf of tho Grand Officers , ho tendered them

his sincere thanks . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart P . G . D . followed . At this part of the evening Bro . Egbert Robert's sonorous voice was heard to great advantage in his popular song , " Big Ben . " Bro-Stevens said ho had wielded the gavel for two years , and need not take up their timo in speaking of tho merits of the W . M . He is a pattern to many in the Craft . He has been popular in every office he

haa been called on to perform , and the brethren would not havo any cause to regret having olocted him their Worshipful Master . The W . M * , in reply thanked Bro . Stevens for his kind words . Whatever he had clone he thought was but his duty , ancl for that ho desired no thanks ; he hoped their future would be such as the Lodge wonld be equally satisfied with . The next toast was one all the members would be pleased to receive ; it was the health of the Installing