Ancient Landmark Sticklers.

to Brother Whymper that Christianity is the religion of Masonry . But with all due respect to the Grand Lodge , as no landmark stickler has ever pretended that a Grand Lodge was inspired by the Holy Ghost , I beg leave to differ from the opinion of the said Grand Lodge .

And here are specimens , furnished by Bro . Whymper , of the modus operandi of symbol mongoring , which rivals the tricks performed by the great professors of the art of legerdemain . The tools ( says he ) by which the death was

effected , viz ., the Levell , Plumb , Bale , and Mallet are also remarkable , as the two former , when placed one above the other , present the figure of the Cross . The Mallet is a

necessary tool for fastening anything to the Cross , and hence we have the whole of the instruments by which the death of H . A . —of him who was exalted to his

Fatherwas caused . The above meanings of the symbols , or similar sublime interpretations , are given again and again , but suffice it to say that our Masonic luminaries have not only turned

H . A . into Christ , but in Swedish Lodges Solomon is also a type of Christ . Now , with such method of reasoning , is it any wonder that some of our Christianizing luminaries are

ready to swear that Moses and the Prophets were Trinitarian Christians ? But , seriously speaking , I must say that if Masonry has no better philosophy to teach than how to turn mallets and rules into crosses , I think that we ought

to " shut up . Such stuff is no credit to Masonry or Christianity .

But the next question is , —what is Christianity ? I know what Roman Catholic Christianity is ; also what the various kinds of the Christianity of two hundred years ago was . But at present we have numerous modified kinds

of Christianity among our Protestant neighbours . For instance , Mrs . Ward , in her novel "Robert Elsmere , " describes a Rev . Mr . Newman as a half-starved , morose hater of science and progress , and above all he detests the

word " tolerance . " This rev . gentleman is a representative of old Christianity . And then again there is a Rev . Mr . Elsmere , who disbelieves in the inspiration of the Bible ,

disbelieves in the raising up of Lazarus , and all other Bible miracles . But he loves Jesus , and that constitutes his stock of Christianity . In fact , I know of more than one Christian rev . who believes no more than Mrs . Ward

ascribes to the Rev . Robert Elsmere . But as Mrs . Ward ' s book is only a novel , I shall now givo a quotation from the " History of Criminal Law in England , " Vol . II . pp 437-8 . The author says :

" What specifically Christianity is , and by whom and how questions relating to it are to be determined , has been tbe subject of passionate controversy . Indeed , for upwards of three hundred years the controversy has been so

eager that since 1 G 88 government has been carried on as far as possible -without prejudice to differences of opinion , which in earlier times were regarded as altogether

fundamental . Even in our own days it is an offence for any person brought np as a Christian to deny the truth of Christianity , however respectfully . " On page 475 he

says—It is unquestionably true that in the course of the last thirty , but especially in the course of the last twenty years , open avowals of disbelief of the truth of both natural and revealed religion have become so common that they have

ceased to attract attention . ' Strauss ' s Life of Jesus , ' ' Renan ' s Life of Jesus , ' and the works of Auguste Comte are read everywhere , and the opinions which they maintain are avowedly held and publicly maintained by

large numbers of persons whose good faith and decency of language it would be absurd to dispute . If the cases to which I have referred aro good law , every one of these

works is a blasphemous libel , and every bookseller who sells a copy is guilty of publishing a blasphemous libel , and is liable to fine and imprisonment . These are certainly strong reasons why the law should be altered . "

tianity will lose more believers by agitation and discussion

The above quotations clearly prove : First , that Christians have differed as to what Christianity is for the last three hnndred years . Second , that no one can settle the question . Third , that disbelief in the old-fashioned

Christianity has greatly increased within the last twenty years . Fourth , that although the disbelievers could bo punished by existing laws with fines aud imprisonment yet the

Government does not trouble them . That , however , may be owiDg either to the members of the Government being themselves tinctured with the modei ^ n disbelief , or the Government may be sensible enough to know that Chris-

Ancient Landmark Sticklers.

than by taking no notice of the sinners . And fifth , the fact that the historian is desirous of having the laws against heretics altered , proves conclusively thar . Sir James

Fitzjames Stephen , K . O . S . I ., D . C . L ., a judge of the High Court of Justice , Queen ' s Bench Division , is not an ancient landmark stickler . BOSTON , U . S ., 6 th December 1888 .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Adelphi . —A new and original drama , entitled "The Silver Falls , " was produced at this theatre on Saturday last . The piece results from the joint efforts of Messrs . Geo . R . Sima and Henry Pettitt , and can certainly be plaoed on the list of the most successful dramas on the stage . From the opening scene the play seems to

take a firm hold upon the audience , which hold , except on very few occasions , never relaxes . Still , unquestionably , these few instances will be reotified when the piece gets into full swing . We are introduced in the first act to the hero , Erio Normanburst , heir to a peerage , who has innocently linked himself in the bonds of matrimony

with a Mexican adventuress . We here also make acquaintance with two villains ; Richard Redmayne , who knows the secret , and is living upon what it produces in the shape of blaokmail ; and with Marcus Valles , a former lover , who has fled from the hands of justice , for murder and highway robbery . Eric ' s uncle , Lord Avondale , has

heard of his nephew ' s folly , and he visits the couple and denounces Lola ( Eric ' s wife ) . This denunciation , however , is indignantly repudiated by both husband and wife . Avondale produces a letter and photograph , which cannot be disputed ; whereupon Lola defies her husband , and tells him she intends to take that position in society

whioh his name entitles her to . They separate , and Eric leaves England for the goldfields of Santa Rosa . Here we find Richard Redmayne . Eric meets with a serious accident , and is nursed back to life again by a girl named Primrose Easterbrook , niece of a jovial Irish miner . Bob Maguire . Eric falls in love with her , but

Redmayne is also a suitor for the girl's hand , and from a feeling of revenge writes to Lola , who is still in England , and informs her of Eric ' s whereabouts . He also arranges to meet her when she reaches Mexico . However , Marcos Yalles gets hold of the letter , and makes one at the interview , when he informs Eric Lola is dead . Erie

believing himself free to marry Primrose , makes arrangements , and the wedding takes place ; but on the evening of the wedding a woman seeks shelter at the house , and she turns ont to be no other than Lola . Whatever her intention , she is not destined to exact vengeanoe , as here she encounters Marcos Valles , who has recently discovered it

was she who had doubly betrayed him ; and he takes her life . RedmayDe , meanwhile , has incurred the displeasure of the band of miners , by trying to rob the house of Eric , so as to get possession of a certain plan which shows where , a few years back , some gold had been buried . He has a narrow escape of being lynched , but esoapes ,

through tbe influence Eric and Primrose have over the men . All being now settled , the piece closes on the eve of the now united couple's return to England , where , Lord Avondale being dead , Eric is to succeed to the title and estates . As regards the aocing , the parts have been allotted with tho greatest care . Mr . William Terriss ,

as Eric , has seldom been seen to greater advantage . As Primrose Easterbrook , Miss Millward played with that innocence which is now so especially her characteristic ; moreover , she is most admirably suited for the part . Miss Olga Nethersole as Lola was perfection . She has created a most artistic and natural part , and most certainly

deserved the double call she received . The villains Redmayne and Valles were enacted by Messrs . Royco Carletou and Charles Cartwright ; they displayed such vigour and spirit as to seem terribly real . The comio element is in the hands of Mr . J . L . Shine aud

Miss Clara Jecks , bnt we do not enjoy a great deal of their pleasant company ; still , what they give makes ns long for more . The scenery , that of the first act by Walter Johnstone ; and the rest by Bruce Smith , is magniBcent . The last scene when the curtain rose was most enthusiastically applauded .

Shaftesbury . —After a rest of a few days Miss Wallis reappeared on Boxing night a 3 Pauline in Bulwer Lytton ' s play , " The Lady of Lyons , " and was as successful as before . From Mr . Forbes Robertson , as Claude Mehtolte , Mis 3 Walli 3 received goodly support , and by their energetic aud painstaking acting these two favourites

made tho old pky most interesting . Mr . Arthur Stirling is now the Colonel Damas ; hia representation is remarkable for the artistic touches that this sound actor has brought to bear upon it . Mr . Bassett Roe's Beauseant is a capable performance , and does this

rising actor much credit . Miss Robertha Erskine , Mrs . H . Leigh , Mias Annie Rose , and Mr . Matthew Brodie all helped towards the success of the piece . Throughout tbo evening the play went remarkably well , and was loudly applauded .

Vaudeville . —A full house assembled on Boxing afternoon to welcome , after a short vacation , Mr . Thomas Thorne and his company in "Joseph's Sweetheart . " Tho brief rest had evidently done each one good , for they entered upon their business with a will . Mr . T . Thorne resumes his impersonation of Parson Adams , and

needless to say , causes roars of laughter ; he received good support from Messrs . Fred Thorne , H . B . Conway , W . Rignold , Cyril Maude , Scott Buist , J . S . Blyth , tho Misses M . A , GirTard and Gladys Homfrey . An important change was the substitution of

Miss Winifred Emery as Fanny Goodwill , in place of Miss Kate Rorke . Miss Emery acted with spirit and power , aud at times thoroughly held the house , while the lighter scenes with Joseph were admirably developed . We may anticipate " Joseph ' s Sweetheart " remaining in the Vaudeville bill for some time yet to come .