The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-01-05

l now live. The length and majesty
Of the dignitary's title struck me, anC
| determined to see the fortunate DOS
SCISSOR. Luckily he was escorted
through the streets 10y the local lodge
an unusually strong one. AS the pro
cesslon turned a corner and came into
view from my study window, the bril-
liancy of the uniforms daZzled me.
tealed the authorities had made mis-
take, and were allowing the body
guard of the car or some oriental po
tentate to parade in our streets. Az
the men drew nearer | recognized
many of them, and among them the
butcher who supplies me with meat
The visiting potcntate startled
me more than all the rest, fol
in him | recognized an old friend who
has always been bitter in his denucia
tion of artificial distinctions. l saw
that he had the title of mighty po
tentate, without the troublesome baga
telle Of an estate.
suspect that social enjoyment i:
the vital force within these numerou:
societies. Companionship, fraternity
merriment, are magic words, and stan6
for powerful charms to the minds O
most Of men. The ceremonies please
the eye and year without decreasing
greatly the amount of social pleasure
in the lodge, while the degrees an(
honors furnish objects for the socia
ambition of the members. There are sc
many lodges that popular man stand:
a good chance Of promotion and of dis
tinction in the social and fraternal lift
of his community. Standing we'll in {
lodge is an easy and convenient method
of "being somebody" and of bearing g
record. If one cannot hold office OF
become distinguished in a profession
one may be prominent in secret soci
ETY. circles, make friends, and be miss
ed after death. The enumeration o
such honors saves many an obituary
from being brief and uninteresting.
1t might strike the superficial OBJ
server that we have enough secret
societies already but our growing and
complex civilization is as bountful as
nature, and our vast population de.
mands institutions bewildering in
variety. The number of men who
would like a society little different
from any in existence is great, and
many of them endeavor to found orders
which shall approach their ideals. 1t
is evident that the good work is pro-
ceeding rapidly. In our town new
lodges are constituted frequently, and
| have watched the increase of secret
societies with curiosity. Some of the
later ones seem rather odd in name
and in purpose.
There are the Lords of Olympus, a
society destined to grow rapidly. The
Most High Zeus of the order is a pros.
porous merchant, and there are many
drummers and wide-awake good fellows
among the Lords The Ravis d Ma.
tion of Baggarras evidently takes its
name from pleasantly situated race
of Africans. The Deputy Sultan
whom happen to know, is "a: nd
thrifty compositor, but | have been un-
able to learn anything Of the Grand
Sultan of the order. The Baggarras
are said to have jolly war dances and
feasts at their lodge meetings, but
whether they black themselves and
tattoo incoming members is not known
to outsiders. A member of the Order
of The Glass House swears that ne will
say nothing against any person, con-
victed criminals excepted. This society
would do a good work, should it be-
come popular, but | am sorry to hear
that it is growing very slowly. The
ritual is simple, and the committee of
discipline and Judgment is kept
busy.
The Beta Iota Society is rather ex.
elusive, being composed entirely of
college graduates, who are generally
capital fellows in society, and who,
while college, paid more attention
to sports than to the classics. A direc-
tor OF the society, while in the office
of friend, picked up a copy f"Faust"
with the remark that he would like to
read the book, but couldn't because he
had almost forgotten his Greek since
he took his degree. The Beta Iota is
probably one OF the jolliest societies in
the world. 1t is extremely secret, yet
a part of the ceremony Of initiation is
performed in the street. The candi-
dates march around in grotesque cos
tunes, and strive to initiate the antics
of sportive lunal:cs.
The Chcvaliers Of the Black Prince
are nearly all of the unskilled laboring
class, but their ceremonial is said to
combine tic pomp ofa Roman triumph
and the glitter ola circus procession.
Their gorgeous uniforms are of blue
and yellow, and are worn sometimes
over and sometimes under overalls
and blouse.-N. Y Home Journal.
The greatest height ever reached in
Il balloon was ,lG0 feet. Two of the
three acronauts who made this ascent