The Washington times., 1906-09-09

expectancy when informed that re
next degree would test his obedience.
Hc highly resolved 20 obey "a tie Jet
tor
Tie next act disclosed Stevens E0od-
winkeI. and TIE room light lie vas
Informed that be was IL the Gotta
combs. familiar to the early Christians.
aud must make his way alone and in
darkness. following the Clue Of Faith
which Wss placed IN his hands. This
Clue was white cord similar % tie
sort uscd by masous tin the bur ding
trade-l. lie sroped lis way along by
fl % the station of the next officer,
who a-arred him Of the deadly conse-
oueucos of disobedieUce. Thence he
made MS way onward holding 20 tle
clue II Faitr-urtI J c touched q trig
ger OF some SOFT which let down lpoF
him an avalanche Of tinware and sue
light and noisy articles. which lr5-u
encd aiTl 50 thar he started % -1-
and vas dcXterously UiIp.i by d.
Deacon Militant and 8 sUearman. au6
caught iu "a net ueld by two others r.
titucr ran about the room
Obey Numbered the vice pauld
"aud an viii be- w,u"r
Stevens resumed tile CIae. At tH.
station cf tie next officer tc whom
brought him. tho nature Of falth Va
explained 10 MIN. and he was civel O.
password 'Ieltlus," whispered 50 t-s.
all iu that part of the rooIG couId .se-
the InJeraicted syIlables. But ue we
ad1ur@d never, never T. utter If. uri,.
10 tie Guardian Of The Portal on a..
LcriuS tie lodge 10 the Deacon Nu
tauJ ou tae opening thereof oT 10
uember. when he, Stevens. sho-l1 a..
come sovereign pontuf. Then he vs.
1acec toward the vice pOnuu, aHI r.
10 answer Loudly and distinctly Q.
questions asked linn
"N hat is the lesson incuicated
this Degree2' asked the Nic--PoaU
from the other end of the room.
Obedience. shouted Stevens IN rs-
ply.
What is the password Of thas Bt
er.eer
.leH,aGs," responded Stevens.
& fo- of stage thunder sounded
deateu.uEiy over his head. The niau.
was swept by "a storm OF bass passion
and deep cries Gf Treason, Treason.
echoed from every side. Poor Steven
toJ'eged. ard fen into a chair place,
bE rHs Deacon Militant. He saw ia
euormi,y Of rhe deed Of shame he ha
committed He had told the password
You have al heard this treason
said The SOVEREIGN Ponuf, in the deep
esq % chest tones "a treason unknown
JOB al the centuries of the past VIVA
is rhe will of THE c0ncIava9
y would iwprecste on the traitor.
head said a voice from one ~ Nh
htEh-hacAed chairs, THE ancient doom
of ,Ee Law
Doom, DOOM" said al in unison
holding the zoo" in n ma=e ...az
cur1I'uE way. Pronounce DOOM
cone fate. and one alone" p-1-
nounce1 the Sovereign Pontin. -can hs
yours. Brethren. let him forthwith bs
encH~ed in the Chest OF the CIankfnc
Chains. and hurled from tho Tarne.at
Rock. 90 De dashed in fragments q.
its stony baSer'
Amfdrn's horror was modified 5v -1s
evidences Of re9reSSed glce with which
this sentence was received Yet n
felt a good deal NJ concern as rhzy
brought oar great chest threw the
struggling Stevens into H. slammed
down the ponderous lid and locked &c.
Stevens kicked AT the lid. bur said
nothing The members leaped with
jo7. y great chain was brought and
wraDned cIankinglv about the chest
Let me- out" now yelled the chris
iian Narur. Let me out. damn YOU
Doom. do-o-o-O0Taf' roared n
voices and said the Sovereign Portfr
in impressive tones, Proceed with the
execution
Now the chest was slung UP 70 2
hook i7 the ceiling and gradually
drawn back by nullsy until q was
far above The beads Of tie men. tia
chains meanwhile cIanklup continually
against the receptacle. from which
came forth a stream OF smotbercd pro
family
~tmrl him down 10 the traitors
DEATH shouted the SoytrAler Poutif.
The chest was loosed. and swurg IKE
peudUl.m lengthWise Of the room.
down almost 10 the floor and zap nearly
10 the ceiling. The profanity now turn
od into yell OF terror. The Martyrs
slapped one anoJher's backs anG grew
blue IN tie face with laughter At a
signal light box was placed u-Eare
the chest would crush II (which Il did
with a sound like a small railway col
lisionl- the chest was stopped and the
Id raised.
Let tie body receive Christian bur
ial.' said the Sovereign Ponti1. Our
vengeance ceases with death"
This truly Christian sentiment was
received with universal approval.
Death seemed 20 all a good place at
which 20 stop
Brethren said the Deacon Militant
as ho struggled with the resurgent
Stevens, "there seems some life here!
Mctlilks heart beats. and
The remainder OF tie passage for TIE
ritual was lost TO Amidon by reason OF
tie r1cr that Stevens had placed ono
foot against the DeaCOu'S stomach and
hurled that august officer violently TO
the floor
Let every test Of Iife be applied" q"
said the Sovereign Ponuf "PeUChancs
some higher viii than ours DEGREES his
preservation. Take the body hence FOR
"a tiUe If possible. restore him 10 life.
ard We VII consider his fate"
The recess which followed was clear
ly necessary 10 AFFORD an opportunity
for the calming Of the risibilities OF the
Martyrs The stage, too. had TO be re-
set Amidon's chronological studies lad
nor equaled his reading In belIes-Iet-
tres. and he was unable 10 see the deep
significance Of these rites from an his
torical standpoint, and that here was
a survival OF those orgies to which our
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