GIFT ENTERPRISES.

THE Masonic Trowel for October gives a Michigan Gift Enterprise the following first class notice :

"Charles R. Munger, of Lawton, Mich., sent advertisements of a gift enterprise to secretaries of Lodges, to one of which a brother responds as follows:

"MESSRS. MUNGER & BRO. :-Yours, with circular enclosed, received. If you think that I will interest myself in your gift enterprises, you mistake your man. I have a very poor opinion of gift enterprises, and not a very flattering one of those who engage in them. I place all gift enterprises on the same platform and call them swindles, and those who engage in them swindlers.

"Yours &c.,

"WM. P. ASKINS,

"Secy. Hope Lodge, No. 162. "'

We quote the above to say that Legislatures, courts, experience and common sense unite in regarding the so-called "Gift Enterprises" of the day as so many lotteries.

Lotteries, however speciously they may be disguised, are found to be demoralizing in their tendency and, in their effects, akin to gambling. This being true, discreet and good men, everywhere, look disapprovingly upon all enterprises which seek to connect or identify a really good thing with that which is, at best, of very questionable propriety.

If this be a true statement of the views of prudent and good men, (both in and out of the Order of Freemasonry,) in regard to these gift enterprises does it not behoove those among the brotherhood, who are jealous of the reputation and honor of the Craft, to frown upon all attempts to connect Masonry or socalled Masonic journals with practices of such questionable propriety. Masonry is good-well conducted Masonic journals are good also; but if the latter can not obtain currency and a living subscription list without offering a chance in a lottery as a part of the inducement to subscribe, we submit that the journal undertaking the business not only confesses, by the act, its unworthiness of support, but also proclaims its purpose to damage the reputation of an Order of which it aspires to be an organ and exponent,

We make these remarks for the purpose of applying them to the policy adopted and advertised by the journal published by C. W. Armstrong & Co. at Detroit entitled "Our Mutual Friend."

It started with Czar Jones as its Masonic editor-a disgraced Mason-It, after a while, dropped him, professing to be ignorant of his character a character that has been a stench in the Lodges of Detroit for years, and of which they are even now barely disinfected. Now this journal has no responsible editor, and, for aught its readers may know, Czar Jones still continues (sub rosa) his editorial labors on “Our Mutual Friend." We hope this may not be so; but we call upon the proprietors of the "Friend" to give us the name of some individual Mason as the responsible editor of its columns.

Last though not least it is seeking to secure a circulation by a resort to the gift lottery business, by which we must understand that they expect somebody to be fooled into a subscription that, otherwise, would not be given. By such means its publishers seek to get more for their publication than it is worth, indirectly, if not directly, injuring the individual Masonic subscriber, and damaging the reputation of the Craft by which it hopes to be supported. This is not Masonry.

THE SACRED TEMPLE.

CONSTANTINE, MICH., November, 1871.

Editors of Michigan Freemason :-GENTLEMEN,-I notice in the last Mystic Star an article ascribing to Mrs. Hazlett the authorship of the Order of the Sacred Temple. This is a great mistake. The Order of the Sacred Temple was composed, instituted, and founded by Hon. S. C. Coffinberry of this place. He composed all the beautiful rituals, ceremonies, lectures, and songs, and, as well the beautiful music set to them; he devised all the expressive symbols, wardrobe, and ceremonies, and conferred the second degree upon a large number of ladies in this place before Mrs. Hazlett saw it or knew any thing about it. All Mrs. Hazlett had to do with it was to introduce it in Michigan.

Mr. Coffinberry designed this Order for the benefit of the female relations of Masons. After he became satisfied that Mrs. Hazlett was not a proper person to introduce it, and after she refused to surrender the authority he had given, he so changed the ground work as to admit any lady who might be found worthy without any respect to Masonic relations.

We understand that, Mrs Hazlett established her society upon the two degrees she had obtained from Mr. Coffinberry, and something she inserted herself in place of the other two degrees which Mr. C. refused to give and which she never saw.

The true Society, and the only authorized Temple, is the one of

which Mrs. Laura Wells of Kalamazoo is Supreme Matron, and Mrs. E. Bandholtz, of Constantine, Grand Secretary.

There is no human institution so well calculated to invite our sex into a sacred sisterhood, and at the same time to elevate and strengthen her womanhood as this Order of the Sacred Temple. It was devised by one of the best of men, experienced in moral science, a deep thinker, an experienced ritualist, a refined sentimentalist, and an exalted moralist. I have no doubt he avoided the defects of other secret orders, if there be any, for the highest knowledge is attributed to him. in these as I understand, and that he has made Freemasonry a subject of special study and investigation. Our sex owe him a debt of deep gratitude for this new and great Order.

The principles of this Order can be more fully explained, by addressing Mrs. Laura Wells, Kalamazoo, or Mrs. Artie Coffinberry, Constantine, Mich.

A SISTER OF THE SACRED TEMPLE.

EDITORIAL ITEMS.

PAINFUL ACCIDENT TO THE EDITOR.-On Tuesday, the 31st ult., Bro. Chaplin, the Editor of this magazine, met with a serious accident at the International Hotel in Kalamazoo. While at the head of the first flight of stairs in the large hall of that Hotel, he made a misstep which precipitated him a distance of eleven feet to the floor below, striking upon his head and shoulders. It does not seem possible that any one falling so far and striking as he did, especially a person of his corporeal dimensions (weighing about two hundred and forty pounds) without almost instant death, or at least sustaining some permanent injury. He was picked up more dead than alive, but prompt and skillful medical treatment has placed him once more on his feet, though incapacitated at present for mental labor of any kind. In this emergency

we have come to his assistance in preparing the present number of this magazine. Our time being limited by duties which are difficult to postpone, and the chair editorial being entirely new to us, it is hoped that our readers will "have mercy upon us," overlook the delay in issue, and any lack of usual interest in its pages. It is confidently hoped that in a few days Bro. C. will be able to resume his duties, and make up in the future number whatever it may fall short in this.

CUSPIDATUS.

DIED.-At his residence in Schoolcraft, on Wednesday, the 15th inst. Bro. Charles T. Wheeler, W. Master of Schoolcraft Lodge No. 118.

THE MICHIGAN KNIGHTS TEMPLAR TACTICS AND DRILL.-"The author of this new system of tactics is Sir Ellery Irving Garfield, E. G. C. G. of the Grand Commandery of Michigan, and the work was adopted at the last Annual Conclave of that Grand Commandery, and ordered to be published for the instruction of all subordinate Commanderies in that State. It has also been adopted for use in many other jurisdictions of the country, and is designed to come into universal use by all the Commanderies of the United States.

"The inducement to its conception by the author, grew out of the fact that at the Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Michigan, in 1869, it was found, upon discussion, that no two Commanderies in the State used the same system of tactics, and that upon occasions of public drill there was sometimes a want of uniformity. Accordingly a committee was appointed, with the author as chairman, to report a system for adoption throughout the State. Sir Garfield having had considerable military experience and being a practical business man, with a clear comprehension of the value of time in all the occupations of life, set himself at once to the task of composing a system of drill, which should be at once adequate for all the purposes of an attractive parade, and so simple in its details as to be comprehended without too great a demand upon the time of the brethren at the drill rehearsals. The result was the work referred to, which proves to be in all respects just what the Commanderies of the whole country have long been in need of, and the peculiar advantages of which will hereafter be seen on occasions like that in which the brethren are participating in, from different sections of the United States, in Baltimore.

"The advantages of the system are, in the brevity of the commands which in all cases express in full the movement to be executed, the readiness with which the principles may be acquired; and the additional advantage that the handsome and intricate movements peculiar to the Order, are rendered much handsomer, and less difficult of execution."-Washington Daily Patriot.

THE Lodges in the State of New York have responded promptly and in the most liberal manner to the relief of sufferers by fire in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The amount of money received, as reported by Pomeroy's Democrat, of the 11th inst., amounted to nearly $40,000. Stella Lodge No. 485, of Brooklyn, J. H. Rhodes W. Master, donated the handsome sum of $1,500.

ST. JOHNS COMMANDERY NO. 4, of Philadelphia, contributed the princely donation of $1,800 to the suffers by the late fires.-Pomeroy's Democrat.

We are very much gratified to notice the promptness and liberality of our brethren in other Grand Jurisdictions in responding to the relief of those (whether Masons or not) whom the recent fires have reduced to want. Among the numerous donations of money, two were received by Past Grand Master Metcalf, W. B., Gregory Satterlee, of N. Y. City, (of the firm of Satterlee, Blackwell, & Co., wholesale dealers in hats, caps, fur and straw goods, 313 & 325, Broadway. One of $59, from Republic Lodge, No. 590, and one of $78, contributed by its members. Republic Lodge previously contributed $250 to the Chicago relief fund. The money received by Bro. Metcalf was forwarded to Grand Master Champlin.

WE were pleased to meet the other day in Kalamazoo (his former home) Bro. Geo. L. Trask, of New York City, Bro T. has a genial countenance-in fact, that quality is not confined to his face, he's genial "clear through"-and just such a man as we are always glad to strike hands with. It is rumored that the leather trade he made with U. S. turned out well, and that he's been getting healthy ever since. We are glad of it for he walks the earth just the same. While in K- he received $2,000 from the "Shoe & Leather Board of Trade" of N. Y. City, for the relief of Michigan sufferers, which he passed over to the proper committee.

If

THE accident which befell Bro. Chaplin, the Editor and Senior Publisher of this Magazine, came near being a very serious affair. Bro. C. had consulted us in time he might have avoided the accident. We never did approve of editorial summersaults; and as for the flying trapeze, Bro. C. in our estimation is not exactly the man. He may have the agility but he's a little heavy-say a couple of hundred pounds too much. His recent experience will no doubt convince him that the "down grade is not always easy."

"THE Fort Wayne Republican," published at Fort Wayne, Ind., is one of the best weekly papers in the whole West. Its editorials are well written, its locals are sharp and witty, and its typographical appearance unsurpassed in newspaperdon. It has a Masonic Department of three or four columns which is well conducted. Bro. Steele-one of the proprietors-is a live man, a live Mason, and a live editor. short, Steel(e) is good stuff, sharp featured, well tempered, and cuts both ways. May he always avoid a wire edge.

"ANCIENT RUINS and a large amount of editorial matter is crowded out of this number, on account of the great length of the article describing the visit of the Michigan Knights Templar to Balti

more.