Upon this ingenious plan the vast body and mass of the Order simply held the relation of probationary membership, until they were rendered competent through the educational capacity of the society, to advance into full fellowship with its diabolical design. A glance at this organization will suffice to show the shrewdness of the transient and local agents of the Confederacy, in their formation of an Order, having for its mission the attainment of so many incidental objects, without in the meantime subjecting themselves to the dangers of collision in their machinery. Accordingly, the Order was composed of three general degrees, viz.: First, the Temple Degree, second, the Grand Council Degree, and third, the Supreme Council Degree. The first or Temple Degree, resembled the county organization of a State, and held the same relation to the second or Grand Council Degree (which was the state organization of the Order,) that our county government holds to our State government, and it was always sought to establish this first or Temple Degree at each county seat in a State, as expeditiously as possible, that the second or Grand Council Degree could the sooner be fully represented, and begin its State management of the Order. In other chapters the writer has made a passing, though sufficient allusion to the internal workings of these Temples, and doubtless the initiated reader, in different sections, will recognize the facts we have already and are further about to state, notwithstanding the "_obligation_" the author is supposed to have subscribed to, not to reveal the existence of the Order and its secrets, under _penalty of "suffering a shameful death."_ The process usually followed in instituting the Temple Degree, was to send missionaries with authority, into the districts proposed to be organized, who called together such of the "unterrified" leaders as were known to be "_sound_ on Jeff. Davis' goose," before whom the design and object of the Order was confidentially laid for their approval or rejection, by a majority vote. It is important to recollect that the record does not afford an instance where a majority of those assembled for this purpose, rejected the Order as inconsistent with their political views. On the contrary, it was everywhere received by the politicians, both great and small, as "_just the thing they had been looking for_." These politicians were then left to "manage their own local affairs" concerning the Order, "subject only to the constitution" of _Jeff. Davis_. Generally, several meetings and some discussion enabled these empyrics to determine plans of strategy to screen themselves, by "_covering the tracks in the sand_," a remark frequently heard from members. [Illustration: THE MILITARY COMMISSION IN SESSION IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE COURT HOUSE IN CINCINNATI. "All whom we arrested wore the same general wolfish aspect."--From the testimony of Brig. Gen. B.J. Sweet.]