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Article LABORIOUS PLEASURE. Page 1 of 2 Article LABORIOUS PLEASURE. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Laborious Pleasure.
LABORIOUS PLEASURE .
npO-DAY , tlie First of September , maybe regarded J- as closing the Masonic recess of 1888 and opening tbe season of 1888-9 , although there has been so much doing the last few months in the Masonic World that the enthusiastic Mason , or those whose duties call them to Masonic gatherings , maybe said to have had little or no time for holiday making , apart from the enjoyment to be derived from a proper appreciation of Freemasonry . If we may believe some of those who have had the opportunity of enjoying a change , and have availed themselves of it , the loss has not been a serious one for those who have been kept at home ; as , consequent on the peculiarly unsettled weather , it has
been little short of hard work to secure enjoyment at any of the more fashionable resorts of holiday seekers . But then we must remember there are some who invariably make a trouble of enjoying themselves , and who seem to undertake their pleasure as they would some painful task , to be got over , somehow , as systematically and as speedily as j > ossible . No doubt the unseasonable weather has really been of advantage to some of this class ; it has forced
them to do something outside their usual routine , and the change has really proved a charm , but it is well that such dispositions should not frequently be gratified at the expense of the masses , and we accordingly begrudge them the small amount of pleasure they may have derived in this way . Yet , need we go outside the Masonic Lodge for men who make a labour of pleasure ? Are there not many who appear to delight in making everything subservient to custom : who strive to check any
exceptional outburst of enthusiasm , and to keep the pleasures of our meetings down to a given standard ? Unfortunately there are , and the present time—when we are about to commence another Masonic seasonappears to present an appropriate opportunity for addressing a few words to these . Is it necessary for us to make a labour of Masonic pleasure ? When once the ceremonies of the meeting are completed we imagine the aim of all should be to enjoy themselves , and to secure the enjoyment of others . To achieve
this we are aware discipline must be upheld , and order observed , but are discipline and order to rule the roost to the exclusion of everything else , even if what is supposed to be a time of pleasure is turned into a period of unpleasantness ? Would it not rather be better to sacrifice a little of the form and ceremony of our meetings , if in doing so those present were
enabled to enjoy an hour or two's greater comfort , instead of being kept to what we may term laborious pleasure ? We think it would , and we invite our readers to consider for themselves the various points which may present themselves to their minds as touching upon this subject . It has often been said that the after-dinner speeches and entertainments which follow Lodge meetings are
Laborious Pleasure.
the most objectionable part of the Masonic system , and so they are if they are not properly managed ; but in good hands they may prove most enjoyable , as many who read these lines can testify . It may be imagined that in this respect we are able to speak from experience ; our duties often call us out , and wc have numerous opportunities of judging different men and different systems . We start with the determination of never making a labour of our enjoyment , and we can recommend that system to those who work on a different , and usually . less satisfactory principle . No doubt the best wav to secure enjoyment is to be
content to take things as we find them , to give credit to our entertainers for having done the best in their power , and to sympathise with them in case of mishap , rather than blame them for want of care or forethought . It is not always possible to ensure success , and it is wrong to attempt to decide how far others have striven to deserve it . Success does not
always attend even the best of efforts , nor is it possible for the most proficient to avoid occasional failure , but we think we may safely say there is little enjoyment to be derived from making a labour of pleasure . It is far better to take things as thoy come , rather than to lay doAvn hard and fast laws which may be inapplicable under certain circumstances , and which , if rigidly adhered to , cause annoyance and a break in the harmony of a Lodge .
Perhaps the most frequently practised example of making a labour of pleasure is to be found in the musical programme at a Masonic meeting . Music is not always a source of pleasure to all who have to listen to it ; more particularly is this the case when the music is made of paramount , and personal enjoyment of secondary importance . Although it may be difficult to decide just how much or how little the music is appreciated , there is sometimes no mistakiiio * the feeling of a meeting . Without beinc ;
actually rude the company show they have had enough , and it would be well to stop there , rather than adhere to a programme , and to labour for enjoyment which never comes ; but some men cannot accept such a verdict as we have outlined ; they have made arrangements for a certain course of entertainment , and if that does not afford enjoyment it must at least be persevered in , even if its continuance inflict nam or discomfort .
It will not be news to our readers to tell them Ave do not believe in making the proper appreciation of Freemasonry of secondary importance to the regular performance of a musical programme . There are many who secure much more enjoyment from the discussion of Masonic or general topics with those around them than they derive from the best song it
is possible to give them , and aro they to be ignored in order that some pre-arranged programme may be completed , or the strict etiquette of the musical profession rigidly observed ? Wc recently heard of a meeting which was anything but a success ; where the cause of the non-enjoyment of many present was set
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Laborious Pleasure.
LABORIOUS PLEASURE .
npO-DAY , tlie First of September , maybe regarded J- as closing the Masonic recess of 1888 and opening tbe season of 1888-9 , although there has been so much doing the last few months in the Masonic World that the enthusiastic Mason , or those whose duties call them to Masonic gatherings , maybe said to have had little or no time for holiday making , apart from the enjoyment to be derived from a proper appreciation of Freemasonry . If we may believe some of those who have had the opportunity of enjoying a change , and have availed themselves of it , the loss has not been a serious one for those who have been kept at home ; as , consequent on the peculiarly unsettled weather , it has
been little short of hard work to secure enjoyment at any of the more fashionable resorts of holiday seekers . But then we must remember there are some who invariably make a trouble of enjoying themselves , and who seem to undertake their pleasure as they would some painful task , to be got over , somehow , as systematically and as speedily as j > ossible . No doubt the unseasonable weather has really been of advantage to some of this class ; it has forced
them to do something outside their usual routine , and the change has really proved a charm , but it is well that such dispositions should not frequently be gratified at the expense of the masses , and we accordingly begrudge them the small amount of pleasure they may have derived in this way . Yet , need we go outside the Masonic Lodge for men who make a labour of pleasure ? Are there not many who appear to delight in making everything subservient to custom : who strive to check any
exceptional outburst of enthusiasm , and to keep the pleasures of our meetings down to a given standard ? Unfortunately there are , and the present time—when we are about to commence another Masonic seasonappears to present an appropriate opportunity for addressing a few words to these . Is it necessary for us to make a labour of Masonic pleasure ? When once the ceremonies of the meeting are completed we imagine the aim of all should be to enjoy themselves , and to secure the enjoyment of others . To achieve
this we are aware discipline must be upheld , and order observed , but are discipline and order to rule the roost to the exclusion of everything else , even if what is supposed to be a time of pleasure is turned into a period of unpleasantness ? Would it not rather be better to sacrifice a little of the form and ceremony of our meetings , if in doing so those present were
enabled to enjoy an hour or two's greater comfort , instead of being kept to what we may term laborious pleasure ? We think it would , and we invite our readers to consider for themselves the various points which may present themselves to their minds as touching upon this subject . It has often been said that the after-dinner speeches and entertainments which follow Lodge meetings are
Laborious Pleasure.
the most objectionable part of the Masonic system , and so they are if they are not properly managed ; but in good hands they may prove most enjoyable , as many who read these lines can testify . It may be imagined that in this respect we are able to speak from experience ; our duties often call us out , and wc have numerous opportunities of judging different men and different systems . We start with the determination of never making a labour of our enjoyment , and we can recommend that system to those who work on a different , and usually . less satisfactory principle . No doubt the best wav to secure enjoyment is to be
content to take things as we find them , to give credit to our entertainers for having done the best in their power , and to sympathise with them in case of mishap , rather than blame them for want of care or forethought . It is not always possible to ensure success , and it is wrong to attempt to decide how far others have striven to deserve it . Success does not
always attend even the best of efforts , nor is it possible for the most proficient to avoid occasional failure , but we think we may safely say there is little enjoyment to be derived from making a labour of pleasure . It is far better to take things as thoy come , rather than to lay doAvn hard and fast laws which may be inapplicable under certain circumstances , and which , if rigidly adhered to , cause annoyance and a break in the harmony of a Lodge .
Perhaps the most frequently practised example of making a labour of pleasure is to be found in the musical programme at a Masonic meeting . Music is not always a source of pleasure to all who have to listen to it ; more particularly is this the case when the music is made of paramount , and personal enjoyment of secondary importance . Although it may be difficult to decide just how much or how little the music is appreciated , there is sometimes no mistakiiio * the feeling of a meeting . Without beinc ;
actually rude the company show they have had enough , and it would be well to stop there , rather than adhere to a programme , and to labour for enjoyment which never comes ; but some men cannot accept such a verdict as we have outlined ; they have made arrangements for a certain course of entertainment , and if that does not afford enjoyment it must at least be persevered in , even if its continuance inflict nam or discomfort .
It will not be news to our readers to tell them Ave do not believe in making the proper appreciation of Freemasonry of secondary importance to the regular performance of a musical programme . There are many who secure much more enjoyment from the discussion of Masonic or general topics with those around them than they derive from the best song it
is possible to give them , and aro they to be ignored in order that some pre-arranged programme may be completed , or the strict etiquette of the musical profession rigidly observed ? Wc recently heard of a meeting which was anything but a success ; where the cause of the non-enjoyment of many present was set