The Holiday Season.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON .

IT is usual to regard this as the quiet season in Masonic circles , but the number of important gatherings which havo been held during the past few weeks is evidence that even the intense heat , ranging in various places from 100 to 150 degrees in the sun , offers no insuperable obstacle

to the success of our meetings . Kent , Surrey , Berks and Bucks , and other Provinces , nave held tlieir annual Grand Lodges , and in each and every case the event has passed off most successfully . Then there was the launching of the Masonic Lifeboat at Clacton-on-Sea , at which , by the

way , the brethren seem to have been utilised , and then left to " shift for " themselves by the Local Committee , men of the parochial order of mind , who appear to have thought the Masonic show was got up specially for their pleasure . And now the American Knights Templar are being

received in a fraternal spirit of hospitality , worthy of the society in the old country . But these reunions , agreeable , and indeed , necessary as they are , must hardly be taken to imply a very serious amount of labour , though at most of them certain business is transacted . The meetings of P .

G . Lodges bring the members of the different subordinate Lodges together , so that they learn to know something of each other , and the banquets which follow the work of the Lodge still further promote this good fellowship . The chief evidence that we have , that now is the holiday season

for Masons as for other folk , will be found in the numerous excursions which are made , when the brethren of this or that Lodge sally forth to some suburban or outlying resort , in company with the lady members of their families , and thoroughly enjoy themselves . We should like

to see this wholesome custom more generally prevalent . We believe in thesesummer excursions , we know how "jolly " they are , how genial is the spirit which animates all present , how sincere is the regret when the inevitable time comes for the Lodge and its visitors to disperse .

Moreover , the railway companies offer so many facilities for the conveyance of parties to those more distant country places , which it would be impossible to reach by any other less rapid mode of conveyance , and they so considerately watch over the comfort of their passengers , that we hope

in time to find arrangements made by every Lodge for a summer meeting of this friendly and informal character . We have but to take up the time tables of the Midland , the Great Western , the London and South Western , or others of the principal companies , and we shall find everv

facility for travel inland or to the seaside ; and when the goal of the journey is reached , the Lodge must bo composed of strange members indeed , if they cannot find a convenient hostelry , or if they have not been able to , or cannot make arrangements for a pleasant dinner . It is

this social aspect of the question which makes Freemasomy so intensely enjoyable and so thoroughly worthy of support and appreciation , and thanks are due to the enterprise of our principal railway managers , seeing that the opportunities in these days for out-door enjoyment of the character we

have described are most numerous , and should be turned to account at all time . We commend these few remarks to the notice of those Lodges which indulge not in summer banquets . We think such meetings should bo more general ,

and considering the conveniences of travel in these clays we see no reason why they should not be held as regularly as the installation meetings . Not that we mean to place a dinner on the same level with an important Masonic ceremonial—far from it ; but the meeting for pleasure will

The Holiday Season.

supplement the good work done in the Lodge . It will strengthen the feelings of brotherhood among the members ; and just as it is rightly held to be a necessity that the anniversary festival of one of our institutions should take the form of a banquet—for a good dinner and generous

wines havo a way of their own of opening men ' s hearts and loosening their purse strings—so we think that brethren will be more cordial Avhen they meet in Lodge , if they occasionally fraternise at pic-nics and elsewhere outside it .

Visit Of American Masonic Pilgrims.

VISIT OF AMERICAN MASONIC PILGRIMS .

THE Mary 'Commandery Pilgrimage , with their ladies , arrived in York via Leeds on Wednesday evening , 2-lth July , and on Thursday wore formally received and welcomed by their brethren of that city . Ever since their landing in'Iroland , on the 15 th inst ., this " Pilgrim ' s Progress " has been of an almost triumphal character , the Masons everywhere greeting them in such a marked manner as to show the troe fraternal spirit which animates the minds of the

brethren of the mystic tie . At Londonderry they were welcomed by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Londonderry and Donegal , under tho presidency of Sir Wm . Miller , and were eutertamed at supper . A number of ladies wore present , who presented each guest with a bouquet of flowers , to which was attached a card bearing the Derry arms and tho words cead mille failthe . Belfast and Dublin accorded

equally hearty welcomes , and when Scotland was reached tho brethren of Glasgow and Edinburgh held out tho right hand of fellowship in a similar manner . In Freemasons' Hall , at Edinburgh , on tho 23 rd ult ., they -wore received by the Deputy Grand Master and a number of the Officers of tho Grand Lodgo of Scotland , iuclud . ing the Grand Secretary , Bro . D . Murray Lyon , Col . Eobeson U . S .

Cousul , and many others . A number of Masters and Past Masters of Lodges were also present . Tho American visitors were warmly welcomed , the D . Grand Master individually greeting each brother . After the closing of the Lodge refreshments wore served . Tho toast of the eveuing , given from tho chair , was " The Mary Com - mandery of Knights Templar , " of which body most of the Pilgrims

are members . Bro . C . E . Meyer P . E . C ., Grand Eecorder of tho Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania , in responding , said , It was tho first time , to his knowledge , that a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons had recoguised a Commandery of Knights Templar , comprised altogether of Freemasons though it was . The party left Edinburgh for Abbotsford the following morning , aud arrived in

Leeds on Wednesday afternoon , whero they were met on the platform by Bros . T . B . Whytehead , J . S . Cumberland and J . Welburn , of York , who had come over for tho pnrpose , and after dinner at tho Queen Hotel , and an inspection of tho Masonic Hall , George-sireet , and tho ruins of Kirkstall Abbey , the rail was resumed , and the journey to York made in saloon carriages , specially d ? spatohed from

York by Bro . J . Welbnrn , Superintendent of the Passenger Depart , ment of the N . E . Railway , for their accommodation . On the platform they were met by a further party of Past Masters and brethren of the Eboracutn Lodgo , and at once took np their quarters at tho New Station Hotol . On the following morning at 9-30 , a start was made for the city , and , under tho guidance of Bro . T . B . Whytehead ,

who was ably assisted by several othor York brethren , the chief objects of Masonic and Archaeological interest were visited . The Bar Walls , the ruins of St . Mary ' s Abboy , and the Museum were inspected , after which a more was mado to the Masonic Hall , Dnncombe-streefc , where , by order of the W . M . of the York Lodgo , No . 236 , the old MSS .,

minute books , and other Masonic relics were laid out upon tho table . Bro . Wm . Valentine W . M . was present , and was assisted by Bro . J . Todd P . M . in exhibiting tho curiosities to tho visitors . Tho Cathedral was the next point visited , and here , by permission of Bro . Dr . Monk , an organ recital from the Oratorio of Solomon was given by Mr . M . Monk , and the powers of the magnificent instrument were well displayed . In the vestry of the Minster the Saxon drinking .

horn of Ulphns , the Saxon coronation chair , and other most valuable relics were seen , and then the old Crypt , the traditional scene of old Operative Masonic meetings , and the Chapter House , the most perfect specimen of Gothic work in the world , were viewed successively . This brought half the day to a close , and at one o ' clock eight open carriages were in waiting to convey the Pilgrims to the Merchants' Hall , in Fossgate , interesting as tho place where Drake