The Summer Recess.

THE SUMMER RECESS .

ONCE more the season has come upon us when tiebrethren cast about them with pleasant luitieipatiuns in view of varying tho somewhat monotonous round of tin labour of the winter session . Green fields and ^ niili . v _> landscapes , just now attired in their brightest livery , invile ns to scenes of healthful relaxation ; and happy arc Hi "

men who can spare the time , and means to enjoy those changes which are so recuperative both of mental and physical vigour . There is an agreeable ring in the suggestion of the I . P . M ., when the winter ' s work is done , and he rises to propose that " the summer banquet be held as

usual , and that a committee be appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements . " By no means let it be understood the brethren have become weary of well-doing , or that their interest in the real work of tho Craft has in any

way abated . But " variety is charming " in every phase of life ; and , having acquitted themselves with fervency unci zeal in the practical labour of the year , there is no mo . e laudable aspiration than that the mental and bodil y faculties should be allowed to rest , and to acquire fresh strength

for the coming round of duty . There are many aspects in which we may regard the utility and desirableness of a summer Masonic vacation . In the country , where Lodges are held at distant intervals , we can readily imagine the brethren are not so disposed to any

Buch intermission of the routine of work . They come in from the outlying districts once a month , and sometimes less frequently , and the reunion is to them as invigorating as an ' * outing" into the country is to the pent up dweller in the City . They arc always in

the midst of Nature's freshness , and know no such delight as the Londoner experiences when he sets out with walking stick and satchel , to inhale the fresh country air , and to gaze away from the eternal bricks and mortar upon the beauties of wood and field . Moreover , their opportunities

for social intercourse and enjoyment are not so prolific as we find them in the City , and consequentl y the meetings of Lodge are amongst the most enjoyable means of

cultivating those amenities which form the chief enjoyment of provincial life . There are not wanting , however , occasions when the bonds of fraternity are even there relaxed , and when the brethren invite Avithin the circles of their

hospitality those to whom the " mysteries and privileges are unfamiliar . We speak in thei'ecollection of glorious trips by road and rail , of picnics spread in orthodox fashion under the spreading forest trees , and amidst sylvan glades , the

splendour and silence of which are seldom broken except by the song of birds—of joyous excursions b y river and sea , when cabin and saloon ring with the ripple of merriment and laughter , or the island summer hostelry is made reverberant with the interchange of friendly greetings .

Happy days these , when the heart is young , and Masonic zeal , as well as the aspirations of life , are just blossoming into fullness and enthusiasm . It is not merely that the anticipations of pleasant hours are realised by the careful and considerate study of the

Stewards who undertake the duty of arranging the preliminaries , but there linger a train of after reminiscences which g ive zest to the ardour of the brethren and p leasure to those who have been the recipients of their hospitalities . If , however , these summer gatherings are

so fruitful of good influences amongst our country cousins who meet in necessarily so limited a company , how much more conducive to hearty good-fellowship in the wider circles of those who in populous towns are unacquainted ¦ with much of the social affinity which binds provincial

friends together ? Most of our brethren whose sphere of business lies in tne City are glad to get away at evening to their suburban residences , where the home circle is limited to a few intimate friends . When the Lodge meets , the brethren , who are of course most intimate and fraternal ,

congregate from distant places , and have few opportunities of bringing the members of their families into social contact . At the summer picnic , however , there are presented ample and most congenial opportunities for the cultivation of old , and the making of new , friendships ; and we may

reckon amongst the best and staunch est of our acquaintance many whose hands we first grasped at a gathering such as those which will soon be occurring not infrequently in Masonic circles . There are many who object to these meetings , on the score that , they are not solel y directed to the cause of Charity ; and that the money so

expended mi g ht be more usefully applied . But such objections are as a rule frivolous , and often do not emanate ;" rom those who are foremost in the cause of benevolence . It is true that the proceeds of the bazaars , balls , and other ri ' ihiitw * held during the winter are applied to some

bene'ieent purpose , . specified , and in this respect the summer ;) ii'nie is distinguished as being solely for the purposes of pleasure . I Jul . when we consider the many happy in . tluenees which are fostered , the gratification atlbrded by admitting the fair sex to a participation in tho

pleasantries to which even Masons may be pardoned for occasionally devoting themselves , there is much to commend the princip le to our favourable acceptance . It can hardly be expected that the brethren will be found to muster in any strength in Lodge when the

evenings are warm , and the atmosphere of rooms is stuffy and oppressive ; and even when an earnest invitation to attend is issued the work under such circumstances is scarcel y such as one feels a p leasure in assisting at . To blend business with recreation , therefore , is to our mind an

acceptable doctrine , though it must be admitted that the amount of practical work done at a summer Lodge is invariabl y small , the inducements to outdoor exercises being of far too seductive a character to admit of very lengthy or serious

application to work . The process is more visually a quiet hour of working , with just as much as is necessary to transact the business on the agenda paper , and then to hie away to the felicitations of assembled friends and the inevitable

concomitants of such a happy event . The repast is spread beneath the tented canopy , amidst a profusion of flowers , the smiles of the fair , and the hearty handshaking of fraternal friends all round ; the post-prandial speeches are few and brief , and altogether in agreeable contrast with the

ordinary official programme . The veterans unite m consultation over matters with which they are peculiarly conversant , and recount " old times , " when Masonry was not so popular and important as it now is , with a vivacity begotten of experience and happy recollections , while the

younger branches improvise and carry out those pastimes which are always to bo found on such occasions , and the day is passed in a perfect round of amity . Can it be said that time so employed is thrown away ? Does it not brace the working members to a heig htened sense of the value

of the fraternal impulses which prompt the event , and give fresh tone to the work which must necessarily follow hereafter ? We think so , and so far from looking with even a shadow of disapprobation upon these summer

gatherings , over which we know some well-intentioned brethren quibble—seeing their object is not the promotion of Charity , pure and simple—we yet see in them much that is conducive of well-being to the Craft , and a blending of interests which must in the end foster and conserve

those sentiments of brotherly love which is so essential an element in Freemasonry . The " recess" is to a healthy Lodge , so constituted , a cordial and a tonic which will help it over the next arduous session in a way that

cannot fail to benefit alike its members and those lay acquaintances who are drawn within the cycle ; and with this end in view we hail the many announcements which have already been made of their intention to celebrate the summer holiday , " as usual . "

A grand musical and miscellaneous entertainment was g iven on the 4 th inst ., at Sir Moses Mnntefiore Literary and Art Society , 32 _ Tavistock-place , by the Montefiore Cyclists Club , tinder the direction oi Bro Israel Abrahams , F . R . S . L ., & c , and the Hon . Sec . S . J . Weinjrofct . The hall was crowded by an enthusiastic audience , who > tnliy recognised tho ability of the several artists who gave their assistance-Miao " tfWpnnn Marks sant ? eharminorlv . as also did Miss Annn

Brixhtstein , and Si « oora K . Pontana . Sig . Leoni ' s excellent ; voic was fully appreciated . Bro . J . Cheevers gave one of his celeora Irish SOIK'S , while Dr . Holden . in Magical Marvels , completely pnzz the audience by his wonderful dexterity . Mr . Percy Strandes , J * . A- £ ¦•> of the Guildhall School of Mnsic , was a very able accompany rivM \ b is duo to Messrs Richardson , S . Abrahams , 0 . Weing oi j - Vallentino , and E . P . Vallentino for their exertions for the com of the visitors .

The last meeting for the present session of the Earl Spencer L ^ •>f Instruction will be held at tho Swan Hotel , Battersea ^ rici ^ , ^ Wednesday evening , the ldt . li inst ., at eight o ' clock precisely , ^ . ^ Bro . James Stevens P . M . P . Z ., on tho invitation of the JJOUV , . ¦ leliveT his leetnrtt explanatory of the rituals of the ceremonies « ^ . first degree . A large gathering of local brethren is expected o occasion .