The Approaching Recess.

ings the brethren are to be seen scampering off with their families and friends into the suburbs , or making use of road , river , and rail , in order to get as rapidly and as far away from the scenes of their every-day drudgery as they can . Nor are they in the least degree to blame .

The jaded spirit rebels at the constant monotony of workaday routine , and naturally longs for an invigorating change ; and unless this is by some means secured the whole machinery is thrown out of gear . And so it is from

a Masonic sense , and the operation of our Lodges . There requires the tonic of an occasional respite from labour for the refreshment of both the p hysical and mental faculties , and unless this is obtained the chariot wheels of work

drag heavily ; the whole proceedings lack tone and vewe ; and so there is a break in the continuity of that cordial and hearty co-operation which it-is so desirable should be maintained . When , at this period of the year , the Tyler packs up the implements of which he is the custodian , he

seems to regard the brethren whose servant he is with a degree of paternal interest , just' as the old family butler contemplates the packing of luggage prior to the annual Continental trip , or as a schoolmaster watches the joy of anticipation in the faces of his boys who are about to

separate for the term . By the time Lodge resames its labours he will have furbished up the pedestals , and columns , and working tools , and made everything decent and in order for carrying on the pursuit of the mystic art , and he will welcome back the brethren who may have

bronzed their visages by the " sad sea waves , " or swept away all physical and mental cobwebs by journeying across country , or by voyages upon the river and sea . There is a sort of renewal of the lease of energy and vigour in this recurring break in the ordinary duties of the Lodge-room

which cannot fail to be attended by the most beneficial results . We all know that one is apt to turn giddy if the body is revolved rapidly for a long period in one direction , and it is necessary to reverse the motion in order to restore the normal equanimity . At the commencement of the season the Master and his brethren meet to renew those

old acquaintanceships which they have learnt to appreciate so heartily in times gone by , to make their plans for the future , and to gauge the amount of work which might be in store for them during the session upon which they have just entered . Many and various are the reminiscences

related of pleasant excursions to the seaside , or amongst the quiet by-ways of the country , where healthful relaxation and refreshing calm go hand in hand . Every man who is in " populous city pent "—chained , year in , year out , to the desk , and plunged in the " dem'd horrid grind " of life , as

Mr . Mantelini would put it—is' certainly bound to snatch from the coils of constant labour a period of recreation . The old axiom of " all work and no play " finds kaleidoscopic variation in all that sages have written and poets sung . " A little nonsense now and then is relished by the

wisest men , " is accepted as a truism equally with a saying of the old prose writer , who , when over-burdened with the anxieties of his profession , burst into verse , and sighed for the hour when he could " Lie on my back on the fresh greensward ; With a straw in my mouth , and an

open vest . " And so it is all round . The wretched and unkempt denizens of our courts and alleys , so favourite a theme with modern writers , are glad to have afforded them the opportunit y of a " day in the country , " where they can look over unaccustomed fields , and glory amongst

the wild flowers that revel in free profusion . The singing of the birds and the pure pellucid atmosphere are to them a source of infinite delight , and it is no matter for surprise that any one who has seen the genuine mirth of such an assembly should be anxious to lend a helping hand to

those who assist in arranging for so much true happiness and pleasure . But a parallel is found in other strata of society ; and perhaps it applies , though certainly in a somewhat different degree , to Freemasonry . All through the autumn and winter months the brethren have been

wont to meet at their own and other Lodges , and have participated in the arduous duties , as well as the pleasures , which Masonry afiords . There is a common saying , which to a microscopic extent , all must ' admit , that the gatherings of the Craft are of a somewhat selfish character , inasmuch as

the sisters and spouses of the brethren are not permitted to gratify their curiosity as to the secrets of the Ordereven if any sensible woman of modern times entertains such a foible as rendered Mrs . Caudle so perpetually unhappy and irritant . But when the skies are bright , and the annual question is put to Paterfamilias as , " Where

The Approaching Recess.

shall we go for our summer holiday ? another phase of the Masonic character becomes apparent , and then comes in the apt and apposite

couplet—No mortals can more the ladies adore Than a Free and an Aocepted Mason . Then it is , with a consciousness of having Well and wisel y got through the labours of the session , the brethren can lay down their tools and quit the scene of their ordinary

labours , and fly off to their deserved pastures of recreation , without scruple and without diffidence , well knowing they are entitled to such respite as that of which they stand in need . Some who have roaming tendencies will visit those secluded spots with which the Continent abounds , whilst

others of more modest means and fancies find equal enjoyment in occasional " outings" to quite as pretty nooks and corners , near home . In each and every case the enjoyment may be as great , providing the temperaments of those who participate in the holiday are in keeping with

the peculiar situation . At any rate , they will all come home with some new source of fraternal greeting and information , and when work is resumed , there will be such an in . tercbange of congratulation as always renders the re-opening of the Masonic Parliament most enjoyable . Already ,

as we have said , the brethren and their fair friends are on the qui vive of expectation of pleasant drives to some luxuriant lawn where luncheon may be enjoyed amongst the golden cups and daisies , and under the shade of umbrageous trees , or of cool refreshing voyages down the Thames , to some

sequestered spot , of which there are so many withm a score of miles of London . We can only say to those expectant ones , that we wish for them all the pleasure they can possibly extract from such arrangements as may be considerately made for them by the brethren who

undertake the duty , and that , having passed the period of the recess , as we are sure they will do , " within the limits of becoming mirth , " they will return with mental and physical energies refreshed for the busy toil which they will find it necesssary to meet in the coming session .

The Forthcoming Visit Of The M.W. Grand Master To York.

THE FORTHCOMING VISIT OF THE M . W . GRAND MASTER TO YORK .

THE Masonic ceremonial of laying the memorial stone of the York Institute of Art , Science and Literature has been fixed for Wednesday , the 18 th July next . York during that week will be in a condition of great excitement , for a series of events will take place of great importance . The meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society , which will

be held on the Knavesmire ( the race course ) , will be a gigantic affair , in addition to which there will be an important dog show , & c . The Grand Master of England will attend the show as the guest of Sir George Wombwell ,

Bart ., and will stay in York for probably three days . Besides visiting the show his Royal Highness has promised to attend a gathering at the YoTk Fine Art Exhibition , which is being prepared for his reception in the most lavish

manner . But the important day will be the one above mentioned , when the Prince has graciously consented to lay the memorial stone of the new Institute , now being erected in Clifford-street , with Masonic honours . For this event great

preparations are being made . The enclosure within which the ceremony will take place will be arranged to accommodate between 2000 and 3000 persons , and . will be roofed in with canvas , and the price of reserved seats for the general

public will be one guiuea . The temporary structure will be designed to represent a mediasval castellated building , and will present a most imposing aspect , and will be profusely garlanded and decorated .

As soon as the announcement was made of the intention of the Grand Master to lay the stone in his official Masonic capacity , the Prov . G . Master of North and East Yorkshire , and his Deputy , proceeded to nominate a Local Committee with a view to carrying out the necessary preliminary

details . This Committee is as follows : —Bros . T . B . Whytehead ( corresponding Chairman ) , M . C . Peck Prov . Grand Sec , M . T . Collingwood Prov . G . D . C ., R . H . Peacock

Prov . G . A . D . C ., G . Kirby W . M . 236 , M . Millington WM 1611 , E . J . de SalisW . M . 1991 , J . S . Rymer P . M . 236 ( Sheriff of York ) , J . Todd P . M . 236 , J . S . Cumberland P . M . 1611 . The Committee has proceeded actively with its