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Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article LAPSUS LINGUAE. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . AU Letters must bear the name and address ot the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
IMPECUNIOUS LODGES--WHEBE AEE THi * . Y ?
To til FRiiKMAaON ' a CHRONICLK . - DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —I cannot devote much time to the discussion of Masonic matters for the edification of the public , and therefore I have not replied to the peculiar cynicism ( I hopo I do not wrong him ) of " •Past Master " in the " Echo . " Let me , however , give my experience for the encouragement of the coming " men " of
the fraternity—thoso who happen to have very recently joined and may be startled by " Past Master ' s" evidence . I have been a Member of one Lodge nearlv twenty-nine years . 1 may be said to be a founder of two other Lodges , oniy in one case the list of founders is filled by tho requisite number of better men , —at any rate I thought so at the time and do now . I was the very life of the other aud of course the Warrant bears mv name . I shouid
have accepted tho honour of being first W . M . which was naturally pressed upon me , but declined , because I had experience enough to know in what other way I could best promote the interests of that Lodge . I am a Member of a Loudon Louge which stands at least as high if not higher than any in the Metropolis , —and honorary Member of two Provincial Lodges of which any Mason might be proud . Neither of the latler aie Lodges of which 1 took an active part in tho foundation .
Thia record establishes one fact—that after I have acknowledged to being a Past Master of about twenty-three years standing , and been I believe five times elected ( unanimously ) fust Principal of a . well-known Chapter—I shall probably be generally considered aa " well-up " in my information about the Craft as " Past Master . " Now I was twenty-five years most actively interested in one
Lodge , and I noticed in 1875 what many considered a wave of exceptional prosperity for the Craft following upon the Installation of H . R . H . our illustrious M . W . Grand Master . I mention this , because , in fairness , I am bound to admit the spice of truth which generally exists at tho bottom of all such gratuitous statements as " Past Master" makes—scores undoubtedly did join the Craft for what they could get out of it .
From these , and the right they have not failed to exercise of proposing " birds of a feather , " assisted by the laxity born of prosperity , we are suffering ; even this bitter experience has inculcated a lesson that will not soon be forgotten and hence must tend to ultimate good .
Of courso neither I nor " Past Master can say who does or does not enter from other than purely Masonic motives ; subsequent knowledge of such Brethren can alone decide . In the Lodge I refer to , not a single instance came to my knowledge , although I was Secretary about fifteen years . But in this " business"' age nine-tenths of the Candidates have somo idea of benefit , more oi
less defined accoidmg to thoir wants at the time , and it is to such as Past Master ( I assume he is such ) that the Ci aft must look to be defended against mercenar ) r » emits , whether ti < ese be introduced by doubtiui or gcod members . I do not say ho can alwajs prevent the introduction of unoesirab . e candidates , but he can insist that every precaution is taken , which means more than " Past Master "
would care to own to the " Echo" querist . I pass over the " impecunious" reason for accepting Tom , Dick , and Harrj , very briefly . There may be here and there Lodges in low water . I have known such , and these knew better than to expect relief by securing Tom ' s Initiation fees , and they never had any hesitation in refusing Dick and Harry at onr / price . 1 see no advantage there can be in decimating a big Lodge for the sake of a few Initiation
fees and in this respect" Past Master " ought to be told that Lodges boasting numbers without " Masonry " never prosper , while it is today possible to work a Lodge « . f twenty or thirty right men at so .-mall a cost that it can never be necessary to raise the funds by thrusting in Candidates . Should there ever be a Grand Lodge " Commission " to enquire into the financial question , it is to be hoped so poor an economist as " Past Master" ma . ) never have a share m the deliberations .
I consider from my own personal knowledge that for any one of " presentable appearance " and in possession of the fees , £ 5- £ B to gain admittance to any one of many Provincial Lodges with which I am well acquainted would be absolutely impossible . 1 know less of Metropolitan Lodges ; however , I am certain that if there be no power exercised from within the Lodgo , whenvcr it may be , both the guineas and the Candidate ' will remain outside .
As regards the " medals , " a gentleman is not alwajs known by his coat , nor is a Mason by his Meoals . Much might be said of the bad taste exhibited too often both in Lodges and Piocessions , and 1 have heard very good Masons covered with ' •medals " described in quite stable-boy language . Personal \ ai , ity creates the abuse
otherwise I think a Mason has the undoubted right to wear any jewel or medal he is intitled to . The latter rule I must say is often more studied in the breach than in the observance , but if the benevolence be there , it is immaterial to me whether it covers the medals or the latter cover tho benevolence . Yours fraternally , JE MAINTIENDRAI .
The Second Volume of " Social England , " published a short time ago , is already being reprinted .
Lapsus Linguae.
LAPSUS LINGUAE .
GOOD stories pass through innumerable editions , and become varied according to the ability of the teller : they are , in fact , so altered at times , as almost to lose their identity . There is no greater nuisance at a social party than the dull and prosy man , whilst a good " raconteur" is certainly a desideratum . The former wearies you by his pointless and never-ending story , but the other delights you by his quick and lively sallies .
How exquisitely droll was that incident of two Irishmen , who upon meeting , thought they were each interrogating a mutual fri « nd , but finding they laboured under a mistake , reluctantly parted with the very simple Hibernian acknowledgment " Sure , it's neither of us , " which being re-told by a person who had entirely lost the pith of the story , fell very fiat when changed to " Sure , we've made a mistake . " A similiar story is told of a tall man
named Jackson , who came across a friend at a party , the latter saying to him , " Jackson , it ' s an awfully short coat which you wear 1 " " So it ought to be , " was tho witty reply , " for I ' ve worn it long enough . " Another friend , who heard and admired the repartee , afterwards retailing the story , entirely lost the drollery of the joke by adding . " So it ought to bo for I ' ve worn it agoodmany years . "
A man having heard what ho considered to be a very good conundrum , endeavoured to treasure it up in the storehouse of his memory , thinking to score a telling point . When ho reached home however , and propounded it to his wife , the whole conditions of tho
story had lapsed , and he unfortunately forgot its application , " What is tho difference , " he asked , " between me and a donkey ? " His spouse looked surprised at the question , but immediately rejoineel without even so much as a smile , " There isn't any difference at all I" and the husband knew that he had blundered somewhere .
Oliver Goldsmith , " who wrote like an angel , and talked like poor poll , " could not tell a story satisfactorily for tne life of him . Ho spoiled a dish of good green peas on one occasion in his endeavour to perpetrate a feeble joke about carrying them to Kew , because that wns " the way to Turn ham ( turn ' em ) Greenland then missed the point by ordering the cook to have them conveyed
to Kew , " because that was the way to render them green . " As thc peas were spoiled in Goldsmith's case , so is many a good story by the telling of it . Sully , the painter , onco retrieved a slip of the tongue in a smart way . At a party ono evening he was speaking of a belle who was a great favourite . " Ah ! " said the artist , " she has a mouth like an
elephant ! " His listeners were shocked . " Oh 1 Mr . Sully , how can you be so rude ? " asked one of them . " Rude , ladies , rude 1 " exclaimed Sully , who saw what a mistake he had made , "What do you mean ? I say she has got a mouth like an elephant , because it is so full of ivory . "
In connection with the title which I have adopted , most of my readers have heard of that gentleman who was giving a dinner party , to which had been invited a guest whose education had not been gained at college . In the process of carrying in the dishes , an awkward waiter let an ox tongue fall from the plate on to the floor . " Never mind , " aptly said the host , who was equal to the occasion , " It is only a "lapsus lingua ) , " which joke naturally caused instant
laughter . The guest just mentioned , tickled by the incident , resolved on a similar innovation at his next dinner party , and gavo instructions accordingly . When the guests were seated , a servant entered to carry out his orders , but instead of a tongue , allowed a piece of beef to slip to the floor . The point of tbe joke , however , was lost when tho host shouted in a tone of oxhultation , "No matter friends , it is only a ' lapsus lingua ; . '"
A most serious " lapsus lingua ) " was that of a sailor on the look-out who , seeing a rock close to , shouted out " Larboard , " instead of " Starboard , " drowning dozens by the slip ; and it is affirmed that in consequence of this lamentable accident the word " Port" was substituted for " Larboard " in naval nomenclature . " Book of Rarities , " by Edward Roberts P . M .
A large and representative meeting of the General Committee of the Liverpool Masonic Ball took place on Friday of last week , at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool ,
under the presidency of Bro . W . Simpson P . P . G . W . ( Wigan ) . The Hon . Secretary Bro . A . E . Povey reported that the deputation had waited upon the Lord Mayor , who had granted the use of the Town Hall for Tuesday , the 15 th January next , and had promised his patronage
and presence at the ball , also that of the Lady Mayoress Mrs . Watts . It was decided to hold tlie ball on that date under the banner of the Merchants Lodge , No . 241 . Bro . Molyueux was unanimously elected M . C ., and Bro
Harradon Deputy M . C . A large number of ball stewardswere nominated , aud everything promises that the ball this year will be one of the most successful and attractive yet held . o o o
The Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodge , No . 1602 has arranged its annual ball for the 17 th January next , the proceeds to be devoted to the Masonic Charities . The Freemasons' Tavern has been selected for the gathering , which is looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation by those who have participated in previous entertainments of this Lodge . Further particulars may be had of iiru . John Osburn P . M . Sec . \ 3 ii Higubury Park , N . );' . ..
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . AU Letters must bear the name and address ot the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
IMPECUNIOUS LODGES--WHEBE AEE THi * . Y ?
To til FRiiKMAaON ' a CHRONICLK . - DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —I cannot devote much time to the discussion of Masonic matters for the edification of the public , and therefore I have not replied to the peculiar cynicism ( I hopo I do not wrong him ) of " •Past Master " in the " Echo . " Let me , however , give my experience for the encouragement of the coming " men " of
the fraternity—thoso who happen to have very recently joined and may be startled by " Past Master ' s" evidence . I have been a Member of one Lodge nearlv twenty-nine years . 1 may be said to be a founder of two other Lodges , oniy in one case the list of founders is filled by tho requisite number of better men , —at any rate I thought so at the time and do now . I was the very life of the other aud of course the Warrant bears mv name . I shouid
have accepted tho honour of being first W . M . which was naturally pressed upon me , but declined , because I had experience enough to know in what other way I could best promote the interests of that Lodge . I am a Member of a Loudon Louge which stands at least as high if not higher than any in the Metropolis , —and honorary Member of two Provincial Lodges of which any Mason might be proud . Neither of the latler aie Lodges of which 1 took an active part in tho foundation .
Thia record establishes one fact—that after I have acknowledged to being a Past Master of about twenty-three years standing , and been I believe five times elected ( unanimously ) fust Principal of a . well-known Chapter—I shall probably be generally considered aa " well-up " in my information about the Craft as " Past Master . " Now I was twenty-five years most actively interested in one
Lodge , and I noticed in 1875 what many considered a wave of exceptional prosperity for the Craft following upon the Installation of H . R . H . our illustrious M . W . Grand Master . I mention this , because , in fairness , I am bound to admit the spice of truth which generally exists at tho bottom of all such gratuitous statements as " Past Master" makes—scores undoubtedly did join the Craft for what they could get out of it .
From these , and the right they have not failed to exercise of proposing " birds of a feather , " assisted by the laxity born of prosperity , we are suffering ; even this bitter experience has inculcated a lesson that will not soon be forgotten and hence must tend to ultimate good .
Of courso neither I nor " Past Master can say who does or does not enter from other than purely Masonic motives ; subsequent knowledge of such Brethren can alone decide . In the Lodge I refer to , not a single instance came to my knowledge , although I was Secretary about fifteen years . But in this " business"' age nine-tenths of the Candidates have somo idea of benefit , more oi
less defined accoidmg to thoir wants at the time , and it is to such as Past Master ( I assume he is such ) that the Ci aft must look to be defended against mercenar ) r » emits , whether ti < ese be introduced by doubtiui or gcod members . I do not say ho can alwajs prevent the introduction of unoesirab . e candidates , but he can insist that every precaution is taken , which means more than " Past Master "
would care to own to the " Echo" querist . I pass over the " impecunious" reason for accepting Tom , Dick , and Harrj , very briefly . There may be here and there Lodges in low water . I have known such , and these knew better than to expect relief by securing Tom ' s Initiation fees , and they never had any hesitation in refusing Dick and Harry at onr / price . 1 see no advantage there can be in decimating a big Lodge for the sake of a few Initiation
fees and in this respect" Past Master " ought to be told that Lodges boasting numbers without " Masonry " never prosper , while it is today possible to work a Lodge « . f twenty or thirty right men at so .-mall a cost that it can never be necessary to raise the funds by thrusting in Candidates . Should there ever be a Grand Lodge " Commission " to enquire into the financial question , it is to be hoped so poor an economist as " Past Master" ma . ) never have a share m the deliberations .
I consider from my own personal knowledge that for any one of " presentable appearance " and in possession of the fees , £ 5- £ B to gain admittance to any one of many Provincial Lodges with which I am well acquainted would be absolutely impossible . 1 know less of Metropolitan Lodges ; however , I am certain that if there be no power exercised from within the Lodgo , whenvcr it may be , both the guineas and the Candidate ' will remain outside .
As regards the " medals , " a gentleman is not alwajs known by his coat , nor is a Mason by his Meoals . Much might be said of the bad taste exhibited too often both in Lodges and Piocessions , and 1 have heard very good Masons covered with ' •medals " described in quite stable-boy language . Personal \ ai , ity creates the abuse
otherwise I think a Mason has the undoubted right to wear any jewel or medal he is intitled to . The latter rule I must say is often more studied in the breach than in the observance , but if the benevolence be there , it is immaterial to me whether it covers the medals or the latter cover tho benevolence . Yours fraternally , JE MAINTIENDRAI .
The Second Volume of " Social England , " published a short time ago , is already being reprinted .
Lapsus Linguae.
LAPSUS LINGUAE .
GOOD stories pass through innumerable editions , and become varied according to the ability of the teller : they are , in fact , so altered at times , as almost to lose their identity . There is no greater nuisance at a social party than the dull and prosy man , whilst a good " raconteur" is certainly a desideratum . The former wearies you by his pointless and never-ending story , but the other delights you by his quick and lively sallies .
How exquisitely droll was that incident of two Irishmen , who upon meeting , thought they were each interrogating a mutual fri « nd , but finding they laboured under a mistake , reluctantly parted with the very simple Hibernian acknowledgment " Sure , it's neither of us , " which being re-told by a person who had entirely lost the pith of the story , fell very fiat when changed to " Sure , we've made a mistake . " A similiar story is told of a tall man
named Jackson , who came across a friend at a party , the latter saying to him , " Jackson , it ' s an awfully short coat which you wear 1 " " So it ought to be , " was tho witty reply , " for I ' ve worn it long enough . " Another friend , who heard and admired the repartee , afterwards retailing the story , entirely lost the drollery of the joke by adding . " So it ought to bo for I ' ve worn it agoodmany years . "
A man having heard what ho considered to be a very good conundrum , endeavoured to treasure it up in the storehouse of his memory , thinking to score a telling point . When ho reached home however , and propounded it to his wife , the whole conditions of tho
story had lapsed , and he unfortunately forgot its application , " What is tho difference , " he asked , " between me and a donkey ? " His spouse looked surprised at the question , but immediately rejoineel without even so much as a smile , " There isn't any difference at all I" and the husband knew that he had blundered somewhere .
Oliver Goldsmith , " who wrote like an angel , and talked like poor poll , " could not tell a story satisfactorily for tne life of him . Ho spoiled a dish of good green peas on one occasion in his endeavour to perpetrate a feeble joke about carrying them to Kew , because that wns " the way to Turn ham ( turn ' em ) Greenland then missed the point by ordering the cook to have them conveyed
to Kew , " because that was the way to render them green . " As thc peas were spoiled in Goldsmith's case , so is many a good story by the telling of it . Sully , the painter , onco retrieved a slip of the tongue in a smart way . At a party ono evening he was speaking of a belle who was a great favourite . " Ah ! " said the artist , " she has a mouth like an
elephant ! " His listeners were shocked . " Oh 1 Mr . Sully , how can you be so rude ? " asked one of them . " Rude , ladies , rude 1 " exclaimed Sully , who saw what a mistake he had made , "What do you mean ? I say she has got a mouth like an elephant , because it is so full of ivory . "
In connection with the title which I have adopted , most of my readers have heard of that gentleman who was giving a dinner party , to which had been invited a guest whose education had not been gained at college . In the process of carrying in the dishes , an awkward waiter let an ox tongue fall from the plate on to the floor . " Never mind , " aptly said the host , who was equal to the occasion , " It is only a "lapsus lingua ) , " which joke naturally caused instant
laughter . The guest just mentioned , tickled by the incident , resolved on a similar innovation at his next dinner party , and gavo instructions accordingly . When the guests were seated , a servant entered to carry out his orders , but instead of a tongue , allowed a piece of beef to slip to the floor . The point of tbe joke , however , was lost when tho host shouted in a tone of oxhultation , "No matter friends , it is only a ' lapsus lingua ; . '"
A most serious " lapsus lingua ) " was that of a sailor on the look-out who , seeing a rock close to , shouted out " Larboard , " instead of " Starboard , " drowning dozens by the slip ; and it is affirmed that in consequence of this lamentable accident the word " Port" was substituted for " Larboard " in naval nomenclature . " Book of Rarities , " by Edward Roberts P . M .
A large and representative meeting of the General Committee of the Liverpool Masonic Ball took place on Friday of last week , at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool ,
under the presidency of Bro . W . Simpson P . P . G . W . ( Wigan ) . The Hon . Secretary Bro . A . E . Povey reported that the deputation had waited upon the Lord Mayor , who had granted the use of the Town Hall for Tuesday , the 15 th January next , and had promised his patronage
and presence at the ball , also that of the Lady Mayoress Mrs . Watts . It was decided to hold tlie ball on that date under the banner of the Merchants Lodge , No . 241 . Bro . Molyueux was unanimously elected M . C ., and Bro
Harradon Deputy M . C . A large number of ball stewardswere nominated , aud everything promises that the ball this year will be one of the most successful and attractive yet held . o o o
The Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodge , No . 1602 has arranged its annual ball for the 17 th January next , the proceeds to be devoted to the Masonic Charities . The Freemasons' Tavern has been selected for the gathering , which is looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation by those who have participated in previous entertainments of this Lodge . Further particulars may be had of iiru . John Osburn P . M . Sec . \ 3 ii Higubury Park , N . );' . ..