Dividing The Toasts.

DIVIDING THE TOASTS .

\ T 17 'HEN one experiences the great relief it is , and ** the pleasurable change which arises from a

division of the proposition of the toasts at the banquet table among a number of Brethren , one can but regret the practice is not more general . It is certainly time a movement was made in . the direction of checking the

awful monotony of our after dinner proceedings , and as we fear it is too much to even hope for a curtailment of the all round " back scratching , " may we ask some

of our leaders to consider the policy of dividing the work with their Past Masters , or , far better , their subordinate Officers , or , perhaps , both .

We have dealt with this matter on a previous occasion , and were successful in securing a few converts to our way of thinking , but the reform was by

no means general , although its desirability was fully endorsed by many Brethren who had the opportunity of putting the matter to a practical test .

Having disposed of the toasts of the Queen and the Grand Master we think a W . M . might advantageously pass the emblem of authority on to . one or other of the Past Masters of his Lodge , for the purpose of

proposing the toast of the Grand Officers . Past Masters , as a rule , are better acquainted with the work of the rulers of the Craft than any of the other

members , and it would be a graceful compliment on the part of a chief to select one or other of his predecessors , in turn , for this duty .

The I . P . M . would retain his well recognised right to propose the health of the W . M . ; the Master should give the toast of the Initiates , as being one of the most important—if not actually the premier toast of

the meeting the Junior Warden , by virtue of the special duty of his office , should propose the visitors lay members might be permitted to dilate on the merits of the Past Masters , the Treasurer and the

Secretary while the W . M . would have an opportunity of bringing the toast list to a conclusion by addressing his Officers , and submitting the toast of their health to his Lodge .

We have omitted from our review the toast of the Charities , for the reason that it so seldom finds a place in our programme , and any addition to the already long list of routine toasts is regarded with disfavour . But we venture to think the regular

proposition of the toast would be more likely once a change was made in the direction we speak of . We may , and probably most of us would , object to another " regular" toast , if it meant an addition to the already

too long monotonous programme , but place its proposition in the hands of the Treasurer , the Secretary , the Junior Deacon ( his by right !) , or some enthusiastic member , and we believe the toast would

be seldom or ever passed over . This is not a " revolutionary" reform to propose , but one we are convinced would be generally appreciated if it could be carried into effect .

Service By The Masonic Lifeboat.

SERVICE BY THE MASONIC LIFEBOAT .

ONE of the lifeboats presented to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , by the Freemasons of England , in 1877 , on the return of the Grand Master from India , did good service on Thursday .

The Clacton correspondent of the " Daily Telegraph " telegraphed that night as follows : The Clacton lifeboat , Albert Edward , has landed the skipper and seventeen of the crew-of the full-rigged steel ship

" Hawksdale . " A German pilot was in charge of the ship , and had apparently got out of his reckoning . There was a strong gale at the time of the accident , and a heavy sea running .

About nine o ' clock preparations were made for leaving the ship , and the portside lifeboat was launched . Two seamen , named McDonald , a Scotchman , and Wasterick , a Swede , with the pilot , had got into the

boat , when a heavy sea struck and capsized it . The line broke , and the boat was carried away with the three men clinging to the sides . Nothing more was seen of them . Another boat was smashed by the heavy seas before it could be launched .

Great difficulty and danger was experienced in getting the crew into the lifeboat . The cargo included 500 pianos .

Masonry Standing Still.

MASONRY STANDING STILL .

ON another page we extract an article from the " Blackpool Herald , " dealing with the subject we treated last week . Our contemporary's remarks appear under the heading , " Masonic agitation for disunion , " and we can but repeat our previous

observation , that there should be some better method of airing a grievance on strictly Masonic matters than by appeals in outside newspapers . As we say elsewhere we are pleased to learn the matter is now ** officially " before the authorities in London .

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

HpHE petition of the Preston Brethren that the * installation of the Earl of Lathom as Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire , the premier Province , in succession to his father , should take place in the Preston Public Hall , will most likely be granted ,

and the ceremony be fixed for June . Either the Prince of Wales , Earl Amherst , or the Earl of Warwick will perform the installation , and the approximate date is mentioned thus early in order that the many Brethren who will wish to witness the ceremonial can have the more time to make arrangements .

The Grand Lodge of Scotland proposes , at its Quarterly meeting on Thursday next , to give official recognition to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand .