Masonic Pantomime.

MASONIC PANTOMIME .

AMONG the attacks made upon the ancient and honourable society of Freemasons none perhaps have been more severely felt than those which have

taken the form of ridicule . Men who will defend a cause with their life , who will argue against unheard of odds in defence of what they deem to be right and proper , have been known to pause in front of the

shait ot sarcasm , ancl flee from an outburst oi ridicule . We believe it was a mock procession of Freemasons that led to the edict prohibiting all Masonic processions and public displays in London ,

and many a man who would have been a worthy addition to our ranks has shrunk from seeking a participation in the mysteries and lessons of the Craft because he could not stand the chaff or ridicule of his friends in anticipation of his proposed step . But ridicule and sarcasm are not alone to be found

outside the Masonic Order . Within our ranks we have men who do lasting injury to the cause of Freemasonry by their ridiculous and absurd antics ,

bringing down scorn and sarcasm not only on themselves , but on all connected with the Order , as a result of their departure from the established customs and procedure of the Fraternity . Can anything more absurd or demoralising to the whole system of

Freemasonry be imagined than the Masonic Pantomime to which our contemporary the Keystone drew attention , and in regard to which we quoted its remarks last week ? The " full costume " of the third degree ,

to which our contemporary objects , is no part of Freemasonry , and to publish an account of its use at a Masonic gathering is only to bring down ridicule on the Craft and invite the sarcasm of the whole educated world . Our contemporary deserves the heartiest thanks of the Masonic communitv in calling attention

to so gross an innovation , and we believe the Keystone will be generally supported in its endeavours to put an end to such tomfoolery as that under notice .

Certain it is that all who have any regard for the ancient customs of Freemasonry , and their continuance without modern innovation or alteration , will swell the number of those opposed to the continuance or extension of such flagrant departures as have been exposed by our contemporary . We advise our readers to refer back to last

Saturday s issue , and read again the extract giving a description of the " full costume" in which the Masonic pantomime at Missouri Lodge was acted , and they must at once fall in with the views of our American contemporary , and feel inclined

to raise their hands in Masonic horror , unless they feel disposed to sympathise with the weak minded brethren who form that Lodge , and who have evidently been led away from their true Masonic professions by the love of tinsel and display . We offer them our sincere sympathy , and earnestly hope they will speedily be restored to reason ,

Masonic Pantomime.

with the result that they will discard their "full costume" and settle down to the time-honoured insignia of the Craft—more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Eoman Eagle , more honourable than the Star , Garter , or any other Order in existence—the plain white Masonic apron , the bond of friendship and the badge of innocence .

American Masons are proverbial for their love of display , and it would be most undesirable on our part to offer any criticism against the exercise of their particular desires , provided it did not interfere with the recognised systems of Freemasonry . There is

nothing to be said about their periodical displays as Knights of this , that or the other , that is no part of ancient Freemasonry , and its several so-called degrees are only associated with the Craft in a very roundabout manner , but when it comes to the third

degree of Craft Masonry there are certain rules and regulations to be observed which must not be lightly treated , much less wholly set aside , without some sort of protest being raised by those who recognise the unchangeable nature of our rites and ceremonies .

Besides this , as our contemporary observes , the " crowning " of the Master of a Lodge , and the decking of his principal Officers with tiaras , must tend to create distinctions wholly foreign to the principles

ol tne trait , which recognises all men as equal within the portals of the Lodge , the Officers for the time being standing rather as tutors or instructors than actual chiefs in a dictatorial sense . We hope the brethren of the American Lodge we have referred to will at once see the absurdity of the course they *

have adopted , and will either sever their connection with Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry , or transfer their " full costume" to the lumber room of the nearest theatre , where it may come in handy to bedeck the performers in the next pantomime or comic opera to be performed there .

Royalty And Freemasonry.

ROYALTY AND FREEMASONRY .

rilHE present week has been a busy one for members of JL the Royal Family in their Masonic connection , two important ceremonies taking place on Tuesday , the ono in London , when H . R . H . the Duke of Oonnanght was

installed as Worshipful Master of the London Irish Rifles Lodge , No . 2312 ; and the other afc York , where the Duko of Clarence and Avondale was presented with a Pounder ' s

jewel of the Albert Victor Lodge , No . 2328 . It haa also been announced during the week that the Prince of Wales has decided that the ceremony of opening the new

Royal Highness after his return from Cannes , and before Easter , and nofc during the month of February , as originally contemplated .

Hall at the Girls' School shall be performed by Hia

The installation meeting of the London Irish Rifles Lodge was held afc Freemasons' Hall , under the presidency of Bro . Major C . W . Carrell Worshipful Master . The Lodge , which was consecrated 12 months ago , originated