Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reflections On The Present Condition Of Masonry In Teutonic And Latin Countries.
the guardians of the various religions denominations , to be distributed among their poor . In Saxony , seventeen thousand and six dollars was collected in one year , for the education of poor children of every creed , and on one
occasion Avhen a famine Avas anticipated in Saxony , the Dresden , Leipzig and Sachenfeld lodges opened a subscription for the relief of the needy , when upwards of tAvo thousand poor families Avere relievedAVIIOin all probabilitymust
, , , have perished through want . Such institutions are being continually formed throughout Germany , Denmark , Sweden and Holland .
Post Prandial Speeches.
POST PRANDIAL SPEECHES .
Some time back a friend of mine observed Avith reference to our Aveekly Masonic reports , that they mostly contain nothing but the account of good dinners and bad speeches . I resented the imputation warmly on behalf of
my assailed Fraternity , and said , Avhat I believe is true , that as a general rule very few after dinner speeches are good for much , and that therefore Ave Avere not at any rate worse than our neighboursnayfurtherthat I consider our
, , , Masonic speeches considerably aboA r e the average of others reported else-Avhere , in those innumerable festive gatherings which delight the heart and the digestion of Britons .
But when I am speaking , as it Avere , both confidingly and conscientiously to my Masonic " Clientele " to-day , Avhen like the parson AVIIO Avas asked Avliy he pounded the cushion so vehementl y , and who replied because "I feel so
happy to think that my arguments are unanswerable by my congregation , " I have the privilege of speaking , and you my kind readers of listening , I feel bound to admit , that , I think Ave may all of us much impiwe this "staple
commodity " of our Masonic literature and that there is some little room for complaint by an " outsider , " who endeavours to judge of Freemasonry by
the printed reports of our "feast of reason and flow of soul . " Take for instance one of these usual and flowery reports Ave see so habitually in the columns of our excellent hebdomadal contemporary " The Freemason , "
published " auspice et impensis G . Kenning . " Wo shall see that it is the report of the Lodge of Geniality , 1690 , ( do not look for it in the Masonic Calendar ) , of Avhich our excellent and esteemed brother , C . W . P . Tomkinson is the W . M .
We have a short account of the work of the lodge generally condensed into a few telling sentences , such as " Henry Dixon being duly admitted saAV the light of Freemasonry ; " or , " the lodge being opened in the second degree , Bro .
Thomas Carter Avas passed to the degree of FelloAV Craft ; " or , " the lodge beingopened in the third degree Bro . Arthur Godby was raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . ; " and then observe what follows in a clear " trenchant" style . " After the transaction of the usual
business the lodge being closed doAAm to the first degree , it adjourned to a ' recherche' banquet Avhich does great credit to the stewards and the caterer . " And then succeeds a long account of the orations .
The loyal and Masonic toasts having been drunk , the W . M . calls on Bro . Stokes to propose a toast . Now there always is hi each lodge one brother who is , or is supposed to be by his friends and by himself the orator of the
lodge . The French have an officer called an " Orateur , " and it might be a question Avhether Ave might not institute such a valuable adjunct to our present Masonic officialism , and if as time rolls on " sisters" are admitted Avithin the
bosom of our meetings , and as the French so neatly say " Les loges androgynes" get the upper hand , Avho can predict or estimate the effect a female orator might have upon the nerves ^ soft-hearted elderly , or highly sensitive and sympathetic younger brethren ? )^ should probably then be in the predicament of Paddy AVIIO said , " Och ! *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reflections On The Present Condition Of Masonry In Teutonic And Latin Countries.
the guardians of the various religions denominations , to be distributed among their poor . In Saxony , seventeen thousand and six dollars was collected in one year , for the education of poor children of every creed , and on one
occasion Avhen a famine Avas anticipated in Saxony , the Dresden , Leipzig and Sachenfeld lodges opened a subscription for the relief of the needy , when upwards of tAvo thousand poor families Avere relievedAVIIOin all probabilitymust
, , , have perished through want . Such institutions are being continually formed throughout Germany , Denmark , Sweden and Holland .
Post Prandial Speeches.
POST PRANDIAL SPEECHES .
Some time back a friend of mine observed Avith reference to our Aveekly Masonic reports , that they mostly contain nothing but the account of good dinners and bad speeches . I resented the imputation warmly on behalf of
my assailed Fraternity , and said , Avhat I believe is true , that as a general rule very few after dinner speeches are good for much , and that therefore Ave Avere not at any rate worse than our neighboursnayfurtherthat I consider our
, , , Masonic speeches considerably aboA r e the average of others reported else-Avhere , in those innumerable festive gatherings which delight the heart and the digestion of Britons .
But when I am speaking , as it Avere , both confidingly and conscientiously to my Masonic " Clientele " to-day , Avhen like the parson AVIIO Avas asked Avliy he pounded the cushion so vehementl y , and who replied because "I feel so
happy to think that my arguments are unanswerable by my congregation , " I have the privilege of speaking , and you my kind readers of listening , I feel bound to admit , that , I think Ave may all of us much impiwe this "staple
commodity " of our Masonic literature and that there is some little room for complaint by an " outsider , " who endeavours to judge of Freemasonry by
the printed reports of our "feast of reason and flow of soul . " Take for instance one of these usual and flowery reports Ave see so habitually in the columns of our excellent hebdomadal contemporary " The Freemason , "
published " auspice et impensis G . Kenning . " Wo shall see that it is the report of the Lodge of Geniality , 1690 , ( do not look for it in the Masonic Calendar ) , of Avhich our excellent and esteemed brother , C . W . P . Tomkinson is the W . M .
We have a short account of the work of the lodge generally condensed into a few telling sentences , such as " Henry Dixon being duly admitted saAV the light of Freemasonry ; " or , " the lodge being opened in the second degree , Bro .
Thomas Carter Avas passed to the degree of FelloAV Craft ; " or , " the lodge beingopened in the third degree Bro . Arthur Godby was raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . ; " and then observe what follows in a clear " trenchant" style . " After the transaction of the usual
business the lodge being closed doAAm to the first degree , it adjourned to a ' recherche' banquet Avhich does great credit to the stewards and the caterer . " And then succeeds a long account of the orations .
The loyal and Masonic toasts having been drunk , the W . M . calls on Bro . Stokes to propose a toast . Now there always is hi each lodge one brother who is , or is supposed to be by his friends and by himself the orator of the
lodge . The French have an officer called an " Orateur , " and it might be a question Avhether Ave might not institute such a valuable adjunct to our present Masonic officialism , and if as time rolls on " sisters" are admitted Avithin the
bosom of our meetings , and as the French so neatly say " Les loges androgynes" get the upper hand , Avho can predict or estimate the effect a female orator might have upon the nerves ^ soft-hearted elderly , or highly sensitive and sympathetic younger brethren ? )^ should probably then be in the predicament of Paddy AVIIO said , " Och ! *