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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Dec. 2, 1865
  • Page 9
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Dec. 2, 1865: Page 9

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    Article PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS. ← Page 2 of 2
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Page 9

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Public Entertainments.

its own which requires special treatment , and we are not in a position to decide by any criterion except that of actual experience in each individual case . To properly exercise all the mental faculties , a great variety of occupations is requisite , business

matters themselves will employ most , but other means of exciting feelings of enjoyment and merriment , must be devisee ! to raise the soul above trivial depressive incidents , which if exerting an undue influence will very quickly injure the healthy tone ofthe mind . For those incitements to grief

and sad thoughts which tend to soften the feelings and maintain a suitable degree of sensitiveness , we need take no thought , nature in its ordinary course provides them in abundance . Absolute mental rest , such as is found in unbroken sleep , is not alone sufficient ; variety of

food is imperative ; for if a man devote his attention from morning till night , from getting up to lying doAvn , to but one train of thought , he will fall as it Avere into an endless groove , in Avhich he monotonously glides his course , but intersected by intervals of oblivionuntil he becomes a mere

ma-, chine , losing the brightest and noblest part of his manhood—his soul seems to live , in order that it may support the gross tenement in which it has its abocle .

From this Ave draw the conclusion that the leisure hours should be passed in some congenial occupation which at once elevates , diverts , ancl adorns tho mind , imparting to it that finish which distinguishes the refined from the \ mlgar , and constitutes one of the most agreeable qualifications

of Avhich any one can be possessed . The danger of public entertainments and diversions arises from their sonieAA'hat over-exciting character in many instances , and from concurrent circumstances not actually brought into play by them , but still unable or unlikelto exist without

y their collateral enticements ; hence , so closely has vice been brought into contact with pleasures of an innocent character , that the puritanical have been inclined to regard all popular amusements as sinful in themselves , or , if not that , as abetting Vice and inducing dissipation .

That entertainments of a public nature are necessary cannot be denied , no matter to what class of society they may be supposed to appertain ; total , or almost total change of scene and society is at times requisite , in order to reinvigorate the mind and inspire it with new ideasfor to an

-, ap preciable extent it may be observed , that the same scenery and the same conversational style will induce , Avhenever experienced , similar trains of thought and modes of reasoning , and to A'ary this it is necessay to mingle Avith strangers in strange places .

Among the Greeks and Romans relaxations were provided for the amusement ofthe populace in great variety , from the more refined down to those which Avere mere exhibitions of physical

Public Entertainments.

strength and skill ; amongst the former Avere the Epidanrian Games , amongst thelatter , contests with the cestus and with clubs ; of course , in these contests professionals were engaged , the . same as in the theatres at present , and the spectacle produced was the source of enjoyment .

No accomplishment has added so much to the elegance and useful effects of all kinds of spectacular and aural entertainments as music , the variety of emotions it is capable of creating rendering it in this Avay of infinite value , for it will raise the spirits when depressed , or entrance andtranquillise the soul when irritated .

The one great object to be gained from mental relaxation is the renovation due to the Avithdrawal for a time of the energies of the mind from the ordinary business of life , by exciting an intense interest in some passing topic This end is most successfully attained by dramatic performances

Avhen viewed in the right spirit . When , however , excess of such entertainment is indulged in , it becomes , like business , Avearisome and more injurious from the late hours occupied by it . The recent contests between theatres and music halls

SIIOAV hoAv attractive dramatic performances are , and how anxious the lessees of the former are to retain their monopoly ; but it also exhibits the existence of a tendency on the part of music hall proprietors to improve the style of their entertainments , in order to accommodate the more elevated

tastes ofthe people ; aud , although there are many points connected Avith these temples of Calliope Avhich are objectionable and deleterious to the moral health of the vising generation , yet they have ( perhaps , in the first instance , by meeting them half Avay ) attracted many from places of

much Averse repute to spend their leisure time in a manner tolerably innocent in itself . The style of music in these saloons certainly has very materially improved during- the last feAv years , and , in doing so , has sensibly elevated the tastes of the better-educated amongst the working

classes ; and it is most sincerely to be hoped that , in the course of one or two generations ( we cannot expect it in less ) , the IOAV class of comedy , devoid alike of real humour , wit , novelty , and music , Avill haA r e become obsolete , superseded by compositions Avhich tend at once to antise and refine the mind , and gradually impart more polish to the manners of those who listen to them .

Food For The Poor.

FOOD FOR THE POOR .

NOAV that Avinter is about setting in , Avith every prospect of its being a hard one , it behoves those AVIIO are philanthropically disposed to give some attention to the condition of the poorer classes during the ensuing few months . O _ _ t All the usual privations will of course be felt ,

being greater or less , according to the severity of the season and its duration ; but in addition to these a greater evil has to be contended with ,

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1865-12-02, Page 9” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 31 March 2023, masonicperiodicals.org/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_02121865/page/9/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
AN ACCOUNT OF ABORIGINAL FREEMASONRY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Article 1
FREEMASONRY AND THE POPE. Article 2
THE PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. Article 5
CLASSICAL THEOLOGY.—LXXXII. Article 5
SECRET SOCIETIES. Article 7
PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS. Article 8
FOOD FOR THE POOR. Article 9
AGRICULTURAL LIFE. Article 10
THE PEN-AND-INK SKETCHES OF ONE FANG. Article 12
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 12
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 12
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 13
MASONIC MEMS. Article 13
METROPOLITAN. Article 13
PROVINCIAL. Article 15
ROYAL ARCH. Article 16
Untitled Article 16
MARK MASONRY. Article 17
Obituary. Article 17
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 18
MEETINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND LEARNED SOCIETIES FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 9TH. Article 18
THE WEEK. Article 18
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Page 9

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Public Entertainments.

its own which requires special treatment , and we are not in a position to decide by any criterion except that of actual experience in each individual case . To properly exercise all the mental faculties , a great variety of occupations is requisite , business

matters themselves will employ most , but other means of exciting feelings of enjoyment and merriment , must be devisee ! to raise the soul above trivial depressive incidents , which if exerting an undue influence will very quickly injure the healthy tone ofthe mind . For those incitements to grief

and sad thoughts which tend to soften the feelings and maintain a suitable degree of sensitiveness , we need take no thought , nature in its ordinary course provides them in abundance . Absolute mental rest , such as is found in unbroken sleep , is not alone sufficient ; variety of

food is imperative ; for if a man devote his attention from morning till night , from getting up to lying doAvn , to but one train of thought , he will fall as it Avere into an endless groove , in Avhich he monotonously glides his course , but intersected by intervals of oblivionuntil he becomes a mere

ma-, chine , losing the brightest and noblest part of his manhood—his soul seems to live , in order that it may support the gross tenement in which it has its abocle .

From this Ave draw the conclusion that the leisure hours should be passed in some congenial occupation which at once elevates , diverts , ancl adorns tho mind , imparting to it that finish which distinguishes the refined from the \ mlgar , and constitutes one of the most agreeable qualifications

of Avhich any one can be possessed . The danger of public entertainments and diversions arises from their sonieAA'hat over-exciting character in many instances , and from concurrent circumstances not actually brought into play by them , but still unable or unlikelto exist without

y their collateral enticements ; hence , so closely has vice been brought into contact with pleasures of an innocent character , that the puritanical have been inclined to regard all popular amusements as sinful in themselves , or , if not that , as abetting Vice and inducing dissipation .

That entertainments of a public nature are necessary cannot be denied , no matter to what class of society they may be supposed to appertain ; total , or almost total change of scene and society is at times requisite , in order to reinvigorate the mind and inspire it with new ideasfor to an

-, ap preciable extent it may be observed , that the same scenery and the same conversational style will induce , Avhenever experienced , similar trains of thought and modes of reasoning , and to A'ary this it is necessay to mingle Avith strangers in strange places .

Among the Greeks and Romans relaxations were provided for the amusement ofthe populace in great variety , from the more refined down to those which Avere mere exhibitions of physical

Public Entertainments.

strength and skill ; amongst the former Avere the Epidanrian Games , amongst thelatter , contests with the cestus and with clubs ; of course , in these contests professionals were engaged , the . same as in the theatres at present , and the spectacle produced was the source of enjoyment .

No accomplishment has added so much to the elegance and useful effects of all kinds of spectacular and aural entertainments as music , the variety of emotions it is capable of creating rendering it in this Avay of infinite value , for it will raise the spirits when depressed , or entrance andtranquillise the soul when irritated .

The one great object to be gained from mental relaxation is the renovation due to the Avithdrawal for a time of the energies of the mind from the ordinary business of life , by exciting an intense interest in some passing topic This end is most successfully attained by dramatic performances

Avhen viewed in the right spirit . When , however , excess of such entertainment is indulged in , it becomes , like business , Avearisome and more injurious from the late hours occupied by it . The recent contests between theatres and music halls

SIIOAV hoAv attractive dramatic performances are , and how anxious the lessees of the former are to retain their monopoly ; but it also exhibits the existence of a tendency on the part of music hall proprietors to improve the style of their entertainments , in order to accommodate the more elevated

tastes ofthe people ; aud , although there are many points connected Avith these temples of Calliope Avhich are objectionable and deleterious to the moral health of the vising generation , yet they have ( perhaps , in the first instance , by meeting them half Avay ) attracted many from places of

much Averse repute to spend their leisure time in a manner tolerably innocent in itself . The style of music in these saloons certainly has very materially improved during- the last feAv years , and , in doing so , has sensibly elevated the tastes of the better-educated amongst the working

classes ; and it is most sincerely to be hoped that , in the course of one or two generations ( we cannot expect it in less ) , the IOAV class of comedy , devoid alike of real humour , wit , novelty , and music , Avill haA r e become obsolete , superseded by compositions Avhich tend at once to antise and refine the mind , and gradually impart more polish to the manners of those who listen to them .

Food For The Poor.

FOOD FOR THE POOR .

NOAV that Avinter is about setting in , Avith every prospect of its being a hard one , it behoves those AVIIO are philanthropically disposed to give some attention to the condition of the poorer classes during the ensuing few months . O _ _ t All the usual privations will of course be felt ,

being greater or less , according to the severity of the season and its duration ; but in addition to these a greater evil has to be contended with ,

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