Ar00100

( Contents . PAGE . From Labour to Refreshment—ByR 101 The Prayers of the Craft—By Bro . W . J . Hughan 102 The Topography of Jerusalem 104 Brief . Nan-ative of the Proceedings of the Palestine Exploration Fund 105 Bibles and other early printed Books—By W . P . Buchan 106

Masonic Notes and Queries 107 Correspondence 110 Masonic Mems 112 GrandLodge 112 CRAFT LODGE MEETIKGS : — Metropolitan 112 Provincial 112 Scotland 113

Canada 113 Royal Arch 116 Reasons for Masonic Secrecy 118 lodges of Instruction 117 Rhetoric of Masonry 117 What does Freemasonry teach ? 117 Obituary 118 Literature , Science , Music , Drama , and the Fine Arts 118 Poetry 119 List of Lodge , & c ., Meetings for ensuing week 120 To Correspondents 120

From Labour To Refreshment.

FROM LABOUR TO REFRESHMENT .

LONDON , SATURDAY , AUGUST 7 , 18 S 9 .

By R . Few brethren who have not visited Scotland can properly appreciate that part of the duty of the J . W . " From labour to refreshment . " It is very seldom done in any lodges I have visited , with the

exception of the Palatine Lodge of Sunderland . There , after the lodge business is over , it is resumed in refreshment , and the usual routine of loyal , Masonic , and special toasts is gone through . When these are finished the lodge is closed in due

form -with solemn prayer . However it is more especially to this feature of Freemasonry , in Scotland , that I purpose to allude .

As a general rule in that country circulars are not sent out to give notice of the regular monthly meetings , but an advertisement is inserted in the " Scotsman , " or other newspaper , which almost invariably ends with " deputations at nine /'' Many

English brethren have asked me , what was the meaning of this phrase , as it represented something with which they were previously unacquainted . I will endeavour to explain this " mystery . " The lodge being duly opened , and the officers

in their proper places , if any business is presented it is proceeded with , and concluded as near nine o ' clock as possible . The lodge is then called to refreshment , and the floor is speedily covered with , long tables , which are decorated with an array of

tumblers , and materials for " toddy . " Hot water , sugar , and last , though not least , the " mountain dew . " i

The R . W . M . takes the head of the festive board , and is faced by the S . W . The first toast always given is "The holy Lodge of St . John . " I have asked many worthy brethren the meaning of this , or whence it is derived , but have , up

to the present , had no satisfactory reply . Perhaps Bro . Buchan or some other of your esteemed correspondents , will kindly enlighten my darkness on this point . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts follow indue rotation .

In the interval between some of these an announcement is made by the Tyler . " R . W . Sir , a deputation from the Lodge St . Blank , headed by the R . W . M . So-and-so . " "Let them be admitted . " The brethren all stand to their feet , to receive ( to

the march of the "Entered Apprentice / ' ) the deputation , headed by the J . W ., who advances immediately in front of the R . W . M ., the lodge being of course under his care during this particular period .

These visiting brethren are all clothed , and wear their cordons and collars , jewels , & c , and salute the chair on entering in the usual form . When all have entered and been seated , the business goes on , interrupted by the arrival of deputations from other lodges . I have seen as many as seven lodges represented in this

manner . After all the " routine" toasts have been got through , the R . W . M . proposes the health of the Senior Lodge present and so on , taking the numbers in regular rotation . Between the toast and the response , it is expected of each lodge , that

from among its members present , some brother will " oblige with a song / ' One lodge in Edinburgh is particularly happy in its musical arrangements , and generally numbers a glee party among the deputation . I have heard glees and quartettes in the Masonic Hall lodge room ,, which would not have disgraced

Hanoversquare . The preference is given to national songs , especially to those of the immortal Robert Burns . These for the most part are well sung , as they should be in the country of the bard , and receive the accustomed guerdon of applause .

The R . W . M . of the lodge , who has been toasted , then returns thanks—and oh ! if some of them , would only recollect the golden rule , about brevity being the soul of wit . I have had the misfortune to be obliged to