Our Festivals.

OUR FESTIVALS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MARCH 19 , 1864 .

To-day we approach a subject with some regret and no small degree of diffidence , because we are aware that it reflects no credit on our Craft , and , moreover , is likely to bring our Charitable Festivals into disrepute ; but though we kno \ it-we are

treading on dangerous ground , ive do so with the less hesitation , inasmuch as we are only responding to the appeals of more than one lady correspondent who calls upon us to check a growing vice ere it is too late .

Some years since we felt it our duty to protest against the Stewards at the various Festivals dining three hours before the general company , as only tending to lead to interruptions of the general business , and to the creation of confusion much

to be deplored . That system , as regards the general Stewards , has been got rid of , but not so as respects the Ladies' Steivards , who still dine at three o ' clock , and generally enter the ladies' room , as described to us by our fair correspondents ,

certainly not in that condition in which it is supposed they should enter the society of ladies . Having already drunk more than is good for the constitution , these gentlemen , when in the presence of the ladies , think it their bounden duty

to drink still more , to do honour to the " angels in the gallery ; " and , worse than all , force the champagne upon those angels until some of them , unused to drinking ancl affected by the intolerable heat of the gallery itself , cannot be said to be in

a position to soar aloft , but are compelled to be led ( we Avill not say carried ) from the supper room or the gallery .

Who is to blame for this ? We answer distinctly the Ladies' Stewards—the dinner at three o ' clock—and the want of proper supervision over the ladies' rooms . We speak more in sorrow than in anger ; but we state distinctly , that if we would

uphold our position in society , the Stewards at our Festivals who attend upon the ladies , must either be content with their simple chop at home , or partake only of the collation with the ladiesthat the champagne must be carefully watched ,

and from tAvo to three glasses ( to be supplemented , perhaps , by one extra in the course of the evening ) be all that is allotted -to any lady ; and those ladies (?) who require tumblers , informed firmly , but courteously , that Freemasons' Festivals are no place for them . The nuisance appears to have

Our Festivals.

arisen with the increase in the number of Stewards which has taken place of late years , and we feel it is our duty to check the evil in its bud , as no brother having a respect for his female relatives , can allow them to appear in the ladies' gallery ,

conducted as it is at present . We have before us the names of both Stewards and ladies who indulged a little too much at the two last Festivals ,, but forbear to publish them , hoping that this intimation will be sufficient . Two more Festivals

are yet to take place this year , and we shall keep a watchful eye on the doings , as we do not intend to allow strictures to be cast upon some hundred or more ladies , in consequence of the intense vul-. garity and want of proper feeling of a few . Above all , ive say to the Ladies' Steivards—Keep sober .

The Crusades.

THE CRUSADES .

Because the church sanctioned the crusades , because the force of religious names and of religious associations , formed their inspiration , because the plea for them was one of piety , it has been the fashion to adopt either of two distinct ideas as to their merit and sincerity . It has been argued , on

the one hand , that the exploits performed were pious and honourable ; that the armies of Christendom marched under the immediate protection of the Most Hi gh ; that the cause of the holy and apostolic church was incalculably promoted ; that from being brought in contact with Grecian arts

and literature , the European mind was enli ghtened ancl advanced . On the other hand , it has been urged that the worst passions of the human mind were gratified ; that the maturity of Europe was

cnecKea ; that her most fertile lands were left uncultivated ; that her best treasure and noblest blood were most profusely squandered . Of the abstract justice of the wars of the crusades we entertain no doubt . Their principle ivas clearly and definitely laid down by Pope Urban at the Council

of Clermont . The Moslem had committed vast incursions against Christendom . Kindred nations had implored Western alliance ancl assistance . Countless barbarities had been committed on Christian men belonging to European communities . The misfortune ivasthat

, the _ enthusiasm was neither properly bounded nor judiciously directed ; that a great statesman was . wanted to direct the movement , and a great general to lead the forces .

Had these been supplied , more important conquests would have been achieved in a less time and with a scantier expenditure of blood ancl treasure ; and those large sections of mankind Avith ivhom the success of a cause constitutes its righteousness , would have spared their contemptuous pity . Those Avho have attacked the cru-