"Light."

when some Tstory of distress is related , the expression" Really ! I do wish I had knoAvn about it before . " We might , perhaps , " knoAV about it before , " if Ave Avent a little

out of our way . When Goethe lay on his death-bed , his last request was that the AvindoAv curtains might be draAvn aside , that he might have , he said ,

"L IGHT , MORE LIGHT . " With these words Ave conclude . May our remarks commend themselves to our readers , and may they be appreciated in the spirit of fraternal regard in which they are Avritten .

Lodge Officers.

Lodge Officers .

THEIR QUALIFICATIONS , DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES . BT has been intimated to us that a reprint in book form of the articles which have appeared in this journal under the above heading , and which treat of the respective qualifications of the W . M ., "Wardens , Treasurer and Secretary , Deacons and Guards of the Lodge , would be very acceptable to

numerous brethren . Our friends are good enough to say that the gift of such a work by Worshipful Masters to their Officers on appointment , and the interest which Avould be taken in the articles by aspirants to office , could not fail to be of considerable advantage to the brethren , and of proportionate benefit to Freemasonry

generally ; and that if published at a moderate price the book , or pamphlet , would command a ready sale . We shall act upon this intimation , and prepare a limited edition , in appropriate cover , at the cost of sixpence per copy ( post free , sevenpence ) . The supply

AVIII be m order of application , and orders should be sent to Messrs . ADAMS BROS ., our publishers , forthwith to ensure early attention . Our readers will be good enough to refer to Advertisement in other columns .

Labour And Refreshment.

Labour and Refreshment .

Our columns of Reports of Lodge Meetings last week contained an account of an installation meeting at Cannon Street Hotel , on the 13 th inst ., whereat the banquet was held " in open lodge . " There is such a diversity of opinion as to the propriety of the continuance or discontinuance of an ancient Masonic practice , one we haA e ever maintained should not have been departed from , that we

hesitate to express our own views in the language we should prefer to adopt , without in the first instance setting before our readers other , and probably much sounder as well as better expressed opinions , published very many years ago . To do this we must " reproduce ; " which , to the minds of many , is what an essayist should avoid doing . But against any such objection we set the * fact that ,

since Avhat we are about to reproduce was Avritten , another generation of men have become members of our Order , and there are as many thousands now who have never had the opportunity to peruse what greatly interested and instructed their predecessors , as there were readers in the days of the original production . We shall therefore not further excuse ourselves on this point ; nay , we may

frequently repeat the action in other instances whereby the younger portion of the fraternity may become acquainted Avith what is profitable in their interests for them to know . This is what the late Bro . the Rev . Dr . Oliver says in his " Book of the Lodge , " edition 1856 , on the subject of " Labour and Refreshment "—

" Our Brethren of the last century , with a view to the more complete accommodation of the members , had their Lodges furnished Avith a long table extending from east to west down the centre of the room ; and in cases where the Lodge was numerous , two , flanked by benches Avith backs—leaving a commodious passage at each end for uses which every Brother

is acquainted with ; and m the latter case , the Senior Warden occupied the north-west , and the Junior Warden the southwest end . On these tables were disposed a pair of 18-in . globes ; the perfect ashlar suspended from a Lewis , and affixed to a Avinch ; and sometimes an air pump , an armillary sphere , and a small philosophical apparatus , as wull as the usual ornaments ,

furniture , and jewels . The effect was imposing ; and I think we have gained nothing by its sacrifice . I confess I prefer this disposition of a Lodge for many reasons . It prevents that indiscriminate arrangement of the members , which occasionally creates much confusion , by placing the Brethren more completely under the Master ' s eye , and consequently under his command ; for in the

present arrangement of the Lodge-room , opportunities are afforded for _ private conventions and conversations , which are the bane of societies constituted on the plan of Masonry , and a violation of the ancient charges of the Order , which positively forbid them " to hold private committees or separate conversation , without leave from the

Master ; not to talk of anything impertinently or unseemly , nor interrupt the Master or Wardens , or " any Brother speaking to the Master . " Such conduct is sure to prove an obstacle to the good government of the Lodge , on which the stability and success of the institution in a great measure depend .

Labour And Refreshment.

Besides , the table was a genuine floor-cloth , or great Tracing Board , not merely affording an opportunity for every Brother to reflect on the use and application of the various symbols which ho has continually before his eyes , that point the way to a series of invaluable conclusions , each of which enforces some virtue , or inculcates some moral truth that may be brought into beneficial

practice during his commerce with the world : but also giving an increased facility of reference to the Worshipful Master in the chair ; and making a more permanent impression on the mind of a newly-initiated candidate , by a sight of the symbols brought visibly under his notice , than by merely naming them with the customary explanations . Nothing fixes an object so firmly in the recollection

as to have it displayed before the eye ; and therefore it was the laudable custom of some worthy Masters of that period to point out with a wand to the rough stone in the north-east angle of the Lodge the various emblems disposed before him on the table , which were then more appropriately illustrated , and more readily comprehended . The wisdom which was imparted by this simple

process would be esteemed of greater value , because the candidate plainly saw that it was practical ; and the explanations would have more weight , because they would be understood to be reasonable and just ; and he would depart more perfectly satisfied that the institution into which he had just been admitted was worthy of commendation and approval . The removal of the tables at the Union in 1813 was intended to

supersede the custom of taking refreshment during Lodge hours , for which they afforded the requisite convenience : as if moderate refreshment were inconsistent with the solemn business of the Lodge . The Author of our being understood much better the nature of man . He assigned hours for labour and hours for refreshment : and he appointed certain physical appearances to

determine beyond the possibility of mistake , the recurrence of those stated periods of time . The Sun rises in the East , and calls him to labour ; it gains its meridian in the South , and summons him to refreshment : and it sets at length in the West , to remind him that repose is necessary to restore his exhausted strength for another day of toil . On this principle Freemasonry was originally founded ;

and no squeamish taste , or fastidious opinion , ought to induce us to abandon it . The practice has received the sanction of all antiquity , and forms one of the unchangeable landmarks of the Order . Besides , its disuse precludes the duty of one of the three Pillars of the Lodge , the Pillar of Beauty , and virtually annuls his office ; and how can a Lodge be supported if one of its main pillars be

removed . ' This officer proclaims aloud at the opening of every Lodge , that his duty is " to call the men from labour to refreshment , and from refreshment to labour , that pleasure and profit maybe the mutual result ;"—but in practice he never discharges any such duty , and therefore becomes liable to the imputation of negligence , and his office of inutility . How does this agree with the ancient charge

which directs the Wardens to be true to the Master and Fellows , taking care of all things both within and without the Lodge , that the Lord ' s work be not retarded ' . ' But the Junior AVarden , by our present customs , has no option but to neglect his duty , by which , therefore , the Lord ' s work is retarded , and he becomes amenable to the penalty of disobedience .

I am not ashamed to acknowledge that I like the good old custom of moderate refreshment during Lodge hours , because , under proper restrictions , I am persuaded that it is consonant with ancient usage . The following are the routine ceremonies which were used on such occasions by our Brethren of the last century . At a certain hour of the evening , and by certain ceremonies , the Lodge

was called from labour to refreshment ; when the Brethren " enjoyed themselves with decent merriment , " and the song and the toast prevailed for a brief period . The songs were usually on Masonic subjects , as printed in the old Books of Constitutions , and other works ; and although the poetry is sometimes not of the choicest kind , yet several of them may class amongst the best compositions of

the day . Each song had its appropriate toast ;* and thus the Brethren were furnished with the materials for passing a social hour . And I can say from experience , that the time of refreshment in a Masonic Lodge , as it was conducted up to the Union in 1813 , was a period of unalloyed and rational enjoyment . All was peace ,

harmony , and brotherly love . The song appeared to have more zest than in a private company ; the toast thrilled more vividly upon the recollection ; and the small modicum of punch with which it was honoured retained a higher flavour than the same potation if produced at a private board . With what a profound expression of pleasure have I often seen this characteristic toast received : —

To hmi that all things understood , To him that found the stoiio and wood , To him that hapless lost his blood , In doing of his duty . To that blest age , and that blest morn , Whereon those three great men were born , Our noble science to adorn

With wisdom , strength , and beauty .

Alas ' . most of the Brethren of the times I speak of have gone to their long home ; and all but myself have bid adieu to Masonry for ever ! During these happy moments , the Brethren entered Avith much unction upon their refreshments ; which were generally conducted

with great decorum in obedience to the old Gothic Constitutions , which direct the brethren to ' enjoy themselves Avith innocent mirth , treating one another according to ability , but avoiding all excess ; not forcing any brother to eat or drink beyond his own inclination , according to the Regulation of King Ahashuerus ; nor hindering him from going home when he pleases , lost the blame of

* The original toast which was used by the four old podges before the revival of Alasonry was as follows : " Here ' s a health to our Society , and to every faithful Brother that keeps his oath of secrecy . As we are sworn to love each other , tho world no Order knows like this our noble and ancient fraternity . Let thcrn wonder at the mystery . Here , brother , I drink to thee ? "