Random Notes And Reflections.

Most Lodges aro pleased to welcome visitors to their gatherings , but how frequently does it happen that their presence is not recognised until many of the brethren have left the table , or until some of the guests even have departed ? No slight is intended , but the time wasted

sometimes in the Lodge , but most frequentl y at the ban quet table , makes ifc impossible to get throngh the toasts in reasonable time . Visitors very often come from a

distance , and have to leave early , and it is only common courtesy to complete the welerme begun at the banquet , and which shou'd be ended by that friendl y recognition which the toast affords . Much time is lost in the Lod

room , occasionally owing to the want of skill or tact on the part of the W . M ., and the time fixed for the banquet is often exceeded by an hour or more The result is that the brethren do not . sit . down until eight o ' clock , perhaps later : then the absurd length of the service of dinner

carries the time on to ten or half-past , so that the hour for leaving comes before half the toasts have been duly proposed and acknowledged . This . produces dissatisfaction and a sense of disappointment . The worst of it is that , it is unnecessary , and might easily be avoided . Then there

is another custom more honoured in the breach than the observance . Some Lodges meet in the daytime , at an hour when it is difficult for persons engaged in business to attend . In some cases this practice is not only desirable , but absolutely necessary . The Asaph Lodge , for instance ,

is chiefly composed of brethren in the theatrical profession , who cannot attend meetings except in the afternoon . In their case there is no choice . Take , again , the Royal

Alfred Lodge . This was formerly composed of professional men , and the same practice was pursued ; but now circumstances are altered , and yet the Lodge meets in the daytime as heretofore . There is no necessity for this custom

being continued , and an alteration would be for the benefit of the Lodge as well as for the comfort of the members . In all these matters there requires a guiding spirit , not

precocious fledgelings in the Craft , nor obtrusive Past . Masters ; but . old experienced Masons , who know how to rule a Lodge and to make the banquet table the means of pleasant and profitable social intercourse .

It is always pleasant to hear from old friends , wheresoever dispersed over land and water , and it is still more pleasant to learn of their well doing . We have just received a letter from our old friend Brother John Constab ' e , who writes from the Transvaal Hotel , Kimberley ,

South Africa . Many brethren wl o knew him here , who were acquainted with the good work he did for the Craffc , will be glad to learn that he is getting on in his new home . He has allied himself with the fortunes of an old friend , the proprietor of the above hotel , which , judging from the

Diamond Fields Advertiser , is a very big thing . Brother Constable says tho " hotel is one of the largest in the Cofony , and cannot be approached in Griqualand West . " The account given of it in the paper referred to reads like the description of one of our own most flourishing hotels .

If ifc does not possess quite all the aids that a mature civilization gives us , it lacks very little of the ease and luxury that are to be found in this country . The hotel has no external pretensions , but once inside , its size and completeness at once indicate its character . The entire

establishment covers upwards of an acre of ground , ancl affords every accommodation that the heart of man can desire and needs of horses demand . From the office electric wires run to almost every part of the building ; the dining-room will seat over a hundred persons at . one time ; behind the

bar is a billiard saloon fitted up with a table made by one of our best makers , specially imported . From this brief description it will be seen that the " Transvaal " is a very large undertaking , of which Brother Constable is the

manager . We are glad to notice that the same energy that characterised him hero is being displayed at Kimberley , and thafc he has won the confidence of > , those who are able to appreciate his labours .

Bro Constable was associated with this journal in the earlier part of its career . To him the Craft is indebted for mnch useful and interesting information , but his work in that direction was small compared with what he did for

Masonry generally . He was always active and ever ready in the cause of benevolence . He earned the very enviable distinction of being made an honorary Vice-Patron of all the Masonio Institutions , a proof at once of his zeal

Random Notes And Reflections.

and devotedness . He was not less energetic in promoting good working in the Lodge , and the difference he now experiences in this and in other respects strikes him somewhat painfully . He says : — "As to Masonic work , I ' m dead . " He does not think mnch of the Fraternity in

Griqualand West ; they are different to the brethren he has left behind . This is afc once gratifying and disappointing . It is well to know that we in the old country do not suffer in comparison with others , but it is sad to learn thafc those of the Order with whom he has come in contact afc

Kimberley cannot , command his respect , much less his admimtion . Kimberley is nofc a Paradise of virtue ; in fact , Bro . Constable describes it as a " hell , " which " affords no opportunity for youngsters , saving the study of vice with all its deformities " With the improved tone of the

morals of the people will probably come a better development of true Masonic interests , and then Bro . Constable will once again be in the element ho loves . Ho desires to be remembered to his old friends ; home associations often

cheer him in his meditations ; and although he cannot physically extend the hand of fellowship the friendships of the past , have a firm grip on his heart . We rejoice to hear of his welfare , and we hope he may long live in health and strength .

Grants To Our Charities As Rewards For Services.

GRANTS TO OUR CHARITIES AS REWARDS FOR SERVICES .

THE opening of another Masonic season brings us once more face to face with many subjects concerning the Craft which have already been referred to in our pages , but which , from one cause or another , have not become memories of the past alone . Such is tbe case with the subject ; now nnder discussion . We have , on more than

one occasion , devoted our attention to it , but , so far , very little progress has been made towards the adoption of the system we advocate;—that some part of the sum annually devoted to rewards for past services should be expended in purchasing Life Subscriberships or Life Governorships

of our Charities , rather than the all but worthless jewels with which it is customary to evidence onr appreciation . We a ** e aware of tho old injunction , " Never to look a gift horse in fche mouth , " bufc we cannot help weighing

the wants of our Institutions against tbe large amount annually expended in "jewels , " and coming to the conclusion that it would be much better for a part of the one to be diverted for the benefit of the other . The

innovation , for such we must call it , if it is 'to be considered iu anything like a general sense , would be all the more likely to do good , as ifc would emanate from the heads of the Lodges , it seldom happening thafc any one but those high in office are made the recipients of testimonials , while

it is only necessary to estimate the amount annually spent in London on Past Masters' jewels alone to see what large sums might find their way to our Institutions if no more than one-half the sums voted were expended in the cause of charity .

It may be there was a time when a Past Master ' s jewel was looked upon as an emblem of merit and ability , bufc surely there are few who really regard ifc as such at the present time , when its presentation has become , in many Lodges at least , as much a part ; of the year ' s proceedings

as the installation of a new Master , and when the retiring W . M ., who has simply been a dummy in the chair , receives fhe same as he who lias really done good suit and service , both to his own Lodge ancl the Craft generally . It would nofc perhaps be worth while referring to this subject were

we not reminded , by the long lists of candidates for our Schools , which we have recently reviewed , of the very large number of calls on onr Institutions , which we are unable to meet , and , further , the very small number of app licants whose fathers have qualified as Life Subscribers or

Governors of one ot * other of the Charities . We are inclined to think thafc were a column devoted to "jewels " on the ballot p- pers , ifc wonld contain more entries than does that which records the deceased brother ' s doings for the

welfare of onr Institutions , and while the one avails his distressed family nothing , the other would bo considered by many brethren as a . special reason for affording some 'iid to his orphan , and , we are convinced , would influence fche number of votes obtained from outside sources at the time of election . We do not advocate the total abolition of jewels , as