Masonry In Public.

MASONRY IN PUBLIC .

WHEN we read , as we have lately been able to do , of the brilliant shows our Masonic Brethren have made at different Church Services , and social functions which have been held under Masonic auspices and with a full display of Masonic regalia as an adjunct ,

we are almost inclined to regret the decision of the . English Masonic authorities , to as far as possible discourage public assemblies of Freemasons clothed with the badges of the Order ; and desire a return to

the not very far off period when a dispensation for the wearing of Masonic regalia at a Church Service , a ball , or other public assembly , was virtually to be had

for the asking ; and when it would almost seem that greater cordiality and Brotherly feeling was possible , than is the case when the blue and the purple of the Fraternity are conspicuous by their absence .

As will be known to our readers , we strongl y condemned the indiscriminate granting of dispensations , which may be said to have led up to the state of affairs which rendered it a necessity for the Grand Master to

express disapproval of the practice of appearing in public—or even semi-public—in all the glory of Masonic insignia ; and although , as we have said , we are inclined to regret the disappearance of these

" shows , " we are yet of opinion the Craft is , on the whole , better without them , as if they be permitted at all , it is so very difficult to prevent them bringing

discredit or ridicule on the whole bod y of the Craft , more especially in London , and other large centres of population .

At the same time we should be sorry to think that all public displays of Masonic clothing and regalia are to be discontinued in the future , as we believe there are exceptional cases sure to arise when the sympathy

of Freemasonry is desired and readily accorded , and the appearance of its members in full regalia is the only tangible way of showing that sympathy . At the moment we may point to a grand meeting held on

Sunday at St . Giles' Cathedral , Edinburgh , when close on 700 Brethren formed the most prominent part of a vast congregation estimated at between . 3 , 000 and

4 , 000 , assembled in support of a local Fund for the sufferers by the War , the collection on the occasion realising close on ^ 600 , apart from several special donations which had been promised .

Of course it would be unwise to say that this large sum of money was wholly , or even in great part due to the appearance of the Masonic Brethren in full regalia ; on the other hand it would be out of place to say the

Masonic " show" was useless , and in face of such results it is very difficult to say how little or how much is necessary and desirable in the interests of Freemasonry and of the different Charitable objects it is from time to time sought to benefit .

Coming nearer home we may refer to the annual North London Masonic Benevolent Ball , which for some years past has been the means of largely adding

Masonry In Public.

to the funds of the Central Institutions . This year , for the first time in its history , we believe , there was no display of Masonic clothing , and although the enjoyment was probably as great as on any occasion in the

past there seemed to be some essential lacking , and we should not be at all surprised that the ball , as a distinctly Masonic event , will sooner or later lose much of its attractiveness to Brethren and their ladies as a

consequence . Yet in spite of all this we would rather support the dictum of the authorities and ask for a continuation of stringent measures , that allow Freemasons and the

honoured badges of the Craft to be made use of for purely financial reasons , in support of Church and other outside funds , as was done ere the edict of the Grand Master discouraging so much publicity went forth .

It will be seen from a paragraph we publish elsewhere that the Grand Master of Pennsylvania holds much the same opinion in regard to this matter as our Grand Master , while many other expressions of opinion

in favour of strictly limiting the wearing of the regalia to the Lodge Room have been uttered and endorsed in other parts of the world . Freemasonry needs no

outward advertisement , and , as we urged last week , we do not believe Masonic Benevolence requires any such an adjunct either .

Work Of Our Boys.

WORK OF OUR BOYS .

IN connection with the account we last week published of the work of the pupils at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , as shown at the recent English Educational Exhibition , we are pleased to learn that two of the exhibits

have been selected by the Sub-Committee of the Paris International Eposition , for exhibition there . They are illustrative of the government and work of the School at Wood Green .

Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

L'ENTENTE CORDIALE LODGE .

ON Tuesday evening , 30 th ult ., this Lodge , No . 2796 , was consecrated by 5 ro . E . JLetchworth Grand Secretary . Among the founders are Bros . Jules Oppenheim P . M ., Imre Kiralfy P . A . G . D . C . P . M ., D . D . Bril , and Major D . de Lara Cohen P . M . Bro . Imre Kiralfy was unanimously elected

Treasurer , and Bro . Jules Oppenheim , the Treasurer of the French Chamber of Commerce , andD . D . Bril are respectively Junior Warden and Inner Guard . The proceedings of the new Lodge , although under the Grand Lodge of England , and following closely the ritual of the latter , are conducted in' French .

A concert followed the Consecration banquet , and was contributed to by Mdlles . Louis and Jeanne Douste de Fortis , who rendered in remarkable manner the first scene of " Hansel and Gretel , " and M . Charles Schilsky , the

wellknown violinist . Mr . Beverley Sitgreaves , who gave an excellent imitation of Madame Sarah Bernhardt , after having recited " The Absent-Mhided Beggar " collected eight guineas for the Soldiers Widows and Orphans Fund , to which the Lodge added 10 guineas .