Summer Masonry.

SUMMER MASONRY .

¦ npHE practice which has been steadily growing year * by year , of entertaining ladies and gentlemen unassociated with Freemasonry , at summer festivals or picnics in connection with our Lodges , appears to be

more popular than ever this season , and from all parts of the country we are continually receiving reports of interesting and enjoyable excursions , arranged under the auspices of different Masonic Lodges .

The success of this particular form of Masonic meeting is hardly to be wondered at by anyone who participates in one of the enjoyable gatherings , as not only do they afford a pleasurable relaxation for the

Brethren themselves , but the presence of the ladies adds a chirm wholly unknown in connection with an ordinary Lodge meeting , and , as an additional benefit , the visitors have an opportunity of learning something

of the inner working of the Graft , and must entertain a greater regard for it and its members as a consequence . The picnic , too , very often provides the means for a pleasant reunion of the Brethren themselves , it being

no unusual occurrence for two or three Lodges m a town to combine on such occasions , and arrange a joint outing , which not only smoothes over any little

opposition which may exist between members of the different bodies , but does much to cement them closer together in the bonds of true Masonry . Long may such meetings continue .

A Mountainous Molehill.

A MOUNTAINOUS MOLEHILL .

COME worthy Brethren located not more than a *^ thousand miles outside the port of London are considerably exercised in mind by reason of what they consider a grave Masonic scandal , which is allowed

to go on week by week unchallenged by the authorities , and apparently disregarded by those who profess to have the best interests of Freemasonry at heart . Already a strong letter of condemnation has

been talked of , to be transmitted from the Lodge of these Brethren to our contemporary , the Editor of which will probably thank them for wasting his time , or otherwise ; a severely worded appeal is to be

despatched to the Board of General Purposes , to be followed up in Grand Lodge itself if no redress is to be met with there ; and a petition is talked of direct to the Grand Master himself , after which , if the evil

remains unaltered , we may expect the deluge . The trouble arises from an advertisement which regularly appeals to members of the Craft in what we , in our simplicity , regarded as a perfectly legitimate manner :

but we are altogether wrong , it seems , and we dread to think of the awful consequences in store for the offenders . To be more explicit we may explain that a certain well known Brother advertises over his name

A Mountainous Molehill.

certain Masonic emblems—a very awful proceeding in the eyes of some of our purists , yet practised far and near notwithstanding ; but that is not all , the worst being that , for months past he has described himself as " A

Candidate , " and here there is an actual call for " sympathy " for those who are so concerned at what is going on . They immediately imagine the advertiser is a candidate for Freemasonry , although the next part

of the advertisement would convince any ordinary individual what was intended ; and see all manner of fearful consequences likely to result from anyone being before the Craft as a candidate for upwards of eighteen

months ; then , again , as a candidate , what right has he to use Masonic signs ? and so they continue their queries , " ad nauseam , " until we really ask ourselves what will happen if some desperate effort is not made

to put an end to their anxiety . But for all this we cannot see any call for interference on our part , and hope our readers will not think we have been playing with them in thus putting the momentous question

before them . Our critics are really alarmed for the future of Freemasonry if this sort of thing is allowed to go on , and with our usual desire to submit both sides of

a story to our readers we have devoted thus much space to an attempt to frame their arguments in the most favourable light .

We notice an American firm lately offered cash prizes for the best articles on " How to make Lodge meetings interesting . " If our friends cared to send in an account of all they have said and done in this

matter , and could convince the judges that they had succeeded in making their regular Lodge meetings interesting in consequence , they ought to stand a very good chance of securing the ten dollars offered as first

prize , unless the Yankee judges treated the whole affair as we did at first—as a huge joke . It has since been impressed upon us , however , as anything but a laughing matter , being rather a subject calling for

energetic action on the part of the Masonic powers that be , who , we are afraid , need something more than this to disturb the even tenor of their way—but who

knows ? Great things from little causes spring , and we may live to see a mighty revolution arise from this veritably " storm in a tea cup , " to which further reference is made in our correspondence column .

Norfolk.

NORFOLK .

rinHE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was 1 held on Thursday , at the rooms of the Norwich Masonic Association , St . Giles ' s Street , Norwich . There

vvas a very large attendance , presided over by the Provincial Grand Master Lord Suffield , K . C . B ., who was supported by his Deputy Bro . Hamon le Strange , Sir Francis Boileau , Sir Kenneth Kemp , Sir Charles Gilman , and others .

At one o'clock the Brethren below the rank of Provincial Grand Officers assembled in the Lodge Room under their respective banners , and shortly after the Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy , attended by the Present and Past