Plunging.

drnnken orgie , which is certainly not creditable to the Craft , was not participated in by anything like a majority of the Lodge ; on the contrary , the merrymakings—save

tbe mark !—were monopolised by only a small coterie , who kept up their indulgence until something like six o ' clock in tho morning . It would be interesting to know by whose authority this little band of wine-bibber 8 were able to

charge the whole cost of their libations to the funds of the Lodge . Of course , the night ' s debauch will never bear the morning ' s reflection , and the old adage seems to apply to the case in point , for even the Worshipful Master is said to

have suffered intense exercise of conscience when the day of reckoning came with mine host of the hotel . The reaction that set in , in favour of economy , is said to have been almost ludicrous . " This will never do , " quoth the

ruler of the Lodge . " We must retrench , " rejoined the repentant clique ; and the result is that it was decided to curtail certain trivial expenses which had hitherto been incurred for matters deemed by some essential to the

intellectual welfare of the brethren . Even the Treasurer of the Lodge , a man notorious for his prodigality , felt himself constrained to tighten the rein ; and it must have

been a pathetic spectacle to see these worthies wagging their heads over so much spilt milk—or rather wasted champagne .

But let us draw a veil over this mournful picture , lest it should appear there is any disposition on our part to perform that operation commonly known a ? washing dirty linen in public . We have no such desire , but rather to

apply a little moral " Sapolio " to a system which certainly needs a sensible amount of cleansing . There are divers forms of gambling , and one of them is extravagance either in domestic or gastronomic affairs . The immortal

Mr . Micawber sagely remarked that the man who earned twenty shillings per week and expended nineteen shillings and elevenpence three farthings was in a solvent condition , but lamentably worse off was he who spent weekly twenty

shillings and one farthing . We do not gather that the eccentric creation of the mind of Dickens practised what he preached , but the precept is universally admitted to be based on sound premises . If Masonic Lodges were to act

on the example of which we quote this sorry specimen they would , of course , be included in the category indicated by Mr . Micawber , and the whole system would revert to what was thought of it years ago , namely , that

Freemasonry was merely a variety of the club order , and that conviviality was the main object and aim of the whole Institution . This idea , we are apt to pride ourselves , has long exploded , and Freemasonry has

consequently achieved a far higher position in the esteem of the popular world in general than it enjoyed even half a century ago . It is a matter beyond dispute that , if we ignore the moral aspect of the question , a man has a

perfect right to play at cards or to speculate on the hazards of the turf , and lose bis money , provided that by so doing he injures nobody but himself ; but if he spends five pounds , or even five shillings , which are not entirely and

absolutely his own , there is valid ground for his indictment for dishonesty . There are plungers and gamblers in every phase of society , but there should be nothing of the kind where the funds of a Masonic Lodge are concerned .

All this might be considered by some to be a sort of pedantic moralising ; but after all to be " merry and wise is a motto for every man . " We are not unfrequently twitted by outsiders that whereas Freemasonry boasts of

the vast sums it expends in Charity , a by far greater part of that virtue " begins at home " "—meaning that the festivities which accompany the gatherings of the brethren

absorb an overwhelming proportion of the money that is annually subscribed by its members . In the aggregate this is not true , and the instance we feel bound to cite—not in reproach so much as in regretis almost an isolated one . As a rule—we may

say invariably—in well regulated Lodges festivity is made subservient to the distinguishing characteristic of Charity , and thus we find Masters and Treasurers wisely careful in keeping the funds within the bounds of prudence . Without any wish to " foist" our

own opinions upon our readers , it must be acknowledged that administrative wisdom of that kind is highly to be commended . By all means let the spirit of Masonry be

stimulated by every opportunity for social and intellectual enjoyment , and the "feast of reason" be leavened by the " flow of soul . " But in every case this should be done with discriminating wisdom , not merely for the sake

Plunging.

of the credit of our Craft , but also for the continued comfort of the brethren , and the stability of our Lodges . The members of our Order , in addition to tho normal contributions due from them to the maintenance of the Masonio

fabric and the sustentation of our Charities , are ever ready to listen to appeals for aid towards cosmopolitan and even extraneous objects , but it is to the rulers of Lodges we must look to to see that money is not frittered

away in extravagent indulgences , by which a very small minority derive questionable pleasure at the expense of the more sober minded majority . We are always loth to accept statements detrimental to individual Lodges , except with the

proverbial grain of salt ; but when flagrant breaches are committed of the leading tenets of the Craft , such as temperance and moderation , it is time that the gentle birch of the censor be applied , in order to prevent if possible further

offences , and to insist upon those precautionary principles which are instilled into our minds in the very earliest of our Masonic steps . Whilst , therefore , stickling for the proper observance of those amenities which go so far to

contribute to the enjoyment of the brethren and the consolidation of that Fraternity to which we belong , we have no hesitation in denouncing as unwise and un-Masonic any approach to a lavish and unwarranted expenditure of funds

for the purpose of conviviality , such as turns a Masonic banquet into an imitation of a public-house orgie . It would be an evil day if the old aspersion on our Order , i . e ., that it is merely " a huge social club " were revived ; and we

have no fear of such a catastrophe . But , many repetitions of this " early in the morning" affair would tend in that undesirable direction , and we take our leave of the subject by fervently hoping that it " won't occur again . "

An Evening With My Masonic Brethren.

AN EVENING WITH MY MASONIC BRETHREN .

IT would be difficult to find a Freemason who thinks lifo is not worth living . Ordinary life sometimes may not be worth living , but Masonic life—that is a different matter . There is a new birth in Masonry , a new sphero is entered , darkness is vanished , and behold all is light ! When

once the threshold of the inner door of the Lodge is passed , a new life is entered upon . The associations are different from those of the world , the greetings are different , the conduct is different . Selfishness is the law of

the world , while generosity is the law of the Lodge . When the character of the membership of Masonry is considered , together with the lessons of religion and morality taught within the Lodge , the spirit of charity

which ever prevails , the duty of strict obedience to law and authority which is inculcated , and the delightful harmony which distinguishes the Brethren , both in the Lodge and when they surround the social board—when

all these things are considered , is it a matter to occasion surprise that an evening with my Masonic Brethren is an occasion of the highest enjoyment , intellectual , moral and social ?

Let us endeavour to resolve this enjoyment into its constituent elements . The element that is perhaps most noticable is the absolute unity which prevails in the Lodge —and not only in the Lodge , but throughout the Fraternity .

We are at one with each other . In the world we differ continually one with another concerning religion , politics and a thousand other subjects , while here upon the checkered floor all appear to be of one religion , one politics and one

mode of thinking upon every controversial subject . The spirit of Masonry acts like oil upon tho troubled waters . The Tyler ' s sword not merely keeps off cowans and eavesdroppers , but it seems to drive away the mephitic atmosphere

of profane contention . The air of the Lodge Room may be close , but so are the brethren—as close to each other in heart as they often are in body . The air of the Lodge room is morally healthy . No evil is tolerated

there—unless thore be , as in some jurisdictions , a public installation spectacle , and then the mixed company makes the conduct mixed , and the solemn and serious in Masonry are in peril of becoming a subject of burlesque and ridicule .

An immediate resultant of this spirit of unity is the unaffected and sincere affection which prevails among Brethren throughout the Craft . This is displayed both in the

Lodge and in the world . In the Lodge it leads to enjoyable confidences , to whole-hearted conduct in joy and sorrow .