Masonic Celebrations.

the natural attraction of mystery to a large order of minds in every stage of life . A Catholic priest , quoted by St . George Mivart , has truly said : — " God can teach us by symbols as well as by facts ; ideal characters can serve for instruction as well as real ones . " Freemasonry has grasped this principle

and made ample use of it ; and , though mystics have set up claims on its behalf which neither history nor reason will sustain , it does not boast without cause that in essence it is as honourable as in age it undoubtedly is venerable . The esoteric side of the Masonic institution is of course not the only , and perhaps not even the chief , explanation of its vitality . Certainly

it is made popular among a large section by the peculiarly democratic basis of its constitution . No Court etiquette is more rigid and exacting than that of the Masonic Order ; in no Court is more respect commanded for dignities and titles . But the honours of Freemasonry , except perhaps the very

highest , are open to all its members , drawn as they are from every walk of life . The Lodges , as the Deputy Grand Master of South Australia Mr . Sansom remarked on Monday evening , are really little republics in their way , and his own successful career in the fraternity is evidence that the highest position may reward faithful and unremitting service .

At least as far as free choice can secure it , " all preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only . " True , the Grand Master is required to be " nobly born , or a gentleman of the best fashion , or some eminent scholar , or some curious architect or other artist , descended of honest parents , and who is of singularly great merit in the

opinion of the Lodges . " It has , however , always been sound policy for the Order to have at its head a Grand Master whose social or official rank is virtually a guarantee of the innocence of its aims and work . Appropriately , while the Earl of Kintore was our Governor , he presided over the Craft in

South Australia as the Prince of Wales rules over ic in England , and ifc accords with the fitness of things that the Lieutenant-Governor , the original occupant of the office , should have resumed its duties and responsibilities , the moro so as in the past he discharged them with such fidelity and zeal , and " is of singularly great merit in the opinion of the Lodges . "

Few even oi enthusiasts in tho Craft will be prepared to endorse Mr . Sansom ' s extravagant statement that the Order of Freemasonry is the mosfc important institution in the world . Had he said that this " peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , " to cite the authoritative definition , represents a unique achievement of the human mind

attempting to invent a cult based on the fundamentals of ethics and religion , and of such breadth that Christian , Jew , and even Mahometan , may meet upon the level of a common faith , Mr . Sansom would have had fewer to

disagree with him . It must be a source of grief to many of the best spirits in Masonry , and yet it is not necessarily a reflection on their cherished Craft , that the performance—great as it may be—falls so far short of the grandeur of the programme .

Freemasonry , however , can be justly blamed no more than the Church , for the shortcomings of members who havo failed to profit by its teachings . Mr . Gurr , one of the recently installed Masters , has said—fairly enoughthat the Order , at least , presents a lofty ideal of virtuous life and moral conduct , and the mere striving towards such an ideal must be benefical both

to the individual and society . How many do strive , and how many there are to whom only the accidents of Freemasonry are attractive , are questions , vitally important indeed , which we cannot pretend to answer . But when every deduction and allowance have been made , it must still be conceded that Freemasonry—in its English dress , at all events—is inspired by worthy and

even noble aims , and that society is the gainer by an institution which , despite the war of creeds , unities men around the pure altar of a common faith ; which , in a world of misery extends a hand of help to the afflicted ; and which , in an age of unrest and class division , makes for trust and sympathy between members of all classes , and thus contributes to social peace and order . — ' South Australian Advertiser . "

The Presiding Genius At A Banquet.

THE PRESIDING GENIUS AT A BANQUET .

MONG the ancient Mexicans , Mr . Dorman tells us , in his " Origin of ¦ £ * - Primitive Superstitions , " Omacate was the god of mirth . His image , which was that of a man , was brought in and presided at the banquets . If this was neglected , the gods could mix hairs with the food of the guests , which was a great disgrace , as well as a great discomfort , to the participants . Every Freemason has been present , now and then , at Masonic banquets

which have had , as it were , hairs mixed with the food . The fault was not with the caterer , but the Master . The hairs are not literal hairs , not filaments growing from the skin of an animal , but metaphorical hairs , which , however , were as unpleasant mentally as the real hairs would have been physically .

Some Masters do not know how to act as the presiding genius at a banquet , and so far as they are concerned they might as well , or better , be absent . The proper presiding genius certainly is absent , and as a result figurative hairs are mixed with the food .

A Master who takes his Lodge , or High Priest his Chapter , down to the banquet hall at or near eleven o'clock at night , has at the outset provided hairs , which will run through every course . It is impossible for the largo

majority of members to enjoy a late banquet . They cannot and will not give the necessary time to it to make it enjoyable . They can only eat and run . Now there is nothing Masonic about that . A Masonic banquet is not simpl y a contribution of solids and fluids to a stomach that possibly is

The Presiding Genius At A Banquet.

already full , and that only requires at the time rest , and the entire body and mind sleep ; but it is a tickling of the palate with toothsome viands in order that the social propensities may ba awakened and enlivened , the hearts of all present beat in unison throughout the entire assemblage , the tongues be

loosed so as to break forth in pleasant speech , story and song , and the mind prepared for the reception of all that is said and done for the benefit of Freemasonry and the healthful pleasure of all the participants . The proper genius , therefore , docs not preside at a banquet unless the Brethren or Companions sit down to enjoy it at a timely , early hour in the evening .

The presiding genius , in the person of a Master who is a Master , being present , he must see to it that the entertainment is general and common , that it is not confined to a section here and a section there , but is universal around the tables . To secure this he must have arranged some general

programme in advance , he must have selected , in his mind at least , and better still by communicating somewhat in advance with the Brethren themselves , those upon whom he will call to contribute to tho pleasures of th & intellectual feast .

Of course the waiters must be sent out of thc room , of course order must be maintained , of course there must be a Master who is the director of whatever occurs , ancl who selects all of thoso who share in entertaining fche Brethren . Never should the entire table , nor any one present at it , bo permitted to run the feast . Only the Master can properly govern it , and make its enjoyment what Masonry indended it should be .

It is a good rule never to call upon any one out of mere compliment whom you known cannot satisfy either himself or others . It is another good rule to call upon Visiting Brethren of ability , because their voices will be new to the company , and on that account alone will attract attention . Besides it is a proper courtesy , which is always appreciated .

At a Masonic banquet every Brother should be ready and willing to do his best to contribute to the general entertainment . He should be gratifying himself while he is gratifying others . He should have some good contribution ready , in case he is called upon . He should study to please . His Brethren and himself are one , and all should be ready to throw something into the common fund for tlie common benefit .

If every Brother , from the Master down , were faithful in following these suggestions , the presiding genius and many other geniuses , would always be present at a Masonic banquet , and there would be no hairs mixed with the food . — " Keystone . "

An American Grand Lodge recently resolved " that physical ability to earn a livelihood , and to conform substantially to the forms and ceremonies of Masonry , ancl be instructed in its mysteries , is all that is required , providing the candidate possesses the higher qualifications of a belief ir God , of mental worth , and the record of a moral and upright life ; that this interpretation of the ancient charges and regulations is not inconsistent with the true spirit of the Masonic Institution , but in keeping with its sublime teachings from time immemorial . "

THE well-known Stock and Share dealers , Messrs . George Gregory and Co ., refer to the approaching issue of the Report of the Consolidated Gold Fields Company , which they anticipate will be of a very stimulating character , in view of the recent course of events , as since the date of the issue of the late Report an enormous rise has taken place in the value of the

Company ' s numerous and extensive holdings . The capital of the Consolidated Gold Fields Company consists of about £ 600 , 000 in five-and-a-half per cent . Debentures , £ 1 , 242 , 000 in Preferred , and £ 625 , 000 in Ordinary Shares . The conditions as regards interest that attach to the preferential portions of the Capital being of course fixed , all benefits beyond accrue to the Deferred ,

which are practically Ordinary Shares , and the smallness of the amount of the ordinary capital constitutes an important feature , and explains why these £ 1 Shares are now quoted £ 13 10 s and good for £ 25 . Messrs . Gregory and Co . will supply further details on application to their chief office—3 and i Tokenhouse Buildings , E . C . —or to either of their branch establishments .

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Candidates for the Institutions . Announcements are inserted under this head at the rate of five shillings per inch , to appear eaoh week from tlie time the ballot papers are issued up to the day of election , for cash -with , order . BOYS SCHOOL . — : o : — Votes and interest arc earnestly solicited on behalf of CECIL HERBERT WORRELL ( AGED 8 YEARS ) . Whose Mother , the late Madame Worrell ( Associate Royal Academy Music ) , died recently after a long and lingering illness . Father left with four children , entirely dependent upon him , has also a bed-ridden Mother over eighty years of age , whom he has to support on his small salary as a Clerk . Bro . William Worrell was initiated in the William Preston Lodge , No . 766 , in the year 1869 , and was a Member for twenty-four years , occupying the position uf Secretary for eighteen years . Was one of the Founders of the William Preston Chapter , 766 , and the first M . E . Z ., also a Founder and second Master of the Stockwell Lodge , No . 1339 , and continued a member for some years , and Secretary of the Clapham Lodge , No . 1818 , for a few years from its consecration . Proxies will be thankfully received by Bro . William Worrell , 102 Amcsbury Avenue , Streatham Hill , S . W . OLD Books and Curiosities relating to Freemasonry , Knights Templars , Rosicrucians or other Secret Societies wanted . Address , W . W . Morgan , New Barnet .