Proposed Convention.

ciples not to insist on formal guarantees in making a treaty such as is proposed . And , in a matter of this kind , •what other guarantee can possibly be had than a Constitution which is unchangeable , albeit such a guarantee is in truth of but little account , seeing that , with the most

perfect good faith on both sides , one may adopt to-day certain ideas and princip les which to-morrow will appear so much more intolerable that it would be difficult , or even impossible , to amend them ? Hero then is a difficulty , the solution of which is evidently not simple , but on which the

project of convention throws no light . Either the Grand Orient loses its power to modify its Constitntion when and as it pleases , or the Symbolical Grand Lodge , content with its present victory , admits the right of revision , and is prepared to run the risk of seeing its principles at some future

time replaced by others diametrically opposed to them . In snch a case , which is by no means an improbable one , there will remain open to the malcontent Lodges no other resource than the final one of separating themselves from the jurisdiction , as they have

separated from the Scotch system , and setting up a separate jurisdiction of their own . Yet when a case of fusion ia on the carpet , it wonld be ridiculous to establish a position , which conld only be put an end to by a schism . Whatever happens , it will be the duty of the General

Assembly of the Grand Orient , before ratifying the proposal , to insist on the insertion of a clause nnder which the right of revising it will be included among the fundamental bases of the new Constitution .

The Dull Season.

THE DULL SEASON .

" "TTTHEN the swallows homeward fly" we suppose VV that we shall hear the sound of the gavel calling the brethren in from all points of the compass , and they will come trooping back from their holiday trips with visages bronzed by the conntry sun rays , and with bodies and minds strung up with renewed vigour for the

work of the coming session . With those whose misfortune ifc has been to have no holiday , this stagnation in Masonic circles , and the deprivation of those little amenities which go far to sweeten life , has become almost intolerable . To spin away for a couple of days on a visit to some Provincial

Grand Lodge , and there to fraternise with brethren whom one has not seen for years ; to hie away with a gladsome and happy group to a summer pic-nic •or to drop in at one of the cosy little Lodges of Instruction , which we are happy to see abounding on every hand , is the most that

any man having Masonry at heart can hope to indulge in for the next month at least . However , we suppose that , like all mundane affairs , rest is as essential in Masonry as in any other condition of existence ; and were it not for these breaks in the " annual round " perhaps even the

most assiduous and enthusiastic Craftsman would grow to look npon his labours as monotonous . " All work and no play , " has its moral and physical effect , alike in making " Jack a dull boy " or the student heavy-eyed ; and thus ,

just as when the school-boy throws aside his books , and flings his cap high into the air in joyous exultation over the arrival of the holidays , so do most men—and especially those who work hardest with bead and brain—hail with

singularly happy complacency the time when they can lock np the desk , be it for ever so short a period , and indulge in a respite from the Ordinary duties and worries of life . By and bye our brethren will be home returning , like doves to their cotes , wherein there will be renewed those

loving and fraternal associations which have been broken by a short and pleasant spell . Then will be recounted the agreeable scenes witnessed and enjoyed on the holiday tours ; the visits to country Lodges—for there is nothing more common than for our hearty and hospitable

Provincial brethren to hold a special reunion at a time when they know there are numbers of Visitors about , and who would be glad of a fraternal hour or two away from home , and all those topics which go to make up the sum of friendly conversation . Friends will compare notes ,

illustrated by panoramic mental sketches of the scenery throngh which they have passed , the old friendships that have been renewed , and the new ones that have been

gained ; they will relate how little minor annoyances and disappointments were overcome , and generally " how thing--in general" were managed . At home , and in the midst of all this stillness to which we allude , we can onl y

The Dull Season.

ponder upon the extensive area over which the brethren are just now scattered , and the various pleasantries in which they are respectively participating . Some are flitting round the coasts in white-winged yachts , dancing over summer waves , and inhaling the life giving

ozone of the breezes off the sea . They will tell ns of fche varying beauties of the foreshore , ever changing from one picture of quiet grandeur to another , of spanking breezes and " slanting " craffc which take the lead in the regattas that now delight the dwellers by the sea ; of deep line fishing

and the hauls which may well make the inland disciple of Izaak Walton sigh with envy •of the sauntering- npon the esplanade and pier , where bands play softly , and music mingles its sweet cadences with the ripple of the sea . Others have been far away upon the moors , and will return

with cheeks as russet as the heather over which they have trampled , gun in hand , and with trusty spaniels and retrievers at their heels . What tales they will have to tell , and tactics of manoeuvres " under cover , " while blazing away amongst the speckled grouse , just as our brave

fellows " out East" are peppering the deluded followers of Arabi ! The idea is sugge . ted by an expression which burst forth the other day from a burly brother who at almost his firsfc shot brought down a brace of " brown beauties , " and who only wished our " jolly red coats " could in like

manner pop off the rebels " two at a time ? How they will account the heavy trudges over moor and heath land , the merry tales told along the way , the visions of sport , and the realisation of health-giving exercise and hilarity , of kilted attendants , and bonny Highland whisky ! All these

things have been recounted before , but they come fresh every year , dressed up in new fashion , and with a flavour of novelty in them quite mellow and refreshing . Others , again , have been by the lakes and streams , amidst the " finny friends " of whom our correspondent , the " non .

sporting Brother , " spoke so eloquently in a recent article in our columns ; and it will be whether the " red soldier , " the " palmer , " or the " blue dun" has proved the most seductive in bewitching the silvery trout and other denizens of our streams into their creels . Down by

tha sea-side , at aristocratic Brighton or Scarboro ' , at more refined Eastbourne , Bournemouth or Ilfracombe , in shady beautiful Clovelly , and such like haunts of loveliness , never invaded by the noise of boisterous mirth ; there are our brethren , with thousands more , enjoying their well-earned

repose—too short a span , alas ! they think—from fche wear and tear , the hurry and bustle of business , and the ordinary routine of duty . We shall welcome them all home in a week or two , with many a hand-shake of congratulation upon their improved appearance and spirits , and shall all

go forward again together along the paths of onr favourite research . 'Tis little we have to say as yet in prospect of the coming session for the simple reason that as the knife grinder in fche story , so aptly and so frequently alluded to by some of our Masonic orators , " we have no story to tell . "

But this we know , that when the brethren come back and enter once more upon their allotted tasks , the square men will drop into their square holes with all the steadiness and regularity of veterans , for the whole of the Masonic machinery will revolve as smoothly and as gaily as ever .

Already the evenings are " drawing in " apace , and we shall have autumn and winter upon us almost before we are aware of their approach . The most must be made of the few remaining weeks—or days !—of a dull season , if we have not already gone upon our holiday escapades , for in a trice we shall be

glad of cosy fires in our grates , the closed curtains , and the gladdening society of friends . Then from their hidden recesses will come forth the emblems and insignia which have been so carefully laid aside by considerate Ty lers ; the lights will reappear , and the brethren will again repair

to their respective homes—for where can the word home be so thoroughly and perfectly find exemplification as within the precincts of oar Masonic Lodges . To finish these simple platitudes , which in the absence of more stirring themes we are content to present as a sort of

sidedish to our readers , we can only repeat , in pleasant - lection of the evenings we have spent together , " happy may we meet again . " One thing is certain : the same iovous faces , the same impulses of hearfcy good fellowship

and fraternal greeting , will soon again adorn the haunts ot " ye mystic tie , " when , with heart and hand our friends and neig hbours will cheer the winter evenings , and dissipate for another year the solitude which inevitably

accompanies the dull season throngh which we have happ il y so nearl y passed ,