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Article TO THE EDITOR. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
MASONIC BALLS . SIR AND BROTHER , —The period of the opening year , which from time immemorial has been devoted to festivity , more especially among the Craft , is now past ; and so long an interval will occur before those allotted seasons for refreshment and relaxation will come round again to us , that I venture to offer a few remarks upon a leading feature in the means sometimes adopted by our Lodges of mingling withand
enter-, taining the neutral ivorld—I mean Masonic Balls . These entertainments are now of such general occurrence , and so exceedingly popular , not only amongst the younger Members of the Craft , but also with the sex to whose interests Freemasons have ever been devoted ; they are in many instances so gorgeous in their appointments , so brilliant in effect , that they may fairly rank amongst the wonders of modern luxury anil taste .
I am led to believe , too , that the practice of getting up so-called Masonic Balls , is very common amongst the members of less Aristocratic Lodges , more particularly in our small provincial towns . 1 have myself seen advertisements in local newspapers , decked out with a display of the symbols of our profession , announcing a Grand Masonic Ball , under the patronage of the great man of the district , the M . P ., or the country squire , and hinting that the tickets will be of a moderate cost , and that the Brethren are requested to come in Masonic clothing . Sometimes , but I am sorry to say , very rarely , these entertainments
are given with an ulterior view to the support of some local Charity or other good work ; which , whether nominal or real , is justly supposed by those engaged in the arrangements , to give to the affair a plausible air of respectability , or at any rate an additional interest , which it would not otherwise possess . But this practice of assigning some portion of the receipts upon these occasions is peculiar to the inferior description of so-called Masonic Balls . In the case of entertainments iven by the individual members
g of more wealthy and aristocratic Lodges , there is of course nothing to receive , and therefore nothing to give , to the soup kitchen or infirmary . In these instances the Members of the Lodge subscribe and pay the expenses from their own resources . Hundreds of pounds are sometimes expended upon the affair of one night , upon a burst of music , a flash of brilliancy , a sumptuous banquet , and then all is over , ancl nothing remains to the "founders of the feast" but the poor satisfaction of hearing
, the events of the evening talked over , ancl seeing them duly chronicled by the Jenkins of the local press . Let us ask ourselves , as men and Masons , whether we really and honestly think , that these entertainments confer any benefit upon the Craft ? Do they reflect any credit upon out-Order ? Do they increase the respect in which it is , ancl as long as we rigidly repress all abuses , it will be deservedly held by the whole world ? Let these who advocate those amusementsand gravelbutalas !
, y , , ignorantly , connect them with the best interests of the Craft , answer me these questions , and in return I will ask a few more on the other side of the question . Do not these events sometimes lead Lodges collectively , and members of the Craft individually , into the commission of lavish and VO . L II . i
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
MASONIC BALLS . SIR AND BROTHER , —The period of the opening year , which from time immemorial has been devoted to festivity , more especially among the Craft , is now past ; and so long an interval will occur before those allotted seasons for refreshment and relaxation will come round again to us , that I venture to offer a few remarks upon a leading feature in the means sometimes adopted by our Lodges of mingling withand
enter-, taining the neutral ivorld—I mean Masonic Balls . These entertainments are now of such general occurrence , and so exceedingly popular , not only amongst the younger Members of the Craft , but also with the sex to whose interests Freemasons have ever been devoted ; they are in many instances so gorgeous in their appointments , so brilliant in effect , that they may fairly rank amongst the wonders of modern luxury anil taste .
I am led to believe , too , that the practice of getting up so-called Masonic Balls , is very common amongst the members of less Aristocratic Lodges , more particularly in our small provincial towns . 1 have myself seen advertisements in local newspapers , decked out with a display of the symbols of our profession , announcing a Grand Masonic Ball , under the patronage of the great man of the district , the M . P ., or the country squire , and hinting that the tickets will be of a moderate cost , and that the Brethren are requested to come in Masonic clothing . Sometimes , but I am sorry to say , very rarely , these entertainments
are given with an ulterior view to the support of some local Charity or other good work ; which , whether nominal or real , is justly supposed by those engaged in the arrangements , to give to the affair a plausible air of respectability , or at any rate an additional interest , which it would not otherwise possess . But this practice of assigning some portion of the receipts upon these occasions is peculiar to the inferior description of so-called Masonic Balls . In the case of entertainments iven by the individual members
g of more wealthy and aristocratic Lodges , there is of course nothing to receive , and therefore nothing to give , to the soup kitchen or infirmary . In these instances the Members of the Lodge subscribe and pay the expenses from their own resources . Hundreds of pounds are sometimes expended upon the affair of one night , upon a burst of music , a flash of brilliancy , a sumptuous banquet , and then all is over , ancl nothing remains to the "founders of the feast" but the poor satisfaction of hearing
, the events of the evening talked over , ancl seeing them duly chronicled by the Jenkins of the local press . Let us ask ourselves , as men and Masons , whether we really and honestly think , that these entertainments confer any benefit upon the Craft ? Do they reflect any credit upon out-Order ? Do they increase the respect in which it is , ancl as long as we rigidly repress all abuses , it will be deservedly held by the whole world ? Let these who advocate those amusementsand gravelbutalas !
, y , , ignorantly , connect them with the best interests of the Craft , answer me these questions , and in return I will ask a few more on the other side of the question . Do not these events sometimes lead Lodges collectively , and members of the Craft individually , into the commission of lavish and VO . L II . i