The Knife & Fork Degree.

either faulty or self-fitting if only duly guarded , but Avhat I am anxious to impress upon my brethren is , that there seems to be Avith us all , a someAAdiat increasing tendency to make Freemasonry a medium for increased and

increasing mere social gatherings . No one in his sober senses Avill dispute the advisability and necessity of " refreshment , " or that Masons like other persons must eat and drink . But Ave must not

alloAA ' , on any pretence , the idea to gam ground amongst us , that the main good of Freemasonry is its social attraction or its social meeting . None of us need be insensible , nor need Ave profess to be insensible to the abstract importance

and even excellency of the K . and F . degree , but there is a "time for all things , " as our great Grand Master once told us , and Ave must ever be subordinate , I venture to repeat , the social festivities of our lodge assemblies , to the higher duties and better truths , Avhich Freemasonry ever cherishes , and inculcates on us all .

I remember an amusing incident AA'hich comes in appositely here as an illustration of Avhat I have ventured humbly to suggest to my brethren . An august body of our A'enerable Order , Avas engaged once upon a timeon a

, long and intricate , and important debate , and AA'hich had someAvhat outstepped the usual limit of our regular discussions . The brother in possession of the floor , Avas dilating Avith lucid eloquence on some serious breach of Constitutional

liegulation , Avhen he Avas stopped in the midst of his " plethora verborum , " with the magic announcement " Dinner is ready . " The orator indignant at the interruption Avaved his hand defiantly at the interruptor , and continued calmly

his floAving address , as much as to say , " see IIOAV far above the petty Avants of our paltry humanity are Ave in this august assembly , aud am I Avho am noAV privileged to address you . " But Avhate \ r er may have been the

feelings of the speaker , the brethren seemed by a sort of involuntary and eonviilsive movement to SAiggest the retreat of their eloquent "confrere , " and

the advance of the Fraternal Phalanx into the more congenial arena of the dining room . Yet despite the inattentive ears and Avandering eyes and uneasy seats of that august body , the vivacious brother continued to lay

doAvn Avith animation , clearness , and solemnity , the unfailing axioms of our Masonic Jurisprudence . At this moment the same A'oice , in a higher key and Avith a most pathetic intonation announced emphatically" The

, Dinner is getting cold . " At this melancholy prospect the speaker at once collapsed , he abruptly closed his harangue , gracefully collided into his seat and the august body proceeded after a short interval of needful

ceremonial , Avith active steps and cheerful faces , to partake of that ample pro-A'ision for exhausted nature , AA'hich the assiduous earnestness of the steAvards and the untiring labours of tlie " chef " had pi'OA'ided for that intelligent and

Avorthy , but suffering and hungry aggregation of our felloAv creatures . I think that I may close my remarks today , Avith this amusing little narrative founded , too , on fact . I have sought in all I have put

for-Avard in this essay to keep the happy mean betAveen tAvo extremes , to spare the susceptibilities of many felloAv votaries of the K . and F . degree , and to point out , that Avhile it is both

useful , and needful , and excellent in its way , ahvays appreciated , always refreshing , it is not , and cannot be , the great end of our Masonic system . Those Avho lay too much stress . upon it or eleA'ate it above its proper position relatively to

our Avhole system , ignore our truer Masonic teaching , and Aveaken the goodly foundation on AA'hich Freemasonry is happily upreared . While then Ave ever seek to maintain amongst us our fraternal sympathy and all good

felloAVship in all of active energy , let us ever seek to aid and cultivate those higherjtruths and nobler precepts , Avhich so deeply concern the lasting happiness and Avelfare of those Avho need our fostering hand or claim our kindly aid . MENTOB .