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  • The Freemasons' Quarterly Review
  • March 31, 1851
  • Page 81
  • TO THE EDITOR.
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The Freemasons' Quarterly Review, March 31, 1851: Page 81

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Page 81

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

“The Freemasons' Quarterly Review: 1851-03-31, Page 81” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fqr/issues/fqr_31031851/page/81/.
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Title Category Page
Ip—^S^—^ ^i^fe?^ SHeLF ft ; / : V y:: y ... Article 1
^^^J IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF ^fciS Article 2
Untitled Article 3
m A .i P°l Mi — ,' i Article 5
THE FREEMASONS' Article 6
CONTENTS. Article 7
NOTICE TO THE CRAFT: Article 8
CONTENTS. Article 9
CONT E N T S. Article 10
CONTENTS. Article 11
THE CHARITIES. Article 12
THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLY MAGAZINE AND REVIEW. Article 13
LOVE'S TRIUMPH. Article 24
THE FIRST OFFENCE. Article 25
ON THE TABERNACLE AND TEMPLE Article 37
NOTES UPON FUNERAL SOLEMNITIES. Article 44
THE CONDITION OF SCOTCH MASONRY. Article 49
ON THE RHINE . Article 55
"THINKING" AND "WORKING" FREEMASONS. Article 57
MASONIC PROCESSIONS. Article 59
GEOMETRICAL MASON FLOOR CLOTH. Article 64
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 65
TO THE EDITOR. Article 73
TO THE EDITOR. Article 75
TO THE EDITOR. Article 76
TO THE EDITOR. Article 79
TO THE EDITOR. Article 80
TO THE EDITOR. Article 81
TO THE EDITOR. Article 82
Obituary. Article 83
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 105
THE 33RD DEGREE FOR ENGLAND AND WALES, AND THE DEPENDENCIES OF THE BRITISH CROWN. Article 108
THE CHARITIES. Article 111
THE 33RD DEGREE FOR ENGLAND AND WALESAND THE DEPENDENCIES OF THE BRITISH CROWN. Article 112
THE CHARITIES. Article 115
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Article 118
METROPOLITAN. Article 120
PROVINCIAL. Article 124
SCOTLAND. Article 137
COLONIAL. Article 148
EAST INDIES. Article 150
WEST INDIES. Article 152
AMERICA. Article 157
SWITZERLAND. Article 158
LITERARY NOTICE. Article 160
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 161
ERRATA IN THE LAST NUMBER. Article 162
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Page 81

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

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