Licensed Victuallers And The Craft.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS AND THE CRAFT .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC REVIEW . SIR , —More than a passing comment must be given to the question of Lodges holding their meetings on licensed premises , and as to whether the time has not come when strenuous efforts should be made to provide proper Lodge-rooms for our Lodges and Chapters .

To touch the question at all , it must be done through the subsidiary one of whether Masonic halls or other buildings erected for the various meetings of the Craft obtain sufficient support to make them financially successful . First as to the demand for Lodge-rooms . I myself am prejudiced , as you appear to be , Sir , upon the side of

sentiment in Masonry . Like all secret or religious ceremonies , the working of the various degrees in the Craft impress the apprentice just so much or so little as his imagination is induced to exercise itself in favor of the soundness of the ceremony in which he is the prime figure . The holding of a Lodge , therefore , in an apartment

possessing no adaptation for the purposes of a Masonic ceremony can convey no influence whatever to the mind of the Brethren . I have been engaged in Lodges , and in Lodges of repute , where the Lodge-room has done duty for the holding of a smoking concert , and to improve the fingers of the local grocer ' s assistant in the art

of bagatelle . On the other hand , the charming Lodge-rooms that are met with in some of the minor towns so thoroughly impress initiates with the respectability of Masonry- —an impression which we know is not at all unnecessary—that the difference between the two has become quite a serious matter .

During the past two years Masonic halls have grown very much in number , and it is quite possible , even against the evidence of many cases , that if the Lodges themselves work with unanimity in extending and supporting these Masonic halls , they can in every instance be made to return a fair interest to the capitalist . It may be feared that any united action in the matter would meet with

serious opposition from a large section of the Masonic community , inasmuch as the Craft derives very sound support from our friends the wine-merchants . It must not be forgotten that it is in a number of cases highly convenient for country Lodges to hold their meetings upon licensed premises , because they are then upon the scene of the

convivial festivities . But why is it that Masons may not hold their Lodges in the village or country churches ? If it could be so , and surely the reverend members of our Order could not raise any tangible objection , what more impressive than to see the chancel

occupied by the Brethren in their regalia , and carrying out the religion of their belief ? Let fancy run away with us for once . Here is the great nave bathed in darkness , with the chancel brilliantly lit , and impressing us with a religious feeling as we enter the sacred precincts of the church . The organ renders its music for the entrance of the initiate , who comes attended by the Deacons

through the vestry door . The Worshipful Master of the Lodge is seated upon his throne , erected at the bottom of the altar-steps ; the choir-stalls are occupied by the Brethren , and the Wardens hold their respective positions upon the floor of the " Lodge . " Then , when the ceremony is over , and our secrets locked in their

sacred repository , we can adjourn to the " Pig and Whistle " or " The Jolly Anglers , " and refresh ourselves after the labors of the day . Contrast this state of things with the one enacted in most of our suburban localities . The Brethren meet in a licensed

house more or less respectable , and an appetiser is partaken of , so that it may have worked its effect when the Ledge is closed . Up the stairs that do duty for the billiard or bagatelle room you reach the apartment in which the Brethren meet . Antiquities in the shape of portraits of dead and gone fighting celebrities , a few horrible engravings covering a dirty wall-f aper , and the room lined with

chairs of all conceivable patterns and shapes , and you have the Lodge-room of the present day . Where is the sentiment ?—where is the impression upon the mind of the initiate ?—and where are the gems of our ritual in such a setting ? Can it be wondered at that Brethren do not trouble to attire themselves in their proper clothing ?

Licensed Victuallers And The Craft.

or that we do not secure the better-class man to join our ranks when these are the things we show him ? There would be no necessity for class Lodges if all this were altered , but it becomes a very severe question to attack unless these views can be impressed upon the general body of Masons . I make these remarks , Sir , owing to a visit I recently paid by invitation to a Lodge located in a certain seaside

resort . I was grievously struck , as I entered the Lodge , with the utter absence of any of that reverent feeling with which my own Lodge impresses me . I could not define the state of things in that seaside town , and I am convinced that not one of the Brethren of the Lodge that I visited could appreciate the beauties of

Freemasonry . I see by an advertisement in one of your contemporaries that a public meeting is to be held on the 6 th inst ., to test the opinion of local men upon the erection of a Masonic hall at New Cross . This is a step in a direction which opens up a more brilliant future for the

respectability of our ranks , and if you , Sir , would endeavor to lead public opinion at such meetings as these , we should secure , as the Rev . Studholme Brownrigg says , " Lodges and Chapters which will attract into our ranks those whom otherwise we should lose . "—I am , Sir , your faithful and fraternal servant , Chelsea , Sept . 2 , 1880 . HOUGHTON H . WINKLEY .

The Junior Warden.

THE JUNIOR WARDEN .

I REFERRED in my last article to the great importance of the selection by the W . M . of his first Principal Officer , and the present remarks may be applied with equal force to the choice of his second Warden . Indeed , there are some special circumstances which tend to increase the necessity for the exercise of even greater caution and circums , ection in the selection of the Junior

Warden , for in his person , there is about to be constituted as a member of Grand Lodge , a partaker in the legislative deliberations of our Masonic Parliament , and , for the first time in his Masonic career , he will be called upon to exercise his judgment in expounding those laws which it has hitherto been his bounden duty to obey , and

to assist in the framing of others for the future observance of the general body of the Craft . The change from a position of subservience to one of power is not unfrequently a severe trial of human nature ; for the best-disposed among us may often prove most excellent servants and assistants , but intolerably bad masters .

Nevertheless , it is from the manner in which the duties of a subordinate position have been discharged , and the zeal shown in promoting its interests , that judgment can be best formed as to the propriety of promotion to the rank of ruler and law-giver . The brother who has the most fully carried out the recommendations contained in the Charge at Initiation , and more especially that

" excellence of character " to which his attention has been peculiarly and forcibly directed , Obedience , is the Craftsman most likely to discharge the functions of a Junior Warden with credit to himself and advantage to his Lodge , and is the best qualified , in those moments when his column is in the ascendant , to communicate happiness to his fellow-workmen .

It has frequently been the subject of remark amongst veterans of the Craft that , as a rule , the most capable Junior Deacons have proved themselves best fitted for the office of Junior Warden , and have subsequently shone in the capacity of Worshipful Master . Of the respective Deacons' duties I shall treat in future chapters , but the fact may be noted now as an encouragement to brethren not to

neglect the lesser work in any portion of its detail if they should desire to merit distinction . Very often the office of Senior Deacon has not to be served by the advancing Brother , whilst that of the Junior is but seldom left out of the curriculum of the Office-bearer . As the third Great Pillar supporting a Freemason ' s Lodge , the

Junior Warden represents that of Beauty . His prototype is Hiram Abiff , our Grand Master of ancient days , whose exquisite skill and masterly workmanship beautified and adorned King Solomon ' s Temple . His symbol is the Corinthian Order of Architecture ,