MASONRY

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1784, 24 April 1874, Page 4

MASONRY

Here's something worth quoting which we take from the London Examiner. The occurrence itself, and what it gave rise to will not be forgotten by good masons who read the extract, and the same thing — or at least as good — should be done here. " A masonic banquet took place on Nov. 8, which does indeed, in the language of penny-a-liners 'deserve notice.' The members of the Great City Lodge met at the Cannon street Hotel, and much to the disgust we should imagine of the chef of that establishment dined sumptuously off bread and cheese and ale. When the officers and visitors had partaken of the repast the W.M. explained to the visitors that the lodge had determined to give up banquets (which cost betweeu LSO and L6O), and to give the amount thus saved to the charity fund of the lodge. The banqueters do not seem to have suffered so frightfully from indiges tion as one might have supposed for most of the visitors were able to speak and express themselves highly gratified with the novel experiment, and the members were bo delighted with their unexpected success that they at once resolved to give up four out of six monthly banquets, and so increase the charity fund to the extent of about L2OO. Hitherto masons have reached the crowning point of absurdity, when they talked of the infinitesimal charities which their enormous funds support. They generally retreat on this ridiculously narrow base when taxed with tomfoolery. Now, however, they can answer all taunts and silence and quibblers by. pointing to the quarterly banquet of 'bread, cheese, and ale,' at the Cannon street Hotel."