, 1881-12-23
Entertainments.


climate are close at hand, when all seek
social recreation and amusement, now
and then away from home. Sociality
grows best in the cold season, when the
ground is covered with snow and ice.
Then it is that We long to sit and chat,
and joke the long evenings away around
the tiresides of our neighbors. Then it
is we are ready for ''hitch-up" and
drive, walk if we must) to a public hall
or lecture room, where we may mingle,
perhaps, instruction with amusement
and sociality. Then it is that we feel
like bestirring ourselves and going out
again. Winter is a jolly season after all,
even if its days are sometimes cold and
bleak. There is more good nature flow
ing about IN a rollicking, easy way when
the thermometer has dropped down to
freezing than when it stands at blood
heat. Give us any day but July for "a
flow of social and fraternai spirits.
Where is the man or woman who was
ever real boy or girl, that doesn't hug
in the sweetest remembrances the long
winter evenings, when song, and laugh
ter, and blind mans buff made the old
house shake and the faces grow red?
Who wouldn't be boy or girl again?
Alas, we cannot! But we can hold onto
the iovial ways we had, and be jovial
still. We can turn out from our homes
once in awhile and take in the brac-
ing air that seems to give vigor, not only
to body, but to soul, and makes us roll
licking and young again.
Yes, we can turn our ways to the lodge
room, and turn this social season into
channel that shall bring growth and
prosperity to our Order. This may
seem like making a sharp turn of our
writing to q practical point. Well, that
is what we are after. There is a season
coming rapidly on just adapted to the
mission we have in hand of developing
the sociality of the Knights and Ladies.
Let us appropriate it. How shall we do
it? We don't propose moulds in which
to cast iron rules, directing what shall
be done, and how it shall be done. But
we are great On suggestions, and so We
will suggest.
First We are soon to have a Ritual
that cannot fail to please, and, if well
worked to bring out the members to the
lodge meetings. 1t is attractive in its
forms and dress, instructive in its les
son, dignified in its style. and full of
points of real literary worth. III there
is any enterprise in lodge at all the
Ritual is going to beget pride IN its
members to see that it is well done.
Second. Once q month lodge can
throw open its doors. and invite the pub
lie to some kind Of u literary aud musical
entertainment Don't however, forget to
declare a recess, in which there can be
free run for chit-chat and acquaintance
making. If you neglect this you lose
your aim of knowing and being known,
and you might just as well have marched
IN solemn procession to church and
there held your services.
Third. At least bi-monthly bring out
your children to the lodge room and give
them some fun. Don't be awkward
about ii and stiff. Loosen up little
yourselves; roost little lower down on
your own dignity. Leave his best Sun
day clothes at home, especially if you de
tect any ambition to rig them out a little
ahead of Bro. BIS. The lodge room is no
place for the cultivation of caste, but it
is just the spot to grow future Knights
and Ladies out of our boys and girls, and
thus secures the premanancy of that
order, which is liable any day to become
our childrens best and, perhaps, only
friend.
Let us In every country town and viii
lage-and in cities, too-turn the cur
rents of sociality the coming winter to-
wards the lodge rooms, and thus make
the season growthfui to our Knights and
Ladies. Lay out your plans, and ap-
point your committee on entertainments
at the very next meeting. Don't neglect
it,-Knight's of HCnor Record.