Half a century ago was a toast which will find to-day a response in many hearts:—
“The Greeks: may they never fall under Turkish bondage.”
Many of the masonic sentiments are fine; they are amongst the best in the book. Here is good teaching:—
“May we never condemn that in a brother which we pardon in ourselves.”
“May the evening’s diversions bear the morning’s reflections.”
“May every society instituted for the promotion of virtue—flourish.”
Other toasts are equally good, but the masonic allusions make them more suitable for the perusal of members of the craft than for the public.
Next in order come Bacchanalian toasts. Some of the sentiments would not meet with favour in well regulated society at the present period, but we doubt not were hailed with delight in the hard drinking days of old. The first toast under this head is:—
“A friend and a bottle of wine to give him.”
Wine and women find a place in not a few of the sentiments:—