The Cost Of The Masonic Institutions.

THE COST OF THE MASONIC INSTITUTIONS .

EOE some years past there has been a murmur of discontent in many of the Provinces in regard to the expense of providing for the children educated and maintained in the two Educational Institutions of the Craft , and we have no doubt that , as years roll on and organisation becomes more complete in these several districts , this feeling will grow , and ultimately lead to great and radical changes . That this is a grievance of long standing our own experience will prove , some of our earliest recollections in connection

with the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE having reference to this subject . We can well remember discussing the matter years ago with some of the most prominent Provincial advocates for the Institutions , and the general opinion then seemed to be that the Provinces would support the Central Charities just so long as they got a full return for what they contributed . About that time we took considerable trouble to ascertain the general feeling on the subject , and in more than one large Province we were assured that the London Charities would be supported only so long as it was possible to secure given advantages from them ,

but if ever the return got below a certain per centage the money would be spent locally . This line of argument would be fair enough if the return looked for was only the average return , but such is not the case ; it is well known that many districts get more than their share in proportion to what they contribute , and as result some others must go short . Hitherto London has been unfortunate in this respect , the number of its beneficiaries always being below what it would be if an equitable distribution

of benefits , m proportion to contributions , were practicable . It therefore follows that the Provinces , or some of them , have been educating and maintaining their orphans more or less at the expense of the Metropolitan subscribers , and this must continue so long as it is impossible for the London brethren to organise for voting purposes , as is done in the country . If ever this should be altered it will be the means of diverting most of the larger Provinces from the Central Charities .

The present excitement in regard to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys must be regarded as the natural growth of this feeling , and the appointment of the Committee of Inquiry arranged for in connection with that Charity is but another step towards the end we have referred to , and which we regard as inevitable . What may be the result of the labours of that Committee it is impossible to sav , but

we are inclining to the belief that it will never be possible to restore to the Institution the full share of support it has hitherto enjoyed . Inquiries , discussions , and arguments of the character which have been so freely and widely indulged in lately create an impression that something must be wrong . Men who have hitherto taken all for granted begin to make ,

The Cost Of The Masonic Institutions.

inquiries for themselves , and those who are anxious for a change take the opportunity of forcing their views on the notice of their friends . Local resources are investigated , and , if merely for the sake of a change , some new idea is tried . These alterations must cost money , and as our argument is that there is only a certain amount to be spent year by year in Masonic Charity , what goes to one source must be drawn from another , and as a consequence the existing Charities must suffer whenever anything fresh is started upon . As an instance of this we may mention

that one oi the foremost Provincial Masonic Charity Funds has recently made a bargain with an outside Charity , almost as far away from them as the Masonic ones , by which they acquire the right of presentation , for a number of years , of three children . We do not begrudge this support being given to this outside Institution , but why , we ask , should a Masonic Fund have to go outside the Craft Institutions to spend its money ? For years past the Province to which we refer has been doing more and more of its charitable work locally , but we believe the action here mentioned is the first step it has taken in this direction . Can it be regarded as complimentary to the Masonic Institutions , or is it not a condemnation of their management ? Where will this stop if some effort be not made to render the Craft Charities capable of

fair competition with outside ones ? Pending the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the finances , & c , of the Boys' School it was not our intention to refer at any length to the cost of that or the sister Institution , but matters are becoming so urgent that delay is positively dangerous . We seldom pass a week now without something

coming under our notice in connection with the Institutions which calls for attention—witness the propositions put forward by Bro . Bake P . P . G . S . W . Cornwall at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of that Province , as reported in our last issue . Is it right to pass by such arguments and

statements without notice as appear therein ? We think not , and accordingly we express our views . It is , of course , very easy to explain the difference in the average cost per child , as set out by the Committees of the two Schools and that urged by brethren who name a much higher figure . The one puts down the cost of education and maintenance alone , while the others include every outlay in connection with the Charity . We think this latter is the only correct method of striking an average . If £ 10 , 000 is expended on an Institution maintaining 200 inmates , the average is £ 50 each ,

notwithstanding the fact that some £ 2000 or so may be expended in obtaining subscriptions , secretarial , or other duties outside the actual bringing up of the children . Every expense is part and parcel ofthe cost of the Charity , and such being the case each of those benefiting therefrom must bear an average share of it . On this basis the average cost of each child maintained in the Eoyal