Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

to see bow they stood , or to calculate now much they could afford to give in charity . He hoped those Avho had hitherto given fivo guineas would give ten , and those who had given ten , twenty ; so as to qualify as Vice-Presidents :

and that those who had attained that position might even yet increase their assistance to the Institution . He congratulated the meeting upon their happy presence and the renewed health of their President , and hoped these

gatherings would continue to be enjoyed by all of them for many years to come . It will thus be seen that the position of tho Benevolent Institution is a most critical one just now , and it is to be hoped that Bro . Terry's well-directed

statements may be read and duly considered throughout tho length and breadth of the Fraternity . There can be no question that his apprehensions respecting the result of the approaching Festival are well grounded , judging from the

present outlook ; and we can only trust that the brethren will make a stupendous effort during the next few weeks to sustain tho verdict Avhich Bro . Terry has wished to be pronounced upon himself in respect of the Festival , that he has

been " a false prophet . " There is yet time to make up lost ground , if the various Lodges in the metropolis and throughout the Provinces will take heed of the " no uncertain sound " Avhich hails from headquarters ; and that

they will do so , and enablo the Institution to extend—at any rate not compel it to be limited—its sphere of beneficence , is a consummation devoutly to be Avished by every man AVIIO has the true interest of the Craft at heart ..

Could the brethren Avitness , as we did on Wednesday last , the happiness and contentment Avhich is provided for so many of our poorer brethren and widows at tho splendid establishment at East Croydon , Ave feel assured they

would be stimulated to such exertions as Avould at once set the mind of Brother Terry perfectly free from anxiety ; and we look hopefully to the effect which a perusal of his

outspoken appeal and note of warning will produce amongst the brethren generally ere the time arrives when the amount subscribed in behalf of this magnificent charity is announced by him at the Festival Avhich is now so close upon us .

Well Prepared For Great Work.

WELL PREPARED FOR GREAT WORK .

An Extract from an oration by J . A . Kiester , Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota . AN Order so ancient as Masonry , having the designs and purposes of Masonry , and being so universal must necessarily be peculiar in many respects , must differ in many features from most human organisations , and such

is the fact . And here I shall say nothing of the peculiar ceremonies of Masonry , its universal language , its method of teaching by symbols , hieroglyphics , allegories , traditions , and memorising which make a peculiar and indelible

impression upon the mind of the initiate—a system found in perfection nowhere else—nor need I suggest that its adaptability to all classes of men is such that it possesses a charm

for even the mystic , the seer , the antiquary , as well as for the man of to-day , the moralist and the philosopher , but I may refer to plainer , more evident facts .

The Institution is one of fixed principles and disciplinary character , yesterday , to-day , and for ever the same . Its great leading principles are crystallised in landmarks and ancient regulations , which no power within or without the

Order can ever change . It is true a Masonic body may attempt it , but the only result is that it legislates itself out of the Order ; they cease to be Masons , but Masonry remains the same . Let us realise the great importance there

is in this fact of permanence . An Institution existing in every civilised land , maintaining unchangeably certain correct primary , moral , social and political principles , must in the ever-changing notions and vagaries of every age , be of inestimable value to the world .

To illustrate this tendency to change "these shiftin g sands of doctrine , " in one respect only , but an important one , you will permit me the remark that now , after the lapse of one , two or three centuries , nay , within fifty years

some of the religious denominations have added many new dogmas to the faith they once held , Avbile some have lost sight of the distinctive principles , or peculiar doctrines on

which they were originally founded , and some have gone BO far as not only to keep in silence and subordination , but to contradict those very original doctrines .

Well Prepared For Great Work.

Our political , educational aud social systems , too , are filled with neAv theories and radical changes , some of which are doubtless valuable and so far so good ; but in all this we see , without any disposition to find fault or criticise ,

illustrated , this disposition to change , to drift away from former moorings ; yet essential truth , right , justice , are unchangeable , and such are the principles of Masonry ! Do

we not want , in all this drifting and uncertainty , something permanent ? Is it too much to say that in this Institution we find it ?

And in this peculiar age of individualism , irreverence , independentism , self-will , disregard of old , fundamental truth , religious dissensions and infidelity , in this ago of nervous excitemont , intense activities , waste of forces , and

the headlong scramble for wealth , this old Order , Avhich teaches , has always taught , always will teach the existence of God , the immortality of the soul , the obligations of the moral law , respect for and obedience to lawful authority ,

and plain and honest dealing between man and man , and prudence and moderation in all things ; this Order , I say , with such teachings and with its disciplinary influences upon the life and heart , of such age and dignity , existing

in all lands , of such vast membership , embracing such wealth and intelligence , is necessarily of great value to societv , to the state , and of great power in the moral world ,

and must in the very nature of things have done , though silently indeed , a great work for good , and has yet a great Avork to do , in the affairs and destinies of our race .

But we may take a step still higher and declare that from tho unchangeable character of our Order , Masonry is not only tho steady teacher of its principles , but the

preserver , the conservator , through all the chances and changes of time , of those very principles ! Where will you find a higher office or more important trust than this ?

And I must suggest that Avhile Masonry encourages its members in the study of the sciences and in the acquisition of all useful knowledge , and has to-day among its membership many of the most distinguished men of science , it has

no sympathy with that sceptical philosophy Avhich , under the pretence of believing nothing or knowing nothing obliterates the Deity from the universe , substituting for a

living , ever present God and His creative power , unexplainable names and terms , dethroning intelligence in the creation , government and final disposition of all things .

And now I may ask , is there not great excuse for the existence of this Order in this day and age , is there not need for its continuance ? Do not good government , public order , aye , the old truth faith of mankind , demand its

assistance ? Let the man of observation , research and intelligence , answer these questions . Allow me now to allude briefly to certain other peculiar features of this Order ,

some of which in a great measure make Freemasonry the institution it is , —different from all others , sui generis indeed , —peculiarities in which lies the secret of much of its power and endurance , and I confess I enumerate them with

great pride . This society , though of great age and of wide extent , has never given aid to despotism in any of its forms , in church or state . It has never waged the Avars of intolerance , in any age or country , nor has it ever waged

war for any purpose ; it is eminently the society of peace . It has never built the fires of religious or political persecution . And in language which I have elsewhere used , I

add ; It has never enslaved or degraded the poor or helpless , nor has it ever dishonoured itself in the face of the rich or great for their favour . It has never followed any fanatical ideas , whims or theories . It never dictates to

any one , raises no disputes and argues no questions , and lives in quietness and peace with all men ; and with all bin ' s , and unlike most other institutions , it asks no favours or special privileges of church or state . It never proselytes ,

it sends out no missionaries , has no propagandists , and pays nothing for recruits , " and while the worthy who knock at its door are seldom denied , none are ever urged to seek admission .

And we now may add largely to all this when we assert , as we truthfully can , that while many great evils overshadoAV the world , one of the greatest , the saddest , the most confounding , perpetually weakening and distracting

the best effort , is the antagonisms created by ignorance , bigotry , envy or jealousy , among the institutions really working to the same great end—the subduing of these

evils—that Masonry , standing almost alone in the world , has no share in such jealousies , never creates or permits contentions with other societies , nor interference with their labours . It never anathematises other societies nor excom-