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Article SOCIALITY AND BENEVOLENCE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article SOCIALITY AND BENEVOLENCE. Page 2 of 2
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Sociality And Benevolence.
his foot upon the rungs of that ladder by which he gains access to a new and loftier social status . His future friends and acquaintances are of the whole Brotherhood of man : his companions and co-operators in the Craft are men of marked intelligence , culture and refinement , and , better
still , who are bound together by indissoluble ties of brotherly love , relief and truth . There is a very common ancl prevalent idea amongst the uninitiated that the doors of Freemasonry are flung wide open , and that all men are attracted to it by the invitation hung over its portals of
" Come , and welcome . " In some measure , this is true , for Freemasonry is as free as the air we breathe , or the water we drink , ancl all men of good repute are hailed as brethren . But the popular impression that candidates for admission to our privileges and mysteries are pressed ancl
persuaded to join the ranks is erroneous and misleading . There is no such principle recognised by the Craft as to enlist the adherence of men by recommendation , or to draw in from the outer world any but those who can boldly come and assert that they do so of their own free
will and accord , irrespective of any mercenary or other unworthy motives . On the contrary , there has ever been a disposition on the part of Masons to enforce caution , and to temper enthusiasm on the part of those who express an ardent wish to participate in the advantages peculiar to the
Fraternity . The reason of this is obvious to all who are within the pale , and who are imbued with a laudable desire for the promotion of an Order which has outlived centuries of opposition , and yet maintained its sublimity and unapproachable grandeur amongst all the institutions of the
world . Within the space of time covered by even our authentic records of the Order , kings have risen and fallen , the destinies of nations have been sealed , and even religions have changed ; ancl yet , through all these shifting scenes and altered circumstances ,
Freemasonry stands erect and alone in her statuesque sublimity , with lustre undimmed and integrity untarnished , shedding abroad her inestimable benefits upon all who come within her benign influence . Freemasonry now , as it ever did , exercises a powerful and gracious attraction
over men of thought and kindly disposition to mingle together for the promotion of those acts ancl sentiments which enter so largely into the " brighter side " of life . To cheer a brother on in his worthy enterprise , to sympathise and sustain him in failure ; to soothe him in affliction or
distress ; and to rejoice wifch him when the " good time ' has really come—these are some of the leading principles which are embodied in the tenets of the Craft , and which , as a body , Masons take a pleasure in putting into practice . Moreover , in company with these , there are peculiar traits
of character which , from the natural outcome of Freemasonry , bind men together in the closest ties of genuine brotherly love ; which makes them take a personal interest in each other ' s affairs , and in their everyday experience . Masons can , without scruple or diffidence ,
confide to each other matters which would be reticently withheld from all else in the world , knowing that all lawful secrets are safe in the sacred repository of a brother ' s breast . To any one , therefore , in worry or perplexity , it is a relief to know that near at hand there are
trusty hearts who will share his temporary anxiety , and ameliorate his difficulties , who will take an active heart and brain interest in setting matters right again , and so dissipating the clouds of doubt and despondency which had gathered so gloomily overhead . And when there is a
universal gleam of sunshine—when the path of life is bright with success , the result of work well and nobly done—who so ready to swell the chorus of joyful acclamation as those who are bound together by the five points of fellowship ? Thus , when friends meet , either for
substantial work " upon the chequered floor " or at the festivities which form its fitting afterpart , there is a heart y glow of amenity and friendliness all round such as is fco be discovered in the atmosphere of no other society , from the very fact that its festivities are brimful of genuine ,
downright goodfellowship , engendered by the teachings of the Order , and are pervaded by a thorough unity of spirit of purpose , springing from the loftiest and purest motives . Thus it is that men feel themselves " at home " in their Lodges more thoroughly than anywhere else in the world ,
save ancl excepting their own domestic circle . Even there the influence of Masonry is exercised and felt , for true Masons cannot be selfish , or monopolise the life-giving impulses which are stirred into action by the precepts taught in Lodge . They are bound to carry home to wife
Sociality And Benevolence.
and child , and to relative and friend , the calm and elevating influences which are born of the labours in which they have been employed ; and thus , in a domestic as well as a social sense , the Craft is a marvellous factor of human happiness and enjoyment .
The benevolent aspects of the Craft are known to , and acknowledged by , all who have any knowledge of the subject at all . But there is a peculiar width and comprehensiveness about Masonic charity which none can fathom except those who have carefully watched its inner working
amongst the brethren of the Order ; nor even then can its extent be approximately gauged . The kindly sympathies , the compassionate acts of men who " do good by stealth " and would " blush to find it fame , " can never be told ; and it is merely upon the public and avowed munificence of the
Craft that the world can form an opinion . And even here M asons have much of which to be justly very proud , for the Institutions of which we boast are amongst the grandest and best of their kind in the universe , and the manner in which they are supported and managed compares
favourably with any of the splendid monuments of philanthropy and benevolence of which happily in this country we possess so large a number . Both personally , therefore , and publicly , the sublime Order of which we rejoice to be members is pursuing a work upon which even an envious
world can but look with admiration . The former , as we have said , cannot be estimated , for who can tell what acts of generosity and true brotherly charity are exercised by men towards their poorer fellows who , from unforeseen circumstances of calamity and misfortune , have been reduced to
the lowest depths of poverty and distress ? Every now and then a case in point finds its way to the surface , just as a diamond might do amidst the soil , or a nugget amongst the quartz , under the hands of a digger ; bufc it is not always so . We believe there is a vast amount of charity
and timely help administered round and about us every day which can never be , nor is it intended to be , known , ancl which has its reward only in the Grand Lodge above . It is , however , a comfort and a satisfaction to all who belong to such an organisation to know and feel how vast
a work of human love and sympathy is being carried on , and that each in his own sphere has the opportunity of adding to the happiness of others , and thus fulfilling the trust accepted when the privileges and responsibilities of the Craft were conferred upon them .
The March meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held last Saturday , at Freemasons' Hall . The brethren present were Bros . Raynham W . Stewart ( in the chair ) , John L . Mather , A . J . Duff-Filer , Joyce Murray , C . F . Matier , George Cooper ,
H . H . Welch , Rev . Richard Morris , D . D . ( Head Master ) , H . Massey , Donald M . Dewar , James Moon , A . F . Godson , C . H . Webb , A . E . Gladwell , F . Adlard , H . Venn , 0 . F . Hogard , E . Baxter , W . Maple , G . P . Gillard , H . S . Goodall , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . There was only one
petition before the Committee , and after examination and consideration ifc was deferred for further enquiry . Bro . Binckes reported that in accordance with the resolution come to at the last meeting £ 1 , 000 had been invested in India Four per Cent . Debenture Stock . The Committee then adjourned .
Bro . Horace B . Marshall , CO ., has been presented with a testimonial , by several of his employes , on the occasion of his making them associates of the Young Men's Christian Association , and in recognition of the great interest he has always taken in their welfare . After warml y thanking
them , Bro . Marshall said he had been the recipient of many testimonials , bufc none had given him greater pleasure than this , as it afforded proof that there was something more than the mere question of capital and labour existing between himself and his employes .
On Wednesday evening the members of the Prosperity Lodge , No . 65 , held their audit meeting , at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , nnder the presidency of Brother J . Roberts . A very satisfactory account of the Lodge was reported . The installation of Bro . G . Schadler as W . M . will take place at the Guildhall Tavern , on Thursday , the 22 nd inst .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sociality And Benevolence.
his foot upon the rungs of that ladder by which he gains access to a new and loftier social status . His future friends and acquaintances are of the whole Brotherhood of man : his companions and co-operators in the Craft are men of marked intelligence , culture and refinement , and , better
still , who are bound together by indissoluble ties of brotherly love , relief and truth . There is a very common ancl prevalent idea amongst the uninitiated that the doors of Freemasonry are flung wide open , and that all men are attracted to it by the invitation hung over its portals of
" Come , and welcome . " In some measure , this is true , for Freemasonry is as free as the air we breathe , or the water we drink , ancl all men of good repute are hailed as brethren . But the popular impression that candidates for admission to our privileges and mysteries are pressed ancl
persuaded to join the ranks is erroneous and misleading . There is no such principle recognised by the Craft as to enlist the adherence of men by recommendation , or to draw in from the outer world any but those who can boldly come and assert that they do so of their own free
will and accord , irrespective of any mercenary or other unworthy motives . On the contrary , there has ever been a disposition on the part of Masons to enforce caution , and to temper enthusiasm on the part of those who express an ardent wish to participate in the advantages peculiar to the
Fraternity . The reason of this is obvious to all who are within the pale , and who are imbued with a laudable desire for the promotion of an Order which has outlived centuries of opposition , and yet maintained its sublimity and unapproachable grandeur amongst all the institutions of the
world . Within the space of time covered by even our authentic records of the Order , kings have risen and fallen , the destinies of nations have been sealed , and even religions have changed ; ancl yet , through all these shifting scenes and altered circumstances ,
Freemasonry stands erect and alone in her statuesque sublimity , with lustre undimmed and integrity untarnished , shedding abroad her inestimable benefits upon all who come within her benign influence . Freemasonry now , as it ever did , exercises a powerful and gracious attraction
over men of thought and kindly disposition to mingle together for the promotion of those acts ancl sentiments which enter so largely into the " brighter side " of life . To cheer a brother on in his worthy enterprise , to sympathise and sustain him in failure ; to soothe him in affliction or
distress ; and to rejoice wifch him when the " good time ' has really come—these are some of the leading principles which are embodied in the tenets of the Craft , and which , as a body , Masons take a pleasure in putting into practice . Moreover , in company with these , there are peculiar traits
of character which , from the natural outcome of Freemasonry , bind men together in the closest ties of genuine brotherly love ; which makes them take a personal interest in each other ' s affairs , and in their everyday experience . Masons can , without scruple or diffidence ,
confide to each other matters which would be reticently withheld from all else in the world , knowing that all lawful secrets are safe in the sacred repository of a brother ' s breast . To any one , therefore , in worry or perplexity , it is a relief to know that near at hand there are
trusty hearts who will share his temporary anxiety , and ameliorate his difficulties , who will take an active heart and brain interest in setting matters right again , and so dissipating the clouds of doubt and despondency which had gathered so gloomily overhead . And when there is a
universal gleam of sunshine—when the path of life is bright with success , the result of work well and nobly done—who so ready to swell the chorus of joyful acclamation as those who are bound together by the five points of fellowship ? Thus , when friends meet , either for
substantial work " upon the chequered floor " or at the festivities which form its fitting afterpart , there is a heart y glow of amenity and friendliness all round such as is fco be discovered in the atmosphere of no other society , from the very fact that its festivities are brimful of genuine ,
downright goodfellowship , engendered by the teachings of the Order , and are pervaded by a thorough unity of spirit of purpose , springing from the loftiest and purest motives . Thus it is that men feel themselves " at home " in their Lodges more thoroughly than anywhere else in the world ,
save ancl excepting their own domestic circle . Even there the influence of Masonry is exercised and felt , for true Masons cannot be selfish , or monopolise the life-giving impulses which are stirred into action by the precepts taught in Lodge . They are bound to carry home to wife
Sociality And Benevolence.
and child , and to relative and friend , the calm and elevating influences which are born of the labours in which they have been employed ; and thus , in a domestic as well as a social sense , the Craft is a marvellous factor of human happiness and enjoyment .
The benevolent aspects of the Craft are known to , and acknowledged by , all who have any knowledge of the subject at all . But there is a peculiar width and comprehensiveness about Masonic charity which none can fathom except those who have carefully watched its inner working
amongst the brethren of the Order ; nor even then can its extent be approximately gauged . The kindly sympathies , the compassionate acts of men who " do good by stealth " and would " blush to find it fame , " can never be told ; and it is merely upon the public and avowed munificence of the
Craft that the world can form an opinion . And even here M asons have much of which to be justly very proud , for the Institutions of which we boast are amongst the grandest and best of their kind in the universe , and the manner in which they are supported and managed compares
favourably with any of the splendid monuments of philanthropy and benevolence of which happily in this country we possess so large a number . Both personally , therefore , and publicly , the sublime Order of which we rejoice to be members is pursuing a work upon which even an envious
world can but look with admiration . The former , as we have said , cannot be estimated , for who can tell what acts of generosity and true brotherly charity are exercised by men towards their poorer fellows who , from unforeseen circumstances of calamity and misfortune , have been reduced to
the lowest depths of poverty and distress ? Every now and then a case in point finds its way to the surface , just as a diamond might do amidst the soil , or a nugget amongst the quartz , under the hands of a digger ; bufc it is not always so . We believe there is a vast amount of charity
and timely help administered round and about us every day which can never be , nor is it intended to be , known , ancl which has its reward only in the Grand Lodge above . It is , however , a comfort and a satisfaction to all who belong to such an organisation to know and feel how vast
a work of human love and sympathy is being carried on , and that each in his own sphere has the opportunity of adding to the happiness of others , and thus fulfilling the trust accepted when the privileges and responsibilities of the Craft were conferred upon them .
The March meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held last Saturday , at Freemasons' Hall . The brethren present were Bros . Raynham W . Stewart ( in the chair ) , John L . Mather , A . J . Duff-Filer , Joyce Murray , C . F . Matier , George Cooper ,
H . H . Welch , Rev . Richard Morris , D . D . ( Head Master ) , H . Massey , Donald M . Dewar , James Moon , A . F . Godson , C . H . Webb , A . E . Gladwell , F . Adlard , H . Venn , 0 . F . Hogard , E . Baxter , W . Maple , G . P . Gillard , H . S . Goodall , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . There was only one
petition before the Committee , and after examination and consideration ifc was deferred for further enquiry . Bro . Binckes reported that in accordance with the resolution come to at the last meeting £ 1 , 000 had been invested in India Four per Cent . Debenture Stock . The Committee then adjourned .
Bro . Horace B . Marshall , CO ., has been presented with a testimonial , by several of his employes , on the occasion of his making them associates of the Young Men's Christian Association , and in recognition of the great interest he has always taken in their welfare . After warml y thanking
them , Bro . Marshall said he had been the recipient of many testimonials , bufc none had given him greater pleasure than this , as it afforded proof that there was something more than the mere question of capital and labour existing between himself and his employes .
On Wednesday evening the members of the Prosperity Lodge , No . 65 , held their audit meeting , at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , nnder the presidency of Brother J . Roberts . A very satisfactory account of the Lodge was reported . The installation of Bro . G . Schadler as W . M . will take place at the Guildhall Tavern , on Thursday , the 22 nd inst .