Masonic Relief And Impostors.

MASONIC RELIEF AND IMPOSTORS .

AS to tho opinion recently expressed by an ably conducted contemporary . — " there is no charity that has been so often imposed upon as that belonging to the Masonic Institutions ; and the probable reason for this is ,

that Masons do not parade their charity , but prefer to exercise it in secret . " We will not go to the extent of endorsing our brother's views , as wo havo no sufficient data ou which to form an opinion , but of one thing wo aro

certainthe belief that Masonic Charity is abused is a general one , and its effects disastrous in many quarters where absolute necessity exists . No matter how ready the members of the Fraternity may be to afford relief when appealed to by

those in distress , the feeling that the applicant may be unworthy of assistance always presents itself , and when an appeal is made to a Lodge it usually happens that some of those present take the opportunity of enlarging on the

prevalence of imposture , and the uncertainty of being able to get at the true facts of any case , while they warn their fellow members of the risk they run of encouraging dishonesty if they accede to the prayer of the petitioner .

Undoubtedly appeals are made by unworthy members of the Craft for assistance , as the exposure of frauds in the past have abundantly proved ; but whether these frauds are sufficiently numerous to warrant the general distrust with

which the matter is surrounded is a subject for consideration . It cannot but be denied that the discovery of one case of imposture suffices to shake the confidence of brethren for a very long time , and the evil effects are spread

over a very wide area . Now , this would perhaps justify the belief that things are not quite so bad as they are painted , and certainly not so bad as to warrant wholesale denouncement of Masonic appeals . The best of Masons

are . liable to be overtaken by misfortune , and although such a possibility may never have entered their mind when desiring initiation—much less actuated them to seek admission to the mysteries of the Order—they may at last find

themselves brought to such a condition as to be forced to appeal to some one . In such cases the ties of Freemasonry should prove as strong , even if not stronger , than any other human associations : but what are the facts ? In

nineteen cases out of twenty the motives of the petitioner would be publicly questioned—publicly so far as the members of the Lodge Avere concerned—and a slur might be cast on him which would be more hurtful even than

hunger . Is this necessary ? We cannot say it is not , but we can and do ask brethren to have a little consideration for the feelings of others , and not make unkind remarks , or recount the extent to which imposition may be

practised , without reasonable cause . If they do not know anything of the facts they should be as silent one way as they are clamorous on the other . If they cannot support the appeal from personal knowledge of the petitioner ,

they should be equally silent as to his probable faults All men have demerits as well as merits , but to re count the possible demerits , without allowing for the otliei side of the case is , to say the least , ungracious .

The whole question of Masonic relief is one to which considerable attention might be profitably directed , and one on which improvement might be attempted . It has

engaged the attention of brethren in the past , and will over remain a source of difficulty to all who desire to carry it out in accordance with the teachings of the Order . Until

Masonic Relief And Impostors.

some method can be devised of removing the general feeling of distrust which is associated with every appeal , Masonry can never afford that assistance which it should do . Proposals have been made from timo to time to

organise centres for dispensing relief , but there are many objections to such a course . The opening of an office would be as good as asking for applicants , and a difficulty would present itself when it had to bo decided who was to

repay any sums expended by the central authority . Lodges would never make themselves liable for unknown amounts or entrust their charity to — so to speak — unknown hands ; nor could the funds of

Grand Lodge be made responsible , for in that case London , and perhaps a few other large cities , would be placed on a much better footing than small Provincial towns , where Charity would still have to be dispensed by

the local almoner . Yet the fact remains that the most deserving Mason ever initiated might find himself penniless even in London and have no one from whom to ask for Masonic assistance . He might discover that Lodge s were

being held in various parts of the Metropolis , but the success of appeals to them would be very doubtful , and all because some scamp in days gone by had attempted to impose on the members of another Lodge , perhaps a

hundred miles off . This feeling of distrust can only be removed by the counteracting influence of another feelingthat imposture is easily discovered , and that the authorities are doing all that Jay in their power to expose and check

fraud . How best to acquire this feeling is , then , the question to which brethren should address themselves , and we are of opinion that something might be done towards a satisfactory solution , if they would give the subject

their consideration . A very general feeling exists that the certificate of the petitioner should be endorsed , but the adoption of such a method would be manifestly unjust . It would be hard indeed for a brother , brought

down through misfortune , to be ever after branded as a Masonic beggar , no matter to what position he might rise in after life , or what steps he might take to remove the obligation which necessity had fbi-ced upon him . But

something might be done to prevent certificates being used time after time as the principal means of cornmifctinc fraud . We would suggest that the certificate upon which the appeal had been based should be forwarded to the

authorities with brief—very brief—particulars of the relief accorded by the Lodge appealed to . A memorandum of these facts should be kept in registers provided for the purpose , and the certificate returned to its owner . If this

certificate was a frequent visitor to the recording office , inquiries should be instituted , or such other action taken as might be deemed necessary . This would not prevent first , second , or even third impositions , but it would

prevent men living on imposture—as some are supposed to do—and would eventually go far to check dishonest appeals , at the same time rendering it easier for good and true Masons to secure that benefit from the Craft which its teachings have led them to expect , should they ever be reduced to tho necessity of asking for it .

Bro . Lieutenant Henry Wright will be installed Worshipful Master of the Alliance Lodge , No . 1827 , at the Guildhall Tavern , on Wednesday , the 4 th proximo . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton P . G . S . W ., it is anticipated , will perform the ceremony .