Restricting The Institutions.

RESTRICTING THE INSTITUTIONS .

DURING the last few days a peculiar question has arisen in connection with the regulations of the two Educational Institutions of the Craft , and although at first blush it appears

perfectly easy of solution , we think it will prove to be a very difficult matter to deal with to the satisfaction of all , while it is all but certain to open up side issues that will have a material effect on the future of those funds , and through

them on the Charity of the Order as a whole . The boast of Freemasonry has always been that in all matters concerning the Craft its members are equal with each other . All meet upon the same level , and prince or peasant

must leave , for the time being , social rank outside the door of the Lodge , in order to work on equal terms within it . To attempt to upset this feature would be to attack the very foundation of Freemasonry , and although the question of

equality may sometimes require to be a trifle elastic in actual practice , no one can say that Freemasons are not true to this , the chief of the principles they profess , and that within the

portals of the Lodge the Craft becomes a powerful leveller of mankind , putting all its members on an actual equality , and conferring equal rights and privileges upon them .

While we recognise this feature in Freemasonry proper it is perhaps too much to expect that it shall be also adopted in all that concerns the work of the Order , for although perfect equality is very desirable it does not seem

capable of being carried out m connection with undertakings that have to be carried on on purely business lines , as is the case with the three great Institutions of England , although

even with them there has always been a desire to adopt the equality characteristic of Freemasonry , and make their benefits equally attainable by all who through calamity or misfortune are compelled to appeal for assistance .

From time to time amendments in the Rules have been

introduced , many of them having a tendency to restrict the working of the different Funds , and make their benefits more difficult of acquisition to those without numerous influential friends , and although these restrictions may be excused on the

plea of necessity they are none the less open to question , and in many cases have led to strenuous opposition—opposition that in some quarters has led to the establishment of independent Funds

which , rightly or wrongly , we regard as a growing menace to the central Institutions , and the rock on which they will ultimately come to grief , or suffer considerable modification in position compared with that they at present occupy .

The question at issue at the moment has been taken up in connection with both the Girls and the Boys Institutions , the Petitions Committees of which have rejected candidates on the ground that the father had ceased to be a subscribing member o £

his Lodge for many years before the birth of the would-be candidates . At first blush this appears a fair and equitable decision to arrive at , but we fail to see anything in the rules of the Institutions giving such discretion to the Committees ,

Restricting The Institutions.

and probably it is on that ground the whole matter is to be re-opened and further considered ; but in any case the theory here set up is a most dangerous one to deal with , and if it is

ultimately adopted it will probably open the way to other restrictive measures that will virtually aim the death blow , at the principle of equality in connection with this particular adjunct of Freemasonry .

It would be very interesting to analyse who it' is finds the money year by year for the great Charities of the Order . We are aware that a large number of members subscribe time after time , but we believe a thorough analysis would prove

that the younger members of the Craft do more than those who have been associated with it for a longer period . More often than not it is the initiate who is strongly urged to support the different funds , and we believe that in a large

proportion of cases the appeal is successful during the first year or two of a Brother ' s career in Freemasonry . Then again , if we analyse the scource from which Lodges provide the grants they are enabled to make it must be admitted it is

the Initiate again that does the lion ' s share of the work , for there are very few Lodges that would have much to give away in the cause of charity if they relied on subscriptions alone , as the current expenses are seldom less than the receipts under that head .

And how do the Institutions repay this generosity on the part of the younger members of the Order ? By making , or seeking to make , restrictions which debar the juniors from seeking the assistance of the different Funds , and thereby

placing their benefits almost out of the reach of those who did so much to provide them . We are aware that restrictive measures can be justified on different grounds , not the least important being the absolute necessity of placing some check

on the flow of candidates , so as to allow all a fair prospect of ultimate success , but the more restrictive the rules of the Institutions are made the more difficult will it become to secure support for them—even if it is not absolutely unfair to

ask a Brother to support a Masonic Institution which he ultimately discovers is hampered with all manner of restrictions , and instead of being founded on the Masonic principle of equality , is really intended to only benefit a section of the Brotherhood .

It must not be supposed we are disagreeing with what has been done in this matter ; what we desire rather to do is to direct public attention to it , and help to secure the attention it seems to require at the hands of the Craft . We should be very

sorry to see more restrictive measures adopted than at present govern the Institutions , and as oi necessity any action in the direction referred to would tend to such a restriction it may be inferred we are opposed to the whole principle of the change

which it has been sought to bring about . But in saying this we wish it to be distinctly understood we want to hear the arguments that can be adduced on the two sides of the question , and we imagine there are very many others who are equally anxious on this point .