Seasonable Benevolence.

SEASONABLE BENEVOLENCE .

IT would be quite impossible , we imagine , to discover who is entitled to the credit of having originated the public outbursts of Masonic beneficence met with in various parts of the country at the season of Christmas , or during the

festivities associated with the New Year , when the members of some one or more Lodges combine among themselves and provide a tea or other entertainment for the aged poor of

their district , or in some such way seek to relieve a part of the hardship that unfortunately is always so rife among the aged poor in all parts , more particularly during the cold months of winter .

We think , however , the members of the St . Kew Lodge , No . 1222 , would come in for a considerable share of any credit that might be accorded in this connection , even if it were found that this Weston-super-Mare Lodge did not

really promote the very laudable idea and start the good work which , it is gratifying to know , finds worthy supporters in many other and widely distributed quarters of the country . Certain it is that the members of No . 1222 are most regular

in the cause , and if what they do is not actually deserving of imitation as being original , it is at least so on account of the manifest good that results , and the amount of enjoyment it must afford .

Last week it was our pleasure to record this season ' s munificence of our Somerset Brethren , upwards of 330 aged poor being entertained to a high tea and miscellaneous entertainment , in addition to provision being made for others

at their own homes who were too infirm or too old to join in the general assembly . This week it is our pleasure to record similar good work from Cleckheaton , where the members of the Zetland and Friendship Lodges united in entertaining 106 old folks .

In connection with this latter gathering it seems a feature is made of inviting widows of former members of the Lodges to superintend the arrangements of the festive board , and the local paper , in reporting the proceedings , states that no less

than thirteen such widows were this year asked to undertake the duty , most of whom attended , another being represented by her two daughters . This is not only showing regard for the aged poor of the district , but also kindly consideration for

those left by former workers in the cause of Masonry , whose widows doubtless fully appreciate this annual re-union with the companions of their departed husbands , and no doubt lend a charm of old acquaintanceship to the whole

proceedingsthey themselves deriving as much pleasure from the fact that they are able to give a good meal to their fellows , as the guests do in receiving it at their hands .

We have selected these two solitary cases because they are ready at hand to illustrate our plea that Freemasonry is particularly alive at this season of the year to the wants of ethers , rather than because they are specially worthy . No

Seasonable Benevolence.

doubt we could find records of many more such cases without great trouble , were it needed , but kindly thought for those in distress—even for those outside the portals of the Craft—is no novelty among the Freemasons of to-day during

the festive season that marks the close of the old year and the advent of the new one . All the same , a contemplation of the picture presented at one of these gatherings , coupled with the desire , that almost seems to spring up naturally , to

attempt something similar in one s own district , cannot be anything but pleasing to the Brother who , having mastered the true principles of the Craft , finds it one of his greatest pleasures to endeavour to pour the healing balm of comolation into the wounds of the afflicted .

Coming nearer home we might reasonably say a word under this head in regard to the annual New Year ' s entertainment at the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , when the Annuitants in residence there are regaled with a

substantial dinner , m accordance with a custom originated by the esteemed Secretary Bro . Terry as far back , we believe , as 1874 . This year ' s entertainment at Croydon was as successful as any of its predecessors , and was attended by many of those

who have worked in the past to make this particular event one of the red letter days of the year among the residents of this truly Masonic Home . Bro . Dr . Strong presided at the dinner , and was supported by some of the most zealous

advocates of the Fund , most of the Brethren present , however , being engaged in the congenial task of waiting on the aged Annuitants , and seeing they thoroughly enjoyed what was provided for their comfort . In fact , whether we speak

of the Weston Brethren in the west , the Cleckheaten Masons in the north , or the visitors , many of them from the east-end of London Lodges , who assembled in the south at the Croydon

home of the Benevolent Institution , we have manifest evidence of the desire of Freemasons to extend to their Brothers and Sisters , who are in less prosperous circumstances than themselves , the truest and most Seasonable Benevolence .

Tips At Masonic Meetings.

TIPS AT MASONIC MEETINGS .

IT will be remembered that in the days of the great Lord Chesterfield , vails in London had reached such a pitch that it cost a man of position five or ten guineas merely to dine out . As he left the house he had to run the gauntlet of the butler and underbutiers , and half a dozen footmen . One handed him his

cane , one his hat , another his gloves , a fourth his coat , and so on , each expecting a crown in acknowledgment of his services . Lord Chesterfield saw that social intercourse was being ruined

called a meeting of the chief people in the world of fashion , and got them to agree to give nothing to the servants when they dined out . It is true he was nearly lynched by a mob of irate footmen but he carried his point .

It is said that at the present moment there is a tendency to revive the odious custom thus put down by Lord Chesterfield , and that the masher has begun to tip the man who put him into his great coat after dinner . If that is so , a clear case exists for a common agreement not to allow the infection to spread . Dining out would become a more intolerable burden than it is already