Money, Morals, And Expenditure.

MONEY , MORALS , AND EXPENDITURE .

EREEMASONRY , in the public mind , is associated with the belief that its members must necessarily be wellto-do or wealth y men . This idea was stronger a few years ago than it is now , owing to the fact that the Craft was confined to the few . Now the many join its ranks , in

proportion as trade has blessed them , or ambition fired them . The possession of money in greater abundance than was formerly possible , the spirit of imitation of the follies and

fashions of the upper classes , has wrought a change which has affected society at large , and Masonry in particular . If education had progressed at the same rate as had the accumulation of wealth , there would have been fewer evils

to deplore than now exist . Money has been made more a god of than ever , and the worshippers of the golden calf have increased and multiplied beyond all precedent . The growth of this class is one of the peculiar signs and dangers of tbe times . They are not educated in the better sense of

the term . They are ignorant of vital matters affecting conduct and the higher virtues ; showy and anxious to be considered gentlemen . They are often illiterate , they despise the cultivated mind , or use it so far as it can minister to their vanity and pleasure , and spend their wealth in an

ostentations manner , believing that tbe outward sign of power is the one thing needful . Such men are the gloss of society ; they are smooth and shiny on the surface ; beneath they are covered with spots and patches that impair the wholesome character of the whole man . So

great has been the progress of this class that they may be said to have leavened the mass of the community , to have stamped it with tbe sign of Mammon , and made its worshippers the slaves oE fashion and luxury . Under such influences society has changed its character , and

appearances are ranked before comfort , and vulgar show before retiring modesty . All classes have been more or less affected by the development of this moral and social canker , and it is almost impossible to thrive now-a-days and be modest . A man to live must identify himself witb the times , must abandon much that used to be considered

necessary and virtuous ; but which is now dabbed oldworld and sentimental , fit only for enthusiasts and saints . Freemasonry has suffered in consequence of the change that has come over society . The growth of the Order at one time was slow and sure ; of

late years it has been rapid . When the Prince of Wales became Grand Master the Craft assumed an importance m popular minds it had hitherto failed to hold , and men rushed witb all the ardour of the slaves of fashion to become members . The question of fitness was lost in the

prospect of prosperity , and Masonry became vulgarised to such an extent as to cause alarm to the more thoughtful bre thren , who perceived the danger of externals absorbing the higher qualities of the Order . These happily still exist , and have power ; to their influence must be attributed

all that is best in the Institutions . Tbe great body , howler , have deteriorated , their moral and intellectual status has declined , and the fashion now is to estimate persons and things by their money value . Worshipful Masters mnst

be showy men , and have pretensions to position and money ; an d he who can introduce most members to a Lodge is counted the more worthy of approval . At ono time it was a cardinal creed that no one should be asked , much less

Money, Morals, And Expenditure.

pressed , to join the Masonic body . The theory still exists , in practice it is a sham . Men do ask others to become Freemasons , and , as a rule , they aro not careful to inquire as to the fitness of thoir protegees . Masonry by this means becomes popularised and degraded . The high motive that

should inspire a seeker after truth , as exemplified in a grand philosophy , is too often lacking ; hence the beauty of the Craft , the noble teaching of its ceremonies , the mystery that surrounds its origin , and the inexhaustible charms

of its history , are confined to the few . Some advance has been made in the esoteric study of the Order , and now and then new light is thrown upon the past ; but the present partakes of the vices of the age , and these are occasionally intensified by exceptional circumstances .

Although the shoddy spirit prevails , there is yet a large element of chanty in the Craft . There is no reason to complain of the amount of money subscribed to the various benevolent movements . It is creditable to Masons to know that nowhere in the world can their Charities be

matched for extent or liberality . The complaint is , that there is danger of being too generous , of incurring an outlay too great to be borne , and of stimulating ambitions that cannot be gratified . How great this danger is can be observed in the plans and schemes that are continually being laid

before tbe brethren . There is a feeling in the minds of many that the children in the Schools , for instance , are being overeducated , rendered unfit for the stations in life which they will most likely fill , and made discontented , because disappointed members of society . It is a singular

phenomenon , but nevertheless the truth , that the curriculum of the Schools has been raised , while the mental and moral qualities of the Craft cannot be said to be improved . Solid learning is a good thing , it is nearly a perfect blessing when accompanied by a modest disposition . But when

education is made the basis of show , of fashion and selfish ambition , it is more likely to be an evil i- ; . & n . a good . The idea of possessing something better 1 ) . * . : anybody else , of showing to the world what a grand thing Masonry is , has led to assumptions and practices more befitting the

aristocracy than the middle and lower middle classes of the community . The tendency of the age is to overeducation , to the development of the mind at the cost of morals and health , and the Masonic Schools are in clanger of falling into the same error . Some say it is a mistake to

educate boys and g irls above the station the great bulk of them must inevitably occupy ; and it may be folly in the case of the Masonic Schools , when so many children are waiting to be admitted . The great end should be to make the Schools applicable to the classes for whom

they are intended , to embrace as many as possible , and to give a sound practical education , leaving the adornments of the superstructure to be added hereafter , when those who desire them will know how to obtain and appreciate them . The same spirit that would lavish money in the

education of the children is observed in other directions . It is proposed to be generous" in a particular case , and to grant Miss Davis , the head Mistress , a sum of fifty pounds towards expenses incurred hy her during her late severe illness . It is never pleasant for an able and sensitive officer to have his or her claims brought

before tho public , and he is no friend who , in season and out of season , seeks to play tho generous part with other people ' s money . It ia not a question of Miss Davis ' s