The Quebec Correspondence.

differently in Masonry and that , afc all events , if thoy could not manage to rub along comfortably together , they conld contrive to leave each other alone . What our Grand Lodge wishes is to go on its way quietly , not interfering in any wav with Quebec , its rights and privileges iind

powers , and at the same time not being interfered with by it or any other Grand Lodge . Its conduct has been dignified and disinterested throughout . It is its duty to uphold its three Lodges in Montreal , and wo are very

strongly impressed with the belief that it will go on upholding them , even though Quebec may discharge its whole armoury of popguns and finish up by finding itself disestablished as a Masonio power by tho laws of the State in which it lives and in which it fulminates its anathemas

against Lodges that are le jally established . We have no wish that Qnebec should suffer for its wrongheadedness , nor is it likely that our Grand Master will take any further steps than he has done to vindicate tho dignity of our Grand Lodge . But we would seriously ask Qnebec if the game it seems desirous of playing is worth

the candle . Will it bo stronger if by any possibility , which is not likely to happen , our three unwilling English Lodges are forced to join it ? Is it wise for a G . Lodge , which is not even a legally-established body , to enter into

a state of antagonism for a purely imaginary grievance with tbe oldest and most powerful Grand Lodge in tho world ? These are points which we take the liberty of submitting to the serious consideration of the Quebec Grand Lodge .

What Can I Do ?

WHAT CAN I DO ?

INHERE is a trite story about the Quaker who , mingling in a crowd that stood round an unfortunate man who had met with an accident , and who were loud in their expressions of sympathy , exclaimed , "I feel sorry ten pounds . Friend , how much do you feel sorry ? " The narrative admits of very apposite comparison with the

members of the Masonic Brotherhood , the bulk of whom , while applauding the noble self-sacrifice of a few of the more large-hearted amongst them , never ask themselves the question which heads this article . Ifc was our dut y , last week , briefly to call attention to a motion submitted fco

Grand Lodge with a view to exercise some hard and fast line in regard to what a worthy Brother was pleased to designate " Masonic Mendicancy . " And , much as we all must abhor and detest the spirit of the man who would fatten on the sympathetic spirit of the benevolent , we

repeat that to invent a means of circumventing and bringing within official cognisance the practice of private charit y would be impracticable . Moreover , ifc would tend more than anything else could do to dam up the flow of that individual exercise of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth

which are the very foundation of our Institution . Ifc may be true—indeed , it has been frequently demonstratedthat there are many men who have disgraced their profession by levying black-mail upon unsuspecting and generous brethren , whose munificence they have abused

and whose confidence they have violated . But , in our judgment , such men are few in number , and ' we would rather turn in another direction and ask how many are there , amongst the struggling masses of humanity , to whom a generous thought or action would Be the revival

of hope , if not the raising of life ? Can ifc be doubted thafc there are around us , unseen , and uncared-for , many a deserving brother who , from unseen circumstances of calamity and misfortune , has been reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress ? Such men as these are too

retiring or too proudl y reticent even to look askance at the hand of charity , and so they plod along life ' s dreary way unnoticed and neglected . They have seen " better days , " no doubt , and in the words of old hymn writers , "to beg they are ashamed . " Yet , heaven

knows , the opportunities for bestowing a little of the surplus substance are not wanting , if we would only look around , with our simple little inquiry in the mind ' s eye . The " merry " season of Yuletide is at hand ,

and with it come all the proverbial expansions of soul and heart and purse which have formed the themes of poets , painters , and writers in all ages , during the last eighteen centuries . It is a time when all institutions which have charity and benevolence woven into their foundations cast

What Can I Do ?

abont them ancl seek for fresh fields and pastures new , iu order to make themselves more extensively useful , to their fellow-creatures . Ancl thus , while our grand Institutions of the Craft hold revel , as they ought to do , when tho holly and tho misteltoe darkle on the walls of our

Schools , and in the happy home of the " Old Folks , " where " ago and want sit smiling within the gate , " in the enjoyment of blessings showered upon them by the bounty of the Fraternity , there may be many means whereby we could vender ourselves and others still more happy by

ascertaining some deserving object of consideration at this season of the year . Wo are aware there are very few of the " Old Scrooge" type amongst Masons . If a deserving case could bo pointed out to them thero wonld be a response thafc would cheer fche most

ardent philanthropist by its very alacrity . But where to find them ? There will be no cringing mendicant or whining impostor within the scope of such an outflow of beneficence as this . As a rule , the comparatively insignificant few who wonld , if they could , feed on the vitals of

a Craft they have done little to support , even in their palmy clays—if ever they enjoyed any—slink into obscurity and hide their faces beneath the fierce light thafc beats aronnd the footstool of true ancl open-handed Benevolence . Such men lurk in unsuspected places , and only make their

spring , tiger-like , when they see a favourable opportunity of fleecing the susceptible and the kind . But there are few cases in which they can pursue their nefarious calling very far , and it must be left to the discrimination of individuals to discern tho " Ichabod" which is so palpably

written on their foreheads . It is ot no use to try and institute a Charity Organization Society within the pale of Freemasonry . Happily , the good deeds thafc are done , under the guidance of fche Great Architect of fche Universe ,

are in strict accordance with the grand tenets of onr Order . There are no painful or inquisitorial searchings into the inner life or private character—no brand of Charity upon those who are relieved by the generous-hearted of fche Craffc . Tho recollections of the " north-east" corner stand out

prominently in the mind of every Mason when ho discovers a poor brother needing ancl deserving his pity ; and what power on earth could stay the impulses of men thus imbued with the proper spirit of Freemasonry ? At this time especially , when employment is scarce , and the race of life

so keen in its competition , there are men in various grades of life who find it difficult to solve the proverbial problems of how to " make both ends meet ,, " and to " keep the wolf from the door . " Men of industry and sobriety , who would work if they could get

ifc to do , and who would scorn to obtrude their miseries upon the consideration of others , aro stalking about among us with the pallor of care , if nofc of hunger , upon their countenances—who carry fche air of an independent spirit and nobility of nature , but deep down in whose hearts are

fche gnawings of well-nigh despair . These are the men whom liberal employers should seek oufc , and help to place their feet once more upon the rounds of the ladder of life . These are the men to whom a word kindly spoken , or an act of benevolence gracefully bestowed , would inspire wifch

fresh courage and hope in the midst of darkest days . It may be that wo are moralising ; but the season , as we have said , is close afc hand when the journalist feels he can stray a little oufc of the beaten path , and point a moral which may adorn a tale . And thus , we say , better a few

mendicants and impostors grovel in their miry calling than a sympathetic word or act be withheld from the infinitel y greater number who are deserving of our aid . As Tennyson says very truly , " kind hearts are more than coronets ; and simple faith than Norman blood ; " and this is a sentiment

which is peculiarly our own , thafc " Charity is twice blessed—to him who gives as well aa him who receives . " Thus , while those who are more directly exerting themselves in behalf of the great Institutions which are fcho pride and boast of our Order redouble their efforts in

this happy season that is coming , there is also a vast field for the outstretching of the bounds of private generosity and enlarging the borders of our individual impulses to do good . Let it nofc be said that any deserving brother is kept in involuntary idleness , struggling vainly in the

world of keen and unrelentless competition , nor that the poverty-stricken ones amongst us are passed by " on the other side . " There is scope in this great field of humanit y and right thought for the exercise of the most lofty and pure benevolence , if we would only look for it , and if each asks the pertinent question , " What can I do ? " There is