Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Charities Outside The Three Institutions.
MASONIC CHARITIES OUTSIDE THE THREE INSTITUTIONS .
I . THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND . IN commencing a series of articles under the above heading we are actuated by a desire in place on record as complete a summary as is
possible of what is actually being done by those associated with the Masonic Order in the discharge of that all-important principle of Freemasonry—the practice of Benevolence . It will also be onr
endeavour to show what is accomplished in various parts of the country , and by comparing different results to arouse a desire for activity in those quarters which are now behindhand , and a spirit of emulation among those already working in the good cause .
To those wno nave passed a lew years ot activity among our Masonic Lodges , or who have had special opportunities of judging of the numerous and widespread organisations of the Order , it may not be necessary to say much to prove that the Charity of
the Brotherhood does little more than commence with the support accorded to the three great Institutions of the Craft ; but there are others who know little of the working of Freemasonry outside their own particular Lodge or district , and others
againparticularly those who have not sought admission to the Order , or who are not eligible to become members —who do not even know of the existence of any Masonic Charity Funds outside those of Grand Lodge ,
tne JKoyal Masonic institution lor Uirls , the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . To these latter we may at once say there is hardly a district in England but
has a particular Fund or Committee of Benevolence , working in the name of Freemasonry , with the hope and desire of alleviating the distress which seems inseparable from the human race , and which is as
prevalent withm the Order as outside it . We believe no attempt has yet been made to gather particulars of these outside Charities into a collected form , and in now undertaking the task we are alive to the fact that it is useless to even hope our record will be a complete one ; it would be impossible to arrive at anything like a true return without inquiring into the
inner working ol every private Lodge m the Kingdom , for however elaborate a list of public funds might be , it must not be forgotten that a large number of Lodges and Chapters have Benevolent or other Funds of their own , especially established and devoted to the cause
of Charity , and from many of which grants are made from time to time throughout the year , which are only known to the members of the Lodge or Chapter concerned , and which could never be even estimated for a general summary . Besides this there is hardly a Lodge but at some time or the other is called upon to spend a portion of its funds in the ex-
Masonic Charities Outside The Three Institutions.
ercise of benevolence , and in justice this ought to be included in our summary , but for reasons already given it is quite impossible to enumerate the various amounts , or even give an estimate of what they come to in the course of a year . It must therefore be understood that the particulars we supply under this
heading refer only to such Funds as may be described as being of a public character ; contributions to the three great Institutions of the Craft , as well as individual or private Lodge benevolence being in no way included in our returns .
In giving the premier place and starting our summary with the Mark Benevolent Fund a few words of explanation seem to be necessary . We are aware the work accomplished by this Fund may be regarded as somewhat insignificant when compared with what is
going on in various districts of England to which we shall refer later on , but the Mark Benevolent Fund is essentially a cosmopolitan one—its benefits being open to all Mark Master Masons under the English
Constitution , as well as to their widows and orphans . If it is not doing as much under its three branches as a National Fund might be expected to accomplish , viewed in comparison with what is going on in some of the larger Provinces , it must be remembered
the Mark Fund is ol modern foundation , its earliest records only going back to the year 1869 , when its first Festival was held , and its objects were of even more limited extent than at present . The Mark Benevolent Fund is divided into three
branches : —the Benevolent , the Educational , and the Annuity , and all contributions received are equally apportioned between the three sections . The Benevolent Branch , for relief and benevolence , is under the control of the General Board , who have
discretion in regard to the disposal of all amounts under £ 20 ; sums above that requiring confirmation by Grand Lodge . After deducting a share of the expenses of the Fund , & c , and paying the various
grants which have been authorised from time to time , there remained a balance on this branch of the Fund at 31 st March last of £ 2 , 238 19 s 3 d , of which amount £ 2 , 000 was invested . The Educational Branch has for its object the education and clothing of the children of Mark Master
Masons eligible for assistance , at grammar or other schools in the vicinity of the parents' or guardians ' residences . At the present time thirteen boys and thirteen girls are being educated by annual grants
from this Fund , and by a vote of Grand Mark Lodge on 30 th November 1886 each child receives annually a sum of £ 5 to procure necessary clothing , so that , taking into consideration the various amounts which are being paid for tuition , the total annual outlav in
this section is about £ 400 . After paying all outgoings up to the end of March last , there remained a balance on the Education Fund of £ 2 , 334 2 s 7 d , of which sum £ 2 , 200 was invested . We have already said the number of pupils receiving the benefits of this Fund
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Charities Outside The Three Institutions.
MASONIC CHARITIES OUTSIDE THE THREE INSTITUTIONS .
I . THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND . IN commencing a series of articles under the above heading we are actuated by a desire in place on record as complete a summary as is
possible of what is actually being done by those associated with the Masonic Order in the discharge of that all-important principle of Freemasonry—the practice of Benevolence . It will also be onr
endeavour to show what is accomplished in various parts of the country , and by comparing different results to arouse a desire for activity in those quarters which are now behindhand , and a spirit of emulation among those already working in the good cause .
To those wno nave passed a lew years ot activity among our Masonic Lodges , or who have had special opportunities of judging of the numerous and widespread organisations of the Order , it may not be necessary to say much to prove that the Charity of
the Brotherhood does little more than commence with the support accorded to the three great Institutions of the Craft ; but there are others who know little of the working of Freemasonry outside their own particular Lodge or district , and others
againparticularly those who have not sought admission to the Order , or who are not eligible to become members —who do not even know of the existence of any Masonic Charity Funds outside those of Grand Lodge ,
tne JKoyal Masonic institution lor Uirls , the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . To these latter we may at once say there is hardly a district in England but
has a particular Fund or Committee of Benevolence , working in the name of Freemasonry , with the hope and desire of alleviating the distress which seems inseparable from the human race , and which is as
prevalent withm the Order as outside it . We believe no attempt has yet been made to gather particulars of these outside Charities into a collected form , and in now undertaking the task we are alive to the fact that it is useless to even hope our record will be a complete one ; it would be impossible to arrive at anything like a true return without inquiring into the
inner working ol every private Lodge m the Kingdom , for however elaborate a list of public funds might be , it must not be forgotten that a large number of Lodges and Chapters have Benevolent or other Funds of their own , especially established and devoted to the cause
of Charity , and from many of which grants are made from time to time throughout the year , which are only known to the members of the Lodge or Chapter concerned , and which could never be even estimated for a general summary . Besides this there is hardly a Lodge but at some time or the other is called upon to spend a portion of its funds in the ex-
Masonic Charities Outside The Three Institutions.
ercise of benevolence , and in justice this ought to be included in our summary , but for reasons already given it is quite impossible to enumerate the various amounts , or even give an estimate of what they come to in the course of a year . It must therefore be understood that the particulars we supply under this
heading refer only to such Funds as may be described as being of a public character ; contributions to the three great Institutions of the Craft , as well as individual or private Lodge benevolence being in no way included in our returns .
In giving the premier place and starting our summary with the Mark Benevolent Fund a few words of explanation seem to be necessary . We are aware the work accomplished by this Fund may be regarded as somewhat insignificant when compared with what is
going on in various districts of England to which we shall refer later on , but the Mark Benevolent Fund is essentially a cosmopolitan one—its benefits being open to all Mark Master Masons under the English
Constitution , as well as to their widows and orphans . If it is not doing as much under its three branches as a National Fund might be expected to accomplish , viewed in comparison with what is going on in some of the larger Provinces , it must be remembered
the Mark Fund is ol modern foundation , its earliest records only going back to the year 1869 , when its first Festival was held , and its objects were of even more limited extent than at present . The Mark Benevolent Fund is divided into three
branches : —the Benevolent , the Educational , and the Annuity , and all contributions received are equally apportioned between the three sections . The Benevolent Branch , for relief and benevolence , is under the control of the General Board , who have
discretion in regard to the disposal of all amounts under £ 20 ; sums above that requiring confirmation by Grand Lodge . After deducting a share of the expenses of the Fund , & c , and paying the various
grants which have been authorised from time to time , there remained a balance on this branch of the Fund at 31 st March last of £ 2 , 238 19 s 3 d , of which amount £ 2 , 000 was invested . The Educational Branch has for its object the education and clothing of the children of Mark Master
Masons eligible for assistance , at grammar or other schools in the vicinity of the parents' or guardians ' residences . At the present time thirteen boys and thirteen girls are being educated by annual grants
from this Fund , and by a vote of Grand Mark Lodge on 30 th November 1886 each child receives annually a sum of £ 5 to procure necessary clothing , so that , taking into consideration the various amounts which are being paid for tuition , the total annual outlav in
this section is about £ 400 . After paying all outgoings up to the end of March last , there remained a balance on the Education Fund of £ 2 , 334 2 s 7 d , of which sum £ 2 , 200 was invested . We have already said the number of pupils receiving the benefits of this Fund