A Call To Duty.

A CALL TO DUTY .

" What pity is it That we can die but once to serve our country !" THE sentiment referred to by Addison in the words we here quote has tound a place in the heart of many

Englishmen since his time , and probably at no period in the history of our country has it been more general than during the past year , when all classes of the community have evinced a

willingness to make great and frequent sacrifices to uphold the dignity and reputation of the empire , even to the extent —as many brave volunteers have shown—of sacrificing their life , if need be , to support their Sovereign .

Addison lamented we could die but once to serve our country , but it may be pointed out that it is not always necessary to offer one ' s lite to prove one ' s loyalty ; and it is probable that as much of our success in South Africa , since me outbreak of hostilities there , can be traced to sacrifices on the part of individuals not actually engaged in the fight

as to any other cause ; but even those sacrifices have been surrounded with a certain amount of splendour , and have called forth popular enthusiasm , which is wholly unknown in connection with many events of almost equal importance in everyday life , and which , it is safe to say , count for almost

as much as actually dying to serve one ' s country . In view of the frequency with which these sacrifices are to be met with on every side we think the idea of the famous poet , expressed in the lines we have quoted , might have been differently and far more appropriately given , for while it is

literally true that we can die but once to serve our country , it must also be remembered that sacrifices of great moment may continuously be made for the same purpose . The present affords a special opportunity of applying this argument Masonically , as the English Craft is face to

face with an emergency that can only be surmounted by sacrifices ; but it would be most unwise to urge that these sacrifices should be of such a nature as is contemplated in our text . The Craft is asked to supply a large amount for the actual requirements of the time in connection with the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , but it is by no means desirable that in doing this the Craft should die to serve the cause—rather will the end best be served by such a judicious

display of strength as shall not overtax the Order for the future , when we may reasonably expect equally heavy claims will be made , and equal sacrifices needed for the good of the cause it is now our province to plead for .

In former years we have spoken of the Benevolent Institution of the Craft as " Our First Care , " and coming as it does at the commencement of each new year the claims of the Festival of this Institution may really be so considered .

And not only should the needs of the splendid Charity be regarded as the first care of the Craft in this new year , but , in view ot particular facts which may be quoted in connection with its present position , it should be also regarded as the " special" care of our Brotherhood at the present time .

In speaking of the claims the three Masonic Institutions have upon members of the Craft it is unusual to make comparisons between either of the Funds which may in any way be regarded as actually detrimental to others , but we think a word may be said in this connection as to the large number

of ^ approved candidates waiting to be elected to the benefits of the Benevolent Institution , with but very few vacancies . Happily the proportions are not so widel y different in the cases of the two Educational Institutions ; there election

can generally be secured in six or twelve months , whereas with the old people as many years may elapse , if death does not first come to claim the candidate . This fact alone is quite sufficient to justify special consideration at the moment , but

A Call To Duty.

there are other very good reasons why the members of the Craft should lend a kindly ear to the appeals of the Stewards and others who are working on behalf of the Festival to be held on the 27 th inst , not the least being the large amount the Institution is actually pledged to distribute year by year ,

the one item of Annuities alone taking upwards of £ 17 , 000 per annum , distributed among nearly five hundred aged Masons or their Widows , without any adequate assured income from invested capital or other source , the main point of reliance being that of Voluntary Contributions , which , as may be imagined , may vary from numberless outside or other

causes . It is gratifying to find that His Majesty the King , with his well known sympathy in the work of the Masonic and other Charitable Institutions , does not desire that the mourning for the late Oueen should interfere with the coming

Festival , more than can be helped ; and that as a consequence tne original date decided upon is to be adhered to for this year ' s celebration , which will accordingly be held on the 27 th instant , under the presidency of the Earl of Warwick Deputy Grand Master of England Provincial Grand Master of Essex .

That the event may prove a success is the wish of every Brother who has even the slightest knowledge of what the Institution is doings—that it may be more than a success we earnestly hope , as it would be a blessing in this the first year of the beloved Grand Master ' s reign as King of Great

Britain if the Committee of this Institution saw its way to ; increase the number of its Annuities , a thing they are most anxious and ever willing to do , provided the Craft supplies the funds whereon to safely undertake fresh responsibilities for the future . May such a result be rendered possible by the outcome of the coming Anniversary Festival .

Freemasonry in these days suggests nothing of consequence to anybody but Freemasons . It is a kind of mild Brotherhood , held together by banquets and benevolence , and it is in respect of this latter characteristic that the King held the Office of Grand Master while Prince of Wales . Were

there any other significance of special political , social , or religious character , such as it has at times assumed in other countries , certain it is that no member of the Royal Family could hold office in the organisation . In past times the Freemasons have come under the ban of the Roman Catholic

Church , and been jostled by Governments . On the Continent to-day , the prevalent sentiment inside the organisations is democratic , and tends to free thought in politics and religion . In this country the Freemasons are chiefly notable for their

loyalty , their charity , and the amplitude and frequency of their banquets . The Duke of Connaught is to be nominated for the Grand Mastership , and doubtless will know how to fill the position worthily . — " Outlook . "

# # An interesting ceremony took place at a meeting of the St . John Lodge , No . 601 , at the vVrekin Hotel , Wellington ,. Salop , on Friday , 1 st inst . There was a large attendance of members , including Bro . Rowland Millington P . M ., who

altogether unexpectedly received from the Worshipful Master Bro . W . Crosskey a costly and handsome silver bowl , subscribed for by his fellow members in recognition of his completion of forty years membership . The Worshipful Master alluded in the most flattering terms to Bro . Millington

as a Freemason , and the attributes he possessed , which made him esteemed by a very large circle of friends . Bro . Shepard P . M . endorsed the sentiments of the Worshipful Master , in language well suited to the occasion . Bro . Millington , in repl ying , expressed himself as both surprised and gratified ,