Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

— : o : — We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . AU Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , n necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

CHARITY STEWARDS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Having regard to the great importance of the question , the treatment of which has occupied , and happily continues to occupy , so largo a portion of your space , I confess myself amenable to tho charge of neglect in not having furnished yon with tho letter to tho absence of which somo of your correspondents

have done mo tho honour to refer in complimentary terms . If , however , brethren will only bear in mind the ceaseless demands upon time and attention—morning , noon and night—they will not withhold that indulgent consideration I venturo to ask at thoir hands . The "fourth letter" was completed two or three weeks since , with tho vital exception of statistics , which I prepared somo time ago , but

which I have unfortunately mislaid , and have not , at presont , either the means or the leisure to reconstruct . Meanwhile , let me offer a few remarks on the recent letters which have appeared in your columns . It was not to bo expected that the modus operandi , so actively and energetically adopted by Bro . Dick Rndclyffe would pass without criticism , or escape censure . There

was never yet lacking an excuse for not giving—thero is nothing easier than to find a justification for your own shortcomings by condemning the action , and by misconstruing the motives of those who are persistent in their efforts in a direction you are determined not to approve . No ono has ovor ventured to say that the only merit in Freemasonry is in almsgiving . But I for one will venturo

to say that those who , with tho means to give ( I cannot fix the amount ) , studiously declino from year to year to contribute to our Charities , not only neglect tho fulfilment of obligations they ostentatiously accepted , but provo their utter inability to recognise or appreciate the truo prompter of Freemasonry ! I do not deny their observance of " Truth " ( but " what is Truth ? " ) as it is in

them ; but of " Brotherly Lovo" and "Relief" they can havo no realising conception . " If I seo my brother havo need , and shut np , "—I enro not whether my " compassion" or my purse , — how dwelleth a real lovo of Frcornasoury in me ? Your correspondent " DKUX EroiLKs"is exceedingly hard upon those who , like Bro . Radclvfl ' e and others , feel it their highest

duty to substitute deeds for professions , nets for words , and to devote themsolves to tho work of inducing others to do likewise . But whero is the necessity for this ? where is to bo found a single argument in support of a denunciation of practical philanthropy , and its zealous advocates . Surely those who , like deaf adders , wilfully stop their ears against tho appeals on behalf

of the aged , the widow , and the fatherless , may rest couteut with keeping their money , and with refusing co-operation in helping those who cannot help themselves , without thinking it incumbent upon them to denounce in strong terms those who feci and do differently from themselves ! An appeal , however urgently pressed , is not a demand—a request , howover forcibly embodied , is not a levy

—concession in both cases is entirely optional . The Brother who is " NOT TOO MUCH MUDDLED " is quite right when he speaks of " the necessity of harping upon tho snbject of donations . " It is unfortunate perhaps that this necessity must be recognised , but for all that yon cannot escape from it , and while no doubt it is exceedingly unpalatablo to the "lofty minded , " tho

niggardly , and tho indifferent , thero can be no relaxation , if the needs of onr Institutions aro to be adequately provided for . I fear " A MASONIC ENTHUSIAST , " who heads his communication " Charity ; is it Giving ? " is a type of a very largo class of members of our Order . Bnthowam I to understand his claim to be reckoned as " A MASONIC Enthusiast ? " His own belief in himself is evidently

sincere . " With me Masonry is a hobby , and I havo taken it np for somo years with zeal in all its branches , and dono more work both in ritual and organization as well as official drudgery and routine than one Brother in five hnndred , judging from observation . " Passing over what looks to mo like a tingo of the spirit of one of the " two men who wont up , " not the publican , I must demur

to the assertion of " zeal" in all the branches of Freemasonry ; because annually " giving charity" is one , nnd a very important one of the branches of Freemasonry . That your correspondent is an " enthusiast , " I readily admit , ho tells ns of his recognition of every claim upon him except that of Masonic charity . " His church , " " half a score of local societies , " " private relief , " having

satisfied all which he , " finds that his income will not permit him to qualify in our Masonic Charities . " Has it never occurred to onr enthusiastic brother that it would be consistent with the character he assumes to allow these various claims iu some one given year to be subservient toother claims at least equally deserving , and which , with the knowledge an enthusiastic study of his Masonic profession must

necessarily have brought with it , he muss bo aware , ought to occupy more of his attention , and to share more largely in his benefactions than they evidently have hitherto done ? All Masons point with prido to onr noble Institutions , thongh the majority do not contribute to their support . In my humble judgment , the efforts of those who labourj to reduce this majoritv are

Correspondence.

worthy of all praise , and if persevered in will I am confident meet with reward . Yours fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES , London , 11 th November 1878 .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —What conrse of reasoning is to be followed in making comparison between the remarks of Bro . Dick Radclyffe in CHRONICLE of the 9 th inst . ? Are these subdued ideas really to be read and judged with those not only in tho circular letter but the epistle from onr brother in

yours of the 26 th ult . ? In the latter he coolly suggests that Lodges be compelled to give one . third—or , as ho puts it , " compelled to subscribe one-third of their subscriptions . " Add to this suggestion his crude and ill-digested words , such as" reproach and disgrace , " indiscriminately applied to the Craft in

the circular lotter , with its general self-sufficient tone , lead me to tho safe conclusion , that in correspondence it is quite possible "Arrogance" ( tho word is not my own ) may with vory delusive ideas bo expressed withont intention or knowledge of tho writer . This is tho only theory to bo adopted in fair comparison of the letters in question , an I ono I am inclined to believo will be admitted by Bro .

Radclyffe . These unfounded imputations against a generous Fraternity call for withdrawal , a body who , by their uuited aid , givo freoly and liberally to thoir Institutions , and that by volnntary effort . These large gifts to the Charities , be it remembered , are free , distinct , and wholly independent of tho monies paid by tho Craft ( by right ) to Grand Lodge ; again , bo it remembered that a large proportion of

this money is voted by tho Board of Benevolence and Grand Lodgo to suffering brethren , and to distressed members of the Craft and their belongings . To say nothing of tho largo sums now and again voted by Grand Lodgo for purposes outside the pile of Masonry . Evil will be tho day when a Mason's charity ( save the mark ) is

brought about by " compulsion . Its teachings and very first principle are freedom of thought and action , whilst these teachings , when followed , produco the healthy and vigorous development of this freedom , and , used in right direc tions , aro tho parent of that best of all virtues , the virtue taught by Christ—viz .: " Charity of thelleart . " Much could—and has been said

and written on this phase ; these words includo so much of all that is good and noble , and makes this world worth living for ; tho milk of human kindness hero displayed , bringing about that Charity of individual combined action , doing tho largest amount of good possit . le for tho greatest number . This I maintain is part of the good work done by the Craft . Tho genius of Masonry was never at any time intended to

make mere pocket Churifcy its first and paramount object , but chanty in that sonse is tho ontcome of its work , and follows as a natural result . Let , therefore , tho first real principles of Masonry have full , fair play and cultivation , nover will fear then exist of its Charities , as embodied by our Institutions , being in a drooping or languishing state for want of active support and the real sympathy of tho Cralt .

Indiscriminate giving is tno bane of society ; enrich a charitable in . stitntion beyond its requirements , yon at once tend to breed claimants , and not only claimants but a race of paupers are created . Our Institutions are doing good work , and require tho energetic aud earnest support of the Brotherhood to maintain their efficiency in tho support of all legitimate candidates as they are elected . Funds

for this purpose the Craft have hitherto ungrudgingly given . Tho very large accession to the ranks of tho Or Ier during lato years has not been an unmixed good , at least it naturally has brought increased nnmbers asking aid from the Charities , but who with truth can say that Lodges , Chapters aud individuals forming Masonry have not honoured this increased demand by timely and liberal donations ,

finding the necessary fnnds to enable the Institutions to meet increased expenditure , and , I maintain , supporting the Charities in their present prosperity . I This may be seen in the largely augmented annual incomes of each of the Charities year by year increasing . A time of commercial depression may , —perhaps , has come upon ns , —it is but exceptional .

Fear not ; the Craft will ever raise sufficient to meet all claims their Charities are pledged to , with a surplus . I believe it is an undoubted fact , were the income of each of the Charities doubled tomorrow wo should have the nnmber of candidates trebled ; nnd at least one-third of them undeserving , or , to say the least , that propor . tion should never have been brought forward , their only claim (

unfortunately for the Craft ) is in being tacked on to the skirts of Masonry , and brought forward with clamour to the exclusion of real distress , which often hides its sorrows in silence for want of tho helping hand . Having had repeated opportunities of investigating cases which have been elected to one or other of the Charities , I assert , at least tho proportion named ought not to have been admitted to the exclusion of

those more deserving . Hence , find the funds for the liberal support of tho Charities in their present state of efficiency , and allow for a natural increase . After this , leave well alone ; be cautious how you hold forth a premium to—may I say , pauperism . In conclusion , I ask why all this clamour as to the distressed state of tho Charities , and alleged indifference of the Craft to their wants ? Is the case so bad , as to justify the absurd theory of " compulsion . "

Every Mason who is a practical worker , both within and without Lodge , knows well to the contrary ; but ho will also know that to accumulate the very large amounts necessary for the well-being of the Charities , the best machinery for the purpose is a Board of nergetic Stewards . Honour to those brethren who , at the sacrifice of time , labour nnd money , fill tho office with credit to themselves and profit to the Charities . Those who undertake the office from pure motives of doing good for poor suffering" humanity will not stop to