A Merry Christmas.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS .

THE teachings of Christmastide so far coincide with those of Freemasonry that it would be a difficult matter to write anything on the subject which Freemasons have not already been taught in some part of the beautiful ritual of the Order . Peace on earth , goodwill to men , is

aptly rendered in our Masonic Principles , —Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , —and he who thoroughly acts up to either , whether he be Freemason or nofc , acts in much the same way towards his fellow-creatures . Christmastide seems to be recognised as an annual period of reunion

among those whose avocations take them apart during the remainder of the year ; old friends meet , families congregate , and generally the spirit of festivity reigns supreme . Let us hope that such will be the case with every one of our readers , to one and all of whom we cordially tender the Compliments of the Season .

The position which an editor occupies in relation to his readers is a strange one . From continual intercourse with those nearest to him , and occasional visits and introductions to those further away , he in time becomes personally acquainted with a very large number of his constituents ,

and on such occasions as the present , of all others , memories Of those he has met come most forcibly to his mind . At the present time we can picture the Masonic homes of friends in the North , East , South and West ; hoines where we have spent happy hours in the past , and

enjoyed pleasures we would fain repeat . In all of them we can picture the hearty greetings of the brethren as they part for the last time ere Christmas oomes upon them , ancl can even fancy ourselves side by side with many now far away , wending their way home to prepare for the

festivities of the season . It is indeed difficult to express our feelings on the subject . ~ A Merry Christmas appears too meagre an expression to convey all the good wishes wo desire for our friends , and yet these few words have come to be recognised , in every part of the globe , as the heartiest

desire one man can address to another . They are known to convey , not only a wish for actual merriment , but also every feeling of pleasure which life can afford : not mirth

alone , but health , comfort , enjoyment , good feeling , and a freedom from anxiety . with all its wearying surroundings . Our parting desire is , that all our readers may enjoy in the fullest sense

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A Year's Work.

A YEAR'S WORK .

IT is pleasant at the close of the year to look back upon good work done , and to feel that if all that could be desired has not been accomplished , yet results show that labour has not been in vain . The Lodge formerly , now the

Board of Benevolence , must regard their efforts with peculiar satisfaction at the end of the year ; then the sum total , so far as figures can represent it , is before them , and they can realise in the concrete what has been effected in

A Year's Work.

detail during the previous twelve months . A very interesting summary of the year ' s work of the Board of Benevo « lence is given in the Masonic Column of the Evening Neivs , and to this statement we propose devoting * a few remarks . In 1881 relief to tho amount of £ 9813 was given in 328

cases . The amount in 1882 was £ 9637 , and the number of cases 348 . During the twelvemonths jnst ended tho total grants reached £ 8675 , and tlie cases numbered 334 . It will be seen that whilo the amount voted in 1882 was nearly £ 200 less than that voted in 1881 , the number of

cases were 20 in excess . The difference between the present and lasfc year is still moro striking While the number of cases to which grants have been made are only 14 fewer this year than they were in 1882 , the money voted is nearly £ 1000 less , showing that

the Board have found it necessary to bo less generous in their gifts than they formerly were . We do nofc mean to say that they went beyond the merits of any case , nor do we accuse them of want of caution in dealing with the funds of the Board . But in fact that they

have been compelled to lower the amounts given to applicants is proof that the necessity for retrenchment has forced itself upon them . The invested capital has beon drawn upon for at least the last three years , in order to meefc fcho grants made , and although this fact may not of itself bo

sufficient to account for the reduction we have pointed out , no doubt it has operated as a check upon the more generous minds of the Board . We have so much faith in the generosity of the Craft that we believe no genuine appeal made on behalf of our Charities would fail in

getting whatever sum might be required . At the same time it is well to remember the trite old saying— " easy come , easy go , " and to revise tho necessities of each case carefully . We have no sympathy with a haggling , huckstering spirit in the cause of charity , bufc there

is a limit beyond which generosity becomes prodigality . We believe the Board of Benevolence have acted wisely in somewhat moderating their gifts , and taking the record of the year ' s work they seem to have

carried out their dnties systematically . There is nofc an exact correspondence between the number of cases and the amounts granted—that would be almost impossible ; but there is a sufficient relation between the two to show that the sums erranted bear reference to the

number of applicants . For instance , the largest sum granted was in November , when there were 40 cases relieved to the extent of £ 1 , 060 . In June there were 39 cases and the sum granted was £ 885 . In September only twelve cases were presented , and , these received

grants to the amount of £ 370 . fn July and August there were 20 cases in each month , with grants of £ 570 and £ 650 respectively , while in January there were 24 cases and £ 685 voted . These examples exhibit the equable as well as the varied character of the work dono .

At the last meeting , held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , 34 ca ^ es were presented , but one was deferred . Mosfc of them came from the country , and

amongst them were two from the United States , two from India , and one each from China , New Brunswick , and Smyrna . With the change of name from Lodge to Board has come a change of formalities ; we might say that the

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JCjJr X fe !^ ( COMFORTING ) OOOOA .