Freemasonry In Parish Affairs.

FREEMASONRY IN PARISH AFFAIRS .

rpORRENTS of virtuous indignation have more- than once JL been called down on the head of Freemasons in various parts of the country , in consequence of what may be termed the injudicious association of Freemasonry with state or public affairs .

In these days of great Masonic popularity it may perhaps be deemed impossible to keep connection with Freemasonry a close secret , but the greatest care is needed to prevent

misconception among outsiders , many of whom are wont to ascribe marvellous powers to the secret workings of the Craft ; powers far beyond what the Order confers , or what its most enthusiastic votaries even dream of securing through its

means . Bearing these facts in mind , and remembering what has taken place in the past , we are prepared for adverse criticism following the action of the Halifax Town Council , at a recent

meeting of which , as recorded elsewhere in our present issue , the Mayor decided to postpone the next Council from the 3 rd to the 4 th April , because the former date was appointed for

the regular meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , which will then assemble at Halifax , and will attract no less than eighteen of the forty-eight members of the Town Council .

Here we have the business of an important town like Halifax put back for a whole day , simply to suit the whims and fancies of a section of its Town Councillors , who are banded together by the ties of Freemasonry ; but , worse than

all this , is the knowledge thus forced upon the inhabitants of the town , that a substantial minority of its rulers are associated together in a secret manner , and think more of attending a meeting of their Brotherhood than they do of

transacting the affairs of their fellow ratepayers . These and many more awful charges we fully expect to hear made against the Councillors of Halifax , by those who always see

evil in any actions of their fellows they cannot fully understand , and are ever ready to impute unworthy motives to those who occupy any public position .

From our point of view no apology is needed for the course taken by the Mayor of Halifax , who would probably have adopted similar procedure had it been pointed out that eighteen of his fellow Councillors were likely to be absent

from a meeting of the district authority in consequence of any other function—of a public or a private character—falling ° n the same day as that on which the Council usually assembled , and if such a postponement had resulted from a

cause other than that of the meeting of a secret Society it is probable those interested would have been commended for the zeal they were displaying in the affairs of the district . But ,

as we have often said , Freemasonry is looked upon as very different to general affairs , mainly because it is something beyond the ken of the ordinary observer , and as a consequence

Freemasonry In Parish Affairs.

our Brother Councillors of Halifax may have to defend themselves against the charge of neglecting parish affairs in favour of those of Freemasonry .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE usual monthly meeting of the Board for March was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , when there was a very large attendance of Brethren . Bro . Robert Grey

President , Major General F . Gadsden and Bro . C . J . R . Tijou occupied the three chairs . The Board sat for five hours , there being a list of forty-five cases before the Brethren . The Board first dealt with the recommendations made to the Grand Master

at the last meeting , and confirmed them to the amount of £ 460 . With the new list they dealt as follows : —dismissed two , deferred ten , and to the remainder voted a total of £ 745 . Two were

referred to Grand Lodge for £ 50 each , three were recommended to the Grand Master for £ 40 each , and eight for £ 30 each . Immediate grants were made in ten instances for £ 20 each , seven for £ 10 each , and three for £ 5 each .

Alpass Benevolent Institution.

ALPASS BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE report of this institution ( of whioh Bro . J . Pittaway P . P . G . Standard B . is the Secretary ) is as follows : —In presenting the ninth annual report , the Committee has pleasure in reporting the continued and increased good work being done by this Institution ; but , while it could not reasonably expect

this year the unprecedented amount contributed to the funds last year , regret that the donations and contributions have fallen off so much as not to be in any way commensurate with the good being accomplished . The contributions from Lodges , & c , amount to the sum of £ 736 4 s , against £ 1 , 790 17 s 6 d in the

previous year ; while the interest from investments and on cash in the bank is £ 200 15 s 6 d , against £ 165 17 s 3 d last year . The amount paid in annuities is £ 52116 s 4 d , against £ 299 Is 4 d in the previous year ; while the working expenses amount to

£ 38 2 s lOd , against £ 43 4 s lid for last year . The balance of cash now in the bank is £ 2 , 031 Is 3 d , a portion of which is waiting a profitable investment . The number of contributing Lodges , & c . for the year is 67 , against 88 for last year .

A festival was held in Southport in October last , under the ' presidency of Bro . Robert Wylie P . G . D . Eng . Dep . Prov . G . M ., when there were present about eighty Ladies an & Brethren . The donations reported on the occasion amounted to £ 450 . The profit proceeds of the festival paid over to the funds of the institution amounted to eighteen guineas .

During the year fifteen more annuitants have been placed on the foundation of the Institution at a cost , in annuities , of £ 263 ; and there are now twelve more applicants , all of whom have been elected , which will make the total number of the annuitants forty-two , and the total cost , in annuities , £ 736 Is 4 d .

From the above-named figures it will be seen that unless a more liberal support be given to this Institution , the good work now being done cannot be much more increased . This would be very disappointing after the enlarged sphere of usefulness of the institution , securing its benefits to a larger number , instituted

under the new code of bye-laws . Therefore , it is hoped that the Brethren geuerally will lay this matter to heart , and not allow its progress to be interrupted for the want of funds . At the same time , the committee would venture to suggest to th 6

respective Lodges that a more careful investigation of each applicant ' s circumstances be made , so that the funds may be equitably disbursed , and thus promote the true objects of the Institution . — " Liverpool Mercury . "