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Article THE ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS' ASSISTANCE FUND. Page 1 of 2 Article THE ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS' ASSISTANCE FUND. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.
THE ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS ' ASSISTANCE FUND .
WE should think iho feeling of opposition which has been manifested in some quarters against the establishment of a Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund will speedily bo allayed when it is known that ono of the most prominent well-wishers of the scheme has spokeu both
seriously as to tho necessity thero is for such a fund and hopefully of the good work which there will ho abundant opportunity for it to do , when it has onco been placed firmly on its legs . It was very natural thevo should have been a keen sense of disappointment excited in the breasts
of thoso who are doing their utmost to promoto tho Fund , when , at the last moment , Prince Leopold found it impossible to fulfil his promise and take tho chair at tho preliminary meeting . Such a misfortune was calculated to strengthen the position of those who were opposed to the
creation of a new , albeit a supplementary , scheme for the relief of Masonic distress . They would draw the conclusion that , if one were imperatively needed , those who had expressed themselves warmly in its favour would not be deterred by mere indisposition from joining in the initiatory
steps deemed necessary to promote it . There could not , it was argued , be much reality about a need which was so indifferently supported ; and when , in addition to this , it was found that something moro was contemplated than had , in the first place , been proposed , and that many of the
leading supporters deprecated too ambitious a project , the lukewarm became still moro faint-hearted , and the opponents gathered strength in their opposition . It v / as to no purposo that all who , with one exception , attended the first meeting expressed themselves satisfied that an
Assistance Fund was needed . In vain did Bro . Radclyffe point out that the " objects" were " suggestions " Avhich might or might not bo accepted hereafter . The proposal Avas condemned or pooh-poohed , and it was suggested that the best thing which could happen Avas for it to fall quietly
through and be no more heard of . On Friday last , IIOAVever , Prince Leopold , Avhen presiding at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , took the opportunity of expressing the very great regret he felt that circumstances had prevented his taking the chair at the first
gathering of the promoters and supporters of the Pupils ' Assistance Fund . He added that he Avas firmly persuaded that some such fund was required . He considered it would in no Avay militate against the interests of the Masonic Institutions already in existence , on the ground that
the work it Avould be called upon to do would be Avholly supplementary ; and he closed this portion of his remarks by announcing his intention of taking an active part in the establishment of the Fund whenever his engagements should allow of bis doing so . Nothing , in fact , could have
been more satisfactory than the remarks of His Royal Hig hness to which we have alluded . They gave evidence , though nothing of the kind was Avanted , that the scheme had received the Prince ' s most careful consideration , and that , in his opinion , as in that of others , it Avas the one
kind of assistance which was required m order to complete the excellent work done by the existing Institutions . As the project has DOAV been for several months before the public , and as its character and purpose have been freely discussed in these columns and elsewhere , there can be no
doubt whatever as to the leading principle of tho scheme , while the details will , as a matter of course , be left for future consideration . It is not for us , who criticise freely , to deny the rig ht of criticism to others . It may or may not be advisable to fonnd a scholarship fund with a view to
helping those pupils whose abilities may be such as to justify their being sent to one of the Universities . It may or may not be desirable to help others in obtaining commissions in the army or navy or establishing themselves in business . These are essentially matters of detail , of which
we may think and Avrite favourably , Avhile others may look upon them Avith disfavour , as gratuitous assistance Avhich is quite uncalled for . There can , however , bo no question as to the propriety of establishing a means for helping pupils at Avhat Lord Rosslyn has very properly described
as the most critical period of their lives , provided , of course , they are , in the first , place , in need of such assistance , and , in the next , that during their career at school they have by their diligence and good conduct shown themselves deserving of it . ISTor do Ave think it possible , Avhen tho matter has been duly considered , that
The Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.
anv people -will ho found to object seriously to the further proposition that aid should bo extended to unsuccessful candidates for the benefits of our Institutions , provided they , too , are worthy and conduct themselves well . They have been accepted , after duo inquiry , as fit subjects for our
relief , and it is the fortune of tho ballot-box , not any fault of their own , Avhich prevents their obtaining those benefits . Their lot is certainly to be commiserated , and if their disappointment can be alloviated and their future prospects iu life brightened hy tho judicioii 3 expenditure of a few
pounds , are sure thero are no Masons who AVIII grudge them so modest a benefit . However , without further entering into a discussion of matters which are purely subordinate , wo may lay it down Avithout much hesitation that the want of a new and supplementary fund is pretty
generally recognised , that tho prospects of its being established become brighter and brighter every day , and that once it has been set going there Avill be very little difficult y in administering it judiciously and in accordance with the purposes for which it was founded .
It may not be out of p laco to state that considerable progress is being mado in the arrangements for holding a Fancy Fair and Bazaar in furtherance of the proposed Institution . Promises of help are being constantly received from all quarters . Some are anxious to keep stalls , others
are ready to furnish them , and others again show equal alacrity in their desire to promote the entertainments which will form a leading feature of the Fair , which , by the way , Avill be formally inaugurated under the most favourable and influential auspices .
Wo trust after Avhat has happened during the last few days that the Craft will be as as nearly as possible unanimous in their support of a very worthy and very promising project . We do not of course advise brethren to commit themselves to details Avhich Ave have already said must be left for future consideration . All we ask of them is to
do Avhat in them lies to further a purpose which has found favour in the sight of so many of our most influential Craftsmen . It cannot bo so bad a scheme , nor can the necessity of it be in so much doubt , Avhen the Grand Masters of England , Scotland and Ireland , the Grand Masters ,
and Deputy Grand Masters of over a score of Provinces , and other leading brethren in the metropolis and throughout the country have promised it their support . There mig ht have been some reason in declaiming against it , had there been any opposition of a formidable character , that
is , if there had been arrayed in an opposing camp a force of even one-half the strength Avhich is advocating the Fund ; or leaving numbers out of the question , if there had been anything really strong in the arguments againstit . But , so far as Ave have been able to judge , the said arguments
have been really all on one side , and though exceptions have been taken to the form of details , the main idea statids out clearly in all its original excellence . If Ave were now commencing a series of articles in behalf of the Fund , we should Avisely save ourselves much time and labour by
reproducing from the columns of our contemporary the many and valuable reasons it has at different times urged in favour of this Fund . We may indeed go so far as to say that , if there are any among our readers Avho are desirous of having more light thrown on the subject , they cannot do
better than refer to the back numbers of our contemporary , to Avhich Bro . Radclyffe referred lately jn one of his numerous letters . They will find the cause of the Assistance Fund there argued Avith an ability , force , and perspicacity , Avhich , if Ave cannot equal , Ave shall at least do our best to
imitate . If Ave are asked to give authorities for the views Ave have striven to urge with pardonable consistency , we need do no more than mention our contemporary , with Prince Leopold , Lords Rosslyn , Skelmersdale , Carnarvon , Brooke , Kensington , & c , & c , and other Craftsmen of
ability and influence ; Avhile , if AVO are invited to quote those Avho think ill of the proposition , Ave should undoubtedly experience the greatest difficulty in doing so . We mig ht , perhaps , find out some who dislike the idea , or who , having misunderstood its purpose , have expressed strong opposition
from tho point of view they had erroneously formed . These may have fancied there Avas some justification for their ideas , because some of tho principal supporters thought tho scheme , as it appeared on paper , was too ambitiousand that , a fourth charity was proposed
, instead of a supplementary fund , and , accordingly , increased their opposition even to Avriting to the newspapers . Let us trust , however , that now the purpose of the Fund is more clearly defined , those who have misunderstood that
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.
THE ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS ' ASSISTANCE FUND .
WE should think iho feeling of opposition which has been manifested in some quarters against the establishment of a Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund will speedily bo allayed when it is known that ono of the most prominent well-wishers of the scheme has spokeu both
seriously as to tho necessity thero is for such a fund and hopefully of the good work which there will ho abundant opportunity for it to do , when it has onco been placed firmly on its legs . It was very natural thevo should have been a keen sense of disappointment excited in the breasts
of thoso who are doing their utmost to promoto tho Fund , when , at the last moment , Prince Leopold found it impossible to fulfil his promise and take tho chair at tho preliminary meeting . Such a misfortune was calculated to strengthen the position of those who were opposed to the
creation of a new , albeit a supplementary , scheme for the relief of Masonic distress . They would draw the conclusion that , if one were imperatively needed , those who had expressed themselves warmly in its favour would not be deterred by mere indisposition from joining in the initiatory
steps deemed necessary to promote it . There could not , it was argued , be much reality about a need which was so indifferently supported ; and when , in addition to this , it was found that something moro was contemplated than had , in the first place , been proposed , and that many of the
leading supporters deprecated too ambitious a project , the lukewarm became still moro faint-hearted , and the opponents gathered strength in their opposition . It v / as to no purposo that all who , with one exception , attended the first meeting expressed themselves satisfied that an
Assistance Fund was needed . In vain did Bro . Radclyffe point out that the " objects" were " suggestions " Avhich might or might not bo accepted hereafter . The proposal Avas condemned or pooh-poohed , and it was suggested that the best thing which could happen Avas for it to fall quietly
through and be no more heard of . On Friday last , IIOAVever , Prince Leopold , Avhen presiding at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , took the opportunity of expressing the very great regret he felt that circumstances had prevented his taking the chair at the first
gathering of the promoters and supporters of the Pupils ' Assistance Fund . He added that he Avas firmly persuaded that some such fund was required . He considered it would in no Avay militate against the interests of the Masonic Institutions already in existence , on the ground that
the work it Avould be called upon to do would be Avholly supplementary ; and he closed this portion of his remarks by announcing his intention of taking an active part in the establishment of the Fund whenever his engagements should allow of bis doing so . Nothing , in fact , could have
been more satisfactory than the remarks of His Royal Hig hness to which we have alluded . They gave evidence , though nothing of the kind was Avanted , that the scheme had received the Prince ' s most careful consideration , and that , in his opinion , as in that of others , it Avas the one
kind of assistance which was required m order to complete the excellent work done by the existing Institutions . As the project has DOAV been for several months before the public , and as its character and purpose have been freely discussed in these columns and elsewhere , there can be no
doubt whatever as to the leading principle of tho scheme , while the details will , as a matter of course , be left for future consideration . It is not for us , who criticise freely , to deny the rig ht of criticism to others . It may or may not be advisable to fonnd a scholarship fund with a view to
helping those pupils whose abilities may be such as to justify their being sent to one of the Universities . It may or may not be desirable to help others in obtaining commissions in the army or navy or establishing themselves in business . These are essentially matters of detail , of which
we may think and Avrite favourably , Avhile others may look upon them Avith disfavour , as gratuitous assistance Avhich is quite uncalled for . There can , however , bo no question as to the propriety of establishing a means for helping pupils at Avhat Lord Rosslyn has very properly described
as the most critical period of their lives , provided , of course , they are , in the first , place , in need of such assistance , and , in the next , that during their career at school they have by their diligence and good conduct shown themselves deserving of it . ISTor do Ave think it possible , Avhen tho matter has been duly considered , that
The Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund.
anv people -will ho found to object seriously to the further proposition that aid should bo extended to unsuccessful candidates for the benefits of our Institutions , provided they , too , are worthy and conduct themselves well . They have been accepted , after duo inquiry , as fit subjects for our
relief , and it is the fortune of tho ballot-box , not any fault of their own , Avhich prevents their obtaining those benefits . Their lot is certainly to be commiserated , and if their disappointment can be alloviated and their future prospects iu life brightened hy tho judicioii 3 expenditure of a few
pounds , are sure thero are no Masons who AVIII grudge them so modest a benefit . However , without further entering into a discussion of matters which are purely subordinate , wo may lay it down Avithout much hesitation that the want of a new and supplementary fund is pretty
generally recognised , that tho prospects of its being established become brighter and brighter every day , and that once it has been set going there Avill be very little difficult y in administering it judiciously and in accordance with the purposes for which it was founded .
It may not be out of p laco to state that considerable progress is being mado in the arrangements for holding a Fancy Fair and Bazaar in furtherance of the proposed Institution . Promises of help are being constantly received from all quarters . Some are anxious to keep stalls , others
are ready to furnish them , and others again show equal alacrity in their desire to promote the entertainments which will form a leading feature of the Fair , which , by the way , Avill be formally inaugurated under the most favourable and influential auspices .
Wo trust after Avhat has happened during the last few days that the Craft will be as as nearly as possible unanimous in their support of a very worthy and very promising project . We do not of course advise brethren to commit themselves to details Avhich Ave have already said must be left for future consideration . All we ask of them is to
do Avhat in them lies to further a purpose which has found favour in the sight of so many of our most influential Craftsmen . It cannot bo so bad a scheme , nor can the necessity of it be in so much doubt , Avhen the Grand Masters of England , Scotland and Ireland , the Grand Masters ,
and Deputy Grand Masters of over a score of Provinces , and other leading brethren in the metropolis and throughout the country have promised it their support . There mig ht have been some reason in declaiming against it , had there been any opposition of a formidable character , that
is , if there had been arrayed in an opposing camp a force of even one-half the strength Avhich is advocating the Fund ; or leaving numbers out of the question , if there had been anything really strong in the arguments againstit . But , so far as Ave have been able to judge , the said arguments
have been really all on one side , and though exceptions have been taken to the form of details , the main idea statids out clearly in all its original excellence . If Ave were now commencing a series of articles in behalf of the Fund , we should Avisely save ourselves much time and labour by
reproducing from the columns of our contemporary the many and valuable reasons it has at different times urged in favour of this Fund . We may indeed go so far as to say that , if there are any among our readers Avho are desirous of having more light thrown on the subject , they cannot do
better than refer to the back numbers of our contemporary , to Avhich Bro . Radclyffe referred lately jn one of his numerous letters . They will find the cause of the Assistance Fund there argued Avith an ability , force , and perspicacity , Avhich , if Ave cannot equal , Ave shall at least do our best to
imitate . If Ave are asked to give authorities for the views Ave have striven to urge with pardonable consistency , we need do no more than mention our contemporary , with Prince Leopold , Lords Rosslyn , Skelmersdale , Carnarvon , Brooke , Kensington , & c , & c , and other Craftsmen of
ability and influence ; Avhile , if AVO are invited to quote those Avho think ill of the proposition , Ave should undoubtedly experience the greatest difficulty in doing so . We mig ht , perhaps , find out some who dislike the idea , or who , having misunderstood its purpose , have expressed strong opposition
from tho point of view they had erroneously formed . These may have fancied there Avas some justification for their ideas , because some of tho principal supporters thought tho scheme , as it appeared on paper , was too ambitiousand that , a fourth charity was proposed
, instead of a supplementary fund , and , accordingly , increased their opposition even to Avriting to the newspapers . Let us trust , however , that now the purpose of the Fund is more clearly defined , those who have misunderstood that