Excessive Enthusiasm.

a hand . It seems so very easy for a handsome sum to be secured from the Freemasons , that any one with the smallest possible claim on its members

must feel disposed to face the trouble ot trying to secure a prize . If they succeed , all well and good ; if not , they are seldom worse off than when they started , as private benevolence frequently

steps in when what may be termed public benevolence fails . What wonder then that there are so many candidates for our Charities , or such heavy

claims on the Fund of Benevolence ! We are sadly afraid that the more that is given the more will be required ; for every case that is relieved is but the

means of extending the knowledge ot tne good things provided , and in not a few instances the very people who reap the benefit are foremost in advising their friends to follow their example , and

to have a try for a grant , snch as they have secured , We have spoken of Freemasonry as existing at the present time , in the minds of some , on anything but

a firm and substantial basis , ancl in proof of such theory we are told that the annual expenditure of the ± 5 enevoience tar exceeds its incomexnat tne

jb und oi ; three Charities of the Order exist merely from hand to mouth , spending money as fast as they receive it , and

entailing fearful responsibilities for the future ; that private Lodges conduct their financial affairs in a most unbusinesslike and unsound manner ; and that Grand

Lodge exercises little or no control in connection with matters which Ought to be carefully supervised , if the reputation of the Craft is to be maintained . All this fttirl rnnch morfl is MYPP . (\ fl . o-A ,- * mst , Frfifi-masn-nvv n-nrl

0 — 0 „„„ mmmj , » v ^ v » what can its best friends say in reply ? Can they truthfully say that the accusations are groundless , or x » an they urge that the matters are of so trivial a

nature as to be unworthy of consideration ? It is no Answer to criticism to say that all has turned out right in the past , and that the future may be left to take care of itself . Freemasons—or many of

themclaim the highest position ior the Order ; they should do all that is possible to deserve the distinction , ancl maintain it for all time . If they neglect common precautions or disregard friendly criticism they may

some day have to face a calamity which will tax all their energy to recover from . In short , Freemasons are too enthusiastic , in speaking of what has been

done and what they regard as possible through the magic influence of the word Freemasonry . Let us hope that they may never be rudely awakened from

their present dream of security , but that the Order will always prosper as it now appears to do . One of the surest means of guarding against misfortune is to

be found m a desire on the part of all to do their fair share of the work which rightly and properly belongs to Freemasonry , to strive to improve the Order in its

minor details , and , above all , to listen to the criticism of friends , rather than wait for the harsh sneers and jeers of enemies .

Benevolent Fund Of The South Australian Grand Lodge.

BENEVOLENT FUND OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GRAND LODGE .

UNDER the judicious management of the Board of General Purposes , this fund now amounts to about £ 1 , 000 , including special subscriptions to the proposed Permanent Benevolent Fund , and at every meeting

applications for relief are dealt with . Notwithstanding its multifarious duties the Board is careful to examine into the circumstances of each claim , so as to ensure that all

money given shall , as far as possible , be worthily bestowed ; and the Craffc cannot be too grateful to the distinguished brethren who discharge the laborious duties of the Board . Of late fche questions have been mooted whether the Order

in imposing on the Board the administration of the Benevolent Fund ha § nofc exacted too much from brethren from whose willing devotion so much ought not to be required , and whether the fund itself would nofc increase

Benevolent Fund Of The South Australian Grand Lodge.

more rapidly , and a wider interest be taken in it throughout the Order , if the duties in connection with the fund were confined to a body charged with the performance of these duties only , and if those who contribute the moneys —and this would be of special advantage to country brethren—could take a personal share in administering the fund ? The administration of the fund by the Board

of G . P . is a departure from the course pursued in England , where tho Benevolent Fund is managed by a separate body , and the success which has attended this course is the most

complete vindication of the wisdom of those who adopted it . Indeed , common sense points out that a fund is more likely to be administered to the best advantage , and to be increased , when managed by a Board whose undivided attention is concentrated on this single subject , than when

the Boards attention is dissipated in considering many important subjects . These reasons , amongst others , have included the Masters' and Wardens' Association to recom-WI /¦*¦ . % - » vl + 1- * * - * ArlncH cL .. -. AT * ft f « ft W ft—h— ft « %£ « T > 1 > IAIII r % AhM / Jinn I ««* w * ^ t * euouLi vim et auucuio ui iiiti uiiuui

¦ HUD auupiiuu YVUIUII a -jtuu .- - ple is the transfer of the Benevolent Fund from the Board of G . P . to a Board which shall be specially constituted to administer and augment it .

It is proposed that the fund shall be administered by a Board consisting of the Grand Officers , the Pasfc Grand Officers , while subscribing members of any Lodge under

the S . A . C ., the Masters for the time being of Lodgea under the S . A . O ., the Trustees of the Fund , and all other

brethren who shall subscribe to the fund ( either annually or in one or more payments ) such sums as shall be fixed . An annual subscription , it is suggested , of 10 s 6 d , shall

entitle the subscribers to attend each meeting of the Board of Governors , take part in all business transacted , and vote as to the mode of applying the fund , and as to giving or withholding relief in each case . All contributors will then

be satisfied that they have a full share in disposing of the moneys , and ample opportunity of obtaining an intimate knowledge of the practical administration of the fund will be afforded . Members who cannot attend in person will

be permitted to give proxies , and this power will enable country brethren who subscribe to the fund to exercise their full share of influence . This part of the scheme may be briefly described thus : that all Masons , while subscribers to the fund , shall be members of the Board of

Governors , and entitled to vote ( personally or by proxy ) at its meetings , in proportion to the amounts of their subscriptions . Another principle embodied in the scheme is the

endowment by Lodges of their chairs . If any Lodge pays a sum of £ 10 in respect of its Master , or of any other officer , the successive Masters or other officers for the time being , shall be during tenure of office members of the

Board of Govenors . If instead of so large a sum being paid , the sum of £ 1 Is is paid by a Lodge in respect of any chair , the officer filling that chair shall be a member of the Board of Governors for the year in respect of which

the subscription is paid . By this method Lodges can , in the course of time , endow all their chairs . Their contributions will add considerably to the fund , and the Lodges , voting by their officers , can acquire a voting power which

will augment their influence and prestige in the Order , and may enable them to secure from time to time for former brethren of their own Lodges , or for the families of such brethren , much greater assistance in times of trouble than could be afforded from the private resources of fche Lodges themselves . The salient points only of the scheme recommended hy the Masters' and Wardens' Associations have been

indicated . There will be ample opportunity in future for discussing the scheme , as the sanction of Grand Lodge must of course be obtained ; and Grand Lodge will probably be moved at its next Quarterly Communication to

appoint a Committee to report upon a scheme embody ing fche principles we have mentioned . We understand that the Masters of the various Lodges will be provided with

printed copies of the scheme prepared by the Masters' and Wardens' Association , and if the scheme is explained and discussed in the private Lodges , brethren will be better

prepared to vote on the subject when brought before Grand Lodge . —South Aiistralian Freemason .

Ar00203

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HTJTTOH " , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , "W . C . Monuments erected . "Valuations made .