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Article THE PROPOSED ASSISTANCE FUND. Page 1 of 2 Article THE PROPOSED ASSISTANCE FUND. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Proposed Assistance Fund.
THE PROPOSED ASSISTANCE FUND .
IT is a matter of course that even the best of schemes should meet with opponents , moro or less numerous and determined , yet somehow they continue to force themselves into being in spite of tho opposition they encounter , and in time ifc not unfrequently happens that those who were their bitterest enemies become in turn their truest
and best friends . Nothing , perhaps , is moro natural than that this should be so . Men ' s minds are actuated by such a diversity of motives that about the strangest thing that could happen in this world of ours would be to find out some proposition which commanded universal acceptance .
There are , for instance , the people who object on principle ; they have no idea of the principle which forms the basis of their objection , but " principle " is a word of considerable import , and though they daro not attempt to explain its meaning , they make bold to assign it ns a reason for their
opposition . Others conceive ifc to be their duty to pull to pieces every scheme that is brought under their notice . These are the critics who hold that criticism and finding fault are ono and the same thing , and that he who discovers the most faults is the best critic . Then there are the jealous
people who think ill or but indifferently of every idea which has not emanated from them in the first instance , or who have not been invited , or invited only at the very last moment , to assist in giving form and substance to the idea which some ono has started . Others object from sheer
malice prepense , and others yet again because they insolently believe themselves superior in knowledge to all tho rest of tho world . Wo dare say it would be quito possible to extend tho list of objectors , but we have quoted enough for our purpose , which is to show that tho objections now being
offered to the establishment of the Proposed Assistance Fund are only such as must bo expected . The promoters , therefore , need be under no apprehension for the success of their project , because they suddenly find themselves begirt by a host of obstructives . To mention one instance , -which is
within the knowledgo of all well-informed Masons . The late Dr . Crucefix , who took a leading part in founding the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , involved himself , in consequence , in all kinds of trouble and annoyance . He was subjected to harsh and contumelious treatment , and
though his friends stood firm by him , and the bitterness of annoyance and insult at length passed away , he still had to withstand tho severe ordeal to which all , with hardly an exception , who originate a good plan are subjected . Even the teachings of Freemasonry did not shield him from this , and the same fate doubtless is in store for those who have
taken the lead in promoting this Assistance Fund . After tho foregoing remarks it will be gathered by our readers that we aro fully prepared for any amount and kind of opposition that may be offered in the case of this particular proposal . It is tho fate of all human institutions
to meet at starting with enemies , but it is those only which fire comparatively worthless or receive half-hearted support from their friends that succumb . A good scheme stands a good chance of success , and though it will probably be ill-advised and perhaps impossible to pass all the many
suggestions which have been embodied by Bro . Dick ¦ Kadcl yffe , the Bonorary Secretary , in his prospectus , tnero are in ifc unquestionably the makinp-s of an admirable
J-and , and one which , while in no way interfering with our existing Charities , will undoubtedly prove of great service to them . We think the promoters have every reason to be satisfied with what thev havo succeeded in
The Proposed Assistance Fund.
doing up to tho present timo . They have enlisted tho sympathy and support of tho Grand Master , Pro Grand Master , and Deputy Grand Master , as well as of a very formidable array of Grand Officers Past and Present , Provincial Grand Officers , and other influential Craftsmen .
The brethren , bo it remembered , have given in their adhesion to the principle laid down by Lord Rosslyn last year that something was needed in order to complete the task so satisfactorily carried out up to a certain point by our two Schools . Many among them havo joined becanso they
hold that , in addition to this , somo little help might bo given to deserving unsuccessful candidates . Others , though these must be a very small minority , have probably formed other notions as to what character tho Fund should assume . Two things , however , stand out from
all the rest with singular clearness . Ono is that all who have lent tho plan their patronage or support recognise that a Fund of the kind proposed is needed , while the other was shown clearly enough at the opening meeting on the 11 th instant , namely , that there is no intention on
their part to suggest the establishment of a fourth Masonic Charity . Lord Rosslyn never thought of this when he made his suggestion last year . Those who havo adopted his lordship ' s suggestion as the foundation of this plan havo never dreamt of building up a rival to the Charities
already existing . Lord Carnarvon and Lord bkelmersdalo aro willing to support it on a similar understanding , and Bro . Radclyffo explained that tho proposals introduced in the prospectus had been offered by different brethren as
suggestions . In short , as wo havo said once already , all whose names appear as supporters of the plan have recognised tbat a fund of the character indicated is required , and some of them hold tho opinion that something further is needed likewise . But tho details arc left for future
consideration and arrangement , and to affirm therefore that ifc is now proposed to establish an additional Charity is to say that which is not . As to the opposition of Bro . While , wo attach to ifc not tho slig hest importance . We are content with saying that every ono in tho room laughed or wept
over him according as they were disciples of tho school of Democritus , or of that of Heraclitus . However , ho seems to have returned these little compliments , theso ' amicablenesses" in an unusual manner ; at least in no other way can we account for the Times report of tho
meeting being so entirely different from that which appeared in these columns , or the one in our Masonic contemporary . The views he expressed at the meeting formed the substance of tho report in the journal he represented , and which we have alluded to . But if he—unintentionally no doubt ;—
allowed his account to be strongly influenced by his personal views , ho committed an indiscretion . Not content with that , however , he has rushed into a correspondence in the columns of our contemporary , and as will be seen elsewhere , threatens to rend in pieces ono " Sebric , " because
he has called attention to the similarity of tone between Bro . While's speech and the Times report . In this he is certainly not improving his case . It is easy enough to say , as he does towards the end of tho first paragraph of his letter last week , that " tho common sense of every ono
plainly expressed that when not Quixotic , the proposals wero idiotic . " Tho necessary limitation to this statement is that they were so in Bro . While ' s opinion . As for the good taste of the suggestion that the " Committee
are merely so many puppets for some clever manipulator to conjure with , " it is not necessary wo should offer any opinion . Masonry enjoins on us to speak well of our brethren , and if tbat be nob possible , at least to keep
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Proposed Assistance Fund.
THE PROPOSED ASSISTANCE FUND .
IT is a matter of course that even the best of schemes should meet with opponents , moro or less numerous and determined , yet somehow they continue to force themselves into being in spite of tho opposition they encounter , and in time ifc not unfrequently happens that those who were their bitterest enemies become in turn their truest
and best friends . Nothing , perhaps , is moro natural than that this should be so . Men ' s minds are actuated by such a diversity of motives that about the strangest thing that could happen in this world of ours would be to find out some proposition which commanded universal acceptance .
There are , for instance , the people who object on principle ; they have no idea of the principle which forms the basis of their objection , but " principle " is a word of considerable import , and though they daro not attempt to explain its meaning , they make bold to assign it ns a reason for their
opposition . Others conceive ifc to be their duty to pull to pieces every scheme that is brought under their notice . These are the critics who hold that criticism and finding fault are ono and the same thing , and that he who discovers the most faults is the best critic . Then there are the jealous
people who think ill or but indifferently of every idea which has not emanated from them in the first instance , or who have not been invited , or invited only at the very last moment , to assist in giving form and substance to the idea which some ono has started . Others object from sheer
malice prepense , and others yet again because they insolently believe themselves superior in knowledge to all tho rest of tho world . Wo dare say it would be quito possible to extend tho list of objectors , but we have quoted enough for our purpose , which is to show that tho objections now being
offered to the establishment of the Proposed Assistance Fund are only such as must bo expected . The promoters , therefore , need be under no apprehension for the success of their project , because they suddenly find themselves begirt by a host of obstructives . To mention one instance , -which is
within the knowledgo of all well-informed Masons . The late Dr . Crucefix , who took a leading part in founding the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , involved himself , in consequence , in all kinds of trouble and annoyance . He was subjected to harsh and contumelious treatment , and
though his friends stood firm by him , and the bitterness of annoyance and insult at length passed away , he still had to withstand tho severe ordeal to which all , with hardly an exception , who originate a good plan are subjected . Even the teachings of Freemasonry did not shield him from this , and the same fate doubtless is in store for those who have
taken the lead in promoting this Assistance Fund . After tho foregoing remarks it will be gathered by our readers that we aro fully prepared for any amount and kind of opposition that may be offered in the case of this particular proposal . It is tho fate of all human institutions
to meet at starting with enemies , but it is those only which fire comparatively worthless or receive half-hearted support from their friends that succumb . A good scheme stands a good chance of success , and though it will probably be ill-advised and perhaps impossible to pass all the many
suggestions which have been embodied by Bro . Dick ¦ Kadcl yffe , the Bonorary Secretary , in his prospectus , tnero are in ifc unquestionably the makinp-s of an admirable
J-and , and one which , while in no way interfering with our existing Charities , will undoubtedly prove of great service to them . We think the promoters have every reason to be satisfied with what thev havo succeeded in
The Proposed Assistance Fund.
doing up to tho present timo . They have enlisted tho sympathy and support of tho Grand Master , Pro Grand Master , and Deputy Grand Master , as well as of a very formidable array of Grand Officers Past and Present , Provincial Grand Officers , and other influential Craftsmen .
The brethren , bo it remembered , have given in their adhesion to the principle laid down by Lord Rosslyn last year that something was needed in order to complete the task so satisfactorily carried out up to a certain point by our two Schools . Many among them havo joined becanso they
hold that , in addition to this , somo little help might bo given to deserving unsuccessful candidates . Others , though these must be a very small minority , have probably formed other notions as to what character tho Fund should assume . Two things , however , stand out from
all the rest with singular clearness . Ono is that all who have lent tho plan their patronage or support recognise that a Fund of the kind proposed is needed , while the other was shown clearly enough at the opening meeting on the 11 th instant , namely , that there is no intention on
their part to suggest the establishment of a fourth Masonic Charity . Lord Rosslyn never thought of this when he made his suggestion last year . Those who havo adopted his lordship ' s suggestion as the foundation of this plan havo never dreamt of building up a rival to the Charities
already existing . Lord Carnarvon and Lord bkelmersdalo aro willing to support it on a similar understanding , and Bro . Radclyffo explained that tho proposals introduced in the prospectus had been offered by different brethren as
suggestions . In short , as wo havo said once already , all whose names appear as supporters of the plan have recognised tbat a fund of the character indicated is required , and some of them hold tho opinion that something further is needed likewise . But tho details arc left for future
consideration and arrangement , and to affirm therefore that ifc is now proposed to establish an additional Charity is to say that which is not . As to the opposition of Bro . While , wo attach to ifc not tho slig hest importance . We are content with saying that every ono in tho room laughed or wept
over him according as they were disciples of tho school of Democritus , or of that of Heraclitus . However , ho seems to have returned these little compliments , theso ' amicablenesses" in an unusual manner ; at least in no other way can we account for the Times report of tho
meeting being so entirely different from that which appeared in these columns , or the one in our Masonic contemporary . The views he expressed at the meeting formed the substance of tho report in the journal he represented , and which we have alluded to . But if he—unintentionally no doubt ;—
allowed his account to be strongly influenced by his personal views , ho committed an indiscretion . Not content with that , however , he has rushed into a correspondence in the columns of our contemporary , and as will be seen elsewhere , threatens to rend in pieces ono " Sebric , " because
he has called attention to the similarity of tone between Bro . While's speech and the Times report . In this he is certainly not improving his case . It is easy enough to say , as he does towards the end of tho first paragraph of his letter last week , that " tho common sense of every ono
plainly expressed that when not Quixotic , the proposals wero idiotic . " Tho necessary limitation to this statement is that they were so in Bro . While ' s opinion . As for the good taste of the suggestion that the " Committee
are merely so many puppets for some clever manipulator to conjure with , " it is not necessary wo should offer any opinion . Masonry enjoins on us to speak well of our brethren , and if tbat be nob possible , at least to keep