The Mark Benevolent Fund.

would in future work as hard in the interests of the Order as they bad done hitherto . Bro . Matier announced the lists , which showed thafc 12 lady Stewards had brought up £ 26 15 s ; 16 members of the General Board , - £ 105 ; 22 Lodges in the London District , -6442 , and 12 unattached

Stewards , £ 105 . Total for London— £ 688 15 s . The total was £ 2 , 166 19 s 6 d , of which Surrey , the Chairman ' s Province , produced £ 247 18 s . Tho total has been exceeded only twice . The Earl of Yarborough proposed the toast of the ladies , and Dr . Cockburn responded . Major Can-ell

replied for the Board of Stewards , and after the toasfc of the Visitors , proposed by the Earl of Euston , had been answered , the company enjoyed a concert under the direction of Bro . Fred Bevan , in which that musical brother and Bros . Turle Lee and Harper Kearton , Miss Ethel Winn , and Miss Dews , took part .

Masonic Ignorance And Enlightenment.

MASONIC IGNORANCE AND ENLIGHTENMENT .

MUCH of fche obscurity of the origin and early history of Freemasonry has heen caused by the secrecy generally observed by the brethren of that period . But little was communicated to paper , and the proceedings recorded were of the scantiest character . The Grand

Lodge of England , the mother of Modern Freemasonry , seems to have been inspired , till a comparatively late time , with hostility to the art of printing , and the Swedish system of Masonry has published none of its transactions down to the present time .

: The liberty of the Masonic press and the free expression of thought , which is now conceded to Masonic writers , is a victory gained only after an arduous struggle . Ifc was the general opinion of those high in office , bnfc nofc deep in Masonic knowledge , that all the learning of Masonry should

be confined to a mere recital of the ritual and an acquaintance with the Lodge lectures . They supposed that the whole curriculum of Masonic science or philosophy was embraced within the narrow limits of , or a construction .

or rather they knew nothing of any science or philosophy , and were wont to deem him the most learned Mason who could bufc recite by note the stereotyped cateeb'sm he had required by constant repetition .

But this condition was nofc satisfactory to brethren of intelligence . There was those who believed thafc the ritual was a more skeleton , which , to make it presentable to men of cultivated intellects , required to be clothed with lofty thoughts ; that there was a system of profound philosophy

in Masonry , which could only be developed by research j thafc of this system the ritual was only the index pointing out the objects that were to be investigated ; and , finally , fchat to give these investigations any value it was absolutey

necessary that they should be given to the world like the investigations of any other science or philosophy , by means of publications which Masons could read , and thus enlarge within their homes the ideas , the sentiments of which they had first acquired in the Lodge .

The cloud of ignorance seeking to obscure the rays of intellectual light was not confined to England ; it extended its baneful influence also to other countries .

In France , Clavel published a Masonic history in 1842 , and commenced a Masonic journal in 1844 . In neither case had he sought the sanction of the Grand Orient , and for this offence a sentence of perpetual exclusion from that body was pronounced .

In Germany , Krause and Mossdorf , two of the mosfc learned Masons that the Fraternity in any country can host of , Buffered by a similar punishment for their valuable contributions to our M ^ onic literature . In the United

States the antagonism to Masonic publications has been less , owing to the indifference of the Craft to the cultivation ofthe literature of the Fraternity ; and none have opposed its dissemination .

A great change in this respect in the last half century has taken place in tho eternal and external relations of Freemasonry . Years ago the Grand Lodge of Delaware expressed its opinion that Masonic literature was doing

more harm than good to the Institution . But this illiterate view has long since been abandoned . From the character of a mere social club , or a benevolent association , it has become a school of philosophy . Books on its history

Masonic Ignorance And Enlightenment.

and science , once so rare , are now abundant . Six thousand of them have been printed alone in the English language , and these being added to thoso published in other languages their whole nnmber cannot fall much short of 15 , 000 . Kvery country where there is a congregation of Masons ,

lias its scholars investigating the character , tbo aim , fche design of the Institution , and its periodical works conducted for the most part with ability , in which the results of these investigations aro given to the Craft . The means of acquiring Masonic knowledge aro within

the reach of every Mason . He who is ignorant must attribute his ignorance to his own indifference . He who cont 3 nts himself with the acquisition of the ritual as given in the Lodge , may be in possession of all the forms of

initiation , and call himself a " bright" Mason , but his brightness will be utter darkness when composed with the knowledge of him who from hooks has learned the true meaning and significance of that ritual aud the real philosophy of that Institution . —Freemasmi' s Journal .

What Does It Mean?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN ?

IN Lodge meetings there are many matters that occupy the attention of the members without duly interesting them . They pass notice and there it ends . Possibly some one asks a question in regard to some of these matters , and a reply is given by the Worshipful Master , which is not an

answer . Discussion of the subject may or may not occur . That would require a familiarity with either manner , usage , custom , the bye-laws of the Lodge , or Masonic law . The Ahiman Bezon probably declares what fche true answer

ought to be , but as to these several sources of information many of the members are uninformed . They , therefore , avoid remarks on the subject matter before the Lodge . Now it is not unreasonable to suggest there is a method by wh ' ch this can be obviated . In the every day

occurrences of life , when something occurs thafc is nofc i mmecliately comprehensive to observers , the prompt question is asked , " What does ifc mean ?" True , it may be that of those observing , or in a position to be included in this general question , bufc one or two only

have any idea of what the reply should be . But still some suggestion may be made that invites thought , and out of the reflection which arises an explanation is presented . This in turn is considered , and what ifc means is sufficiently understood . So thafc he who asked is more or less

enlig htened on the subject . Therefore , if Lodge members who are nofc instructed in the proceedings of Lodges , or as to the action of a Lodge ou a question before ifc , or want sufficient information to

comprehend what they see or hear , would ask , " What it means , " a very plain question , there would be some Mason present who could satisfactorily explain ifc , or suggest an explanation .

There are many proper modes of obtaining Masonic information inside the Lodge Room , and even when the Lodge is open . The essential requisite is a desire to learn . So long as there is no active effort to be taught , there is no proper preparation to teach .

The vitality , the growth , the diffusion of Masomc knowledge which secures the greatest advantages to any Lodge of the Craft is in tbe teaching and instructing of its members . Tho high character in the Masonic Fraternity of a duly instructed membership of Lodges is obtained only by the frequent opportunities of receiving Masonic

instruction . It is well known how soon a Lodge thafc has gained this character is cited as an example of a proficiency that is so praiseworthy . How can the traditions which underlie the institution of

Masonry and are essential to be known by every intelligent Mason be imparted , taught , received by the Craft , if a desire to know , which , if persisted iu , will secure competent teachers , is wanting .

Ifc is a duty that thoso Masons who have the leisure and opportunities to seek " light" to devote their minds to the mastery of the esoteric teachings , the mystery and symbology of our Fraternity . —Keijitone