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Article A DISSERTATION ON CHARITY. Page 1 of 2 Article A DISSERTATION ON CHARITY. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Dissertation On Charity.
A DISSERTATION ON CHARITY .
WHILST we hear of a royal commission sitting diligently to inquire into the details of the revenues and expenditure of the Livery Companies of the City of London one naturally sets his mind to cogitate upon the result of a similar inquisition—supposing it
could possibly be instituted—with respect to the financial details of Masonic Lodges , spread over the habitable globe . It may be urged that the cases are nob parallel , and that there is no analogy between them . But , after all , when we come to compare the aims and designs of the Craft and
of the guilds which are being made the subject of examination , no one can say but that there is some little similarity and affinity of object . The Ancient and Honourable Institution of Freemasonry is based , as we all know , upon the cardinal principles of Brotherly Love , Relief , and
Truth ; the profession of each member who joins it is to render himself more extensively useful to his fellowcreatures , and to fulfil all the relations of good citizenship . In something like the same manner , tbe Liveries of London strive to emulate the example which has for centuries
been taught by tbe Craft ; and they have , in their peculiar spheres , carried out those principles by the foundation and endowment of educational and other beneficent institutions , besides a generous—not to say lavish—expenditure on objects of a charitable nature . It is not our province , as
an organ of Masonic intelligence and research , to enter the political arena , and say how far the Government of the country is , or is not , justified in examining into the internal economy of the various guilds which have made use of their vast resources in the promotion of technical
education and benevolent schemes . But it may be interesting to the student of Masonic organisation to consider how such an inquiry would result , if instituted by Grand Lodge—as the counterpart of the Government—into the domestic concerns of Lodges , and whether we shonld
figure with the same dignity and commercial rectitude as is professed by the Livery Companies . We started on the premises that no such inquiry would ever be attempted by the governing authorities of the Craft , nor wonld any such insidious movement be tolerated for a moment by indi
vidual members . But as Masons are often taunted b y the outer world and the uninitiated—who though they have itching ears to know the secrets and mysterie 3 of onr Order , venture on statements that are ridiculous in their absurdity as to Masonry being only a " huge social dub , "
and the like—it may be well to reflect for a moment upon the relative position in which we stand when compared with those guilds that have been long famed for their usefulness and benevolence . One of the chief objections urged against the Companies is , that they are too lavish in
their expenditure on hospitality and personal enjoyment ; and there is the self-same sarcasm hurled at Masons when outsiders speak of the frequent banquets and other festivities which are "part and parcel of our organisation . " Then , again , it is said that the property
of the guilds has enormousl y increased , and that some central authority—namely the Government for the time being—shonld have the control and
administration of this " unearned increment . " Of course , it is inevitable that , with the amazing increase of the value of property in and around the metropolis , the money which in early days was bequeathed by pious and patriotic
A Dissertation On Charity.
benefactors should have grown in a corresponding degree ; still we have seen by tho voluminous reports of tho City Companies' Committee that hundreds of thousands of pounds are annually devoted to charitable objects , the spread of education in its highest branches , and tho
stimulation of indnstry , thrift , and social advancement . We , as an institution , cannot compare with those we have named in tho possession of endowments and benefactions , the value of which must enormously accumulate as years roll by . For all that , the Masonic brotherhood spend their
thousands of pounds every year upon equally deserving objects , in the maintenance , clothing and education of children with the view of fitting them for the battle of life , the succour and sustenance of the aged members of our Order , and those who have been bereft of the
breadwinners who , whilst they were amongst us in the flesh , discharged all the duties of good citizens , and heads of families . As the Livery Companies grant their
annuities to the aged and indigent members of their respective guilds , so also do the Masonic Institutions which are the pride and boast of the Craft . They start , endow and maintain educational establishments for the
training of the young , thus placing in their hands the best materials which can fortify them for the discharge of the duties and responsibilities of after life . So also , in an eminently satisfactory degree , does the Order to which we have the honour to belong , and whose cause we have ever
conscientiously and fearlessly espoused . They distribute their gifts as almoners of the bounties which have been entrusted to them ; and who shall say that the charity of the Masonic Brotherhood ever stopped short of the " bounds of prudence ? " But beyond all this , we can point only
approximately to the amount of ready help which is distributed by unseen hands amongst the needy and deserving in our ranks , and the record of which appears—which could not appear—on no balance sheet or statement of accounts . It is in the spirit of a principle that is divine ,
and which teaches the right hand not to know what the left doeth ; and whilst we disclaim any notion of moralising on the subject , our acquaintance of many years' duration with the private munificence of Freemasonry impels us to assert that there is a far higher and nobler spirit of
secret benevolence—which gives without asking for the reward of popularity or recompense—than oan be claimed by any other guild or fraternity under heaven . It may be said—and it is equally a matter of remark within or without our Lodges—that a considerable amount is
oxpended m hospitality which might be appropriated in more useful ways . It was the same spirit which actuated the sycophants of old who deemed that the pot of precious ointment mi ght have been sold and given to the poor ! It is now the ruling passion of some that the Church should
be spoiled of her privileges and endowments ; that the Throne should be overwhelmed ; the aristocracy " levelled " and their possessions divided amongst all sorts and cono ditions of men . It is ever the prevailing thought of revolutionary tendencies that where an object established
tor a particular good succeeds , it should be spread over the whole body politic , a vast majority of whom have never lent it a single iota of encouragement , even if they have not opposed it in its tender infancy . There never was yet
a beneficent move started but what was opposed by somefrom disinterested motives (?) of course ! And so it happens in regard to the festivities which form a small part of the grandly benevolent aims of Freemasonry , there are
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Dissertation On Charity.
A DISSERTATION ON CHARITY .
WHILST we hear of a royal commission sitting diligently to inquire into the details of the revenues and expenditure of the Livery Companies of the City of London one naturally sets his mind to cogitate upon the result of a similar inquisition—supposing it
could possibly be instituted—with respect to the financial details of Masonic Lodges , spread over the habitable globe . It may be urged that the cases are nob parallel , and that there is no analogy between them . But , after all , when we come to compare the aims and designs of the Craft and
of the guilds which are being made the subject of examination , no one can say but that there is some little similarity and affinity of object . The Ancient and Honourable Institution of Freemasonry is based , as we all know , upon the cardinal principles of Brotherly Love , Relief , and
Truth ; the profession of each member who joins it is to render himself more extensively useful to his fellowcreatures , and to fulfil all the relations of good citizenship . In something like the same manner , tbe Liveries of London strive to emulate the example which has for centuries
been taught by tbe Craft ; and they have , in their peculiar spheres , carried out those principles by the foundation and endowment of educational and other beneficent institutions , besides a generous—not to say lavish—expenditure on objects of a charitable nature . It is not our province , as
an organ of Masonic intelligence and research , to enter the political arena , and say how far the Government of the country is , or is not , justified in examining into the internal economy of the various guilds which have made use of their vast resources in the promotion of technical
education and benevolent schemes . But it may be interesting to the student of Masonic organisation to consider how such an inquiry would result , if instituted by Grand Lodge—as the counterpart of the Government—into the domestic concerns of Lodges , and whether we shonld
figure with the same dignity and commercial rectitude as is professed by the Livery Companies . We started on the premises that no such inquiry would ever be attempted by the governing authorities of the Craft , nor wonld any such insidious movement be tolerated for a moment by indi
vidual members . But as Masons are often taunted b y the outer world and the uninitiated—who though they have itching ears to know the secrets and mysterie 3 of onr Order , venture on statements that are ridiculous in their absurdity as to Masonry being only a " huge social dub , "
and the like—it may be well to reflect for a moment upon the relative position in which we stand when compared with those guilds that have been long famed for their usefulness and benevolence . One of the chief objections urged against the Companies is , that they are too lavish in
their expenditure on hospitality and personal enjoyment ; and there is the self-same sarcasm hurled at Masons when outsiders speak of the frequent banquets and other festivities which are "part and parcel of our organisation . " Then , again , it is said that the property
of the guilds has enormousl y increased , and that some central authority—namely the Government for the time being—shonld have the control and
administration of this " unearned increment . " Of course , it is inevitable that , with the amazing increase of the value of property in and around the metropolis , the money which in early days was bequeathed by pious and patriotic
A Dissertation On Charity.
benefactors should have grown in a corresponding degree ; still we have seen by tho voluminous reports of tho City Companies' Committee that hundreds of thousands of pounds are annually devoted to charitable objects , the spread of education in its highest branches , and tho
stimulation of indnstry , thrift , and social advancement . We , as an institution , cannot compare with those we have named in tho possession of endowments and benefactions , the value of which must enormously accumulate as years roll by . For all that , the Masonic brotherhood spend their
thousands of pounds every year upon equally deserving objects , in the maintenance , clothing and education of children with the view of fitting them for the battle of life , the succour and sustenance of the aged members of our Order , and those who have been bereft of the
breadwinners who , whilst they were amongst us in the flesh , discharged all the duties of good citizens , and heads of families . As the Livery Companies grant their
annuities to the aged and indigent members of their respective guilds , so also do the Masonic Institutions which are the pride and boast of the Craft . They start , endow and maintain educational establishments for the
training of the young , thus placing in their hands the best materials which can fortify them for the discharge of the duties and responsibilities of after life . So also , in an eminently satisfactory degree , does the Order to which we have the honour to belong , and whose cause we have ever
conscientiously and fearlessly espoused . They distribute their gifts as almoners of the bounties which have been entrusted to them ; and who shall say that the charity of the Masonic Brotherhood ever stopped short of the " bounds of prudence ? " But beyond all this , we can point only
approximately to the amount of ready help which is distributed by unseen hands amongst the needy and deserving in our ranks , and the record of which appears—which could not appear—on no balance sheet or statement of accounts . It is in the spirit of a principle that is divine ,
and which teaches the right hand not to know what the left doeth ; and whilst we disclaim any notion of moralising on the subject , our acquaintance of many years' duration with the private munificence of Freemasonry impels us to assert that there is a far higher and nobler spirit of
secret benevolence—which gives without asking for the reward of popularity or recompense—than oan be claimed by any other guild or fraternity under heaven . It may be said—and it is equally a matter of remark within or without our Lodges—that a considerable amount is
oxpended m hospitality which might be appropriated in more useful ways . It was the same spirit which actuated the sycophants of old who deemed that the pot of precious ointment mi ght have been sold and given to the poor ! It is now the ruling passion of some that the Church should
be spoiled of her privileges and endowments ; that the Throne should be overwhelmed ; the aristocracy " levelled " and their possessions divided amongst all sorts and cono ditions of men . It is ever the prevailing thought of revolutionary tendencies that where an object established
tor a particular good succeeds , it should be spread over the whole body politic , a vast majority of whom have never lent it a single iota of encouragement , even if they have not opposed it in its tender infancy . There never was yet
a beneficent move started but what was opposed by somefrom disinterested motives (?) of course ! And so it happens in regard to the festivities which form a small part of the grandly benevolent aims of Freemasonry , there are