"Hasten Slowly."

" HASTEN SLOWLY . "

^ 0 much been said written within last few O weeks on the subject of Masonic benevolence , and the demands made upon the resources of the Craft , that a brief consideration of cause and effect in these particulars may not be inopportune at the present time . It is conceded all

round—and we almost tire of hearing ifc reiterated at Masonic banquets—that since the accession of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to the Grand Mastership , Freemasonry has made rapid strides in numbers and

popularity . Unquestionably this is the case , as our Calendars testify , the numbers of the Lodges on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England having increased nearly soven hundred within the last decade . This may be a matter for

congratulation in some respects ; but , as we have had occasion frequently to demonstrate , it has been not altogether an unmixed good . Numerical strength in Freemasonry is not so much sought after as it is in friendly societies , for

obvious reasons ; and although we welcome within the pale of the Institution all upright and discreet men , there is too much reason to fear that many are induced to join its ranks from mercenary or other unworthy motives . The enormous number of candidates for the benefits of our Institutions is

a subject for serious and earnest consideration at the present moment , and the fact reminds us that not much caution has been exercised as to the selection of candidates for the mysteries and privileges of our Order . We

frequently hear it urged , especially by Past Masters who have seen the disadvantages arising from an indiscriminate admission into Lodges , that a greater degree of caution should be exercised by proposers and seconders , who are

probably better acquainted with the status of those whom they desire to see introduced than are the other brethren who have to decide the result of the ballot . On the other hand , we are told that " no Lodge can flourish without

Initiates , and a good deal of nonsense is talked about the { : infusion of new blood . " No objection could be taken to these ideas if the aspirants for Masonic benefits were proved to be capable of fulfilling their responsibilities . But

bow often such is not the case is apparent as every Festival comes " round , when the demands upon our Charities are described as " utterly beyond the powers of the executive to cope with / ' This is a question that is continually

cropping up , and leads us to inquire as to how far the boundaries of Masonic obligations to assist should extend . At a Lodge meeting not long ago an application was made by one who had been initiated there at least 30 years ago ,

who after paying a nominal subscription for five years seceded , though he subsequently joined another Lodge , to which he was a regular subscriber for twenty years or more . This brother had evidently been an active Mason ,

and ostensibly had done good suit and service to the Craft , otherwise on being overtaken by reverses he would not , on petition , have been relieved by one of the largest grants it is in the power of the Board of Benevolence to bestow . That

fact alone was ample evidence that the brother in question had worked himself up into a position of considerable standing . Since his reverses he has been elected on the funds of the Benevolent Institution , and his total income at

the present time is the annuity which he receives from that Charity . But again ho is hard pressed , and being faced with serious demands upon his resources , he fin els the means placed at his disposal by the bounty of the Craft

"Hasten Slowly."

totally inadequate to meet his requirements ; he therefore comes back to tho Lodge which he has not entered for years , and asks the brethren to recommend his petition to the Board . As a matter of course , a considerable

amount of discussion arose on tho question , in the course of which details of the facts , as stated now , were elicited . Then the case was argued , how far the Lodge was justified in supporting such a claim ? To ignore it

altogether would appear , and would probably be , cruel ; bnt in answer to the argument as to why the applicant did not go to the Lodge to which he had regularly subscribed for upwards of twenty years ? the reply was that his necessities were

urgent , and that tho Lodge in question was not then in session , so that he was obliged to fall back upon the one with which he had so distant an association . Again , the question arose , how were the brethren hi act in such a

matter ? And upon this we should like , and we invite , the opinions and advice of any of our correspondents who are competent to speak upon tho bearings of such a case . At

another Lodge which we recently visited , the widow of a brother who was initiated in ifc five years ago appealed for assistance It did not come out in evidence whether or nob

he became a full-fledged Mason , but it was quite clear that he was not an enthusiast , inasmuch as he had only paid half-a-year ' s subscription with his initiation fee , and then

lapsed altogether his connection with the Order . The Lodge to which we now particularly refer is proverbial foi its charitable proclivities , and here again the question arose—though it was not dictated by any spirit of stern

economy—whether or not the brethren were justified in voting , out of funds furnished by the consistent supporters of the Lodge for a specific purpose , money in relief

to such an appeal . The brother who proposed it stated his case very fairly and impartially , anet urged that as they had established a Benevolent Fund for the relief of distress

generally , ifc was quite within fche province of the Lodgenay , its bounden duty—to meet the case of a deserving widow , even under the most exceptional circumstances . The result was that a small sum was voted to tho widow

who applied . We express no opinion as to the decision of the brethren , though whether the grant was prompted by sheer generosity rather than by judicious consideration of the functions of the Lodge , or justice to tbe general body

of subscribing members , is open to question . "We too frequently find that remarks on the " unbounded charity" of the Masonic Fraternity , and the principles of universal benevolence , come from young aud inexperienced Masons ,

who , burning with the enthusiasm which their admission into the Order naturally inspires , would " rush in " where others , of greater knowledge of the whole bearings of the matter , would " fear to tread . " To relieve every stranger

at the gate who might present himself , as really or apparently needy , would break the back of any Institution , however sound , so far as its legitimate scope is concerned , and indiscriminate bounty would open the door to all sorts

of imposture and deceit . In the instance to which last reference was made , the sum of five guineas was proposed to be given from the Benevolent Fund of the Lodge , and in our view the members exercised a very wise discretion when

they decided that a less amount was sufficient to meet the exigencies of the case before them . It must be clear to all who have had any lengthened experience with these

matters that many men join our Lo : ! ges with the view of how much they can " get out of them . " We have often pointed out the extreme and urgent desirability of caution