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Article CONVIVIALITY AND CHARITY. Page 1 of 1 Article CONVIVIALITY AND CHARITY. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Conviviality And Charity.
CONVIVIALITY AND CHARITY .
IT must be admitted that Charity is the great charm which recommends Freemasonry to the hearts of earnest , thoughtful men . Before the Charities wero , Freemasonry was , unquestionably ; bufc the principle involved in Freemasonry has ever been the same as that
which has developed , in more recent times , into so deep an interest in the Institutions of which we are so justly proud . Charity admits of various significations . Our present Graud Master , afc the time of his installation , gave us , as the brethren are aware , the formula of " Loyalty and
Charity which still remains the watchword of the Craft . As loyal men , we know ifc is our duty to support the ruling power under whom we live as citizens , and when we contrast Freemasonry in England Avith what ifc is in Continental States , ifc is a matter of intense satisfaction
that English Freemasonry knows nothing of the principles of want of allegiance to the throne—that ifc is imbued with an ardent love of Charity , yearning to do all ifc can to mitigate human distress , to extend its brotherly love in every shape and way , and above all , to observe the binding
principle of truth , which is the equivalent of honestynecessarily making us fair ancl open in our dealings with each other . Charity , as every one knows , has two vital and distinct significations . On tho one hand it is the synonym of love , begetting toleration of opinion , causing
us to abstain from indulgence in undue censure or hostile criticism , and to give every one credit for as pure infcentions as we ourselves claim to be actuated by . The natural outcome of such a spirit is practical Charity . Wc appeal to any one to say—charming as Frecmasom * y
unquestionably is—would there bo any real , ostensible object in view were it not for our Masonic Institutions ? Do they not bind our efforts and enlist our sympathies from one end of the Order to the other ? It is not merely thafc wo value these Institutions for the benefits Ave are enabled to confer .
through them , upon the deserving poor ; but they afford us the best practical means of answering the various objections made to our system by tho outer world . They twit us with being a convivial society . So AVO are . "VYe go even farther , aud say thafc , if shorn of this element of
social amenity , Freemasonry Avould be divested of its popularity , and Avould sink into comparative insignificance . These social gatherings which mark our Order enable men to meet for the interchange of friendly opinions , and it is afc such seasons that all " superfluous
knobs and excrescences " are knocked off , Avhilst under the happiest circumstances old friendships aro cemented and new ones formed . But does the charge of conviviality lie only against the Order of Freemasonry ? Wo appeal to the members of the Church , or cf anv other section of
society to ansAver—is there any good Avork , or any work at all , good , bad , or indifferent , carried out that is not accompanied by social enjoyment ? Afc laying the foundation stone of a church or chapel , at meetings of the Society for the Propagation of tho Gospel , or " sending
out pattens to the heathen " - accompanying every work , Avhether secular , religious , or political—you will find either a dejeuner , a collation , a dinner , a tea , or a supper . It simply comes to this , thafc social enjoyment ; and
conviviality is an English element ; and you may just as well try to sever light from air as to dissever conviviality from the assemblages of Freemasonry . But what is the practical result of every occasion on which we band ourselves together for enjoyment ? We never forget
Conviviality And Charity.
—nay , AVC Avill even go farther , and say it is on thoso very occasions thafc Freemasons most vividly remember tho Avants of those Avho aro not so fortunately circumstanced as themselves . We have the authority of those Avho havo the largest experience in these
matters for saying that if yon want to raise any sum , whether ifc be five or a thousand pounds , it is useless to appeal to any brother , or society of men , before they sit clown to the social board ; but , embrace tho opportunity
afterwards , when their hearts are Avarm ancl their notions stimulated , and at that very moment the purse-strings aro relaxed , as men say , " HOAV can I sit here and enjoy all tlio Avonderful blessings thafc Providence has vouchsafed to mo and not do something substantial for those Avho are nofc so
fortunate as I am ? Ifc is a very fine and eloquent trait in the Masonic character Avhich prompts men to givo readily ancl largely of their substance towards supporting those noble Institutions Avhich havo been set up for the benefit of tho needy and tho distressed . It , moreover ,
speaks volumes for the Order AA'hon AVO see that , in spite of the depression of trade , thafc has chocked the inflow of subscriptions into the treasury of many similar societieswhen some charities have been obliged to sell out their funded property , or to dispense with the services of valuable
officers , in order to meet their annual expenditure--AVC repeat , it speaks volumes for tho vital principles of Charity amongst Freemasons that , so far from their being any falling off in tho amounts subscribed to onr Institutions , the sums l'ccoived afc the Festivals havo been more substantial
than ever before . Wo are amongst those who havo thought seriously that the vast strides Freemasonry has made , especially of late years , is not an unmixed good—that it leads to a competition that is not altogether healthy . Masters are not sufficiently guarded as to the admission of
members ; due regard is not exercised as to the qualifications of candidates ; and as a result it may happen thafc by-and-bvo our Institutions may be flooded Avith applicants . Time has not journeyed far enough to justify us in any such apprehensions ; bufc AVO have ifc from
the lips of Bro . Binckes , —than Avhom no man has had greater opportunities of forming an opinion on this subject , during the seventeen years ho has been Secretary of tho Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , — that afc no period has there been anything liko the number
of applications for forms of admission to the Schools that arc UOAV being made . This seems to bo only an indication of Avhat Ave may expect . Ifc is very Avell to boast thafc under the benign rule of our M . W . Grand Master the Prince of Wales Freemasonry has increased to so great an
extent as is evidenced by the number and strength of its Lodges , * bufc the timo may come when there Avill be a reaction , and AVO may find a great number of thoso who have rushed into Freemasonry Avithout thought or consideration of its responsibilities—having been admitted Avithout due care or investigation as to their fitness—¦
applying for the benefits of our Institutions . Wc onl y hope we may bo a false prophet , but such a fear is nofc altogether groundless . Afc any rate , AVO have it ou the authority of an Officer AVIIOSO status is universally
recognised , ancl Avhose ability and foresight is admitted , that never at any period of the history of the Craft has there been such heavy pressure upon tho consideration of thoso Avho have the supervision and management of our Charitable Institutions . These are matters Avhich call for
the serious and dispassionate attention of every member of the Order , if Ave would prepare for contingencies Avhich appear fraught with difficulty .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Conviviality And Charity.
CONVIVIALITY AND CHARITY .
IT must be admitted that Charity is the great charm which recommends Freemasonry to the hearts of earnest , thoughtful men . Before the Charities wero , Freemasonry was , unquestionably ; bufc the principle involved in Freemasonry has ever been the same as that
which has developed , in more recent times , into so deep an interest in the Institutions of which we are so justly proud . Charity admits of various significations . Our present Graud Master , afc the time of his installation , gave us , as the brethren are aware , the formula of " Loyalty and
Charity which still remains the watchword of the Craft . As loyal men , we know ifc is our duty to support the ruling power under whom we live as citizens , and when we contrast Freemasonry in England Avith what ifc is in Continental States , ifc is a matter of intense satisfaction
that English Freemasonry knows nothing of the principles of want of allegiance to the throne—that ifc is imbued with an ardent love of Charity , yearning to do all ifc can to mitigate human distress , to extend its brotherly love in every shape and way , and above all , to observe the binding
principle of truth , which is the equivalent of honestynecessarily making us fair ancl open in our dealings with each other . Charity , as every one knows , has two vital and distinct significations . On tho one hand it is the synonym of love , begetting toleration of opinion , causing
us to abstain from indulgence in undue censure or hostile criticism , and to give every one credit for as pure infcentions as we ourselves claim to be actuated by . The natural outcome of such a spirit is practical Charity . Wc appeal to any one to say—charming as Frecmasom * y
unquestionably is—would there bo any real , ostensible object in view were it not for our Masonic Institutions ? Do they not bind our efforts and enlist our sympathies from one end of the Order to the other ? It is not merely thafc wo value these Institutions for the benefits Ave are enabled to confer .
through them , upon the deserving poor ; but they afford us the best practical means of answering the various objections made to our system by tho outer world . They twit us with being a convivial society . So AVO are . "VYe go even farther , aud say thafc , if shorn of this element of
social amenity , Freemasonry Avould be divested of its popularity , and Avould sink into comparative insignificance . These social gatherings which mark our Order enable men to meet for the interchange of friendly opinions , and it is afc such seasons that all " superfluous
knobs and excrescences " are knocked off , Avhilst under the happiest circumstances old friendships aro cemented and new ones formed . But does the charge of conviviality lie only against the Order of Freemasonry ? Wo appeal to the members of the Church , or cf anv other section of
society to ansAver—is there any good Avork , or any work at all , good , bad , or indifferent , carried out that is not accompanied by social enjoyment ? Afc laying the foundation stone of a church or chapel , at meetings of the Society for the Propagation of tho Gospel , or " sending
out pattens to the heathen " - accompanying every work , Avhether secular , religious , or political—you will find either a dejeuner , a collation , a dinner , a tea , or a supper . It simply comes to this , thafc social enjoyment ; and
conviviality is an English element ; and you may just as well try to sever light from air as to dissever conviviality from the assemblages of Freemasonry . But what is the practical result of every occasion on which we band ourselves together for enjoyment ? We never forget
Conviviality And Charity.
—nay , AVC Avill even go farther , and say it is on thoso very occasions thafc Freemasons most vividly remember tho Avants of those Avho aro not so fortunately circumstanced as themselves . We have the authority of those Avho havo the largest experience in these
matters for saying that if yon want to raise any sum , whether ifc be five or a thousand pounds , it is useless to appeal to any brother , or society of men , before they sit clown to the social board ; but , embrace tho opportunity
afterwards , when their hearts are Avarm ancl their notions stimulated , and at that very moment the purse-strings aro relaxed , as men say , " HOAV can I sit here and enjoy all tlio Avonderful blessings thafc Providence has vouchsafed to mo and not do something substantial for those Avho are nofc so
fortunate as I am ? Ifc is a very fine and eloquent trait in the Masonic character Avhich prompts men to givo readily ancl largely of their substance towards supporting those noble Institutions Avhich havo been set up for the benefit of tho needy and tho distressed . It , moreover ,
speaks volumes for the Order AA'hon AVO see that , in spite of the depression of trade , thafc has chocked the inflow of subscriptions into the treasury of many similar societieswhen some charities have been obliged to sell out their funded property , or to dispense with the services of valuable
officers , in order to meet their annual expenditure--AVC repeat , it speaks volumes for tho vital principles of Charity amongst Freemasons that , so far from their being any falling off in tho amounts subscribed to onr Institutions , the sums l'ccoived afc the Festivals havo been more substantial
than ever before . Wo are amongst those who havo thought seriously that the vast strides Freemasonry has made , especially of late years , is not an unmixed good—that it leads to a competition that is not altogether healthy . Masters are not sufficiently guarded as to the admission of
members ; due regard is not exercised as to the qualifications of candidates ; and as a result it may happen thafc by-and-bvo our Institutions may be flooded Avith applicants . Time has not journeyed far enough to justify us in any such apprehensions ; bufc AVO have ifc from
the lips of Bro . Binckes , —than Avhom no man has had greater opportunities of forming an opinion on this subject , during the seventeen years ho has been Secretary of tho Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , — that afc no period has there been anything liko the number
of applications for forms of admission to the Schools that arc UOAV being made . This seems to bo only an indication of Avhat Ave may expect . Ifc is very Avell to boast thafc under the benign rule of our M . W . Grand Master the Prince of Wales Freemasonry has increased to so great an
extent as is evidenced by the number and strength of its Lodges , * bufc the timo may come when there Avill be a reaction , and AVO may find a great number of thoso who have rushed into Freemasonry Avithout thought or consideration of its responsibilities—having been admitted Avithout due care or investigation as to their fitness—¦
applying for the benefits of our Institutions . Wc onl y hope we may bo a false prophet , but such a fear is nofc altogether groundless . Afc any rate , AVO have it ou the authority of an Officer AVIIOSO status is universally
recognised , ancl Avhose ability and foresight is admitted , that never at any period of the history of the Craft has there been such heavy pressure upon tho consideration of thoso Avho have the supervision and management of our Charitable Institutions . These are matters Avhich call for
the serious and dispassionate attention of every member of the Order , if Ave would prepare for contingencies Avhich appear fraught with difficulty .