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Article A FEW WORDS ON BENEFIT SOCIETIES. ← Page 6 of 9 →
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A Few Words On Benefit Societies.
of thc powder of projection , from thc Grand Master of thc Bosicrueian Fraternity . " * I make no apology for transferring these pithy and deep-thought remarks to these pages ; but I would noiv Avish , by ivay of contrast , to take a brief view of some of the Benefit Societies , which , far less mysterious and solemn in their constitution , are
nevertheless fraught ivith so much benefit to mankind , that , mauifold as may be their deficiencies , we can never hope or ivish to see them superseded . It may be said that Benefit Societies too often open a ivay for the entrance of the idle ancl indolent ; that many men , whose real claims to sympathy or relief are little else than their oivn
incapacity and misconduct , fatten upon the savings ancl contributions of the industrious , and live a kind of " free and easy existence , " wandering from town to town , and relying for such existence upon the Aveak goodnature of those who are willing to recognise some mysterious pledge of affinity . Such is certainly the case
sometimes ; but we should be sorry to believe that it is at all universal , or , indeed , of such frequent occurrence as to constitute even a tangible balance of exceptions . Generally speaking , the very fact that all benefit accruing depends upon the regularity with ivhich the subscriptions , small or large , are paid , is an ample motive for being regular in other respects . And although , for this very the
reason , well-to-do members of such a society are at once its most regular supporters , and at the same time the least likely to draw upon its funds , still , human misfortune knows no distinction of persons , and the faithful and upright president of such a society has frequently , after a long course of years devoted to its supportfound himselfba sudden reversethrown back
, , y , upon the world , with nought to cling to save that pillar of charity and brotherly love which he had himself assisted to rear and support in honour and integrity . The convivial portion of Masonry , and of all associations of a " mutual-benefit" character , often excites ridicule and abuse . We might reply in the words of
Milton" Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed Labour , as to debar us when we need Refreshment , whether food , or talk between—Food of the mind , or this sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles , for smiles from reason flow . " But there is too much eating and drinking in some lodges ; not that we despise what Dr . Johnson held so dearly—a good dinner ; not that ive are sceptical as to the germs of many a kind act being conceived when the soul has been , to use an Ilibernianism ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Few Words On Benefit Societies.
of thc powder of projection , from thc Grand Master of thc Bosicrueian Fraternity . " * I make no apology for transferring these pithy and deep-thought remarks to these pages ; but I would noiv Avish , by ivay of contrast , to take a brief view of some of the Benefit Societies , which , far less mysterious and solemn in their constitution , are
nevertheless fraught ivith so much benefit to mankind , that , mauifold as may be their deficiencies , we can never hope or ivish to see them superseded . It may be said that Benefit Societies too often open a ivay for the entrance of the idle ancl indolent ; that many men , whose real claims to sympathy or relief are little else than their oivn
incapacity and misconduct , fatten upon the savings ancl contributions of the industrious , and live a kind of " free and easy existence , " wandering from town to town , and relying for such existence upon the Aveak goodnature of those who are willing to recognise some mysterious pledge of affinity . Such is certainly the case
sometimes ; but we should be sorry to believe that it is at all universal , or , indeed , of such frequent occurrence as to constitute even a tangible balance of exceptions . Generally speaking , the very fact that all benefit accruing depends upon the regularity with ivhich the subscriptions , small or large , are paid , is an ample motive for being regular in other respects . And although , for this very the
reason , well-to-do members of such a society are at once its most regular supporters , and at the same time the least likely to draw upon its funds , still , human misfortune knows no distinction of persons , and the faithful and upright president of such a society has frequently , after a long course of years devoted to its supportfound himselfba sudden reversethrown back
, , y , upon the world , with nought to cling to save that pillar of charity and brotherly love which he had himself assisted to rear and support in honour and integrity . The convivial portion of Masonry , and of all associations of a " mutual-benefit" character , often excites ridicule and abuse . We might reply in the words of
Milton" Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed Labour , as to debar us when we need Refreshment , whether food , or talk between—Food of the mind , or this sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles , for smiles from reason flow . " But there is too much eating and drinking in some lodges ; not that we despise what Dr . Johnson held so dearly—a good dinner ; not that ive are sceptical as to the germs of many a kind act being conceived when the soul has been , to use an Ilibernianism ,