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Article QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION. ← Page 4 of 7 →
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Quarterly Communication.
I freely admit-that the Lodge of Benevolence dispenses its monthly alms—but even with the Book of Constitutions before mc , I declare that this mode of benevolence is deceptive and inefficient . I have come to this conclusion after several years of regular attendance at the meetings ot the Board ; and as I never wilfully advanced an untruth , I anticipate that some regard will be paid to my assertion—it is deceptive , because it relieves many petitions that possess little if any claimwhile it is
inef-, ficient because it lacks the power efficiently to relieve such petitions as prefer the most clear and legitimate claims to Masonic liberality ; aud in this view I am also borne out by several Provincial authorities . It does not follow that because honest poverty may decline to como forward that it does not exist . AVe all know that many deserving Masons ofthe blue , the red , aye , and even ofthe imperial purple , have descended to the tomb ivithout disclosing their secret ; let us for the future
worthies raise a temple consecrated to the dignity of the Order ; let the death-bed of such brethren be no longer embittered by the reflection that they have not wherewithal to purchase a grave . Do 1 hazard too much in hoping that this state of things must not continue ? AVe have been discussing the subject of a legal lease to the excellent tenant of our public hall ; and are now called upon to consider of the covenants connected with the renewed lease of the life of man . ( A
voice here exclaimed , " the lease is for life . " ) True , and I stand corrected as to the irregular expression ; but the lease , although for life , has certain covenants which every seven years require especial examination , and those covenants exact a payment always costly to our self-love . It is somewhat unkind to suppose that the aged Mason can serenely contemplate TIKATII as the happy means of relief from his misery . Is
there any one now present who , in his conscience , looks to death as a relief ? I answer , no ; the love of life is inherent in our nature ; and there are proportioned gifts in the renewed covenants which mental intelligence can convert into blessings , and which irradiate the closinghour by the prospect of happiness in a future world . Let us bear in mind that in the progress of " time against life , " there is even " an imaginary period yet to come" which is undisturbed b y
grey hairs or the tottering gait ; and if ive take the trouble to make this calculation , we shall find that as man advances . 11 years , he is ever and anon struck by this view , that mortality becomes less frequent in the class he has lived long enough to enter—and that in no ten years between the cradle and the coffin has its call been so infrequent . Now Brethren , if such one of us having passed the climacteric , having reached his eightieth year should retain his faculties , will he not hope to live ;
and how gr . at must be the sufferings ofthe houseless worthy old Mason —must he live in misery in that imaginary period yet to come ? Brethren , remember that charity is the very basis of our creed , which we mock when we deny that our charity is otherwise than universal . Now let us repair the error of our past neglect—let us examine and discuss the great moral question . For this purpose I shall first enter upon the " objections" to the proposed Asylum which have been very
generally reported . First , 'That there will be so MANY claimants , that it will become an impracticable object ; and second , that in the event of the Asylum being erected , there will be so ri ; iv claimants that the erection will prove to he useless . My own limited knowledge of arithmetic will soon settle this point ; put the two together , divide the difference , and admit the proper number .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Quarterly Communication.
I freely admit-that the Lodge of Benevolence dispenses its monthly alms—but even with the Book of Constitutions before mc , I declare that this mode of benevolence is deceptive and inefficient . I have come to this conclusion after several years of regular attendance at the meetings ot the Board ; and as I never wilfully advanced an untruth , I anticipate that some regard will be paid to my assertion—it is deceptive , because it relieves many petitions that possess little if any claimwhile it is
inef-, ficient because it lacks the power efficiently to relieve such petitions as prefer the most clear and legitimate claims to Masonic liberality ; aud in this view I am also borne out by several Provincial authorities . It does not follow that because honest poverty may decline to como forward that it does not exist . AVe all know that many deserving Masons ofthe blue , the red , aye , and even ofthe imperial purple , have descended to the tomb ivithout disclosing their secret ; let us for the future
worthies raise a temple consecrated to the dignity of the Order ; let the death-bed of such brethren be no longer embittered by the reflection that they have not wherewithal to purchase a grave . Do 1 hazard too much in hoping that this state of things must not continue ? AVe have been discussing the subject of a legal lease to the excellent tenant of our public hall ; and are now called upon to consider of the covenants connected with the renewed lease of the life of man . ( A
voice here exclaimed , " the lease is for life . " ) True , and I stand corrected as to the irregular expression ; but the lease , although for life , has certain covenants which every seven years require especial examination , and those covenants exact a payment always costly to our self-love . It is somewhat unkind to suppose that the aged Mason can serenely contemplate TIKATII as the happy means of relief from his misery . Is
there any one now present who , in his conscience , looks to death as a relief ? I answer , no ; the love of life is inherent in our nature ; and there are proportioned gifts in the renewed covenants which mental intelligence can convert into blessings , and which irradiate the closinghour by the prospect of happiness in a future world . Let us bear in mind that in the progress of " time against life , " there is even " an imaginary period yet to come" which is undisturbed b y
grey hairs or the tottering gait ; and if ive take the trouble to make this calculation , we shall find that as man advances . 11 years , he is ever and anon struck by this view , that mortality becomes less frequent in the class he has lived long enough to enter—and that in no ten years between the cradle and the coffin has its call been so infrequent . Now Brethren , if such one of us having passed the climacteric , having reached his eightieth year should retain his faculties , will he not hope to live ;
and how gr . at must be the sufferings ofthe houseless worthy old Mason —must he live in misery in that imaginary period yet to come ? Brethren , remember that charity is the very basis of our creed , which we mock when we deny that our charity is otherwise than universal . Now let us repair the error of our past neglect—let us examine and discuss the great moral question . For this purpose I shall first enter upon the " objections" to the proposed Asylum which have been very
generally reported . First , 'That there will be so MANY claimants , that it will become an impracticable object ; and second , that in the event of the Asylum being erected , there will be so ri ; iv claimants that the erection will prove to he useless . My own limited knowledge of arithmetic will soon settle this point ; put the two together , divide the difference , and admit the proper number .