Table Op Contents.

TABLE OP CONTENTS .

PAGE ST ?(? R , F . STIONS ON THE GRANTING OF MASONIC RELIEF 619 MASONIC CURIOSITIES—VI . 620 THE RECTANGULAR REVIEW ... 620 PROV . GRAND LODGE OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND 620 & 621

CONSECRATION OF A NEW R . A . CHAPTER AT SCARBOROUGH 621 SOLOMON , THE RAVEN , AND THE WORM .. 621 THE CRAFTMetropolitan 622 Provincial 622 8 : 623 ROYAL

ARCHMetropolitan ... ... ... ... ... 623 Provincial 623 MARK MASONRYMetropolitan 623 Provincial 623 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WHEIC ... ... 623 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 624 . ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 624

EDUCATION 624 & 625 MULTUM IN PARVO 625 & 626 MASONIC MISCELLANEA 626 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE — By-Laws of Lodges 627 Value of a Diploma—What is it Worth ? 626 & 627 Publication of Lodge Work 627 SCOTLAND

A Freemason ' s Case ... .. 627 ITALYMasonic Lodge of Leghorn 627 GRAND LODGE 627 GRAND MASONIC GATHERING AT BOURNEMOUTH 627 , 62 S , 629 & 630 INSTRUCTION 630 ADVERTISEMENTS 617 , 618 , 631 , & 632

Suggestions On The Granting Of Masonic Relief.

SUGGESTIONS on the GRANTING of MASONIC RELIEF .

BY BRO . CHALMERS I . PATON , Author of "Freemasonry in Relation lo Civil Authority and the Family Circle . " The very important but difficult question of granting relief is one which has engaged

rny attention for very many years . There is a class of men called tramps , who often join the Masonic Order for no other purpose than to prey upon the members , and have of late become a notorious pest to the entire

misapplication of funds set apart by the various lodges for the relief of worthy brethren . We find these applicants coming into business premises at very inconvenient hours , when the pressure of business is great

when no time or opportunity is afforded to enquire who and what the applicant is , and consequently is an evil decidedly to be decried . The evil does not end here , but leads to others : Firstly , to the

encouragment of unworthy brethren , following upon the hurried examination of the applicant , and the admitting of matters which ought to be carefully guarded , often picked up

by the outer world ; and , secondly , depriving the lodge funds often ofthe assistance which ought to be given to deserving brethren in a more liberal manner .

Now , it is to be supposed that a brother asking relief asks it from a vital point of view , when something more than a mere two or three shillings shoved into his hand to get rid of him is wanted . He wants

reliefrelief actually , not of a temporary character , which means going into a public house and boozing . Vagrancy has arrived at such a pitch that people who work and pay tlieir way , will no longer submit to it .

Masons are tired of giving money to these beggarly and unworthy Masons ; and , of necessity meritorious , but unfortunate , brethren suffer in consequence . The English Masons cry out against it ; at a late meeting

of the French brethren the subject was fully discussed , and a remedy asked for ; other countries do the same . Why is a remedv not

set on foot , when trie remedy is so very < ¦ ¦ ¦'¦< ¦ % ' / . Why not institute otic broad system Oi relief , to protect tiiv members of tlie Order wiio suffer so iieavii" from these

Suggestions On The Granting Of Masonic Relief.

tramps ? The Grand Lodge of England has an organisation which no other country has ; she possesses the remedy in her own hands . Letth-- " vM-d of Benevolence take the matter in hand , and let the new system be called

the " Casual Relief Fund , " dealing with those cases which really and purely do not belong to such as come under the operation of English Masons who through their lodges claim relief .

This is what I would suggest . The telegraph is now reduced to a system , to an uniform rate . When any party applies anywhere for relief , let him be strictly examined as to his claim to be considered

as a Mason , and also as to the cause of his wanting assistance . Yet in all cases let mercy temper justice—to err is human , to forgive divine . What is wanted is not to refuse relief to an erring brother , but to

strike at those who only join the Order to live by it . Rather let us help our erring brother out of the slough into which by weakness he has fallen . If he applies for relief in a town in which he has fallen into

difficulties , it is easy to substantiate his case ; if , on the contrary , he has done so at a distance , telegraph to some person residing at the place , regarding the truth of his

story . In no case give money till everything is satisfactorily explained , but give a ticket to some place where he may receive food and shelter , till the necessary inquiries are made .

I throw this out as a hint for some of the brethren more experienced than myself to carry out—the Almoners , say , of Liverpool , Manchester , Hull , Leicester , & c , & c . For a year or two perhaps it may be

expensive , but in the long run it will root out ; , the whole pest of tramps who join the Order to live by it , and really be of value to a brother who hy accident of fortune , has been reduced to ask our aid .

To a brother who has really by no fault of his own become unfortunate , our assistance will be of great use , with this advantage , that he will afterwards not only redeem his position , but it may be hoped will earnestly subscribe to the funds of the different charities

connected with Freemasonry . It must be » remembered that money is not the only thing an unfortunate brother wants , but

employment also . To brethren travelling in search of work , I would grant a pass to a certain distance , but when that distance is reached another

very searching inquiry should be made . On no occasion should individual charity be given . An Almoner should be appointed in each town where there is not yet one

appointed , and certainly in every town where there is a lodge throughout the United Kingdom , and , if possible , one of the police should be chosen to whom all applicants should be referred . In the case of

foreigners , the foreign Consul , if there happens to be one , should be applied to , or the applicant should be forwarded to the nearest seaport town where there isaConsul ,

from which his passage home should be paid . The Consul will examine the facts of the case , and in all probability send him home with Masonic assistance .

This is a very crude outline of the scheme , which I would suggest as a right one , but before going further , I would like to hear the opinions of brethren upon the matter . The Central Board of

Benevolence should insist on having from the Almoners throughout the country every three mouths a report of all cases that have

come before them , and how they have been disposed of . In return it should send to each Almoner for his guidance a list of the wlu'Ie . J append a rude . ' .-keletoii of forms ;¦ - ¦

Suggestions On The Granting Of Masonic Relief.

[ FORM NO . i . j General Board of Benevolence Masonic Casual Relief Fund . No . RETURN from the Almoner of the Lodge , holding

of the Grand Lodge of England , No . , held at , in the Province of , of Cases of Applications for Masonic Relief coming before him for the three " months ending the day of , 18 , enclosing the unJernoted Forms , in number .

Particulars * g First or Sum , 0 - Name of of 5 g _ . other time if any , Sq Applicant . Certificate , a S * ° of . disbursed . & c . -3 application . £ s . d .

( Date . ) ( Signature . ) [ FORM No . 2 . ] General Board of Benevolence Masonic Casual Relief Fund . No . APPLICATION by Bro . for Relief to the Almoner of the Lodge , No . , held at , in the Province of

Name , and Particulars of past and | present position \ Age Dates and places of Initiation , ) Passing , and Raising J Date and Place of Exaltation ( if f

a Royal Arch Mason ) \ What offices applicant has held in j the Craft ( Causes which lead to this application References for particulars If applied to any other Lodge for )

assistance . \

( Date . ) ( Signature of Applicant . ) How disposed of , and . sum granted ( if ) any ) , with signature of Applicant to > receipt and date )

[ FORM No . 3 . ] General Board of Benevolence Masonic Casual Relief Fund . RETURN of all Cases relieved by the Almoners of Lodges for the three months ending day of , iS .

C -I *~ ° 0 a ' o «; Masonic ^ r ° IT . * f tf !^ Particulars Cameo { SM ,. ™ Sum 2 1 £ 3 ! of Application £ " 3 . P ° granted . f *< £ I Applicant . I <

I I I ' i - :

All the schedules could be prepared so as to contain details . The practice of Liverpool , Manchester and Birmingham , . in regard to this interchange cannot be too highly commended .

Whenwc have the Boys and Girls Schools , the Old Men and Women ' s Institution , I think a "Central Board of Relief" with agencies in every town throughout England is requisite . The only danger would be in

the Central Board absorbing too much of the fund , for every brother in the country would only be too glad to give his gratuitous assistance as an Almoner . All moneys subscribed at the usual meetings of lodges for

poor and worthy distressed brethren should be forwarded to the Central Board , which should advance to each Almoner a certain sum according to the district and calls upon it to carry on with , requiring regular

receipts for every three months for the money disbursed . Our society professes to regard at once the law of justice and of charity . Let us , therefore , seek to continue to be both just and charitable . .. —— . »» ¦ II ' IMII I 1 T » T * HI * UUIUL ' JPIU

~ . \{ R . JAM ' : , BAI ' . NEIT , chemist , Birtninghxni , writes , ' fun- ; ;¦¦?•/ , 186 9 ;— ' ' Your Pain Killer is gaining many friends in this section . Among the many e-ucs ; : fi " .: i ; lc : 'l by i" . vhich h . v . z r . ' : rr .: ttr . d-:. * my notio : 1 may mention the ease of a lady who , after :. iu ' t \ riii ;; lone ; iVom neuralgia , and trying many - ,-. ¦!> , iU-i ! i-rnieiiir . v . iieoa : benefit . v .. n . . It length (•¦ . iivil . ami il : at ah , inn iii-- ' .. i ; Uly . \\\\ . \\ the first Humiliation ol the 1 ' a . iti Kil ! ' . - ! - .--To 1 " . Davis St ; jon . "