Freemasonry In Foreign States.

FREEMASONRY IN FOREIGN STATES .

Our review of " Freemasonry in 1 S 92 , " so far as the United Kingdom and its Colonies and Possessions abroad are concerned , trenched so largely on the limited space at our disposn . il , that wc were very unwillingly compelled to forego the pleasure of offering a lew remarks on Freemasonry in Foreign States . We had not , neither have we , the slightest intention of

inviting ; our readers to accompany us in imagination through the various jurisdictions which have from time to time becn established in those States . There are , indeed , sundry amongst them to which it would prolit us but little to devote serious attention . Some few have cast away all sense of respect for what we in the British Empire and thc United States look

upon as the fundamental princip les of the Society of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons . Thc Grand Orient of France , for example , has not only eliminated from its profession of faith the article which exacts of all

candidates for admission into our ranks a declaration of belief in thc Supreme Being and the immortality of the soul ; but it has likewise openly avowed its intention of taking an active part in thc political movements of the day . There are also other countries in which the absolute freedom of the Craft

from political bias is so doubtful as to . 1 certain extent to justily the charge which more than once has been levelled against it of being a secret political society . But in the United States of North America there is little , if any , chance of Freemasonry ever being diverted from thc principles on which our system of morality is based , and here , indeed , we find that the Cralt

has prospered in 1892 , as it has prospered previously , during a long term of years . There are no less than 49 sovereign and independent jurisdictions in this country , and though it would be in excess of the truth to aflirin that thc Masonic doctrines which arc promulgated in all these jurisdictions come up to the ideal of Freemasonry as it is defined and explained in the Old Charges

and our Book of Constitutions , as well as in thc unwritten law of custom , to which wc are so often called upon to look for guidance , there is no doubt whatever about the soundness at core of American Masonry . It will never discard the religious lest , nor do wc think it will ever allow itself to be betrayed into taking part in the political movements of thc day .

But it will do well to avoid concerning itself about social questions . It had better not strive to elevate Freemason ry into a religion , whilo the character of the Craft will be the more completely and the more easily maintained , if thc brethren keep carefully in mind that Conservatism is the very essence of Masonry . In saying this , wc are not speaking

politically . It matters not what particular political creed is most in favour with American Masons , but it deeply interests us to find the old usages and customs of the Craft conserved in all their ori ginal purity . " Freemasonry is a peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols , " and what we earnestly desire

to see is that the veil with which our rites and ceremonies have always bcen concealed from the outer world shall be kept down , so that none may be permitted to know or form an idea of what passes within the precincts of thc tylcd lodge . Again , it is thc reverse of desirable that our beautiful ceremonies should be exaggerated

into religious services or theatrical pageants . Let them be carried out as lhey have bcen in the past , simply , and therefore , impressively , but without set service of song , and above all , without display of fuss and finery . Our American brethren will fare better if they think more of the origina text of Freemasonry , and trouble less about the annotations and emendations

with which that text has becn latterly somewhat obscured . In a ,, other respects American Freemasonry stands well . It has a large membershi p ; it is wealthy , and during thc past year it has becn , in thc States of New York and Ohio—and very probably in other States as well—devoting a considerable portion of its wealth to succouring the poor and needy among its

members and the widows and orphan children ol those vvho are deceased . Thc establishment of the Masonic Homes at Utica , New York and S pringfield , Ohio , which was commenced in October last , shows clearl y enough that the brethren in those States , as in Pennsylvania and elsewhere , understand and appreciate the princip les upon which our . system of Masonry is based .

Masonic Benevolence In 1892.

MASONIC BENEVOLENCE IN 1892 .

It is vvith feelings of more than ordinary satisfaction that vve lay before our readers the . statements . vve have received from the Secretaries of the several Masonic Charitable Institutions , in which are set forth in detail the moneys received during the j-car that terminated on Saturday last . Thc aggregate of the three totals , is greater than it has ever becn before , that for

the year 1 SS 8 , in which was celebrated the Centenary of the R 0 y . 1 I Masonic Institution for Girls , wliich has thus far been the highest , having been exceeded by upwards of £ 7500 .- In the important item of " Donations and Subscriptions , " thc Returns are eminently gratifying , the three Institutions taken together having received support to thc extent ol" . £ 81 , 677 LSS . tod ., of

which the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution obtained . £ 58 , 353 14 s . iod . ; the Boys' School , ^ 13 , 164 12 s . gd . ; and the Girls' School , £ 10 , 259 is . 3 d . In the case of the Schools , thc amounts announced at their respective Festivals have bcen exceeded , the total announced for the Boys' Institution , including- the sum of £ 1050 paid by Northumberland for

a perpetual presentation , having becn , £ 12 , 224 , while the sum received , ex . elusive ol thc presentation , is , £ 13 , 164 . The Girls'School receipts under this head exceed the total announced at trie Festival b y _ £ - ' 5 < i ] and upwards , but the Benevolent Institution has had paid into its coffers some / , 12511 less than was announced by the liarl of Mount lulgcumbe in

Covent Garden 1 heatre , and nearly £ 11 , 750 less than the final total of £ ¦ 69 , 000 is . 7 d ., as published in the reprint of the Festival Report , Returns , and Analysis . L ' nder these circumstances wc shall not be surprised to hear that Bio . Terry ' s figures have been somewhat severely criticised and his total of £ 69 , 0110 , set down as the mere transformation of the real into an imaginary

total , such as he was desirous of recording rather than such as hc was ever likely to receive . If all those , however , who have . 1 mind to criticise in this vein—and thc case of the Girls' Centenary Returns has prepared us for uncomplimentary remarks of thc character indicated—we take the liberty of pointing out in the first place that upwards of £ 1000 * , vas received dorms *

the year 1 S 91 in behalf of the Jubilee ; and in the next that a considerable time must elapse before the whole of the Association Money , of wliich there was a large amount included in the Returns ior the said Festival , is paid

over . I hose who note the results during the next two or three years , and compare them with the Festival announcements , will no doubt lind a considerable excess on the part of the former over the latter , and that the present Returns , as compiled by the Secretary , are justified .

Thc following are the statements to which we refer in the foivgoing paragraphs :

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Donations , & c . ... ... ... ... ... £ 58 , 253 14 10 Grand Lodge ... ... ... ... ... J , GOJ o o Grand Chapter ... ... ... ... ... 150 o o Dividends and Interest ... ' ... ... ... 1 , 792 17 S Legacy ... ... ... ... ... 52 10 o

£ 61 , 849 2 6 ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . Donations and Subscriptions ... ... ... ... £ 13 , 664 12 9 Purchase of Perpetual Presentation ... ... ... 1 , 030 o o Dividends and Interest on Cash at Call ... ... ... 892 3 10

Income Tax returned ... ... ... ... 267 19 3 Legacies ... ... ... ... ... 142 10 o Prize Funds ... ... ... ... ... 20 3 17 o Sundry Receipts ... ... ... ... ... 11 G 15 2

£ 15 , 837 iS o ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . Donations and Subscriptions ... ... ... ... £ 10 , 259 ' Grand Lodge ... ... ... ••••••' 50 o o Grand Chapter ... ... ... ... ... 10 10 o

Dividends ... ... ... ... ... 1974 11 11 Interest on Deposits ... ... ... ... 4 7 1 Receipts for Musical Instruction ... ... ... 232 11 6 Window Memorials ... ... ... ... 3 , ) o o Admission by Annual Payment ... ... ... 16 13 4 Income lax recovered ... ... ... ... 91 7 o

£ 12 , 778 2 1 The table that follows shows ( 1 ) the amounts received b y each Institution during tlie seven years 1 S 86—1 S 92 , thc fourth column containing thc aggregate for each year ; ( 2 ) the average per year for each Institution , as well as for ( lie three together ; aud ( 3 ) the average receipt per year per Institution for the septennial period .