Masonic Homes Vs. Masonic Charity.

MASONIC HOMES Vs . MASONIC CHARITY .

There can be no doubt that the great Masonic Brotherhood wish to discharge their full obligations as Masons . We believe this to be true , after j ( j years' active service in trying to promulgate the principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , and in establishing that God-like attribute—Charity . We would not dictate to any Mason his duty in this regard , as we believe all brethren , who have been properly instructed in their duties as members

of this time-honoured Institution , are capable of judging for themselves where their duty begins and ends . The neophyte who passes through the inner door of a Masonic lodge does so after a careful scrutiny of his qualifications to become a Mason . He must be a man of intelligence , of sound judgment , of good habits , and of exemplary life to gain admission where the unbiased unanimous opinion of good men and true is expressed by a secret ballot . To impugn the motives of any body of such men in any

matter where they have expressed their deliberate judgment , is a very serious matter , and the man who does so , be he Mason or not , assumes a responsibility for which he should be made to answer . The Mason who assumes to know a brother ' s duty better than he knows it himself should be fortified in away to maintain his pos ' tion , and prove his superior knowledge of the requirements of Freemasonry . Unless able to do so , he should close up like a clam , and await the probing knife that will serve him up on a halfshell .

Masonic Charity is the distinctive feature of Freemasonry . It is taught from the beginning to the end of this grand fraternal , heaven-born Institution . How best to put it into every-day active life is a question in which all Masons are equally interested , and in which all must share an equal responsibility . When the question has been thus decided , the majority are entitled to be respected in their judgment , and the minority , or any individual thereof , has no license to abuse or reprove their action , and those who do so are like the Pharisee who thanked God that he was not like unto

other men . The question of establishing Masonic Homes under the supervision and direction of Masonic Grand Lodges is one that is being brought to the front by the action of certain Grand Lodges that have been brought to this issue in the last few years . The Grand Lodge of Michigan has refused to tax the Masons of that jurisdiction to support a Masonic Home , built by voluntary contribution , at Grand Rapids , which is expected to provide f jr all indigent Master Masons , their widows and children for all time to come .

In this action the more than 3 6 , 000 Masons of Michigan have acted according to their best judgment , and the American Tyler , wiser in its own conceits than a large majority of this great army of devoted Masons , has seen proper to denounce their action as un-Masonic and a reproach on Masonry . So too in the case of the Grand Lodge of Kansas , in which the brethren refused to impose a tax on the Masons of that jurisdiction for the

maintenance of a Masonic Home , several of our contemporaries are pouring out their vials of wrath because the Grand Lodge decided not to impose an indiscriminate tax on the Masons of Kansas to erect and maintain a Masonic Home . We stand in the breach to defend our brethren of Michigan and Kansas in their action , as they believed it to be right , and will endeavour to make our stand-point a Masonic one .

The levying ol a tax on any body of Masons , for any specific purpose , falls alike upon those who are able or unable to pay . No brother should be required to pay any sum beyond the scope of his ability . Many Masons have all they can do to provide for their families and to pay the small amount of annual dues necessary to support their lodge . To impose a tax on them to support others , who are equally able to support themselves , is

contrary to the principles and teachings of Masonry . In a jurisdiction like that of Michigan there are thousands of worthy brethren who are hard pushed to provide for their own families . To levy a tax of one dollar a year on them to help some one else is foreign to the design and purpose of Masonry , and there is no obligation on them to pay such a tax . So in the case of the Grand Lodge of Kansas , a large majority of the Masons of that

State decided that they did not wish to be taxed to support a Masonic Home l and the Masonic Constellation denounces them as guilty of " un-Masonic conduct , unbecoming Masons , " and casts other reflections on them wholly uncalled for . Masonic Homes are a modern idea in Masonry . Probably one-half of the Masons now living became such before a single Home had been erected . There have been other and much less expensive ways for providing for those

who were entitled to Masonic aid , and such aid has always been cheerfully given in a truly Masonic way by those who were able to grant it . The poor brother with a large family that required every dollar of his hard earnings 'or their support , was not told that he must pay one dollar a year for the erection of a magnificent building , and its maintenance as a home for others , or lose his standing as a Mason . If that is Masonic Charity we fail to find 'he brand of genuine Masonry on it .

Of course , there can be no objection to a Masonic Home when maintained y voluntary contributions , by endowments , or where a Grand Lodge has a rental income sufficient lo support it , as is the case in New York , but if a tax is to be laid upon the Masons of any State to maintain one , it should I . ' evied upon an assessment of their property , the same as all taxes are evied , so that the burden may be evenly distributed , and the poor brother not compelled to pay the same as his wealthy neighbour . —Masonic Advocate .

Riley's Masonic Certificates.

RILEY'S MASONIC CERTIFICATES .

'his remarkable work , by a most enthusiastic Craftsman , affords reliable ., most interesting information respecting Masonic certificates issued by e Grand Lodges and United Grand Lodge and Grand Cnapter of Eng-. . " ' ° m the earliest to the present time . " The beautiful volume is both

nnical and elementary , as required , and abounds in valuable particulars " \ T Cern ' ^ cnaracter of all the certificates issued by the " Ancients " and oderns " during the last one hundred and fifty years or so . It has been on 'y wriu . u by my esteemed friend , Bro . J . Ramsden Riley ( with whom

Riley's Masonic Certificates.

I have often been associated in the past in relation to Masonic studies ) , but all the artistic illustrations have also been drawn by him , with considerable skill and dexterity , the reproductions of his accurate facsimiles being simply perfection . The frontispiece is appropriately devoted to the " Three Graces"

certificate , which at the south-east corner contains the order of the Grand Lodge of 1755 . None , however , have been traced until several years later , but it is hoped that Bro . Riley ' s expectation may soon be realised by a Revis signed certificate being discovered . Brethren should examine the old boxes and pedestals owned by lodges dating from early last century , and duly report the result of their examination , if at all satisfactory .

"St . Paul ' s " certificate , issued by the " Modsrns , " is a very fine design , and " came into general use in January , 1 S 10 . " The illustration of this handsome document is a conspicuous success . The " Ancient" certificates are duly represented , after the period that ordinary written forms were discarded for the more ornate and dignified

engraved documents . The " Universis " issue began about 17 GG , followed by the" ist" and " 2 nd Angel" forms of about the year 1790 and later , which continued until the " Union " of December , 1813 ; the " 3 Pillars " certificate ( of various issues ) being the design favoured by the United Grand Lodge of England , more or less familiar to all of us .

The Grand Lodge of Ireland was early in the field , and its usage was followed by the " Ancients , " the "Moderns" really coming after these bodies had published official intimations of registration . A plate of two specimens of Irish origin , and many particulars as to that organisation and also of Scotland , are welcome additions to a volume mainly intended for English readers .

Royal Arch certificates have had justice done them as never before ; the beautiful " Dermott Certificate , " of uncertain date a > to origin , being the first plate for that chapter . The " Trinity " issue of the " Modern " Grand Chapter makes an imposing picture , and " is the largest of any kind ever used in England . " The " ist Gloria " —and the aid—are noted in due course , being those adopted by the United Grand Chapter , and make two

very striking illustrations . The various plates of seals , "Moderns , " "Ancients , " and others , add much to the value and usefulness of this fine volume , and the information afforded in the body of the work cannot fail to be a means of instruction to most Craftsmen who have not hitherto studied this absorbing subject , and even for experts , the particulars must prove to be a boon , and the illustrations , " things of beauty and joys for ever . "

I am very pleased that this admirable book , which supplies a long-felt want , has been published under the auspices of our "Quatuor Coronati Lodge , " at the low cost of half a guinea each , copies of which may be had from the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . G . W . Speth ( if any are left ) , and I trust the purchaser will not neglect to thank Bro . J . Ramsden Riley for his well directed researches extending over many years ( sime of which he was alone in his systematic study of these documents , a > a Provincial Craftsman ) .

Brethren interested in the subject should see the collection in the museum of the Grand Lodge of England , so carefully looked after and fostered by the respected Sub-Librarian , Bro . Henry Sadler . Bro . F . J . W . Crowe has also an enormous number of certificates , England being well represented , and his catalogue of some of his numerous Treasures is a most opportune publication . Another friend and most successful collector is Bro . _ G . W . Bain , whose Masonic library generally , surpasses all others of ths kind in this country .

I have bsen looking out for a review of Bro . Riley's "Masonic Certificates " by the editor of the Freemason , who doubtless much appreciates the splendid volume , but I want him to say so , and give us his valued opinion thereon . There are personal reasons why I value the publication beyond ordinary , and these add much to my pleasure in perusing the artistic publication . W . J . HUGHAN .

Masonic Visitation To Glenesk.

MASONIC VISITATION TO GLENESK .

1 he biennial visitation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire to Lodge St . Andrew , No . 282 , Tarfside , Glcnesk , took place on the 7 th inst , The event is looked forward to in the glen as one of considerable importance , the work of the lodge playing a most useful and benevolent part in the life of the residenters . Tne office-bsarers of the Provincial Grand Lodge

present were Bros . James Berry , Prov . Grand Master ; Hon . C . M . Ramsay , Prov . Substitute Grand Master ; A . M . Ferguson , Prov . S . G . W . ; ex-Provost Anderson , Prov . G . Secretary ; ex-Bailie Hera ) J , Prov . G . Treasurer ; Crabb , Prov . J . G . W . ; F . G . Kemp , Prov . G . Director of Ceremonies ; ex-Bailie Spence , Prov . G . Steward ; and Welsh , Prov . G . Marshal .

There was a large attendance of members of lodges throughout the province , amongst those present being Bros , the Rev . John Stewart , Provost Keith , ex-Provost Whyte , Cameron , R . W . M . Lodge St . James ; Watson , R . W . M . Lodge Airlie ; J . G . Sprunt , R . W . M . St . David ' s ; Andrew Bennet , R . W . M . Panmure ; T . S . Lindsay , R . W . M . Dalhousie ; R . S . Carlow , J . Suttie , W . L . Shepherd , C . Y . Myles , William Kyle , A . Swirles , Captain Ritchie , H . Gouick , G . Harris , Alexander Smith , J . Turnbull , G . Reid , and I . M . B . Michie .

The Provincial Grand Lodge deputation were received in due form by Lodge St . Andrew , Bro . Campbell , the Mister of the lodge , being in the chair .

The books of the lodge were submitted to insp : ction , and reports were afterwards given in by Bros . Herald and Anderson . Bro . HERALD reported that the cash books of the lodge were kept in excellent condition . The lodge had commenced the past year with a capital of £ 1151 ids . 3 d ., which at the close of the year had been increased to £ 115 V 9 " ' - Gd . The capital was properly invested at fair and safe interest , and from this source . £ 43 5 s . 4 d . had been drawn during the year . The

number of members had been increased from 136 to 151 , the whole of the latter having paid their annual subscription of 4 s . The sum of £ u > 11 s . 3 i . had been paid as sick aliment , while nine superannuated members h id been paid £ 1 10 s . each . During the year 2 j widows had been paid at the rate of 10 s . per annum ; iS had received £ \ each ; and three had received 1 . 5 s each—the total sum paid having been , £ 3 1 5 s . The whole financial pjs ' tion of the lodge was most satisfactory .