Clacton-On-Sea.

useful mission , and may all of prosperity and safety , under the protecting providence ot T . G . A . O . T . U ., attend its future career . The proceedings of Wednesday week at Clacton-on-Sea were most pleasant and practical , and we trust that Freemasonry has acquired a new impetus and

increased prestige in that important and rising district . Our esteemed Deputy Grand Master spoke , as he always does speak , in a thoroughly manly , honest , and warm-hearted way , and gained , as he ever does gain , most deservedly , the attention and applause of his listeners . We shall as

Freemasons , therefore , rejoice in the fact , that , thanks to the admirable interposition and eloquent words of Lord Carnarvon , the English Grand Lodge was extricated from a most false . position , into which injudicious and unreasoning friends had placed it protempore , and was enabled to come to

a conclusion alike sensible and useful , and to offer to the world a valuable proof of its kindly sympathies , and its own warm and unchanging desire to benefit our common humanity . As we often have observed befeire , in the great Providence of God , good comes out of evil , folly is

overruled for wisdom here , - and we , therefore , gladly commemorate to-day the completion of that vote of Grand Lodge , which , after many difficulties , has arrived at a most befitting resolution , ^ consecrateits means to the relief and rescue of perishing fellow mortals .

The Charity Voting Reform Association.

THE CHARITY VOTING REFORM ASSOCIATION .

We have read the proceedings of the meeting on Thuisday week of this association with much interest , as we were very anxious to see what so great a speaker as Mr . Gladstone couhl conscientiously put forward in favour of refurms which , in our opinion , are , at any rate , "

empirical , " and in suppoit of that wholesale condemnation of our charitable system , which , just now , is the " order of the day . " We are among those who have always advocated the removal of proved abuses the needful and legitimate improvement as time runs on , of earthly systems ,

which are necessarily always incomplete and imperfect , liable to abuse , apt to get " out of orde-r . " But as we strongly object to unreality and false sentimentof every kind , the hyper-sensation . ilism and "high falutin" of the hour , we have never been able conscientiously to endorse the

somewhat wild accusations whichamiable wouldbe reformers have brought against the chai ities generally . We do not see that Mr . Gladstone , with all his acknowledged ability and eloquence , has pushed the matter any further or brought ihe charges home to our charitable associations , He

has made " more suo , ' a very interesting and effective speech , —and there it rests . With the exception of a new inculpation , to which we will call attention later , his remarks mainly turn on that " vexata qurestio , " the "voting system , " which he denominates the " voting nuisance . "

But has Mr . Gladstone seriously considered to what his own argument fairly leads ? He is somewhat in the position of the morbid individual to whom everything was a " nuisance . " But , surely , that is not a sound , nor rational , nt . r healthy state of feeling ? The voting system may

be abused , but , surely , it has its use , and we doubt very much if , on calm reflection , Mr . Gladstone would say that , either abstractedly or in the concrete , it was absolutely an abuse , and incapable of honest and legimate u ? e And if so , where is his actual argument ? We

are at one with Mr . Gladstone , when he eloquently dilates upon the excellency of the principle of " Love " as the ruling and controlling principle of all such associations . But Mr . Gladstone teed not be reminded by us , that though we shall all , we hope , feel , alas ! " that it should be so , "

it is almost impossible to seek to govern existing associations on abstract first principles of action . No doubt if we were all permeated by such high and well-expressed views , the state of society and the world would be wondrously ameliorated ;

but alas , we have to do with very common-place mortals indeed , who are governed , and can only be controlled by secondary , nay tertiary , principles of action . It is because human weakness and human selfishness have warped us from abstract right and goodness , and truth , and love ,

The Charity Voting Reform Association.

that we have before us the ever mournful spectacle of conflicting interests , antagonizing sympathies , and contending passions . Mr . Gladstone condemns the voting system , on the ground that it fails in its object , and does not help the " most deserving

case . As Ins whole argument bears truly on another matter , in which , as Masons , we have lately shown some interest , and as we accept Mr . Gladstone ' s view of the true responsibility of patron age , we give it fully ; " Another point

was , that when an appointment in anv case was to be given away it was a received axiom that the person best qualified to fill it should receive it , and in like manner when charity was to be dispensed the persons who were the most fitted , or the most infirm , or the most distressed , as the

case might be , or that person whose undeserved troubles were the most poignant , should receive the charity . But was the voting charity favourable to that ? On the contrary , it went right against-the principle of the most deserving and the most necessitous being made the recipients

of the charity—ths voting system did not aim at getting the best cases ' in , ' but substituted for the most deserving those who could get the highest figures worked by careful machinery . " Thus it will be spen that Mr . Gladstone asserts ( what we should have thought his keen intellect

would have discovered to be a fallacy ) , that it is possible for any body of men to agree upon what is " the most necessitous " or the " most deserving case . " We hold , as we have just now said , this to be a hopeless and utter fallacy , and a most hurtful one , be cause , taking from it its actual

speciousness . Let us test it in this way . Take any ten men you like , and ask them what are tluj " first principles'' of necessitousness or " deserving " which they will lay down as descriptive of the most deserving case in respect of the reception and election of candidates , and you will

find , especially as regards our orphan establishments , that no two will-or can agree . It is im . possible , on any known ground of argument that we are awa e of , to lay down rules which shall clearly enable us to assert thatthis or that " case " is the " most necessitous" or the ' " most

deserving . As absolute agreement is positively impossible , all we can positively do is to put forward a sufficientl y distressing case , which accords with our rules , enlists our sympathies . and claims our votes . Curiously enough , even amid this outcry for reform , it would not be difficult

to cite cases where those who most complain of the voting system as unfair to the " most distressing case" have come forward warmly to support a case which is clearly not the most distressing case in any sense , and only a distressing case , and was m ? de more objectionable

on every ground of fair play to others . Such an illustration demonstrates the tendency of favourtism , yes , and "jobbery , " which is the inevitable result of all close and irresponsible bodies of men . The great argument in favour of the voting system is , that it is a counterpoise to private

influence , deliberate jobs and unworthy partiality , and that it prevents any one body of men , or an unscrupulous official , or a busy , and noisy , and pretentious egotist from becoming the " Deus ex Machina , " and for his self-glorification the " elector general" of candidates . That our chari .

ties may require overhauling from time to time who denies ? That here and there abuses may have crept in we may all fairly admit . But that they are essentially corrupt or do more harm than good we do most absolutely and solemnly deny . And that the voting system is an actual

evil we conceive to be only one more added to the numerous fallacies of the day . We are quite sure that the abolition of the voting system means , in nine cases out of ten , the abolition of the charity itself , and under proper direction , and with controlling safeguards , we believe it to be

as fair a way of reaching " deserving cases " as any that can be devised . As regards our Masonic Charities , we are sure that it is so , and that any such proposed change would be mischevious in the highest degree , if not fatal to their progress

and success . Mr . Gladstone mentioned , on the authority of our Past Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson , the existence of " middlemen , " yea , and " middle women , " who "trafficked in the votes" for the London Charities , and who were " paid for ob-

The Charity Voting Reform Association.

taining the election of candidates . " As this is quite " new matter , " and to say the truth we have never heard of this interesting species of humanity , where it exists or where it is to be found in operation , we should like to hear more about it . We should perhaps hardly have alluded

to it , knowing well the habit , ( though we doubt its morality ) , of making little sensational "hits " and "bits" for public meetings . But as the Times gravely repeats the story on the authority , not of Bro . Simpson , but of Mr . Gladstone , pace our

worthy brother , a much higher authority , we shall feel obliged to any of our numerous good friends who will enlighten us as to those remarkable individuals , who so debase and so prostitute the " excelling grace of charity . "

The Congress And Peace.

THE CONGRESS AND PEACE .

As Freemasons , lovers of peace ( not "Peaci at any Price , " however , let it be noted and re . membered ) , we rejoice to learn that the labours of the last distinguised and momentous Congress at Berlin , under the enlightened presidency of Prince Bismarck , have resulted in the

prevention of war and the maintenance of peace . There are many topics in common with this great event , which we are prohibited necessarily and naturally from touching upon in consequence of our wise , decorous , and absolutely non-political position as Freemasons . But this , we think , we fairly may

say , that Europe owes a great debt of gratitude to those eminent statesmen , ( just as we in England gratefully recognize the honest efforts of the Queen ' s servants ) , who have laboured so zealously , despite conflicting interests and opposing clamours to vindicate on one hand the autonomy of

nations , and on the other hand to prevent the continuance of a sad and hopefess war . That al / interests are satisfied , all nationalities are conciliated , all aniirosities appeased , by the protocols of the Berlin Congress , is too much , owing to human weakness and perversity , to say or to

expect . But , nevertheless , it appears to us that we ought to hail , whether as patriots or Freemasons , or citizens of the world , the deliberations and determinations of so able and dispassionate a body of men , some of them the most distinguished of contemporary statesmen , who , while they have

clearly sought strenuously to uphold the sanctity of treaties and the honour of empires , have equally anxiously endeavoured to provide the elements of tranquillity and rest so much needed by Europe and mankind . Let us all hope that the pacific provisions of the treaty at Berlin will be

alike durable and effective , and while relieving the anxieties of trade and soothing the agitations of commerce , will pave the way for the advance of liberty , civilization , and toleration , the progress and happiness of suffering peoples , and the onward and peaceful . developement of independent national life in the world .

Congratulatory Dinner To Bro. Hedges.

CONGRATULATORY DINNER TO BRO . HEDGES .

We understand that a complimentary dinner will be offered to Bro . Hedges under distinguished auspices , on his recent election to the Secretaryship of the Girls' School at the opening of the next Masonic season , though we believe

that the exact time is not yet fixed . We are informed that due notice will be given of it , when the committee appointed to manage it have finally settled their course of procedure . Such has been the interest manifested b y Bro . Hedges ' s numerous supporters in town and country that it

was at first intended to offer him this congratulatory dinner towards the end of this month , but it was considered advisable on account of the heat of the weather and the dispersion of so many brethren , to defer it to a later and more convenient season . There is little doubt , when

it takes place , that it will be most numerously and influentially attended , and that it will be a fitting and friendly inauguration of Bro . Hedges ' s in the duties and responsibilities of his new and important office . We shall dul y keep our readers " au courant " of all we hear on the

subject , as we know well how much interest has been excited in the Craft by the successful and proper election of Bro . Hedges .