The Present Tendency Of Freemasonry.

home , and on this point the moral conscience of rnauy persons is somewhat lax , in respect of claiming aid from a generous Order , and so saving their own pockets . But here comes in the unsound teaching . Bro . Johnson has paid seven years to his lodge , the " Amity , " and

when Bro . Johnson dies he leaves a widow and an infant family . The friends say "We are well to do , " but as there are those charities , and as Bro . Johnson has paid for seven years let him claim the benefits of his own Order . " Now it is assumed that all candidates placed on o ur

educational charities , for instance , are fit and proper cases , that is to say , cases in which , through want of means , the family is unable to discharge the duties which would have devolved on the father had he lived , and as the poor child thus sues for our help , "in forma pauperis , "

and the Order steps forward " in loco parentis " to aid , to educate , and to fit , in as far as in it lies the child of our brother for the rough broadway of life . But Freemasonry understands , as a " a petitio principia , " that the candidates would not apply for Masonic aid , unless such

aid was indispensable , unless it was the natural condition of affairs . If , then , any to-day put forward candidates for our charities whom well-to-do relatives could take care of , they are not fulfilling their part of the implied understanding . They are in fact ,

trespassing on the golden generosity of the Craft , and doing injury to the claims of others actually in need of all possible assistance . We admit that there are some difficulties in the matter . We speak from careful consideration of the subject , and we will give an illustration of what

we mean . Bro . Robinson dies , a young man , and a full paying member . Had he lived he would have been a prosperous man . But the Great Architect of the Universe has taken him suddenly away , and his widow , with four children , is nearly penniless . She has rich relations . One rich relation says , " I am willing to assist

you , but 1 have children of my own , and I dc not see that I am called upon to educate your children . " Now though we may consider such conduct , perhaps morally , as moralists , looking beyond technicalities of the law , & c , yet the man cannot be compelled to do what he willingly will not do . And what then is the widow to

do '• What are Freemasons to do ? Is the child to starve , or grow up like a brute beast , while we and a hard-hearted relative dispute as to the binding nature of moral obligations , or what are moral obligations in this respect ? Certainly not ? We must step in ,

and we must try to educate the orphan and aid the widow . But if we could get rid of these mistaken views , lurking in our midst about " value received , " about " legitimate returns , " aboutour claim for [ " material benefit" from Freemasonry , we should , we think , rise to a hi gher level , as to the way we look at our Masonic

Charities generally . For " mutatis mutandis " the same argument applies no doubt , in a greater or less manner , as regards all our Masonic Benevolent Institutions . They simply would become charities for the suffering and needy , purel y charities , not a return for subscriptions and donations , not the result of an investment of

capital for a rainy day , not a righteous claim , not ^ a benefit we demand , bat the simple and bona fide offering of pure Masonic benevolence , to bind up the wounds of our suffering brotherhood , to pour on the wine and oil of sympathy , > nto pining homesteads and aching hearts . To show how all this false principle is working , et

• us look at the programme of the proposed new Grand Lodge of Ontario , in the ' Daily toronto Globe" of May 27 th . We say nothing now of this new movement and separa-™ n . Probabl y on the principles of Grand Lodge lortnation laid down in the Canadas , it is as . logical as any other formation , though we say this not knowing anything" of the merits of

ne case , and simply on an abstract consideration « Canadian precedents . But that new programme boldl y asserts the necessity of a " so" um . , n case of death , a weekly payment in " se ot sickness or accident out of the funds of wand Lod ge or Provincial Grand Lodge , for all an ! 1 u . ^ ers ' tbus boldly avowing a beneficial and A" - I " " Principle in Freemasonry , » " « reducing Freemasonry-nay , we will say

The Present Tendency Of Freemasonry.

degrading Freemasonry—to the level of a benefit order . Whatever else the new Grand Lodge of Ontario may be , it cannot claim to be Masonic , in our opinion , and if , these , its first principles , be openly acted upon and upheld , we cannot suppose that any Grand Lodge of genuine

Freemasonry will in any way recognise it , or look upon as a Masonic Order , since if a benefit order , it ceases to be a Grand - Lodge or private lodge of Freemasons . Let us be on our guard then against any tendency amongst us , open or implied , to abandon our noble principles of

gratuitous and generous donations , of a true charity for the secondary , and we must add , mere selfish assertion of beneficial claims . We do not deny that benefit orders are good , per se , but what we contend for is that Freemasonry

is not and never can be a mere beneficial order , and that if you seek to incorporate into Freemasonry the axioms and claims of a benefit society you are paving the way for the inevitable decay and destruction of Fresm asonry .

What The Masonic Press May And Should Be.

WHAT THE MASONIC PRESS MAY AND SHOULD BE .

In this our third article on the subject we wish to write as briefly as we well may , fearing that we may otherwise exhaust the patience of our readers . That a Masonic press is advisable and important , valuable and needful , to-day , we venture to think : that it may be a great aid to

true Freemasonry we also hold , but then it must avoid seme of the errors and quicksands which have abounded in its . ) previous course . One great defect as regards the Masonic press has been its personality . It is lamentable to think what scurrility has sometimes found its way into

Masonic columns . As the representatives of a brotherhood professing fraternal love as its keynote , it would be amusing , were it not so saddening , to observe this inconsistency of humanity . Some of the most personal , and we will add ,

vulgar , productions we ever read have emanated from a Masonic penman , writing , moreover , "ad fratres . " Strange inconsistenc }* , but so it is . Now in saying this do not let any suppose that we underrate the importance of the real " hitch of the matter . '' the actual difficulties of thecase . It

is no doubt sometimes hard to restrain a strongish word or epithet , when we have proof before our eyes of the ignorance of the sciolist or the audacity of the charlatan . It is not so easy always to keep within due bounds , the eager disputant , or the keen controversalist , who finds his motives

impugned , his words travestied , and his opinions derided by one whom he considers in the nature of things incompetent to pass an opinion on the merits of the case . Many people rush into the pages of a Masonic or profane newspaper whose views are hazy and whose language is most

insulting , and hardly a week passes but we see how true it still is that " fools enter in where angels fear to tread . " And hence a little latitude must always exist for honest indignation , and critical severity , for the laudable exposure of the impostor and impertinent , for the ardent

language and glowing fervour of the injured , the assailed , or the defamed . But having said this , we feel that we have made all needful allowances for the exigencies of passing controversies and excitable writers , and we are bound , it appears to us , to set our face

against all press personalities . The imputation of evil motives , the covert insinuation , the open falsehood , the violence of some "feeble forcible , " and the mistaken vehemence of some amateur libeller are all things " bene notanda , " and "bene evitanda " in Masonic journalism .

Freemasonry will rise much hi gher in the opinion of the outside world , when Masonic papers put on one side that embittering tone which too often mars and degrades their pages , when Masonic controversies can be conducted in a spirit of fairness and toleration , and when all of attempted bull ying , or browbeating , or absurd

assumption , or unreasoning dogmatism , shall have passed away from Masonic pamphleteers , and Masonic disputants , never to return . The judgment of the world , based on the evidence of the Masonic press , is too often unfavourable to Freemasonry on the ground that its practice does not square with its profession—that it says one thing and : doe * - ; the very contrary and that while

What The Masonic Press May And Should Be.

it openly asserts as its leading princip les , the teaching of a charitable , elevated , tolerant , benevolent brotherhood , Freemasons shew themselves to be very often in the press the most intolerant , the most uncharitable , the most vulgar , and the most abusive of mankind . These are hardish

words , but they are true , and , above all , they are needed , whether popular or unpopular , acceptable or unacceptable . And another point for the Masonic press to avoid is ritual publicacation . We have fallen into " evil courses " in

this respect , and must retrace our steps . We have been publishing far too much about the "arcana " and " aporreta " of our Order , and must hold our hands . There is plenty of ground for Masonic writers to travel o / er and for Masonic publications to dwell upon , without

loading our pages with unwise discussions upon ritual and ceremonial . Masonic archaeology has plenty of hope for the student and the teacher , and except for the sake of illustration , ceremonial ought not to be dwelt upon by Masonic writers . We have latterly excluded all ritual

discussions from the " Freemason , and we shall continue to do so . There is quite sufficient in the . current news of the day , in the abstract principles of Freemasonry , in the onward progress of Masonic affairs at home and abroad , and , above all , in the interesting study of the

annals and antiquities of our great Order , to occupy the leisure of the Masonic correspondent , to lend force to the exhortation of the Masonic teacher , to enliven the contribution of the Masonic critic , and to claim Ihe close attention of the Masonic editor . Guided by the principles

we have laid down of abstention and caution , we have no doubt ourselves bnt that the Masonic press has a useful and beneficial , a great and goodly future before it . In all that it sec : ks to proclaim and to enforce , didactically or hortatory before the Craft , its utterances ought always to marked by distinct adherence to principle ,

and an elevated tone in all things . Through evil report or good report , popular or unpopular , it should never truckle to expediency , but should always display before all men that noble banner of blue , on which glitter in letters of gold the talismanic words , Honour , Justice , Loyalty , Charity , Brotherly Love , Toleration , Truth .

Bro. Havers's Letter In Our Last.

BRO . HAVERS'S LETTER IN OUR LAST .

We do not think it well , as the French say , " pour le moment , " to anticipate or comment on the course of the discussion which our very able and distinguished Bro . John Havers , J . G . W ., has paid us the compliment of commencing in the " Freemason . " We do this first because

Bro . Havers is a " host " in himself , and perfectly able to fig ht his own battle most effectively , and secondly bacause at present as our agreement with Bro . Havers is complete , alike in the abstract and in the concrete , it would almost

seem impertinence on our part to intervene in discussion so ably commenced . It may , perhaps be our duty to say a few words before the fraternal and friendly controversy closes , bat we

do not affect to conceal our opinion tint we , like Bro . Havers , greatly deplore the result which Grand Lodge arrived at , and of which , in our opinion , he , not unnaturally , and so forcibly points out , the untoward consequences .

Our Thank Offering.

OUR THANK OFFERING .

Communifjiiv . 'Tis not so very long ago that our witty contemporary , " Punch , " presented us with a ludicrous picture of the way in which it seems good to some men to celebrate any great event . A man finds his fiiend regaling himself in an

eating house , and is amazed at his extravagance" What ! Heal Turtle , Smith ? and Vei . ison , too , to follow Why , whatever docs this mean ?" " Oh , my dear fellow , this is our wedding day , you know , and I always make a point of commemorating such important occasions . "

Wc confess at the time to being immensely tickled with Smith ' s greedy self-complacency , but we little thought that we should ever have to write ourselves this very Smith , but this is precisely our position by our Grand Lodge vote at last Quarterly Communication . We are positively going to be so liberal as to spend , as a thank

offering , two thousand pounds upon—ourselves . Masonry must have entered upon an entirely new phase , or else the " Rulers of the Craft" must have been led away by some specious argument to the perpetration of one of those solecisms of which , in their calmer moments of reflection , they will be heartily ashamed . What is the state of matters