Proposed Royal Scottish Masonic Benevolent Institution.

the true teaching of Freemasonry is best always manifested to the outer world in works of p hilanthropy and labours of love . Whatever some may say , or however others may hold

forth upon the social charms of Freemasonry , thoug h we do not deny their importance , we venture to assert that no profession of Freemasonry can be real , and no system of

Freemasonry can be sound , where no effort is made to put into effective practice that which we have ever been taught is the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart—charity . The

benevolent offerings of Freemasons , the schools we maintain , the asylums we raise , the annuities -we grant , the relief we provide ; all these demonstrate to those who doubt , to those who

sneer , alike , that Freemasonry is not merely " the passing pageant of an hour , " but symbolizes in its great organization , certain sound and beneficent princip les which tend greatly to the

welfare of society , the happiness of Freemasons , and the peace and prosperity of the human race . No better teply to our many assailants , no safer response to the voice of slander

or obloquy , can be offered than that which says to the impugner , or the contemptuous , to all who deny the value of Freemasonry , " Si quaeris , circumspice . " So then , to-day , we hail this effort of

our good brethren across the border , as , emphatically , " a move in the right direction . " We trust that all success may attend their initiatory efforts , and that we may congratulate the Craft

in Scotland on possessing a benevolent institution , which in its principles and practice , its rules and regulations , its labours and its success , is a lasting credit to Scottish Freemasonry . As

we said before , we do not necessarily pledge ourselves on merely an " ex-parte " suggestion ofthe proposed regulations , to accept them as the laws of the Medes and Persians , as we think it just

possible that some modifications may be introduced before the Scottish Benevolent Institution is working , or workable . But we wish all possible success to it and to its zealous promoters , and

we are glad to be allowed to be the medium of announcing the proffered donation of our worthy and energetic publisher . May our anticipations

be realised , and the proposed Scottish Benevolent Masonic Institution become an established fact .

The Royal Visit To Plymouth.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO PLYMOUTH .

THE many letters we weekly publish , demonstrate unmistakeably that the subject has still much of interest for our readers , and is not by any means yet fully settled . Indeed , in one

respect , the evidence becomes more conflicting in each week ' s Freemason , though we also think that there is now to be discerned the possibility of our arrival at a pretty general understanding

at where the blame actually lies , of this great error , and , we repeat , of this very great blunder . One correspondent indeed , ( Brother Curteis , W . M . ) , seems to deprecate the editorial foot note

we appended to the original letter of "A Soldier Freemason . " But despite Brother Curteis ' s remarks , we adhere to our original opinion , that a greater mistake never was made than in this exclusion of our brethren , the non-commis-

The Royal Visit To Plymouth.

sioned officers , at Plymouth , and that they have a ' rig ht to complain , if , indeed , there be such a thing as equality in Freemasonry , or if the practice of Freemasonry is to accord with its

professions . Every letter that has been transmitted to us only serves to shew , how very perverse has been , indeed this sad " conttetemps , " where everything else seems to have been so perfectly ,

and so happily arranged . We confess that , despite all the letters we have perused , we do not yet see it clearly proved that any military prohibition took place whatever . Bro . Col .

Elliot all but distinctly states that no such prohibition was given , and though he quotes our gallant Bro . Capt . Shanks as stating that such permission was refused , he does not say so himself .

" Leo , no doubt , also states the same , and perhaps " Leo" will favour us with the evidence on which he bases his statement . Nothing has as yet been brought forward which , to our minds ,

decisively contradicts the clear assertion ot " Soldier Freemason , " at the beginning of the controversy , that the Major-General commanding did not object to the

non-commissioned officers marching in the procession in uniform , but , as they were altogether ignored , he did naturally object to their appearing in " coloured clothes . " We are

glad to see that Bro . ¦ Col . Elliott confirms our statement that permission has been accorded to officers and non-commissioned officers to march in Masonic processions , with Masonic clothing

over their uniforms . We ourselves saw the foundation stone of the lighthouse at Europa Point , Gibraltar , laid by the Governor and Lieutenant-General Commanding , though , alas , now

many years ago , in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master , Dr . Burrows , and a large number of Freemasons , and many officers and non-commissioned officers , with their Masonicclo thing over

their military clothing j and , as we understand several other precedents of the same usage can be brought forward , we feel that , if a Masonic procession , to meet our brother , the Prince of

Wales , is to be considered a " a party or political procession , " the sooner an authoritatire decision on the subject is obtained , the bettor . , We shall recur to the subject before very long , and finally .

Proposed Scottish Royal Masonic Benevolent Fund.

PROPOSED SCOTTISH ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT FUND .

We have been requested to publish the fol lowing letter and short prospectus : — KILLIEMORE LODGE , KIRKCOWAN , 1874 , Sir and Brother , —

The want of a Scottish Masonic Benevolent Institution has been long and keenly felt by many a Brother of the Order . In other sections of the United Kingdom , as also in foreign countries , such Institutions flourish and abound .

Why then should the Freemasons of Scotland deny themselves that true exposition of " Charity , " which ail , from the first moment that they become Freemasons , so earnestly profess to admire ?

Whence arises the fact that Scotland , alone of the different portions of Great Britain , is so wanting in its duty towards God , its neighbour , and itself ?

Is it apathy ? Is it unwillingness ? Is it inability ? Far be it from any one to say so . We have many great monuments of Scottish benevolence throughout the land . Our fellow countrymen ate actuated by as high princi ples

Proposed Scottish Royal Masonic Benevolent Fund.

as any other nation . The real reason is that no scheme sufficiently certain and comprehensive has hitherto been brought forward . The short and full prospectuses enclosed will clearly

explain their aires , and it is earnestly hoped by the promoter and those brethren who have so kindly given him their' aid , that the scheme herein drawn out may , fully satisfy the acknowledged want .

To prevent confusion in arrangement , the several plans and systems have been carefully drawn out and based on similar plans of similar Institutions in other countries , especially England j so that the feasibility of tbe design and

its practicability is amply evidenced by existing Institutions . The scheme as worked out at present , will , of course , be the one to be followed out until a

sufficient number of donors and annual subscribers can be obtained to form a General Court . At this Court if can be determined whether the scheme should be carried out in lolo , or whether revisions should be made .

These preliminaries being gone through it will be our duty to bring the proposed Institution before Grand Lodge , officially , so that we may obtain its assistance and patronage . I say officially , as most of the members of Grand Lodge

individually will have all information at once , and their co-operation obtained where possible . What we at once seek to gain is the sympathy of our brethren , both in Scotland and in the Colonies holding under the Scottish

Constitution , whether rich or whether poor . As will be seen by looking over the short prospectus , every opportunity is given for the wealthy to give of their abundance , while measures have been devised whereby the poorer brethren , either

individuall y or collectively , can , out of their penury , contribute their widow ' s mite . At first we only ask the brethren who approve of the scheme to send their names and amounts of donations or subscriptions to the appointed

agents , collectors , secretaries , & c , so that a General Court might be summtmed when sufficient members have signified their assent to the proposal . The short prospectus will show how we seek to carry out and combine the several

branches in one Scottish Masonic Benevolent Institution , how we propose to maintain the same ; as well as our estimates of probable expenses and receipts . It is , in fact , a general view of the whole scheme . The full prospectus will show the details in

every branch , as deduced from the following sources , viz .: Boys' School , Girls' School , Asylum for Widows and Decayed Masons , England ; The Lancashire Benevolent Institution ; the Irish General Masonic Charity , likewise several smaller works , the qualifications for candidates in all branches and other general rules .

It is earnestl y hoped that those brethren who are able , will give Annual Subscriptions as well as larger Donations , as it is proposed to use alt the Donations as Capital and to leave said Capital to accumulate to a sufficiently large sum

to carry out the scheme on an extended scale . The Annual Subscriptions will be Revenue to maintain the Institution in all its branches . This is fully described in the short prospectus . Earnestly hoping for your assistance ,

I am , Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , GEO . R . HARRIOTT , Prov . G . M . Wigtown and Kirkcudbright , Originator and Promoter of the Scheme .

SHORT PROSPECTUS OK PROPOSED ROYAL SCOTTISH MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . NOTES . N . B . —All information as to officers of

institution , qualifications of candidates in each ot the several branches , and other miscellaneous information , to be seen in the full prospectus , to be issued shortly to every lodge , province , kc , holding under Scotch rule .

Special provision for ladies ( Lewises ) , daughters of Masons , clergymen , and professional men , whether Masons or non-Masons , gratuitously assisting the institution . When funds permit building to be under-