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  • The Masonic Magazine
  • May 1, 1879
  • Page 32
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The Masonic Magazine, May 1, 1879: Page 32

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    Article THE MASONIC CHARITIES. ← Page 3 of 7 →
Page 32

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Masonic Charities.

" The whole is a long , low , uniform building , pleasantly situated , with large laAvn in front , and vegetable garden in the rear , Avitb plots for the occupants . . " Before I reached there I Avas under tbe impression that all this particular charity was centred here , and all the annuitants residents . But I found the annuity is separately paid , and each individual or couple , as it may be , support themselves , or it would otherwise require an immense building . I found there was accommodation here for about forty , tbe remaining 250 living with their friends , dispersed all over the

country , and having their annuities remitted to tbem quarterly . These I found Avere only too anxious , as a rule , to become inmates of the building so soon as ever there Avas a A'acancy , the residents baidng seA'eral advantages—such as rent free , garden , coals gratis , and medical advice free from an honorary doctor , AVIIO , I found , ivas greatly loved by the old people for his attention , hardly a mantel-shelf being AA'itbout a photograph of Dr . Strong . " You must understand that AA'here there is a married couple it is only tbe husband AVIIO receives tbe £ 40 ; and if there is a widoAv , with her two rooms she receives her

£ 32 . " I visited and conversed Avith several couples , also tAvo or three AvidoAvs , some of Avhom had lost then husbands since becoming inmates . SeA'eral brethren Avere there Avho had lost their wives in the Institution . "I Avas pleased AA'ith tbe state in ivbich I found every inmate . Each room originally contains table and chairs , and the bedroom bed and bedstead ; but in all Avere

some additions of household goods saved from the Avreck of former times , and imparting an air of comfort and grace to all . " The Avhole place , interior as Avell as exterior , bore that aspect of quiet and repose fully suggestive of its object , and I Avas perfectly satisfied our donations to the aged Freemasons' and Widows' Home Avere devoted to a noble purpose and with happy results .

"In conversation on matters concerning the . Institution , and a gossip about past events in the lives of some of the old folk , two hours quickly passed . " There was no mistake , brethren , in tbe genuine gratitude one and all expressed for their knoAvn and unknown benefactors supporting the charity , and I came away feeling that should adversity and misfortune di'ertake us in old age , here Avas an asylum befitting the declining years of anyone .

" Secure from worldly chances and mishaps ! Here lurks no treason , here no envy swells ; Here grow no grudges , here are no storms , No noise , but sweet content the end , and peace . " Nothing , Ave think , can be more satisfactory as a description , or as a fact . And noAv let us see what Bro . Taylor says of the Girls' School : —

" This Institution Avas established 1788 at the suggestion of Bro . Ruspini , Surgeon Dentist to H . M . Eng George tbe Fourth , for a limited number of girls , Avhether orphans or otherwise . The project received the Avarmest support of the most influential members of the craft , ancl since the time AA'hen , by their united efforts , the charity Avas established , 1 , 162 girls have been maintained , clothed , and educated within its Avails , and those who had no home or friends have been provided Avitb suitable situations

or professions , ancl no single case has been kno \ A'n where , in after years , they have disgraced themselves . "A school-house Avas erected in 1793 in St . George ' s Fields . On the expiration of tbe lease in 1851 it Avas found a large expense Avould be incurred to adapt tbe building to requirements , besides its having become a crowded neighbourhood . Accordingly about three acres of freehold land were purchased at Battersea possessing all the desired

recommendations . Upon this ground a building was erected , which has been extended from time to time » as needs arose and the numbers seeking admission increased . " The additions of the Royal Alexandra Wing and the new laundry are just comp lete at a heavy outlay .

“The Masonic Magazine: 1879-05-01, Page 32” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmg/issues/mmg_01051879/page/32/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
LIST OF LODGES (CONSTITUTIONS), 1756. Article 1
A CATALOGUE OF MASONIC BOOKS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. Article 6
A CHANT OF SPRING. Article 14
INSANITY AND FREEMASONRY. Article 15
SPEECHES. Article 17
TURF SMOKED. Article 18
PAST AND PRESENT. Article 26
THE MASONIC CHARITIES. Article 30
BEATRICE. Article 36
THE HEROIC DEFENCE OF RORKE'S DRIFT. Article 40
FAINT HEART. Article 41
JOY OF MY LIFE. Article 42
WHY WE HAVE ANTI-MASONIC CONVENTIONS IN AMERICA. Article 43
MASONIC NOTES AND ODDS. Article 46
THE DYING MASON TO HIS BROTHER. Article 48
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Masonic Charities.

" The whole is a long , low , uniform building , pleasantly situated , with large laAvn in front , and vegetable garden in the rear , Avitb plots for the occupants . . " Before I reached there I Avas under tbe impression that all this particular charity was centred here , and all the annuitants residents . But I found the annuity is separately paid , and each individual or couple , as it may be , support themselves , or it would otherwise require an immense building . I found there was accommodation here for about forty , tbe remaining 250 living with their friends , dispersed all over the

country , and having their annuities remitted to tbem quarterly . These I found Avere only too anxious , as a rule , to become inmates of the building so soon as ever there Avas a A'acancy , the residents baidng seA'eral advantages—such as rent free , garden , coals gratis , and medical advice free from an honorary doctor , AVIIO , I found , ivas greatly loved by the old people for his attention , hardly a mantel-shelf being AA'itbout a photograph of Dr . Strong . " You must understand that AA'here there is a married couple it is only tbe husband AVIIO receives tbe £ 40 ; and if there is a widoAv , with her two rooms she receives her

£ 32 . " I visited and conversed Avith several couples , also tAvo or three AvidoAvs , some of Avhom had lost then husbands since becoming inmates . SeA'eral brethren Avere there Avho had lost their wives in the Institution . "I Avas pleased AA'ith tbe state in ivbich I found every inmate . Each room originally contains table and chairs , and the bedroom bed and bedstead ; but in all Avere

some additions of household goods saved from the Avreck of former times , and imparting an air of comfort and grace to all . " The Avhole place , interior as Avell as exterior , bore that aspect of quiet and repose fully suggestive of its object , and I Avas perfectly satisfied our donations to the aged Freemasons' and Widows' Home Avere devoted to a noble purpose and with happy results .

"In conversation on matters concerning the . Institution , and a gossip about past events in the lives of some of the old folk , two hours quickly passed . " There was no mistake , brethren , in tbe genuine gratitude one and all expressed for their knoAvn and unknown benefactors supporting the charity , and I came away feeling that should adversity and misfortune di'ertake us in old age , here Avas an asylum befitting the declining years of anyone .

" Secure from worldly chances and mishaps ! Here lurks no treason , here no envy swells ; Here grow no grudges , here are no storms , No noise , but sweet content the end , and peace . " Nothing , Ave think , can be more satisfactory as a description , or as a fact . And noAv let us see what Bro . Taylor says of the Girls' School : —

" This Institution Avas established 1788 at the suggestion of Bro . Ruspini , Surgeon Dentist to H . M . Eng George tbe Fourth , for a limited number of girls , Avhether orphans or otherwise . The project received the Avarmest support of the most influential members of the craft , ancl since the time AA'hen , by their united efforts , the charity Avas established , 1 , 162 girls have been maintained , clothed , and educated within its Avails , and those who had no home or friends have been provided Avitb suitable situations

or professions , ancl no single case has been kno \ A'n where , in after years , they have disgraced themselves . "A school-house Avas erected in 1793 in St . George ' s Fields . On the expiration of tbe lease in 1851 it Avas found a large expense Avould be incurred to adapt tbe building to requirements , besides its having become a crowded neighbourhood . Accordingly about three acres of freehold land were purchased at Battersea possessing all the desired

recommendations . Upon this ground a building was erected , which has been extended from time to time » as needs arose and the numbers seeking admission increased . " The additions of the Royal Alexandra Wing and the new laundry are just comp lete at a heavy outlay .

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