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Article SYSTEMATIC MASONIC BENEVOLENCE. ← Page 4 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Systematic Masonic Benevolence.
fact on deciding on the amount to be bestowed on any unfortunate brethren from the United States , for w e believe such benevolence— -though not always so systematically distributed—is a general feature . of the Craft throughout the " Union . " On
looking over our Grand Lodge proceedings for the last four years , we find that £ 72 was voted from the " Fund of Benevolence " for the relief of indigent brethren from the United States , which would give for the same period , as the foregoing figures
include , the sum of £ 324 ; and including Scotland and Ireland , the total would not likely exceed £ 600 , which amount , be it remembered , could be bestowed upon brethren hailing from all parts of the United States , whereas the £ 500 contributed by
the "Relief Lodge No . 1 " was provided by the lodges . in New Orleans alone ! Surely these facts should be known , and in some way a recognition be made of so generous a treatment of our distressed members , when they come within the
hospitable homes of the Now Orleans' Craftsmen . We must confess to a feeling of surprise , as well as intense gratitude on reading of such quiet unostentatious , and . yet . most efficient , aid being administered to the sick and diseased , and we are led
to hope that' our recital of a few of the advantages and objects achieved by the institution of the "Relief Lodge , No . 1 , " will act as an incentive to similar societies being formed , not only in this country , but wherever the branch of Freemasonry is unfurled .
In England , we have Almoners appointed for certain Towns and districts , in some Provinces , but generally speaking , but little system is manifested in the disposal of the funds , and scarcely any attempt is made to detect and register impostures , so
that all the Almoners of England might be advised of the whereabouts , appearances , and the circumstances , generally , of the applicants whose petitions haye been found to be unworthy . Certainly , in no part of Great Britain and Ireland are there any
Masonic bodies formed akin to . the Lodge now under consideration , which fact will be still more evident to any of our readers wdio will carefully peruse the By-Laws inserted as an appendix to this notice . Under the Grand Lodge of England , tile
members disbursing the " Fund of Benevolence " have no authority to help indigent brethren of foreign jurisdictions , unless
" to assist them to return to their native land . " In case of sickness however " Brethren under the Constitution of ¦ the Grarid Lodges of Scotland and Ireland , as well as of foreign Grand Lodges , may be . relieved on the production of certificates from their
respective Grand Lodges , or other sufficient certificates and testimonials to the satisfaction of the Lodge of Benevolence , and proof of identity and distress . " We cannot see any just reason why foreign brethren should be prevented from
obtaining temporary relief in then . ' distress even when such calamities are not occasioned by sickness , and especially when
misfortunes frequently glide away ~ as unexpectedly as they came ; if the "gap " can be but filled up by some kind hand , for a little while ; To limit the charity ofrthe Grand Lodge of England , so far as foreign brethren are concerned , to simply assist
them to return to their native land , , or helping them in sickness , while-all aid is denied to the worthy Mason in his poverty and distress , is , we think , most unwise , and assuredly not representative of the largeheartedness of the Craft . Even in New
Orleans , a city in one only of the United States , ( and , notwithstanding the " Relief Lodge , No . 1 , " expended over eleven thousand pounds , in its charitable work , in eighteen years , ) we have shown that several hundreds were bestowed upon
British subjects , who gladly availed themselves of such brotherly kindness , exclusive of the expenditure under the heading of " Tombs , funerals , and expenses attending them , " which in the aggregate amounted to nearly £ 2000 , and of which no doubt our brethren received their due proportion .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Systematic Masonic Benevolence.
fact on deciding on the amount to be bestowed on any unfortunate brethren from the United States , for w e believe such benevolence— -though not always so systematically distributed—is a general feature . of the Craft throughout the " Union . " On
looking over our Grand Lodge proceedings for the last four years , we find that £ 72 was voted from the " Fund of Benevolence " for the relief of indigent brethren from the United States , which would give for the same period , as the foregoing figures
include , the sum of £ 324 ; and including Scotland and Ireland , the total would not likely exceed £ 600 , which amount , be it remembered , could be bestowed upon brethren hailing from all parts of the United States , whereas the £ 500 contributed by
the "Relief Lodge No . 1 " was provided by the lodges . in New Orleans alone ! Surely these facts should be known , and in some way a recognition be made of so generous a treatment of our distressed members , when they come within the
hospitable homes of the Now Orleans' Craftsmen . We must confess to a feeling of surprise , as well as intense gratitude on reading of such quiet unostentatious , and . yet . most efficient , aid being administered to the sick and diseased , and we are led
to hope that' our recital of a few of the advantages and objects achieved by the institution of the "Relief Lodge , No . 1 , " will act as an incentive to similar societies being formed , not only in this country , but wherever the branch of Freemasonry is unfurled .
In England , we have Almoners appointed for certain Towns and districts , in some Provinces , but generally speaking , but little system is manifested in the disposal of the funds , and scarcely any attempt is made to detect and register impostures , so
that all the Almoners of England might be advised of the whereabouts , appearances , and the circumstances , generally , of the applicants whose petitions haye been found to be unworthy . Certainly , in no part of Great Britain and Ireland are there any
Masonic bodies formed akin to . the Lodge now under consideration , which fact will be still more evident to any of our readers wdio will carefully peruse the By-Laws inserted as an appendix to this notice . Under the Grand Lodge of England , tile
members disbursing the " Fund of Benevolence " have no authority to help indigent brethren of foreign jurisdictions , unless
" to assist them to return to their native land . " In case of sickness however " Brethren under the Constitution of ¦ the Grarid Lodges of Scotland and Ireland , as well as of foreign Grand Lodges , may be . relieved on the production of certificates from their
respective Grand Lodges , or other sufficient certificates and testimonials to the satisfaction of the Lodge of Benevolence , and proof of identity and distress . " We cannot see any just reason why foreign brethren should be prevented from
obtaining temporary relief in then . ' distress even when such calamities are not occasioned by sickness , and especially when
misfortunes frequently glide away ~ as unexpectedly as they came ; if the "gap " can be but filled up by some kind hand , for a little while ; To limit the charity ofrthe Grand Lodge of England , so far as foreign brethren are concerned , to simply assist
them to return to their native land , , or helping them in sickness , while-all aid is denied to the worthy Mason in his poverty and distress , is , we think , most unwise , and assuredly not representative of the largeheartedness of the Craft . Even in New
Orleans , a city in one only of the United States , ( and , notwithstanding the " Relief Lodge , No . 1 , " expended over eleven thousand pounds , in its charitable work , in eighteen years , ) we have shown that several hundreds were bestowed upon
British subjects , who gladly availed themselves of such brotherly kindness , exclusive of the expenditure under the heading of " Tombs , funerals , and expenses attending them , " which in the aggregate amounted to nearly £ 2000 , and of which no doubt our brethren received their due proportion .