Masonry—Its Aims And Its Failures.

alluded to by our Rev . Bro ., iu " The lack of virtue and devotion seen in the every-day bearing of those who have vowed at the shrine of the Order , to obey its precepts and be governed by its principles , " will be plainly manifest .

We have for many years spoken against the centralization of power in Grand Lodges , in legislating so as to deprive the subordinate Lodges of all their original rights , to serve as means to supply Grand Lodges with the funds , not for any

purposes of Masonry , but for its own self gratification . The views we have expressed may not be palatable to many , nay , will not be , but the encroachments upon the rights of the subordinate Lodges within the last thirty years , by Grand

Lodges in unwise legislation , by approving- and adopting innovations and in perversions of Masonic principles , will yet be written .

Grand Lodges are not distributors of charities they know not the poor , the needy , and helpless , they come not into relation with them ; their revenues should be confined , limited to actual necessary economical expenses ; they have no use

for surplus funds for any purposes of Masonry ; they commit a great wrong in depriving the subordinate Lodges of the means of helping and assisting necessitous brethren , their wives and orphans , who alone have a legitimate claim to the

funds of the subordinate Lodges , and who alone are the distributors of Masonic charities ; and Grand Lodges are highly criminal in not teaching and impressing upon the officers and members of subordinate Lodges , that the monies received

by the Lodges are for charitable purposes only , and their use for feasting , or any other lavish expenditure , is a perversion for self gratification of funds which justly and righteously belong to the needy , the poor , and helpless , and the implied duty of educating the orphans of poor deceased brethren .

We hope that the Rev . Bro . J . H . Sanford will continue the subject , in displaying the " Aims " and "The Failures of Masonry , " until the influence of his inditings will have the moral effect of so guarding the avenues of our Mystic Temple , that

neither the profane , the intemperate , the selfish , uncharitable , immoral , shall be admitted among the Masonic brotherhood . No man , whatever his standing in society , or however great his wealth ,

Masonry—Its Aims And Its Failures.

should be admitted into our mj'stic family , who has not evinced in his antecedent life his belief and trust in the ever living , ever present God . — The Masonic Mirror .

Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD .

The Twenty-Recond Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of California , commenced its session at Masonic Temple in San Francisco , ou Tuesday the 10 th Oct . The [ Lodges of the State were very generally

represented . The Grand Master's address was very able and interestingly delivered , as his addresses always are . The substance thereof' we have not time to discuss . The reports of the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer showed the receipts of the past year to be

some 19 , 000 dols . Dispensations for nine Lodges have been issued during the year , and charters will probably bo granted to a majority of them at this session . On Wednesday the Grand Lodge voted unanimously , 5000 dols . for the relief of our suffering

brethren of Chicago , and the members of the Grand Lodge , with that generosity which has always distinguished Calif'ornians , added to this sum 1005 dols . by voluntary contributions to the box of fraternal assistance which was placed on the alter for the purpose—making 0005 dols . in all .

Resolved , That Bro . Amasa W . Bishop , of San Francisco , the editor of the " Masonic Mirror " be appointed and accredited as the representative of ftho Grand Lodge of Vermont , near the Grand Lodge of California .

In view of the failure of every other means of finishing the national Washington Monument , the Washington " National Republican " proposes that the Masonic fraternity of the United States should undertake its completion . The idea is a graud one ,

and worthy , in every way , of the labourers of the Masonic craft , but , at the same time , ifc is an enormous work , requiring the expenditure of time and means that no one can now compute . But its very novelty and grandeur demand for ifc the careful

consideration of brethren everywhere . When we honour Washington we honour ourselves , for he was a true Craftsmen . Let this subject be freely discussed , and if it can be done , let us do it . —Keystone .