Bombay Masonic Widows' And Orphans Fund

Seven years ago , on the establishment of this journal , in the Tery first number ( April , 1864 ) , we put forward a scheme , on the same basis as the Madras Widows' and Orphans' Fund , with some modifications , which , if carried out , in our opinion , would this day have been in a most flourishing condition , and averted a great deal of that distress which the Masonic bodies have had to meet , as many of the deceased brethren would have subscribed to the fund . But at that time there was not that

thought for the widow and orphan as is now felt ; the share mania absorbed the attention of many , and very little notice was taken of the scheme proposed . As there are very few of our present subscribers who have read the article , we reproduce some few extracts . " The spread of Masonry in India within the last twenty years has been very extensive ; science and commerce have introduced thousands of Europeans to this country many of whom

have made it the land of their adoption , and of these a great number are Masons . Leaving other parts of India alone , Ave will only refer to the Bombay presidency , where the aggregate number of resident and absent members borne on the registers of the different lodges amount to about one thousand , and brethren who do not belong to any lodge may be estimated at about one thousand more . Taking this as an average , though we are certain there are more , are we not strong enough to

• effect this laudable object ? AA'hat provision can a poor brother , or even one with limited means , make for his family ? There is not a single fund beyond the insurance offices to which he can subscribe his mite in order to provide for them after his dicease .

" AVe will now proceed to show how we may establish our pension fund . AVe will adopt the rule regarding the scale of subscriptions from 1 to 6 classes ; as also the scale of pensions , viz . six times the amount of subscriptions . AVe require no entrance fee , for we are sure of enlisting at least 200 membersif not more at starting . All thoso who are in India at the time of the establishment of the fund , aud who do not join , but wish

to do so afterwards , to pay up arrears with double rates ; those who arrive from England or become Masons after the establishment of the fund and wish immediately after arrival or initiation , to pay single rates with arrears . These rates to extend to two years , after which a fixed donation can be adopted . AVe do not require to take one third of a brother ' s subscriptions , and at his death to tell his widow and orphans that we cannot give them anything . No ; ours must be active benevolence , to

be given the moment it is needed . We will have a scale up to wbicb a subscriber must pay before his widow become entitled to the full rate of pension , if he die before this is paid , onesixth of the widow ' s pension can be deducted until half or twothirds of the amount is paid . We shall not say to our old men , — " Tou are past 55 , and we cannot have you" ; we will receive all brethren , old or young , who arc desirous of providing for their families , but Ave will have rules to protect ourselves from

losses . AVe do not require any ulterior profit : all that we seek for is to have sufficient funds to keep up the pensions of our widows aud orphans , and to relieve distressed brethren and their families . AVe have every confidence that such of our brethren whom Providence has blessed with means to tread on the ¦ flowery meads of affluence will encourage us in our management of the same . If by these means we can form a sufficiently largo fund , a portion may be devoted to the education of poor Masons ' children in tho different schools in their neighbourhood and various other laudable purposes .

' * Having thus divested the Madras rules of some of the objections that surround it , we will now proceed a little further to prove that Ave are not in a position to meet all the calls that are made upon our charity ; and that it is our bounden duty to bestir ourselves to enlarge our sphere of action ; to provide not only for our families , but for those brethren who are in distress , and their families , not by an occasional donation , bin by a continuous pension , however small that may be . AVe have

consulted the Constitutions , and can find no objection there ; on the contrary , we are enjoined to have a benevolent fund in every lodge . In England and Scotland every brother is obliged to subscribe a certain amount before he or his widow is entitled to relief ; and this is easy ot accomplishment there , as almost every parish has its lodge , and it generally situated within easy distance of its several members . " But how is it with us in India ? The bye-laws of every

* odge provide that a certain percentage of the monthly subscriptions shall be laid aside as a benevolent fund . But we would ask , where is the lodge iu India that has been able to keep up the pensions continuously ? How many a poor Avidow , far away from any lodge , has pined away in misery . How many are deterred from applying from tho formalities to be gone through before relief is given . How many others who feel reluctant to

apply in consequence of their husbands not being at the time of their death a subscribing member of a lodge , though they may have subscribed for years before , in the days of their prosperity ! At the most , the relief that our lodges do give is but temporary . To our own knowledge many poor widows whose husbands had long subscribed to a lodge , received a pittance for a short time , which was discontinued the moment they left the station ; others again who were told that the lodge had no funds .

"As a rule , the generality of our lodges are Avell governed by conscientious and strict Masters , who would as soon cut off their right hand as to allow one farthing of the benevolence fund to o e touched for any other than its legitimate purpose . But ( we say it with regret ) there have been exceptions , where inexperienced and extravagent Masters have filled the chair , and from gross mismanagement have brought their lodges to the verge of ruin , and at times were placed in the humiliating position of

petitioning the Provincial Grand Lodge for a remission of dues , thereby not only upsetting the good works of their predecessors , hut depriving the widow and orphan of that little which would have helped them in their great need ! "Are these not forcible and sufficient arguments in support of such a fund as we propose ? The subject has only to be mooted in the different lodges , when every brother would become conscious of the duty he owes to his family and the Order , and become a subscriber according to his means . How many good and true brethren are there in Bombay and at out stations

who do not subscribe to any lodge from various causes , but Avho would gladly subscribe to the fund , or aid it Avith their donations ? How many brethren are there who , when in affluent circumstances , liberally subscribed to a lodge , but from force of circumstanses are now obliged to keep away ? Are the families of all these to he thrown upon the wide world to starve and die because such is their misfortune ? Brethren , consider well the present times and those that are coming upon us , as

living now costs nearly treble the amount it did a few years ago ; and how difficult it is is for mauy of us with small incomes to make both ends meet . What must be the condition of our families if Ave are suddenly taken from them ? It is fearful to contemplate ;—heartrending to think of . "Again , where is the man among us who would wish his widow a petitioner at the door of our lodges , or that of a friend , or anywhere else ? Among our Selections will he found the

narrative of a " Soldier-Mason ; " this poor , but honest man , felt ashamed to beg . How much more must poor , weak woman feel , who is obliged , with her sorrows fresh about her . a petition in one hand , aud her children led by the other , to beg for relief ? All this may easily he obviated by the establishment of this fund ; the lodges would be relieved of a serious and heavy responsibility in providing for widows and orphansaud it would also

, relieve the brethren at large from the constant appeals made upon their bounty . The lodges will find enough to do with their charity funds to relieve local distresses . " Attempts have been made before this to establish independent Benevolent Funds , but have failed . By the plan Ave now propose , every brother with a family will subscribe according to his means , as he Avill have the satisfaction of knowing that his

family will be provided for . AVe have consulted several brethren on this important subject , rich and poor , old and young , married and unmanied , and right glad are we to say that one and all agree with us as to the necessity and feasibility of the measure .

"Once established on a firm and lasting basis , the Widows ' and Orphans' Pension Fund will stand forth to the world in all its beauty , built up Avith the cement of Benevolence , decorated with the insignia of Brotherly Love , and prepared to pour forth its stores of relief and succour . Needs such an institution any other merit than its own intrinsic and exalted excellency to commend it to the affection and support of every Mason jealous

of the welfare of his family , and the honour of his Order ? " We feel reluctant to quit the subject , fearing that we have not said enough , or omitted some salient point in favour of the scheme ; but we place our dependence on the superior judgment