Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
REPUTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES ... 65 ROUND AND AHOUT . ]? Y "Tin : DRUID" { with a Portrait ) ... 66 MASONIC MEMS ... 69 EMINENT MASONS AT HOME : No . 5 . — MR . FREDERICK BINCKES , AT KING ' S-ROAD , N / W' . { with a Portrait ) ... 72 THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS 74
THE MARQUIS OF H ERTFORD INSTALLED AS PROV . G RAND MASTER OF ANTRIM 75 AMONG THE BOHEMIANS . BY " KING Mon" yd PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES AND CHAPTERS yS COLONIAL AND FOREIGN ... 79 BOOKS , & C , RF . CEIYED So ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS SO
Ar00101
NOTICE . — The delay in the publication of our present issue is owing to the portrait-block of Mr . Frederick Binckes having miscarried in transit from Vienna , where , in order to obtain ihe best results , such blocks are prepared for this Journal .
Ar00103
The NEXT ISSUE OF "THE MASONIC REVIEW'' will be the CHRISTMAS DOUBLE NUMBER , published on the yth of DECEMBER . "THE VOLUME OF THE SACRED LAW" is the first Masonic story of any pretensions that has been written , and is of absorbing interest to the Craft . As no data exist as to the demands for such a work , it is requested that orders be delivered to the booksellers as early as possible .
" Reputable Circumstances. "
" REPUTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES . "
A STEP in the right direction was taken by the Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at its meeting on the 5 th ult ., in relation to certain petitions for admission to tlie privileges of the School , for it is one which should be followed up with vigor by the authorities of Grand Lodge . It opens very fairly the important question as to the meaning of the words " reputable
circumstances" as applied to a necessary qualification precedent to the consideration of a Freemason ' s claim upon the charitable funds of the Craft . On the occasion referred to the specified petitions were accompanied by the recommendations of the particular Lodges to which the respective fathers of the lads seeking admission to the School
were attached . Amongst other matters that furnished grounds for strict inquiry , in justice to probably more deserving cases , it was elicited that the social and financial positions of the said fathers were not at the time of their acceptance into the Order such as to
come under the definition of " reputable circumstances , " if that expression were ever intended to mean a sufficiency of present income to justify any outlay beyond that required for every-day necessities , and a prospect of further improvement in pecuniary resources to make provision for the support and education of an increasing family and the requirements of old age .
For many years past there have been well-grounded complaints , from brethren who have had the best opportunities for forming a judgment on the matter , that individuals have been admitted to the privileges of Freemasonry , whose positions have not warranted connection with other than the best of those friendly societies whose
raison d ' etre is the provision of timely assistance to their members in the hour of distress . The nature of such assistance and its extent are based upon actuarial estimates and calculations which partake
of the quality of insurance against some of the inevitable contingencies of life ; and many an " Oddfellow , " " Forester , " or member of a kindred society has had reason to be glad of his connection therewith . The necessary outlay for membership has come within the reasonable scope of his private purse , and the providence of his early 3 'outh has found its reward in flic certainty
of support when the occasion might arise and tlie assistance he has rendered to those less fortunate than himself in regard to health or financial circumstances . In his case the " reputable circumstances "
have comprised a good , moral , honest , sober , and industrious member of society , with ability to dispense with a reasonable proportion of his weekly earnings ; and such individuals arc entitled to the respect of all others , of whatever rank or station in tlie community of honorable men . But the " repute " which suffices for membership of Friendly
Societies is , from the pecuniary point of view , not such as to justify tlie voluntary obligations towards his fellow-men that a novitiate into the Order of Freemasonry is required to enter upon . It may be difficult to decide what should be the limit of a man ' s income , regardless of expectations , that can warrant a fresh outlay of no
small consideration even to members of tlie middle class of society , and the annual dues and contingent expenses necessary to the support of his personal dignity and the " reputable" character of the Craft . It is however quite certain when we learn , that after from two to four or five years' membership , a brother finds it necessary to
seek the privileges of our institutions for the support and education of his children , a strong doubt arises as to his qualifications at the time of his entry into the Order . " What can I get out of it for my children ? " is not an uncommon inquiry , however much it may surprise many who may now read it for the first time , and " What good will it do me ? " is as frequently asked . Those who put
questions of this sort are not such as should be permitted to declare that they are " uninfluenced by mercenary or other unworthy motives . " It is , however , unfortunate that from the ranks of such , who will eventually make early application to our Charities , the Craft is month by month and year by year recruited ; and it is
but right that the Worshipful Masters and Members of our Lodges should be required to show that the assurance they express in their petitions on behalf of candidates is really g iven of their knowledge as to the pecuniary position at the time of his initiation of the applicant appealing , or on whose behalf appeal is made , and not fill up recommendations upon mere hearsay evidence .
The General Committee of the Boys' School referred back to the Worshipful Masters of two Lodges the petitions they had forwarded , with a request that further information should be given on the points above mentioned ; . and it would be well for the Order if the United Grand Lodge would take this matter into its serious consideration , and adopt some means of ascertaining in like manner
that at least all those who enter the Order can properly afford to do so at the time of initiation , and are of such social status as to warrant a belief that they will not too readily burden our benevolent and charitable institutions .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
REPUTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES ... 65 ROUND AND AHOUT . ]? Y "Tin : DRUID" { with a Portrait ) ... 66 MASONIC MEMS ... 69 EMINENT MASONS AT HOME : No . 5 . — MR . FREDERICK BINCKES , AT KING ' S-ROAD , N / W' . { with a Portrait ) ... 72 THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS 74
THE MARQUIS OF H ERTFORD INSTALLED AS PROV . G RAND MASTER OF ANTRIM 75 AMONG THE BOHEMIANS . BY " KING Mon" yd PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES AND CHAPTERS yS COLONIAL AND FOREIGN ... 79 BOOKS , & C , RF . CEIYED So ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS SO
Ar00101
NOTICE . — The delay in the publication of our present issue is owing to the portrait-block of Mr . Frederick Binckes having miscarried in transit from Vienna , where , in order to obtain ihe best results , such blocks are prepared for this Journal .
Ar00103
The NEXT ISSUE OF "THE MASONIC REVIEW'' will be the CHRISTMAS DOUBLE NUMBER , published on the yth of DECEMBER . "THE VOLUME OF THE SACRED LAW" is the first Masonic story of any pretensions that has been written , and is of absorbing interest to the Craft . As no data exist as to the demands for such a work , it is requested that orders be delivered to the booksellers as early as possible .
" Reputable Circumstances. "
" REPUTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES . "
A STEP in the right direction was taken by the Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at its meeting on the 5 th ult ., in relation to certain petitions for admission to tlie privileges of the School , for it is one which should be followed up with vigor by the authorities of Grand Lodge . It opens very fairly the important question as to the meaning of the words " reputable
circumstances" as applied to a necessary qualification precedent to the consideration of a Freemason ' s claim upon the charitable funds of the Craft . On the occasion referred to the specified petitions were accompanied by the recommendations of the particular Lodges to which the respective fathers of the lads seeking admission to the School
were attached . Amongst other matters that furnished grounds for strict inquiry , in justice to probably more deserving cases , it was elicited that the social and financial positions of the said fathers were not at the time of their acceptance into the Order such as to
come under the definition of " reputable circumstances , " if that expression were ever intended to mean a sufficiency of present income to justify any outlay beyond that required for every-day necessities , and a prospect of further improvement in pecuniary resources to make provision for the support and education of an increasing family and the requirements of old age .
For many years past there have been well-grounded complaints , from brethren who have had the best opportunities for forming a judgment on the matter , that individuals have been admitted to the privileges of Freemasonry , whose positions have not warranted connection with other than the best of those friendly societies whose
raison d ' etre is the provision of timely assistance to their members in the hour of distress . The nature of such assistance and its extent are based upon actuarial estimates and calculations which partake
of the quality of insurance against some of the inevitable contingencies of life ; and many an " Oddfellow , " " Forester , " or member of a kindred society has had reason to be glad of his connection therewith . The necessary outlay for membership has come within the reasonable scope of his private purse , and the providence of his early 3 'outh has found its reward in flic certainty
of support when the occasion might arise and tlie assistance he has rendered to those less fortunate than himself in regard to health or financial circumstances . In his case the " reputable circumstances "
have comprised a good , moral , honest , sober , and industrious member of society , with ability to dispense with a reasonable proportion of his weekly earnings ; and such individuals arc entitled to the respect of all others , of whatever rank or station in tlie community of honorable men . But the " repute " which suffices for membership of Friendly
Societies is , from the pecuniary point of view , not such as to justify tlie voluntary obligations towards his fellow-men that a novitiate into the Order of Freemasonry is required to enter upon . It may be difficult to decide what should be the limit of a man ' s income , regardless of expectations , that can warrant a fresh outlay of no
small consideration even to members of tlie middle class of society , and the annual dues and contingent expenses necessary to the support of his personal dignity and the " reputable" character of the Craft . It is however quite certain when we learn , that after from two to four or five years' membership , a brother finds it necessary to
seek the privileges of our institutions for the support and education of his children , a strong doubt arises as to his qualifications at the time of his entry into the Order . " What can I get out of it for my children ? " is not an uncommon inquiry , however much it may surprise many who may now read it for the first time , and " What good will it do me ? " is as frequently asked . Those who put
questions of this sort are not such as should be permitted to declare that they are " uninfluenced by mercenary or other unworthy motives . " It is , however , unfortunate that from the ranks of such , who will eventually make early application to our Charities , the Craft is month by month and year by year recruited ; and it is
but right that the Worshipful Masters and Members of our Lodges should be required to show that the assurance they express in their petitions on behalf of candidates is really g iven of their knowledge as to the pecuniary position at the time of his initiation of the applicant appealing , or on whose behalf appeal is made , and not fill up recommendations upon mere hearsay evidence .
The General Committee of the Boys' School referred back to the Worshipful Masters of two Lodges the petitions they had forwarded , with a request that further information should be given on the points above mentioned ; . and it would be well for the Order if the United Grand Lodge would take this matter into its serious consideration , and adopt some means of ascertaining in like manner
that at least all those who enter the Order can properly afford to do so at the time of initiation , and are of such social status as to warrant a belief that they will not too readily burden our benevolent and charitable institutions .