Contents.

CONTENTS .

E DITORIAL : MASONIC ADULLAMITES Front payi u OUR SCHOOLS "—ELECTIONS .. .. .. .. 140 THE M ASONIC POET ' S CORNER .. .. .. .. 141 MARK MASTER MASONS OP "W . YORKSHIRE .. .. 141 N OTIFICATIONS .. .. .. .. .. 141 OUR TRESTLE BOARD .. .. .. .. 142

REPORTS OF LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS .. .. 143 REPORTS OF LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .. .. .. 143 CORRESPONDENCE AND ANSWERS .. .. .. 145 MASONIC EXCHANGE AND MART .. .. .. 14 G METROPOLITAN LODGE , & C , MEETINGS FOR PRESENT WEEK 146

HIGH TWELVE . THEATRICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS .. 148 D RAMATIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS .. .. 148 PROVINCIAL LODGE MEETINGS FOBTHCOMING .. 147 & 140 METROPOLITAN LODGES OF INSTRUCTION FORTHCOMING 150 ADVERTISEMENTS .. .. Front cover . 138 . 144 , 151 , 152

Masonic Adullamites.

Masonic Adullamites .

OLLOWING up the train of thought which inspired our " Editorial" last week , and having regard to the sentiments which we then placed before our readers for

consideration , we now wish , in some measure , to draw attention to what may be fairly called important items in connection with the practical and operative details with which a subject embracing so large a sphere of action must necessarily abound .

when John Bright , in the course of a speech some years ago , in the House of Commons , alluded to a certain section of the members as " Adullamites , " it was reported that many of his hearers went forthwith to the Library

for the purpose of obtaining information as to the meaning of the word . Perhaps our readers will pardon the seeming pedantry we display in now giving the quotation in its integrity : —

' David , therefore , departed thence , and escaped to the cave Adullam ; and when his brethren and all Ms father ' s house heard it , they went thither to him . And every one that was in distress , . and every one that was in debt , and every one that was discontented , gathered themselves unto him . " —1 Sum . . r . vii ., 1 , <• , ? .

Last week we drew attention-to the fact that often great assistance , beyond all monetary aids , could frequently be afforded by one Brother to another , and wished to point out that '' each for himself , " in daily life ought not to

obtain in the crude form , which does not allow of any deviation from the path of self-aggrandisement . The picture we then drew we believe to be a correct one . To-day we venture to place before our readers the reverse

of that picture , and to point out that , in the exercise of both brotherly love and relief , the bounds of prudence and discretion are limits which should be strictly observed . First , then , as the cave of Adullam was a rendezvous for all who were " in distress , and in debt , and discontented , "

Masonic Adullamites.

so now ( sadly Ave say it ) Freemasonry seems to be thy haven sought by many brethren suffering from similar misfortune . Any Brother who makes a study of the mystic

art , and is a frequenter of Lodges of Instruction , cannot fail to have had practical proof of this . The applications for monetary and other relief in this manner are continuous ,

and would cause surprise to those who devote but a small portion of their time to our Masonic school-rooms . There exists" 'tis true 'tis pity , pity 'tis 'tis true , " a class amongst

our Order , which thrives upon systematic visitation of Lodges of Instruction—authors of terrible tales of woeclaiming assistance . We can but call them Masonic

Adullamites and our Lodges oi Instruction the caves at which they foregather . In affording help of the desultory kind , which under such circumstances it cannot fail to be , the

greatest care should be exercised . Any Brother who may be suddenly cast on the lee shore of misfortune knows , or ought to know , the proper place to make application for

assistance , and the proper persons to investigate his claims . Machinery exists for the careful administration of our charity funds ; and we would seriously point out to

every member of the Lodges of Instruction that in no doubtful case ought such system to be ignored . Indiscriminate almsgiving is said by our magistrates to engender

and foster beggars , and were this more thoroughly understood we should very soon purge our ranks of some to whom Freemasonry ( we regret to feel assured ) is but a

vehicle for carrying on the trade of a respectable beggar . Then , again , there is another class who , not descending to so low a depth as those we have already alluded to ,

by the intermediary of Brethren with whom they have personal acquaintance solicit relief , also of an evanescent kind , at the hands of many with whom they may be

connected . A sort of subscription list , in fact , is started , and a trifling sum of money in the shape of a contribution is asked for—generally on the plea of " some pressing

debt , the payment of which will enable , etc ., & c . " As a rule , no i ^ ermanent good can result from acquiescence in these requests . Perhaps , in some cases , the necessary

" plank over the ditch" is provided , but more often than not it is but a temporary stop-gap which requires renewing at short intervals;— again , we say , " misplaced

charity . " The really deserving cases may be met in a much more amplified manner in other , and permanently beneficial , ways , such as the giving or obtaining

employment , and so on . Work , however , is distasteful to some of the class we refer to , and the honestly-earned meal is

not so savoury as one which has not necessitated any expenditure of the sweat of the brow , in the which , we are told , we shall eat our bread .