Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : THE FUND OF BENEVOLENCE .. .. Frontpage THE BITUAL ( continued , ' ) 308 THE MASONIC POET ' CORXER — THE THREE GREAT LIGHTS" ' .. .. 309 OUR TRESTLE BOARD 309 AUSTRALASIA 369 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE .. 370

INSTALLATION MEETING OP THE HORNSEY LODGE . NO . 890 371 NOTIFICATIONS 371 FREEMASONRY AND POLITICS IX FRANCE 371 OUR CITY ARTICLE 37 _ EVENINGS ABROAD 372 REPORTS OP LODGES AXD CHAPTERS 373 METROPOLITAN AND PROVINCIAL LODGE AND CHAPTER

MEETINGS FORTHCOMING .. . . .. 374 , 37 . ") , 3 / 0 METROPOLITAN LODGES AND CHAPTERS OP INSTRUCTION 377 ADVERTISEMENTS .. .. .. Front c . ver , 360 , 378 , 379 , 380

The Fund Of Benevolence.

The Fund of Benevolence .

( Seepage 75 , ante ' )

T can hardly be supposed , in the face of the recently published statement of the income and expenditure for the past ten years of the Fund of Benevolence , and the disastrous

results which must surely attend continued indifference to the indisputable fact that the accumulation of many previous years is rapidly decreasing , that the members of our Society will not now bestir themselves to protect what

remains oi , and , if possible , replace what has been subtracted from the Capital Stock of £ 50 , 000 Consols which stood to the credit of the fund on the 31 st December , 1878 .

To attain this end there should be united effort throughout the English Craft , and all distinctions arising from the division of Lodges into Metropolitan and Provincial sections should merge in the grand aim of securing the continued

usefulness ol this our most important of Masonic funds , and the much greater distinction of rendering unto every man his just due and upholding the doctrine of fraternal equality which it would so much advantage our Institution

to practice m very many respects . The Benevolent fund has ever been and still is open for the relief of each and all of those requiring its assistance and who are qualified , by right of acceptance and initiation into our Order , for its

consideration of their appeals ; and it matters not whether the applicants are or have been members of Lodges in London or in the provinces . The grants of the board are as readily made to the one as to the other , and the

circumstances of the applicants are considered without respect to the locality of their Lodges . Therefore , the contributions which should be expected from every member should be equal in amount .

The Fund Of Benevolence.

We see no reason whatever why the establishment of local institutions for similar objects should be urged as a reason for the payment of a lesser contribution to the

universal charitable fund of the Order in England . If in our provinces or districts it has been thought beneficial and advisable to create other and additional centres of

relief , these should be entirely distinct from the special fund for general distribution , and should be supported by those who alone can be interested in such centres . Our contention is that every Freemason , whether " made , "

under the English Constitution , in London or any place distant therefrom , should pay the like amount of " quarterage , " he being entitled to equal consideration when and should necessity unfortunately require him to seek assistance from the fund .

Before we detail at some length , as we propose to do , certain proceedings in the Quarterly Communications of the United Grand Lodge during the year 1882 , and bearing on this subject , we will ask our readers to refer to our

issue of the 4 th October last ( No . 7 ) and peruse the remarks we then made . They will serve to introduce and make better understood the appended information , which ,

though probably known to most , is certainly not known to a very considerable number of Freemasons in this country , and . who have entered the Order since that date .

At the aforesaid Quarterly Communication held at Freemasons' Hall on the 1 st March , 1882 , Bro . JOHN M . CLABON , P . G . D ., rising to second a motion for a grant recommended by the Board of Benevolence , called the

attention of Grand Lodge to the expenditure of the Board in the following words : — " The grants recommended to-night for confirmation amount to about 11 , 400 . * No doubt they have been recommended with wisdom and prudence , and with the liberality

with which such a body as the Freemasons' ought to give . But if the brethren wish the Lodge of Benevolence to be liberal they must give them the means to be so . Last year they had spent in that way C 10 , 000 when their income was only £ 8 , 000 . There is some

JC 4 . ") , 000 to the credit of the fund , and the Board spends the income arising from that sum in addition to the quarterages . If this rate of expenditure is continued the fund will be exhausted and smaller grants will have to be made . As quarterages the London brethren

pay each four shillings per annum , the country brethren two shillings , and I suggest that the quarterages should be raised to six shillings for London , and three shillings for country brethren , and this increase would give the Lodge of Benevolence continued

power to make suitable grants . Bro . G . P . Britten supported Bro . Clabon , but the Prov . Grand Master stopped discussion on a point of Order . The only comment we shall make on this impotent attempt to do a great service to the Craft and set right

that which was even then surely going wrong , is to express regret that the foresight of a very worthy and distinguished brother—so far as we remember , for we have lost sight of him for some years , always noted for his good judgment

and prudent counsel—was not shared by many now actively engaged in Masonic work and admitting the wisdom of his suggestions . " Points of Order" and such like " stoppers "