Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : THE MASONIC CHARITIES .. .. Front page FREEMASONRY IN THE "WEST OF ENGLAND .. .. 3 o 4 THE RITUAL ( continued' ) .. .. .. .. 304 NOTIFICATIONS .. .. .. .. .. 305 COLONIAL MASONIC ITEMS ... .. .. .. 305 THE MASONIC POET ' CORNER .. .. .. 305

TESTIMONIAL TO BRO . THOS . POORE ... ' ... ... 305 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE AND ANSWERS .. 30 G , 307 OUE T RESTLE BOARD .. .. .. .. .. 307 MASONIC CHARITIES—RECEIPTS , 1888 .. .. .. 307 " HIGH TWELVE "—EVENINGS ABROAD .. .. 308 REPORTS OF LODGES AND CHAPTERS .. .. .. 309 METROPOLITAN AND PROVINCIAL LODGE AND CHAPTER

MEETINGS .. .. .. .. 310 , 311 , 312 METROPOLITAN LODGES OF INSTRUCTION " .. .. 313 ADVERTISEMENTS .. .. Front cover , 302 , 311 , 315 , 31 G

The Masonic Charities.

The Masonic Charities .

HEBE is , we fear , a great storm brewing in regard to the present position and management of our principal Masonic Charitable Institutions , and probably also of the Fund

of Benevolence . The cloud , " no bigger than a man ' s hand , " which first appeared above the horizon in

connection Avith the expulsion of one of the lads from the Boys ' School , has spread , and the spirit of enquiry bids fair to ride rampant over the now troubled sea of Charity which

upholds them . We trust that they will be enabled to weather the storm without much sacrifice , but evidences

are not wanting that they will have to be considerably lightened , and will probably lose some of their respective top-hamper before the tempest be past .

Publicity has lately been given , as well in journals nonmasonic as in those connected with the Order , to the financial position and prospects of each of the Institutions

above-named ; and there is much cause for earnest reflection on the part of all who have the best interests of Freemasonry at heart , to note the many objections which have been and

are still being made to their present management . How far these objections may be justified it will be impossible to decide until after the storm has expended its force , and

enquiry shall have done its work . But there can be no doubt that much of the inevitable result can be at once anticipated , and , probably , provided for . It is not our

purpose , nor have we the least intention to institute , promote , or support in any degree any attack upon individuals connected with our great institutions . But in all instances

wherein the elementary principles upon which these institutions were founded have been departed from ; where wo imd without doubt that the accumulation and dispersion of the funds supplied by the brethren generally for charit-

The Masonic Charities.

able purposes are effected at too great a proportionate cost ; and where abuses of any sort can be proven , we shall not hesitate to use whatever influence Ave may possess to bring about a better order of things .

In another column Avill be found the official statements of income of the Institutions for the Aged and Widows , the Girls and the Boys respectiA' -ely , for the past year .

It may fairly be said , that , Avhatever might have been the expectations of some , and the disappointments of others , the grand total of Masonic Charity Avith regard to those

three institutions only is something for the Craft to be justly proud of . 'lis not in regard to the income provided by the members of our lodges that objection can be taken

—very much the reverse ; but tho manner and method of its expenditure by those entrusted with its application to the purposes for which such amounts have been contributed .

This is exercising the minds of many men not at all antagonistic to the institutions themselves—as how could they be and be true to the principles they haA r e pledged

themselves to support ?—but diametrically opposed to those acts of management which lessen the poAver to extend the greatest good to the greatest number , and to apply

what has been subscribed in the sacred name of Charity to . the relief of all those " poor and distressed" on whose behalf their sympathies have been aAvakened .

AVe shall not , in this article , specif } ' - the very many important questions which have been put forward by eminent brethren in the Craft , and which as yet remain

unanswered . Our readers hav e but to refer back to our pages for the past few Aveeks , and to those of our London contemporaries for many months past , to learn Avhat they

are and the direction in which they point . There can be no doubt that it is the intention of the brethren Avho have raised those questions that they shall be ansAvered , and

satisfactorily so , if the support of former years is to be continued ; and to our mind any ostrich-like policy Avhieh may be adopted Avould be much more injurious to the

institutions than a bold , honest , and Masonic admission of error , Avhere such exists , and a declaration that none such should have continuance in the future . AVe nevertheless

shall consider it our duty in future issues to afford those brethren Avho cannot , by any other means , make public their grievances , —the same being in our opinion just and

proper to be made , —the opportunity of expressing their vieAVS and of stating their propositions . And all the platitudes Avhich may be put forward to condemn

controversy , and Ave know of many Avhich will doubtless be freely used , will not influence us one whit against such procedure . The reticence and indifference to the Avishes of others Avhich has for so many years past withheld from the great