The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

continue , might become cankers in thc body which " the critics" are most anxious should be pure and healthy . Those who point out defects in any given structure , with a view to remedy and strengthen , are of a very different order to those who Avould entirely demolish and re-build ;

and to the former should be accorded the patient ear and the kindly voice , rather than the deaf and dumb policy which appears to be so much favoured in . certain quarters .

So much in answer to those who mistake , more or less wilfully , the purpose which our correspondents have in view ; and no more , until circumstances require further insistance on some attempt at reform in management .

Meanwhile , no true Freemason would " hold the scale of justice with an equal poise " if he permitted the dispute which has arisen as to management to influence him in diminution of his bounden interest in our fine old Charity for the Aged and Widows ; or permit any argument in

controversy to affect his mind or close- his purse to the disadvantage of the Institution itself , and its means of doing the good it has hitherto done in discharging Masonic Benevolence . Brethren should keep the two matters distinct , and at this juncture strive mightily to enlarge the

power for extending aid , resting assured that what has oeen or may be done by those who dispense their bounty will still be subjects of criticism when the forthcoming Festival is a thing of the past , and that the desired reforms , if effected , will make their present gifts still more

valuable in respect of the purpose for which they shall have been made . And there are none amongst us in the Craft who can more fervently wish , than do our correspondents and ourselves , " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and Success to its forthcoming Festival . "

The Fund Of Benevolence.

The Fund Of Benevolence .

{ Continued from page 3857 ) ^ HW . KF J foregoing report of proceedings at the Quarterly y } l ( V . Communication oii Grand Lodge in December , 1882 , is of ( £ ft ^ s great value at the present moment as an evidence of the then existence of forebodings which have since been unfortunately realised . The narrow majority of four against Bro . Clabon ' s motion , upon which three-hundred and sixty members of the

Grand Lodge divided , sufficiently indicates the importance of the question submitted for discussion ; and we cannot help thinking now . in view of the present difficulty , that the provincial brethren , who so resolutely opposed the increase of quarterages as proposed , and upon such very insufficient grounds , did not do the Craft generally that good service which we believe they

themselves thought they were doing . Of the honesty and sincerity of their intentions there can lie no doubt , and we cannot think that if they had had at that time the gift of prescience , or could have even imagined what has really come to pass , they would have persisted in their opposition . We have a right to assume that it is to the account of provincial brethren that the loss of Bro .

Clabon's motion should be placed when we note that out of forty - one Provincial Grand Lodges to which the merits of the proposition had been referred , twenty-live had voted against it , and only three in its favour , whilst the remaining thirteen either had not the opportunity for discussion or were careless as to results . We have said the grounds for opposition were , and they continue to be ,

insufficient ; let us refer to the arguments of the opposers : ( 1 st ) That the motion , if it became a resolution , " would disorganise every lodge in his ( the speaker ' s ) province . " We are not informed , nor can we imagine how this should be , and it would be interesting to have the views of those who adopt this argument more fully expressed . ( 2 nd ) That the individual members of lodges in thc

provinces pay as much to the Grand Lodge and their Provincial Grand Lodge conjointly , as the individual members of Metropolitan Lodges pay to the Grand Lodge alone , which we say is no argument whatever against an equal payment by each and every member of the Craft who can on occasion claim equal benefits one with another from the same general fund . With just as much reason many

London Lodges , with which we are familiar , might claim similar exemption from equality of payment to the Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence , because they support a benevolent fund within their own circle , and moreover take care , more frequently than the outer world have any idea of , to help , and help so well as to often keep their brother members in distress from the necessity to apply to

Grand Lodge . If the provincial brethren "have to pay two shillings a year to Grand Lodge , and another two shillings a year to their own charity fund , " then the Metropolitan brethren are not treated to equal measures if , for the same amount of contribution , they have no greater benefits than a provincial can enjoy , and are deprived of the further privileges of which their provincial brethren can take advantage . In this regard English Freemasons do not

" meet upon the level ! " A third argument of the same speaker is I that " the provinces do not , or did not , send up so many applicants to thc Board of Benevolence as the Metropolis . " In respect of this we can only say we doubt its correctness , and shall hope to be enabled to procure statistics , if necessary , to contradict it entirely . Tn any case , and if any argument based on a ejvid pro guo arrangement could possibly be entertained in connection with our

The Fund Of Benevolence.

charitable assistance in affording relief—which cannot and must not be—equal measures would demand that applications should be proportionate only in number to the amount contributed . No ; that argument won't hold water , and we hope will never again be put forward in contention on this subject . The next speaker , who represented one of our most liberally charitable

provinces , argued that it should be borne in mind that his province sent up to the Masonic Institutions some £ 10 , 000 per annum , had a benevolent fund of its own , and some of its private lodges similar funds ; allot' which is certainly true , but is entirely outside argument when applied to the general fund of the Order for universal relief . It does not matter—and here we also refer to thc speech of

the third provincial brother—what is done in connection with what may be termed " side issues : " the first grand principle of support to that fund which treats all qualified applicants alike , and without respect to place or person , should be maintained : and it cannot bo maintained without strict observance of the doctrine of equality . Now let us go back to Bro . Clabon ' s arguments in favour of his

motion , and see how thoroughly sound they were , not only in regard to the then position of the fund , but also to the consequences which would follow a disregard of measures of reform , and which consequences have , as a matter of fact , ensued . The excess of grants over income had commenced some two years prior to his bringing forward his motion , and his great experience as a former President

of the Board of Benevolence enabled him to form the opinion which subsequent events have so fully justified . It had become usual to grant , and properly so under circumstances to which he referred , much larger sums than had hitherto been considered sufficient , and nothing remained but to take measures for securing increased supply . The reduction of the accumulated fund , which should be

considered " sacred as capital , " he decried as a great wrong ; and the alternative of increased quarterages he proposed as a simple and necessary measure , or "some ten years hence they must find another fund or reduce the grants . " How correctly our worthy brother saw into the future let the present difficulty testify . Not a single good reason had been given for the objection taken by provincial

brethren to the increase he suggested ; and , as we think , we have shown in this article none such can be advanced . It is much to be regretted that , finding himself beaten by so narrow a majority on the first clause of his motion , Bro . Clabon should have so readily withdrawn the proposition " that no sales should be made of all or any part of the Capital Funds of Benevolence without the express

order of a Grand Lodge , confirmed by a subsequent Grand Lodge . " We believe that , notwithstanding failure in respect of the proposal for increase of quarterage , it would have entirely met the views of Grand Lodge that it should decide when and in what proportion thc Benevolent Fund should be reduced in the future ; and in that case thc entire question must have been discussed in the course of the years 1881-5- ( i , and most probably with a very much more

satisfactory result . We have now , however , to do with things as they are , not as they might have been , and it is to be devoutly hoped that some earnest and eminent member of the Craft may be found to follow the lead of our worthy Bro . Clabon . and bring about a re-consideration of the whole subject in ( .-Jrand Lodge . We incline to the belief that , in the light of the past ten years ' experience , an effort of this kind would be attended with an entirely different result .

The Colonies.

THE COLONIES .

NEW ZEALAND . —We learn that it is contemplated by the Past Masters and Brethren of Lodges at New Zealand , meeting under warrants held from the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions , to confer together for the purpose of considering the advisability of following the example of the New South Wales Masons , and establishing an independent Grand Lodge for New Zealand , if possible .

A good example , and one worthy of imitation in this country , as well as a gracious masonic act , was offered to the members of the Tasmanian Union Lodge , No . 580 ( English Constitution ) , by thc

W . M . and brethren of the Tasmanian Operative Lodge , No . 315 ( Irish Constitution ) on the 27 th December last , when a special invite was given by the latter to the former to be present at the installation meeting of the Tasmanian Operative Lodge .

The dual installation of the officers of the Lodges Progress ( Southbridge ) 165 . 1 , E . G ., and Ionic ( Leeston ) , ] 'J 17 , E . G ., took place recently in the Lodge Room of the Ionic , Leeston . The ceremony was conducted by Bro . H . Thomson , R . W . G . M ., assisted by the officers of the Grand Lodge . The following are the officers for the

ensuing year : —Lodge of Progress , Bros . S . Moore , W . M . ; G Marquand , S . W . ; W . Warring , J . W . ; E . T . Claridge . sec . : Frame treas . ; W . Wadlow , S . D . ; J . Morrison , J . D . ; J . Hannah . I . G . ; A Webster , O . G . Lodge Ionic . Bros . Dr . G . Grosset . W . M . ; W . Wood

man . S . W . ; H . Unwin , J . W . ; Rev . J . Luxford , sec .: W . Johnston treas . ; Reader , J . D . ; H . M'Donald . I . G . ; and . Blackler , P . G . Aftei the ceremonies had been concluded the brethren adjourned foi refreshment , when masonic toasts were drunk and songs given bj members of the craft , a most pleasant evening being spent .

CAAADA—MOUNT ROYAL LODGE—_ So . 32 . —MONTREAL . —On the 21 st ult .. R . W . Bro . Jas . Fyfe , D . D . G . M .. installed the W . Bro . A . S . Campbell , W . M . of this lodge . The W . M . appointed tlve following brethren as his officers : —Bros . Wm . Seath . S . W . ; W . E

Dickson . B . C . L ., J . W . : W . A . Matley , treas . ; A . W . Draper , sec . ; Rev . J . A . Newnham . chaplain : II . S . Stafford , S . D .: II . K . Cockburn , J . D . ; G . E . Muir , I . G .: Alex . Macfarlane , D . of ( . ' . ; W . L . Watson and Arthur Shaw , stewards : and John Lawrence , tyler .

After business the members adjourned to the supper room , where a substantial repast was partaken of . During the course of thc evening W . Bro . Anderson , I . P . M ., was presented with a jewel in recognition of his services in the chair . Songs , speeches , & a , enabled those assembled to spend a pleasant hour together .