Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : FREEMASONRY AND LIFE ASSURANCE Front page UNITED GRAND LODGE—MARK GRAND LODGE .. .. 204 BOARD OF MASTERS AND BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .. 204 MASONIC POET ' CORNER— "THE SQUARE" .. .. 205

OUR TRESTLE BOARD—NOTIFICATIONS .. .. 205 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE AND ANSWERS .. .. 206 NORTH LONDON MASONIC BALL .. .. . .. 20 G " HIGH TWELVE "—EVENINGS ABROAD .. .. 207

OUR CITY ARTICLE .. .. .. .. .. 207 REPORTS OF LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS .. 203 & 209 METROPOLITAN LODGE . & C . MEETINGS FOR PRESENT WEEK 210

PROA ' INCIAL LODGE MEETINGS FORTHCOMING .. 210 & 211 METROPOLITAN LODGES OF INSTRUCTION FOR PRESENT AVEEK 212 ADVERTISEMENTS .. Front cover . 202 , 213 , 211 . 215 , 21 ( i

Freemasonry And Life Assurance.

Freemasonry and Life Assurance .

E ADINCT lately one of the lectures or addresses of the late George Dawson , Esq ., M . A ., of Birmingham , in which he treated of the Great importance of life assurance , the

thought struck us that many of his remarks would he Avorthy of consideration by three classes of society :

namely , —those who are anxious to become Ireemasons before they have taken care to provide for relatives dependent on them ; those who , having joined our Order ,

are lavish in connection therewith , and yet are not amongst the roll of life assurers ; and those who , having the direction and . management of our public charitable institutions ,

have not yet taken into account , as a principal factor in qualification for assistance , the early intention of an applicant to provide against the contingencies of life . We

will follow out this train of thought ; for Ave believe that very great advantages would mutually accrue to these three

classes if a means could be found to ensure the practice of that " prudence" on which we so much enlarge in our theoretical teachings .

In the first place , it must be admitted as a fact that no man has a right to expect admission into our Order unless , in addition to moral character and respectable social

position , he is possessed of independent means , or income sufficient to provide for the prospective needs of himself and family . One of our most ancient charges instructs us ,

in regard to candidates , to " let them first consider their income and family , and know that' Freemasonry requires ability , attendance , and a good appearance to maintain and

support its ancient and honourable grandeur . " Therefore , to be true and loyal to our institution , no man other than such as those aboA 7 e described should OArer be proposed

Freemasonry And Life Assurance.

into our Lodges ; nor then , unless some evidence has been afforded that of the four cardinal A-irtues that of prudence had been practised , to some extent at least , by assurance

against family distress in the event of his death ; no matter in how slight a degree , for the desire to increase a slender provision has a natural growth in all good men . Says

DaAvson : "I would rather beg Avhilst I am alive , than be begged for after I Avas dead . If I must be a pauper , I Avould rather bear what shame there is in it while I am

alive , than I would suffer my friends to go round and make a collection for my children after 1 Avas dead ; " and this should be the inborn sentiment of every man worthy of

admission into Freemasonry . And there can be no excuse , on the score of inability to take the initial step , either in regard to condition of health or of cost . In respect of

health , if a man ' s physical state is such as to altogether preclude him from the benefits of assurance , he can hardly be fitted for association with either ' labour " or " refresh

ment ; " and , m respect of cost , Avith what readiness Avill many men produce their initiation fee of fh * e , ten , or fifteen guineas or more , and in grand style laA'ish unnecessary

money on regalia and personal gratification , whilst not one penny has been set aside for family proA'ision in case of accident or death . This should not bo : the outlav does

no good to the Order , and it indicts harm upon those Avho should be protected . And AVO say that it should be , if not a regulation , vet , in these days lev mm scriiiiti , that every

candidate for Freemasonry should have first provided by assurance against certain misfortunes . As regards other " unforeseen circumstances , " our craft has never yet

forgotten splendid proA ision for those in calamity ; and that fact alone should , and , Ave belieA'e , does , strengthen our

arguments in favour of some measures being taken in the direction AVO point out , to prevent the Order being overwhelmed by the admission of persons unfitted for it .

What we have just said applies to the two first of the three classes referred to ; and now as to those who control our Benevolent Fund and our respective Charitable

Institutions . Would it not be ivorth while to consider in Avhat manner it could be made understood that more consideration would be given to applicants for assistance , for support , and

for education , to those AVIIO had exemplified , on their introduction into Freemasonry , that provident care for others which , consequent on " perhaps unavoidable circumstances , "

they are now seeking from others . It could be done without in anyway offending the prejudices of ( hose who speak of the Masonic Order as ' not a benefit society , " and iin ' niit think

that a policy in an assurance office would be a premium to secure grants and assistance from our funds and institutions . By-thc-bye , is not the Order already , by the