Our Charities.

OUR CHARITIES .

THE importance and magnitude of the Masonic Charities must be our excuse for again returning to the subject . It cannot be too widely known to the outer world , as well as to the brethren , that the practical work

of the Order is assuming gigantic proportions . Some theorists , indeed , who , it is needless to say , are not Masons , have ventured to question the propriety of relieving the distressed and the afflicted . The views of Malthus and his

followers are not , however , regarded as of any importance by the Fraternity . We are not likely , in these days , when great practical results can be shown as the sum of the labour of years , to turn aside from the watchwords of the

Order to study crude theories which have never had much fascination for the English people generally . We notice that during the past ten years £ 148 , 949 has been subscribed for tho maintenance of the Institutions for BOYS

and Girls , and in the same period £ 66 , 500 has been contributed towards the support of the Benevolent Institution . These facts speak for themselves , and they go far to prove that English Masonry is intensely practical , and truly benevolent . During these eventful ten years

hundreds of friendless children have been fed , clothed and educated , and thousands of aged or unfortunate brothers have received help which has never had tho effect of pauperising the recipient . We observed , with some regret ,

that although , at his installation , His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales laid great and very proper stress upon the watchwords of the Order , jet at the banquet which followed , the Masonic Charities were not included in the

programme of the toasts . The omission probably was a mere slip , but it was an unfortunate one . The eyes of the world were fixed upon the distinguished persons who were gathered around His Royal Highness , and a few words in response to the toast of the Charities , detailing their action ,

and summing up the magnificent results which Ave have referred to above , would have been carried to the ends of the earth . It is , however , useless to dwell upon this little slip , however acutely some of the most active workers in the cause of Masonry may have felt it at the time . We

are satisfied to dwell npon the fact that our Charities possess such enormous inherent vitality that they do not require to be advertised . Masons are not incited to give by the fascinations of a prosperous balance sheet , and , unlike some of the donors whose names figure in the lists

of ordinary benevolent institutions , they care little or nothing for the false glory of publicity . Yet when a legitimate opportunity occurs for the display of the results of years of active work and anxious thought , they are not

so priggish as to desire to hide their light under a bushel . We ought , in justice to two zealous and worthy officers , to notice that the marked increase in the revenues of the Girls' School and the Benevolent Institution has been

coincident with the appointment of Bro . Little to the Secretaryship of the former , and Bro . Terry to that of the latter . These gentlemen have spared no efforts to improve the Charities to which they have devoted their energies , and , for our part , we regret that some honorary mark

of distinction has not been conferred upon them in recognition of their zeal . Some of our brethren had suggested that these officers should be representatives of Grand Lodge , and we confess that we were somewhat

surprised that , on the appointment of officers in April last , they were passed over . It is indeed argued that no paid officer should have a seat in Grand Lodge . The rule may be a wise one , but in so far as it is practicall y adopted it

Our Charities.

strikes a blow at one of the cherished principles of Masonry —Equality . Every Mason is , theoretically at least , on a footing of perfect equality with his brothers . But if the practice of Grand Lodge is to be regarded as a funda .

mental rule for the guidance of its business , we shall be constrained to confess that our equality has its limits , and we shall be compelled to regard paid officers somewhat in the light of servants , and , therefore , of inferiors . We think

it rather unfortunate that Grand Lodge should have imposed any limits upon its freedom of action . It is unfortunate , to say the least of it , to raise a question as to the status of any member of the Order , but when

eminent Masons are excluded from honorary rank because they are salaried officials , the policy which has prompted such exclusion is likely to produce some little discontent . The assumption , that an energetic Secretary ,

such as Bro . Little or Bro . Terry , can be adequately remunerated by mere money payment , is purely gratuitous . Enthusiasm and zeal for the cause such men have at heart can only be fairly recognised by such honorary rewards

as Grand Lodge has to bestow , and with the greatest deference and respect for our chiefs , we venture to express a hope that a rule which is likely to cause somo heartburning may be re-considered .

The Therapeutae And Jewish Ascetics.

THE THERAPEUTAE AND JEWISH ASCETICS .

( FROM THE FRENCH OF J . L . LAURENS . )

" \ XTHILE the Essenes were fervently enthusiastic , they VT wore , nevertheless , very scrupulous in their choice of adepts ; very formal , and even austere iu thoir ceremonies of initiation , terrible in their receptions . With them the door must be closed against low and vulgar folk , firmness

and a certain energy were indispensable , and it was necessary these qualities should have been exhibited ere any one was admitted into their order . It was only owing to a strict observance of this delicacy , and to exercising such discretion in the choice of members , that the Essenes so

rarely saw vice enrolled among them . By such wise and salutary precautions it was that virtue found itself invariably the sole companion of virtue . It was this elevation of thought which rendered them so strong , and enabled them

to exercise so firm a control over their passions , that they became immovably stedfast amid all human vicissitudes , inaccessible to fear and the common frailties of man . Such is the picture which Josephus and Philo have handed down to vis of this sect .

But it matters nob to what height of moral dignity a man may arrive , what is only the work of this world can never attain that stability which is only to be met with in institutions of divine origin . In spite of the purity of man ' s intentions , human weakness becomes , sooner or later ,

apparent , even in the most finished of his works . Time , that absolute master of this world , impresses its penetrating and distinctive mark on whatever is submitted to its control . Soon the zeal of the Essenians diminished , the spirit of proselytism took the place of scrupulous care in initiating

members , and the desire to increase tho number of initiates introduced a blind facility , which opened the door to tho enemies of the pure system of the Essenes . Already a diversity of views was at hand , and threatening the very foundations of that respectable body , and the original unity of principles disappeared before the tumult of