Freemasonry As A Benefit Society.

FREEMASONRY AS A BENEFIT SOCIETY .

A WRITER in a contemporary hazards the opinion that many Freemasons are beginning to think that the Graft should be worked more after the system of the Oddfellows , helping each other out of the Lodge funds when necessity compelled , and giving fixed benefits under certain conditions . This question has been discussed on many occasions , but so far no good case has been made out by those who would like to see a departure from the system of the past .

It may be true there are many Freemasons among us who would support any proposal for the change , but large as may be their number they would find themselves opposed by an overwhelming majority in favour of a continuance of existing arrangements . Without a doubt there is a general feeling among

members of the Order that Freemasonry should be kept wholly distinct from benefit society principles pure and simple , and left'to work its way for the good of its members , and mankind in general , on loftier lines ftian those of mere monetary considerations . Like every topic of this character there is much to be said on both sides , and at first blush , when one takes into consideration the amount of misery and distress to be found among Freemasons and their families , it is impossible to think otherwise

than that some efficient method of rendering financial aid as a matter of right would prove beneficial , and would gladden many homes which are now sorely in need of assistance , but the claims of which cannot be brought under notice , or if they are , it is only to be answered in the negative , because there is no fund available from which to draw relief . In considering this subject due credit must be given for the help already accorded by the Order to those associated with it who find themselves in distressed

cn-cumstances . Last week we gave a summary of the amounts received during the past year by the three central Charities of the Craft , as well as a record of the amounts voted by the Board of Benevolence at its monthly meetings . In addition to these sums must be considered the grants made by Provincial and Private Lodges , and the amounts

annually disbursed by Provincial Charity funds , so that it is safe to say that at least £ 100 , 000 a year is contributed by the English Brotherhood for the relief of distressed members of their Order , their widows and their orphans , the whole of this large sum being subscribed freely and voluntarily by members of the Order who , actuated bv the finest principles of

brotherhood , give what they are able in order to help their fellows who are in straitened circumstances . We say the whole of this large amount is given freely and voluntarily , because we do not regard the small contribution made by each member towards the * und of Benevolence as being sufficient to stamp the

Freemasonry As A Benefit Society.

system as one of compulsion , but even if we omit consideration of that item we shall have almost as good a case for consideration , and probably the purely voluntary disbursements of the Craft for a twelvemonth would actually reach the sum we have mentioned . Now , let us suppose that a system

similar to that of the Oddfellows was adopted m connection with Freemasonry . Would it then be possible to even solicit a continuance of these voluntary gifts , much less expect to receive them ? Certainly not , and such being the case , we ask the advocates of the fixed benefits principle what tax they

would propose to impose , in order to do only as much as the Craft is now doing , without making any provision for rendering other assistance , of meeting the benefit claims they propose to legalise ? On this basis alone we consider the project of placing Freemasonry on a Benefit Society footing must fail , even

if the proposition to alter its character was ever seriously brought before the Craft , which is very unlikely to happen . Turning to the other side of the picture , we may ask what amount of benefit could be conferred on necessitous members of the Order if a " Benefit Fund " was in existence ? We must first recognise that the three great Institutions of the Craft would

have no possibility oi continuing their work , and accordingly we should have to stop the benefits now conferred by those Charities on a large number of old people , girls and boys , and provide for them in some other way . We should take away their comfort and happiness , and what could we give them in return ? Will any one suggest that a Benefit Society principle would allow of such annuities or such education and

maintenance as is now anorded to the large number who have , been elected to the several Institutions ? No general tax would be tolerated that would produce an amount sufficient for the purpose , and as we have already said the assistance at present rendered would fail , without any possibility of other benefits being

created to take their place . Besides all this , the majority of the present members of English Freemasonry do not belong to the class which needs benefit payments in the general acceptation of the term , and it would be absurd to create a system of benefits merely for the purpose of attracting the class who do , especially as it would be necessary to enforce .

ipayments from all alike , in order to secure tne . iuncls necessary to pay the claims that would arise . On the whole it is best to recognise that Freemasonry does more at the present time , in a voluntary manner , than would be possible under any system of compulsion , and beyond this the converting of

Freemasonry into a benefit society—taking such title in connection with a system of fixed monetary payments under certain eventualities—is so opposed to the general ideas of its members as to be beyond the range of what may be regarded as future possibilities .