Casual Relief.

CASUAL RELIEF .

ONE of the most difficult of the problems which have to be solved in connection with tho Masonic system is that which arises when mi appeal is made to a Lodgo or an individual member of the Order for casual relief . No Mason who fully appreciates the teachings of the Craft can be ¦ wholly unmoved by the tale of woo and misfortune which is often preached by ajsplicants for help , but two questions at once present themselves ; is the

tale a true one , and is the applicant worthy oi consideration ? Possibly no amount of inquiry could secure an absolutely reliable answer to these queries . How then can individuals , with little time to spare , and no handy means of obtaining information on the subject , hope to arrive at a satisfactory verdict ?

Going at once to the worst form ol cases , we must recognise that the professional beggar appreciates the difficulties which exist in this connection , and avails himself of them to the fullest extent . He is able to discover suitable fields for his operations , and soon makes himself a master of effectual means of approaching the susceptibilities of his victims , who have really no foundation , in the very large majority of cases , on which to base a direct refusal to answer

tlie appeal before thorn . Various proposals have been made from time to time to put this matter on a more satisfactory basis , and we have more than once 1 urged tjie desirability of Grand Lodge talcing action so as to protect its members from ijnjjpgtors , but the subject is admittedly a difficult one to deal with , and it is very unlikely that any actfon will be taken in this direction by the authorities of 1 the Order , —at least for the present . Under these ' circumstances it is apparent reform must

eottle from the members of the Order themselves , and consequently individual Lodges often appoint an A'Im 6 tie'f , ' to' whom all applicants are referred by the members , while in some of the provincial towns the various Lodges meeting there combine among themselves / and ejject a committee to dispense the whole c . asua ) relief of the district . This system is advantageous in many ways , as it not only relieves individual members from the annoyance of answering personal applications , but it also provides a ready and reliable means of securing assistance for those

who are actually in need of it , and can fully appreciate any help which is accorded them by their fellow members of the Masonic Order . We believe it is" the sincere wish of most Freemasons to render help to their less fortunate brethren wherever and whenever it is needed , but , unfortunately , the means are not always available to do just whaj is desired , and , worse still , it is well known that a number of unscrupulous persons make a regular living by trading on the obligations and responsibilities which Freemasonry imposes on its members . As a

Casual Relief.

consequence many really deserving cases go unrelieved , where a little Masonic help would have been of infinite value , while Craftsmen who are ready and willing to lend a helping hand at last find they have been imposed upon , and are almost forced to register a vow to never again loosen their purse-strings , no matter how sad a case may be made out in the hope of inducing them so to do .

In connection with this subject , wo cannot tlo better than quote the actual experience of our brethren in Plymouth and district , who , for many years past , have had the " Three Towns Casual Relief Society " in successful working . Bro . J . B . Gover , the Secretary of the Fund , speaking at a recent meeting of

the members , briefly explained tho circumstances under which the fund was started . At one time , he said , it was the practice of applicants for relief to go round from Lodge to Lodge , and get grants if they could from each . This was attended with disadvantages , which will at once be recognised by any of

our readers who have Had the smallest experience in tho Craft , and the Eelief Fund was started in tho hope of inducing a better state of affairs . We are pleased to learn the result has been satisfactory in every way , one of the principal advantages being that the district was relieved of those who made a regular business of appealing , while it is equally certain that many who would have found it

impossible to receive attention under the old system have been able to lay their claims before the committee , and have thereby secured help which has stood thorn in good service , and has probably placed them once more in a position to fight the battle of life . We arc convinced that the well-known Secretary of this Plymouth fund would readily explain its working to any inquiring Brother , and those

who contemplate forming such a Society in their own district would probably do well to open up communication with him . At the meeting to which we have referred , the report showed receipts since the last meeting £ 20 , expenditure . £ 27 3 s 4 d , while it was decided to meet the deficiency and provide funds for future purposes by making a call of £ 1 on each of the Lodges of the Three Towns . This call will at once explain the system on which tho project is worked , and in view of the possible advantages which may accrue from an imitation of the system in other districts we think this information will be appreciated by our readers .

The Grand Treasurership.

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP .

A BROTHER of our acquaintance asked us , daring tho week , what we were going to do now the " Pnrpleian " Fever—as he termed ifc—is in full blast ? Well , we say to our readers , as we said to onr friend , we are

content to wait till the appointments are announced in Grand Lodge : doubtless the claims of tho many who aspire to fche purple will be dispassionately considered by