Belfast Masonic Charities.

referring to the system upon which the grants were given , Dr . Greer spoke in terms of praise of the economy which characterised the management of these funds . The working expenses of these charities was something under 3 per cent ., and the Brethren gave their time , their intellect , and their services willingly in order to

avoid expense . Every case was personally investigated , and for these and other reasons he would ask the Brethren assembled that evening to support the charities warmly , largely , and generously . Bro . E . J . Hilton , J . P ., P . G . S ., in moving a vote of thanks to

the chairman , said he was the embodiment of what a true Mason should be . He had done an immensity of good by his painstaking care in seeing that everything in connection with the society was carried out in order and harmony , and he was the embodiment of a good ruler in Masonry .

A Priest On Freemasonry .

A PRIEST ON FREEMASONRY .

To the Editor of the " Kilmarnock Herald . " SIB , —In yonr Masonic columns of issue 22 nd you give a few extracts from a lecture delivered in Glasgow by the Very Bev . Father John , on «• Freemasonry . " He says in his opening remarks that there was " no society so antagonistic to the Catholic Church as ' the Freemasons . " I can give Father John the lie direct . Freemasons make no religious distinction : all

are welcome if they are good-living , law-abiding , moral men . We have ranging under our banners men cf every religious body in the world . Of its aims and objects on the Continent I am unable personally to speak , never having been there , but from various Brethren who visited both Belgium and Germany I have learned that its aims and objects are the same as in this country , the universal Brotherhood of man .

As for tho Freemasons using their influence against the Catholic Church that I deny ; but the Church has used , and does use , its influence , against the Freemasons . I am a Freemason and proud of the name , and when our popular Father here—Dean Power—sought public honours I have voted for him , and will do again , so long as he continues to discharge these public duties to my satisfaction . We have certain signs , words and

grips by which we know each other , and why not ? Father John says " There are 17 , 000 , 000 Freemasons in the world banded together to carry out by fair means or foul the objects of their Order , but out of this number only 200 , 000 know its real aims and objects "—a very small percentage surely . Suoh a display of ignorance I never read or heard of before . Why , in a Lodge of say 150 members , there would be scarcely one to teach the other . That kind of thing may be allowed in a Catholic

congregation , where the father reigns supreme—none daring to contradict him , and perhaps Father John is judging from the amount of intelligence in his own congregation , and classing us altogether . Such a state of matters may be found in a Catholic church where members , ^ indeed , are not even encouraged to read the Bible . No such thing would be tolerated in a Freemasons' Lodge , as every candidate , after receiving his first degree , has to make himself proficient in that degree , before the second one is conferred on him , and so on to the other degrees .

Father John again says " Freemasonry is the greatest danger to Christianity and next to that the Jews . " Why here is a wholesale order . Let me inform Father John that no man can , or will , be admitted into Freemasonry who would be a danger to Christianity . Are some of our loading Churchmen a danger to Christianity ? They may be to the Catholic church , but not to Christianity . Freemasonry is a help to Christianity and Christianity a help to Freemasonry . Father John , to quote him againsays

, " The proofs for all his statements were abundantly furnished in speeches of the principals of the Freemason body . " I should like Father John to tell me where these speeches are to be found . I would again like to ask Father John if he considers Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , Lord Blythswood , the Earl of Haddington , Sir Charles Dalrymple , the Prince of Wales , the Duke of Connaught , the Duke of Abercorn all opposed to law and order ? The thing is ridiculous to think of .

To show more of Father John's ignorance of his subject , he goes on to tell his audience how Freemasons are made , and how many degrees there are in our Order . He says between forty and fifty . Why I Sir , in America , there are ninety degrees . He also tells them that Freemasons don't know

anything about it till they get the twenty-fourth degree , and these must all be tried and trusty members , but a good many only get the first and stop there . I have seen hundreds of members initiated , and never yet saw one who only took his first degree and stopped there—they all take three or four degrees .

My dear Sir , I know some thousands of Freemasons by name and most all havo taken thirty degrees . In the twenty-fourth degree , it seems , Freemasons are made acquainted with coffins , skulls , and daggers , and the ceremony is of the most revolting description ; the initiate is lowered deep down into the earth and strange words are heard ; daggers gleam around them , but they are in the dark . Father John tells also how they are raised up again to a considerable height with similiar accompaniments , and this

goes on for six or eight hours , with the result that the nervous system is shattered , and for the rest of their lives the initiated are entirely in the hands of their leaders . Now , let me ask Father John how he can account for this , as all Masonic meetings are held in halls—sometimes of their own , and sometimes hired . If such confessional means were taken , all the outside world would know of it . I have never seen a trap for such a purpose in the floor of any hall I have been in , and I speak with authority , as I havo attained to the thirty-first degree , and never had such a revolting

experience . He accuses Freemason leaders of bigotry and a zeal for trying to keep their Brethren in ignorance of the Order . No such thing . But , sir , that is priesthood . In conclusion , lei me inform Father John that I know several members of the Catholic church who are Freemasons , and whether they make good members of the church or not , I ara unable to say , but this I do know , they make good members of our Order , in spite of the church ' s condemnation .

I am , Yours faithfully , PLTOIB LINE . [ We re-produced the remarks of our contemporary that called forth the above letter , in our issue of 30 th ult . —Ed . F . C ]

Railway Benevolent Institution.

RAILWAY BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

rr * IHIS Institution is established to afford the opportunity lor those who 1 sympathise with Eailway Servants to help them in the time of need . The extent of its usefulness aepends in a very large measure upon public support . It provides for necessitous Members , and Widows of the Eailway

Officers and Servants in the United Kingdom , and clothes , maintains , and educates Orphan Children ; relief by Annuities and Money Allowances is granted to members who , from old age , disease , or accident , may be unable to work for their livelihood , and to the Widows of those who may be left in distressed circumstances .

Since the establishment of tne Institution m 1858 , upwards of £ 275 , 000 has been distributed amongst the Widows of 3 , 221 men killed , 6 , 190 dying of sickness , and 53 , 898 injured in the performance of their duties ; 1 , 210 Widows and disabled Servants have received pensions ; and 985 children have been educated and sent forth into the world fit and useful members of society . At the present time 845 Members and Widows are receiving annuities of from £ 10 to £ 30 each , and 310 children are being reared , trained and educated in the Orphanage and other Schools .

One hundred and sixteen thousand railway men of all grades subscribe to one or more of the funds of this Institution , which is open to all classes of men on all lines of railway in Great Britian and Ireland . It has no political objects . The Eailway Benevolent Institution is recognised and assisted by the Eailway Companies , controlled and managed by their chief officers , and every proper case is carefully investigated , and promptly relieved as far as the funds will allow .

The Most Worshipful the Grand Master H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , when presiding at the fifteenth annual dinner of the Institution , said * . " The railway companies give this Institution in every way their official support , end they may indeed well do so , because there is no institution which more heartily deserves our support than this . Though I but feebly express what others would much better have laid before you , I hope you will

believe that nobody feels more deeply for this Institution than I do , that nobody advocates its claims more ardently than I , and nobody will continue to take a greater interest in everything connected with our great railways . To show you that I am not using mere stereotyped phrases , I may tell you that no week elapses without my travelling once or twice at least by train .

I have , therefore , the opportunity of seeing , as well as anybody can see , how admirably our railway system is worked ; not only the managers and directors , but the officers and servants , have my warmest admiration for doing their utmost in the execution of their duty , and also for their unvarying courtesy and attention . I will ask you once more to open your purses as freely as you can in support of the Eailway Benevolent Institution . "

There are many of our readers who can fully endorse these remarks of the Prince of Wales , as to the way in which the Eailway Officials of the country perform their duties , and we hope some of them may see their way to show appreciation of those efforts by subscribing to the funds of the Institution on the occasion of the annual dinner , to be held on the 29 th May next , under the presidency of Lord Emlyn , Deputy Chairman of the Great Western Company .

The Prince ' s Hall , Penzance , long tenanted by the local Billiard Club , has been bought by the Monnt Sinai Lodge , who will adapt it for the purposes of Freemasonry .

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GAIETY RESTATJBANT , ST & JLlXJD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUBANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5 * 30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the VIENNESE BAND performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7-45 . AMERICAN BAR . THE GRILL ROOM is open till Midnight . PRIVATE DINING BOOMS FOE LAEGE ANP SMALL PASTIES ,