Casual Relief.

CASUAL RELIEF .

IN a recent issue of the New York World appeared a letter from "A Mason's Daughter , " asking if there was any place where she could apply to for help . She was immediately answered in the same paper by two Masons , one of whom advised her to call at

the office of the Grand Secretary , when her case would be presented to the Masonic Board of Belief , and " if she is worthy and respectable she will be taken care of . " We do not know whether the Mason ' s daughter made the application , or what was the result , but the possibility of replying to such a query in such a manner is a splendid testimonial to the

advantages of Freemasonry , and the thoroughness with which its members endeavour to act up to the principles of Fraternity . Here , in a large city like New York , a complete stranger is advised to imock at'the portals of Freemasonry , with the assurance that if her case is found to be a worthy one she will be helped , and "taken care of . " There are some who will say that such a promise is more than is

justifiable , and that the case would in all probability be dismissed on some technical point , but on the other hand those who have travelled in the United States , Canada , or Australia , and have had occasion to put their Brother Mason to the test , can vouch for the sincerity and the thoroughness of their sympathy , and will agree that it is not really going too far to say that a Mason ' s daughter would be " taken care " of by the Fraternity should occasion arise .

How would a similar case be met in this country ? We have often deplored the absence of any organised Board of Belief , and regretted that Grand Lodge did not see its way to officially provide for the consideration of casual cases of distress . It is pretty generally recognised that the want of this organisation provides opportunity for the imposition which is frequently proved to be practised on benevolent members of our Order . ^ On the opposite side it is argued that the provision of a regular Belief Office would open the

way lor further imposition , by providing a public means of obtaining relief , which has now to be sought in a private and troublesome manner ; that it would , in fact , offer an easy method of surmounting a task which is now admittedly very difficult . But this is not the case . Masonic impostors do not content themselves with one or two applications for relief ; they go from place to place , and from town to town , preaching their tale of woe , and living on the credulity and kind heartedness of their fellows . The

purely distressed Mason , on the other hand , often has some definite object in view , and he is sincere and in earnest when he says that a railway ticket to his distant home , or a few shillings spent for a specific purpose , will save him from the misery of becoming a regular wanderer . But English Freemasonry does not descriminate in these matters ; the imposter and the truly needy are treated on a par , the one receiving a

Casual Relief.

few shillings which suffices to maintain him in his imposition , the other—being less practiced in appealing—receiving less , perhaps nothing at all , but , at any rate , insufficient to afford the legitimate relief he was in search of , and , in time to come , when he is able to communicate with his friends he and they have a practical knowledge of the shallowness and the insincerity of Masonic professions .

Our argument is that a very large sum is annually expended by English Freemasons in relieving casual applicants , which sum , if properly directed through one recognised channel , would suffice to " take care " of every true case of distress arising in our midst , whereas now the most deserving applicants get little or nothing , and the professions of the Craft are proved to be shams , delusions and snares , mainly benefitting the imposter , injuring the necessitous , and disgusting the free hearted . Surelv there is room for

improvement when such charges can be laid against any existing system , or , as is the case here , want of system , and yet no one seems inclined to make a move in the matter . Day by day we see members of Lodges running the risk of spending their funds on worthless impostors rather than formally place the whole

question of affording relief before Grand Lodge ; and we are afraid to think how long such a state of affairs will continue , to the manifest disadvantage of the Masonic Order itself , and to the detriment of those who are compelled by real misfortune to seek the consideration promised them when they became associated with Freemasonry . Would it not be much better to provide a proper Board of Belief ?

Masonry's Theology.

MASONRY'S THEOLOGY .

An Extract from an Oration by Bro . George Davies ; before the Grand Lodge of Illinois , at Chicago , in October 18 A 9 .

OF what consequence to us is Masonry ' s exceeding antiquity ? We aro but a social compact whose professed , aim Is charity , and whose greatest care is rectitude of life . In the practical uses of these two cardinal virtues lies the good Mason ' s chief desire and high

reward . Though the Institution is now speculative as regards the workings of the Craft of old , it is practical as regards the duties of social life and the cultivation of the social virtues . Mutual dependence and succour are the

results of this social relation , and the nearest approach to a perfect state of society is when each other ' s burdens arecheerfully borne and each other ' s wants promptly relieved . Masonry is a voluntary association of men of all nations

and religions for certain social , moral and benevolent purposes of a harmless character . Its precepts inculcates self-improvement , temperance and chastity in the

government of ourselves—truth , justice and mercy in our intercourse with others—loyalty to our country—and piety to God . That Freemasonry of the present day has any higher