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a^^^^pi^^a aggagagsBgg ^^ SATUEDAY . 20 TH APEIL 1895 .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE April meeting of the Board to deal with the Fund of Benevolence of Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall . The chairs of President and Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents were occupied by Bro . Eobert Grey , Bro . f ! A . Cottebrune and Bro . S . Valentine . Bro . E . Letchworth ,

§ ro . W . Lake , Bro . W . Dodd , and Bro . W . H . Lee represented the official department , with Bro . H . Sadler G . T . Notwithstanding the holidays the attendance of Brethren was very good . The sum of £ 360 recommended for the Grand Master ' s approval in various sums above £ 20 and under £ 50 , was confirmed , and the new list of forty-two petitions received consideration with the following result : —grants and

recommendations of grants to the total oi Ulio , distributed in tour recommendations for the approval of Grand Lodge in June of £ 50 each ; a similar number to the Grand Master of £ 40 each , and five of £ 30 each . Seven grants were made of £ 20 each , nine of £ 10 each , and one of £ 5 . Ten cases stood over till the May meeting , and two were dismissed .

We are pleased to hear that the proposed testimonial for Brother Alfred Spencer , who will this year complete twenty-one years service as Provincial Grand Secretary of Kent , is being

warmly supported by the Brethren of that county , among whom Bro . Spencer is a general favourite . The presentation , at the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , will probably be one of the great Masonic events of the year .

0 0 0 On the motion of the President of Stewards and the Provincial Grand Master , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Boxburgh , Peebles , and Selkirkshires are to be asked to decide , at their quarterly meeting , whether , with a view to

strengthening the Benevolent Fund of Provincial Grand Lodge , each Lodge in the Province shall subscribe annually the sum of one guinea to said Benevolent Fund , such subscription to be paid on or before the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge . This is further evidence of the desire of our Scottish friends to make their position stronger than it has been .

Are You A Mason ?

ARE YOU A MASON ?

»» rp HERE are in this world Masons , once again there are Masons . " J- There are many whose every-day life bears the true ring , and stamps them as genuine . There are others who , though having at some time been pronounced regularly made , yet from the imperfect making or defective material employed have so uncertain a ring andexhibit to the world such an

imperfect and faint impression of the true stamp as to suggest a feeling of doubt as to their genuineness , and almost involuntarily the query arises , " Are you a Mason ? " . That this is a fact must bo admitted by every intelligent observer of to-day . That it has been equally true in all ages of Masonry we cannot doubt . Human nature has ever been the same . Selfishness with

its attendant evils has to a greater or less extent always existed . Modified it may be by cultivation and the advancement of knowledge and civilisation , yet until held in check by sound moral principle , it will at times make itself more or less manifest . Every principle taught in Masonry ; its every aim , and its true mission is to help mankind to overcome this , we might say , " the

root of all evils to make us in truth what we claim to be , Brothers . That its mission is more and more being understood and appreciated we firmly believe . And that it is , as the years roll around , being more generally regarded and made the rule of life we also believe . That there are exceptions we are too often forced to admit . In our intercourse with those claiming to

be Masons we sometimes meet with those of whom we would for various reasons make the inquiry which serves us for a text , " Are you a Mason ? " Some of whom it may not be amiss to allude to . We have seen those who , by their ostentatious display of the emblems of the Craft , especially those solemn and suggestive souvenirs of the Temple , overtopped , it may be , by the

Fez , Tiger Claws , and other insignia worn by the humble sons of the desert , who would fain advertise themselves as Masons of the highest rank . Yet in 'he course of a brief acquaintance we have found them ignorant of the first principles of Masonry . To them the Lodge has no attractions , and the Chapter is ignored except as a necessary step in their advancement . In the teachings of these Degrees they lind nothing instructive ; nothing in their

Are You A Mason ?

simple , yet beautiful symbols , to interest unless interpolated with wellrounded phrases to please the fancy ; or of additions foreign to the ceremonies and unknown to the Ritual , no matter how trivial or burlesque , so that they create amusement for the looker on even though it may be at the expense . of the sensitive yet intelligent candidate . To them no love for Masonry is

excited , no respect for its institutions is inculcated . These bejeweled High Degree Masons are oftentimes—to say the least—indiscreet in conversation , speaking lightly of , and scarcely recognising as Masons , those who are satisfied with the teachings of the Lodge and are even proud of their title of Master Mason . They thus ignore the mother that bore them , and cast reflections

upon her fair name and time-honored reputation , a reputation and a name unsullied through the lapse of ages except it may be from the wounds and scars which from time to time have been inflicted by the combined actions of those so-called Masons . Such assaults have in most instances boon ephemeral , and in all cases have proved abortive as to doing permanent

harm . Though now hoary with age , yet the institution of Freemasonry still retains all the strength and vigour of early manhood and is equally powerful for good . Compared with Symbolic Masonry those boasted so-called higher degrees , with their impressive ceremonies and glittering surroundings , are but infants in age and experience , and dependent upon Symbolic Masonry

for existence and support . There is another class who bear the name of Mason whose daily life and conversation is such as to create a doubt as to their right to that proud title . Though regular in their attendance upon Communications of their Lodge , yet their interest can be measured by the amount of social enjoyment they find and the excitement incident upon its

ceremonies . They know but little of the objects of Masonry and less of its principles and teachings , if we may judge from their conduct . Selfishness , their own personal aggrandisement , no matter how or by what means attained , is their only incentive . Bigoted in their own views and intolerant of the opinions of others , they become a fruitful source of discord among

their Brethren . Ignoring the first principles of Brotherhood and Fraternity , they are apt to be unscrupulous in their dealings . Forgetting that honour bright should ever be an unbroken bond betwixt them and all members of the mystic tie , they too often through guile and wrong allow that sacred cord which binds each to the other to be broken . The sacred name of Deity

has for them no reverence , and His precepts equally with those of Masonry are ignored . Ask such a one to subscribe to a Masonic periodical , and nine times out of ten his excuse will be that he finds no time for such reading , or that he is unable to stand the expense , while in truth he cares nothing for that kind of literature . None can be blind to the fact that there are some

among us of the character we have described , nor avoid the query which will involuntarily arise when brought in contact with them , Are you a Mason r And what are your claims for wearing its emblems ? While in general Lodges are becoming more and more careful in their selection and are better guarding the portals , yet the unworthy are too often

through indifference or ignorance of the true character of the applicant , admitted to membership , even among those who would be most select . These may by their aggressiveness , and in furtherance of their selfish and ambitious designs , in time gain a preponderancy in numbers or acquire such an influence and so stamp their own personality upon the Lodge as . to be

able to mould its action to their own peculiar notions , as to change its character , and so obscure the pure principles of Masonry that they are expected to exemplify , that this question may with equal propriety be asked of them . Such a Lodge is usually slack in discipline , and careless and indifferent in their work . With them " everything goes , " only so that by

some means or another they manage to get through the most essential portions of the ceremonies . With but little previous preparation and utterly indifferent as to the correct use of the language or its propriety they too often fail in making an impression upon the mind of the candidate , or to so interest the members as to prevent them from one by one slipping quietly

out through the inner door in search of some more congenial occupation Candidates thus made failing to get any proper ideas of Masonry , soon and easily fall into the same loose habits and follow in the same footsteps . Some Lodges there may be who are equally careless in their selection of material , To add to their numbers , to increase their finances is to them the

all-important thing . To the calls for charity they are alike indifferent , or technical and penurious . The little that is ever bestowed is so grudgingly given and in snch a spirit that the feelings of the recipients are wounded , and their respect for the institution anything but flattering . An institution whose working has ever been silent and unseen , yet with whom the widow and the fatherless

have ever been cared for , and the wounds made by affliction and adversity carefully healed . What a contrast can be seen in this respect in the action of different Lodges . A contrast as marked as may be found among individuals . Many there are whose treasury has more than once been depleted by their many acts of benevolence , and that too without a murmur .

their best and only reward being in the gratitude expressed and the prayers offered by thankful hearts for their welfare and prosperity and in the proud satisfaction of having acted well their part in the performance of Masonic duty . The true Mason is one whose daily life and conduct is such that the world may know that he is one to whom the burdened heart may pour out

its sorrows , to whom distress may prefer its suit , whose hand is guided by justice and whose heart is expanded by benevolence . No sordid or selfish motives influenced him to become a Mason . Possessing that first and most essential of preparations , it can be said of him that in all its requirements he was a Mason , even before having passed the tiled doors of a Lodgo . Brethren , ponder well on this subject , and oftentimes ask yourselves the question " Are you a Mason V " — " Masonic Tidings . " -