The Charity Benefits And Their Apportionment.

THE CHARITY BENEFITS AND THEIR APPORTIONMENT .

LONDON labours under numerous disadvantages as compared with , the Provinces ; so much so that the promotion of schemes for the removal of the anomalies under which the Metropolis suffers is a matter of almost daily

occurrence . Such schemes have occupied the attention of politicians and reformers of all classes in the past , and will no doubt continue to do so in the future . At the present time , however , there appears to he an increased activity

among the band of reformers , and while many of the proposals they put forward can be dismissed without much consideration , there are others which are worthy of attention , and offer prospect of being carried to a successful

termination . The size and importance of London , and its position as a centre of population , as compared with the remainder of England , givea ifc such pruiiiuieuue iu matters where a pro rata distribution is attempted as to

frequently place it above the whole of the Provinces combined . This position , which though often deserved is seldom attained , causes a jealousy among Provincials which has most disastrous consequences , and thus it is that any

attempt to remove the disadvantages under which the capital suffers is associated with a dread by those who look to the prosperity of the country as a whole , rather than to

any particular section of it , and no doubt it is this dread of the ultimate result which has deterred many men from associating themselves with the best suggestions which have been offered for the amelioration of the condition of

Londoners . Freemasonry is not behind in this respect . Suggestions are constantly being made to place Metropolitan Freemasonry on a more equitable footing as regards its position

in the Craft generally , or at least as to giving its members equal privileges to those enjoyed by Provincial brethren . As in outside matters so in Freemasonry , we find schemes proposed which are worthy of serious consideration , and

others which may be at once dismissed as impracticable . It has been proposed to establish Provincial or District Lodges for the metropolis , and no doubt such a course would remove one of the disadvantages under which

London Masons suffer as compared with their Provincial brethren , —in the matter of being virtually deprived of Grand honours . This course would also go far , it is urged , to remove the anomaly which forms the subject of our

present remarks , —the distribution of the benefits of the Masonic Institutions among London and Provincial candidates , —inasmuch as it would provide London with the same

means of organization as has been so successfully worked during the past few years in the Provinces ; but the official division of Masonic London into Districts or Provinces is a

matter which at present appears very unlikely of accomplishment . Accordingly , other means have to be proposed by those who desire to secure for London the share which its importance , or in this particular its contributions ,

fairly entitle it to . Tears ago we advocated the formation m London of committees for the organization of London voting power , and although a stir was then made , little good has resulted , beyond the formation of a body which

can hardl y be said to enjoy the support of London Masons , and which is now barely kept alive by the zealous efforts of a few untiring workers . The existence of the anomal y is admitted , but no combined action appears possible among

The Charity Benefits And Their Apportionment.

Metropolitan brethren to secure its removal , yet we are continually hearing of new organizations in the Provinces , and almost always the reports of those in existence are of a most satisfactory character . Much of this apathy in

London is doubtless due to the absence of any authority to make the appointment , or receive the report of a committee or committees , and we fear this and other difficulties will always prevent anything like that organization in London

which exists in nearly every part of the Provinces . An attempt , however , is being made to remedy the grievance , by the establishment of ** The London Mutual Masonic Voting Association , " a scheme which has our heartiest

wishes for its ultimate success , and our promise of support in the work it is established to carry on . The Association starts with an influential body of officials , with Bro . G . Coop as its Secretary , and in one of its circulars gives the

following particulars as to the 18 S 4 division of tho benefits of the Institutions . London by its donations , taken in comparison with the totals contributed to the three Charities , was entitled to 124 places in the Girls' School , 112 in

the Boys' School , and 205 Annuities from the Benevolent Institution , the Provinces taking as their share 117 places in the Girls' School , 92 in the Boys ' , and 153 of the annuities of the Benevolent Institution ; instead of this London

secured only 75 places in the Girls' School , 54 in the Boys' School , and 119 of the Annuities , or a total of 248 benefits , instead of the 441 to which the donations of London brethren entitled them . This deficiency is

due , in the minds of many , to the lack of that organization which " The London Mutual Masonic Voting Association " is established to provide . This may be true , to an extent , but we are not prepared to throw the whole blame on the

inability of Metropolitan brethren to organize . Doubtless many more London candidates would be elected if systematic combination were the rule in London , instead of , as it now is , the exception , but we do not think London

would ever secure the number of benefits its contributions seem to entitle it to , and our principal reason for supposing this is because we are of opinion the combination and unanimity general in the Provinces is inattainable in

London . The figures put forward by the Mutual Voting Association are , wo must admit , surprising . We knew London did not get its proportionate share , but the disparity of the totals is even greater than

we hacl thought . How far this state of things can be altered by the Association recently formed , or by others which may be established on similar lines , we cannot say , nor are we prepared to predict what result a radical

change in this matter would have on the Charities as a whole . The Provinces , according to the figures just quoted , get a much larger share of the benefits than their united contributions seem to entitle them to , but there

are very few of them which will admit they individually receive more than their share ; in other words , that they receive greater benefits from the Charities than they subscribe for . Of course , it is very certain if London gets less

than its share , those outside of London must get more , and while it is not difficult for Londoners to point to individual Provinces in which the excess appears specially apparent , many in such Provinces will often attempt to argue to the

contrary . The whole subject is a mosb difficult one to approach , and one which if fully ventilated will have much wider results than at first appear probable , but inasmuch as it is likely to influence the future donations of the London brethren , it should be approached without fear or delay .