The Masonic Charities.

THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

"jVTOjf apology is needed on onr part for again ¦* - * " referring- 'to the Charitable InstitutionsTof the Craft . At the present time they may be said to form the all-absorbing topic in Masonic circles , and in making the statement that we are now passing

through a most critical period m their history , we are only expressing the opinion of many who take an interest in their welfare . We are aware that some of our views in regard to the future of the great Central

Charities are regarded as of a pessimist character , and we have been told that some of our remarks are " eminently calculated to arouse feelings of

despondency and distrust . " This expression of opinion from so high an authority as the Secretary of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys naturally calls for more than passing notice at our hands . We should be

very sorry indeed if anything we said or did proved detrimental to the Charities of the Order , or the general welfare , of the Craft , but we have facilities of acquiring knowledge which it is impossible for the

management oi trie Institutions to possess , and although we are far from believing all that is told us , we cannot always disregard the voice of the masses . The remarks of Bro . Binckes , to which we have

alluded , were made in reference to what was said in our issue of the 8 th September , when , in discussing

tne cost ot the Masonic institutions , we argued that unless some radical change was made in the Central Charities of the Order the larger Provinces would withdraw their support , and spend their charity funds locally . We instanced the case of a " foremost Provincial Masonic Charity Fund " which had recently made a bargain with an outside Charity to maintain three orphans .

To be precise , we may say that the Province is West Lancashire , and the outside Charity , the London Orphan Asylum , the schools of which are at

Watiord . As we sai d beiore , so we say now , we do not begrudge this support being given to an outside Institution , but why should the Masonic Funds of West Lancashire be spent outside the Charities of the Order ? In face of such facts are we pessimist in writing as we have recently had occasion to write ?

To put it in the mildest form , it is anything but complimentary to the Masonic Institutions , even if it is not a direct condemnation of their management , that West Lancashire should make a twenty-one years' bargain to support the London Orphan Asylum

in preierence to either the boys' or Girls' Masonic Institutions . As a proof that our remarks of the 8 th September have a substantial basis we will refer to the report of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , held on the 3 rd of the present month , wnicn ared

appe m our pages ot the 6 th . fe . Therein will be found justification for the " pessimist" view we expressed a few weeks previously , of an ultimate

The Masonic Charities.

withdrawal of Provincial support from the London Institutions . The Secretary of West Lancashire , in his annual report , speaks of the Charities of the

Province as performing a good and useful work , and increasing their operations . In conclusion , says the report , it is considered that " the Grand Lodge should bestow Charity Jewels upon brethren presenting

twenty-tour guineas to Provincial Institutions , instead of being compelled to subscribe only to the Central Chanties . " ( The italics are our own ) . It was fnvr . Vlov cmrrrrOQT . orl -f . Tifrf . flio Pvmrinniol d-vamA Trir \ rtn U ^ U iiUllUWMI l

, -1- " -1- U" ^ " » bD " U , V , U «^ MI « « " •" " O-iUClJj . Officers might press the matter upon the attention of Grand Lodge . To all of this the Provincial Grand Master , who it must be remembered is the Et . Hon .

the Earl ot Lathom , Deputy Grand Master of England , replied , expressing satisfaction that so much was being done in the way of Charity in his district . He further- stated how glad he was that a Committee had been formed to inquire into the status of tho

Boys' School . In face of all this can it for one moment be urged that the Central Masonic Institutions are not in danger of losing the support of West Lancashire ? and if that important Province goes who shall name , the one to follow , or where the secession shall stop ?

The Charity Jewel of Grand Lodge has hitherto been a strong incentive to brethren to support the London Institutions , but now a proposal is regularly put forward , and in one of the most , if not the most

mnuential quarter , to throw its honours open to all . It may not be this year , or even next year , that this proposed change is agreed to , but can it be stopped much longer ? When it does come it removes the only tie which binds the Provinces to the London

Chanties , and yet there are some who say that Provincial complaints in regard to cost and management are unworthy of any serious consideration . When the question of expense is raised the most ular its masonic institutions

pop repiy T , as me everything is done in a better manner than at outside charities . This may be true , but is it wise ? There are manv men who would be content to Ra ^ i-ifi ™ n .

few of the "luxuries " of the Masonic . Educational Institutions , if by so doing more extended benefits were possible . It is no use answering a man who

complains of expense by telling him . that his work is being done better than he desires it . He is content to have it well done , and if the London Institutions

object to work to his order he goes elsewhere , and is satisfied at getting what he wants . It is absurd to tell men that a child cannot possibly be properly

educated and maintained at a given figure when the same men ara performing what they ask in their own district : and if we urge that such a line of argument

must ultimately end in disaster somewhere vre think it is only expressing a reasonable belief . The question is , where will the disaster fall ? and it is this question which presents itself at the present moment . We are of opinion that the London Institutions will suffer , and we think we have said enough in support