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% ffienrr Christmas .

A LTHOUGH the date which appears at the head of our present number points to a period when the festivities of the Christmas of 1890 will he numbered with the events of the past , the seasonable

greeting with which we commence our present remarks is not wholly out of place , as our paper will he issued some days in advance of its date , and will

be in the hands of our readers before they start on , what we hope will be to them , the enjoyment of a Merry Christmas . Good wishes and kindly greetings

are an especial feature at this season of the year , and whether we are dealing with Freemasons or with those outside its mystic circle , it is customary to make some departure from ordinary routine , and

extend our hearty good wishes to all with whom we come in contact . These greetings are not mere empty words , the outcome of fashion or custom , but the true expression of the good feeling and cordiality

which at all times exists among us , but which cannot always find expression amid the business and excitement of everyday life . During the many years

THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE has been in existence we have had the pleasure of regularly addressing a large number of old friends through its pages , and as year by year the season of Christmas has come round we

have had the gratification of knowing we have added to the number of those whose friendship we value , as compared with the previous year . We can only hope

such satistactory progress may attend our efforts in the future , and thai ; when thc holiday season of 1891 comes round we may have the gratification of

extending our greetings , not only to all to whom we now address ourselves , but also to a very large number of new friends who , we hope , will spring-up around us during the coming year . In once more

expressing our hearty greetings , we take the opportunity of also wishing our supporters 1 31WUMi§riuMfnvfw,

Scottish Masonic Benevolence.

SCOTTISH MASONIC BENEVOLENCE .

TjTEEEMASONJSY in Scotland has long been - - regarded as something very different to its counterpart in England , both in respect to the inner '

working of its Lodges as well as the social standing of its members . No doubt some time back popular opinion on this point was nearly , if not quite correct , but such radical changes and improvements have been introduced during the last few years that a different

verdict is now necessary in connection with the Masonic Order as practised North of the Tweed . The latest efforts of our Scottish friends towards raising their Freemasonry to a par ^ vith that of their

neighbours have been in the direction of an improved system of organised benevolence , and the results of their labours in this quarter during the year now nearly closed have been so satisfactory as to win for

them universal commendation and respect . It was suggested some months back that a supreme effort should be made to raise at least £ 10 , 000 as the nucleus for a Scottish fund of extended Masonic

benevolence , and among the methods proposed for the realisation of this desire was the holding of a monster Masonic Bazaar in Edinburgh during the present month of December . It would seem the entire Scottish Craft fell in with this suggestion , and

support was rendered by the various home Lodges , as well as those working in India and the Colonies , while the leaders of the Order in Scotland gave early promise of their support and encouragement , and

secured for the proposed Bazaar the patronage of royalty and distinguished individuals throughout the kingdom . The Bazaar has now been held , and we imagine its success has not only satisfied its most

enthusiastic workers but has led them to congratulate those with whom the proposal originated on a most successful and satisfactory termination . The desire of the prime movers of the Bazaar was to raise a sum

ol ± 10 , 000 ; they have succeeded in doing that , and have already secured £ 5 , 428 beyond what they worked for , while the surplus stock of unsold goods is so great that an " encore " Bazaar is contemplated in Glasgow within the next few days . It would be

almost impossible to give even a summary of the many and varied methods which have been adopted by the Scottish Craft during the past half year to raise funds for this grand scheme of benevolence . Concerts , lectures , balls , and entertainments of all

description , have been made use of for the good cause , and large sums have been realised in different quarters , which are yet more than likely to considerably augment the total already received , so that

before the final day of settlement arrives it is not too much to expect a considerable addition to the already handsome total mentioned above . * It would be very difficult to attempt any forecast as

to the outcome of this most successful movement .. To haye raised upwards of fifteen thousand pounds from the sale of fancy work or from entertainments at a public Bazaar points to an amount of enthusiasm

and co-operation that might safely be left to surmount any difficulty , and it does not require a very particular knowledge of the extent to which such a work makes itself felt to form an estimate of the enthusiasm in