Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Provincial Brother's Appeal In Favour Of The Aged Masons' Asylum.
justice , will extend his mercy towards him , and crown him with everlasting bliss in the expanded realms of a boundless eternity . " Ye sons of the triune sovereignty—the Rose , the Shamrock , and the Thistle ! shall avarice withhold the mite that can add this pillar of beauty to those which already adorn the proud edifices of Masonic Charity ? I would implore you to extend the shield of your protection to thosewhose early days of affluence have not fitted them for the trials
, , and endurance of accumulated sorrows , or the privation of poverty . We are told that the very angels of Heaven weep over the forlorn and lonely widow , and guard the orphan infant , suckling at the breast of woe , — and can we believe that Divine Providence will not bless that sympathy of soul extended to the aged man , preparatory to his flight into those realms of endless bliss , where " saints touch their golden lyres , and hymn humanity !"
It is , in my humble opinion , degrading to the Fraternity to imagine that , in directing the charitable donations of the Craft to a third institution , the stability of those now in existence will be endangered , and from which aid has never yet been withheld by the " frozen finger of reluctance . " The symbolical illustrations of the virtue—Charity , remind us that her vesture , approximating so nearly to the light of heavenrepresents UNIVERSAL benevolenceand that unworthpassions
, ; y and prejudices never pollute her golden throne . I hope that if there be any ill-founded or unworthy jealousies existing in the minds of Masons with regard to this Asylum , they will instantly wash themselves in another Acidalia , and readily consign those contracted notions to oblivion . The increasing income of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , during the three
years that the design of erecting this Asylum , has been mooted and has undergone considerable public and private discussion , —is a convincing proof that those institutions are not likel y to be materially injured by the establishing of another Society , useful in its objects—important in its effects—and equally honourable to the Craft . It would be tedious to enter into any details of the plan upon which it is proposed to establish " the Aged Mason ' s Asylum ; " I will ,
therefore , confine myself to a very simple suggestion which , if generally acted upon throughout the Fraternity , would place the Society in immediate and active operation . As we of late years have seen the immense increase made in the funds of many thriving , popular institutions , by the constant contribution of small sums , —I would suggest , to every Brother , the propriety of devoting a trifling stated sum , per head , at ' the social assemblies which usually follow our researches into the hidden mysteries
of Masonry . This would be the means of inducing a useful and generous principle of self-denial , and , if universally adopted , would soon form a fund sufficiently ample for the support of the proposed Charity ; for sums though small , being regularly received , would in the aggregate soon reach a very considerable amount . The plan thus suggested would not prevent the more affluent among our members from making their usual annual subscriptions ; neither would it operate prejudiciall
y to the annual series of collective grants from the funds of each Lodge in favour of the same charitable object , when required . The call made in favour of the Asylum has been met by every true Aeacian , witli alacrity and zeal ; and now , when we behold our fellowlabourers in America and the Indies , swelling " the proud chorus of this moral strain , " shall we slacken our benevolent exertions , and refuse to raise the drooping spirits , ond supply the pressing wants of our aged
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Provincial Brother's Appeal In Favour Of The Aged Masons' Asylum.
justice , will extend his mercy towards him , and crown him with everlasting bliss in the expanded realms of a boundless eternity . " Ye sons of the triune sovereignty—the Rose , the Shamrock , and the Thistle ! shall avarice withhold the mite that can add this pillar of beauty to those which already adorn the proud edifices of Masonic Charity ? I would implore you to extend the shield of your protection to thosewhose early days of affluence have not fitted them for the trials
, , and endurance of accumulated sorrows , or the privation of poverty . We are told that the very angels of Heaven weep over the forlorn and lonely widow , and guard the orphan infant , suckling at the breast of woe , — and can we believe that Divine Providence will not bless that sympathy of soul extended to the aged man , preparatory to his flight into those realms of endless bliss , where " saints touch their golden lyres , and hymn humanity !"
It is , in my humble opinion , degrading to the Fraternity to imagine that , in directing the charitable donations of the Craft to a third institution , the stability of those now in existence will be endangered , and from which aid has never yet been withheld by the " frozen finger of reluctance . " The symbolical illustrations of the virtue—Charity , remind us that her vesture , approximating so nearly to the light of heavenrepresents UNIVERSAL benevolenceand that unworthpassions
, ; y and prejudices never pollute her golden throne . I hope that if there be any ill-founded or unworthy jealousies existing in the minds of Masons with regard to this Asylum , they will instantly wash themselves in another Acidalia , and readily consign those contracted notions to oblivion . The increasing income of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , during the three
years that the design of erecting this Asylum , has been mooted and has undergone considerable public and private discussion , —is a convincing proof that those institutions are not likel y to be materially injured by the establishing of another Society , useful in its objects—important in its effects—and equally honourable to the Craft . It would be tedious to enter into any details of the plan upon which it is proposed to establish " the Aged Mason ' s Asylum ; " I will ,
therefore , confine myself to a very simple suggestion which , if generally acted upon throughout the Fraternity , would place the Society in immediate and active operation . As we of late years have seen the immense increase made in the funds of many thriving , popular institutions , by the constant contribution of small sums , —I would suggest , to every Brother , the propriety of devoting a trifling stated sum , per head , at ' the social assemblies which usually follow our researches into the hidden mysteries
of Masonry . This would be the means of inducing a useful and generous principle of self-denial , and , if universally adopted , would soon form a fund sufficiently ample for the support of the proposed Charity ; for sums though small , being regularly received , would in the aggregate soon reach a very considerable amount . The plan thus suggested would not prevent the more affluent among our members from making their usual annual subscriptions ; neither would it operate prejudiciall
y to the annual series of collective grants from the funds of each Lodge in favour of the same charitable object , when required . The call made in favour of the Asylum has been met by every true Aeacian , witli alacrity and zeal ; and now , when we behold our fellowlabourers in America and the Indies , swelling " the proud chorus of this moral strain , " shall we slacken our benevolent exertions , and refuse to raise the drooping spirits , ond supply the pressing wants of our aged