The Masonic Charities.

THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

Many years ago it Avas my lot to be asked by a non-Mason , of what practical good is Freemasonry 1 " You assemble , " he said , " on special occasions , you wear collars , and aprons , and jeAvels , you have constant banquets , as I gather from the Magazine

on your table ; and Avhatever may be the amount of labour of which your Avorthy Craft takes part in , there can bo no doubt of their appreciation of refreshment . " '

" But of AAdiat practical benefit is Freemasonry ? " he concluded , "I pause for a reply . " I said then—being a young Mason comparatively , I remember Avell , putting all this banter calmly aside Avithout notice , Avhich is always our best policy— " that our

real defence and the truest representation of our principles Avere to be found in our Masonic Charities , that , Avith us at any rate , profession and practice did go handin-hand , ancl that very feAV persons outside our Order could possibly knoAV , the amount

of extensive and habitual relief , distributed by us among the reduced and indigent of our brethren . That this Avas to me the striking proof of its practical benefit to

mankind , hi that , it ever inculcated brotherly love and unceasingly administered openhanded relief . " I say so still , after an experience in Freemasonry , of over three decades , and I believe in this great reality , is still to be found the truest

commendation of our Avide-spread Brotherhood , Avhile I farther strongly feel , that , the application and embodiment of the active principles of kindl y and discriminating benevolence , alike offer the best explanation of . our past history

ancl present success , and constitute the only safe foundation , on which to build up the great moral and spiritual building of our Order hi its continued life , and its future value to mankind . In saying this , I do not Avish to ignore the immense importance Freemasonry

possesses in its peculiar organization as a common platform , so to say , on which the most differing , and the most distant , may meet and agree in the happy fraternal Avork of sympathy , toleration ancl good will for others ; but I am inclined to think that

Freemasonry is always stronger , in proportion as it carries out effectually and efficiently its great and abiding principles of " Brotherly Love , Relief , ancl Truth . " And this ivould be my reply to all our antagonists and gainsayers to-day , at home and

abroad . " Freemasonry may not suit your peculiar vieAVS , may not harmonize Avith your personal ideas , it may seem antagonistic to your'ism , ' or 'ology , ' or ' vanity , ' as the case may be , but Freemasonry has

this one thing in its favour and on its side , namely , that it honestly seeks , to put into practice the principles it professes and the truths it upholds . " I knoAV of no society , " qiui a societas , " of men like ours , Avhich does so much in the cause of good sound

active charity , m the truest sense of charit y , as our Accepted Brotherhood . And Avhen AVO call to mind the large sums voted alike by our "Lodge of Benevolence , " ancl annually from our " Provincial Lodge Funds , " ancl from Avhat Ave used to call the

" Pedestals " of our private lodges , Ave shall agree , I think , Avith that intelligent American who once said , " I guess if you tottle up all these statistical vouchers of your ' n , you Avill discover that they rise a pretty

considerable amount . " NOAV , if Freemasonry ¦ stopped here , it might fairly claim some credit for its ceaseless , and active , and intelligent , yet unostentatious charity ; but it does not stop here by any means , it goes much farther . It is not satisfied with

casual grants or temporary votes in aid , but it seeks to make such charity both practical ancl permanent , in that it endeavours to give the means of subsistence and comfort to old age , to educate the orphan sons and daughters of our deceased or helpless brethren , so as to give them a good start in life ,