The Work Of A Masonic Session.

The season which has passed away has memories and meaning for them . True , it may be , that the extension of the Order seems to have received a slight check . Some may think this as it should be , but they have seen with unmixed gratification that the real paid work of Masonry has gone on regularly and measuredly , without a drawback and without a hitch . Lodges have met and

closed ; brethren have assembled happy and genial ; the meetings have been pleasant , and Masonic life has run on cheerily ; much good feeling has been engendered ; new friendships have been formed ; old friendships have been riveted , if it were possible , closer and firmer ; and , above all , the work of charity has progressed and proceeded in wonderful measure . To say nothing of our monthly grants from the Board of Benevolence , what shall we say of our great

Metropolitan Charities , but that their present "status" and yearly returns are simply marvellous as an " outcome , " real and startling , of the zeal of Masonic Stewards and the warmth of Masonic hearts . A decade ago—certainl y two decades ago—our returns were counted by hundreds , whereas they are now b y "thousands , " and there seems so far no limit to the possible expansion of Masonic charity in this respect . During the Masonic season of 1881 , the first

two meetings have produced in round numbers £ 27 , 000 , and even that sum will be exceeded for them—the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and the Girls' School—before the close of 1881 . The Boys' School Festival at Bri ghton , on June 29 th , under Lord Londonderry ' s Presidency , produced the sum of £ 11 , 500 , making a grand total for our three great Charities of £ 38 , 500 for the season of 1881 . And even this amount , large as it is , does not cover the possible totality for 1881 . By December 31 sfc , 1881 , it is not too much , I think , to anticipate that the offerings of the Craft for the three Charities will

exceed without doubt £ 45 , 000 . I always feel inclined to say , like a fair queen of old , if not , " O , wonderful Masons 1 " " O , beneficent Brotherhood ! " Do any of us know of any other earthly society which , taking humanitarian goodwill ' for its basis , deliberately sets itself to raise £ 30 , 000 a year to keep its needful charities "a-going ? " If they do , I do not . Of course there is , we all know , great Home and Foreign Societies for instance , which , claiming the sanction of" hol y religion" acton a purely missionary or denominational viewand raise

, , immense sums . All honour to them . But amid many benevolent humanitarian associations , I know of none wliich , " adopting our platform " or " ranging itself under our banners , " calmly contemplates and alone carries out such labours of self-sacrifice and liberality . For let ns bear in mind Freemasonry is not composed of the richest members of society . We have amongst us opulent brethrenbut the great mass are men of " moderate income" and

, , many are practically and comparativel y " poor men . " But such is the " elan " of Masonic charity and sympathy—such the realization of the fact that our Charities are the " crown , " so to say , of our Masonic profession—that instead of decreasing , despite hard times and bad trade , our returns are actuall y increasing , and so say I " mote it be " in the future of our great Order , when we ourselves have passed away from our work and from our lodge . So long as Freemasonry

in this country is true to its mission ; so long as it eschews political and religious controversies , always hurtful ; so long as it upholds its great and fundamental principles , Loyalty , Toleration , Charity ; so long will it flourish amongst ns , a pride to its members and a blessing to mankind . The work of 1881 may , indeed , make us all glad to think that we belong to that Masonic Brotherhood , which has " stood the test of ages " and seems to " def y " the " encroaching hand of Time . "