Our Masonic Charities.

on whose ready and zealous observance a peculiar gratification attends . It is unquestionably a high honour , and which ought to be much esteemed and encouraged , to be distinguished as the friend of indigence , the comforter of affliction , or the

favourer of obscure merit . " The above remark is applicable to all ; but it is peculiarly so to those social beings , who are united in the bands of Masonic brotherhood . They cannot fail to appreciate this principle , and exercise it

in the cause of their own infant charity . This institution provides a plain education and clothing for the sons of indigent Freemasons . It fits them out in life , so as to act honestly and creditably ; so as to be useful to the state , and to reflect honour

on those patrons and friends , who make them the objects of their liberality * . " In the year 1798 , the members of the lodge No . 23 , on the registry of the R . W . Grand Lodge of England " according to the old Institutions , His Grace John , Duke of Atholl , G . M . " observing ,

with regret , the deplorable state of the sons of several of their deceased and indigent brethren , humanely resolved on endeavouring to raise a fund for the benefit of objects of that description , aud accordingly , with the aid of a number of

brethren of other lodges , this Institution was established . The assistance and encouragement which it has received from its noble patron , His Grace the Duke of Atholl , the R . W . the Grand Lodge and a number of the Grand Officers , Lodges , and

brethren of the ancient fraternity , have enabled the governors , & c , to annually to cloath and educate 50 boys , to which number such augmentation will from time to time take place , as the funds of the charity will permit . Children are

eligible to be admitted at seven , and are continued until they arrive at the age of fourteen , during which period they are taught reading , writing , and arithmetic ; and when they quit school , are ( in certain cases ) bound apprentice to suitable trades , premiums being allowed towards placing them out to the best advantage .

" Every child applying for admission , must ( if resident within the cities , or suburbs , of London or Westminster ) personally attend the committee , and produce a certificate from the Master and

Wardens of the lodge to which his father shall belong , certifying that he is a member thereof , the Grand Secretary ' s certificate of his being duly registered for three years on the Grand Lodge books , together with certificates of his parents '

marriage and his own baptism . But where the candidate happens to be fatherless , the matter is left to the discretion of the committee . " A general quarterly meeting of the governors and subscribers is held at the Virginia Coffee

House , Cornhill , the first Friday in January , April , July and October , at six o'clock in the evening , to receive the reports of the committee , and to transact such other business as may come before them .

—And"A meeting of the committee ( consisting of twenty-one subscribers elected annually ) is held at the same house , on the second Friday of every other month throughout the year at seven o ' clock in the evening precisely , to order all necessary bills

to be paid ; to adjust all complaints which may be made respecting the children , to enquire into the characters and situations in life of the parents and friends of the candidates applying for admission , and to examine the treasurer ' s accounts of receipts

and disbursements , which are published quarterly , and a copy sent to every subscriber . " The governors , anxious to render the benefits of the charity as extensive and efficacious as possible , intend ( as soon as a fund can be raised for the purpose ) to purchase or build a school house , sufficiently capacious to contain the children , and wholly to

maintain as well as cloath and educate them . Until that desirable period shall arrive , they will continue to be carefully educated at respectable schools adjacent to their parents' residence , and annually supplied with decent and appropriate cloathing , viz ,, coats , waistcoats , breeches , shirts , shoes , stockings , and hats .

"The members of the committee having briefly laid before the craft at large , and the public in general , the nature aud design of this Institution , and the principles upon which it is conducted , have only to express their anxious hope , that , by the laudable exertions of the London , country , foreign , and military lodges in particular , and the benevolent in

general , in support of the charity , the kind and liberal views of the governors will speedily be realised . The members of the ancient craft may then congratulate themselves on having provided ( chiefly by their own efforts ) a comfortable asylum for the infant sons of their deceased and indigent brethren , in which they

may be preserved from the dangers of vice , and furnished with such a portion of useful and religious knowledge as will qualify them to fill , with advantage to themselves and credit to the craft , those situations in life in which it shall please Divine Providence to

place them . " With considerable regret the committee are compelled to add , that there are now on the list of can-