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Article LOOKING FORWARD. Page 1 of 2 Article LOOKING FORWARD. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Looking Forward.
LOOKING FORWARD .
IN many ways the Masonic year does not correspond with that by which we are accustomed to measure our davs . In the one case we brino-
flvcrv-** o */ thing to a close with December ; in the other—or at least so far as English Freemasonry is concerned—December may be regarded as the most active part of the year , and so far from closing its operations , marks the height of the Masonic Season . With such con-¦ ¦ ¦
v siderations , then , it will not be found very difficult to look upon the present time—the middle of December —as the opening of a new season in matters of Masonic Benevolence , for although the 1890 coffers of
tne tnree Cliaritable Institutions of the Craft have not yet been closed , those of 1891 are already open ., and are being actively worked for by zealous Craftsmen in all parts of the country . As a consequence there is a considerable amount of " looking forward "
as to what the ultimate results are likely to be , and what may probably arise from the working of Freemasons during the coming twelvemonths . On the present occasion we shall confine our remarks to the
outlook so far as the Charities of the Order are concerned , but , from the very nature of things , whatever we may write now may be wholly upset by the unforeseen events of the next few months , or even the next few days .
It is generally anticipated that the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys will next year enjoy the lion ' s share of support from the Craft ; and with so distinguished a Mason as the Earl of Lathom as the Chairman of its Anniversarv Festival , connlfid wit'li g . ,,
— . ^ — , j _„_^ , the general desire to put the Institution on a partiicularly firm basis after its troubles , we do not think that popular expectation will be far wrong in this respect ; and perhaps it is well that the Craft has , from time to time , some special object to work
lor m connection with its three great Institutions ; But long before the turn of the Boys' School will come round the Craft will have to listen to details of what has been clone on behalf of the other charity
Hinds oi the Order , and it is well to look forward far enough to' recognise that whatever may be in store for the Boys' School , the requirements of the other departments of Masonic benevolence must not be forgotten or neglected . The Boys' School may be
urgently in need of special consideration just now , ' but the claims of the Charity whose Annual Festival comes first in the year—that whose special object is to provide annuities for unfortunate Aged Members of the Order and their Widows—are almost , if not equally pressing , and for the time being the
augmentation of the funds of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution should be the first care of the Craft , for , unless a strong and united . effort is made on behalf of the coming Festival of that Institution , it is very doubtful if : the contributions of . the Order will be sufficient to maintain it in / its present state , of useful-
Looking Forward.
ness , and we must not forget that , despite the many needs of the growing generation , the old men and women of the Order have really the first claim on our attention , for it is to them and theirs that Freemasonry owes its present position and state of
prosperity . The Anniversary Festival of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution will take place , in London , towards the end of February , and , as is usual in such
cases , very mucn depends on tne result ol that gathering as to what will be possible in the future in connection with this most beneficial Charity . During the many years the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE lias" been in existence we have tried to arouse a little
enthusidecessors ; we even go further , —expressing a desire that what we now write may convince some of our readers of the desirability that exists for a more
asm year by year m connection Avitn tnis and Kindred gatherings , and ' we have good reason to believe that our attempts in this direction have had some little effect in securing the success of the periodical appeals which have been made to the Craft . We hope our present effort may be as successful ' as any of its
pregeneral support of this estimable Institution . There are some members among us who argue that the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution is hardly a matter that should be left to the chance of voluntary
subscription . It should be made a permanent charge on the Craft , they urge , and every Lodge should be taxed to such an extent as would allow of its being carried on smoothly and satisfactorily year by year .
tinea a proposal is altogether wrong , and based on an erroneous idea of the case . We believe it is the feature of uncertainty which surrounds the whole system of the great Masonic Charities which has secured their success in the past , and will keep them ffoinff in the future . It would be most desirable if
any method could be devised of raising the necessary funds for these Charities year by year ; hut a regulation tax on the whole of our Lodges is not the way to sflcnrfi such a , rfiSultl and its adontion worilrl nrrf ; rmlv 7 _ ¦ - ¦ »
» v v " — w — ' — - — —— — ~ — . — — — y . _ — , „ „_ , _ - _ u v w ^«_ j give rise to discontent , but would rob the supporters of the Institutions of all means of emulation among each other , as to who should do the most and the best to aid their less fortunate fellows , their widows ,
or their orphans . We have all heard that it is more blessed to give than to receive , and we venture to say the truth of that statement is never made more manifest than on the occasions of great gatherings in connection with
the Charities of Freemasonry . They are fortunately so widely and generally supported that anything like personal acknowledgment at the Festivals is out of character , and although it may happen that one , or perhaps two contributors may be singled out for special mention , the large majority only hear
of their gifts as part of great summarised totals . There can be no charge of personal vanity against a man who subscribes ten or twenty guineas to help support the aged brother or
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Looking Forward.
LOOKING FORWARD .
IN many ways the Masonic year does not correspond with that by which we are accustomed to measure our davs . In the one case we brino-
flvcrv-** o */ thing to a close with December ; in the other—or at least so far as English Freemasonry is concerned—December may be regarded as the most active part of the year , and so far from closing its operations , marks the height of the Masonic Season . With such con-¦ ¦ ¦
v siderations , then , it will not be found very difficult to look upon the present time—the middle of December —as the opening of a new season in matters of Masonic Benevolence , for although the 1890 coffers of
tne tnree Cliaritable Institutions of the Craft have not yet been closed , those of 1891 are already open ., and are being actively worked for by zealous Craftsmen in all parts of the country . As a consequence there is a considerable amount of " looking forward "
as to what the ultimate results are likely to be , and what may probably arise from the working of Freemasons during the coming twelvemonths . On the present occasion we shall confine our remarks to the
outlook so far as the Charities of the Order are concerned , but , from the very nature of things , whatever we may write now may be wholly upset by the unforeseen events of the next few months , or even the next few days .
It is generally anticipated that the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys will next year enjoy the lion ' s share of support from the Craft ; and with so distinguished a Mason as the Earl of Lathom as the Chairman of its Anniversarv Festival , connlfid wit'li g . ,,
— . ^ — , j _„_^ , the general desire to put the Institution on a partiicularly firm basis after its troubles , we do not think that popular expectation will be far wrong in this respect ; and perhaps it is well that the Craft has , from time to time , some special object to work
lor m connection with its three great Institutions ; But long before the turn of the Boys' School will come round the Craft will have to listen to details of what has been clone on behalf of the other charity
Hinds oi the Order , and it is well to look forward far enough to' recognise that whatever may be in store for the Boys' School , the requirements of the other departments of Masonic benevolence must not be forgotten or neglected . The Boys' School may be
urgently in need of special consideration just now , ' but the claims of the Charity whose Annual Festival comes first in the year—that whose special object is to provide annuities for unfortunate Aged Members of the Order and their Widows—are almost , if not equally pressing , and for the time being the
augmentation of the funds of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution should be the first care of the Craft , for , unless a strong and united . effort is made on behalf of the coming Festival of that Institution , it is very doubtful if : the contributions of . the Order will be sufficient to maintain it in / its present state , of useful-
Looking Forward.
ness , and we must not forget that , despite the many needs of the growing generation , the old men and women of the Order have really the first claim on our attention , for it is to them and theirs that Freemasonry owes its present position and state of
prosperity . The Anniversary Festival of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution will take place , in London , towards the end of February , and , as is usual in such
cases , very mucn depends on tne result ol that gathering as to what will be possible in the future in connection with this most beneficial Charity . During the many years the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE lias" been in existence we have tried to arouse a little
enthusidecessors ; we even go further , —expressing a desire that what we now write may convince some of our readers of the desirability that exists for a more
asm year by year m connection Avitn tnis and Kindred gatherings , and ' we have good reason to believe that our attempts in this direction have had some little effect in securing the success of the periodical appeals which have been made to the Craft . We hope our present effort may be as successful ' as any of its
pregeneral support of this estimable Institution . There are some members among us who argue that the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution is hardly a matter that should be left to the chance of voluntary
subscription . It should be made a permanent charge on the Craft , they urge , and every Lodge should be taxed to such an extent as would allow of its being carried on smoothly and satisfactorily year by year .
tinea a proposal is altogether wrong , and based on an erroneous idea of the case . We believe it is the feature of uncertainty which surrounds the whole system of the great Masonic Charities which has secured their success in the past , and will keep them ffoinff in the future . It would be most desirable if
any method could be devised of raising the necessary funds for these Charities year by year ; hut a regulation tax on the whole of our Lodges is not the way to sflcnrfi such a , rfiSultl and its adontion worilrl nrrf ; rmlv 7 _ ¦ - ¦ »
» v v " — w — ' — - — —— — ~ — . — — — y . _ — , „ „_ , _ - _ u v w ^«_ j give rise to discontent , but would rob the supporters of the Institutions of all means of emulation among each other , as to who should do the most and the best to aid their less fortunate fellows , their widows ,
or their orphans . We have all heard that it is more blessed to give than to receive , and we venture to say the truth of that statement is never made more manifest than on the occasions of great gatherings in connection with
the Charities of Freemasonry . They are fortunately so widely and generally supported that anything like personal acknowledgment at the Festivals is out of character , and although it may happen that one , or perhaps two contributors may be singled out for special mention , the large majority only hear
of their gifts as part of great summarised totals . There can be no charge of personal vanity against a man who subscribes ten or twenty guineas to help support the aged brother or