MASONIC BENEVOLENCE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2633, 26 July 1871, Page 3

MASONIC BENEVOLENCE.

In Aponl las,t,. the quarterly general Court of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys \vas .hold Jit Frceuiasona’-JIaJJ, Lou clou.. On that Occasion, Bro.^Parkinson, Y.P., P.M. 181, made a remarkable speech. The following extract is well worthy the attention of members of the fraternity in the Colonies : “Speaking always in rpuncl numbers,, some forty thousand pounds are spent. iu- Freemasonry every, year in London alone, And with the exception of an independent slim of some seven thousand pounds which London contributes to the Masonic charities, what have we to show for tiiis vast amount “Leather and prunella.” Yes, brethren, Masonic millinery . absorbs more money than* Masonic charity. Ribbons and white leather, medals and laecs, jewels, collars, ap-ons, silvering, gilding, and show, represent a far larger expenditure than >wc bestow upon cither the succour of the orphan or the relief of the distressed. During the past-twelve months; more than six thousand certificates’ were issued’ by-the Grand Lodge of England; as a necessary consequence, more than six thousand • aprons' Were bought; more tliap, thousand pounds W-evo in this one item' of Masonic . adornment, and this by the new blood brought into the ■ Craft in a single year ! It is unnecessary to imrtiply statistics. We ad know that the two hundred Freemasons’ lodges which llourish in London represent a heavy outlay ; and wc all know the direction iu which that outlay goes. 1 would not have it diminished. Ido not wish for one moment that any of the items L have quoted should be reduced. In all ages and among all civilised people, the value of symbolism and the importance of emblems have been insisted on and felt. The imignia, the orders, and adornments of Freemasonry are the outward and visible signs pf the solemn mysteries,and great principles wc unite together to preserve and to haiid down unsullied to our successors. -Experience proves the efficacy of our emblems in fostering emulation, and in making precept prae* • tice ; and I am prepared to defend them as ’o ically justifiable, wise, and sound, should they ever be assailed. It may be asked,’ bo\vpver, if our symbolism has quite kept paec. I with pux; prosperity, apd if,* irf particular,' it has Been adapted to; our. enlarged capacity. for clwity ; : v ,.