MASONIC BENEVOLENCE IN 1885.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2149, 17 April 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

MASONIC BENEVOLENCE IN 1885.

The work of charity, which is the prominent feature in English freemasonry produced in the year just closed, a total of £54,416 2s 7d to the three Masonic charitable institutions. The sum has only beeu exceeded onee — viz., in 1883, when, on account of extraordinary efforts made on behalf of the Masonic Boys' School which realised £25,010 17s Id, the three institutions obtained £56,110 48 3d. The largest amount previously to that date attained in one year was in 1880 when £-19,762 11s 5d was the total. The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution takes the lead with the total of £21,374 7a Id. The Royal Masonic Institution for girls comes next with £16,768 19s 6d, and the Royal Masonic Institution for boys brings up the rear with £16,272 16s. The donations alone for the Benevolent Institution were £17,570 11s 4d, to the boys' school, £14,203 los Bd. This last sum includes £1030 given by West Yorkshire for a perpetual presentation of one girl, called the "Sir Henry Edwarda Presentation." Grand Lodge swells the total of the Benevolent Institution with a gift of £1600, and that of the boys' school with a special grant of £1000. The Benevolent Institution is paying away annually, in annuities of £40 to men and £32 to widows, the sum of £13,804, the girls' school is boarding, clothing, and educating 242 girls from seven to 16 years of age, aud the boys' school 230 ,boys from 7to 15. Dm ing the year, 18S5 the Board of Benevolence, which sits once a month at Freemasons' hall, has granted £10,193 to 357 cases of distress. This is the laigest amount gi anted in ono year from the Fund of Benevolence, but the number of cases has also been the largest. This record of Masonic charity ddes not represent all that" is done" in that way throughout the country. There are 43 Provinces in Englaud, each of which has its Fund of Benevolence, and several which, such as Cheshire, East and West Lancashire, West and North and East Yorkshire, Devonshire, Kent Surrey, and Sussex, has its charitable or educational organisations, aud nil of these are doing excellent work. The Mark Masons also contribute very largly to the cause of chanty, and this is also the case with some degrees which are not recognised as Masonic by the Grand Lodge of England, although every member of them must be a Freemason before joining. — West Cork Eagle.

Aktemts YV.uip once remarked of a certain editor, " Ho knows enough, but '' the trou\>'e is that he knows as many things that ain't so.' At St. Petersburg it is expected that the so-called volunteer or patriotic fleet, which numbers seven fast-sailing steamers, and dates from 1577, when war with England seemed unavoidable," will soon be under the control of the Naval Minister. In time to peace the steamers keep up commercial relations with the Chinese and Russian Pacific ports. In time of war they will be armed jus cruisers,