The Masonic Charities.

The percentage in the present and future years of the Girls' School ancl the Aged Male and Female . Charities , Avill be reduced by about 3 per cent ., in consequenceof the present Secretaries being appointed at a fixed salary vjitJiout

commission . One of the acknoAvledged best Avorked public Charities is the Asylum for Idiots , and its expenses are , as compared Avith ours , llf per cent . ; but in its case the printing , and other work is

done by the inmates , Avere it not so the the percentage would be greater The Commercial Travellers' School sheAvs a percentage of 1 G-J per cent ., and this is considered a closely worked and economical charity ; both these

Charities are exceptional cases . I could name many other cases where 20 , 30 , and even 50 per cent , of the gross receipts are SAvalloAved up in working

expenses . As it is usual to give at least 5 per cent , for the mere collection of rents , arid payiug , in addition thereto , all charges for books , papers , travelling and other expenses . I consider that

the above rates speak most favourably for the economical working of our Charities , ancl fully substantiate my remarks made at the last Lodge . Having thus given a concise history

and particulars of each of the three great Charities of our Order , I now proceed to show you the amount required annually to enable the beneficent work to be carried on as heretofore , and , in doing so , I would remind you

that these sums do not ailoAv or admit of any extension or expansion of the Charities , hence they are the minimum and not the maximum amounts required . And shall we in this age of progression and advancement , " rest and be

thankful ? " I think not , Brethren , for , whilst Ave have the will and the means , let each of us individually- feel that the great work of the Craft is our work , and try to SAveli this majestic ornament of the Order by making the Receipts of each year exceed that of theprececlingone .

The estimated requirements for the present year are—For the Girls'School £ 5 , 800 „ Boys' „ 6 , 800 „ Aged Males 4 . S 24 „ „ Females 3 , 080 £ 20 , 504

Add for Building extensions in progress—For the Girls'School 2 , 100 Boys' „ 2 , 500 „ „ „ Balance of Banker's Loan to be repaid 4 , 000 £ 29 , 104 Seeing there are 1366 of the 1463

Lodges on Grand Lodge Books in active operation , the amount to be realised makes a divisional sum of £ 21 6 s . 2 d ., for each Lodge , and such fact shows clearly the necessity for holding Annual Festivals for these Charities , for it is by such means the bulk of the donations are secured .

The Freehold Land Properties ancl Funded Stocks of these three Charities represent the following grand sums , namely—Girls' School , say £ 60 , 012 Boys' „ „ 47 , 000

Aged Males „ 23 , 700 „ Females 14 , 200 Asylum at Croydon for Aged Males and Females 5 , 000 £ 149 , 912 A truly noble sum , raised entirely

by the munificence of the Brotherhood , in excess of the yearly maintenance and expenses of these three Charities . In conclusion , let me add that there are other Benevolent Funds belonging

to the Craft , notably the Grand , Provincial Grand ancl Private Lodges , which SAvell the amount of our Charities ancl illustrate the true teaching of our good old Order . The Grand Lodge alone , from its Benevolent Fund , gave

aAvay last year £ 2 , 858 . Finally , let us hope our Charities may yearly expand and long endure , and that each one of us may retain the position to enable us to practice Avith sympathy and good-will that brig htest of . jewels—CHARITY .