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  • April 1, 1875
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The Masonic Magazine, April 1, 1875: Page 5

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    Article THE PUBLIC MASONIC CHARITIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ← Page 4 of 5 →
Page 5

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Public Masonic Charities Of The United States Of America.

125 pupils—20 of whom were in'the Art department . The college curriculum includes Latin , French , mathematics , natural and moral sciences , music , drawing , painting , calisthenics , & c . The college is beautifull y located at Covington , on the Georgia railroad , 41 miles from Atlanta . Pupils are received into it for pay , so that it is not exclusively a charity .

It seems not inappropriate , while treating of the Public Masonic Charities of the United States , to give , in conclusion , some account of the Masonic relief extended in 1871 to Chicago . On October Sth , 1871 , one of the most

devastating conflagrations that ever laid a city in ruins , visited the fairest portion of the city of Chicago . In addition to the millions in value of property laid in ashes , and the hundreds of lives lost , eight Masonic halls were destroyedand eighteen

, loclges , two chapters , one council , tAvo commaudelies , aud four co-ordinate bodies of the A . and A . Rite were rendered homeless , losing their charters , records , jewels , and all of their property . On October 12 th a temporary relief committee was

organized by the brethren in Chicago ( who numbered in all 4 , 000 ) , Avhich committee was relieA'cd two clays afterwards by the formal creation of the Masonic Board of Relief , presided OA-er by the Grand Master of Illinois , Bro . De Witt C . Cregier . To

adopt the language of the board , "the noble Craft everywhere was at labour in behalf of their distressed brethren , and but a feAV hours elapsed before the ' mystic current' Avas flashed through the Avires from east , west , south , yea , and from the north , conveying the glad tidings that succour was at hand . " The board continued

its labours for seven months . As an example of the spontaneous and liberal gifts of Craftsmen , I may mention the action of the Grand Lodge of California , which , on the second day after the conflagration , unanimously voted $ 5 , 0 C 0 in coin to the sufferers , which amount was at once

forwarded ; ancl the same afternoon , Avhen the contribution box Avas placed upon the altar , the further sum of $ 1 , 005 in coin was contributed by members of the Grand Lod ge . The Grand Lodge of Canada at once sent $ 2 , 000 in gold , and the Dominion of Canada $ 3 , 000 more . The Masonic bodies of New York sent $ 18 , 000 ;

Illinois , $ 15 , 000 ; Pennsylvania , $ 9 , 600 ; Massachusetts , $ 7 , 000 ; England , $ 394 ; 'Newfoundland , $ 471 ; Central America , $ 584 ; and even far off British India , $ 26 , until the magnificent sum of $ 90 , 634 Avas contributed by the Freemasons of the toorld

for the relief of their distressed worthy brethren . It must be remembered , too , that this sum was in addition to the general fund raised , to which Masons everywhere Avere liberal contributors . Such spontaneous Masonic charity Avas never before

known . The Masonic WICIOAVS' and Orphans ' Home of Kentucky ( described above ) immediately threw open its doors , and offered a teinporary home to the suffering widows aud children of the Chicago brethren . It was at once realized that there was something in Masonry , Avhen a committee from a distant state came and

said : " Give us your Avomen and ' childreii , and we will take them to a home Avhere they will have a brother ' s care , until you are again in possession of happy homes of your own . " Many foreign lodges sent tAA'O , three , ancl even four contributionsancl some even

, drained their treasuries , in order to aid the sufferers . Such displays of fraternal loA'e were heartily appreciated by the Masons of Chicago . At the time of the conflagration there Avere 31 lodges in Chicago , with

memberships ranging respectively from 293 down to 18 . Eighteen loclges were entirely burned out . To these 18 lodges the sum of $ 20 , 200 Avas set apart ; an average of $ 1 , 125 to each lodge . To the remaining lodgesAvhich Avere greatly Aveakened

, , $ 5 , 000 Avere given . All of these awards were made upon the express condition that every lodge so aided should amend its byelaws , and provide for the establishment of a charity fund , of Avhich the several amounts contributed as above should form

the nucleus . Thus every lodge in Chicago so relieved now has a charity fund separate ancl distinct from its general fund . With the monies and supplies disbursed by the Board of Relief , the hungry were fed , the naked clothed , the sick ministered to , the dead buried , the penniless workmen were furnished with the tools of their

trades ; while substantial aid Avas rendered to every suffering lodge in the city . $ 30 , 600 besides went for the relief of

“The Masonic Magazine: 1875-04-01, Page 5” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 18 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmg/issues/mmg_01041875/page/5/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Monthly Masonic Summary. Article 1
THE MASONIC MEASURE OF LIFE. Article 1
THE PUBLIC MASONIC CHARITIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Article 2
VERSES WRITTEN ON BOARD A LOUGH ERNE STEAMER , Article 6
WAITING FOR HER—A MESMERIST'S STORY. Article 7
FREEMASONRY CONSIDERED IN ITS RELATION TO SOCIETY. Article 10
A SERIOUS TALK. Article 13
RECOLLECTION. Article 15
EARLY HISTORY OF AMERICAN FREEMASONRY, ONCE MORE. Article 16
THE ADVENTURES AND TRAVELS OF A BOX OF BONBONS. Article 19
EHEU FUGACES ANNI, O POSTUME! Article 22
Reviews. Article 23
FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY. Article 27
OLD LONDON TAVERNS IDENTIFIED WITH MASONRY. Article 28
TIME AND ETERNITY. Article 30
HOW TO CONDUCT A COURTSHIP. Article 31
A TRUE MASON. Article 31
I MUSED LAST NIGHT IN PENSIVE MOOD. Article 32
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Public Masonic Charities Of The United States Of America.

125 pupils—20 of whom were in'the Art department . The college curriculum includes Latin , French , mathematics , natural and moral sciences , music , drawing , painting , calisthenics , & c . The college is beautifull y located at Covington , on the Georgia railroad , 41 miles from Atlanta . Pupils are received into it for pay , so that it is not exclusively a charity .

It seems not inappropriate , while treating of the Public Masonic Charities of the United States , to give , in conclusion , some account of the Masonic relief extended in 1871 to Chicago . On October Sth , 1871 , one of the most

devastating conflagrations that ever laid a city in ruins , visited the fairest portion of the city of Chicago . In addition to the millions in value of property laid in ashes , and the hundreds of lives lost , eight Masonic halls were destroyedand eighteen

, loclges , two chapters , one council , tAvo commaudelies , aud four co-ordinate bodies of the A . and A . Rite were rendered homeless , losing their charters , records , jewels , and all of their property . On October 12 th a temporary relief committee was

organized by the brethren in Chicago ( who numbered in all 4 , 000 ) , Avhich committee was relieA'cd two clays afterwards by the formal creation of the Masonic Board of Relief , presided OA-er by the Grand Master of Illinois , Bro . De Witt C . Cregier . To

adopt the language of the board , "the noble Craft everywhere was at labour in behalf of their distressed brethren , and but a feAV hours elapsed before the ' mystic current' Avas flashed through the Avires from east , west , south , yea , and from the north , conveying the glad tidings that succour was at hand . " The board continued

its labours for seven months . As an example of the spontaneous and liberal gifts of Craftsmen , I may mention the action of the Grand Lodge of California , which , on the second day after the conflagration , unanimously voted $ 5 , 0 C 0 in coin to the sufferers , which amount was at once

forwarded ; ancl the same afternoon , Avhen the contribution box Avas placed upon the altar , the further sum of $ 1 , 005 in coin was contributed by members of the Grand Lod ge . The Grand Lodge of Canada at once sent $ 2 , 000 in gold , and the Dominion of Canada $ 3 , 000 more . The Masonic bodies of New York sent $ 18 , 000 ;

Illinois , $ 15 , 000 ; Pennsylvania , $ 9 , 600 ; Massachusetts , $ 7 , 000 ; England , $ 394 ; 'Newfoundland , $ 471 ; Central America , $ 584 ; and even far off British India , $ 26 , until the magnificent sum of $ 90 , 634 Avas contributed by the Freemasons of the toorld

for the relief of their distressed worthy brethren . It must be remembered , too , that this sum was in addition to the general fund raised , to which Masons everywhere Avere liberal contributors . Such spontaneous Masonic charity Avas never before

known . The Masonic WICIOAVS' and Orphans ' Home of Kentucky ( described above ) immediately threw open its doors , and offered a teinporary home to the suffering widows aud children of the Chicago brethren . It was at once realized that there was something in Masonry , Avhen a committee from a distant state came and

said : " Give us your Avomen and ' childreii , and we will take them to a home Avhere they will have a brother ' s care , until you are again in possession of happy homes of your own . " Many foreign lodges sent tAA'O , three , ancl even four contributionsancl some even

, drained their treasuries , in order to aid the sufferers . Such displays of fraternal loA'e were heartily appreciated by the Masons of Chicago . At the time of the conflagration there Avere 31 lodges in Chicago , with

memberships ranging respectively from 293 down to 18 . Eighteen loclges were entirely burned out . To these 18 lodges the sum of $ 20 , 200 Avas set apart ; an average of $ 1 , 125 to each lodge . To the remaining lodgesAvhich Avere greatly Aveakened

, , $ 5 , 000 Avere given . All of these awards were made upon the express condition that every lodge so aided should amend its byelaws , and provide for the establishment of a charity fund , of Avhich the several amounts contributed as above should form

the nucleus . Thus every lodge in Chicago so relieved now has a charity fund separate ancl distinct from its general fund . With the monies and supplies disbursed by the Board of Relief , the hungry were fed , the naked clothed , the sick ministered to , the dead buried , the penniless workmen were furnished with the tools of their

trades ; while substantial aid Avas rendered to every suffering lodge in the city . $ 30 , 600 besides went for the relief of

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