What Is The Good Of Freemasonry?

occurrence—and , despite their brotherly love , even Masons occasionally quarrelcan be brought before Grand Lodge as the final authority . Committees of its members sit regularly to adjudicate and present periodical reports , advise on the bestowal of money gifts to necessitous Brethrenand

, on the ansAvers to be given to those asking for interference or advice . The time devoted to the subject , by those AVIIO take a leading part in these councils ; the patient , uirwearying attention given to minute and frequently tedious details ; the constant

sacrifice of private interests to the common good ; and the careful and laborious discussion Avhich precedes every decision—all this Avould astonish those who regard Freeo masonry as a mere plea for

conviviality—It is a simple fact that busy professional men habitually devote a considerable portion of the time to business drudgery ; that boards ancl committees meet to debate ancl divide ; that in no case is remuneration or reward looked for . This voluntary

selfabsorption is not the least striking part of Freemasonry , for , at the meetings I speak of , neither convivial pleasures nor indirect personal advantage can be hoped for . It is sheer , dogged hard Avork , performed gratuitously ancl cheerfull y by men upon

Avhom the rules and precepts I have hinted at have made full impression . Let it be borne in mind that ten thousand initiations took place last year ; that the income of the Craft exceeds that of many a principalit y ; that its members subscribe to their three charitable institutions—the

Freemasons Girls' School , the Freemasons Boys ' School , and the Asylum for Aged Freemasons ancl their Widows *—some twenty thousand pounds annually ; that the cares of administration and distribution devolve

upon the busy men forming the committees and sub-committees named ; and it Avill be readily seen that , apart from its " secrets " this time-honored Institution has Avorked , ancl is Avorking , substantial and undeniable good . Its hold on earnest members is the best proof I can advance of the realitof

y its tie . But it is time you saAV one of the institutions ive are so proud of . Let us take a railway ticket feoia either Waterloo ox Victoria station , and after a twenty minutes '

run , alight at Clapham Junction . A lev ? minutes' beivilclerment in the dreary , subterranean caverns of that mighty maze ; a few abortive ascents up steps Ai'hich are so ingeniously placed at the sides of the tubular dungeon Ave traverse , as to lure us upon wrong platformsAvhence Ave are sent

, below again ignominiously ; a short game at question and answer with the old crone selling oranges at the corner ; and , crossing another railway bridge , Ave are in front of a spacious red brick building , on the lofty tower of Avhich , besides the clojk , are a

pair of compasses ancl a blazing sun . We Avill not stop to talk further about symbols noAV . After admiring the spacious , Avellkept garden of this place , ancl enjoying the siveet scents rising up from every floAver bedAve make for the front doorAvhen the

, , sharp click of a croquet-mallet reaches us from the right , and turning a corner , Ave come upon a thoroughly happy . party . Some twenty girls , from twelve to fifteen

years old , are laughing merrily at the vigour Avith which one of their number has just sent the ball rattling through the little crocpiet-hoops . The healthy , happy , laughing group framed in by foliage , and relieved by the bright green of the velvety turf upon Avhich they play ; the frankly modest

confidence with which Ave , as strangers , are received ; the courteous offer to accompany us round the grounds and the house ; the revelation that , this is the matron ' s birthday , everyone is making merry in her honour—are all a capital commentary upon

the Masonic virtues I have vaunted . Next , Ave learn that some ladies and gentlemen are playing in another portion of the grounds , and in a feAV paces Ave are in their midst , being Avelcomed by house-committee men ; are hearing that our chance visit has

happened on a red-letter clay , and that other Brethren are expected down . The speaker is an exalted Mason Avho has five capital letters after his name , and , as I have never seen him out of Masonic

costume before , it does not seem cpiite natural that he should play croquet Avithout his apron and decorations . This gentleman ( AVIIO Avill , I am sure , accept this kindlymeant remembrance in the spirit dictating it ) is so pleasantly paternal , his exuberant playfulness and affectionate interest in the games played , and in the pretty little players , is so prominent , that Ave soon forget his grander attributes , and settle down