MASONIC BENEVOLENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 901, 6 March 1879, Page 2

MASONIC BENEVOLENCE.

Freemasons will be interested in the benevolent statistics gathered for the year 1878 in Great Britain. At the same time it should be known that in proportion to their numbers the Freemasons of Australasia are not a whit behind their brothers of the Old World for generosity and benevolent aid where circumstances justify it. The appeal of a distressed brother always meets with a hearty response and the earnest sympathy of many hearts : During the year 1878 the income of the three Masonic charitable institutions from donations, subscriptions, and all other sources amounted to L 40,312 4s 3d. Out of this sum the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution obtained the largest amount, namely, L 14,880 2s 7d, for the second year in succession heading the list. The Royal Masonic Institution for Girls took the second place with L 12,866 Is Bd, while the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys took the third place with L 12,566. The total amount for the three institutions for 1878 was about L2OOO less than was contributed in 1877, but it was very much larger than was expected, when, at the beginning of the year, public charity was extensively diverted to other channels. The Masonic body, however, although giving liberally to nonMasonic appeals, strongly supported their own charities, which in 1878 only fell short by L2OOO of the most successful year on record—lß77. The Benevolent Institution has between 300 and 400 annuitants on its books ; the Boys' School clothes, maintains, and educates about 220 boys ; and the Girls' School over 200 girls. In the year 1878 the Lodge of Benevolence, connected with the Grand Lodge, contributed L 4984 to distressed Freemasons, and the widows and orphans of deceased members. This lodge meets every month. The largest amount dispensed at any one meeting in 1878 was at the December meeting, when L 705 was granted, and the smallest at the August meeting, when the sum voted was L 203. The Fund of Benevolence now amounts to some L 45,000, and it has for some years been a proposition of Mr. J. M. Clabon that a portion of the annual surplus should be set apart towards apprenticing or otherwise advancing in life the children when they leave the school.