SCOTTISH MASONINC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1916, 23 February 1875, Page 3

SCOTTISH MASONINC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

To all appearance the lime lias at length arrived when Scottish Freemasonry will proceed to vindicate itself, so to speak, in the eyes of brethren in other parts of the kingdom, as also in foreign countries, by the establishment of a charitable organization, such as has long existed both in England" and Ireland. The credit of originating, and so far promoting, the scheme pertain^ to a brother of repute, Bro. Geo. R. Harriott, Prov. G. M. Wigtown and Kirkcudbright, who through the columns of the accredited organ of the craft in Britain. The Freemason of London, has addressed to Grand , Lodge and Scottish Lodge brethren generally a letter and short prospectus of the proposed institution. A full prospectus, showing the details in every branch, as deduced from the experience of the best institutions elsewhere, will be issued im • mediately to every lodge, province, <&c., holding under Scotch rule. It will suffice, therefore, to say here that the objects of the institutioflL are ;&l) *To provide? Sjchools -for boys andigirls (children of decayed or aged Masons of good character) with lodging, feeding, and, clothing, while belonging to the institution; (2) To provide halls in connection with several Scottish .Universities,., where students, sons of Masons, as above, might be maintained and receive instruction; and (3) The establishment of an asylum for aged and distressed Masons of good character, and their widows, or otherwise the granting of annuities to them outside. The scheme, as worked out at present, it is explained, will be followed out until a sufficient number of donors and annual subscribers can be obtained to form a General Court, at which Court it can be determined whe-, ther the scheme should be carried out in toto, or whether revisions should be made. The pecuniary estimate seems to us to be by no means over sanguinely dra* n. It is estimated that at least 5000 brethren will contribute their' half guinea per annum, and that Grand Lodge and other ruling Masonic bodies will give at least LIOO yearly, which would yield in all L2VSO a year to work • upon. All larger donations, it must be added, are to be set apart as capital, and no capital to be #^che&-until jLI2jQOQ, dO£ y L^OOO .Shall Saver; beena accumulated".-,-.-> ffi%S&vs > but oto aclcLthat the proposal finds much favor in tne eye^s^fthe -London ;. Freemason^ which not only advocates it ■) in the chief leading; article of the current; issue, but iwhose proprietor' (Brother •' George iKenning, of* Lofidoni Liverpool, and -Glasgow) * has, with his wonted liberalityi promised one hundred guineas to the fund if the institution shall be successfully, floated! :and;establfslfed3--^ ;i v ;] 3. v>"^«-*--'• '"'^ \