TRUE CHARITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 387, 12 February 1880, Page 2

TRUE CHARITY.

From the N, Z. Freemason, The rapio progress of Freemasonry during the last few years—at Home as well as in the Colony—has given rise,-to-much satisfactory comment by worthy aud exalted members of the .Fraternity-, whose aim is the amelioration of distress to their fellow creatures, and they will unquestionably, be afforded much pleasure when the newa reaches them that the initiative has been taken in a movement which cannot but commend itself to every right-thinking . individual,. Great delight has, no doubt, ' been afforded very many brethren at the annual banquets, where friendly intercourse formed the , prominent feature of the assemblies; yet a far higher gratification than results from such communion is easily secured by the prosecution of good works that will " leave a lasting impression on the sands of time/'and to our Napier brethren must.be given the credit of laying the foundation, of a system which should be the means of " raising a structure perfect in all its parts and honorable to the builder;" Referring to those, corner-stones of masonry; a contemporary ■ says The Masons of Napier have mad& a new. departure. Hitherto it has been the fashion to celebrate .the two great Masonic festivals in each--year, by a bailor a banquet. But on Saturday last, St. John the Evangelist's Day, the Napier .Masons determined to have, neither ball or bauquet, but to march in a body yesterday to church, where the offertory would be devoted to the funds of the'hospital. This they did, with the result that the local institution was benefitted to the extent of £75." To some of . .our brethren the idea of interfering wiiMhe timehonored custom of banquettihg; after their annual : installations will,. probably, be viewed with disfavor; nevertheless, we deem it our duty, to impress upon their minds the* sacred duties they have undertaken, and' point nut that the principal source of earthly pleasure is a strict adherence to the precepts of Masonry—to the dispensation of charity.-whenever an opportunity offers for performing the glorious work. 1 ' It--is ■ not-our wish to : debar brethren from indulging m rational amusement, but we cannot refrain from expressing an- opinion that,- were the expenses' of their enjoyments stomewhat reduced, and' the mohey sived' thereby set apart for charitable' purposes, much more distress .might be" alleviated than has hithertoo claimed the attention of Masonic Lodges. We would . suggest to those who-desire an adhesion to the old custom, that they dispense with a few luxuries, confine their gatherings to enjoyments in. which ladies could participate, and follow, as near as 'possible, the good example set 'them by their Napier brethren, who have not only, displayed wisdom, but manifested an inclination to foster one of the leading principles of •Masonry.