Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-12-14
yEMPHIS APPEAL,
mAsoNIC INTELLIGENCE.
M


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PERPErUIFY or mAaOXRY- -TTs
A., CAUSE.
If Fresmasoary were merely an asso
citation Of persons, united together fo
mutual assistance and protection, it
objects would no doubt be laudable; i
p would perhaps be strong in numbers
and it might thrive for many years
But If that had been its whole purpose, II
would never have been enabled to
, measure the term Of It's existence by
centuries and when it had grown 80 old
as to have forgotten its own origin, ia
continue As strong and vigorous as ever.
Nor would the possession of its antique
secrets, ever stirring the curiosity OF
men, and drawing them by a force ire
sistible towards its Temples, have given
it that pefpetuity and perennial youth
q Il OuilEsts the ages, because its aims
are higher and nobler than the mere
communication Of mysterious secrets, or
the affording Of mutual relief and the
doing OF small charities. These do not
give an Order immortality.
KELIEF LODGE OF LOUISIANA.
We some time siace suggested to the
Fraternity Of Memphis the Constitution
Of Relief Lodge, on the plan Of that Of
Louisiana. As the best argument in IA
vour Of the proposition, possible to be
offered, We now reproduce the Report Of
Relief Lodge No /, Of Louisiana, to the
Grand Lodge Of that State at its last
communication.
/ IN Memphis there is absolutely no sys-
J TEN OF charitable relief The Lodges best
able to assist distress do the least. II a
Door widow needs assistance, to puE
I bread in the mouths of her children, or
pav herreut, she must run from the Master
Of one Lodge to the Master of another,
and at last go home TO starye, ashamed
( longer to beg unsvsilingly; unless indi-
vidual Mssous, lily able to do so, con-
I tribute ten or fifteen dollars each to re
isve her.
The following report will show what
can be done by MasoRs, and what is
done in another city:
NEW OELEANs, February Il, 1857.
To the n. W. Grand Lodge Of the state Of Lou |
Louisiana Relief Lodge No. l begs
leave TO submit the report OF her dOings 1
for the past year, EN- bodied in the state /
ment Of fiDaBees prepared by her Secre- /
tsry and herewith presented. she has .
persisted in her course OF usefulness |
through many Disadvantages, and ap-
pesls 10 all the brethren OF this jurisdic
ton for aid to enable her 50 to continue.
The great difficulty which has been and
is EXPERIENCED, Is that the Relief Lodge
represents but about half the Lodges Of
this city, and yet upon her is thrown the
burden Of distributing charity for
almost all. There are fourteen
contributing Lodges and fifteen
non-coutributing and it is anything
but encouraging to have 30 many OF our
brethren ia our midst whs cannot appre-
ciate our laDors. By our present reguls-
tions ali amounts received, even from
contributing Lodges, are voluntarily
given, and are doled out generally speak
ing, IN small and entirely inadequate
sums. The total received from Lodges
represented during the past year is bat
1913 40, being only about one third Of
the actual amount expended for charity,
the deficiency having TO be made Up out
Of the Tomb Fund. or the whole four-
teen contributing Lodges, hut four, Her
nitage No. IS, Excelsior lS6, Union lI2
auo Orient l73, paid in as much as the
Grand Lodge donated to them last year,
being one dollar for each member, while
three of the LOGges have not given q
cent. All this is il face of a prosperous
Masonic year, and is sufficiently sugges-
tive Of itself, to warrant al appeal to our
Brethren not to let q charity die out
which has received the plaudits and
Of the Masonic world /
Formerly, the subordinate Lodges which
the Relief Lodge, paid a tax
OF three dollars per aDnum for each /
borne on the register, but that ,
rule was abolished during the trying ,
times Of the war. and the Lodges were
asked to give as much as possible; nov, /
that prosperity has returned, it seems /
difficult for many Of them 70 oestoW IN /
charity, even that small sum which the I
Grand Lodge itself has put iuto their :
hands for that purpose; and as II all I
these facts were not sufficient, one Of '
the most fi0urishing Of our contributing /
Lodges, and who calls ss frequently as |
sny upon- US, not only does not give US :
for two years single cent, but declines @
Or neglects TO pay up Rrresrsges Of dues, @
atc ,sbsolUtely owing to the Relief Lodge. I
We do not mention these matters In any Z
JtheT spirit or desire than to draw the Z
attention of our own brethren to cur r
condition, and TO warn them Of our stu Il
lIiOn. The Relief Lodge cannot exist o
Jy itself, and 1t needs stout arms TO sup o
port and liberal donations to maintain n
{: It is an absolute benefit to ali the @
brethren Of this city, and we call upon a
hem TO see thRt It does not langulsh. a
Let every member Of every contributing
lodge attend its meetings, take part IN Il
Is proceedings, assist its officers, aEd Z
prepare TO take their places, when their G
ound OF duty is fulfilled, and we will n
ucceed but il is wholly wrong to throw +,
ne whole burden upon the shoulders Of a
few brethren, and TO look with apathy J
.pon their efforts, aud to heed them not Il
.Bless 20 blame. Goes Il
During tie past year, as during all Ii
revious ones, much good has been ac- Il
omplished that cannot be figured in 81
ollsrs and cents, and which makes no n
ppearsnce in our report. Brothers have p
cen assisted by counsel and advice free u
assageg have been secured, sick beds NJ
ratched, and funerals attended the 10
ON binatiOn Of brethren covering so le
reat a number Of every profession and
that many comforts and ca
ecessities have been pEOeui ed. and many A
ressing wants administered TO, with OF
ut money and without price," Il
Ii is now proposed to build tomb :,
pon the ground in the new Masonic d
cemetery donated by the Grand Lodge, ! A
Dd for this purpose some thousands of b,
ollars will be needed, and we earnestly ts
SIX Of the Grand Lodge and its mem bers hi
ere present, both OF city and country, a gl
onaliOn Of some small part Of that Ma "
Dnic charity which may at this com &
lunicatiOn be distributed. a.
.Fraternally submitted, II
JOSEPH z. HORNOR, W. =