Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1882-06-17
FreemasOnry in England.

III plOEItNS ~ DlCH VIC
has made in England since the com
mcncement of the present century is
truly astounding la or about the
year 1900 there were between fifty
and sixty lodges which acknowledged
the jurisdiction Of the Grand Master
of England, and they numbered at
most some fifteen hundred brethren.
AT the present time there are under
the rule of Wales, Grand Master of
England, no less than 1000 lodges,
which in all number about i30 900 TO
10000 members Besides these
there are the Grand Lodges Of Scot
land and Ireland, which, though close
ly akin to that Of England, yet have
separate rulers. They have also
enorm ,usly increased in numbers and
power siuce the commencement of the
nineteenth century.
Frccmasonry seems to have o apecu-
lar fascination for the American mind,
AMI we should be rather under than
over estimating the number Of breth-
Teu III tue uitcu OthtCo IL VIC So'O
their sum total at three-quarters of q
million. 1t has teen alleged by peo-
pie hostile to the order that Freema-
sonry in England only hourisbes be-
cause a royal prince is at the head Of
the craft, aud all his brothers are asso.
ciated with it. That this is not the
case we have corclusively Y proved by
the quotation as TO the number o e
brethren who exist on the coL-~
America. The can. hc~ever, be 10
doubt that since the nclr apparent vas
elected to the position i'll Masonry
which be now occupies, the craft has,
from the fact Of its occupying more
public attention, made great strides in
the country, and it continues daily to
advance further on in the path Of pros.
perity.
There is notion abroad that o
great part Of the enormous funds over
which the Grand Lodge and its afiili-
ated lodges have control is devoted TO
banqueting, or, in other words, to eat
ing and drinking This is not the
case. All the money collected goes
for the purpose OF maintaining the
three great Masonic charities, viz /:
the old people, the boys and the girl
Every lodge is bound annually TO COZ
tribute portion, ana 8 large po5:.....l
too, Of its funds TO the ..
these excellent insticat hor -.
moneys collected are b, ,ba oroo, = o.. ',ue' n,o
the Immediate necessities of poor aud
destitute brethrcS and their families
1t Is oniy csisary TO glance at the
: z. .rae" " Lich the board of gen.
eral purposes makes mcntbly to the
needy to see bow much great and use
full work is accomplished by the Free
MasOns of England.
Instead Of being, as their enerics
represent them, body Of men taking
delight in o few idle forms and cere-
monies and the pleasures Of the table,
they on the contrary are the greatest
charitable and benefit society ever yet
established. The good they do is in.
calculable, and most of it is done by
stealth. The men who manage the
machinery and do the work of this
great institution, do it at frequent per.
sonal Inconvenience aud discomfort
Ali the thanks and all the reward they
get is the knowledge that they are the
instruments in forwarding great and
glorious cause. The wa,chword o
the order is charity and brotherly love
and oil genuine MasoDs act up to the
great lesson it MISUNDERSTANDING
Court Ctrcu'dr.