Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-01
THE FREENAsoNs OF ENGLANp.

casion afforded the Court Circular an oppor-
tunity of paying the order the following in
teresting tribute:
THE FREEMAsoSs OF ENGLAND.
The Freemasons of England, Scotland and
Ireland are distinctly non-political; no dis
custom OF controversial matters in religion
or politics is permitted either at the meeting
of lodge or at the subsequent banquet. In
France and Italy there can be no doubt that
Masonry has been led away from its original
aims and objects and used for the purpose of
forwarding plots and plans. In the British
dominions this has never been the case, and
not even in Ireland where the Grand Lodge
prospers under the benign rule OF the Duke
of Abezcorp has there ever been an attempt
made TO turn the friendship which should
exist among Masons TO other and baser pur-
poses. In Germany, Norway, Sweden and
Denmark, in the same way as mere, no po-
htical significance is attached to the gather
ings OF Freemasons. The progress which the
fraternity has made in England since the
CONNIE ncement OF the present century is
truly astounding. In 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
his royal highness the Prince of Wales,
grand master Of England, no less than 1000
lodges, which IN all number about I30, 900 to
140,000 members. Besides these there are
the Grand. Lodges of Scotland and Ireland,
which, though closely akin to that of Eng
land, vet have separate rulers. They have
also enormously increased in numbers and
power since the commencement of the nine
teenth century.
FREEMAsoNRY IN AMERICA.
Freemasonry seems to have a peculiar
fascination for the American mind, and we
should be rather under than over in esti-
mating the number of brethren in the United
States at $4,000. It has been alleged by
people hostile TO the order that Freemasonry
In England only hourishes because a royal
prince is at the head of the craft and all his
brothers are associated with it. That this is
not the case We have conclusively proved by
the quotation as to the number OF the breth-
IN who exist on the continent OF America.
There can, however, be no doubt that since
the heir apparent was elected to the position
in Masonry which he 30 well and worthily
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 the path of prosperity.
AN ORDER OF MERCY.
There is a notion abroad that great part
of the enormous funds over which the Grand
Lodge and its affiliated lodges have control
is devoted to banqueting, or in other words,
TO ealing 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 girls. Every lodge is bound annually to
contribute a portion-and large portion,
too-of its funds to the support of these ex-
cellent institutions. The other moneys
collected are, in the great majority of cases,
expended in relieving the immediate neces-
sites of poor and destitute brethren and their
families. 1t is only necessary to glance at
the list of grants which the Board of General
Purposes makes monthly to the needy to see
how much great and useful work is accom-
pIished by the Freemasons of England. In
stead of being, as their enemies represent
them, body of men taking delight in few
idle forms asd ceremonies and the pleasures
of the table, they on the contrary are the
greatest charitable and benevolent society
ever yet established. The good they do is
incalculable, 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 personal inconvenience and
discomfort. All the thanks and all the re-
ward they get is the knowledge that they are
instruments in forwarding a great and glori-
GUS cause. The watchword of the order is
charity and brotherly love, and all genuine
Mssons act up TO the great lesson it incul-
Gates.