-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE. ← Page 2 of 3 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
wero rather voluminous , having been duly read and confirmed , the Prov . Grand Treasurer—Brother F . II . Goldney—read an abstract of his accounts for the past year , which had beon duly audited , the Charity account showing a balance in hand of upwards of £ 50 in addition to £ 100 invested in pursuance of the directions of tho last prov . G . Lodge . The accounts wore approved . Tho Prov . G . Secretary
then read the minutes of a meeting of the Charity Committee , held that morning . The Committee recommended a donation of £ 10 to the Prov . Benevolent Fund , and that two brethren who had offered their services should be approved as Stewards to represent the Province at the Festivals of two of tho Masonio Institutions in the coming vear , viz ., Bros . Dr . Theobald Ringer 1533 P . M . 1303 for tha
Benevolent Institution , and Bro . James Sparks 1271 P . G . O . for tho Boys ' School . The Report of the Charity Committee and its recommendations were unanimousl y approved and adopted . A considerable discussion then took place as to the disposal of tho balance on the Charity Fund account , and eventually it was resolved that £ 10 10 s be placed on the list of each of tho two Stewards named . Tho P . G .
Master , before calling for the reading of the other reports , said that these were rather lengthy , and contained much valuable information which he thought wonld bo much better appreciated if the reports were for the future printed and circulated with the Provincial Grand Lodge summons and agenda paper . The brethren would thus have time to consider them , and it would not then bo necessary that such
reports shonld be read in full at the Prov . Grand Lodge . This suggestion was unanimously approved . The Prov . G . Registrar—Bro . T . Ponting—read his usual annual report , which showed that the number of subscribing members in the Province , now 444 , was practically the same as for the last two or three years . The report called attention to tho fact that the outstanding subscriptions in arrear showed a very
slight decrease , whilst the outstanding liabilities wore considerably less , but that there was no other alteration in the main feature of the returns . It was especially noted that for the past three years two of the Lodges had neither outstanding assets nor liabilities . Accompanying the report the Registrar submitted an abstract , and the Lodge returns , dealing fully with the accounts both financially and
otherwise , and made ont on the averages for three years as had been done by his predecessors , and , in submitting it , he suggested that a summary , showing the totals of each Lodge return , would be more useful than one showing the averages for three years , as it would state accurately the position of each Lodge , and consequently of the Province at the
date of the return , instead of only its general average position throughout a period of three years . The Provincial Grand Registrar ' s report was approved , and his suggestion adopted . Bro . William Nott , Provincial Charity Secretary , then read his report on behalf of the Provincial Charity Organisation and Benevolent Fnnd Committee , which was as follows : —
CHARITY ORGANIZATION . On behalf of the Committee I beg to lay before this Provincial Grand Lodge an account of its work dnring the past year . This Province having no candidate for either the Boys' or the Girls' School , was enabled to so dispose of its votes as to more than cancel its indebtedness , and leave a small balance of votes owinw to it .
On the Benevolent Fund account matters wore different . It having been decided that the case of Mrs . Roach , tho candidate adopted by the Committee , should , if possible , be carried at the election last May , arrangements were made by which this object " was effected . Owing to the increase in the number of Wiltshire votes sent in to the Committee , to the good help given by outside friends of the
candidate , ancl to certain advantageous arrangements which your Secretary was enabled to make , our candidate ' s success was secured with only a comparatively small debt being incurred by this Province on the Benevolent Fund account . Our candidate was seventh on the list of the thirteen successful candidates , with a total of 1418 votes .
Thns far as regards this Province moro especially , it may be men . tioned asregards the other Provinces with which Wiltshire is associated , that at the Boys' School election in April , out of tho twelve successfnl candidates , four were from the allied Provinces , namely , one each from Lincoln , Worcester , Somerset and Leicester , whilst at tho election for the same Institution in October now inst past , the only case
in whioh the association was interested , a Gloucester case , came in at the head of the poll . As to the Girls' School election , in April , the whole of tho candidates wore declared elected without ballot ; in October the allied Provinces determined to run one candidate only , a Worcester case , and succeeded in carrying it , while the surplus votes beyond the number necessary were polled for a Somersetshire case which has beon adopted for the election next spring .
As regards tho Benevolent Fund and the other Provinces alluded te , a Widow ' s case from Bristol would , in addition to tho Wiltshire case , have been successfully carried had it not been for some uufortunate mischance in tho counting of the votes sent in . As it was , s'io was highest on tho unsuccessful list , and at the next election there will , doubtless , bo littlo difficulty in carrying her case , together with , it is hoped , those of two other candidates , ono from Monmouth and one from Worcester .
Your Committee highly appreciates the hearty co-operation reeeived from the representatives of other Provinces , aud would more especially mention Bros . Capt . S . G . Homfray D . P . G . M . Monmouth , R * C . Else D . P . G . M . Somerset , W . II . Bowden Bristol , Geo . Taylor •'• G . Sec . Worcester , Rev . W . Langley Leicester aud Col . Basevi and his successor R . Vassal * Smith , Gloucester .
In order to carry out the work which has boon recapitulated , your Charit y Secretary attended at three of the elections during tho year . The votes the Committee has had placed afc its disposal by the Lod ges in the Province , and voters connected therewith , duriug the last three years , have been as follows : —
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
1880 1881 1882 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ... 372 407 475 Girls ... 350 372 356 „ Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons ... 222 219 235 „ for Widows 127 119 153 1071 1117 1219
being an increase in this year over last year of 102 votes , and being considerably more than in any previous year . The voting power of tho Province is thus shown to be increasing ,
and it is very necessary that ifc should increase if Wiltshire is to hold its own at the elections , the number of votes necessary to carry a candidate at either of the Institutions having increased something liko fifty per cent , during the past few years .
WILTSHIRE RECIPIENTS OF MASONIC CHARITIES . As it may be interesting to the brethren to know what advantages are being derived by this Province from tho various Masonio Charitable Institutions , the following particulars havo been gathered together : —
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Three widows aro " now enjoying annuities of £ 32 each , or a total of £ 96 per annum . One ( whose husband belonged to the Trowbridge Lodge 632 ) having heen in enjoyment of her annuity for six years . Another ( Devizes 663 ) for four years , the other ( Chippendale 626 ) being the annuitant elected in May last .
THE MASONIC SCHOOLS . The Wiltshire Scholars , with tho Lodges to whioh their fathers belonged are as follows , and against the name of each is an extract from the Report of the Governess or Master of the School respecting them : — GIRLS' SCHOOL .
A . M . C . ( Old Swindon 355 ) , age 13 , elected 1879 , leaves the School 1885 . " Will rise to third class after Christmas . Is a good girl . " A . L . W . ( New Swindon 1295 ) , age 13 , elected 1879 , leaves 1885 .
" In fourth class ; has lost time through delicate health , but is stropger , and likely to make more progress ; is a good girl . " E . M . G . ( Salisbury 586 ) , age 11 , elected 1879 , leaves 1886 . . " In
fifth class and backward , bufc is a good little girl . P . J . N . ( Old Swindon 355 ) , age 11 , elected 1880 , leaves 1887 ( No report . )
G . E . B . ( Old Swindon 355 ) , age 11 , elected 1880 , leaves 1886 . " In fifth class , but is likely fco make progress ; is a good girl . " G . M . S . ( Old Swindon 355 ) , age 9 , admitted 1882 . " Ia a nice
little girl admitted this September ; is backward . " L . M . S . S . ( Trowbridge 632 ) , aged 10 , admitted 1882 . ( No report . )
Bois' SCHOOL . H . V . N . S . S . ( Trowbridge 632 ) , aged 12 , elected . 1877 , leaves 1886 . " Conduct satisfactory , ability and industry fair , and has much improved of late . "
It will thus be seen that thero are at present no less than eight Wiltshire children enjoying the advantages of education at these Schools , an education which musfc represent a money value of some £ 400 per annum and whioh , added to fcho annuities , gives a total of about £ 500 a year .
STEWARDSHIPS FOR THE CHARITIES . Duriug the year the following amounts have been taken np to the Festivals of the different Masonic Institutions by the following Stewards from this Province : —
Bro . Martin , Benevolent Institution 89 5 0 Dr . Ringer , Girls' School 56 3 0 William Nott , Boys' School 147 0 0 Dr . Ringer , „ 15 15 0
Total £ 308 3 0 BENEVOLENT FUND . No claim as yet has been made upon this fund . The Committee has therefore beeu enabled to invest tho whole of tho income , thus helping to form a Capital Fund , which will in a short timo bo sufficiently largo to afford from its investment a substantial annual
. In last year's report tho Committee was only able to furnish a provisional account of receipts and payments , bub a complete account for tho year ending 31 st December 1881 is appended hereto . Yonr Committee in its last year's report ventured to express an
opinion that the number of contributing Lodges would this year bo increased . Such anticipation has been realised , and thoro is every reason to hope that next year tho whole , or nearly tho whole , of the Lodges in tho Province will bo dir cfc contributors to this fund . Under the rules of this fund the Provincial Grand Lodgo ia
entitled to nominate one of its Oflicers as a Life Governor of the fund , in respect of the donation of £ 50 voted to ifc last year . Tho It . W . the P . G . M ., tho D . P . G . M ., tho P . G . Treasurer , tho P . G . Reg ., tho P . G .
Secretary , and the Charity Secretary aro already ex officio members of tho Committee . It is therefore suggested whether it wonld be desirable that this Provincial Grand Lodge shonld name another of its Officers to be a member of the Committee as Life Governor .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
wero rather voluminous , having been duly read and confirmed , the Prov . Grand Treasurer—Brother F . II . Goldney—read an abstract of his accounts for the past year , which had beon duly audited , the Charity account showing a balance in hand of upwards of £ 50 in addition to £ 100 invested in pursuance of the directions of tho last prov . G . Lodge . The accounts wore approved . Tho Prov . G . Secretary
then read the minutes of a meeting of the Charity Committee , held that morning . The Committee recommended a donation of £ 10 to the Prov . Benevolent Fund , and that two brethren who had offered their services should be approved as Stewards to represent the Province at the Festivals of two of tho Masonio Institutions in the coming vear , viz ., Bros . Dr . Theobald Ringer 1533 P . M . 1303 for tha
Benevolent Institution , and Bro . James Sparks 1271 P . G . O . for tho Boys ' School . The Report of the Charity Committee and its recommendations were unanimousl y approved and adopted . A considerable discussion then took place as to the disposal of tho balance on the Charity Fund account , and eventually it was resolved that £ 10 10 s be placed on the list of each of tho two Stewards named . Tho P . G .
Master , before calling for the reading of the other reports , said that these were rather lengthy , and contained much valuable information which he thought wonld bo much better appreciated if the reports were for the future printed and circulated with the Provincial Grand Lodge summons and agenda paper . The brethren would thus have time to consider them , and it would not then bo necessary that such
reports shonld be read in full at the Prov . Grand Lodge . This suggestion was unanimously approved . The Prov . G . Registrar—Bro . T . Ponting—read his usual annual report , which showed that the number of subscribing members in the Province , now 444 , was practically the same as for the last two or three years . The report called attention to tho fact that the outstanding subscriptions in arrear showed a very
slight decrease , whilst the outstanding liabilities wore considerably less , but that there was no other alteration in the main feature of the returns . It was especially noted that for the past three years two of the Lodges had neither outstanding assets nor liabilities . Accompanying the report the Registrar submitted an abstract , and the Lodge returns , dealing fully with the accounts both financially and
otherwise , and made ont on the averages for three years as had been done by his predecessors , and , in submitting it , he suggested that a summary , showing the totals of each Lodge return , would be more useful than one showing the averages for three years , as it would state accurately the position of each Lodge , and consequently of the Province at the
date of the return , instead of only its general average position throughout a period of three years . The Provincial Grand Registrar ' s report was approved , and his suggestion adopted . Bro . William Nott , Provincial Charity Secretary , then read his report on behalf of the Provincial Charity Organisation and Benevolent Fnnd Committee , which was as follows : —
CHARITY ORGANIZATION . On behalf of the Committee I beg to lay before this Provincial Grand Lodge an account of its work dnring the past year . This Province having no candidate for either the Boys' or the Girls' School , was enabled to so dispose of its votes as to more than cancel its indebtedness , and leave a small balance of votes owinw to it .
On the Benevolent Fund account matters wore different . It having been decided that the case of Mrs . Roach , tho candidate adopted by the Committee , should , if possible , be carried at the election last May , arrangements were made by which this object " was effected . Owing to the increase in the number of Wiltshire votes sent in to the Committee , to the good help given by outside friends of the
candidate , ancl to certain advantageous arrangements which your Secretary was enabled to make , our candidate ' s success was secured with only a comparatively small debt being incurred by this Province on the Benevolent Fund account . Our candidate was seventh on the list of the thirteen successful candidates , with a total of 1418 votes .
Thns far as regards this Province moro especially , it may be men . tioned asregards the other Provinces with which Wiltshire is associated , that at the Boys' School election in April , out of tho twelve successfnl candidates , four were from the allied Provinces , namely , one each from Lincoln , Worcester , Somerset and Leicester , whilst at tho election for the same Institution in October now inst past , the only case
in whioh the association was interested , a Gloucester case , came in at the head of the poll . As to the Girls' School election , in April , the whole of tho candidates wore declared elected without ballot ; in October the allied Provinces determined to run one candidate only , a Worcester case , and succeeded in carrying it , while the surplus votes beyond the number necessary were polled for a Somersetshire case which has beon adopted for the election next spring .
As regards tho Benevolent Fund and the other Provinces alluded te , a Widow ' s case from Bristol would , in addition to tho Wiltshire case , have been successfully carried had it not been for some uufortunate mischance in tho counting of the votes sent in . As it was , s'io was highest on tho unsuccessful list , and at the next election there will , doubtless , bo littlo difficulty in carrying her case , together with , it is hoped , those of two other candidates , ono from Monmouth and one from Worcester .
Your Committee highly appreciates the hearty co-operation reeeived from the representatives of other Provinces , aud would more especially mention Bros . Capt . S . G . Homfray D . P . G . M . Monmouth , R * C . Else D . P . G . M . Somerset , W . II . Bowden Bristol , Geo . Taylor •'• G . Sec . Worcester , Rev . W . Langley Leicester aud Col . Basevi and his successor R . Vassal * Smith , Gloucester .
In order to carry out the work which has boon recapitulated , your Charit y Secretary attended at three of the elections during tho year . The votes the Committee has had placed afc its disposal by the Lod ges in the Province , and voters connected therewith , duriug the last three years , have been as follows : —
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
1880 1881 1882 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ... 372 407 475 Girls ... 350 372 356 „ Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons ... 222 219 235 „ for Widows 127 119 153 1071 1117 1219
being an increase in this year over last year of 102 votes , and being considerably more than in any previous year . The voting power of tho Province is thus shown to be increasing ,
and it is very necessary that ifc should increase if Wiltshire is to hold its own at the elections , the number of votes necessary to carry a candidate at either of the Institutions having increased something liko fifty per cent , during the past few years .
WILTSHIRE RECIPIENTS OF MASONIC CHARITIES . As it may be interesting to the brethren to know what advantages are being derived by this Province from tho various Masonio Charitable Institutions , the following particulars havo been gathered together : —
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Three widows aro " now enjoying annuities of £ 32 each , or a total of £ 96 per annum . One ( whose husband belonged to the Trowbridge Lodge 632 ) having heen in enjoyment of her annuity for six years . Another ( Devizes 663 ) for four years , the other ( Chippendale 626 ) being the annuitant elected in May last .
THE MASONIC SCHOOLS . The Wiltshire Scholars , with tho Lodges to whioh their fathers belonged are as follows , and against the name of each is an extract from the Report of the Governess or Master of the School respecting them : — GIRLS' SCHOOL .
A . M . C . ( Old Swindon 355 ) , age 13 , elected 1879 , leaves the School 1885 . " Will rise to third class after Christmas . Is a good girl . " A . L . W . ( New Swindon 1295 ) , age 13 , elected 1879 , leaves 1885 .
" In fourth class ; has lost time through delicate health , but is stropger , and likely to make more progress ; is a good girl . " E . M . G . ( Salisbury 586 ) , age 11 , elected 1879 , leaves 1886 . . " In
fifth class and backward , bufc is a good little girl . P . J . N . ( Old Swindon 355 ) , age 11 , elected 1880 , leaves 1887 ( No report . )
G . E . B . ( Old Swindon 355 ) , age 11 , elected 1880 , leaves 1886 . " In fifth class , but is likely fco make progress ; is a good girl . " G . M . S . ( Old Swindon 355 ) , age 9 , admitted 1882 . " Ia a nice
little girl admitted this September ; is backward . " L . M . S . S . ( Trowbridge 632 ) , aged 10 , admitted 1882 . ( No report . )
Bois' SCHOOL . H . V . N . S . S . ( Trowbridge 632 ) , aged 12 , elected . 1877 , leaves 1886 . " Conduct satisfactory , ability and industry fair , and has much improved of late . "
It will thus be seen that thero are at present no less than eight Wiltshire children enjoying the advantages of education at these Schools , an education which musfc represent a money value of some £ 400 per annum and whioh , added to fcho annuities , gives a total of about £ 500 a year .
STEWARDSHIPS FOR THE CHARITIES . Duriug the year the following amounts have been taken np to the Festivals of the different Masonic Institutions by the following Stewards from this Province : —
Bro . Martin , Benevolent Institution 89 5 0 Dr . Ringer , Girls' School 56 3 0 William Nott , Boys' School 147 0 0 Dr . Ringer , „ 15 15 0
Total £ 308 3 0 BENEVOLENT FUND . No claim as yet has been made upon this fund . The Committee has therefore beeu enabled to invest tho whole of tho income , thus helping to form a Capital Fund , which will in a short timo bo sufficiently largo to afford from its investment a substantial annual
. In last year's report tho Committee was only able to furnish a provisional account of receipts and payments , bub a complete account for tho year ending 31 st December 1881 is appended hereto . Yonr Committee in its last year's report ventured to express an
opinion that the number of contributing Lodges would this year bo increased . Such anticipation has been realised , and thoro is every reason to hope that next year tho whole , or nearly tho whole , of the Lodges in tho Province will bo dir cfc contributors to this fund . Under the rules of this fund the Provincial Grand Lodgo ia
entitled to nominate one of its Oflicers as a Life Governor of the fund , in respect of the donation of £ 50 voted to ifc last year . Tho It . W . the P . G . M ., tho D . P . G . M ., tho P . G . Treasurer , tho P . G . Reg ., tho P . G .
Secretary , and the Charity Secretary aro already ex officio members of tho Committee . It is therefore suggested whether it wonld be desirable that this Provincial Grand Lodge shonld name another of its Officers to be a member of the Committee as Life Governor .