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Ar00200
mal , and all that is most deeply to be deplored in Ireland just now , a very hateful state of so-called public opinion , so , on the other hand , we presume the criminal view of the question may be , in certain sections of the little village , an unwelcome interference on the part of poor policeman COLE with the legitimate trade of the midnight burglar . As this is the fifth case during
the last twelve months where revolvers have been used against the metropolitan police , we trust that our night patrols , to whom the entire safety and peace of the metropolis are owing , may in future be properly armed , in order to cope on fair ground with this most abject , degraded , and desperate " outcome " of criminal existence . Wc trusl that the names on the implements found , such as " ROCK , " may lead to the identification of the murderer .
United Grand Lodge.
UNITED GRAND LODGE .
The Fourth Ouarterly Communication of Grand Lodge for 1882 was held at Freemasons' Hall , on the fith inst ., the Right Worshipful Bro . the Karl of Limerick on the throne . Thc Grand Senior Warden's chair was occupied by Bro . Lord Carringtcn , and Bro . Victor A . Williamson filled that of Grand Junior Warden . There were also present : — Bro . The Rt . Hon . Lord CarrinrfonS . G . W . ; Rev . T . Rohinson , G . Chap . ; Rev . T .
Coch-, rane , G . Chap . ; Col . Creaton , G . Treas . ; / E . J . Mclntyre , G . R . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . S . ; E . E . Wendt , D . C . I .., G . Sec . German Corrcs . ; Major John Penricc , S . G . D . ; W . C . Harrison , O . C ., S . G . D . ; R . C . Else . J . G . D . ; Capt . Clement R . N . Beswicke-Ro \ ds , l . G . Ti . ; Horace ( ones , G . Sup . Works ; Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , G . Dir . of C ; R . T . Pi-ott , D . C . I .., Assist . G . D . of C . ; John Messent . G . S . B . ; 11 . S . Alpass , G . Std . Hearer ; " W . J . Cusins , G . Orsf . ; II . G . Uuss , Assist . G . Sec ; W . R . Wood ,
G . I ' urs . j E . V . l . ittell . Assist . G . Purs . ; 11 . Sadler , G . Tyler ; W . W . II . Heach , M . P ., P . G . M . Hants and I . of W . ; Gen . Brownriirg ' , P . G . M . Surrey ; Col . Lc Gendre N . Starfcic , P . G . M . E . Lam . - . ; 11 . I ) . Sandcinati , P . D . G . M . Mental ; C . W . Bennett , P . G . M . Utah . U . S . A . ; Col . A . Stewart , D . G . M . Punjab ; Pryce Pryse , Bart ., P . P . G . M . W . Div . S . Wales ; Hon . Somerset Calthorpe . P . G . W . ; Rev . J . S . Btowvngg , P . G . C ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C ; Rev . H . A . Pirkard , P . G . C ; Rev . C J . Martin , P . G . C ;
Rev . 1 . E . Cox , P . G . C ; lames Glaisher , F . R . S ., P . G . D . ; H . Maudsley , P . G . D . ; Henry C . Tombs , P . G . D . ; " J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; W . A . !•' . Powell , P . G . D . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Jnhn Sampson Peirce , P . G . D . ; R . Grey , P . G . D . ; Raphael Costa , P . G . D . ; Prank Richardson , P . G . D . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Re- 'inald Bud , P . G . D . ; \ . M . Clahon , P . G . D . ; Jolm H . Scott , P . G . D . ; F . A .
Philbrick , O . C , P . G . D . ; T . Penn , P . G . D . ; I ' .. J . Barrow , P . U . U . ; H . , | . P . Dumas , P . G ~ D . ; J . Houff , P . G . D . ; W . E . Gumbleton , P . G . D . ; Matthew Clark . P . G . D . ; James Lewis Thomas , E . S . A ., P . A . G . D . of C ; Charles Greenwood , P . G ; S . B . ; Gcoree Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; J oshua Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; G . Toller , jun ., P . G . S . B . ; C S . Jekvll , P . G . O . ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P .. James Brett , P . G . P . ; C A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . and a number of other Grand and Provincial Grand Officers .
The GRAND SECRETARY read thc minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the Cth September last , which were thereupon duly confirmed . The next business of the agenda was the nomination of the M . W . G . M . Bro . THRUPP rose and said : I have the honour of nominating H . R . H . the Prince of Wales for re-election as Grand Master of our Order for the
ensuing year . The proposition , brethren , requires very few words of recommendation from me . I need only remind you of the indefatigable way in which H . R . H . discharges the various duties and functions which devolve on him as Prince of Wales , and the admirable and courteous manner in which
he performs those duties . Still , amongst his many engagements , both public and private , our Grand Master always finds time to discharge his duties as Grand Master , and does so much to promote the happiness of the brethren and the welfare of the Craft . I beg to recommend H . R . H . for re-election as our Grand Master for the ensuing year . ¦ The M . W . GRAND MASTER in the Chair : Brethren—H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has been nominated as Grand Master for the ensuing year . Has any brother any motion to make ? ( Great applause ) .
The M . W . G . M . in the Chair then announced that Bro . Joshua Nunn had been appointed by the Grand Master as President , and Bro . James Brett as Senior Vice-President , of the Lodge of Benevolence . The votes were then taken for the Junior Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence , and for twelve P . M . s to serve as members of the Lodge . Scrutineers having been appointed , the voting papers were collected . On the return of the scrutineers the result of the poll was declared as follows : —
Votes . \ otes . Bro . Charles Atkins , P . M . 29 . . 35 S Bro . las . H . Matthews , P . M . 143 . 257 „ Henry Garrod , P . M . 749 . . 29 S „ l'hos . Cull , P . M . 144 G ... 247 „ George P . Britten , P . M . 1 S 3 . 2 S 3 „ Charles Dairy , P . M . 141 . . 235 .. Wm . H . Pern-man , P . M . 3 . 273 „ Wm . Mann , P . M . iSO . . . 235
„ Chas . !•' . Hogard , P . M . 205 . 264 „ John M . Menck , P . M . 1339 . 228 „ Wm . Stephens , P . M . 14 S 9 . 2 C 0 „ Joseph D . Collier , P . M . 1366 214 Upon the Report of the Lodge of Benevolence beingread , Bro . Sir ALBERT WOODS , G . D . C , raised an objection that Grand Lodge had no means of considering the propriety of certain considerable grants recommended by the report , and Bro . PHILBRICK also addressed the chair to the same effect . Bro . NUNN , President of the Lodge of Benevolence , gave explanations in reference to the votes , which had been particularly referred to .
The M . W . GRAND MASTER in the Chair , said there was no doubt that all grants should be carefully scrutinised , and that any brother was perfectly entitled to receive any explanation which he desired about a grant proposed . On that account he paused in each case , and only put the vote to the meeting when he found that no brother rose . If an explanation was desired , of course it was most proper that it should be given , and he was sure there would be no difficulty in giving that explanation , and of course it would be for Grand Lodge to decide whether the explanation was sufficient or not .
Col CREATON , G . Treas ., said that he felt very loth , when the grants were proposed , to say one word , but he thought the time had come when he should say that they were giving away more than their income . Some years ago they thought ^ 10 or £ 20 a liberal grant ; but they now gave not less than - £ 50 or £ 100 .
Bro . BRITTEN said that from what the Grand Treasurer had said , Grand Lodge would be led to infer that £ " 50 and £ 100 were the smallest grants , when / 10 or £ 20 would be sufficient . It was only the grants of £ 50 and upwards that came before Grand Lodge . He should like to say , on behalf of Grand Lodge , that every case was thoroughly threshed out ; and he saw
no good purpose for which a discussion could now be opened . The M . W . G RAND MASTER in the Chair said he was afraid he must rule that neither of the brethren were strictly in order , because the business of " the Board of Benevolence had closed before they rose . A discussion upon it now could lead to no good result , and there was no motion before Grand
United Grand Lodge.
Lodge . The business now before Grand Lodge was to receive the report of the Board of General Purposes . Bro . FRANK GREEN moved that the report of the Board of General Purposes be taken as read ; and the motion having been seconded , and put to the Grand Lodge , was declared to be carried .
Bro . GREEN next moved that the report be received and entered on the minutes , and afterwards that it be adopted ; both of which motions were declared duly carried . The M . W . GRAND MASTER in thc Chair said the next business was to receive the report of the Colonial Board .
Bro . RUCKER , P . G . D ., President of the Colonial Board , moved first that the report be taken as read ; and then that it should be received and entered on the minutes : both ofwhich motions were seconded and carried in due course .
In proposing that thc report be adopted , Bro . RUCKER said that he might mention that there were eight inoperative lodges in Egypt , of which it was proposed , as the brethren would see , to erase lour from the list of lodges on the registry of Grand Lodge , viz ., two in Cairo , one in Alexandria , and
one in Ramlah ; and leaving two lodges in Cairo , one in Alexandria , and one in Ramlah . It would be wasting the time of Grand Lodge were he to state more , as the details were to be found in the report . He , therefore , begged to move that the four lodges—Nos . 1068 , 1154 , 1156 , and 1419—be erased from the books of Grand Lodge .
The motion having been seconded , was put to Grand Lodge , and declared carried .
Ihe following Appeals were considered and determined on ;—1 st . From the Victoria Lodge , No . 11 S 6 , Brisbane , Victoria , against the ruling of the DUtrict Grand Master . —That a Lodge of Instruction can only be held under the warrant of the lodge under which it is sanctioned , and consequently not in any other building .
In this case the ruling ol the District Grand Master was reluctantly reversed , as contrary to the Book of Constitutions . But it was suggested by the Grand Registrar that it was desirable to amend the Book of Constitutions in this respect . 2 nd . From a Brother of the Friendly Lodge , No . 239 , Kingston , Jamaica , against the ruling of the Deputy District Grand Master ,
confirming a decision of a P . M ., whilst acting as master of the lodge . —That an alteration made by the lodge in their bye-laws , changing their dav of Installation from December to January , was valid , notwithstanding " that it had not been submitted for the approval of the Deputy District Grand Master , on the ground that it was not a " material alteration " as contemplated by Article 5 , page 6 3 of the Book of Constitutions .
In this case the ruling of the Deputy District Grand Master was upheld . 3 rd . From a Brother P . M . of the Lodge of Fortitude , No . 105 , Plymouth , against a decision of the Provincial Grand Master for Devonshire , refusing to call on another Brother to furnish the information on which he had opposed
the election of the appellant as Prov . Grand Treasurer at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge on the ist August last . In this case , also , the decision of the Prov . Grand Master was upheld . The PRESIDENT said that the next busi ess was to consider the motions of which notice had been given . Bro . CLABON said that he was aware that communications had been
received from Prov . Grand Lodges in regard to the motion of which he had given notice , but he supposed that these communications should be before Grand Lodge before he moved . The GRAND SECRETARY said that notices had been sent out to forty-one Prov . Grann Lodges : twenty-five had voted against it , three had voted in its favour .
Bro . CLABON said he hoped , notwithstanding these unfavourable returns , he should persuade Grand Lodge to accept his motion . ( Cries of withdraw ) . He certainly should not withdraw , so he begged them to hear him . He stated a few figures in making this motion six months ago ; he told Grand Lodge that up to two years ago the Lodge of Benevolence had never voted the whole of their imcome , and the result was that up to that time they
had accumulated something like £ 50 , 000 . In the year 1880 they voted about £ 1000 more than their income , and in 1881 they voted nearly ^ 2000 more than their income . He had not had an opportunity of ascertaining what the voting had been , but it was going on at about the same rate : and they had just heard that £ 790 was granted last month , and Grand Lodge had voted /' 400 more just now .
Well , if they had voted £ 1200 in one night , he thought it would turn out that this year they had voted a considerably larger sum than formerly . He had sat as President of the Board of Benevolence for ten or twelve years , and he did ask them to take his experience , or at all events consider that he was competent to express an opinion . In old times the Lodge of Benevolence used to vote £ 10 , £ 20 , and £ 30 , and / " 40 used to be considered a
large sum ; but latterly , unfortunately , brethren occupying good social positions have met with reversals of fortune , and in consideration of the special circumstances large grants have been made . It was no uncommon , thing now to see grants of £ 100 , and these had not been the highest , but they had had as much as £ 200 and £ 250 > ar > d he remembered distinctly cases—from the evidence he could tell them—of a number of cases where a at
grant of ^ 50 was use all , while a grant of , £ 200 was all the use in the world . Entertaining this opinion , he looked about to see how the income might be increased . The first method was to dip into the accumulated fund . That had been done ; but if every year ^ 3000 or £ 4000 was taken out of the reserve it would soon be exhausted , and when it was gone they would be brought back again to the question how to raise
the money . By whatever means it was done , he could not think it right to spend the accumulated fund ; it was a fund sacred as capital . One alternative was to make it like the other Charities . This had been attempted , and , as they were aware , it had failed entirely . He thought three festivals , as now , in one year were enough . There was only one more way—a very simple way—which had now been proposed , namely , that
brethren in London should pay 2 s . more , and that brethren in the provinces should pay an additional is . He wanted to increase the 4 s . to 6 s . for London , and thc 2 s . to 3 s . for the provinces ; he wanted to ask every brother in London to pay something less than a half-penny a week , and for brethren in the country to pay a larthing a week to give to poor Masons , as
they had been doing that night , lhey had been voting £ 1100 to poor Masons , going beyond the income lo do so . If they went on doing that they must take it out of the capital , and ten years hence they must find another fund , or the grants would be reduced . All the Provincial Grand Lodges were against it , but had not given a single reason . With his experience the question of town or country was never thought of by the Lodge
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00200
mal , and all that is most deeply to be deplored in Ireland just now , a very hateful state of so-called public opinion , so , on the other hand , we presume the criminal view of the question may be , in certain sections of the little village , an unwelcome interference on the part of poor policeman COLE with the legitimate trade of the midnight burglar . As this is the fifth case during
the last twelve months where revolvers have been used against the metropolitan police , we trust that our night patrols , to whom the entire safety and peace of the metropolis are owing , may in future be properly armed , in order to cope on fair ground with this most abject , degraded , and desperate " outcome " of criminal existence . Wc trusl that the names on the implements found , such as " ROCK , " may lead to the identification of the murderer .
United Grand Lodge.
UNITED GRAND LODGE .
The Fourth Ouarterly Communication of Grand Lodge for 1882 was held at Freemasons' Hall , on the fith inst ., the Right Worshipful Bro . the Karl of Limerick on the throne . Thc Grand Senior Warden's chair was occupied by Bro . Lord Carringtcn , and Bro . Victor A . Williamson filled that of Grand Junior Warden . There were also present : — Bro . The Rt . Hon . Lord CarrinrfonS . G . W . ; Rev . T . Rohinson , G . Chap . ; Rev . T .
Coch-, rane , G . Chap . ; Col . Creaton , G . Treas . ; / E . J . Mclntyre , G . R . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . S . ; E . E . Wendt , D . C . I .., G . Sec . German Corrcs . ; Major John Penricc , S . G . D . ; W . C . Harrison , O . C ., S . G . D . ; R . C . Else . J . G . D . ; Capt . Clement R . N . Beswicke-Ro \ ds , l . G . Ti . ; Horace ( ones , G . Sup . Works ; Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , G . Dir . of C ; R . T . Pi-ott , D . C . I .., Assist . G . D . of C . ; John Messent . G . S . B . ; 11 . S . Alpass , G . Std . Hearer ; " W . J . Cusins , G . Orsf . ; II . G . Uuss , Assist . G . Sec ; W . R . Wood ,
G . I ' urs . j E . V . l . ittell . Assist . G . Purs . ; 11 . Sadler , G . Tyler ; W . W . II . Heach , M . P ., P . G . M . Hants and I . of W . ; Gen . Brownriirg ' , P . G . M . Surrey ; Col . Lc Gendre N . Starfcic , P . G . M . E . Lam . - . ; 11 . I ) . Sandcinati , P . D . G . M . Mental ; C . W . Bennett , P . G . M . Utah . U . S . A . ; Col . A . Stewart , D . G . M . Punjab ; Pryce Pryse , Bart ., P . P . G . M . W . Div . S . Wales ; Hon . Somerset Calthorpe . P . G . W . ; Rev . J . S . Btowvngg , P . G . C ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C ; Rev . H . A . Pirkard , P . G . C ; Rev . C J . Martin , P . G . C ;
Rev . 1 . E . Cox , P . G . C ; lames Glaisher , F . R . S ., P . G . D . ; H . Maudsley , P . G . D . ; Henry C . Tombs , P . G . D . ; " J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; W . A . !•' . Powell , P . G . D . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Jnhn Sampson Peirce , P . G . D . ; R . Grey , P . G . D . ; Raphael Costa , P . G . D . ; Prank Richardson , P . G . D . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Re- 'inald Bud , P . G . D . ; \ . M . Clahon , P . G . D . ; Jolm H . Scott , P . G . D . ; F . A .
Philbrick , O . C , P . G . D . ; T . Penn , P . G . D . ; I ' .. J . Barrow , P . U . U . ; H . , | . P . Dumas , P . G ~ D . ; J . Houff , P . G . D . ; W . E . Gumbleton , P . G . D . ; Matthew Clark . P . G . D . ; James Lewis Thomas , E . S . A ., P . A . G . D . of C ; Charles Greenwood , P . G ; S . B . ; Gcoree Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; J oshua Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; G . Toller , jun ., P . G . S . B . ; C S . Jekvll , P . G . O . ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P .. James Brett , P . G . P . ; C A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . and a number of other Grand and Provincial Grand Officers .
The GRAND SECRETARY read thc minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the Cth September last , which were thereupon duly confirmed . The next business of the agenda was the nomination of the M . W . G . M . Bro . THRUPP rose and said : I have the honour of nominating H . R . H . the Prince of Wales for re-election as Grand Master of our Order for the
ensuing year . The proposition , brethren , requires very few words of recommendation from me . I need only remind you of the indefatigable way in which H . R . H . discharges the various duties and functions which devolve on him as Prince of Wales , and the admirable and courteous manner in which
he performs those duties . Still , amongst his many engagements , both public and private , our Grand Master always finds time to discharge his duties as Grand Master , and does so much to promote the happiness of the brethren and the welfare of the Craft . I beg to recommend H . R . H . for re-election as our Grand Master for the ensuing year . ¦ The M . W . GRAND MASTER in the Chair : Brethren—H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has been nominated as Grand Master for the ensuing year . Has any brother any motion to make ? ( Great applause ) .
The M . W . G . M . in the Chair then announced that Bro . Joshua Nunn had been appointed by the Grand Master as President , and Bro . James Brett as Senior Vice-President , of the Lodge of Benevolence . The votes were then taken for the Junior Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence , and for twelve P . M . s to serve as members of the Lodge . Scrutineers having been appointed , the voting papers were collected . On the return of the scrutineers the result of the poll was declared as follows : —
Votes . \ otes . Bro . Charles Atkins , P . M . 29 . . 35 S Bro . las . H . Matthews , P . M . 143 . 257 „ Henry Garrod , P . M . 749 . . 29 S „ l'hos . Cull , P . M . 144 G ... 247 „ George P . Britten , P . M . 1 S 3 . 2 S 3 „ Charles Dairy , P . M . 141 . . 235 .. Wm . H . Pern-man , P . M . 3 . 273 „ Wm . Mann , P . M . iSO . . . 235
„ Chas . !•' . Hogard , P . M . 205 . 264 „ John M . Menck , P . M . 1339 . 228 „ Wm . Stephens , P . M . 14 S 9 . 2 C 0 „ Joseph D . Collier , P . M . 1366 214 Upon the Report of the Lodge of Benevolence beingread , Bro . Sir ALBERT WOODS , G . D . C , raised an objection that Grand Lodge had no means of considering the propriety of certain considerable grants recommended by the report , and Bro . PHILBRICK also addressed the chair to the same effect . Bro . NUNN , President of the Lodge of Benevolence , gave explanations in reference to the votes , which had been particularly referred to .
The M . W . GRAND MASTER in the Chair , said there was no doubt that all grants should be carefully scrutinised , and that any brother was perfectly entitled to receive any explanation which he desired about a grant proposed . On that account he paused in each case , and only put the vote to the meeting when he found that no brother rose . If an explanation was desired , of course it was most proper that it should be given , and he was sure there would be no difficulty in giving that explanation , and of course it would be for Grand Lodge to decide whether the explanation was sufficient or not .
Col CREATON , G . Treas ., said that he felt very loth , when the grants were proposed , to say one word , but he thought the time had come when he should say that they were giving away more than their income . Some years ago they thought ^ 10 or £ 20 a liberal grant ; but they now gave not less than - £ 50 or £ 100 .
Bro . BRITTEN said that from what the Grand Treasurer had said , Grand Lodge would be led to infer that £ " 50 and £ 100 were the smallest grants , when / 10 or £ 20 would be sufficient . It was only the grants of £ 50 and upwards that came before Grand Lodge . He should like to say , on behalf of Grand Lodge , that every case was thoroughly threshed out ; and he saw
no good purpose for which a discussion could now be opened . The M . W . G RAND MASTER in the Chair said he was afraid he must rule that neither of the brethren were strictly in order , because the business of " the Board of Benevolence had closed before they rose . A discussion upon it now could lead to no good result , and there was no motion before Grand
United Grand Lodge.
Lodge . The business now before Grand Lodge was to receive the report of the Board of General Purposes . Bro . FRANK GREEN moved that the report of the Board of General Purposes be taken as read ; and the motion having been seconded , and put to the Grand Lodge , was declared to be carried .
Bro . GREEN next moved that the report be received and entered on the minutes , and afterwards that it be adopted ; both of which motions were declared duly carried . The M . W . GRAND MASTER in thc Chair said the next business was to receive the report of the Colonial Board .
Bro . RUCKER , P . G . D ., President of the Colonial Board , moved first that the report be taken as read ; and then that it should be received and entered on the minutes : both ofwhich motions were seconded and carried in due course .
In proposing that thc report be adopted , Bro . RUCKER said that he might mention that there were eight inoperative lodges in Egypt , of which it was proposed , as the brethren would see , to erase lour from the list of lodges on the registry of Grand Lodge , viz ., two in Cairo , one in Alexandria , and
one in Ramlah ; and leaving two lodges in Cairo , one in Alexandria , and one in Ramlah . It would be wasting the time of Grand Lodge were he to state more , as the details were to be found in the report . He , therefore , begged to move that the four lodges—Nos . 1068 , 1154 , 1156 , and 1419—be erased from the books of Grand Lodge .
The motion having been seconded , was put to Grand Lodge , and declared carried .
Ihe following Appeals were considered and determined on ;—1 st . From the Victoria Lodge , No . 11 S 6 , Brisbane , Victoria , against the ruling of the DUtrict Grand Master . —That a Lodge of Instruction can only be held under the warrant of the lodge under which it is sanctioned , and consequently not in any other building .
In this case the ruling ol the District Grand Master was reluctantly reversed , as contrary to the Book of Constitutions . But it was suggested by the Grand Registrar that it was desirable to amend the Book of Constitutions in this respect . 2 nd . From a Brother of the Friendly Lodge , No . 239 , Kingston , Jamaica , against the ruling of the Deputy District Grand Master ,
confirming a decision of a P . M ., whilst acting as master of the lodge . —That an alteration made by the lodge in their bye-laws , changing their dav of Installation from December to January , was valid , notwithstanding " that it had not been submitted for the approval of the Deputy District Grand Master , on the ground that it was not a " material alteration " as contemplated by Article 5 , page 6 3 of the Book of Constitutions .
In this case the ruling of the Deputy District Grand Master was upheld . 3 rd . From a Brother P . M . of the Lodge of Fortitude , No . 105 , Plymouth , against a decision of the Provincial Grand Master for Devonshire , refusing to call on another Brother to furnish the information on which he had opposed
the election of the appellant as Prov . Grand Treasurer at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge on the ist August last . In this case , also , the decision of the Prov . Grand Master was upheld . The PRESIDENT said that the next busi ess was to consider the motions of which notice had been given . Bro . CLABON said that he was aware that communications had been
received from Prov . Grand Lodges in regard to the motion of which he had given notice , but he supposed that these communications should be before Grand Lodge before he moved . The GRAND SECRETARY said that notices had been sent out to forty-one Prov . Grann Lodges : twenty-five had voted against it , three had voted in its favour .
Bro . CLABON said he hoped , notwithstanding these unfavourable returns , he should persuade Grand Lodge to accept his motion . ( Cries of withdraw ) . He certainly should not withdraw , so he begged them to hear him . He stated a few figures in making this motion six months ago ; he told Grand Lodge that up to two years ago the Lodge of Benevolence had never voted the whole of their imcome , and the result was that up to that time they
had accumulated something like £ 50 , 000 . In the year 1880 they voted about £ 1000 more than their income , and in 1881 they voted nearly ^ 2000 more than their income . He had not had an opportunity of ascertaining what the voting had been , but it was going on at about the same rate : and they had just heard that £ 790 was granted last month , and Grand Lodge had voted /' 400 more just now .
Well , if they had voted £ 1200 in one night , he thought it would turn out that this year they had voted a considerably larger sum than formerly . He had sat as President of the Board of Benevolence for ten or twelve years , and he did ask them to take his experience , or at all events consider that he was competent to express an opinion . In old times the Lodge of Benevolence used to vote £ 10 , £ 20 , and £ 30 , and / " 40 used to be considered a
large sum ; but latterly , unfortunately , brethren occupying good social positions have met with reversals of fortune , and in consideration of the special circumstances large grants have been made . It was no uncommon , thing now to see grants of £ 100 , and these had not been the highest , but they had had as much as £ 200 and £ 250 > ar > d he remembered distinctly cases—from the evidence he could tell them—of a number of cases where a at
grant of ^ 50 was use all , while a grant of , £ 200 was all the use in the world . Entertaining this opinion , he looked about to see how the income might be increased . The first method was to dip into the accumulated fund . That had been done ; but if every year ^ 3000 or £ 4000 was taken out of the reserve it would soon be exhausted , and when it was gone they would be brought back again to the question how to raise
the money . By whatever means it was done , he could not think it right to spend the accumulated fund ; it was a fund sacred as capital . One alternative was to make it like the other Charities . This had been attempted , and , as they were aware , it had failed entirely . He thought three festivals , as now , in one year were enough . There was only one more way—a very simple way—which had now been proposed , namely , that
brethren in London should pay 2 s . more , and that brethren in the provinces should pay an additional is . He wanted to increase the 4 s . to 6 s . for London , and thc 2 s . to 3 s . for the provinces ; he wanted to ask every brother in London to pay something less than a half-penny a week , and for brethren in the country to pay a larthing a week to give to poor Masons , as
they had been doing that night , lhey had been voting £ 1100 to poor Masons , going beyond the income lo do so . If they went on doing that they must take it out of the capital , and ten years hence they must find another fund , or the grants would be reduced . All the Provincial Grand Lodges were against it , but had not given a single reason . With his experience the question of town or country was never thought of by the Lodge