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Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
laws with reference to an expenditure exceeding £ 300 are duly complied witb , we are of opinion that it is not ultra vires to apply the sum of £ 6500 out of the General Fund for the purchase of the land and premises of Mr . Evill for the purpose of converting and applying tho same to the use of the Institution . " 3 . We think that the Special Court of thc 3 rd of January , 1880 , was duly convened under Laws XXXI .
and XXXIV ., and that the objects for which such Court was held were valid accordingly . Wc see no reason for supposing that the meeting was otherwise than legally held . The minutes of the proceedings at such meetings can , in our opinion , be validly confirmed at the adjourned General Court to be held on the 24 th inst . ( Signed ) " . HORACE DAVEY . GEORGE HOLLIS . "Lincoln ' s-inn , 21 st Jan ., rSSo . "
Col . Burelett then moved that the minutes be confirmed . Bro . Edward Cox rose to a point of order . This was an adjourned meeting , and this was the first time he bad heard that at an adjourned meeting the m ' nutcs oi the former part of the meeting could be confirmed . The Chairman said they were confirming the minutes so far as regarded thc adjournment and the purchtseof
Lyncombe House . Bro . E . Cox asked if it vvas possible to confirm the minutes of a meeting which was not conclueled ? The Chairman replied that the meeting was called to confirm the minutes of the Special Court of the 3 rd January . The last Quarterly Court was adjourned for that purpose , in order that he might refer to his co-Trustees
and have an opinion . An " opinion " had been obtained , and they now met to confirm the minutes . Bro . E . Cox -. Is it proper to confirm the minutes of a meeting which is not over ? The Chairman : This is part of the Quarterly Court when we confirm or otherwise the minutes of the Special Court .
Col . Burdett : I am not out of order in moving that these minutes be confirmed . , The Chairman explained that the minutes of the 3 rel of January were read for the information of those present . They would have been confirmed at the Quarterly Court , but it was found politic to adjourn that Court . Col . Burdett said he moved that the minutes be confirmed
for several reasons—principally because it was of the utmost importance to the Institution that they should have the lanel in question . Though thc price ( £ ( 1300 ) which they were going to give for it was high , yet the value to the Institution was equivalent to the price which they were about to give . If they did not take the lanel others would . Rumours were going about that it might be taken for a
Boys' School to be built there . If so , they would have to build a high wall , and lose an entrance to thc main road . The matter had been thoroughly considered , and he believed there was no doubt about the legality of the transaction . In this view they were supported hy the opinion of eminent counsel . It appeared tn him that if they let this opportunity slip they would probably be placed in an
awkward position . There was no necessity for him to say anything about the object in view in purchasing this land . Without further preface he begged to move— " That Ihe minules of the Special Court of thc 3 rd of January be confirmed . " Bro . Raynham W . Stewart seconded . He believed it was of gieat importance to them to acquire this properly ,
and failed to see any good reason for opposition , except on the ground of expense . Surely it was worth their while to pay a little more money than thc land was worth rather than run the risk of having their property spoiled . The house which they proposed buying could be turned into a preparatory school for the education of twenty- five children . By so doing they were increasing thc benefits of the
School . Bro . James Mason enquired whether there were any vacancies , and how many , in the School at present ? The Chairman : None . Bro . T . Mason : No vacancies ? The Chairman : None ; unless you agree toadmit more . I may say that if the minutes are confirmed I intend
giving notice of a motion for increasing the number at the next Quarterly Court . ( Hear , bear . ) Bro . J . Mason : If the minutes are not confirmed you cannot do so . The Chairman : Certainly not , Bro . Edward Cox , in what he believed to be the interests of tbe School , rose to oppose the confirmation of these
minutes , and moved , as an amendment , " That it is not desirable at the present time to incteasc the grounds anil premises of this Institution . " He had no hostile feeling to any of the brethren , to the Building Committee , the House Committee , or the General Committee of the Institution , but he did not think it necessary at present to make any addition tothe premises of the Institution , and
if they made this purchase they would increase tbeir premises at an exorbitant price . He did not agree wilh Bro , Thompson that they shoulel rush into Chancery , for he thought that would be a serious difficulty to get into , lt would , in his opinion , have been very much better if Bro . Thompson had mustered his fiiends anil ousted the proposal at opce , than have pursuer ! . 1 coutsc wlrich led to the
antagonistic opinions of two eminent counsel , namely , those of Mr . Loccck Webb and Mr . Horace Davey . Still , he had no doubt that the reasons which occuncd to Bro . Thompson for going to thc Court hail arisen to the minds of many of the brethren who knew thc peculiar way in which the Committee- hail cumiuctcd their proceedings . He
( Bro . Cox ) thought that the Committee should have applied to the General Coutt for permission to increase the number of children , and then to buy land , if it was necessary in the interests of the Institution that more should be acquired . He also thought that there was an irregularity io thc Building Committee recommending the purchase ,
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
as he thought that that should have been for the subscribers . These were the grounds of his opposition , and he thought the Court was now in a position to determine whether or no the ground should Oe purchased , and the proposed addition made to the School premises . On the last occasion he teild them that the house was of much less value than the Committee imagined . Mr . Evill
himself eleclared its actual gross annual rental to be £ 120 only . The Chairman : Mr . Evill told mc he wrote to Mr . Harrap , from whom you derived your information , that its value was £ 130 . Bro . Cox : Mr . Harrap wrote me the following letter : — " Parish of St . Mary . Battersea , Vestry Hall , Bridge-road ,
West Battersea , S . W ., December 27 th , 1879 . Dear Sir and Brother , —I must ask you to forgive my apparent negligence anel discourtesy in not replying to your letter , asking for information respecting Lyncombe House . That property belongs to one who is a very valued friend of mine , and , as I gathered from the tone of your letter that you were inclined to endeavour to upset an arrangement
I knew had been entered into for the purchase of his property , I felt that in common fairness 1 ought to know how far his interests might be affected . Having seen him , and knowing now the exact stale of the case , and having also his permission , I freely give you the information you wish . Lyncombe House is rated gross £ 120 . " The Chairman ( interrupting ) : Mr . Evill told me it was
£ 130 . He said you were misinformed . Bro . Edward Cox continued reading : — " Rateable £ 100 . This is of course only the residential value . If the house and grounds were laid for building , as I have good reason to believe they are , Ihey would realise a great ileal more , and if the piicc lhat has been offered is correct , I should think that the Court have been able to get the property at
a cheaper rate than they acquired other land in the rear . Although only a subscriber to the Schools of a small amount , I , like you , take a great interest in their welfare , and shoulel be sorry to see the funds at all wasted , but if all is to be done that I hear of I think that the executive have acted wisely . I can only further add that the assessment is of five years' standing , and
would in all probability havc been increased at thc next revision . —Believe mc , yours truly anil fraternally , Tuos . HAH HAP . " Now , allowing a fair increase on the proposed estimate , the gross annual value of thc property for the next five years would be £ 140 . What , then , would be tbe value of property rented at £ 140 a year ? They had been told that this was a very valuable house .
1 he chairman called it a mansion , and said it might be converted into an infant school for the eelucation of twenty-five additional children . If that were so it would reejuire a great deal of money to alter it . He woulel presently deal wilh that part of thc subject . It was said that Mr . Evill had recently spent £ 700 in decorating the house , and if he contemplated destroying it he would not
have spent that sum in decorations . His mode of elealing with the property showed that he elid not intenel buileling . He could not build in thc front for want of frontage . The property was so peculiarly situated that it was only about thc square of the ftontage which could be built upon , because no builder would havc the temerity to build on the bank of the railway with so large and steep a slope .
He could build nothing but mere sheds on that triangle—not permanent am ! lasting edifices . It would therefore be only the small piece at the back of the Institution's present laundry that would be applicable for building . Now , r . o man in his senses , would think of destroying a house worth £ 140 a year for the purpose of building houses on land at a ground rent of the total
value of under £ . 40 . Under these circumstances he thought it would be grtat felly to give £ 6500 for the property . He had heard lhat buildings dttrimental to thc Schools might be erected there , lt had been suggested tbat a public house might be built . He did not think that there was any fear of that , there being plenty of public house accommodation close by . The situation , also , was
against it . Again , it was not likely that another licence would be granted in that neighbourhood . 'I hen it was said that a bo ) s' school would be erected . Every person with property near might compel them to purchase by the mere threat that they would build a btiy » ' school if they did not give the price asked . He did not think that these matters should materially influence them . Then , again ,
if they gave £ 6500 for the property they would not have done with the whole of their expenditure . If these minutes were confirmed to-day , the Chairman would give notice immediately of a motion for making an addition to the number of the girls in the School . Did they think that they would get thc necessary funds . He was not an alarmist , but he did not think that the next festival would be a
prosperous one for the Institution . He thought Bro . Clabon made a great mistake the other day when he said we coulel afford to give a large sum for this property because we had plenty of money . He thought it would be folly to confirm the minules at present for the expenditure of £ 6300 on property wbich it was clear was not worth more than £ 4000 . For these reasons he moved that thc minutes be not conliimed .
Bro . James Slovens seconded the amendment , at the risk of being in a minority and of being chargeable with " obtuse stupidity and vulgar personality . " He supported thc noii-coiifiiiiiatioii of the minutes on the score of value alone . He agreed thai where a fair opportunity occurred for purchasing property at a fair price they should avail themselves of it . But this was not such an opportunity .
He had had thirty > ears' experience of property in the neighbourhood , anil he averred that tho outside price for the Lyncombe House and grounds was £ 4500 . They must bear in mind that the frontage was only sixty-six feet frontage on thc main road , and that before thc owner could do anything in turning his three - quarters of an acre to account he would
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
have to make an approach road of forty feet wide out of that sixty - six feet . Of the rest , how could he get ground rents for houses , which if capitalised would produce £ 6500 ? But that was not all . Bro . Cox had struck the key note when he said that if they gave an outrageous price for the property they would in the future have proprietors around them speculating on
getting " fancy prices " too for their properties ; tbey would threaten what they would do with their lands and premises if we did not buy them up . Would it not be better to make some other arrangements for the education of orphan children of deserving Masons ? Bro . J . M . Klenck supported the amendment . He , like Bro . Cox , failed to sec why a gentleman who was going to
turn his house and grounds into a building _ speculation should spend near ' y £ 700 on structural decorations . After the ground was laid out so as to meet the requirements of the Metropolitan Board of Works , the plans would show that only fourteen plots of land would be available for building purposes . But there was a fatal objection to the whole building scheme , and that was if they had a .
forty feet road , there must be an outlet at the other end , as the Board would not sanction a blind road . As to thc value of the property , take the house at a rental of £ 150 a year , and put on a thirty-eight years' purchase to make it a fancy price ( eighteen would be nearer , and twenty would be a very , very good price to pay ) , and they would not come near the figure the Institution was proposing to
pay . After having bought it they would be open to surrounding neighbours putting fancy prices on their property if the Institution wished to buy it . Bio . Walter Hopekirk felt sure that the addition of twenty-five girls to the School would be satisfactory to the Craft . Brethren who had sufficient influence to carry in their children might be satisfied with the present number of children , but those who had not that influence would
consider the admission of an additional twenty-five children a great boon . He gave credit to Bros . Cox and Stevens for an earnest desire to promote the good of the Institution . He knew they had a thorough knowledge of the value of pounds , shillings , and pence , but he thought they had put that value in the wrong place on the present occasion . The land was of more value . It was a su'prise to him how the Institution had done so much with the
ground they had got . If they could obtain the extra piece it would be a great aelvantage . Bro . J . L . Stothert , as a provincial brother , took a great interest in the Charities . He had been told that halfanacre of land was bought by the Institution not long ago for £ 2000 , They hail now to deal with three quarters of an acre , placed under very advantageous circumstances ,
because it gave an entrance from the high road . Taking thc price of this piece of land at £ 4500 , he did not think it a high price . That left £ 2000 for thc house , which was admirably adapted for the purposes of the Institution . £ 2000 for this house was very small . He thought thc whole sum of £ 6500 , instead of being high , was exceedingly small , and the Committee had done very wisely in
endeavouring to secure it . He was sure be carried a large number of the brethren in the provinces with him when he said thoy were willing to entrust the interests of the Institution in the purchase of this property to a Committee who hail so carefully considered the subject . Bro . James Mason also considered thai thc matter had been well considered by the Committee who stood in the
relation of Trustees for the Charity . If any imputation of wrong doing could be laid to the Committee the scheme woulel fall to the ground . They had acted honestly and l-onajide . For thc benefit of the Institution land must be considered before price . Thc money they could well afford . If they could not it woulel be a different affair . Thc lanel was worih more to the Institution than to a private
individual . The Committee were entitled to support , and he hoped that the brethren who had brought forward the opposition would vote with the majority in favour of tlie motion . He deprecated Chancery proceedings , which , while being un-Masonic , might lend to those who indulged in them burning their own fingers . If they attempted to upset thc scheme on the grounds set forth that day they would
fail . Bro . II . T . I'hotnpson argued that the ten days' notice of the meeting of the 3 rd of January prescribed by the laws of the Institution had not been given , as the notice was only published on the 27 thof December . He also submitted that the meeting had not been called upon the recommendation of the General Committee , as directed in
the book of rules . He further contended that the Chairman having had notice of the opinion of Bro . Locock Webb ought to have informed the Special Court . He dissented from the " opinion that thc provincial brethren were in favour of thc new purchase . On the contrary , they were averse to it , ane ! one province was strongly protesting against it , and proposed to resolve never to sub & cribe
another penny to the Institution . He informed the meeting that he did not intend to vote . Rev . A . F . A . Woodford would not have spoken on this occasion but that he was anxious to keep before the brethren the l-imu fides of the gallant Chairman . Col . Creaton did not submit thc opinion of Bro . Locock Webb to the meeting because , whatever Bro . Moss might say in his
letters to the press , he gavt the information to Col . Creaton in confidence . How then could the Chairman use the information ? He stated he had seen an opinion . Bro . Thompson had said the provinces were against the proposed outlay . Now he ( Bro . Woodford ) could state for one of the provinces , tlie province of West Yorkshire , that its excellent Grand Secretary was heartily iu favour of it . He
ventured to say that thc prophecies of eliscomfiture at thc next annual festival would be proved to be wrong , and that the Craft as a body would rally round the Institution and support the Committee , who had endeavoured lo do their duty in increasing the efficiency and maintaining the usefulness of one of thc most admirable charities the country could boast of .
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Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
laws with reference to an expenditure exceeding £ 300 are duly complied witb , we are of opinion that it is not ultra vires to apply the sum of £ 6500 out of the General Fund for the purchase of the land and premises of Mr . Evill for the purpose of converting and applying tho same to the use of the Institution . " 3 . We think that the Special Court of thc 3 rd of January , 1880 , was duly convened under Laws XXXI .
and XXXIV ., and that the objects for which such Court was held were valid accordingly . Wc see no reason for supposing that the meeting was otherwise than legally held . The minutes of the proceedings at such meetings can , in our opinion , be validly confirmed at the adjourned General Court to be held on the 24 th inst . ( Signed ) " . HORACE DAVEY . GEORGE HOLLIS . "Lincoln ' s-inn , 21 st Jan ., rSSo . "
Col . Burelett then moved that the minutes be confirmed . Bro . Edward Cox rose to a point of order . This was an adjourned meeting , and this was the first time he bad heard that at an adjourned meeting the m ' nutcs oi the former part of the meeting could be confirmed . The Chairman said they were confirming the minutes so far as regarded thc adjournment and the purchtseof
Lyncombe House . Bro . E . Cox asked if it vvas possible to confirm the minutes of a meeting which was not conclueled ? The Chairman replied that the meeting was called to confirm the minutes of the Special Court of the 3 rd January . The last Quarterly Court was adjourned for that purpose , in order that he might refer to his co-Trustees
and have an opinion . An " opinion " had been obtained , and they now met to confirm the minutes . Bro . E . Cox -. Is it proper to confirm the minutes of a meeting which is not over ? The Chairman : This is part of the Quarterly Court when we confirm or otherwise the minutes of the Special Court .
Col . Burdett : I am not out of order in moving that these minutes be confirmed . , The Chairman explained that the minutes of the 3 rel of January were read for the information of those present . They would have been confirmed at the Quarterly Court , but it was found politic to adjourn that Court . Col . Burdett said he moved that the minutes be confirmed
for several reasons—principally because it was of the utmost importance to the Institution that they should have the lanel in question . Though thc price ( £ ( 1300 ) which they were going to give for it was high , yet the value to the Institution was equivalent to the price which they were about to give . If they did not take the lanel others would . Rumours were going about that it might be taken for a
Boys' School to be built there . If so , they would have to build a high wall , and lose an entrance to thc main road . The matter had been thoroughly considered , and he believed there was no doubt about the legality of the transaction . In this view they were supported hy the opinion of eminent counsel . It appeared tn him that if they let this opportunity slip they would probably be placed in an
awkward position . There was no necessity for him to say anything about the object in view in purchasing this land . Without further preface he begged to move— " That Ihe minules of the Special Court of thc 3 rd of January be confirmed . " Bro . Raynham W . Stewart seconded . He believed it was of gieat importance to them to acquire this properly ,
and failed to see any good reason for opposition , except on the ground of expense . Surely it was worth their while to pay a little more money than thc land was worth rather than run the risk of having their property spoiled . The house which they proposed buying could be turned into a preparatory school for the education of twenty- five children . By so doing they were increasing thc benefits of the
School . Bro . James Mason enquired whether there were any vacancies , and how many , in the School at present ? The Chairman : None . Bro . T . Mason : No vacancies ? The Chairman : None ; unless you agree toadmit more . I may say that if the minutes are confirmed I intend
giving notice of a motion for increasing the number at the next Quarterly Court . ( Hear , bear . ) Bro . J . Mason : If the minutes are not confirmed you cannot do so . The Chairman : Certainly not , Bro . Edward Cox , in what he believed to be the interests of tbe School , rose to oppose the confirmation of these
minutes , and moved , as an amendment , " That it is not desirable at the present time to incteasc the grounds anil premises of this Institution . " He had no hostile feeling to any of the brethren , to the Building Committee , the House Committee , or the General Committee of the Institution , but he did not think it necessary at present to make any addition tothe premises of the Institution , and
if they made this purchase they would increase tbeir premises at an exorbitant price . He did not agree wilh Bro , Thompson that they shoulel rush into Chancery , for he thought that would be a serious difficulty to get into , lt would , in his opinion , have been very much better if Bro . Thompson had mustered his fiiends anil ousted the proposal at opce , than have pursuer ! . 1 coutsc wlrich led to the
antagonistic opinions of two eminent counsel , namely , those of Mr . Loccck Webb and Mr . Horace Davey . Still , he had no doubt that the reasons which occuncd to Bro . Thompson for going to thc Court hail arisen to the minds of many of the brethren who knew thc peculiar way in which the Committee- hail cumiuctcd their proceedings . He
( Bro . Cox ) thought that the Committee should have applied to the General Coutt for permission to increase the number of children , and then to buy land , if it was necessary in the interests of the Institution that more should be acquired . He also thought that there was an irregularity io thc Building Committee recommending the purchase ,
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
as he thought that that should have been for the subscribers . These were the grounds of his opposition , and he thought the Court was now in a position to determine whether or no the ground should Oe purchased , and the proposed addition made to the School premises . On the last occasion he teild them that the house was of much less value than the Committee imagined . Mr . Evill
himself eleclared its actual gross annual rental to be £ 120 only . The Chairman : Mr . Evill told mc he wrote to Mr . Harrap , from whom you derived your information , that its value was £ 130 . Bro . Cox : Mr . Harrap wrote me the following letter : — " Parish of St . Mary . Battersea , Vestry Hall , Bridge-road ,
West Battersea , S . W ., December 27 th , 1879 . Dear Sir and Brother , —I must ask you to forgive my apparent negligence anel discourtesy in not replying to your letter , asking for information respecting Lyncombe House . That property belongs to one who is a very valued friend of mine , and , as I gathered from the tone of your letter that you were inclined to endeavour to upset an arrangement
I knew had been entered into for the purchase of his property , I felt that in common fairness 1 ought to know how far his interests might be affected . Having seen him , and knowing now the exact stale of the case , and having also his permission , I freely give you the information you wish . Lyncombe House is rated gross £ 120 . " The Chairman ( interrupting ) : Mr . Evill told me it was
£ 130 . He said you were misinformed . Bro . Edward Cox continued reading : — " Rateable £ 100 . This is of course only the residential value . If the house and grounds were laid for building , as I have good reason to believe they are , Ihey would realise a great ileal more , and if the piicc lhat has been offered is correct , I should think that the Court have been able to get the property at
a cheaper rate than they acquired other land in the rear . Although only a subscriber to the Schools of a small amount , I , like you , take a great interest in their welfare , and shoulel be sorry to see the funds at all wasted , but if all is to be done that I hear of I think that the executive have acted wisely . I can only further add that the assessment is of five years' standing , and
would in all probability havc been increased at thc next revision . —Believe mc , yours truly anil fraternally , Tuos . HAH HAP . " Now , allowing a fair increase on the proposed estimate , the gross annual value of thc property for the next five years would be £ 140 . What , then , would be tbe value of property rented at £ 140 a year ? They had been told that this was a very valuable house .
1 he chairman called it a mansion , and said it might be converted into an infant school for the eelucation of twenty-five additional children . If that were so it would reejuire a great deal of money to alter it . He woulel presently deal wilh that part of thc subject . It was said that Mr . Evill had recently spent £ 700 in decorating the house , and if he contemplated destroying it he would not
have spent that sum in decorations . His mode of elealing with the property showed that he elid not intenel buileling . He could not build in thc front for want of frontage . The property was so peculiarly situated that it was only about thc square of the ftontage which could be built upon , because no builder would havc the temerity to build on the bank of the railway with so large and steep a slope .
He could build nothing but mere sheds on that triangle—not permanent am ! lasting edifices . It would therefore be only the small piece at the back of the Institution's present laundry that would be applicable for building . Now , r . o man in his senses , would think of destroying a house worth £ 140 a year for the purpose of building houses on land at a ground rent of the total
value of under £ . 40 . Under these circumstances he thought it would be grtat felly to give £ 6500 for the property . He had heard lhat buildings dttrimental to thc Schools might be erected there , lt had been suggested tbat a public house might be built . He did not think that there was any fear of that , there being plenty of public house accommodation close by . The situation , also , was
against it . Again , it was not likely that another licence would be granted in that neighbourhood . 'I hen it was said that a bo ) s' school would be erected . Every person with property near might compel them to purchase by the mere threat that they would build a btiy » ' school if they did not give the price asked . He did not think that these matters should materially influence them . Then , again ,
if they gave £ 6500 for the property they would not have done with the whole of their expenditure . If these minutes were confirmed to-day , the Chairman would give notice immediately of a motion for making an addition to the number of the girls in the School . Did they think that they would get thc necessary funds . He was not an alarmist , but he did not think that the next festival would be a
prosperous one for the Institution . He thought Bro . Clabon made a great mistake the other day when he said we coulel afford to give a large sum for this property because we had plenty of money . He thought it would be folly to confirm the minules at present for the expenditure of £ 6300 on property wbich it was clear was not worth more than £ 4000 . For these reasons he moved that thc minutes be not conliimed .
Bro . James Slovens seconded the amendment , at the risk of being in a minority and of being chargeable with " obtuse stupidity and vulgar personality . " He supported thc noii-coiifiiiiiatioii of the minutes on the score of value alone . He agreed thai where a fair opportunity occurred for purchasing property at a fair price they should avail themselves of it . But this was not such an opportunity .
He had had thirty > ears' experience of property in the neighbourhood , anil he averred that tho outside price for the Lyncombe House and grounds was £ 4500 . They must bear in mind that the frontage was only sixty-six feet frontage on thc main road , and that before thc owner could do anything in turning his three - quarters of an acre to account he would
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
have to make an approach road of forty feet wide out of that sixty - six feet . Of the rest , how could he get ground rents for houses , which if capitalised would produce £ 6500 ? But that was not all . Bro . Cox had struck the key note when he said that if they gave an outrageous price for the property they would in the future have proprietors around them speculating on
getting " fancy prices " too for their properties ; tbey would threaten what they would do with their lands and premises if we did not buy them up . Would it not be better to make some other arrangements for the education of orphan children of deserving Masons ? Bro . J . M . Klenck supported the amendment . He , like Bro . Cox , failed to sec why a gentleman who was going to
turn his house and grounds into a building _ speculation should spend near ' y £ 700 on structural decorations . After the ground was laid out so as to meet the requirements of the Metropolitan Board of Works , the plans would show that only fourteen plots of land would be available for building purposes . But there was a fatal objection to the whole building scheme , and that was if they had a .
forty feet road , there must be an outlet at the other end , as the Board would not sanction a blind road . As to thc value of the property , take the house at a rental of £ 150 a year , and put on a thirty-eight years' purchase to make it a fancy price ( eighteen would be nearer , and twenty would be a very , very good price to pay ) , and they would not come near the figure the Institution was proposing to
pay . After having bought it they would be open to surrounding neighbours putting fancy prices on their property if the Institution wished to buy it . Bio . Walter Hopekirk felt sure that the addition of twenty-five girls to the School would be satisfactory to the Craft . Brethren who had sufficient influence to carry in their children might be satisfied with the present number of children , but those who had not that influence would
consider the admission of an additional twenty-five children a great boon . He gave credit to Bros . Cox and Stevens for an earnest desire to promote the good of the Institution . He knew they had a thorough knowledge of the value of pounds , shillings , and pence , but he thought they had put that value in the wrong place on the present occasion . The land was of more value . It was a su'prise to him how the Institution had done so much with the
ground they had got . If they could obtain the extra piece it would be a great aelvantage . Bro . J . L . Stothert , as a provincial brother , took a great interest in the Charities . He had been told that halfanacre of land was bought by the Institution not long ago for £ 2000 , They hail now to deal with three quarters of an acre , placed under very advantageous circumstances ,
because it gave an entrance from the high road . Taking thc price of this piece of land at £ 4500 , he did not think it a high price . That left £ 2000 for thc house , which was admirably adapted for the purposes of the Institution . £ 2000 for this house was very small . He thought thc whole sum of £ 6500 , instead of being high , was exceedingly small , and the Committee had done very wisely in
endeavouring to secure it . He was sure be carried a large number of the brethren in the provinces with him when he said thoy were willing to entrust the interests of the Institution in the purchase of this property to a Committee who hail so carefully considered the subject . Bro . James Mason also considered thai thc matter had been well considered by the Committee who stood in the
relation of Trustees for the Charity . If any imputation of wrong doing could be laid to the Committee the scheme woulel fall to the ground . They had acted honestly and l-onajide . For thc benefit of the Institution land must be considered before price . Thc money they could well afford . If they could not it woulel be a different affair . Thc lanel was worih more to the Institution than to a private
individual . The Committee were entitled to support , and he hoped that the brethren who had brought forward the opposition would vote with the majority in favour of tlie motion . He deprecated Chancery proceedings , which , while being un-Masonic , might lend to those who indulged in them burning their own fingers . If they attempted to upset thc scheme on the grounds set forth that day they would
fail . Bro . II . T . I'hotnpson argued that the ten days' notice of the meeting of the 3 rd of January prescribed by the laws of the Institution had not been given , as the notice was only published on the 27 thof December . He also submitted that the meeting had not been called upon the recommendation of the General Committee , as directed in
the book of rules . He further contended that the Chairman having had notice of the opinion of Bro . Locock Webb ought to have informed the Special Court . He dissented from the " opinion that thc provincial brethren were in favour of thc new purchase . On the contrary , they were averse to it , ane ! one province was strongly protesting against it , and proposed to resolve never to sub & cribe
another penny to the Institution . He informed the meeting that he did not intend to vote . Rev . A . F . A . Woodford would not have spoken on this occasion but that he was anxious to keep before the brethren the l-imu fides of the gallant Chairman . Col . Creaton did not submit thc opinion of Bro . Locock Webb to the meeting because , whatever Bro . Moss might say in his
letters to the press , he gavt the information to Col . Creaton in confidence . How then could the Chairman use the information ? He stated he had seen an opinion . Bro . Thompson had said the provinces were against the proposed outlay . Now he ( Bro . Woodford ) could state for one of the provinces , tlie province of West Yorkshire , that its excellent Grand Secretary was heartily iu favour of it . He
ventured to say that thc prophecies of eliscomfiture at thc next annual festival would be proved to be wrong , and that the Craft as a body would rally round the Institution and support the Committee , who had endeavoured lo do their duty in increasing the efficiency and maintaining the usefulness of one of thc most admirable charities the country could boast of .