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Article GRAND LODGE. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Grand Lodge.
details of management whicli were properly left to the Committee and the subscribers at their General Meeting . This resolution had not been brought forward until after due consideration , and with the conviction that it could be carried out without detriment to the institution . Bro . " UDAEL , P . G . D ., confirmed Bro . Symonds with regard to the consideration which had been given to the resolution by the
Committee , who had , moreover , been influenced in fixing the number of candidates to be elected by the consideration that £ 5 woidd have to be added to all the annuities under £ 20 . The resolution was then put and carried unanimously . The M . AV . G . MASTER said the next resolution he had to move came as a necessary corollary to the one first passed , viz ., — " That Article -1 , page 17 , be suspended , so far as relates to Female Annuitants at present receiving £ 15 , and that for the future their annuities be increased to £ 20 . " The motion , having been seconded , was passed .
BOARD or BENEVOLENCE . The G . SECRETARY next read the report from the report of the Board of Benevolence , which stated that , at the meeting on the 20 th March , Bro . Jos . Smith , P . G . Purst . in the chair , eleven petitioners were relieved by grants to the extent of £ 107 10 s . On the 17 th April , Bro . Eandel , P . G . D ., presiding , thirteen petitioners were relieved with grants amounting to £ 160 ; and , on the 22 nd May , Bro . John Udall in the chair , thirteen petitioners were
relieved with grants to the extent of £ 115 10 s ., and the following grants were recommended to Grand Lodge : —Bro . Morris Sclilesingev , of the Grenadiers' Lodge ( Ho . 79 ) , London , £ 100 ; AVilliam Dodd , of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge ( So . 2 S 1 ) , London , £ 50 ; Charles Lawrence , of the late Castle Lodge ( Kb . 36 ) , London , £ 50 . On a motion being put for confirming the first grant , a conversation ensued , in which it was stated that the £ 100 had been recommended under a misconception of the services which Bro .
Schlesinger had rendered to Masonry and the charitable institutions connected with it ; and that Bro . Schlesinger had himself explained how the misconception arose , and had authorised Bro . Savage to state that he would rather have £ 50 at once than wait three months for the confirmation of the grant of £ 100 , which he would , according to the laws , have to do . Under these circumstances , the grant was reduced to £ 50 . The other grants recommended were unanimously approved .
NEW GRAND OFFICERS . The report of the Board of General Purposes having been taken as read , was ordered to be received and entered in the Minutes . The PRESIDENT or TUB BOARD OR GENERAL PURPOSES rose and said , in moving the first resolution arising out of the report , he trusted he might be allowed to depart from the usual course , and without any disrespect to the noble Lord , address himself more immediately to the brethren instead of the M . AV . G . M ., as was the usual custom , inasmuch as it proposed to extend to the M . AV . G . Master powers at present only possessed by Grand Lodge , viz .,
that of conferring past rank on brethren of eminence and ability , in deference to advice which he had received from some of his legal brethren , he proposed to modify the resolution as it appeared in the printed report , by striking out the words " and to confer upon them , " and to substitute the word " with , " so that the resolution would read as follows : — " That the M . GW . M . be empowered to appoint brethren of eminence and ability to bo members of Grand Lodge , with such rank and distinction as he may think proper . "
He could assure Grand Lodge that the Board of General Purposes , of which he was the representative , had not arrived at the determination to recommend the resolution to their adoption without much consideration , and having had under review the great increase whicli had taken place in Freemasonry , without the corresponding increase in the means of rewarding brethren who had rendered distinguished services to the Craft . ' From 1813 to 1817 there were not more than 460 working lod although there were
ges , between 600 and 700 on the list , many of which never met at all . The number of lodges now on the roll was between 1160 and 1170 , and the number of Masons had increased in still greater proportion ; for whereas , ten or fifteen years since , 1 , 000 , 1 , 100 , or 1 , 400 members per annum was considered a large number to admit into their Order , during the present year the increase had been going on at the rate of more than 100 a week , and was likely to continue
, and therefore it was that it was thought the power of conferring honours on the brethren should he increased . He spoke on the part of tho Board of General Purposes when he stated that throughout the country there were a number of good and true men who were entitled to rewards . The G . M . had ever devoted his talents and time most honourably to the good of the Craft , and he felt that hi giving the G . M . the power now proposed , it would be
most sparingly exercised ; for , indeed , if it were largely made use of it would lose its value . He wished to assure tho brethren that he was not proposing to do anything whicli was not acknowledged and acted upon in other parts of their social system . There were
admirals who had never commanded a fleet , and colonels who had never been appointed to a regiment . The brevet rank given by Her Majesty was well known and acknowledged , and they now only proposed to give to the G . M . powers whicli the Grand Lodge could itself now exercise , and no one who knew how particular the G . M . was in the discharge of his duties could doubt that , if given , the power would be otherwise than most judiciously
used . Occasionally the G . AV . M . would select to confer position upon two or three brethren who had devoted themselves to the interests of the Craft , and by their services merited some reward . This power would be the more particularly useful in rewarding brethren in the country hut it was not proposed in any way to limit the powers as regarded the persons on whom these honours might be conferred , and he would therefore at once propose his resolution in the terms he had read
. Bro . MCINTYRE , S . G . D . ~ , as Alee President of the Board of General Purposes , seconded the resolution , which had been deliberately and most carefully' considered at the Board . By the Pooh of Constitutions , Grand Lodge had the power of granting past rank upon distinguished brethren , and it was now proposed to extend the poiver to the Grand Master , who had better opportunities of judging of the claims of brethren to distinction . He had
canvassed the Craft to a considerable extent , and had found the proposition received with almost universal approbation . Bro . GIRAUD believed that , if the Grand Master was likely to live one thousand years , there might be little objection to the rulej but they were all mortal , and he looked upon the proposed alteration in the laws as a gross innovation of the Order . The power was so large that ho did not consider it should be trusted to any manas it would give the Grand Master power to swamp Grand
, Lodge , if he were so disposed . ( No , no . ) Bro . MASON did not think that the proposal could be fairly designated as a gross innovation of their principles , but he thought it one that deserved the approval of Grand Lodge . There were many brethren of distinction who had not the opportunity of making themselves known to Grand Lodge , whilst their claims to reward might fairly he known to the Grand Master . So long as the present ruler of the Craft remained in the office which be so much
adorned , there could be no danger of the power being abused ; and as regarded future Grand Masters , they must recollect then- election was in the hands of Grand Lodge , and it was their duty to elect as Grand Master a brother in whom they had sufficient confidence
to believe that he would only confer honour where honour was due . Bro . HoHtKS COOTE would remind them that there had been a proposition before Grand Lodge for electing the Grand Master annually , and he would ask if such a system should hereafter be carried out , wdiat security they would have for the proper exercise of the power now proposed to he granted ? Bro . STEERING- said that , having advocated the claims of D . Prov . G . Masters to greater consideration than they had hitherto received ,
he adopted the proposition with pleasure , thinking that it would be a means of fairly rewarding distinguished Provincial brethren . He thought , however , that there must be some mistake in proposing to make brethren "Members" of Grand Lodge , but that it should rather be , Officers of Grand Lodge . He suggested some slight alteration in the resolution to carry out his views , and stated that whilst the present Grand Master held office , there could be no doubt such appointments would he limited by prudence ; and if any future
Grand Muster attempted to abuse the power , why , they must turn him out . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Bro . Is GRAM , of Gibraltar , supported the resolution , saying that there were very many brethren in the colonies , who , whilst doing good suit and service to the Craft , had no opportunity of reaping any of its higher honours ; and he trusted the measure , if carried , would be extended to the colonies . Bro . It . H . SMIMI was understood to object to the motion .
Bro . HAVERS felt himself in the curious position of having to reply only to friends . He was rather surprised at the objection token by Bro . Giraud . It was not likely the Grand Master would ever be actuated by anything but the strictest honour in the discharge of his duties . The Grand Master had ever been most careful as to the manner in which he used his perogative , and it was not likely that he would be otherwise than as careful in the future .. They now only proposed to give to the Grand Master powers which
had been exercised by his predecessors ; and H . R-. H . the Duke of Sussex was in the habit of bestowing rank on whoever he pleased—Sir Cuthbert Sharp being the last brother who was so honoured . Again , in the colonies the Prov . Grand Masters were in the habit of bestowing brevet rank on their officers . He agreed with Bro . Ingrain that there were many brethren in the colonies whose services deserved recognition , and this resolution would enable the Grand Master properly to recognise them . Bro . Stebbing had . objected to the proposition of making members of Grand Lodge , but in that he had followed the words of the Booh of Constitutions , which stated that distinguished brethren might ,
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Grand Lodge.
details of management whicli were properly left to the Committee and the subscribers at their General Meeting . This resolution had not been brought forward until after due consideration , and with the conviction that it could be carried out without detriment to the institution . Bro . " UDAEL , P . G . D ., confirmed Bro . Symonds with regard to the consideration which had been given to the resolution by the
Committee , who had , moreover , been influenced in fixing the number of candidates to be elected by the consideration that £ 5 woidd have to be added to all the annuities under £ 20 . The resolution was then put and carried unanimously . The M . AV . G . MASTER said the next resolution he had to move came as a necessary corollary to the one first passed , viz ., — " That Article -1 , page 17 , be suspended , so far as relates to Female Annuitants at present receiving £ 15 , and that for the future their annuities be increased to £ 20 . " The motion , having been seconded , was passed .
BOARD or BENEVOLENCE . The G . SECRETARY next read the report from the report of the Board of Benevolence , which stated that , at the meeting on the 20 th March , Bro . Jos . Smith , P . G . Purst . in the chair , eleven petitioners were relieved by grants to the extent of £ 107 10 s . On the 17 th April , Bro . Eandel , P . G . D ., presiding , thirteen petitioners were relieved with grants amounting to £ 160 ; and , on the 22 nd May , Bro . John Udall in the chair , thirteen petitioners were
relieved with grants to the extent of £ 115 10 s ., and the following grants were recommended to Grand Lodge : —Bro . Morris Sclilesingev , of the Grenadiers' Lodge ( Ho . 79 ) , London , £ 100 ; AVilliam Dodd , of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge ( So . 2 S 1 ) , London , £ 50 ; Charles Lawrence , of the late Castle Lodge ( Kb . 36 ) , London , £ 50 . On a motion being put for confirming the first grant , a conversation ensued , in which it was stated that the £ 100 had been recommended under a misconception of the services which Bro .
Schlesinger had rendered to Masonry and the charitable institutions connected with it ; and that Bro . Schlesinger had himself explained how the misconception arose , and had authorised Bro . Savage to state that he would rather have £ 50 at once than wait three months for the confirmation of the grant of £ 100 , which he would , according to the laws , have to do . Under these circumstances , the grant was reduced to £ 50 . The other grants recommended were unanimously approved .
NEW GRAND OFFICERS . The report of the Board of General Purposes having been taken as read , was ordered to be received and entered in the Minutes . The PRESIDENT or TUB BOARD OR GENERAL PURPOSES rose and said , in moving the first resolution arising out of the report , he trusted he might be allowed to depart from the usual course , and without any disrespect to the noble Lord , address himself more immediately to the brethren instead of the M . AV . G . M ., as was the usual custom , inasmuch as it proposed to extend to the M . AV . G . Master powers at present only possessed by Grand Lodge , viz .,
that of conferring past rank on brethren of eminence and ability , in deference to advice which he had received from some of his legal brethren , he proposed to modify the resolution as it appeared in the printed report , by striking out the words " and to confer upon them , " and to substitute the word " with , " so that the resolution would read as follows : — " That the M . GW . M . be empowered to appoint brethren of eminence and ability to bo members of Grand Lodge , with such rank and distinction as he may think proper . "
He could assure Grand Lodge that the Board of General Purposes , of which he was the representative , had not arrived at the determination to recommend the resolution to their adoption without much consideration , and having had under review the great increase whicli had taken place in Freemasonry , without the corresponding increase in the means of rewarding brethren who had rendered distinguished services to the Craft . ' From 1813 to 1817 there were not more than 460 working lod although there were
ges , between 600 and 700 on the list , many of which never met at all . The number of lodges now on the roll was between 1160 and 1170 , and the number of Masons had increased in still greater proportion ; for whereas , ten or fifteen years since , 1 , 000 , 1 , 100 , or 1 , 400 members per annum was considered a large number to admit into their Order , during the present year the increase had been going on at the rate of more than 100 a week , and was likely to continue
, and therefore it was that it was thought the power of conferring honours on the brethren should he increased . He spoke on the part of tho Board of General Purposes when he stated that throughout the country there were a number of good and true men who were entitled to rewards . The G . M . had ever devoted his talents and time most honourably to the good of the Craft , and he felt that hi giving the G . M . the power now proposed , it would be
most sparingly exercised ; for , indeed , if it were largely made use of it would lose its value . He wished to assure tho brethren that he was not proposing to do anything whicli was not acknowledged and acted upon in other parts of their social system . There were
admirals who had never commanded a fleet , and colonels who had never been appointed to a regiment . The brevet rank given by Her Majesty was well known and acknowledged , and they now only proposed to give to the G . M . powers whicli the Grand Lodge could itself now exercise , and no one who knew how particular the G . M . was in the discharge of his duties could doubt that , if given , the power would be otherwise than most judiciously
used . Occasionally the G . AV . M . would select to confer position upon two or three brethren who had devoted themselves to the interests of the Craft , and by their services merited some reward . This power would be the more particularly useful in rewarding brethren in the country hut it was not proposed in any way to limit the powers as regarded the persons on whom these honours might be conferred , and he would therefore at once propose his resolution in the terms he had read
. Bro . MCINTYRE , S . G . D . ~ , as Alee President of the Board of General Purposes , seconded the resolution , which had been deliberately and most carefully' considered at the Board . By the Pooh of Constitutions , Grand Lodge had the power of granting past rank upon distinguished brethren , and it was now proposed to extend the poiver to the Grand Master , who had better opportunities of judging of the claims of brethren to distinction . He had
canvassed the Craft to a considerable extent , and had found the proposition received with almost universal approbation . Bro . GIRAUD believed that , if the Grand Master was likely to live one thousand years , there might be little objection to the rulej but they were all mortal , and he looked upon the proposed alteration in the laws as a gross innovation of the Order . The power was so large that ho did not consider it should be trusted to any manas it would give the Grand Master power to swamp Grand
, Lodge , if he were so disposed . ( No , no . ) Bro . MASON did not think that the proposal could be fairly designated as a gross innovation of their principles , but he thought it one that deserved the approval of Grand Lodge . There were many brethren of distinction who had not the opportunity of making themselves known to Grand Lodge , whilst their claims to reward might fairly he known to the Grand Master . So long as the present ruler of the Craft remained in the office which be so much
adorned , there could be no danger of the power being abused ; and as regarded future Grand Masters , they must recollect then- election was in the hands of Grand Lodge , and it was their duty to elect as Grand Master a brother in whom they had sufficient confidence
to believe that he would only confer honour where honour was due . Bro . HoHtKS COOTE would remind them that there had been a proposition before Grand Lodge for electing the Grand Master annually , and he would ask if such a system should hereafter be carried out , wdiat security they would have for the proper exercise of the power now proposed to he granted ? Bro . STEERING- said that , having advocated the claims of D . Prov . G . Masters to greater consideration than they had hitherto received ,
he adopted the proposition with pleasure , thinking that it would be a means of fairly rewarding distinguished Provincial brethren . He thought , however , that there must be some mistake in proposing to make brethren "Members" of Grand Lodge , but that it should rather be , Officers of Grand Lodge . He suggested some slight alteration in the resolution to carry out his views , and stated that whilst the present Grand Master held office , there could be no doubt such appointments would he limited by prudence ; and if any future
Grand Muster attempted to abuse the power , why , they must turn him out . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Bro . Is GRAM , of Gibraltar , supported the resolution , saying that there were very many brethren in the colonies , who , whilst doing good suit and service to the Craft , had no opportunity of reaping any of its higher honours ; and he trusted the measure , if carried , would be extended to the colonies . Bro . It . H . SMIMI was understood to object to the motion .
Bro . HAVERS felt himself in the curious position of having to reply only to friends . He was rather surprised at the objection token by Bro . Giraud . It was not likely the Grand Master would ever be actuated by anything but the strictest honour in the discharge of his duties . The Grand Master had ever been most careful as to the manner in which he used his perogative , and it was not likely that he would be otherwise than as careful in the future .. They now only proposed to give to the Grand Master powers which
had been exercised by his predecessors ; and H . R-. H . the Duke of Sussex was in the habit of bestowing rank on whoever he pleased—Sir Cuthbert Sharp being the last brother who was so honoured . Again , in the colonies the Prov . Grand Masters were in the habit of bestowing brevet rank on their officers . He agreed with Bro . Ingrain that there were many brethren in the colonies whose services deserved recognition , and this resolution would enable the Grand Master properly to recognise them . Bro . Stebbing had . objected to the proposition of making members of Grand Lodge , but in that he had followed the words of the Booh of Constitutions , which stated that distinguished brethren might ,