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The Masonic Mirror.
THE MASONIC MIRROR .
METROPOLITAN . UNITED , GEAND ' LODGE . QUAnrKP . r . Y cointuxiCATiox . Tiir , quarterly communication of Graud Lodge was held in Freemasons ' Hall , on AVednesday , the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , M . AV . Grand
Master , presiding , supported by the 11 . AV . Bro . Sir Lucius Curtis , Part . ., Prov . G . M . for Hampshire , as D . G . M . ; Bros . Lord De Tabley , S . G / W . ; Sir Thomas G . Hcsketh , J . G . AV ' . ; Tomkins , G . Treas . ; Rev . A . R . AVard aud Rev . AV . II . Bowver , G . Chaplains ; AV . Gray Clarke , G . Sec ; J . Savage , S . G . D . ; P . Slight . J . G . D . ; Albert AV . " Woods , Asst . G . Dir . of Cers . ; G . E . I ' ocoek , G . S . B . ; AVm . Farnfield , Asst . G . Sec ; J . Smith . G . Purs . ; T . A . Adams , Asst . G . Purs . ; H . A . Bowyer , Prov . G . M . ' ,
Oxfordshire ; A . Dobie , Prov . G . M ., Sussex , and P . G . Reg . ; Pattison , P . G . AV . ; Havers . President of the Board of General Purposes , and P . G . D . ; Hervev , P . G . D . ; Nelson , P . G . D . ; Hopwood , P . G . D . ; Uciall , P . G . D . ; Phillips . P . G . P . ; Philippe , P . G . D . ; Potter , P . G . D . ; Scott , P . G . D . ; White , P . G . D . ; S . B . AViison , P . G . D . ; J . N . Tomkins , P . G . D . ; Faudcl , P . G . D . ; LeA eau , P . C . S . B . ; LI . Evan , P . G . S . B . ; Spiers , P . G . S . E .: Masson , P . G . S . B . ; G . Biggs , P . G . S . B . ; Patten , P . G . S . B . ; Thory Chapman . P . G . Asst . D , Cers . ; Breitling , P . G . Purs ., & c , & c . The Grand Secretary having read the regulations for the government of Grand Lodge during the time of public business ,
Bro . MADDEN said he was anxious before the minutes of the last Grand Lodge Avero read , to remind the Most Worshipful Grand Master and Grand Lodge , that on that occasion they had , at his request , delayed for three months confirming the minutes for the erasure of Lodge No . 19 from the register , to enable him , as a P . M . of it , to search for tho warrant and revive it . He had now to say he had been partially successful , and although he had not received the warrant , he had got a clue to it , and under these circumstances he had to request that a further delay of
three mouths should be allowed him . Bi-n . W . Git . iv / CLARKE , G . Sec , AS'as understood to observe that there AV . IS a resolution for the non-confirmation of the erasure of Lodge 41 ) . Bro . HAVERS , as Chairman of the Board of Purposes , had no wish to throw any obstacle iu the A' / ay of a brother AA-IIO wished to revive an old Lodge . The Most AA ' orshipful Grand Master considered the request of Bro . Madden a very proper one .
After some conversation with respect to the accuracy of the minutes , in reference to the Lodge in which Bro . Madden was interested , it Avas agreed that a farther delay of three months would be granted to him . The minutes having been altered to meet Bro . Madden ' s representations of Avhat had taken place , Tho Most AVorshipful the Grand Master put them as amended , for confirmation .
Lro . STIXTUXCS moved as an amendment , ' ' That such portion of them as had reference to the advancing of money to provincial Lodges , on mortgage , for the building of Masonic halls , be not confirmed . '' He moved that amendment that he might not lose the last constitutional opportunity he should have to object to a proposition detrimental to the best interests of the Craft—a proposition which AA'ould lead to the waste of a considerable sum of mouey , and by involving Graud Lodge in litigation , tarnish the fair Jame of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) If nothing more was
intended than that they might lend the money of Grand Lodge on mortgage , the trustees had already that power ; but his opposition to the proposal rested on the fact that it went a great deal further , and AA'ould involve Grand Lodge in difficulties to AA'hich no man could see the end . There Avas , on the very threshold of their entertaining such a scheme , extreme difficulty arising from the mortmain land , which it was proposed to evade by the fiction of trustees . Here he would observe on a matter of detail , how objectionable Avas the proposal to get rid of their
present trustees , who had so long and Avith great satisfaction administered the funds of Grand Lodge . They could not ha \ 'e the name of Grand Lodge in the mortgage as trustee of the ground held in fee ; but he Avould pass by that as a minor difficulty , and come to one which Avas much greater , and that was—that the parties to whom they would lend tin ' s money would not bo considered as the representatives of the Lod ge , but would be merely trustees in Avhom thc estate AA'ould rest for the purposes of the mortgagebut there AA-ould not be on the face of the deed itself
, anything to SIIOAV the terms on which they held their trust . Then a <» ain differences of opinion would arise among brethren in the same toAvn , just as such differences arose in families , in religion , and among the most intimate friends , and shake the foundations of Masonry so that a hall AA'hen built , might cease to be used . At length , however , something might be done , but the building remained an embarrassed property , with no solution of the difficulty but the Court of Chancery , and thus the Craft wouldto its injury in public estimationbe dragged into thc
, , courts of laAV . Grand Lodge would then be in this position—it Avould either have to prosecute the suit or surrender the money Avhich ought to have been spent in charity ; for all the funds vvliicli were not risked iu the manner proposed would ultimately be applied to charitable purposes , as during the last few years they had transferred from tho account of General Purposes to that of charity no less a sum than . £ 7 , 000 . Not only was" there that difficulty , but every man who had touched bricks
and mortar , or who knew anything of property beset with mortgage , Ave Id see IIOAV complicated Avas every stop Avhich they took . They ou .. ' . t , therefore , he thought , to be very careful IIOAV they acted , and lie AV .-. -. sure , if his lordship Avere to ask the opinion of his OAAUI solicitor i : ;; jii the subject , ho Avould strongly advise him to have nothing to do Avith it . Again , the grouud upon AA'hich these proposed halls AA'ould be built , would be held by different titles : some would be freehold , others copyhold , others corporation property . Some Avould be subject to ground
rents , some to lines , and others to renewals , so that there would be a constant variation in the terms of the mortgages . Any one who read the Masonic Mirror would see the difficulties AA'hich would attend the scheme in Berwick-upon-TiA'eed and in the island of Jersey . Such Avere some of the difficulties which they incurred by embarking in building speculations . He Avould go further- , and SIIOAV hoAV these difficulties became heightened . He would suppose the title good , but who was to pay for the renewals if the property did not prove remunerative ? AA-IIO was to
lose by it ? If Grand Lodge Avas under such circumstances to sell the hall and compel the Lodge to go back to the tavern or to the licensed house , there Avould be a great outcry that , for the sake of paltry lucre , they Avere depriving their brethren of a hall AA'hich had been specially dedicated and consecrated to Masonic purposes . He Avould IIOAV give some examples of AA'hat v .-ould be the case . If twenty years ago Grand Lodge had advanced fifty per cent , of their outlay to the Southampton brethren to build the Masonic hall in ' that flourishing townin which there
, were four Lodges , tAvo Chapters , and another supposed Masonic body , which ho could not mention in that hall , AA'hat would have been the result ? The building cost £ 1 , S 00 , but notwithstanding the numbers . of the Craft in the town , that there were beneath the structure large wine vaults , and that it contained a second hall , AA'hich they let out for such purposes as public meetings , it never paid them more than one per cent , upon the outlay ; so that Grand Lodge AA-ould not have received more than two cent its £ 900 during the past tAventy . In
per , upon years CoAves , in thc Isle of AA ight , they had a Masonic hall which cost £ 650 , and which was mortgaged for £ 250 ; but as they were unable to pay the interest , the mortgage was foreclosed , and the hall AA-as now used for entirely different purposes . Another instance in the same province AA'as that of the Masonic hall at Ryrle , Avhich cost the brethren £ 600 , and
AA-as aftei-AA'ards sold for £ -100 ; but in that instance a brother in the Craft bought the building , and so it was reserved for Masonic purposes . He could mention other instances in which the building of Masonic halls AA'ent up like a rocket but came down like a stick . The Masonic hall at Lymingtou was IIOAV used as Roman Catholic schools , and the had at Christchurch was used as a store for straAV and hay . ( Hear , hear ) . TAA ' years ago there bad been another building scheme , which , with all its faults , Avas much more entitled to tho support of Grand Lodge than the present
one , and he was therefore inclined to ask what would be the next building scheme , and AA'hen Avas there to be an end of such proposals' ? He believed there could be nothing more dangerous to the Craft than undertakings of that kind . He would UOAV ask Grand Lodge to consider the fact , that upon each proposal for the advancement of money there would bo a discussion in Grand Lodge with respect to tho amount , and also in regard to tho nature of the security , so that their time would be perfectly occupied , and they AA'ould have no leisure to attend to anything
else . Ho would also ask them to look to the great increase in their correspondence . AA'hich would be sure to be attended with increased expense , and Avith applications from all their officers for an increase of salary . It would never do that they should consent to advance money for the building of a hall in a town AA'hei-e there AIMS only one Lodge ; and in toAvns where there was a greater number it Avould be extremely difficult to get the brethren to consent to the erection of a common hall . He would mention the instance of the Portsmouth brethren . In that toAvn there AA-ere three Lodges , all of Avhich held their meetings in private rooms , but the brethren never could bring themselves ) although
the cost to each Lodge would bo less than under the present system ) to build a hall in Avhich they all might meet . He AA-ould therefore implore Graud Lodge not to risk the property of the Craft and incur the danger of litigation or sacrifice the time of Grand Lodge in the discussion of each particular proposal . Bvo . HtM'wooD , P . G . S . D ., seconded the amendment . His opinion AA-as that thc proposed scheme Avould involve tho Craft in difficulties such as they had never before experienced . If Grand Lodge had to
appear in thc Court of Chancery , it Avould produce great discord among the brethren , and he saw no valid reason why they should p lace themselves in that position which would lead to a great deal of unbrotherly feeling . It might be said that they would have in the mortgage deed some clause by Avhich they might effect a sale of tho property mortgaged to them , but such a proceeding AA-ould , he thought , be iu the highest degree unpopular : for Avliat , he Avould ask , would be the feeling of thc uninitiated if they saAv Masons selling out their brethren ? Ho gave
full credit to the Board of General Purposes for the goodness of their intentions , but it seemed to him that they could not be carried out conveniently , for if under their power to sell they effected a sale , the odium AA-ould still remain of Graud Lodge selling up their brethren . On the Avhole the proposal appeared to him one replete with difficulty , leading to all kinds of ill feeling , and not likely to lead to a favourable result . He did not , in fact , wish to see Grand Lodge become a mere building society . Bro . GEKOOIIY Avas not going for one moment to dispute the constitutional right of Bros . Stebbing and Hopii'ood to moi-e the non-confirmation of minutes of a resolution' AvhicU was enthusiastically and almost
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mirror.
THE MASONIC MIRROR .
METROPOLITAN . UNITED , GEAND ' LODGE . QUAnrKP . r . Y cointuxiCATiox . Tiir , quarterly communication of Graud Lodge was held in Freemasons ' Hall , on AVednesday , the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , M . AV . Grand
Master , presiding , supported by the 11 . AV . Bro . Sir Lucius Curtis , Part . ., Prov . G . M . for Hampshire , as D . G . M . ; Bros . Lord De Tabley , S . G / W . ; Sir Thomas G . Hcsketh , J . G . AV ' . ; Tomkins , G . Treas . ; Rev . A . R . AVard aud Rev . AV . II . Bowver , G . Chaplains ; AV . Gray Clarke , G . Sec ; J . Savage , S . G . D . ; P . Slight . J . G . D . ; Albert AV . " Woods , Asst . G . Dir . of Cers . ; G . E . I ' ocoek , G . S . B . ; AVm . Farnfield , Asst . G . Sec ; J . Smith . G . Purs . ; T . A . Adams , Asst . G . Purs . ; H . A . Bowyer , Prov . G . M . ' ,
Oxfordshire ; A . Dobie , Prov . G . M ., Sussex , and P . G . Reg . ; Pattison , P . G . AV . ; Havers . President of the Board of General Purposes , and P . G . D . ; Hervev , P . G . D . ; Nelson , P . G . D . ; Hopwood , P . G . D . ; Uciall , P . G . D . ; Phillips . P . G . P . ; Philippe , P . G . D . ; Potter , P . G . D . ; Scott , P . G . D . ; White , P . G . D . ; S . B . AViison , P . G . D . ; J . N . Tomkins , P . G . D . ; Faudcl , P . G . D . ; LeA eau , P . C . S . B . ; LI . Evan , P . G . S . B . ; Spiers , P . G . S . E .: Masson , P . G . S . B . ; G . Biggs , P . G . S . B . ; Patten , P . G . S . B . ; Thory Chapman . P . G . Asst . D , Cers . ; Breitling , P . G . Purs ., & c , & c . The Grand Secretary having read the regulations for the government of Grand Lodge during the time of public business ,
Bro . MADDEN said he was anxious before the minutes of the last Grand Lodge Avero read , to remind the Most Worshipful Grand Master and Grand Lodge , that on that occasion they had , at his request , delayed for three months confirming the minutes for the erasure of Lodge No . 19 from the register , to enable him , as a P . M . of it , to search for tho warrant and revive it . He had now to say he had been partially successful , and although he had not received the warrant , he had got a clue to it , and under these circumstances he had to request that a further delay of
three mouths should be allowed him . Bi-n . W . Git . iv / CLARKE , G . Sec , AS'as understood to observe that there AV . IS a resolution for the non-confirmation of the erasure of Lodge 41 ) . Bro . HAVERS , as Chairman of the Board of Purposes , had no wish to throw any obstacle iu the A' / ay of a brother AA-IIO wished to revive an old Lodge . The Most AA ' orshipful Grand Master considered the request of Bro . Madden a very proper one .
After some conversation with respect to the accuracy of the minutes , in reference to the Lodge in which Bro . Madden was interested , it Avas agreed that a farther delay of three months would be granted to him . The minutes having been altered to meet Bro . Madden ' s representations of Avhat had taken place , Tho Most AVorshipful the Grand Master put them as amended , for confirmation .
Lro . STIXTUXCS moved as an amendment , ' ' That such portion of them as had reference to the advancing of money to provincial Lodges , on mortgage , for the building of Masonic halls , be not confirmed . '' He moved that amendment that he might not lose the last constitutional opportunity he should have to object to a proposition detrimental to the best interests of the Craft—a proposition which AA'ould lead to the waste of a considerable sum of mouey , and by involving Graud Lodge in litigation , tarnish the fair Jame of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) If nothing more was
intended than that they might lend the money of Grand Lodge on mortgage , the trustees had already that power ; but his opposition to the proposal rested on the fact that it went a great deal further , and AA'ould involve Grand Lodge in difficulties to AA'hich no man could see the end . There Avas , on the very threshold of their entertaining such a scheme , extreme difficulty arising from the mortmain land , which it was proposed to evade by the fiction of trustees . Here he would observe on a matter of detail , how objectionable Avas the proposal to get rid of their
present trustees , who had so long and Avith great satisfaction administered the funds of Grand Lodge . They could not ha \ 'e the name of Grand Lodge in the mortgage as trustee of the ground held in fee ; but he Avould pass by that as a minor difficulty , and come to one which Avas much greater , and that was—that the parties to whom they would lend tin ' s money would not bo considered as the representatives of the Lod ge , but would be merely trustees in Avhom thc estate AA'ould rest for the purposes of the mortgagebut there AA-ould not be on the face of the deed itself
, anything to SIIOAV the terms on which they held their trust . Then a <» ain differences of opinion would arise among brethren in the same toAvn , just as such differences arose in families , in religion , and among the most intimate friends , and shake the foundations of Masonry so that a hall AA'hen built , might cease to be used . At length , however , something might be done , but the building remained an embarrassed property , with no solution of the difficulty but the Court of Chancery , and thus the Craft wouldto its injury in public estimationbe dragged into thc
, , courts of laAV . Grand Lodge would then be in this position—it Avould either have to prosecute the suit or surrender the money Avhich ought to have been spent in charity ; for all the funds vvliicli were not risked iu the manner proposed would ultimately be applied to charitable purposes , as during the last few years they had transferred from tho account of General Purposes to that of charity no less a sum than . £ 7 , 000 . Not only was" there that difficulty , but every man who had touched bricks
and mortar , or who knew anything of property beset with mortgage , Ave Id see IIOAV complicated Avas every stop Avhich they took . They ou .. ' . t , therefore , he thought , to be very careful IIOAV they acted , and lie AV .-. -. sure , if his lordship Avere to ask the opinion of his OAAUI solicitor i : ;; jii the subject , ho Avould strongly advise him to have nothing to do Avith it . Again , the grouud upon AA'hich these proposed halls AA'ould be built , would be held by different titles : some would be freehold , others copyhold , others corporation property . Some Avould be subject to ground
rents , some to lines , and others to renewals , so that there would be a constant variation in the terms of the mortgages . Any one who read the Masonic Mirror would see the difficulties AA'hich would attend the scheme in Berwick-upon-TiA'eed and in the island of Jersey . Such Avere some of the difficulties which they incurred by embarking in building speculations . He Avould go further- , and SIIOAV hoAV these difficulties became heightened . He would suppose the title good , but who was to pay for the renewals if the property did not prove remunerative ? AA-IIO was to
lose by it ? If Grand Lodge Avas under such circumstances to sell the hall and compel the Lodge to go back to the tavern or to the licensed house , there Avould be a great outcry that , for the sake of paltry lucre , they Avere depriving their brethren of a hall AA'hich had been specially dedicated and consecrated to Masonic purposes . He Avould IIOAV give some examples of AA'hat v .-ould be the case . If twenty years ago Grand Lodge had advanced fifty per cent , of their outlay to the Southampton brethren to build the Masonic hall in ' that flourishing townin which there
, were four Lodges , tAvo Chapters , and another supposed Masonic body , which ho could not mention in that hall , AA'hat would have been the result ? The building cost £ 1 , S 00 , but notwithstanding the numbers . of the Craft in the town , that there were beneath the structure large wine vaults , and that it contained a second hall , AA'hich they let out for such purposes as public meetings , it never paid them more than one per cent , upon the outlay ; so that Grand Lodge AA-ould not have received more than two cent its £ 900 during the past tAventy . In
per , upon years CoAves , in thc Isle of AA ight , they had a Masonic hall which cost £ 650 , and which was mortgaged for £ 250 ; but as they were unable to pay the interest , the mortgage was foreclosed , and the hall AA-as now used for entirely different purposes . Another instance in the same province AA'as that of the Masonic hall at Ryrle , Avhich cost the brethren £ 600 , and
AA-as aftei-AA'ards sold for £ -100 ; but in that instance a brother in the Craft bought the building , and so it was reserved for Masonic purposes . He could mention other instances in which the building of Masonic halls AA'ent up like a rocket but came down like a stick . The Masonic hall at Lymingtou was IIOAV used as Roman Catholic schools , and the had at Christchurch was used as a store for straAV and hay . ( Hear , hear ) . TAA ' years ago there bad been another building scheme , which , with all its faults , Avas much more entitled to tho support of Grand Lodge than the present
one , and he was therefore inclined to ask what would be the next building scheme , and AA'hen Avas there to be an end of such proposals' ? He believed there could be nothing more dangerous to the Craft than undertakings of that kind . He would UOAV ask Grand Lodge to consider the fact , that upon each proposal for the advancement of money there would bo a discussion in Grand Lodge with respect to tho amount , and also in regard to tho nature of the security , so that their time would be perfectly occupied , and they AA'ould have no leisure to attend to anything
else . Ho would also ask them to look to the great increase in their correspondence . AA'hich would be sure to be attended with increased expense , and Avith applications from all their officers for an increase of salary . It would never do that they should consent to advance money for the building of a hall in a town AA'hei-e there AIMS only one Lodge ; and in toAvns where there was a greater number it Avould be extremely difficult to get the brethren to consent to the erection of a common hall . He would mention the instance of the Portsmouth brethren . In that toAvn there AA-ere three Lodges , all of Avhich held their meetings in private rooms , but the brethren never could bring themselves ) although
the cost to each Lodge would bo less than under the present system ) to build a hall in Avhich they all might meet . He AA-ould therefore implore Graud Lodge not to risk the property of the Craft and incur the danger of litigation or sacrifice the time of Grand Lodge in the discussion of each particular proposal . Bvo . HtM'wooD , P . G . S . D ., seconded the amendment . His opinion AA-as that thc proposed scheme Avould involve tho Craft in difficulties such as they had never before experienced . If Grand Lodge had to
appear in thc Court of Chancery , it Avould produce great discord among the brethren , and he saw no valid reason why they should p lace themselves in that position which would lead to a great deal of unbrotherly feeling . It might be said that they would have in the mortgage deed some clause by Avhich they might effect a sale of tho property mortgaged to them , but such a proceeding AA-ould , he thought , be iu the highest degree unpopular : for Avliat , he Avould ask , would be the feeling of thc uninitiated if they saAv Masons selling out their brethren ? Ho gave
full credit to the Board of General Purposes for the goodness of their intentions , but it seemed to him that they could not be carried out conveniently , for if under their power to sell they effected a sale , the odium AA-ould still remain of Graud Lodge selling up their brethren . On the Avhole the proposal appeared to him one replete with difficulty , leading to all kinds of ill feeling , and not likely to lead to a favourable result . He did not , in fact , wish to see Grand Lodge become a mere building society . Bro . GEKOOIIY Avas not going for one moment to dispute the constitutional right of Bros . Stebbing and Hopii'ood to moi-e the non-confirmation of minutes of a resolution' AvhicU was enthusiastically and almost