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Article THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 2 of 2 Article MARK GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 1
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The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
creditor sides of the account has not been altered , we must not lose sight of tho fact that the increase of expenditure is £ 5 , 200 , while that of fixed income is only £ 1 , 500 in round numbers . Tho former , consequently , is very considerably more than three times
as great as the latter . Ifc is this amazing increase in the liabilities to which the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution now stands committed which , in onr judgment , fully justifies the motion which it is Bro . Raynham Stewart's intention to submit for the consideration of Grand Lodge on
Wednesday next . Let onr readers read , mark , and digest the salient fact thafc a sum of £ 12 , 240 must be paid away annually in annuities , and that the total expenditure is quite £ 14 , 700 to a total fixed income of £ 3 , 673- Let them also reflect on the certainty that a Festival Subscription
List of over £ 14 , 000 cannot be looked for every year . We shall be pretty near the mark if we reckon upon an average of £ 11 , 000 per anr / um—and a very handsome one into the bargain—which with the present permanent income leaves absolutely no margin whatever for even the smallest contingency .
A further reason may be submitted . Grand Lodge started the Male Fund in 1842 with a grant of £ 400 per annum , increased in 1858 to £ 500 . The Widows' Fund dates from 1849 , when G . Lodge voted an annual grant of £ 100 towards its support , since when it haa twice
increased ifc , namely , to £ 200 in 1855 , and £ 300 in 1858 . Consequently , there has been no addition made to the total grant to the two Funds together , namely , £ 800 , during the long period of twenty-three years , while the Institution itself is only in the fortieth year of its existence . Again , in
1858 , there were forty-six annuitants on the Male Fund receiving among them , according to a graduated scale , £ 856 , and twenty-five on the Female Fund receiving together £ 445 , the amount making a total of , in round figures , £ 1 , 200 . If we set down the other expenditure—which
would necessarily have been greater in proportion in those days—at £ 500 , the annual outlay to be met in 1858 was £ 1 , 700 , of which £ 950 was provided by G . L . and G . Chapter , and £ 450 by the interest on invested moneys ( £ 15 , 000
Government Stock ) , amounting to £ 1 , 400 . Thus , £ 1 , 400 out of the £ 1 , 700 was defrayed out of permanent income , leaving £ 300 to be met by the voluntary subscriptions of the Craft . As these amounted for the two Funds to
over £ 2 , 600 , ifc does not need a long array of figures to show that the liabilities of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution were amply provided for out of sources which could nofc fail . Now a considerable falling off in the
subscriptions means either the selling out of stock , and consequent diminution of permanent income , or a reduction in the number of annuitants , either of which eventualities must certainly he set down as deplorable .
Let us still more conspicuously compare the several points as between the years 1858 and 1881 , Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter grants in both years being the same , and amounting together to £ 950 . Permanent Income in 1858 , £ 1 , 400 ; in 1881 , £ 3 , 670 ; Subscriptions in 1858 ,
£ 2 , 600 ; in 1881 from Festival alone , £ 14 , 300 , but from all sources not more than £ 15 , 000 . Per contra : —Liabilities in 1858 in respect of Annuitants , £ 1 , 200 ; total expenditure , £ 1 , 700 . Liabilities in 1881 in respect of Annuities , £ 12 , 240 ; total expenditure nofc far short of £ 14 , 700 .
Ratio of fixed income to total expenditure in 1858 considerably over three to four , or 75 per cent ; in 1881 , about one to four , or 25 per cent . Were there no other reasons , we think these figures wonld furnish one of a character nofc easily to be disturbed .
Wc are prepared to see one objection raised to Brother Stewart ' s motion , namely , that Grand Lodge already contributes more largely to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution than to either of the Schools , or , for the matter of that , than to the two conjoined . True , bufc the Royal
Masonic Benevolent Institution is the offspring of Grand Lodge , the Schools of private brethren . Again , the Benevolent relieves Grand Lodge of much of the pressure on its funds it would otherwise experience . Grand Lodge would be called on to relieve those brethren who are elected
to the Fund far more considerably than they are now , and if they are worthy enough to become annuitants they must certainl y be worthy enough to receive relief from the
Lodge of Benevolence . There is no limit to the number of applications that may be made to the said Lodge , the only provision being that a second must nofc be mado till a year has elapsed from the first application . Therefore , if Grand
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
Lodge confers a benefit on the R . M . B . I . the latter undoubtedly reciprocates it . But it will bo argued , if Grand Lodge already grants the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution so much more than it does the two Schools together , a grant of double
the present amount , will make the inequality still more glaring . This , we point out , is an excellent argument in favour of Grand Lodge doing more for tho Schools , but no reason against its being more just to its own child , especially when tho said child does it , as AVO have just
shown , such good service in return . Wc arc satisfied that Grand Lodge falls very far short of its duty towards all our Institutions . If a step forward in the right direction is taken on Wednesday next—aud wo are content to believe we have furnished many and excellent reasons why it
should bo taken—a case on behalf of the Schools will , in the order of things , be brought forward . The circumstances in the case of each Institution are similarly strong ,
ancl will justify any amount of additional grant . It is no argument , however , to say that because Grand Lodgo is illiberal towards our Schools , it should ho less than just to fche Benevolent Institution .
Mark Grand Lodge.
MARK GRAND LODGE .
THE Winter Half-Yearly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , ancl the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , which will be held on Tuesday next , in the Great Hall of the Freemasons' Tavern , will be a reel letter day in
the history of this degree . Mark Masonry has been of late years extremely popular , and , what is still more satisfactory from our point of view , an eminently prosperous body . The Grand Lodge has been in existence only for a quarter of a century , though the degree in itself very justly lays claim
to a most respectable antiquity . In Scotland the Mark is part and parcel of the Craft ; in England it would have been , but for the conscientious objections of the then Grand Master , the late Earl of Zetland , who did nofc see his way clearly to any departure from the lines which were laid down in 1813 at the Union of the Ancients and Moderns
as to the exact definition of Free , Antient and Accepted Masonry . Afc all events , there are now nofc far short of 15 , 500 registered Mark Masons , while the Lodges on fche roll of the Grand Lodge are 291 . There are a General Fund , a Benevolent Fund , and an Educational Fund , and
the Invested moneys are not far short of £ 4 , 000 . There aro no less than thirfcy-fcwo Provincial and District Grand Lodges , those of fche North and East Ridings of Yorkshire and the Mediterranean having been constituted during the current year . The Degree of Ark Mariner , which is under
the wing of the Mark , or , to speak more reverently , is attached to ifc much in the same way as a Royal Arch Chapter is to a Craffc Lodge , has likewise made considerable progress during the year which is now on
the eve of closing . ' Great , however , as has been the well merited-prosperity of the degree , it has not yet had the opportunity of enrolling amongst its magnates a Prince of the Blood Roval . Yet on
Tuesday next , H . R . H . Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany , K . G ., will be installed as M . W . Past Grand Master , and doubtless the attendance will be in every respect worthy of fcho auspicious occasion . Thafc the degree has prospered solely from its own deserts is undeniable , but ifc will not grudge the
additional fame it will acquire in the world of Freemasonry by the Installation of the youngest and justly popular son of Her Majesty the Queen . True , our men of Mark will be only one the stronger , but it will be a graceful , as well as a formidable addition , to their strength .
How great have been the recent demands on the funds at the disposal of the Lodge of Benevolence will be gathered from the fact that the Board of General Purposes recommend the selling out forthwith of £ 3 , 000 Stock , in order to meet a corresponding excess of liabilities .
"he first grand concert given this season by Bro . Seddon , in connection with the City of London Orchestral Union , took place on Wednesday . There was a numerous and critical audience , but Bro . Seddon and his coadjutors were equal to the occasion , and the selection which was most admirabl y rendered , gave the utmost satisfaction ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
creditor sides of the account has not been altered , we must not lose sight of tho fact that the increase of expenditure is £ 5 , 200 , while that of fixed income is only £ 1 , 500 in round numbers . Tho former , consequently , is very considerably more than three times
as great as the latter . Ifc is this amazing increase in the liabilities to which the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution now stands committed which , in onr judgment , fully justifies the motion which it is Bro . Raynham Stewart's intention to submit for the consideration of Grand Lodge on
Wednesday next . Let onr readers read , mark , and digest the salient fact thafc a sum of £ 12 , 240 must be paid away annually in annuities , and that the total expenditure is quite £ 14 , 700 to a total fixed income of £ 3 , 673- Let them also reflect on the certainty that a Festival Subscription
List of over £ 14 , 000 cannot be looked for every year . We shall be pretty near the mark if we reckon upon an average of £ 11 , 000 per anr / um—and a very handsome one into the bargain—which with the present permanent income leaves absolutely no margin whatever for even the smallest contingency .
A further reason may be submitted . Grand Lodge started the Male Fund in 1842 with a grant of £ 400 per annum , increased in 1858 to £ 500 . The Widows' Fund dates from 1849 , when G . Lodge voted an annual grant of £ 100 towards its support , since when it haa twice
increased ifc , namely , to £ 200 in 1855 , and £ 300 in 1858 . Consequently , there has been no addition made to the total grant to the two Funds together , namely , £ 800 , during the long period of twenty-three years , while the Institution itself is only in the fortieth year of its existence . Again , in
1858 , there were forty-six annuitants on the Male Fund receiving among them , according to a graduated scale , £ 856 , and twenty-five on the Female Fund receiving together £ 445 , the amount making a total of , in round figures , £ 1 , 200 . If we set down the other expenditure—which
would necessarily have been greater in proportion in those days—at £ 500 , the annual outlay to be met in 1858 was £ 1 , 700 , of which £ 950 was provided by G . L . and G . Chapter , and £ 450 by the interest on invested moneys ( £ 15 , 000
Government Stock ) , amounting to £ 1 , 400 . Thus , £ 1 , 400 out of the £ 1 , 700 was defrayed out of permanent income , leaving £ 300 to be met by the voluntary subscriptions of the Craft . As these amounted for the two Funds to
over £ 2 , 600 , ifc does not need a long array of figures to show that the liabilities of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution were amply provided for out of sources which could nofc fail . Now a considerable falling off in the
subscriptions means either the selling out of stock , and consequent diminution of permanent income , or a reduction in the number of annuitants , either of which eventualities must certainly he set down as deplorable .
Let us still more conspicuously compare the several points as between the years 1858 and 1881 , Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter grants in both years being the same , and amounting together to £ 950 . Permanent Income in 1858 , £ 1 , 400 ; in 1881 , £ 3 , 670 ; Subscriptions in 1858 ,
£ 2 , 600 ; in 1881 from Festival alone , £ 14 , 300 , but from all sources not more than £ 15 , 000 . Per contra : —Liabilities in 1858 in respect of Annuitants , £ 1 , 200 ; total expenditure , £ 1 , 700 . Liabilities in 1881 in respect of Annuities , £ 12 , 240 ; total expenditure nofc far short of £ 14 , 700 .
Ratio of fixed income to total expenditure in 1858 considerably over three to four , or 75 per cent ; in 1881 , about one to four , or 25 per cent . Were there no other reasons , we think these figures wonld furnish one of a character nofc easily to be disturbed .
Wc are prepared to see one objection raised to Brother Stewart ' s motion , namely , that Grand Lodge already contributes more largely to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution than to either of the Schools , or , for the matter of that , than to the two conjoined . True , bufc the Royal
Masonic Benevolent Institution is the offspring of Grand Lodge , the Schools of private brethren . Again , the Benevolent relieves Grand Lodge of much of the pressure on its funds it would otherwise experience . Grand Lodge would be called on to relieve those brethren who are elected
to the Fund far more considerably than they are now , and if they are worthy enough to become annuitants they must certainl y be worthy enough to receive relief from the
Lodge of Benevolence . There is no limit to the number of applications that may be made to the said Lodge , the only provision being that a second must nofc be mado till a year has elapsed from the first application . Therefore , if Grand
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
Lodge confers a benefit on the R . M . B . I . the latter undoubtedly reciprocates it . But it will bo argued , if Grand Lodge already grants the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution so much more than it does the two Schools together , a grant of double
the present amount , will make the inequality still more glaring . This , we point out , is an excellent argument in favour of Grand Lodge doing more for tho Schools , but no reason against its being more just to its own child , especially when tho said child does it , as AVO have just
shown , such good service in return . Wc arc satisfied that Grand Lodge falls very far short of its duty towards all our Institutions . If a step forward in the right direction is taken on Wednesday next—aud wo are content to believe we have furnished many and excellent reasons why it
should bo taken—a case on behalf of the Schools will , in the order of things , be brought forward . The circumstances in the case of each Institution are similarly strong ,
ancl will justify any amount of additional grant . It is no argument , however , to say that because Grand Lodgo is illiberal towards our Schools , it should ho less than just to fche Benevolent Institution .
Mark Grand Lodge.
MARK GRAND LODGE .
THE Winter Half-Yearly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , ancl the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , which will be held on Tuesday next , in the Great Hall of the Freemasons' Tavern , will be a reel letter day in
the history of this degree . Mark Masonry has been of late years extremely popular , and , what is still more satisfactory from our point of view , an eminently prosperous body . The Grand Lodge has been in existence only for a quarter of a century , though the degree in itself very justly lays claim
to a most respectable antiquity . In Scotland the Mark is part and parcel of the Craft ; in England it would have been , but for the conscientious objections of the then Grand Master , the late Earl of Zetland , who did nofc see his way clearly to any departure from the lines which were laid down in 1813 at the Union of the Ancients and Moderns
as to the exact definition of Free , Antient and Accepted Masonry . Afc all events , there are now nofc far short of 15 , 500 registered Mark Masons , while the Lodges on fche roll of the Grand Lodge are 291 . There are a General Fund , a Benevolent Fund , and an Educational Fund , and
the Invested moneys are not far short of £ 4 , 000 . There aro no less than thirfcy-fcwo Provincial and District Grand Lodges , those of fche North and East Ridings of Yorkshire and the Mediterranean having been constituted during the current year . The Degree of Ark Mariner , which is under
the wing of the Mark , or , to speak more reverently , is attached to ifc much in the same way as a Royal Arch Chapter is to a Craffc Lodge , has likewise made considerable progress during the year which is now on
the eve of closing . ' Great , however , as has been the well merited-prosperity of the degree , it has not yet had the opportunity of enrolling amongst its magnates a Prince of the Blood Roval . Yet on
Tuesday next , H . R . H . Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany , K . G ., will be installed as M . W . Past Grand Master , and doubtless the attendance will be in every respect worthy of fcho auspicious occasion . Thafc the degree has prospered solely from its own deserts is undeniable , but ifc will not grudge the
additional fame it will acquire in the world of Freemasonry by the Installation of the youngest and justly popular son of Her Majesty the Queen . True , our men of Mark will be only one the stronger , but it will be a graceful , as well as a formidable addition , to their strength .
How great have been the recent demands on the funds at the disposal of the Lodge of Benevolence will be gathered from the fact that the Board of General Purposes recommend the selling out forthwith of £ 3 , 000 Stock , in order to meet a corresponding excess of liabilities .
"he first grand concert given this season by Bro . Seddon , in connection with the City of London Orchestral Union , took place on Wednesday . There was a numerous and critical audience , but Bro . Seddon and his coadjutors were equal to the occasion , and the selection which was most admirabl y rendered , gave the utmost satisfaction ,