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Article SPECIAL COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 2 Article SPECIAL COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 2 →
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Special Communication Of Grand Lodge.
SPECIAL COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE .
IT will be seen elsewhere in our columns that on Wednesday was held , by order of the Pro Grand Master , a Special Communication of Grand Lodge , the purpose being to receive and recommend—or otherwise as the case might be—for adoption at the next regular meeting of
Grand Lodge , the Beport of the Special Committee appointed to consider the most suitable way of commemorating the auspicious visit to , and safe return from India , of Grand Master His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . The Pro Grand Master presided in person on this important
occasion , and there was a large attendance of brethron present . Lord Carnarvon , in his capacity of Chairman of the Special Committee , himself submitted its Report for the adoption of Grand Lodge . The proposition they offered was , to the effect that a sum of £ 4000 should be handed
over to the National Lifeboat Institution for the purpose of building and endowing two additional Lifeboats , to be placed at two different spots on the English coast , where their services would be most needed , a Sub-Committee being further appointed in order to confer with the
authorities of the Institution as to the fittest places for stationing the boats in question . His Lordship strongly urged on the brethren present that the proposition should be recommended to Grand Lodge for adoption at its next regular Communication , and in doing so , exhausted well nigh every
argument that could be suggested in support of his motion . As regards our Charities , his Lordship pointed out , on the one hand , that they were not in need of funds . They had but to indicate to the brethren the sum that was required to keep them in sound working order , and the brethren
took care there should be no deficiency in the amount required . On the other hand , this was . undoubtedly an occasion on which the beneficence of the Craft might legitimately be extended to objects outside the pale of Masonry . It was a visit which had excited the enthusiasm of the whole nation , and a safe return home from which
had been the subject of general thanksgiving throughout the whole of the British Empire . Thus , the appropriation of this money might be regarded in the light of a thankoffering to the G . A . O . T . U ., who , in His infinite wisdom ,
had watched over and restored to us , in health and strength , the eldest son and heir of our Most Gracious Sovereign . The proposition was seconded by Lord Leigh , Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire . An amendment was then
moved and seconded . by Bros . J . G . Marsh and Baxter Langley respectively , to the effect that the Freemasons' Lifeboat , presented , a few years since , to the Lifeboat Institution , and now stationed at North Berwick , should be endowed to the extent of £ 1 , 500 , that a sum of £ 1 , 000 be
given to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and £ 1 , 000 to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , while a further sum of £ 2 , 500 should be handed over to the Boys' School , for the purpose of founding , in connection with ' it , a Prince of Wales ' s Scholarship .
An appeal , however , was made by the Rev . Bro . Simpson to Bros . Marsh and Langley to withdraw their amendment , and it was likewise pointed out by the Grand Registrar , Bro . Mclntyre , that to move an amendment under the
circumstances was out of order , as Grand Lodge had been convened with tho one object of receiving the report of the Committee , and accepting or rejecting it , as might seem fit to the majority of those present . Thereupon , the Pro WMKl Master submitted the report for adoption , and it was
Special Communication Of Grand Lodge.
declared to be adopted unanimously , though many of the brethren gave no indication whatever of the opinion they held . So much for the events of this Special Communication . When , however , we come to examine the character of the proposal , we confess to feeling a certain sense of disappointment . We have , from first to last , inclined to the belief that the most fitting memorial of the Grand Master ' s safe
return from India would be a special grant of money to each of our Charitable Institutions . They sorely need it . Their sphere of operations is becoming larger and larger every year . The number of candidates for election on tho lists is
always hugely in excess of the number of vacancies . Truo , the subscriptions and donations of Craftsmen are on a very munificent scale . But we may not always be in a position to reckon on a continuance of this munificence . A time of
commercial distress , or a grave political crisis may so affeot the ability of Craftsmen to contribute , that , with all their old will to give as freely aa ever , they may yet lack the means to do so . In such case , the benefits of our Institutions must be curtailed , at a time when those
benefits are most likely to be needed , or the Institutions must use their invested moneys , or , having none , run into debt . Our Charities are not endowed , at least to any appreciable extent , as are so many other similar institutions scattered throughout the country . They
depend for the greater part of the funds necessary to maintain them in good working order on voluntary contributions . Any increase , therefore , of their invested moneys , how small soever , speaking comparatively , it might bo , would be of infinite and lasting service to them . There is , be it
remembered , no narrow-minded selfishness in advocating gifts of so special a character to our several charities , nor ueed such gifts be absorbed in the general body of donations , and so lose their distinctive character . A Prince of Wales ' s endowment fund for each of our Charities would
be a fitting memorial of an event in his life we are all so anxious to commemorate , worthy alike of the Body which grants it and the Grand Master in whoso honour it is granted . This , in our honest opinion , would have been tho
most suitable way of commemorating the visit and return home , and we regret the Special Committee have not elected to recommend some such proposition for acceptance by Grand Lodge .
As to the proposition itself , as submitted and approved , and now only awaiting confirmation at the meetinc of Grand Lodge in March next , taking ifc on its merits , and apart from the views to which we have already given expression , we do not know of any proposal more likel y to
command general acceptance . The Institution , whose funds it is thus proposed to augment so considerably , is one of the noblest of which even England , with all its splendid charities , may honestly feel proud . Its labours are arduous and unceasing , and the services it renders to our common
humanity are such as must command the admiration of tho whole world . Those whose knowledge of the seas which gird this happy little island of ours , is derived from a holiday visit to one of our fashionable watering-places , can form little idea of the dangers which await the
tempesttossed mariner when he finds his shi p driven , slowly perhaps , but surely , towards onr rock-bound coasts . And those , too , whose experience of ocean-travel is limited to a pleasure trip on board some yacht or passenger-boat at the
best season of the year , can in no wise gauge the perils which those encounter who man the lifeboat in order to rescue their fellow creatures from a terrible death . There is , indeed , no service so skilfully and courageously per-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Special Communication Of Grand Lodge.
SPECIAL COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE .
IT will be seen elsewhere in our columns that on Wednesday was held , by order of the Pro Grand Master , a Special Communication of Grand Lodge , the purpose being to receive and recommend—or otherwise as the case might be—for adoption at the next regular meeting of
Grand Lodge , the Beport of the Special Committee appointed to consider the most suitable way of commemorating the auspicious visit to , and safe return from India , of Grand Master His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . The Pro Grand Master presided in person on this important
occasion , and there was a large attendance of brethron present . Lord Carnarvon , in his capacity of Chairman of the Special Committee , himself submitted its Report for the adoption of Grand Lodge . The proposition they offered was , to the effect that a sum of £ 4000 should be handed
over to the National Lifeboat Institution for the purpose of building and endowing two additional Lifeboats , to be placed at two different spots on the English coast , where their services would be most needed , a Sub-Committee being further appointed in order to confer with the
authorities of the Institution as to the fittest places for stationing the boats in question . His Lordship strongly urged on the brethren present that the proposition should be recommended to Grand Lodge for adoption at its next regular Communication , and in doing so , exhausted well nigh every
argument that could be suggested in support of his motion . As regards our Charities , his Lordship pointed out , on the one hand , that they were not in need of funds . They had but to indicate to the brethren the sum that was required to keep them in sound working order , and the brethren
took care there should be no deficiency in the amount required . On the other hand , this was . undoubtedly an occasion on which the beneficence of the Craft might legitimately be extended to objects outside the pale of Masonry . It was a visit which had excited the enthusiasm of the whole nation , and a safe return home from which
had been the subject of general thanksgiving throughout the whole of the British Empire . Thus , the appropriation of this money might be regarded in the light of a thankoffering to the G . A . O . T . U ., who , in His infinite wisdom ,
had watched over and restored to us , in health and strength , the eldest son and heir of our Most Gracious Sovereign . The proposition was seconded by Lord Leigh , Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire . An amendment was then
moved and seconded . by Bros . J . G . Marsh and Baxter Langley respectively , to the effect that the Freemasons' Lifeboat , presented , a few years since , to the Lifeboat Institution , and now stationed at North Berwick , should be endowed to the extent of £ 1 , 500 , that a sum of £ 1 , 000 be
given to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and £ 1 , 000 to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , while a further sum of £ 2 , 500 should be handed over to the Boys' School , for the purpose of founding , in connection with ' it , a Prince of Wales ' s Scholarship .
An appeal , however , was made by the Rev . Bro . Simpson to Bros . Marsh and Langley to withdraw their amendment , and it was likewise pointed out by the Grand Registrar , Bro . Mclntyre , that to move an amendment under the
circumstances was out of order , as Grand Lodge had been convened with tho one object of receiving the report of the Committee , and accepting or rejecting it , as might seem fit to the majority of those present . Thereupon , the Pro WMKl Master submitted the report for adoption , and it was
Special Communication Of Grand Lodge.
declared to be adopted unanimously , though many of the brethren gave no indication whatever of the opinion they held . So much for the events of this Special Communication . When , however , we come to examine the character of the proposal , we confess to feeling a certain sense of disappointment . We have , from first to last , inclined to the belief that the most fitting memorial of the Grand Master ' s safe
return from India would be a special grant of money to each of our Charitable Institutions . They sorely need it . Their sphere of operations is becoming larger and larger every year . The number of candidates for election on tho lists is
always hugely in excess of the number of vacancies . Truo , the subscriptions and donations of Craftsmen are on a very munificent scale . But we may not always be in a position to reckon on a continuance of this munificence . A time of
commercial distress , or a grave political crisis may so affeot the ability of Craftsmen to contribute , that , with all their old will to give as freely aa ever , they may yet lack the means to do so . In such case , the benefits of our Institutions must be curtailed , at a time when those
benefits are most likely to be needed , or the Institutions must use their invested moneys , or , having none , run into debt . Our Charities are not endowed , at least to any appreciable extent , as are so many other similar institutions scattered throughout the country . They
depend for the greater part of the funds necessary to maintain them in good working order on voluntary contributions . Any increase , therefore , of their invested moneys , how small soever , speaking comparatively , it might bo , would be of infinite and lasting service to them . There is , be it
remembered , no narrow-minded selfishness in advocating gifts of so special a character to our several charities , nor ueed such gifts be absorbed in the general body of donations , and so lose their distinctive character . A Prince of Wales ' s endowment fund for each of our Charities would
be a fitting memorial of an event in his life we are all so anxious to commemorate , worthy alike of the Body which grants it and the Grand Master in whoso honour it is granted . This , in our honest opinion , would have been tho
most suitable way of commemorating the visit and return home , and we regret the Special Committee have not elected to recommend some such proposition for acceptance by Grand Lodge .
As to the proposition itself , as submitted and approved , and now only awaiting confirmation at the meetinc of Grand Lodge in March next , taking ifc on its merits , and apart from the views to which we have already given expression , we do not know of any proposal more likel y to
command general acceptance . The Institution , whose funds it is thus proposed to augment so considerably , is one of the noblest of which even England , with all its splendid charities , may honestly feel proud . Its labours are arduous and unceasing , and the services it renders to our common
humanity are such as must command the admiration of tho whole world . Those whose knowledge of the seas which gird this happy little island of ours , is derived from a holiday visit to one of our fashionable watering-places , can form little idea of the dangers which await the
tempesttossed mariner when he finds his shi p driven , slowly perhaps , but surely , towards onr rock-bound coasts . And those , too , whose experience of ocean-travel is limited to a pleasure trip on board some yacht or passenger-boat at the
best season of the year , can in no wise gauge the perils which those encounter who man the lifeboat in order to rescue their fellow creatures from a terrible death . There is , indeed , no service so skilfully and courageously per-