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Article GRAND COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE FUTURE OF THE FUND OF BENEVOLENCE. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Council Of Massachusetts.
Comp . John Haigh , Somerville , Mass . - Most 111 . Grand Master John B . Whittaker , Fall River - Deputy Grand Master Charles G . Brooks , East Boston Grand Pr . C . of Work Charles W . Romney , Boston - Grand Treasurer Alfred F . Chapman . Boston - Grand Recorder
and these , having been installed , the following appointments were announced : —¦ Coinp . E . II . Richards , Boston , Muss . - Grand Master of Cer . Rev . J . W . Dadmmi , Winthrop , Mass Grand Chaplain
A . G . Pollard , Lowell , Mass . - Grand Captain of Guards Charles F . Merrill , Ware , Mass . Grand Conductor G . M . Rice 2 ° , Worcester , Mass . Grand Steward E . A . Holton , Boston , Mass . - Grand Lecturer B . F . Nourse , Cambridge , Mass . Grand Tyler
It appears there are twenty-four Councils in this jurisdiction , with an aggregate membership—one Council having , however , failed to make any returns—of 2 , 427—a return which cannot bo looked upon as otherwise than most satisfactory .
The Future Of The Fund Of Benevolence.
THE FUTURE OF THE FUND OF BENEVOLENCE .
AT the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , Bro . Clabon , who then appeared for the first time since his resignation of the post of President of the Fund of Benevolence , made some few remarks as to the position
of that Fund , pointing out that something like £ 2 , 000 had been spent last year in excess of the income . While he did not oppose , but rather supported generous gifts , he reminded Grand Lodge that a continuance of such practices must of necessity lead to the ultimate extinction of the
Invested Fund ( which now amounts to something like £ 45 , 000 ) , and he therefore felt it was time some provision was made to meet the deficiency . He personally suggested the increase of the quarterages paid by brethren to the Fund—in the case of London brethren from four shillings
to six shillings a year , and in the case of Provincial brethren from two shillings to three shillings—but as no notice had been given to Grand Lodge of any alteration being proposed , and further , as Bro . Clabon was desirous that brethren in all parts should have time to consider the
question , he had adopted the course of mentioning his intention to bring the matter under the notice of Grand Lodge at the June Communication , by which time he hoped the membera of Grand Lodge would be in a position to discuss the subject .
That some alteration in the Constitutions which affect the Fund of Benevolence should be made , the experience of the more immediate past would seem to demonstrate , but whether the course now proposed by Bro . Clabon is the right one is matter for consideration . We , like the
brother who has given notice of his intention to bring the question formally before Grand Lodge , should be sorry to deprive the Fund of Benevolence of its power to relieve applicants in as tangible a manner as their circumstances might warrant , but at the same time we very much
question if the time has come for an increase in the amount of quarterages—not because the additional tax would be begrudged , but because we think it a mistake to offer further inducements to unprincipled persons to join the Craft . It has long been urged on behalf of Freemasonry
that it is not a Benefit Society , while , on the other hand , it has been argued in many quarters that the exceptionally large grants recently made from the Fund of Benevolence really places it on some such basis .
Personally , we question the propriety of the course taken by the brethren who form the Board . Some few months since , or to be more precise , since 1880 , Brother Clabon himself was troubled as to what could be done with the accumulation of the Fund of
Benevolence , and now he comes forward to advocate the opposite course . At that time he submitted a proposition to Grand Lodge as to the disposal of the then annual surplus , but he did not appear to know his own mind : for , after formally proposing his motion , and allowing it to be
seconded , he withdrew it , and that , too , in a manner which we at the time remarked was something more than unbnsiness-like—simply childish . After a lapse of but twentyfour months he again brings forward a proposal which has the appearance of being as hastily conceived as was that which , after short reflection , he thought fit to
withdraw , and to this last suggestion he invites the consideration of the Craft . In doing so we think he would hav e dono well to put forward some arguments to induc e the brethren to believe he was better informed on his subject , as well as more at heart in his proposition , than
was the case when he last figured at Grand Lodge as a would-be reformer of the Fund of Benevolence . Had he dono so , wo hardly think he could have justified the step he now proposes . All he could have urged was simply what ho did , viz ., that the Lodge of Benevoionce had
in its expenditure exceeded its income by some £ 2 , 000 during the past year . We ask , —Why was this ? Was it not in consequence of a feeling existing among some members of the Board that there should not be a surplus after the proposition brought before Grand Lodge in
March 1880 ? Snch is the opinion of many brethren , ancl if we take the trouble to compare the grants recentl y made with those of the past , it would appear that figures are in favour of such an argument . During the whole of the four years prior to Bro . Clabon ' s proposition , there
were but thirty-five grants recommended to Grand Lod ge of sums of £ 100 and upwards , viz ., one of £ 200 , four of £ 150 , one of £ 125 , and twenty-nine of £ 100 , while during the two years which have succeeded it , thirty-six snch recommendations have been submitted , viz ., three of
£ 250 , five of £ 200 , eight of £ 150 , and twenty of £ 100 . Thus we see that not only have the recommendations for large grants been more than twice as numerous , but they have also been for much larger amounts , facts which , of themselves , will account for the additional expenditure . If the income of the Fund of Benevolence is insufficient
to meet the expenditure , the proper course , in our opinion , to adopt is , to lessen the grants either in number or amount , but as the former course might be deemed inconsistent with our Masonic teaching , the latter alone remains . Previous to March 1880 , when so much was said as to the excessive
surplus of the Fund of Benevolence , grants of £ 100 each were looked upon as the maximum to be given , there onl y being six cases in which that sum was exceeded in the course of four years , but immediately it became known that the income of the Fund was in excess of the
expenditure to a large extent , the whole scale was altered , and the grant of £ 100 which was previously considered a handsome amount was at once relegated to third and even fourth place . We do not wish to question the judgment of the Board , but we do say that the brethren tvho have
proposed and supported such large sums have erred—they have really been carried away by the arguments used by Bro . Clabon in March 1880 , and we think the best course to adopt , in order to relieve the pressure on the Fund , is for Grand Lodge to refuse to confirm anything more than the
income derived from present quarterages and other existing circumstances will allow . To imagine that an increase in the dues in 1882 will act as a permanent relief is absurd . It is well known that the more money there is to spend , the more applicants will there be for it , and if the
procuring of even £ 100 is rendered easier than at presentwithout taking into consideration such grants as £ 150 , £ 200 , and £ 250—we feel sure the increase suggested by Bro . Clabon will not be sufficient to meet the increase in the number of applicants . Every brother or widow
who is relieved remains a lasting advertisement of the generosity of the Craft—their own thankfulness alone should act as such—so that an attempt to supply the funds for continuing the large grants recently made by the Board
would , m our opinion , be unwise , as it is offering an additional inducement for men to join the Order in the hope of one day securing a £ 200 or £ 250 grant should they need it .
The Freemason is to be commended for having adopted a plan which -will give the Craft an admirable insight into the chronology of Freemasonry . Every month it is publishing a Calendar which it styles an Historical Calendar , in which is put down for every day in the month some noteworthy Masonic event which occurred on that day . The Calendar for the present month containsamong other
, events , the record of the Prince of Wales's installation as Grand Master , at the Albert Hall , on the 23 th of April 1875 , and has aside note to the effect that His Royal Highness was initiated in Sweden in 18 G 8 . In 1869 tbe rank of Past Grand Master was conferred on him . In 1874 , on the resignation of tho Marquis of Ripon , he
accepted the office of Grand Master . The editor adds that it is a singular coincidence that tho installation of His Royal Hig hness should have occurred on the very day on which , 137 years previously ) the famous Bull of Pope Clem-nt XII . was fulminated against Freemasonry . —Evening News .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Council Of Massachusetts.
Comp . John Haigh , Somerville , Mass . - Most 111 . Grand Master John B . Whittaker , Fall River - Deputy Grand Master Charles G . Brooks , East Boston Grand Pr . C . of Work Charles W . Romney , Boston - Grand Treasurer Alfred F . Chapman . Boston - Grand Recorder
and these , having been installed , the following appointments were announced : —¦ Coinp . E . II . Richards , Boston , Muss . - Grand Master of Cer . Rev . J . W . Dadmmi , Winthrop , Mass Grand Chaplain
A . G . Pollard , Lowell , Mass . - Grand Captain of Guards Charles F . Merrill , Ware , Mass . Grand Conductor G . M . Rice 2 ° , Worcester , Mass . Grand Steward E . A . Holton , Boston , Mass . - Grand Lecturer B . F . Nourse , Cambridge , Mass . Grand Tyler
It appears there are twenty-four Councils in this jurisdiction , with an aggregate membership—one Council having , however , failed to make any returns—of 2 , 427—a return which cannot bo looked upon as otherwise than most satisfactory .
The Future Of The Fund Of Benevolence.
THE FUTURE OF THE FUND OF BENEVOLENCE .
AT the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , Bro . Clabon , who then appeared for the first time since his resignation of the post of President of the Fund of Benevolence , made some few remarks as to the position
of that Fund , pointing out that something like £ 2 , 000 had been spent last year in excess of the income . While he did not oppose , but rather supported generous gifts , he reminded Grand Lodge that a continuance of such practices must of necessity lead to the ultimate extinction of the
Invested Fund ( which now amounts to something like £ 45 , 000 ) , and he therefore felt it was time some provision was made to meet the deficiency . He personally suggested the increase of the quarterages paid by brethren to the Fund—in the case of London brethren from four shillings
to six shillings a year , and in the case of Provincial brethren from two shillings to three shillings—but as no notice had been given to Grand Lodge of any alteration being proposed , and further , as Bro . Clabon was desirous that brethren in all parts should have time to consider the
question , he had adopted the course of mentioning his intention to bring the matter under the notice of Grand Lodge at the June Communication , by which time he hoped the membera of Grand Lodge would be in a position to discuss the subject .
That some alteration in the Constitutions which affect the Fund of Benevolence should be made , the experience of the more immediate past would seem to demonstrate , but whether the course now proposed by Bro . Clabon is the right one is matter for consideration . We , like the
brother who has given notice of his intention to bring the question formally before Grand Lodge , should be sorry to deprive the Fund of Benevolence of its power to relieve applicants in as tangible a manner as their circumstances might warrant , but at the same time we very much
question if the time has come for an increase in the amount of quarterages—not because the additional tax would be begrudged , but because we think it a mistake to offer further inducements to unprincipled persons to join the Craft . It has long been urged on behalf of Freemasonry
that it is not a Benefit Society , while , on the other hand , it has been argued in many quarters that the exceptionally large grants recently made from the Fund of Benevolence really places it on some such basis .
Personally , we question the propriety of the course taken by the brethren who form the Board . Some few months since , or to be more precise , since 1880 , Brother Clabon himself was troubled as to what could be done with the accumulation of the Fund of
Benevolence , and now he comes forward to advocate the opposite course . At that time he submitted a proposition to Grand Lodge as to the disposal of the then annual surplus , but he did not appear to know his own mind : for , after formally proposing his motion , and allowing it to be
seconded , he withdrew it , and that , too , in a manner which we at the time remarked was something more than unbnsiness-like—simply childish . After a lapse of but twentyfour months he again brings forward a proposal which has the appearance of being as hastily conceived as was that which , after short reflection , he thought fit to
withdraw , and to this last suggestion he invites the consideration of the Craft . In doing so we think he would hav e dono well to put forward some arguments to induc e the brethren to believe he was better informed on his subject , as well as more at heart in his proposition , than
was the case when he last figured at Grand Lodge as a would-be reformer of the Fund of Benevolence . Had he dono so , wo hardly think he could have justified the step he now proposes . All he could have urged was simply what ho did , viz ., that the Lodge of Benevoionce had
in its expenditure exceeded its income by some £ 2 , 000 during the past year . We ask , —Why was this ? Was it not in consequence of a feeling existing among some members of the Board that there should not be a surplus after the proposition brought before Grand Lodge in
March 1880 ? Snch is the opinion of many brethren , ancl if we take the trouble to compare the grants recentl y made with those of the past , it would appear that figures are in favour of such an argument . During the whole of the four years prior to Bro . Clabon ' s proposition , there
were but thirty-five grants recommended to Grand Lod ge of sums of £ 100 and upwards , viz ., one of £ 200 , four of £ 150 , one of £ 125 , and twenty-nine of £ 100 , while during the two years which have succeeded it , thirty-six snch recommendations have been submitted , viz ., three of
£ 250 , five of £ 200 , eight of £ 150 , and twenty of £ 100 . Thus we see that not only have the recommendations for large grants been more than twice as numerous , but they have also been for much larger amounts , facts which , of themselves , will account for the additional expenditure . If the income of the Fund of Benevolence is insufficient
to meet the expenditure , the proper course , in our opinion , to adopt is , to lessen the grants either in number or amount , but as the former course might be deemed inconsistent with our Masonic teaching , the latter alone remains . Previous to March 1880 , when so much was said as to the excessive
surplus of the Fund of Benevolence , grants of £ 100 each were looked upon as the maximum to be given , there onl y being six cases in which that sum was exceeded in the course of four years , but immediately it became known that the income of the Fund was in excess of the
expenditure to a large extent , the whole scale was altered , and the grant of £ 100 which was previously considered a handsome amount was at once relegated to third and even fourth place . We do not wish to question the judgment of the Board , but we do say that the brethren tvho have
proposed and supported such large sums have erred—they have really been carried away by the arguments used by Bro . Clabon in March 1880 , and we think the best course to adopt , in order to relieve the pressure on the Fund , is for Grand Lodge to refuse to confirm anything more than the
income derived from present quarterages and other existing circumstances will allow . To imagine that an increase in the dues in 1882 will act as a permanent relief is absurd . It is well known that the more money there is to spend , the more applicants will there be for it , and if the
procuring of even £ 100 is rendered easier than at presentwithout taking into consideration such grants as £ 150 , £ 200 , and £ 250—we feel sure the increase suggested by Bro . Clabon will not be sufficient to meet the increase in the number of applicants . Every brother or widow
who is relieved remains a lasting advertisement of the generosity of the Craft—their own thankfulness alone should act as such—so that an attempt to supply the funds for continuing the large grants recently made by the Board
would , m our opinion , be unwise , as it is offering an additional inducement for men to join the Order in the hope of one day securing a £ 200 or £ 250 grant should they need it .
The Freemason is to be commended for having adopted a plan which -will give the Craft an admirable insight into the chronology of Freemasonry . Every month it is publishing a Calendar which it styles an Historical Calendar , in which is put down for every day in the month some noteworthy Masonic event which occurred on that day . The Calendar for the present month containsamong other
, events , the record of the Prince of Wales's installation as Grand Master , at the Albert Hall , on the 23 th of April 1875 , and has aside note to the effect that His Royal Highness was initiated in Sweden in 18 G 8 . In 1869 tbe rank of Past Grand Master was conferred on him . In 1874 , on the resignation of tho Marquis of Ripon , he
accepted the office of Grand Master . The editor adds that it is a singular coincidence that tho installation of His Royal Hig hness should have occurred on the very day on which , 137 years previously ) the famous Bull of Pope Clem-nt XII . was fulminated against Freemasonry . —Evening News .