Benevolent Institution Lodge Votes.

It should be borne in mind that this proposal to give a Lodge or Society 110 votes for a payment of two hundred guineas , and a further six for each subsequent payment of five guineas , is very much in excess of what the present Laws

allow , the return under existing conditions being ten votes in perpetuity for the first fifty guineas , and four votes for each subsequent ten guineas , which would produce only 470 votes for the 1 , 200 guinea payment , instead of the 1 , 310 as now

proposed—but wide as this difference is we venture the opinion that the existing law is much more consistent than the proposed alteration , and if the former was adopted as

the basis of calculation for the new Lodge qualifications of Vice-Patron and Patron it would probably meet the case in a businesslike manner .

While on the subject it may not be out of place to consider how far the alterations that were proposed affect the relations between the three Institutions , although we do not consider it to be imperative that the same or similar

conditions should be observed in all three , and for this reason the figures we are now enabled to give may rather strengthen the arguments we have already used in reference to the

Benevolent Institution alone , than support any theory that the Benevolent is seeking to make its voting returns specially attractive at the probable expense of the Educational Eunds , which is the argument freely used in some quarters .

As we have just said , the Benevolont Institution confers the rank of Vice-President on the W . M . of a Lodge , or First Principal of a Chapter subscribing fifty guineas , and gives ten votes in perpetuity . The two Educational

Institutions give but five votes for a similar contribution , but , inasmuch as there are two elections each year for the Schools , and only one for the Benevolent , a Lodge or other Society gets ten votes a year from each for the fifty guineas . The

same proportion is observed in the case of a ten guinea donation , but is not maintained in connection with larger amounts , as the following table , showing the number of votes , & c , given by the different Eunds , will demonstrate :

R . M . I . Girls and R . M . I . Boys . R . M . Benevolent Institution . » %££ » Rank , jf J Rank , f J Rank , f J Rank . ( U C 4 5 1 L . S . none 2 L . G . 2 for 15 years 10 2 L . G . 1 L . S . 4 L . G . 2 50 j 10 V . Pres . 5 L . G . 20 V . Pres . 10 V . Pres . 100 30 V . Pat . 10 V . Pres . 60 V . Pat . 30 „ 200 80 Patron 30 V . Pat . 140 Patron 70 „ 400 180 „ 80 Patron 380 „ 150 for each further completed 200 100 „ 50 Patron 240 „ 80 „

By the new law passed by the Benevolent Institution in November it was proposed that much greater voting power should be given to Lodges , as we have already shown , and the effect of these alterations , if confirmed by Grand Lodge , would be as follows :

R . M . I . Girls and R . M . I . Boys . R . M . Benevolent Institution . D ° Lodg ° es . Rank- Votes RaDk * Votes * 200 guineas Vice-Patron 30 Patron 110 instead of 70 as at present 400 „ Patron 80 „ 350 „ 150 „ and each further completed \ 200 guineas would give 50 [ would give 240 „ 80 „ ' i _ It is this immense extension of Lodge VotiDg power that caused so much alaim among the supporters of the

Benevolent Institution Lodge Votes.

two Educational Institutions , and will probably lead to more strenuous opposition in the future if similar tactics are adopted at the Special Meeting on Wednesday next .

We have received the following letter in regard to this voting question , and in view of its importance give it insertion here instead of in the usual correspondence column of our paper . The fact that two such prominent Members of the Order ,

and such earnest workers in connection with its Institutions as Bros . John Glass and William Morley—themselves supporters of the Benevolent Institution—would be in ignorance , even at this eleventh hour , as to what is proposed to be done on Wednesday next but for the kindly intervention of a Provincial

Brother , seems to us to ailoril overwhelming evidence that some change is necessary in the rules which deal with the notice to be given of such an important alteration as that under review , especially when we bear in mind the general surprise that was expressed throughout the Craft when the alterations agreed to at the November Special Meeting were made public .

As our correspondents state , such an important matter as that now before the Craft , which is in reality a radical change in the constitution of one of its Charitable Institutions , ought to be widely made known ¦ by means of full details in the advertisements that have to be published before the meeting can be legally held .

This particular point is one that seems to call for careful attention , although there is the satisfaction that the Craft always enjoys the power of fully considering any proposed alteration , with a full knowledge of its extent , when the matter comes before Grand Lodge for approval , but it is certainly not

desirable that such extreme measures as were adopted in December last should frequently be necessary in connection with the Charity work of the Order , as soreness is thereby created and misunderstandings started , the ultimnte effect of which it is impossible to gauge .

The Benevolent Institution And Lodge Votes.

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION AND LODGE VOTES .

To the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Through the kindness of a Provincial Brother we are in possession of the proposed alterations in Laws which are to be submitted to a Special Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of the R . M . Benevolent Institution on the 13 th inst .

It will be re membered that the proposals submitted to the December Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge were opposed by us on the ground that they went far beyond what was granted by theEducationalInstitutions , and , in fact , would ultimately prove detrimental to the "Benevolent "

Institution itself . Grand Lodge decided to defer the matter for further consideration , and we think we are right in stating that the general opinion was that the three Institutions should as nearly as possible be placed on an equality as regards value of Votes and " Ranks " of Donors .

It is a matter of regret to us that the Advertisement convening the Special Meeting does not specify the exact proposals , in order that your readers might be in full possession of the facts—hence we are obliged to trouble you with this letter . So far from the revised proposals meeting the objections raised in

December last , it is still proposed to give to Lodges , & c , the Ranks of Vice-Patron and Patron of the Institution for one-half the amounts required by the Girls and Boys Schools— or , in other words , it is proposed to give to Lodges , & c , in perpetuity such ranks for the same money payment as required from Individuals who enjoy the privilege for Life only . This is certainly contrary to the understanding arrived at by everybody at Grand Lodge .

It is further proposed to give 50 per cent extra voting power after payment of 200 Guineas . To be on equal lines with the Educational Institutions this should not be the case at least until a payment of 400 Guineas was made by Lodges , & c . We regret that time does not permit us giving figures in support of our

c ontention , but trust the foregoing will be sufficient for your readers to grasp tho fact that the "further consideration" of the Benevolent authorities has not conformed to the opinions expressed in Grand Lodge that each Institution should stand on an equality as regards its privileges and voting power .

We are , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , JOHN GLASS , ( P . M ., P . Z ., P . P . G . S . ofW . Essex , Prov . G . J . Essex ) Vice-President R . M . I . Boys .

WILLIAM MORLEY , ( P . M ., P . Z . ) Vice-Patron R . M . I . Girls . 8 th February 1895 .