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Article LODGE HISTORIES. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE MAIDEN'S BOWER: Page 1 of 1 Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 2 →
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Lodge Histories.
Masters be summoned to inquire into those reports aud to tako such other measures as they may consider necessary . " It was further proposed by tho same Bro . Daly that a " Bro . Wilkinson " bo summoned to attend the meeting of the Board of Past Masters , while a letter from the latter brother " expressing a wish to withdraw from
the Lodge for tho present" was submitted , and its consideration agreed to be held over till the next meeting of the Lodge . What came of this apparent imbroglio does not appear , and we aro left to assume , therefore , that any difficulties which might have occurred were smoothed over . The W . Master for tho year lS-l l was Bro . Sheard , and as far as the financial condition of tho Lodge , when ho
entered on his office , was concerned he had every reason to bo satisfied . In February 1844 , a Committee was entrusted with the consideration of the necessary measures " for altering the Lodge from a Supper to a Dinner Lodge . " In April this Committeo reported in favour of tho proposed change , but at tho same timo submitted that , in conseqnenco thereof tho annual subscription should bo increased from two to
four guineas , whilo the visiting fee , though remaining as heretofore at the maximum of two guineas , conld not be reduced at tho option of tho Worshipful Master to a loss sum than twelve shillings and sixpence . Thoy further proposed that the Lodgo should meet on the third Tuesday in the months of January , February , March , April , October and November ,
and that election night should bo changed from December to November . These proposals wero uuanimously accepted , and after the W . Master had been requested to record the Lodgo votes in favour of Bro . Bird , tho bnsiness closed . In October of this year , we read that the resignation of Bro . Mnggeridgo P . M . was tendered and " accepted , with the unanimous regret of the brethren . " Five
other resignations were accepted at the same meeting , subject to the usual conditions as to the payment of dnes . Among tho principal business at the October and November meetings were sundry resolutions intended to deal with members in arrear with their subscriptions , the only other poiuts worthy of notice being that at the latter Lodge Bro . Kincaid P . M . was elected W . Master for the year 1845 ,
and Bro . Blake P . M . Treasurer , Bro . Speight being re-appointed Tyler . After the installation of the new Master in January , it was unanimousl y agreed that a Past Master ' s jewel of the usual value be presented to Bro . Sheard , the retiring Master , in recognition of his services , and it was further proposed , on tho motion of Bro . Daly P . M ., seconded by Bro . Wilson P . M ., that , as some slight testimony
to tho new W . Master ' s conduct as Treasurer for tho previous five years , a jewel bo presented to that W . Brother , but at tho hitter ' s own request tho proposal was withdrawn , and a vote of thanks was substituted . Tho Report of the Audit Committeo showed a balance to the credit of tho Lodge , amounting to tho respectable sum of £ 43 15 s . About this time thero aro noticeable
in the minutes entries to the effect that " tho Lodge was then called off for refreshment , " and afterwards resumed . In November Bro . Justins was elected W . M ., whilo Bro . Kincaid resumed his office of Treasnrer , and the veteran Bro . Speight was re-chosen Tyler . Bro . Justins was installed at the usual meeting , bnt tho financial report , which , however , was satisfactory , was not
submitted and approved till tho next meeting in February . In tho November following a letter from a Bro . Z . J . Clark , tendering his resignation as member , was read , but at the same time Bro . Clark respectfully declined to pay the demand made upon him for arrears , as ho had never attended the Lodgo sinco the day of his initiation , his dues amounting to eight pounds . Whereupon it was
resolved that Bro . Clark ' s resignation bo accepted upon his paying four pounds , viz ., two ponnds in lieu of arrears , and two pounds for the current subscription . This Bro . Clark was proposed in October 1844 , and elected and initiated in the November following , and all we think it needful to remark is , that the Lodge was well quit of a member who was so uniformly absent , while tho Lodge is to be
congratulated on the consideration it exhibited towards the defaulting member . Bro . Goodchap having been elected W . M ., the Lodge adjourned , and that brother was duly installed in office in February 1847 , instead of the preceding month , a resolution changing the day of installation having been agreed to . We regret to say that the balance for tho new year , though on the right side of the
account , was subject to outstanding bills considerably in excess of its amount , so that once again we have to notice an unfavourable fluctuation in the financial condition of the Lodge . A Past Master ' s jewel was voted to Bro . Goodchap ' s predecessor , Bro . I . P . M . Justins . The minutes of the 10 th November 1847 bring the Minute-Book , which has thus far been under notice , to a close . ( To be continued . )
The Maiden's Bower:
THE MAIDEN'S BOWER :
A SERENADE . Tho dews of night are falling light Upon the maiden ' s bower ; Tho evening star now shines afar High over bill and towor .
My lady sleeps , no vigil keeps , And calm is her repose , Whilst I ' m awake for her sweet sake , And scarce mine eyelids close .
Sleep soft , my love . Oh ! God above , Now shield her from all harm ; Let heavenly gleams shine through her dreams , And keep her from alarm :
111 tnne my lays to chant her praise , And serenado my queen , The fairest flower in maiden bower , The sweetest , too , I ween . EMIU HOLMES , Author of " Amabel Vaughau , " & c .
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for tlie opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejecte I communications . All Let ' ers must bear the v . a . ne an ' . address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of qood faith .
GRAND LODGE OFFICERS .
To the Editor of the FitKK . UAsox s Ciusoxrcr . K . DFAI * . SIR AXP BIIOTUKI ; , —In an " editorial " of last , week , your contemporary the Freemason cites tho rule , that in the absence of the G . M . and Dopnty , tho G . L . Officer highest in rank shall presideand construes the usage whereby the Senior Provincial or District Grand Master is called upon to tako tho chair , as being equivalent to
a constitutional sanction of such practice . Yet the fact is—that not a shred of authority is to bo anywhero found , which will sustain the usaqe . referred to . If wo ask how , why , or wherefore , tho Prov . G . M . of " Blaukshire , " and the D . G . M . of " No-Man's-land , " aro Officers of Grand Lodge ? reply is mado ( in effect ) , " because they are , " and with this we arc forced to be content .
But even if it be conceded , that the usage m question impliedly favours tho contention of your contemporary—how is this reconcilable with another usage , which also read along with tho Constitutions bears in quite another direction ? For example , iu the Book of Constitutions , at p 19 , we find : — "No brother shall hold moro than one office in the Grand Lodge at one and tho samo timo . "
Ifc will be in tho recollection of all , that H . R . H . Princo Leopold , whilst Prov . G . M . of Oxfordshire was appointed Junior Grand Wardon . Clearly , therefore , wo havo hero , an authoritative ruling by tho Grand Master , that the provincial distinction onjoyed by his illustrious brother was not an office iu Grand Lodge . This ruling , it is trno , conflicts with the view of the law as
presented by the Freemason , but if the latter bo correct , the inlerenco is unavoidable—that the Constitutions of Masonry wero entirely overridden on the occasion of Princo Leopold ' s appointment as Grand Warden . With the pnroly social part of this question , few will bo concerned , if tho brother in tho chair , at a Masonic banquet , calls upon the most
distinguished gtiost to reply for " tho Officers of the Lodge , and himself responds for " the Visitors , " ho has a perfect right to do so nor , in tho opinion of a good many , would this method of procedure bo ono whit more objectionable , or irregular , than the habit of calling upon tho Grand Master of aProvinco or a District to acknowledge tho toast of "the Officers of the Grand Lodge of England . " No ono wishes to derogate from tho rank and pre-cmincuee of our Provincial
and District Grand Masters , aud when , happily , any of these dignitaries are present at a banquet , tho toast of " the Grand Lodge of England " will bring them on their feet . If , indeed , each Provincial or District G . M . is a veritable Grand Lodge Officer , Londoners may reasonably complain of their almost total snpersession in G . L . office by country and colonial brethren . The Lodges in work on the English roll , at tho close of last year , were in number about 1729 , viz .:
—Country Lodges - - 971 Prov . G . M . ' s - - 39 Foreign do - - 457 D . G . M . ' s 29 Town do - - 30 . 1 Prov . or D . G . M . ' s - None The Home and Foreign Provinces thus respectively averaging 25 and
15 subordinate Ladges each . It will be seen that whilst the 1428 Country and Foreign Lodges are represented on tho Dais by sixty-eight brethren of permanent rank , tho 301 Town Lodges are , so to speak— "left out iu the cold !" To readjust the " balance of preferment , " and to place 3 Iefcropolitan brethren on a footing of equality with the more fortunate "
Provincials " and " Colonials , " many changes would be requisite , including a considerable widening of the Dais . If , for instance , the privileges of Londoners were rendered co-exteusivo with those of their brethren in the " Bahamas , " the appointment of one hundred and fifty Provincial Grand Masters in the Metropolitan district would become a necessity ! Fifty less , or one hundred , would suffice to place
London Lodges on an equality with those in " Gibraltar , " the " Eastern Archipelago , " and " Griqualand ; " whilst only seventy-five would be needed to attain for them a proportionate representation with " North China , " " Japan , " "Montreal , " and "the Argentine Republic . " The American practice in regard to private Lodges situate at a distance from tho seats of Masonic authority , would seem not
unworthy of our imitation . Iu Massachusetts , for example , and I believe also in other States , Deputy District Grand Masters are appointed , with a limited control over tho Lodges assigned to their jurisdiction . This system seems a far better one than our own , which draws no distinction between a foreign province of three or of thirty Lodges , * and gives alike to each the cumbrous macliinory of a
District Grand Lodgo . With a roll of three 'Lodges ' , as iu " Gibraltar , " " Singapore " and Griqualand , " tho fixed establishment of D . G . M ., Deputy , & c . & c . may bo characterised as a huge staff of officers , without any rank and filo , sinco the D . G . M ., in each case , must be sorely exorcised iu mind , how to find even a sufficiency of brethren to act as oflico bearers !
It . i :- ! a standing grievance with Colonial brethren , that they are wholly ignored in the distribution of ollice , by the Mother Grand Lodge . If , however , each District G . M . is an actual Officer of tho G . Lodge of England , the Colonics , instead of enjoying less , possess more , than their fair share of G . TJ . proferment . In this view of tho ease , the question suggests itself , on what ground the one G . Lodge oflico apportioned to each foreign district , should be . locked up iu a
* " The Masonic District of tho " Bahamas" comprises two , and that of " Victoria" sixty-seven Lodges !!
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lodge Histories.
Masters be summoned to inquire into those reports aud to tako such other measures as they may consider necessary . " It was further proposed by tho same Bro . Daly that a " Bro . Wilkinson " bo summoned to attend the meeting of the Board of Past Masters , while a letter from the latter brother " expressing a wish to withdraw from
the Lodge for tho present" was submitted , and its consideration agreed to be held over till the next meeting of the Lodge . What came of this apparent imbroglio does not appear , and we aro left to assume , therefore , that any difficulties which might have occurred were smoothed over . The W . Master for tho year lS-l l was Bro . Sheard , and as far as the financial condition of tho Lodge , when ho
entered on his office , was concerned he had every reason to bo satisfied . In February 1844 , a Committee was entrusted with the consideration of the necessary measures " for altering the Lodge from a Supper to a Dinner Lodge . " In April this Committeo reported in favour of tho proposed change , but at tho same timo submitted that , in conseqnenco thereof tho annual subscription should bo increased from two to
four guineas , whilo the visiting fee , though remaining as heretofore at the maximum of two guineas , conld not be reduced at tho option of tho Worshipful Master to a loss sum than twelve shillings and sixpence . Thoy further proposed that the Lodgo should meet on the third Tuesday in the months of January , February , March , April , October and November ,
and that election night should bo changed from December to November . These proposals wero uuanimously accepted , and after the W . Master had been requested to record the Lodgo votes in favour of Bro . Bird , tho bnsiness closed . In October of this year , we read that the resignation of Bro . Mnggeridgo P . M . was tendered and " accepted , with the unanimous regret of the brethren . " Five
other resignations were accepted at the same meeting , subject to the usual conditions as to the payment of dnes . Among tho principal business at the October and November meetings were sundry resolutions intended to deal with members in arrear with their subscriptions , the only other poiuts worthy of notice being that at the latter Lodge Bro . Kincaid P . M . was elected W . Master for the year 1845 ,
and Bro . Blake P . M . Treasurer , Bro . Speight being re-appointed Tyler . After the installation of the new Master in January , it was unanimousl y agreed that a Past Master ' s jewel of the usual value be presented to Bro . Sheard , the retiring Master , in recognition of his services , and it was further proposed , on tho motion of Bro . Daly P . M ., seconded by Bro . Wilson P . M ., that , as some slight testimony
to tho new W . Master ' s conduct as Treasurer for tho previous five years , a jewel bo presented to that W . Brother , but at tho hitter ' s own request tho proposal was withdrawn , and a vote of thanks was substituted . Tho Report of the Audit Committeo showed a balance to the credit of tho Lodge , amounting to tho respectable sum of £ 43 15 s . About this time thero aro noticeable
in the minutes entries to the effect that " tho Lodge was then called off for refreshment , " and afterwards resumed . In November Bro . Justins was elected W . M ., whilo Bro . Kincaid resumed his office of Treasnrer , and the veteran Bro . Speight was re-chosen Tyler . Bro . Justins was installed at the usual meeting , bnt tho financial report , which , however , was satisfactory , was not
submitted and approved till tho next meeting in February . In tho November following a letter from a Bro . Z . J . Clark , tendering his resignation as member , was read , but at the same time Bro . Clark respectfully declined to pay the demand made upon him for arrears , as ho had never attended the Lodgo sinco the day of his initiation , his dues amounting to eight pounds . Whereupon it was
resolved that Bro . Clark ' s resignation bo accepted upon his paying four pounds , viz ., two ponnds in lieu of arrears , and two pounds for the current subscription . This Bro . Clark was proposed in October 1844 , and elected and initiated in the November following , and all we think it needful to remark is , that the Lodge was well quit of a member who was so uniformly absent , while tho Lodge is to be
congratulated on the consideration it exhibited towards the defaulting member . Bro . Goodchap having been elected W . M ., the Lodge adjourned , and that brother was duly installed in office in February 1847 , instead of the preceding month , a resolution changing the day of installation having been agreed to . We regret to say that the balance for tho new year , though on the right side of the
account , was subject to outstanding bills considerably in excess of its amount , so that once again we have to notice an unfavourable fluctuation in the financial condition of the Lodge . A Past Master ' s jewel was voted to Bro . Goodchap ' s predecessor , Bro . I . P . M . Justins . The minutes of the 10 th November 1847 bring the Minute-Book , which has thus far been under notice , to a close . ( To be continued . )
The Maiden's Bower:
THE MAIDEN'S BOWER :
A SERENADE . Tho dews of night are falling light Upon the maiden ' s bower ; Tho evening star now shines afar High over bill and towor .
My lady sleeps , no vigil keeps , And calm is her repose , Whilst I ' m awake for her sweet sake , And scarce mine eyelids close .
Sleep soft , my love . Oh ! God above , Now shield her from all harm ; Let heavenly gleams shine through her dreams , And keep her from alarm :
111 tnne my lays to chant her praise , And serenado my queen , The fairest flower in maiden bower , The sweetest , too , I ween . EMIU HOLMES , Author of " Amabel Vaughau , " & c .
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for tlie opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejecte I communications . All Let ' ers must bear the v . a . ne an ' . address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of qood faith .
GRAND LODGE OFFICERS .
To the Editor of the FitKK . UAsox s Ciusoxrcr . K . DFAI * . SIR AXP BIIOTUKI ; , —In an " editorial " of last , week , your contemporary the Freemason cites tho rule , that in the absence of the G . M . and Dopnty , tho G . L . Officer highest in rank shall presideand construes the usage whereby the Senior Provincial or District Grand Master is called upon to tako tho chair , as being equivalent to
a constitutional sanction of such practice . Yet the fact is—that not a shred of authority is to bo anywhero found , which will sustain the usaqe . referred to . If wo ask how , why , or wherefore , tho Prov . G . M . of " Blaukshire , " and the D . G . M . of " No-Man's-land , " aro Officers of Grand Lodge ? reply is mado ( in effect ) , " because they are , " and with this we arc forced to be content .
But even if it be conceded , that the usage m question impliedly favours tho contention of your contemporary—how is this reconcilable with another usage , which also read along with tho Constitutions bears in quite another direction ? For example , iu the Book of Constitutions , at p 19 , we find : — "No brother shall hold moro than one office in the Grand Lodge at one and tho samo timo . "
Ifc will be in tho recollection of all , that H . R . H . Princo Leopold , whilst Prov . G . M . of Oxfordshire was appointed Junior Grand Wardon . Clearly , therefore , wo havo hero , an authoritative ruling by tho Grand Master , that the provincial distinction onjoyed by his illustrious brother was not an office iu Grand Lodge . This ruling , it is trno , conflicts with the view of the law as
presented by the Freemason , but if the latter bo correct , the inlerenco is unavoidable—that the Constitutions of Masonry wero entirely overridden on the occasion of Princo Leopold ' s appointment as Grand Warden . With the pnroly social part of this question , few will bo concerned , if tho brother in tho chair , at a Masonic banquet , calls upon the most
distinguished gtiost to reply for " tho Officers of the Lodge , and himself responds for " the Visitors , " ho has a perfect right to do so nor , in tho opinion of a good many , would this method of procedure bo ono whit more objectionable , or irregular , than the habit of calling upon tho Grand Master of aProvinco or a District to acknowledge tho toast of "the Officers of the Grand Lodge of England . " No ono wishes to derogate from tho rank and pre-cmincuee of our Provincial
and District Grand Masters , aud when , happily , any of these dignitaries are present at a banquet , tho toast of " the Grand Lodge of England " will bring them on their feet . If , indeed , each Provincial or District G . M . is a veritable Grand Lodge Officer , Londoners may reasonably complain of their almost total snpersession in G . L . office by country and colonial brethren . The Lodges in work on the English roll , at tho close of last year , were in number about 1729 , viz .:
—Country Lodges - - 971 Prov . G . M . ' s - - 39 Foreign do - - 457 D . G . M . ' s 29 Town do - - 30 . 1 Prov . or D . G . M . ' s - None The Home and Foreign Provinces thus respectively averaging 25 and
15 subordinate Ladges each . It will be seen that whilst the 1428 Country and Foreign Lodges are represented on tho Dais by sixty-eight brethren of permanent rank , tho 301 Town Lodges are , so to speak— "left out iu the cold !" To readjust the " balance of preferment , " and to place 3 Iefcropolitan brethren on a footing of equality with the more fortunate "
Provincials " and " Colonials , " many changes would be requisite , including a considerable widening of the Dais . If , for instance , the privileges of Londoners were rendered co-exteusivo with those of their brethren in the " Bahamas , " the appointment of one hundred and fifty Provincial Grand Masters in the Metropolitan district would become a necessity ! Fifty less , or one hundred , would suffice to place
London Lodges on an equality with those in " Gibraltar , " the " Eastern Archipelago , " and " Griqualand ; " whilst only seventy-five would be needed to attain for them a proportionate representation with " North China , " " Japan , " "Montreal , " and "the Argentine Republic . " The American practice in regard to private Lodges situate at a distance from tho seats of Masonic authority , would seem not
unworthy of our imitation . Iu Massachusetts , for example , and I believe also in other States , Deputy District Grand Masters are appointed , with a limited control over tho Lodges assigned to their jurisdiction . This system seems a far better one than our own , which draws no distinction between a foreign province of three or of thirty Lodges , * and gives alike to each the cumbrous macliinory of a
District Grand Lodgo . With a roll of three 'Lodges ' , as iu " Gibraltar , " " Singapore " and Griqualand , " tho fixed establishment of D . G . M ., Deputy , & c . & c . may bo characterised as a huge staff of officers , without any rank and filo , sinco the D . G . M ., in each case , must be sorely exorcised iu mind , how to find even a sufficiency of brethren to act as oflico bearers !
It . i :- ! a standing grievance with Colonial brethren , that they are wholly ignored in the distribution of ollice , by the Mother Grand Lodge . If , however , each District G . M . is an actual Officer of tho G . Lodge of England , the Colonics , instead of enjoying less , possess more , than their fair share of G . TJ . proferment . In this view of tho ease , the question suggests itself , on what ground the one G . Lodge oflico apportioned to each foreign district , should be . locked up iu a
* " The Masonic District of tho " Bahamas" comprises two , and that of " Victoria" sixty-seven Lodges !!