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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE. ← Page 2 of 3 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE. Page 2 of 3 →
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Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
Lodge meeting , from which it appeared that two grants were recommended—ono to the widow of a rov . Brother of Lodge 626 , and the other to a very old member of Lodge 632 , who , by reason of the commercial depression , had failed in hia business as a manufacturer , and been reduced to greac distress . These grants and tho minntes generally were confirmed . The Prov . Grand "Registrar , Bro . "W . Nott
P . P . J . G . W . read his annual report . From this ifc appeared that the number of members of Lodges in the Province was steadily increasing , standing now at 455 , which was an increase of 81 , or nearly 22 per cent , in three years . The Report called attention to tho pleasing fact that the general working expenses , inclnding rent , Tyler ' s refreshments , & c , were reduced from 17 s 9 d to 15 s per member . Tho
average amount contributed to Charity was at tho rate of fis per member , ranging from nothing in ono Lodge to 13 s 8 d in another , though it was to be remembered that Homo of the young Lodges had not cleared off their original expenses , and had not therefore the ability to devote so large a portion of thoir funds to charitable purposes as tho older Lodges . The Eegistrar ' s Report also called attention to
the large amount of arrears outstanding in one or two of the Lodgesin one case as much as half a year ' s actual receipts , and to show that there was no necessity for this , ho instanced two of the Lodges where there had not been for years past a single penny of arrear when their accounts were closed . The "Report also brought before the P . G . Lodge a great laxity on the part of a few of the Lodgo
Secretaries in sending in tho necessary returns . Bro . Tombs P . G . Sec in proposing the adoption of the report , said he was very sorry to find that his mother Lodge was one of the greatest offenders as regards the Registrar ' s concluding remarks , and trusted that means would be taken to effect an improvement , as unless the returns were delivered in good time , it was impossible for the P . G . Officers properly to
fulfil their duty . The Acting P . G . M ., in putting the motion to the meeting , said that the Registrar had very delicately refrained from indicating the Lodges complained of , bnt that shouid the same fault exist nest year , they must not expect a similar consideration , for Prov . Grand Lodge would have to follow the example of the House of Commons , and name the offenders . The Report was adopted . Bro .
Nott , who is also Secretary to the Prov . Grand Charity Organisation Committee , then read the usual annual report of the proceedings of that Committee , showing that the Province had been successful in carrying two candidates for the Girls' School—one afc the April , and another at the October election , although at the latter election the Province had also aided and secured the election of a boy candidate ,
whose last chance it was . This was a case supported by the Provinces of Monmouthshire and Bristol , with both of which Provinces Wiltshire is working in the most friendly nnion . To attain these results tho votes of the Province had been considerably pledged in advance , but the Committee felt that the brothren of the Province wonld enablo it to redpeni its
pledge by sending in every possible vote , more especially when it was considered that tho children in question , through tho engagement thns made , were enjoying tho benefits of the School some timo " bofore they otherwise could have done so . The Report stated that the Committee had received from the Province , during the year , 1176 votes for the various institutions , showing a steady increase year bv year ,
and he mentioned the gratifying fact that the average number of votes per Lodgo possessed by the Wiltshire Lodges was only exceeded in eight of the forty-three Piwincos of England and Wales . The Report was adopted . Bro . F . II . Goldney , P . G . Treasnrer , brought before the Lodge a subject which had appeared on the agenda paper in relation to the establishment of a local Benevolent Fund for the Province . Ho
referred to the large sums taken up for the various Charities from time to time by different brethren from this Province ( as evidenced by the fact they had just heard in the Report read by Bro . Nott that the Wiltshire votss for the year numbered 1176 ) , to the large buildings and great revenues of the Schools , and the large number of scholars educated there . He did not propose , to tako any decided steps at
present , aud without full consideration ; but he thought the time had come when weoughtto consider wha t funds might bo likely td be available for local purposes , whether if a distinct fund were established there would be brethren who . wonld like to subscribe to it , whether legacies might not bo bequeathed to it , and whether that fund might not be applied in a somewhat different manner to that in
which the funds of tho existing great Masonic Charities are applied . He instanced—in addition to grants such as those that day made in aid of present distress—the payment of fees at local Schools , the granting of Scholarships , and other ways which would ensure good results afc a , much less cost than the present large expense of the great Masonic Schools—an exponso by manv considered to be somewhat
excessive . He thought that after meeting such local claims they would still be able to aid the funds of the existing Charities . He pro . posed the appointment of a Committee , consisting of the P . G . Treasurer , Registrar and Secretary , and of ono Brother from each Lodge , to bo elected by the members thereof , such Committeo to conaider the whole . subject and report thereon to the noxt meeting of the
Provincial Grand Lod ge . Bro . Nott P . G . Eeg . seconded tho proposition , remarking that as it was merely for the appointment of a Committee to consider the question , he did not purpose going fully into the subject . Ho might mention , however , that ho had studied the working of local educational and benevolent institutions in other Provinces , and in every case that had come under his notice had found
that these institutions were very successful , and he saw no reason to doubt that some such institution as that alluded to wonld snecoed in Wiltshire . Bro . Tombs P . G . Sec . drew attention to the fact that no less a sum than £ 1030 w „ s requited to purchase a perpetual presentation to one of the Schools , now this ought , in interest alone , to produce between £ 10 aud £ 50 without touching tho capital , and it
seemed to him that it was a matter for consideration whether if a province had any large snm to dispose of it mig ht , not bo employed moro advantageously . Bro . Lord Harry Thynue called attention to the danger of doing anything that would break up the strong associations they had with the existing Charities . They had no ^ doubt power to devote their funds as they liked , and to educate children
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
elsewhere if they liked ; but ho was afraid that if such a fund as that alluded to were established it might have the effect of alienating the sympathies of the Brethren from the existing Schools and Benevolent Institution , and of prejudicially affecting them . Wiltshire had been most successful iu its support of and connection with these Charities , and also afc tho elections , and onr position in that respect he did not
want to see woakened . Bro . Walter Long supported the appointment of tho Committee . It did not affect their position . The Committee was merely to consider and report to the next Prov . Grand Lodge , and it would be for that Prov . Grand Lodge then to act as it might think fit . The Acting P . G . M . Bro . Goldney , in putting the proposition to the meeting , said , that no doubt the administration of the
existing Charities was a subject of great interest . Was the present mode of spending their fund 3 the best one ? Undoubtedly the expenses of the Masonic Schools wero comparatively higher than those of others of which he had some knowledge , and named Christ ' s Hosp ital and the Sons of the Clergy Schools ; but ho thought that if unnecessarily high this fault could be remedied . Ho was strongly in
favour of getting the feeling of the whole province on tho subject of its charitable funds , and how thoy should be applied . The proposition ( with a slight amendment proposed by Lord H . F . Thynne and assented to ) was then pnt to tho meeting , and carried unanimously . The Acting P . G . M . then stated that he had a most pleasing duty to perform , and that was to invest with the Charity Jewel , voted by
the province , two brethren who had each served the office of Steward to two of the Masonic Charities , namely , Bro . William Nott P . P . J . G . W . and P . G . Reg , and Bro . Samuel Gauntletfc P . P . G . S . of Works . In investing Bro . Nott he mentioned how much tho province generally was indebted to him for his work on behalf of the Charities , both as Secretary to the Charity Organization Committee , and also in his two
Stewardships , in discharge of which he had taken up a larger aggregate sum than any other Steward had ever done for the province . In investing Bro . Gauntlett , he congratulated him both on the way in which he had always stack to Masonry , and the province on bis services . Bro . F . H . Goldney was unanimously elected Treasurer for the ensuing year . The Acting P . G . M . then proceeded to appoint and invest the
P . G . Officers for the ensuing year , as follows : —Bros . F . H . Goldney 626 S . W ., Walter H . Long 632 J . W ., Rev . Alex . Headley 626 Chap ., F . H . Goldney 626 ( on election ) Treas . ( re-appointed ) , William Nott 663 Reg . ( re-appointed ) , Henry C . Tombs 355 Sec . ( re-appointed ) , Henry J . Birch 1295 S . D ., Samuel Gauntlett 632 J . D ., Alfred Browne 632 S . of Wks ., John Chandler 355 D . C . ( re-appointed , Charles
Gauntlett 632 A . D . C ., William Adye 1271 S . B ., W . H . Brinkworth 626 Org ., H . E . Bishop 632 G . P ., John Savory ( on election ) Tyler ( re-appointed ) . Before closing the Lodge , the Acting P . G . M . again alluded to the absence of the P . G . M . ( Lord Methuen ) , such absence being enforced by his medical attendant , and said that his lordship very mnch regretted it , more especially after the demonstration of thoir feeling towards him at Swindon last year . His lordship wished
to say how much—had lie been able—ho should have liked to have come amongst the brethren to-day , and ngain thank them for their kind presentation on that occasion . In making the appointment of Officers , his lordship had thoroughly gone into the various qualifications . In appointing Bro . F . H . Goldney to tbe S . W . 's chair , he had desired , to some extent , to acknowledge tho obligation the province was under to that brother for his laborions undertaking in writing that Historv of Freemasonrv in Wiltshire , which he believed was now
in the press , and he hoped would soon be in the hands of the brethren . His lordship thought that such services as this ought to be acknowledged , and he ( the Acting P . G . M . ) , as Bro . F . H . Goldney ' s father , had great pleasure in carrying nut his lordship ' s wishes . After a cordial vote of thanks to the W . M . and brethren of Lodge 632 for their reception that day , the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed .
The brethreu afterwards dined together iu another part of the same building , under the presidency of the D . P . G . M . Bro . Goldney . After the removal of the cloth , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given . To the toast of the Grand Master , & c , Bro . Lord H . Thynne responded , saying that although his engagements were so varied that he might almost say he was Jack of all trades and master
of none , yet one of the things he was most proud of was , that of being a brother Mason , and there was one thing that he should never forget he owed to his connection with Wiltshire , and that was his position in Grand Lodge . Lord H . Thynne then went on to propose the health of the V . W . D . P . G . M . Bro . Goldney , whom he had had the pleasure of knowing in Lodge and in private life for very many years , and in
either capacity he had always found that all tho 3 o who knew him were proud of his acquaintance . Feeling that he was one of those to whom every honour that Masonic custom could give was due , he called upon them to drink his health . The toast was most enthusiastically received . Bro . Goldney , in returning thanks , said he felt that he had not performed the duties of his office as
regards visiting the varions Lodges in such a way as he could have wished , owing to his public engagements , but he hoped to see the private Lodges oftener in fnture . Masonry had many privileges , one very prominent one being its claim to universal brotherhood , in its setting down steps to enable us to ascend towards the perfection of high sentiment and good feeling , virtues which ought to enter
more than they did into our social life . Lord H . F . thynne in Prov . Grand Lodge that morning had alluded to the Masonic Institutions in a way as to which there might be a slight difference of * opinion , but he believed we all met in Lodge in the fullness of that Charity which our great Saviour preached , that feeling in which Masonry existed , and which Masonry enabled them to express . Masonry
was a source of much gratification iu the interest it promoted between the members of various Provinces , bnt it had its origin in graver things . King Solomon was the greatest monarch in thoso days , and ln ' s principal greatness lay iu tho fact that he was able to break away from the bonds of prie 3 tly knowledge , and setup a secular knowledgo under the name nf Wisdom . That Wisdom was behoved to havo been
the foundation of Masonry , and that knowledge ought to be found in our Lodges . Bnt had Masonry done all it ought to have done in carrying out the higher wisdom in which it was founded ? was a ques .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
Lodge meeting , from which it appeared that two grants were recommended—ono to the widow of a rov . Brother of Lodge 626 , and the other to a very old member of Lodge 632 , who , by reason of the commercial depression , had failed in hia business as a manufacturer , and been reduced to greac distress . These grants and tho minntes generally were confirmed . The Prov . Grand "Registrar , Bro . "W . Nott
P . P . J . G . W . read his annual report . From this ifc appeared that the number of members of Lodges in the Province was steadily increasing , standing now at 455 , which was an increase of 81 , or nearly 22 per cent , in three years . The Report called attention to tho pleasing fact that the general working expenses , inclnding rent , Tyler ' s refreshments , & c , were reduced from 17 s 9 d to 15 s per member . Tho
average amount contributed to Charity was at tho rate of fis per member , ranging from nothing in ono Lodge to 13 s 8 d in another , though it was to be remembered that Homo of the young Lodges had not cleared off their original expenses , and had not therefore the ability to devote so large a portion of thoir funds to charitable purposes as tho older Lodges . The Eegistrar ' s Report also called attention to
the large amount of arrears outstanding in one or two of the Lodgesin one case as much as half a year ' s actual receipts , and to show that there was no necessity for this , ho instanced two of the Lodges where there had not been for years past a single penny of arrear when their accounts were closed . The "Report also brought before the P . G . Lodge a great laxity on the part of a few of the Lodgo
Secretaries in sending in tho necessary returns . Bro . Tombs P . G . Sec in proposing the adoption of the report , said he was very sorry to find that his mother Lodge was one of the greatest offenders as regards the Registrar ' s concluding remarks , and trusted that means would be taken to effect an improvement , as unless the returns were delivered in good time , it was impossible for the P . G . Officers properly to
fulfil their duty . The Acting P . G . M ., in putting the motion to the meeting , said that the Registrar had very delicately refrained from indicating the Lodges complained of , bnt that shouid the same fault exist nest year , they must not expect a similar consideration , for Prov . Grand Lodge would have to follow the example of the House of Commons , and name the offenders . The Report was adopted . Bro .
Nott , who is also Secretary to the Prov . Grand Charity Organisation Committee , then read the usual annual report of the proceedings of that Committee , showing that the Province had been successful in carrying two candidates for the Girls' School—one afc the April , and another at the October election , although at the latter election the Province had also aided and secured the election of a boy candidate ,
whose last chance it was . This was a case supported by the Provinces of Monmouthshire and Bristol , with both of which Provinces Wiltshire is working in the most friendly nnion . To attain these results tho votes of the Province had been considerably pledged in advance , but the Committee felt that the brothren of the Province wonld enablo it to redpeni its
pledge by sending in every possible vote , more especially when it was considered that tho children in question , through tho engagement thns made , were enjoying tho benefits of the School some timo " bofore they otherwise could have done so . The Report stated that the Committee had received from the Province , during the year , 1176 votes for the various institutions , showing a steady increase year bv year ,
and he mentioned the gratifying fact that the average number of votes per Lodgo possessed by the Wiltshire Lodges was only exceeded in eight of the forty-three Piwincos of England and Wales . The Report was adopted . Bro . F . II . Goldney , P . G . Treasnrer , brought before the Lodge a subject which had appeared on the agenda paper in relation to the establishment of a local Benevolent Fund for the Province . Ho
referred to the large sums taken up for the various Charities from time to time by different brethren from this Province ( as evidenced by the fact they had just heard in the Report read by Bro . Nott that the Wiltshire votss for the year numbered 1176 ) , to the large buildings and great revenues of the Schools , and the large number of scholars educated there . He did not propose , to tako any decided steps at
present , aud without full consideration ; but he thought the time had come when weoughtto consider wha t funds might bo likely td be available for local purposes , whether if a distinct fund were established there would be brethren who . wonld like to subscribe to it , whether legacies might not bo bequeathed to it , and whether that fund might not be applied in a somewhat different manner to that in
which the funds of tho existing great Masonic Charities are applied . He instanced—in addition to grants such as those that day made in aid of present distress—the payment of fees at local Schools , the granting of Scholarships , and other ways which would ensure good results afc a , much less cost than the present large expense of the great Masonic Schools—an exponso by manv considered to be somewhat
excessive . He thought that after meeting such local claims they would still be able to aid the funds of the existing Charities . He pro . posed the appointment of a Committee , consisting of the P . G . Treasurer , Registrar and Secretary , and of ono Brother from each Lodge , to bo elected by the members thereof , such Committeo to conaider the whole . subject and report thereon to the noxt meeting of the
Provincial Grand Lod ge . Bro . Nott P . G . Eeg . seconded tho proposition , remarking that as it was merely for the appointment of a Committee to consider the question , he did not purpose going fully into the subject . Ho might mention , however , that ho had studied the working of local educational and benevolent institutions in other Provinces , and in every case that had come under his notice had found
that these institutions were very successful , and he saw no reason to doubt that some such institution as that alluded to wonld snecoed in Wiltshire . Bro . Tombs P . G . Sec . drew attention to the fact that no less a sum than £ 1030 w „ s requited to purchase a perpetual presentation to one of the Schools , now this ought , in interest alone , to produce between £ 10 aud £ 50 without touching tho capital , and it
seemed to him that it was a matter for consideration whether if a province had any large snm to dispose of it mig ht , not bo employed moro advantageously . Bro . Lord Harry Thynue called attention to the danger of doing anything that would break up the strong associations they had with the existing Charities . They had no ^ doubt power to devote their funds as they liked , and to educate children
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
elsewhere if they liked ; but ho was afraid that if such a fund as that alluded to were established it might have the effect of alienating the sympathies of the Brethren from the existing Schools and Benevolent Institution , and of prejudicially affecting them . Wiltshire had been most successful iu its support of and connection with these Charities , and also afc tho elections , and onr position in that respect he did not
want to see woakened . Bro . Walter Long supported the appointment of tho Committee . It did not affect their position . The Committee was merely to consider and report to the next Prov . Grand Lodge , and it would be for that Prov . Grand Lodge then to act as it might think fit . The Acting P . G . M . Bro . Goldney , in putting the proposition to the meeting , said , that no doubt the administration of the
existing Charities was a subject of great interest . Was the present mode of spending their fund 3 the best one ? Undoubtedly the expenses of the Masonic Schools wero comparatively higher than those of others of which he had some knowledge , and named Christ ' s Hosp ital and the Sons of the Clergy Schools ; but ho thought that if unnecessarily high this fault could be remedied . Ho was strongly in
favour of getting the feeling of the whole province on tho subject of its charitable funds , and how thoy should be applied . The proposition ( with a slight amendment proposed by Lord H . F . Thynne and assented to ) was then pnt to tho meeting , and carried unanimously . The Acting P . G . M . then stated that he had a most pleasing duty to perform , and that was to invest with the Charity Jewel , voted by
the province , two brethren who had each served the office of Steward to two of the Masonic Charities , namely , Bro . William Nott P . P . J . G . W . and P . G . Reg , and Bro . Samuel Gauntletfc P . P . G . S . of Works . In investing Bro . Nott he mentioned how much tho province generally was indebted to him for his work on behalf of the Charities , both as Secretary to the Charity Organization Committee , and also in his two
Stewardships , in discharge of which he had taken up a larger aggregate sum than any other Steward had ever done for the province . In investing Bro . Gauntlett , he congratulated him both on the way in which he had always stack to Masonry , and the province on bis services . Bro . F . H . Goldney was unanimously elected Treasurer for the ensuing year . The Acting P . G . M . then proceeded to appoint and invest the
P . G . Officers for the ensuing year , as follows : —Bros . F . H . Goldney 626 S . W ., Walter H . Long 632 J . W ., Rev . Alex . Headley 626 Chap ., F . H . Goldney 626 ( on election ) Treas . ( re-appointed ) , William Nott 663 Reg . ( re-appointed ) , Henry C . Tombs 355 Sec . ( re-appointed ) , Henry J . Birch 1295 S . D ., Samuel Gauntlett 632 J . D ., Alfred Browne 632 S . of Wks ., John Chandler 355 D . C . ( re-appointed , Charles
Gauntlett 632 A . D . C ., William Adye 1271 S . B ., W . H . Brinkworth 626 Org ., H . E . Bishop 632 G . P ., John Savory ( on election ) Tyler ( re-appointed ) . Before closing the Lodge , the Acting P . G . M . again alluded to the absence of the P . G . M . ( Lord Methuen ) , such absence being enforced by his medical attendant , and said that his lordship very mnch regretted it , more especially after the demonstration of thoir feeling towards him at Swindon last year . His lordship wished
to say how much—had lie been able—ho should have liked to have come amongst the brethren to-day , and ngain thank them for their kind presentation on that occasion . In making the appointment of Officers , his lordship had thoroughly gone into the various qualifications . In appointing Bro . F . H . Goldney to tbe S . W . 's chair , he had desired , to some extent , to acknowledge tho obligation the province was under to that brother for his laborions undertaking in writing that Historv of Freemasonrv in Wiltshire , which he believed was now
in the press , and he hoped would soon be in the hands of the brethren . His lordship thought that such services as this ought to be acknowledged , and he ( the Acting P . G . M . ) , as Bro . F . H . Goldney ' s father , had great pleasure in carrying nut his lordship ' s wishes . After a cordial vote of thanks to the W . M . and brethren of Lodge 632 for their reception that day , the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed .
The brethreu afterwards dined together iu another part of the same building , under the presidency of the D . P . G . M . Bro . Goldney . After the removal of the cloth , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given . To the toast of the Grand Master , & c , Bro . Lord H . Thynne responded , saying that although his engagements were so varied that he might almost say he was Jack of all trades and master
of none , yet one of the things he was most proud of was , that of being a brother Mason , and there was one thing that he should never forget he owed to his connection with Wiltshire , and that was his position in Grand Lodge . Lord H . Thynne then went on to propose the health of the V . W . D . P . G . M . Bro . Goldney , whom he had had the pleasure of knowing in Lodge and in private life for very many years , and in
either capacity he had always found that all tho 3 o who knew him were proud of his acquaintance . Feeling that he was one of those to whom every honour that Masonic custom could give was due , he called upon them to drink his health . The toast was most enthusiastically received . Bro . Goldney , in returning thanks , said he felt that he had not performed the duties of his office as
regards visiting the varions Lodges in such a way as he could have wished , owing to his public engagements , but he hoped to see the private Lodges oftener in fnture . Masonry had many privileges , one very prominent one being its claim to universal brotherhood , in its setting down steps to enable us to ascend towards the perfection of high sentiment and good feeling , virtues which ought to enter
more than they did into our social life . Lord H . F . thynne in Prov . Grand Lodge that morning had alluded to the Masonic Institutions in a way as to which there might be a slight difference of * opinion , but he believed we all met in Lodge in the fullness of that Charity which our great Saviour preached , that feeling in which Masonry existed , and which Masonry enabled them to express . Masonry
was a source of much gratification iu the interest it promoted between the members of various Provinces , bnt it had its origin in graver things . King Solomon was the greatest monarch in thoso days , and ln ' s principal greatness lay iu tho fact that he was able to break away from the bonds of prie 3 tly knowledge , and setup a secular knowledgo under the name nf Wisdom . That Wisdom was behoved to havo been
the foundation of Masonry , and that knowledge ought to be found in our Lodges . Bnt had Masonry done all it ought to have done in carrying out the higher wisdom in which it was founded ? was a ques .