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Article COMMITTEE OF GRAND LODGE, AND BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article COMMITTEE OF GRAND LODGE, AND BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE. Page 2 of 2 Article BANQUET LAWS. Page 1 of 1
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Committee Of Grand Lodge, And Board Of Benevolence.
the Board of Benevolence , would like very much to second the motion . He knew Bro . Cottebrune would like to do so , as he had on previous occasions ; but he hoped he might be allowed to second it as one of the oldest
members of the Board . It would , however , Le needless for him to make any lengthened remarks , Bro . Brett having spoken so fully on the motion . The motion was carried unanimously .
Bro . Eobert Grey President then said he felt by the remarks which had fallen hom Brother Brett that tl . is was not a merely formal vote of thanks , but a sincere
expression of the feelings of the Brethren . Some time ago the Board resolved that their meetings should open at five o ' clock instead of six in the evening . He was afraid , however , that to-night the regular business would not
commence till long after six , and therefore he would say only a few words , as a condensation of fuller expressions , and he hoped the Board would accept them as his
thanks . Bro . Brett had been kind enough to call him " the same Eobert Grey to-day that he was the first time he sat there . " In spirit he was the same ; he was very
proud and thankful to say he did not feel himself so very much older , and he only hoped he might continue so . He trusted it would be his great honour as it would be his extreme pleasure to preside over the Brethren for many years . He should only be too pleased to do so if
it was the will of the M . W . G . Master to again appoint him to that distinguished post . It was a position of which he was justly proud , for he considered that this Board and the Board which was so ably presided over by his Brother on his right—Brother Loveland-Lovelaud
the Board of General Purposes—were the two Boards which were the essence ol Masonry , the backbone of the whole Craft . He had done his best here ; but that best would have been utterly useless had it not been for the universal kindness , the assistance and moderation he had received from every Brother who attended the meetings of the Board . It was not given to every one to have the gift of patience ; he did not possess it himself ;
but he could only say that if at any time he had said a word that might had been taken as a little sharp or un-Biotherly or unkind there was no feeling ol ihat sort in his mind , and he asked their paidon . He looked forwaid to the future was as much pleasure as he looked
back on the past—the pleasure ot bestowing and extending relief to those who had not been so fortunate as the members of this Board . Tbat was bis idea , to extecd
relief to the distressed , and as long as they carried out that principle of Lojalty to the piecepts of the Craft so long would they stand at the head of the Craft which stood at the head of the world of Masonry . Bro . David Dixon Meicer P . G . P . said that before
considering the cases on the paper he would like to ask the opinion of the President whether the time had not arrived for the Board to take some steps with regaid to those petitioners who had ceased to be paying members of Lodges for some time . At the last meeting they had
some cases before them where the petitioners had not paid for thirty or forty years . There were some such cases before them to-night , where tbey had subscribed two or three years , and tben ceased for many years . He thought they ought to take the circumstances into consideration , and he would like to take the feeling of
the Board whether there should not be a limit of time when a Brother should be allowed to come to the Board for relief . Bro . James Brett said they could not do it without getting the law altered . Bro . D . D . Mercer said according to the law a Brother must have paid two years to his Lodge . He could see nothing in the book with regard to altering the rule . Bro . C . J . E . Tijou P . G . A . P .: We cannot alter it .
Bro . D . D . Mercer : There is nothing to prevent us limiting the time . Bro . Eobert Grey read rule 234 , and said it was perfectly clear—and he though Bro . Loveland , whom he would appeal to , would endorse what he said that they
could not go beyond that . The Book of Constitutions would have to be altered if they varied their present principle . They could not make a rule of their own . In the opinion of the Board there were frequently cases that were worthy of relief although the petitioner might not have subscribed mote than two years at a distant
Committee Of Grand Lodge, And Board Of Benevolence.
date . If they were to alter their rule as suggested they mi {; ht have urgent cases where they would be prevented relieving them . The remedy was in the hands of the Board as they had the power to deal with every case on its own merits .
The subject then dropped ; and the Brethren con . firmed recommendations made at the October meeting to the extent of £ 570 . The new list contained forty-one
cases ; of these only one was dismissed . The remainder were relieved with a total of £ 1 , 040 . They came from London . Malton , Havant , Becking , St . Helena , Pembroke Dock , Dewsbury , Leicester , Hartlepool , Hexham ,
Aldershot , Wigton , Shrewsbury , Chingford , Plumstead , Norwich , Crewkerne , Gosport and Bermuda . There were five amounts of £ 50 each , five of £ 40 each , eight of £ 30 each , fourteen of £ 20 each , six of £ 10 each , and two of £ 5 each .
Banquet Laws.
BANQUET LAWS .
A SUBJECT that in spite of many very clear regulations and decisions will not rest , is whether a Lodge may devote any part of its funds for banquets or
refreshments of any kind . The law is distasteful to many , who seem to think that the Lodges should have the right to dispose of their own funds as they please . Such Brothers disregard prudence and fail to think that at any
moment a cry of distress and call for help may come from those whom they are bound to assist . We are glad and proud to see the stand taken in California on this question and the fiimnets with which they adhere to it . In commending the law of California , we have to
antagonise a quite general sentiment and practice m Montana . But it is not right if we do it , and can never be made right . Ihere is this explanation and excuse for our practice , however , that it is no more than right to
set forth . In our earlier experience it grew to be a custom that eveiy one on being raised should provide an entertainment—this , some inteipreted as a meaning of the old regulation that every new-made Brother should clothe the Lodge . It came to be a recognised evil , and
while some with plenty of means willingly conformed to the custom , others , desirable for members , could nofc afford it . So it was forbidden , and the compromise was that enough should be charged for the degrees to cover
this item of a modest collation . We are not opposed to occasional banquets , but fully believe in their good influence . There should be banquets to which wives and children could come and all contribute something to the table .
And there may very profitably be banquets for the Craft alone ; then those who attend should pay the expense . if BrotLeis locked at it right and really reflected , that when paid out oi Liege funds , they were partaking of
charity supper , we hardly think they would relish it , but that is what it amounts to in the last concise analysis . We can see no impropriety in a Lodge having a Steward ' s
fund made up from voluntary contributions . Occasionally some generous Brother , when under the smiles of fortune , might feel rich enough to give a " potlach , " as Alaskans term it . At any rate , we believe when the
matter is properly understood , that not a single Brother in any . jurisdiction will favour feasting on the funds consecrated to charity . —Cornelius Hedges , in " Voice of Masonry . "
The record of the first year s work of the Gold . Fields Lodge , of which we publish a report elsewhere in this issue , discloses a condition of affairs probably unique in the annals of Freemasonry . The Lodge was warranted
in 1893 , and the meeting we now report was its second Installation ; and was held in a Masonic Hall owned by the Lodge , and which , on completion , is expected to cost £ 10 , 000 , all of which outlay the members hope to clear off during the current year . During the past twelve months there have been seventy-four regular and
emergency meetings , no less than 200 members being admitted
during that time . The signature book shows an attendance of 1 , 325 Visitors and 2 , 389 members , the number present at the second Installation being close on 400—altogether a marvellous record of Masonic activity .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Committee Of Grand Lodge, And Board Of Benevolence.
the Board of Benevolence , would like very much to second the motion . He knew Bro . Cottebrune would like to do so , as he had on previous occasions ; but he hoped he might be allowed to second it as one of the oldest
members of the Board . It would , however , Le needless for him to make any lengthened remarks , Bro . Brett having spoken so fully on the motion . The motion was carried unanimously .
Bro . Eobert Grey President then said he felt by the remarks which had fallen hom Brother Brett that tl . is was not a merely formal vote of thanks , but a sincere
expression of the feelings of the Brethren . Some time ago the Board resolved that their meetings should open at five o ' clock instead of six in the evening . He was afraid , however , that to-night the regular business would not
commence till long after six , and therefore he would say only a few words , as a condensation of fuller expressions , and he hoped the Board would accept them as his
thanks . Bro . Brett had been kind enough to call him " the same Eobert Grey to-day that he was the first time he sat there . " In spirit he was the same ; he was very
proud and thankful to say he did not feel himself so very much older , and he only hoped he might continue so . He trusted it would be his great honour as it would be his extreme pleasure to preside over the Brethren for many years . He should only be too pleased to do so if
it was the will of the M . W . G . Master to again appoint him to that distinguished post . It was a position of which he was justly proud , for he considered that this Board and the Board which was so ably presided over by his Brother on his right—Brother Loveland-Lovelaud
the Board of General Purposes—were the two Boards which were the essence ol Masonry , the backbone of the whole Craft . He had done his best here ; but that best would have been utterly useless had it not been for the universal kindness , the assistance and moderation he had received from every Brother who attended the meetings of the Board . It was not given to every one to have the gift of patience ; he did not possess it himself ;
but he could only say that if at any time he had said a word that might had been taken as a little sharp or un-Biotherly or unkind there was no feeling ol ihat sort in his mind , and he asked their paidon . He looked forwaid to the future was as much pleasure as he looked
back on the past—the pleasure ot bestowing and extending relief to those who had not been so fortunate as the members of this Board . Tbat was bis idea , to extecd
relief to the distressed , and as long as they carried out that principle of Lojalty to the piecepts of the Craft so long would they stand at the head of the Craft which stood at the head of the world of Masonry . Bro . David Dixon Meicer P . G . P . said that before
considering the cases on the paper he would like to ask the opinion of the President whether the time had not arrived for the Board to take some steps with regaid to those petitioners who had ceased to be paying members of Lodges for some time . At the last meeting they had
some cases before them where the petitioners had not paid for thirty or forty years . There were some such cases before them to-night , where tbey had subscribed two or three years , and tben ceased for many years . He thought they ought to take the circumstances into consideration , and he would like to take the feeling of
the Board whether there should not be a limit of time when a Brother should be allowed to come to the Board for relief . Bro . James Brett said they could not do it without getting the law altered . Bro . D . D . Mercer said according to the law a Brother must have paid two years to his Lodge . He could see nothing in the book with regard to altering the rule . Bro . C . J . E . Tijou P . G . A . P .: We cannot alter it .
Bro . D . D . Mercer : There is nothing to prevent us limiting the time . Bro . Eobert Grey read rule 234 , and said it was perfectly clear—and he though Bro . Loveland , whom he would appeal to , would endorse what he said that they
could not go beyond that . The Book of Constitutions would have to be altered if they varied their present principle . They could not make a rule of their own . In the opinion of the Board there were frequently cases that were worthy of relief although the petitioner might not have subscribed mote than two years at a distant
Committee Of Grand Lodge, And Board Of Benevolence.
date . If they were to alter their rule as suggested they mi {; ht have urgent cases where they would be prevented relieving them . The remedy was in the hands of the Board as they had the power to deal with every case on its own merits .
The subject then dropped ; and the Brethren con . firmed recommendations made at the October meeting to the extent of £ 570 . The new list contained forty-one
cases ; of these only one was dismissed . The remainder were relieved with a total of £ 1 , 040 . They came from London . Malton , Havant , Becking , St . Helena , Pembroke Dock , Dewsbury , Leicester , Hartlepool , Hexham ,
Aldershot , Wigton , Shrewsbury , Chingford , Plumstead , Norwich , Crewkerne , Gosport and Bermuda . There were five amounts of £ 50 each , five of £ 40 each , eight of £ 30 each , fourteen of £ 20 each , six of £ 10 each , and two of £ 5 each .
Banquet Laws.
BANQUET LAWS .
A SUBJECT that in spite of many very clear regulations and decisions will not rest , is whether a Lodge may devote any part of its funds for banquets or
refreshments of any kind . The law is distasteful to many , who seem to think that the Lodges should have the right to dispose of their own funds as they please . Such Brothers disregard prudence and fail to think that at any
moment a cry of distress and call for help may come from those whom they are bound to assist . We are glad and proud to see the stand taken in California on this question and the fiimnets with which they adhere to it . In commending the law of California , we have to
antagonise a quite general sentiment and practice m Montana . But it is not right if we do it , and can never be made right . Ihere is this explanation and excuse for our practice , however , that it is no more than right to
set forth . In our earlier experience it grew to be a custom that eveiy one on being raised should provide an entertainment—this , some inteipreted as a meaning of the old regulation that every new-made Brother should clothe the Lodge . It came to be a recognised evil , and
while some with plenty of means willingly conformed to the custom , others , desirable for members , could nofc afford it . So it was forbidden , and the compromise was that enough should be charged for the degrees to cover
this item of a modest collation . We are not opposed to occasional banquets , but fully believe in their good influence . There should be banquets to which wives and children could come and all contribute something to the table .
And there may very profitably be banquets for the Craft alone ; then those who attend should pay the expense . if BrotLeis locked at it right and really reflected , that when paid out oi Liege funds , they were partaking of
charity supper , we hardly think they would relish it , but that is what it amounts to in the last concise analysis . We can see no impropriety in a Lodge having a Steward ' s
fund made up from voluntary contributions . Occasionally some generous Brother , when under the smiles of fortune , might feel rich enough to give a " potlach , " as Alaskans term it . At any rate , we believe when the
matter is properly understood , that not a single Brother in any . jurisdiction will favour feasting on the funds consecrated to charity . —Cornelius Hedges , in " Voice of Masonry . "
The record of the first year s work of the Gold . Fields Lodge , of which we publish a report elsewhere in this issue , discloses a condition of affairs probably unique in the annals of Freemasonry . The Lodge was warranted
in 1893 , and the meeting we now report was its second Installation ; and was held in a Masonic Hall owned by the Lodge , and which , on completion , is expected to cost £ 10 , 000 , all of which outlay the members hope to clear off during the current year . During the past twelve months there have been seventy-four regular and
emergency meetings , no less than 200 members being admitted
during that time . The signature book shows an attendance of 1 , 325 Visitors and 2 , 389 members , the number present at the second Installation being close on 400—altogether a marvellous record of Masonic activity .