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Article THE APPROACHING MEETING OF GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 2 Article THE APPROACHING MEETING OF GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Approaching Meeting Of Grand Lodge.
THE APPROACHING MEETING OF GRAND LODGE .
THE amount of business set down for the regular December meeting of Grand Lodge , which will take place on Wednesday next , is somewhat in excess of the usual quota , and comprises some matters of great interest to the Craft at large . On this occasion the brethren of Grand Lodge will be called upon—if the motions of which
notice have been given are brought forward—to decide questions which are likely materially to affect the future of English Freemasonry . It is to be hoped that free discussion will be allowed , in order that a fair and just decision may be arrived at ; and , further , that the brethren will not
consider their time wasted if they are c . illcd upon to listen to numerous arguments for and against the proposed alterations . We are aware that , in discussing the questions which are brought before Grand Lodge , very much is said that is of little interest to the general hearer , but when it
is remembered that the Quarterly Communications are the only occasions on which the whole of the English Craft can be addressed through its representatives , some allowance should be made by the members of one locality for the special requirements of the brethren of another . Laws and
rules which meet every requirement with one section may , and clo prove , utterly impracticable with another , and , therefore , it is desirable that the Central Court should be ready to listen to all , and adjudicate for the benefit of all . On questions which involve a change in existing customs ,
there is sure to be strong expressions of feeling on the part of the class who object to any alteration simply because it is an alteration , without any reference to the benefit or otherwise it is probable may result . The argument used by this section of the community is most unsound , and
utterly opposed to the spirit of progress which should influence every man ' s ideas . The proposer of an amendment should have no trouble to upset the objections of this class if he can secure the attention of his audience ; but this is not always an easy task , the main object of many
persons appearing to be to stop any discussion which is likely to occupy more than a few minutes of their time . As is customary at the December meeting of Grand Lodge , the first business which will require attention is the nomination of a Grand Master , the appointment of a
President of the Lodge of Benevolence , and the election of the other officers of that body , whose appointment rests with Grand Lodge . As regards the former , few words are needed to express the feelings of the brethren . No greater compliment could possibly be paid the Craft than for His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to again undertake the ruling of the English section of the Brotherhood , and so unanimous is this feeling that there is no fear of any other nomination being made , much less entertained , when the time of election arrives ; while , with the latter—the
appointments for the Lodge of Benevolence—no difficulty need bo expected , the number of brethren qualified and deserving of appointment being far in excess of the number of offices to fill . The Charity grants recommended to Grand Lodge by the Lodge of Benevolence will next require
consideration . It can but be matter of regret that it is found necessary to vote so many and such large amounts as are submitted this quarter for confirmation , but it is well
known that the country has been , and is now , suffering from great depression in trade ; and as Freemasonry has so greatly extended itself during the last few years , it is but natural that the claims on its bount y should be more
The Approaching Meeting Of Grand Lodge.
numerous . One thing which must be gratifying to the members is , that Grand Lodge is in a position to give so handsomely , as we suppose they will do , in response to the propositions made by the Lodge of Benevolence . To dispense £ 1000 in one quarter , among seventeen of the
less fortunate members of the Fraternity—in addition to the smaller grants made at each monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence—is an act that must be applauded , and which clearly demonstrates the grandest principle of the Craft—Charity .
The official notification to Grand Lodge of the resignation of Bro . John Hervey , who , as we stated in our last issue , has for the last eleven years faithfully filled the office of Grand Secretary , is the next item of business on the agenda paper . The Board of General Purposes express their regret i
that they are called npon to lay tins resgnation before Grand Lodge , and when we consider the cause which has made it necessary for Bro . Hervey to resign , and the way in which the duties of his office have been discharged , we can but again endorse the regrets expressed . Of
course services such as those of the late Grand Secretary deserve to be suitably recognised , and as it is a part of the duty of the Board of General Purposes to point out whatever they deem necessary or advantageous to the Craft , they now unanimously recommend that Bro . Hervey
be granted the full amount of his salary ( £ 300 a year ) as a retiring pension . This Ave feel is a very delicate point to touch upon ; still we think we should be wanting in the proper discharge of our duty wero we to pass over the item
without comment . Wo one can more respect Bro . Hervey than ourselves , and therefore we feel the more diffident in pointing out what we deem the course most likely to conduce to the welfare of the Craft . We desire
that our remarks should be considered as applying to the paid Offices of Grand Lodge in general , and not to any individual brother in particular . Having thus far explained ourselves , we desire to draw the attention of our readers to the recommendation of the
Board of General Purposes , so far as the amount of the pension to the late Grand Secretary is concerned . We think it very improper to annually spend so large an amount of the funds of Grand Lodge , as is now proposed , as an honarinm to an officer , after , comparatively speaking ,
so short a service as little over eleven years . At the appointed time it will be in the power of each brother present at Grand Lodge to express his opinion on the subject , and we have no doubt but that the question , will receive the attention it so justly merits . Unfortunately there is the
natural feeling that any suggestion made in opposition to the recommendation of the Board of Goneral Purposes is an implied slight on the brother who is more particularly concerned , but we hold that this is not the case ; and even if it were , it would be unwise to establish a precedent
which in years to come it would be next to impossible to disregard , without first taking into consideration every argument that might be raised against it . From a strictly commercial point of view , the action of the Board will not stand a moment ' s consideration . No public institution or
mercantile firm conld offer a full pension after so short a period of employment even if it were anxious to secure the services of the most learned professor , while , in the ordinary course , we think a service of something like
forty years is necessary before a full pension can be secured . The Board would have acted far more wisely had they proposed the granting of a smaller sum , and then if they were of opinion that a full pension had been earned , they could , by their President or other prominent member , have
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Meeting Of Grand Lodge.
THE APPROACHING MEETING OF GRAND LODGE .
THE amount of business set down for the regular December meeting of Grand Lodge , which will take place on Wednesday next , is somewhat in excess of the usual quota , and comprises some matters of great interest to the Craft at large . On this occasion the brethren of Grand Lodge will be called upon—if the motions of which
notice have been given are brought forward—to decide questions which are likely materially to affect the future of English Freemasonry . It is to be hoped that free discussion will be allowed , in order that a fair and just decision may be arrived at ; and , further , that the brethren will not
consider their time wasted if they are c . illcd upon to listen to numerous arguments for and against the proposed alterations . We are aware that , in discussing the questions which are brought before Grand Lodge , very much is said that is of little interest to the general hearer , but when it
is remembered that the Quarterly Communications are the only occasions on which the whole of the English Craft can be addressed through its representatives , some allowance should be made by the members of one locality for the special requirements of the brethren of another . Laws and
rules which meet every requirement with one section may , and clo prove , utterly impracticable with another , and , therefore , it is desirable that the Central Court should be ready to listen to all , and adjudicate for the benefit of all . On questions which involve a change in existing customs ,
there is sure to be strong expressions of feeling on the part of the class who object to any alteration simply because it is an alteration , without any reference to the benefit or otherwise it is probable may result . The argument used by this section of the community is most unsound , and
utterly opposed to the spirit of progress which should influence every man ' s ideas . The proposer of an amendment should have no trouble to upset the objections of this class if he can secure the attention of his audience ; but this is not always an easy task , the main object of many
persons appearing to be to stop any discussion which is likely to occupy more than a few minutes of their time . As is customary at the December meeting of Grand Lodge , the first business which will require attention is the nomination of a Grand Master , the appointment of a
President of the Lodge of Benevolence , and the election of the other officers of that body , whose appointment rests with Grand Lodge . As regards the former , few words are needed to express the feelings of the brethren . No greater compliment could possibly be paid the Craft than for His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to again undertake the ruling of the English section of the Brotherhood , and so unanimous is this feeling that there is no fear of any other nomination being made , much less entertained , when the time of election arrives ; while , with the latter—the
appointments for the Lodge of Benevolence—no difficulty need bo expected , the number of brethren qualified and deserving of appointment being far in excess of the number of offices to fill . The Charity grants recommended to Grand Lodge by the Lodge of Benevolence will next require
consideration . It can but be matter of regret that it is found necessary to vote so many and such large amounts as are submitted this quarter for confirmation , but it is well
known that the country has been , and is now , suffering from great depression in trade ; and as Freemasonry has so greatly extended itself during the last few years , it is but natural that the claims on its bount y should be more
The Approaching Meeting Of Grand Lodge.
numerous . One thing which must be gratifying to the members is , that Grand Lodge is in a position to give so handsomely , as we suppose they will do , in response to the propositions made by the Lodge of Benevolence . To dispense £ 1000 in one quarter , among seventeen of the
less fortunate members of the Fraternity—in addition to the smaller grants made at each monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence—is an act that must be applauded , and which clearly demonstrates the grandest principle of the Craft—Charity .
The official notification to Grand Lodge of the resignation of Bro . John Hervey , who , as we stated in our last issue , has for the last eleven years faithfully filled the office of Grand Secretary , is the next item of business on the agenda paper . The Board of General Purposes express their regret i
that they are called npon to lay tins resgnation before Grand Lodge , and when we consider the cause which has made it necessary for Bro . Hervey to resign , and the way in which the duties of his office have been discharged , we can but again endorse the regrets expressed . Of
course services such as those of the late Grand Secretary deserve to be suitably recognised , and as it is a part of the duty of the Board of General Purposes to point out whatever they deem necessary or advantageous to the Craft , they now unanimously recommend that Bro . Hervey
be granted the full amount of his salary ( £ 300 a year ) as a retiring pension . This Ave feel is a very delicate point to touch upon ; still we think we should be wanting in the proper discharge of our duty wero we to pass over the item
without comment . Wo one can more respect Bro . Hervey than ourselves , and therefore we feel the more diffident in pointing out what we deem the course most likely to conduce to the welfare of the Craft . We desire
that our remarks should be considered as applying to the paid Offices of Grand Lodge in general , and not to any individual brother in particular . Having thus far explained ourselves , we desire to draw the attention of our readers to the recommendation of the
Board of General Purposes , so far as the amount of the pension to the late Grand Secretary is concerned . We think it very improper to annually spend so large an amount of the funds of Grand Lodge , as is now proposed , as an honarinm to an officer , after , comparatively speaking ,
so short a service as little over eleven years . At the appointed time it will be in the power of each brother present at Grand Lodge to express his opinion on the subject , and we have no doubt but that the question , will receive the attention it so justly merits . Unfortunately there is the
natural feeling that any suggestion made in opposition to the recommendation of the Board of Goneral Purposes is an implied slight on the brother who is more particularly concerned , but we hold that this is not the case ; and even if it were , it would be unwise to establish a precedent
which in years to come it would be next to impossible to disregard , without first taking into consideration every argument that might be raised against it . From a strictly commercial point of view , the action of the Board will not stand a moment ' s consideration . No public institution or
mercantile firm conld offer a full pension after so short a period of employment even if it were anxious to secure the services of the most learned professor , while , in the ordinary course , we think a service of something like
forty years is necessary before a full pension can be secured . The Board would have acted far more wisely had they proposed the granting of a smaller sum , and then if they were of opinion that a full pension had been earned , they could , by their President or other prominent member , have