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Article THE PROVINCES AND VOTING ORGANISATION. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC BURIALS. Page 1 of 2 Article MASONIC BURIALS. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Provinces And Voting Organisation.
the Committee . This would act equitably for all , and if a case arose in any of the Lodges the members would soon find the benefit of having others to support them , provided they could prove their case to bo the most deserving one ,
or it mig ht soon become possible for the Committee to take iu hand two cases whenever an election came round . This p lan of compulsory contribution of Lodge votes is adopted in many Provinces , and , so far as we know , works well . Without compulsion , we think the combination will
be useless . It is proposed that the Committee of Essex shall comprise " the Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy , the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Provincial Grand Treasurer and Provincial Grand Secretary , together with one member
from each Lodge in the Province "—who may attend either in person or by deputy , provided the substitute is a member of the same Lodgo . The Lodge representatives are " to bo elected annually on the day of installation of the W . M ., and their names and addresses transmitted by the
Secretaries of the respective Lodges to the Provincial Grand Secretary immediately after the elections . " The observance of this rule will ensure for the Committee an official status , and the arrangements made should admit of the meetings — of which it is proposed there shall be two
each year- —being well attended . As regards the formation of the Committee , everything has been done to ensure success , it will be a representative one , and likely to be efficient to discharge the duties required ; but as it was impossible to make the bricks without straw , so without votes the Committee will find themselves unable to act ,
and we do not think votes are likely to be very numerous , at least during the first few years of the Committee ' s existence , unless some more -stringent rules are adopted . The selection of a candidate will rest with those members of the Committee who may be present when
the subject is brought forward . So far we have spoken of what we deem but one portion of the duty of a Provincial Charity Committee—we have now to refer to another , equally , if not more , important . The Committee should endeavour to organise
increased support for the Charities , as well as work that already possessed by its Province , and in this respect they may do a great amount of good . It is not always possible for a Lodge to be represented at even one of the three Festivals of a year , and no Steward being on hand to urge
the claims of the Institutions , it may frequently happen that they are for the time being entirely neglected . It should be a part of each Committeeman ' s duty to advocate , in the absence of a Steward , the claims of the three Institutions ; and if he does not find any of the members of
his own Lodge willing to serve , he may at least secure a few amounts for a neighbouring Steward , or collect something for a recognised Provincial representative who , by this means , might have his list considerably augmented by small amounts from a source he could not personally
canvass , and which , without solicitation , would never have been forthcoming . We should like to see this feature introduced in the rules of all the Provincial organisations , and would strongly urge it on the consideration of the brethren of Essex , or elsewhere , who have it in
contemplation to establish such Associations . Meanwhile , whatever may be the final decision , we wish the " Charity Committee for the Province of Essex" every success . We hope at no distant date to be called upon to chronicle some good deeds performed by the brethren of the district mainly through its influence .
Masonic Burials.
MASONIC BURIALS .
OUR readers will have seen , no doubt , a letter from Bro . W . M . Staunton P . M . No . 735 , in the first paragraph of which our worthy correspondent expressed himself as anxious to know whether or not it is the indefeasible right of a Master Mason " who has previously
expressed a wish or request , which lias also been properly proffered , to be buried by his Mother Lodge , according to the rites customary with the Order . " Though it does not seem at first sight a question which is likely to involvf
great difficulty in answering , it is more than probable that the circumstances which may prompt the W . Master of a Lodge to refuse Masonic burial to a duly qualified member of hia Lodge will involve very great considerations of delicacy .
Masonic Burials.
The power of a Master is unquestionably very great though not of course so great that he can venture to set at naught the law which it is his especial duty to see administered in his Lodge . But very rightly a great latitude is allowed him in the exercise of his discretion .
He is , for instance , sole judge of the circumstances which constitute an emergency . If he is satisfied , he issues his orders for a special meeting of his Lodge ; but if , on the other hand , the reasons that are submitted do not commend themselves to his judgment .
he is acting within his undoubted prerogative when he refuses the request . Where a Master persistently declines to entertain the wishes of the brethren , and that for undefined , ill-defined , or trivial reasons , representations mi ght no doubt be made to the Provincial or District Grand
Master or his representative ; or , in the case of Metro , politan Lodges , to the Board of General Purposes , to which , indeed , in the event of the Provincial or District authority refusing to listen to the prayer of an aggrieved brother or brethren , or giving an unsatisfactory answer ,
there is also an appeal in the case of Provincial or District Lodges . We do not , however , anticipate that the pursuing of such a course would be calculated to promote the harmony of the Lodge , or greatly tend to the promotion and edification of Freemasonry in general . It is always the
better policy to endeavour to throw oil on the troubled waters than to strive to make them more turbulent still . Moreover , in the case we are about to describe , it would certainly have been the preferable course to have acquiesced in the Master ' s refusal to allow his Lodge to meet together for the purpose required .
We learn from the pages of the New Zealand Freemason that a certain Bro . John Cowell , having the status of a Master Mason , and being a member of Lodge No . 735 , deceased , after a somewhat lingering illness , on the 18 th March 1881 . Some days prior to his death , our late Bro ,
Cowell expressed to certain brethren , who were kindly ministering to him during the last brief period of his existence , an earnest wish that he might be buried by his Lodge according to ancient custom , and with the honours usually accorded to the members of the Craft when such a
desire is expressed . When , however , this request was , in due time , laid before the Master of the Lodge , he thought fit to refuse it , without at the time , it appears , giving any reason for such refusal . When this became known , the friends of the deceased suggested that some portion of the
Masonic funeral rites should be read at the grave , and Bro . W , M . Stanton P . M . attended in the cemetery with several brethren , having previously delivered a brief address at the deceased's residence . After the recital of certain texts , the Rev . F . I . Jones , incumbent of All Saints , Nelson , read
the funeral sermon , and then Bro . Stanton completed his portion of the task , the deceased's apron being deposited on the coffin , while the brethren cast their sprigs of acacia into the grave . The brethren then dispersed , after having , to the best of their ability , thus paid the last token of respect to Bro . Cowell .
It should be added , that in the course of his brief address the Rev . gentleman who officiated , bore earnest testimony to the truly penitent frame of mind in which our late Bro . Cowell passed away . He had expressed his sincere thanks for the spiritual consolations he had received , and
showed the formost reliance on the Divine promises contained iu the Volume of the Sacred Law to the repentant and the faithful . Under the circumstances we have described , it will not surprise our leaders when we tell them that
the refusal of the W . Master of Lodge No . 735 to accede to the deceased ' s express wish for Masonic burial , has caused very great sensation amongst the brethren of Nelson , New Zealand , where Bro . Cowell was very well known , having acted as a commercial traveller for a well-known Melbourne
house . In the article in which our New Zealand contemporary criticises the act of the Master in question , it is stated that the latter withheld his permission on the ground that the deceased Master Mason had led a " drunken and immoral "
iife . Here , then , it is we see the ill-advisednpss with which the question has been conducted . The onus of the refusal undoubtedly rests with the Worships Master , and if the brethren are of opinion that in
so refusing , thoir Worshipful Master was gnilty of somehing more than a mere error of judgment , it is as undoubtedly their right to bring the matter under the notice > f the District Masonic Authorities . But , in considering the propriety of adopting such a course , it strikes ns it
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Provinces And Voting Organisation.
the Committee . This would act equitably for all , and if a case arose in any of the Lodges the members would soon find the benefit of having others to support them , provided they could prove their case to bo the most deserving one ,
or it mig ht soon become possible for the Committee to take iu hand two cases whenever an election came round . This p lan of compulsory contribution of Lodge votes is adopted in many Provinces , and , so far as we know , works well . Without compulsion , we think the combination will
be useless . It is proposed that the Committee of Essex shall comprise " the Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy , the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Provincial Grand Treasurer and Provincial Grand Secretary , together with one member
from each Lodge in the Province "—who may attend either in person or by deputy , provided the substitute is a member of the same Lodgo . The Lodge representatives are " to bo elected annually on the day of installation of the W . M ., and their names and addresses transmitted by the
Secretaries of the respective Lodges to the Provincial Grand Secretary immediately after the elections . " The observance of this rule will ensure for the Committee an official status , and the arrangements made should admit of the meetings — of which it is proposed there shall be two
each year- —being well attended . As regards the formation of the Committee , everything has been done to ensure success , it will be a representative one , and likely to be efficient to discharge the duties required ; but as it was impossible to make the bricks without straw , so without votes the Committee will find themselves unable to act ,
and we do not think votes are likely to be very numerous , at least during the first few years of the Committee ' s existence , unless some more -stringent rules are adopted . The selection of a candidate will rest with those members of the Committee who may be present when
the subject is brought forward . So far we have spoken of what we deem but one portion of the duty of a Provincial Charity Committee—we have now to refer to another , equally , if not more , important . The Committee should endeavour to organise
increased support for the Charities , as well as work that already possessed by its Province , and in this respect they may do a great amount of good . It is not always possible for a Lodge to be represented at even one of the three Festivals of a year , and no Steward being on hand to urge
the claims of the Institutions , it may frequently happen that they are for the time being entirely neglected . It should be a part of each Committeeman ' s duty to advocate , in the absence of a Steward , the claims of the three Institutions ; and if he does not find any of the members of
his own Lodge willing to serve , he may at least secure a few amounts for a neighbouring Steward , or collect something for a recognised Provincial representative who , by this means , might have his list considerably augmented by small amounts from a source he could not personally
canvass , and which , without solicitation , would never have been forthcoming . We should like to see this feature introduced in the rules of all the Provincial organisations , and would strongly urge it on the consideration of the brethren of Essex , or elsewhere , who have it in
contemplation to establish such Associations . Meanwhile , whatever may be the final decision , we wish the " Charity Committee for the Province of Essex" every success . We hope at no distant date to be called upon to chronicle some good deeds performed by the brethren of the district mainly through its influence .
Masonic Burials.
MASONIC BURIALS .
OUR readers will have seen , no doubt , a letter from Bro . W . M . Staunton P . M . No . 735 , in the first paragraph of which our worthy correspondent expressed himself as anxious to know whether or not it is the indefeasible right of a Master Mason " who has previously
expressed a wish or request , which lias also been properly proffered , to be buried by his Mother Lodge , according to the rites customary with the Order . " Though it does not seem at first sight a question which is likely to involvf
great difficulty in answering , it is more than probable that the circumstances which may prompt the W . Master of a Lodge to refuse Masonic burial to a duly qualified member of hia Lodge will involve very great considerations of delicacy .
Masonic Burials.
The power of a Master is unquestionably very great though not of course so great that he can venture to set at naught the law which it is his especial duty to see administered in his Lodge . But very rightly a great latitude is allowed him in the exercise of his discretion .
He is , for instance , sole judge of the circumstances which constitute an emergency . If he is satisfied , he issues his orders for a special meeting of his Lodge ; but if , on the other hand , the reasons that are submitted do not commend themselves to his judgment .
he is acting within his undoubted prerogative when he refuses the request . Where a Master persistently declines to entertain the wishes of the brethren , and that for undefined , ill-defined , or trivial reasons , representations mi ght no doubt be made to the Provincial or District Grand
Master or his representative ; or , in the case of Metro , politan Lodges , to the Board of General Purposes , to which , indeed , in the event of the Provincial or District authority refusing to listen to the prayer of an aggrieved brother or brethren , or giving an unsatisfactory answer ,
there is also an appeal in the case of Provincial or District Lodges . We do not , however , anticipate that the pursuing of such a course would be calculated to promote the harmony of the Lodge , or greatly tend to the promotion and edification of Freemasonry in general . It is always the
better policy to endeavour to throw oil on the troubled waters than to strive to make them more turbulent still . Moreover , in the case we are about to describe , it would certainly have been the preferable course to have acquiesced in the Master ' s refusal to allow his Lodge to meet together for the purpose required .
We learn from the pages of the New Zealand Freemason that a certain Bro . John Cowell , having the status of a Master Mason , and being a member of Lodge No . 735 , deceased , after a somewhat lingering illness , on the 18 th March 1881 . Some days prior to his death , our late Bro ,
Cowell expressed to certain brethren , who were kindly ministering to him during the last brief period of his existence , an earnest wish that he might be buried by his Lodge according to ancient custom , and with the honours usually accorded to the members of the Craft when such a
desire is expressed . When , however , this request was , in due time , laid before the Master of the Lodge , he thought fit to refuse it , without at the time , it appears , giving any reason for such refusal . When this became known , the friends of the deceased suggested that some portion of the
Masonic funeral rites should be read at the grave , and Bro . W , M . Stanton P . M . attended in the cemetery with several brethren , having previously delivered a brief address at the deceased's residence . After the recital of certain texts , the Rev . F . I . Jones , incumbent of All Saints , Nelson , read
the funeral sermon , and then Bro . Stanton completed his portion of the task , the deceased's apron being deposited on the coffin , while the brethren cast their sprigs of acacia into the grave . The brethren then dispersed , after having , to the best of their ability , thus paid the last token of respect to Bro . Cowell .
It should be added , that in the course of his brief address the Rev . gentleman who officiated , bore earnest testimony to the truly penitent frame of mind in which our late Bro . Cowell passed away . He had expressed his sincere thanks for the spiritual consolations he had received , and
showed the formost reliance on the Divine promises contained iu the Volume of the Sacred Law to the repentant and the faithful . Under the circumstances we have described , it will not surprise our leaders when we tell them that
the refusal of the W . Master of Lodge No . 735 to accede to the deceased ' s express wish for Masonic burial , has caused very great sensation amongst the brethren of Nelson , New Zealand , where Bro . Cowell was very well known , having acted as a commercial traveller for a well-known Melbourne
house . In the article in which our New Zealand contemporary criticises the act of the Master in question , it is stated that the latter withheld his permission on the ground that the deceased Master Mason had led a " drunken and immoral "
iife . Here , then , it is we see the ill-advisednpss with which the question has been conducted . The onus of the refusal undoubtedly rests with the Worships Master , and if the brethren are of opinion that in
so refusing , thoir Worshipful Master was gnilty of somehing more than a mere error of judgment , it is as undoubtedly their right to bring the matter under the notice > f the District Masonic Authorities . But , in considering the propriety of adopting such a course , it strikes ns it