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Article TO THE EDITOR. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
DEAR SIR , —As one of the provincial Brethren who attended the recent Grand Lodge , on the subject of the proposed increased payments to the Fund of Benevolence , and one of those , moreover , deterred from expressing a modified approval of the measure by the clamour that was raised , I venture to address you for the purpose of protesting against the decision arrived at , not being tbe result of a free ancl fair discussion , and from a misunderstanding of the motion put from the chairwhichhad
, , these two matters been otherwise , a most respectable minority , in point of numbers , would have been shown , and such a minority as would have stimulated the promoters of the recent proposition to have brought forward the subject under circumstances , and with such amendments , as would have insured an early success , securing with it that most desirable ancl increased assistance to the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund , which was so ably and eloquently shown by Bro . Dr . Crucefixin speaking of whom
, , I cannot refrain from expressing the very great dissatisfaction I experienced in observing , that even with so early and able a speaker as the learned Doctor there was a marked disinclination to allow a fair discussion , to permit , indeed , that valuable privilege of Englishmen , " hear both sides ; " but well might the parties , who came already resolved upon a course , prevent discussion of the subject , when the few points , urged with so much taste and appropriateness by the Doctormade an
impres-, sion upon the Brethren which was rapidly making friends to the proposition he supported , and I do not doubt that the prophecy , if I may so call it , which he made on the occasion will be fully ancl speedily fulfilled . Is it not monstrous that an institution , like that of the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund , should so lack support from the poverty of the Fund of
Benevolence , that this year forty poor old men out of forty-five should be doomed to diappointment , and with the additional conviction that next year the candidates are likely so to increase , that the prospect of success is more distant than ever ; and is it not a sorrowful reflection , that from the same cause many of the wives of the present annuitants , now receiving so much comfort from a participation in the little income , will , at the loss of their aged partners , suffer the additional distress of losing that source of existenceand at an age when least able to do any
, thing to supply its place ? I wish not to speak harshly of my Brother Masons , and yet I cannot help charging them with not having hacl the sacred cause of charity uppermost in their thoughts at the last Grand Lodge ; indeed , I will make much excuse for their strange conduct , and if my reasons equally weigh with you , I trust they will induce your powerful aid in still supporting the agitation of the partially defeated project , and induce the promoters of the proposition to continue to
entertain the hope of yet carrying out some plan that may ensure the extension of the practical charities of Freemasonry . I feel that the proposition was damaged from being too indefinite ; it would have increased taxation positively , and left open the question of appropriation . The proposition was also damaged by the withholding the quarterly communication ; and although herein the blame rested elsewherethe proposal suffered for itancl were more anxious to
, , many have a fling at the " delays of the Grancl Lodge , " than at the object in discussion ; and a prominent cause of opposition arose from the apparent unfairness of the quarterages being proposed to continue , in future , at a more unfavourable proportion to country Lodges than to London , forgetting that the proposed addition was made to apply equally to London ancl country Brethren , because the charitable funds thereby to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
DEAR SIR , —As one of the provincial Brethren who attended the recent Grand Lodge , on the subject of the proposed increased payments to the Fund of Benevolence , and one of those , moreover , deterred from expressing a modified approval of the measure by the clamour that was raised , I venture to address you for the purpose of protesting against the decision arrived at , not being tbe result of a free ancl fair discussion , and from a misunderstanding of the motion put from the chairwhichhad
, , these two matters been otherwise , a most respectable minority , in point of numbers , would have been shown , and such a minority as would have stimulated the promoters of the recent proposition to have brought forward the subject under circumstances , and with such amendments , as would have insured an early success , securing with it that most desirable ancl increased assistance to the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund , which was so ably and eloquently shown by Bro . Dr . Crucefixin speaking of whom
, , I cannot refrain from expressing the very great dissatisfaction I experienced in observing , that even with so early and able a speaker as the learned Doctor there was a marked disinclination to allow a fair discussion , to permit , indeed , that valuable privilege of Englishmen , " hear both sides ; " but well might the parties , who came already resolved upon a course , prevent discussion of the subject , when the few points , urged with so much taste and appropriateness by the Doctormade an
impres-, sion upon the Brethren which was rapidly making friends to the proposition he supported , and I do not doubt that the prophecy , if I may so call it , which he made on the occasion will be fully ancl speedily fulfilled . Is it not monstrous that an institution , like that of the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund , should so lack support from the poverty of the Fund of
Benevolence , that this year forty poor old men out of forty-five should be doomed to diappointment , and with the additional conviction that next year the candidates are likely so to increase , that the prospect of success is more distant than ever ; and is it not a sorrowful reflection , that from the same cause many of the wives of the present annuitants , now receiving so much comfort from a participation in the little income , will , at the loss of their aged partners , suffer the additional distress of losing that source of existenceand at an age when least able to do any
, thing to supply its place ? I wish not to speak harshly of my Brother Masons , and yet I cannot help charging them with not having hacl the sacred cause of charity uppermost in their thoughts at the last Grand Lodge ; indeed , I will make much excuse for their strange conduct , and if my reasons equally weigh with you , I trust they will induce your powerful aid in still supporting the agitation of the partially defeated project , and induce the promoters of the proposition to continue to
entertain the hope of yet carrying out some plan that may ensure the extension of the practical charities of Freemasonry . I feel that the proposition was damaged from being too indefinite ; it would have increased taxation positively , and left open the question of appropriation . The proposition was also damaged by the withholding the quarterly communication ; and although herein the blame rested elsewherethe proposal suffered for itancl were more anxious to
, , many have a fling at the " delays of the Grancl Lodge , " than at the object in discussion ; and a prominent cause of opposition arose from the apparent unfairness of the quarterages being proposed to continue , in future , at a more unfavourable proportion to country Lodges than to London , forgetting that the proposed addition was made to apply equally to London ancl country Brethren , because the charitable funds thereby to