Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
India.
ture , jewels , and clothing have been provided , and a small library established from individual contributions by the brethren , and the lodge has had , since its revival , a goodly accession of members , so much so that it is now , we believe , in point of numbers , one of the strongest lodges in this province . The strength of Indian lodges is , however , liable to much fluctuation . have witnessed
We lodges boasting of a large array of members , reduced within a few years by deaths , withdrawals , and removals from the station , to almost an insufficient number to carry on the working . But under any circumstances the pecuniary demands on the brethren continue unabated . The expenses for the proper maintenance and support of a lodge are heavy . Frequent remittances are required to be made to the Grand Lodge of England and the Provincial Grand Lodge of
Madras . The monthly expenditure for lights , servants' wages , and contingencies is large , and the repeated calls for the relief of distressed brethren , the ' widow and the orphan , must also be responded to . The consequence has been that numerous lodges , once in a flourishing condition , have within a few years become totally extinct . In addition to all the usual demands upon the pecuniary resources of a lodge , as explained above , the brethren of " Universal Charity" have
hitherto been compelled to hire premises in which to hold their meetings , and whilst the rent is a heavy draft upon their funds , the building is not at all suited , from its form and situation , for a masonic temple . There are at present in Madras onl y three masonic lodges—Perfect Unanimity , Social Friendshi p , and Universal Charity . The first named lodge is composed 0 f brethren in the hig her walks of life , who have , some years since , raised unaided a magnificent temple . The
brethren of Social' Friendship have enjoyed quarters in the fort free of expense for the last twenty years , whilst the lodge of Universal Charity alone is without a local habitation . Should the lodge continue in its present flourishing condition , it will have the means of mee ting all the demands upon it ; but should it , from unforeseen circumstances , lose many of its members , there will be much difficulty in defraying the expenses incidental to a working lodge , and
especially the heavy charge for house rent . If the Lodge of Universal Charity had a permanent temple of its own , it is calculated that a few zealous members , with economy and good management , might always keep it in existence .
I aking all these circumstances into consideration , a prospectus was circulated to the brethren of the lodge , inviting them to contribute towards the erection of a temple . The call was cheerfully responded to : most of the brethren are in humble circumstances , yet they have all contributed more or less ( some giving as far as a month ' s salary . ) The total sum thus subscribed amounts to Rs . 2 , 300 . Mr . Just . Gantz , architectmember of the lod was requested to frame an estimate
, a ge , for the proposed building . He has submitted the accompanying plan and estimate , from which it will be seen that the cost of constructing a temple of the smallest possible dimensions , consistent with utility , and on the most economical scale , will be Rs . , to which should be added the value of the ground , and the expense of walling or hedging it in ; the aggregate outlay may therefore be calculated at Rs . . *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
India.
ture , jewels , and clothing have been provided , and a small library established from individual contributions by the brethren , and the lodge has had , since its revival , a goodly accession of members , so much so that it is now , we believe , in point of numbers , one of the strongest lodges in this province . The strength of Indian lodges is , however , liable to much fluctuation . have witnessed
We lodges boasting of a large array of members , reduced within a few years by deaths , withdrawals , and removals from the station , to almost an insufficient number to carry on the working . But under any circumstances the pecuniary demands on the brethren continue unabated . The expenses for the proper maintenance and support of a lodge are heavy . Frequent remittances are required to be made to the Grand Lodge of England and the Provincial Grand Lodge of
Madras . The monthly expenditure for lights , servants' wages , and contingencies is large , and the repeated calls for the relief of distressed brethren , the ' widow and the orphan , must also be responded to . The consequence has been that numerous lodges , once in a flourishing condition , have within a few years become totally extinct . In addition to all the usual demands upon the pecuniary resources of a lodge , as explained above , the brethren of " Universal Charity" have
hitherto been compelled to hire premises in which to hold their meetings , and whilst the rent is a heavy draft upon their funds , the building is not at all suited , from its form and situation , for a masonic temple . There are at present in Madras onl y three masonic lodges—Perfect Unanimity , Social Friendshi p , and Universal Charity . The first named lodge is composed 0 f brethren in the hig her walks of life , who have , some years since , raised unaided a magnificent temple . The
brethren of Social' Friendship have enjoyed quarters in the fort free of expense for the last twenty years , whilst the lodge of Universal Charity alone is without a local habitation . Should the lodge continue in its present flourishing condition , it will have the means of mee ting all the demands upon it ; but should it , from unforeseen circumstances , lose many of its members , there will be much difficulty in defraying the expenses incidental to a working lodge , and
especially the heavy charge for house rent . If the Lodge of Universal Charity had a permanent temple of its own , it is calculated that a few zealous members , with economy and good management , might always keep it in existence .
I aking all these circumstances into consideration , a prospectus was circulated to the brethren of the lodge , inviting them to contribute towards the erection of a temple . The call was cheerfully responded to : most of the brethren are in humble circumstances , yet they have all contributed more or less ( some giving as far as a month ' s salary . ) The total sum thus subscribed amounts to Rs . 2 , 300 . Mr . Just . Gantz , architectmember of the lod was requested to frame an estimate
, a ge , for the proposed building . He has submitted the accompanying plan and estimate , from which it will be seen that the cost of constructing a temple of the smallest possible dimensions , consistent with utility , and on the most economical scale , will be Rs . , to which should be added the value of the ground , and the expense of walling or hedging it in ; the aggregate outlay may therefore be calculated at Rs . . *