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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.
To my tale . AAlierever the subject of the Asylum was mentioned , all were eyes and ears—no one ever hinted that the object was an old suggestion ; and at length a public meeting was decided on . Previous , however , to which , a circular was placed in the hands of one of the originators of the Asylum , dated 1829 , and signed , " Gilbert Gilbert , " AA . M . 317 , Lodge of Harmony , Richmond , calling on the Craft to adopt some permanent mode of relief for aged Masons .
On the 8 th of April , 1835 , at the said Lodge of Harmony , after the removal of the cloth , an advocate of the Asylum requested information regarding this circular , and the progress of its effect . The reply was , that but one answer had been received , and that one unfavourable ; that , in consequence , the Lodge had abandoned their well-intended project ! " Then , " said the advocate , " I claim to renew it , and shall be proud
to enlist you in the cause . " A covered plate was sent round the table , and returned to him with nearly ten pounds . For this proof of the adherence of the Lodge to true philanthropy , suitable thanks were returned , and a declaration made , that the devotion of a lifetime should be paid to the undertaking . From that moment the stone was laid . It is proper to observe , that the advocate kept faith with Bro . Gilbert , who , being present when the Grand Lodge sanctioned the Asylum , received a merited compliment on the occasion . To the next point . It is stated that the subject was mooted in
Grand Lodge . A Brother certainly did move , in Grand Lodge , for permanent relief to aged Masons , anil the matter was referred to the Board of General Purposes ; who , in their report , stated the practicability of the subject ; on which , the Board were directed to reconsider their report ; they did so reconsider , and in their next report , they stated the impracticability of the subject ! This is not the place to enter into an examination of the causes that influenced the Board at the time . But the proofs are in my possession ; andin due seasonwith
, , much other important matter , must be published . The Brother , who had mooted the subject in Grand Lodge , was so disgusted with the second report of the Board of General Purposes , that he soon after retired from the Grand Lodge ; not , however , before he most energetically supported the principle of the Asylum in the Grand Stewards' Lodge . It was vainly attempted to re-enlist him in the cause . In him was thus lost a staunch supporter . Into the frivolous objections to the Asylum of
some , and the " unmanly and sneering" opposition to it by others , it is not necessary now to enter . The Asvlum , like a lusty pedagogue , has so used the ferrule , as to make those who did not wish to learn , read their lesson with some show of decency ; and among these , " Detractor" himself , who , when the Master of a Lodge having omitted to attend the class at the Monthly Lodge of Benevolence , must be content to hold out his hand and wince a little at the rod . I conclude , by recommending him wheu speaking , as he is in the habit of doing , of the Asylum and its supporters , to bear in mind the Horatian
maxim" Virtus , repulso nescia sordido lntavninatis fidget honoribus . " For myself , as an individual , I would return his invariable discourtesies by as much good-humour as 1 possess : " Veusmc faites . seigneur , En ni ' iataquaul , bcaucoup d'huuuuu . " FlDl'S .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
To my tale . AAlierever the subject of the Asylum was mentioned , all were eyes and ears—no one ever hinted that the object was an old suggestion ; and at length a public meeting was decided on . Previous , however , to which , a circular was placed in the hands of one of the originators of the Asylum , dated 1829 , and signed , " Gilbert Gilbert , " AA . M . 317 , Lodge of Harmony , Richmond , calling on the Craft to adopt some permanent mode of relief for aged Masons .
On the 8 th of April , 1835 , at the said Lodge of Harmony , after the removal of the cloth , an advocate of the Asylum requested information regarding this circular , and the progress of its effect . The reply was , that but one answer had been received , and that one unfavourable ; that , in consequence , the Lodge had abandoned their well-intended project ! " Then , " said the advocate , " I claim to renew it , and shall be proud
to enlist you in the cause . " A covered plate was sent round the table , and returned to him with nearly ten pounds . For this proof of the adherence of the Lodge to true philanthropy , suitable thanks were returned , and a declaration made , that the devotion of a lifetime should be paid to the undertaking . From that moment the stone was laid . It is proper to observe , that the advocate kept faith with Bro . Gilbert , who , being present when the Grand Lodge sanctioned the Asylum , received a merited compliment on the occasion . To the next point . It is stated that the subject was mooted in
Grand Lodge . A Brother certainly did move , in Grand Lodge , for permanent relief to aged Masons , anil the matter was referred to the Board of General Purposes ; who , in their report , stated the practicability of the subject ; on which , the Board were directed to reconsider their report ; they did so reconsider , and in their next report , they stated the impracticability of the subject ! This is not the place to enter into an examination of the causes that influenced the Board at the time . But the proofs are in my possession ; andin due seasonwith
, , much other important matter , must be published . The Brother , who had mooted the subject in Grand Lodge , was so disgusted with the second report of the Board of General Purposes , that he soon after retired from the Grand Lodge ; not , however , before he most energetically supported the principle of the Asylum in the Grand Stewards' Lodge . It was vainly attempted to re-enlist him in the cause . In him was thus lost a staunch supporter . Into the frivolous objections to the Asylum of
some , and the " unmanly and sneering" opposition to it by others , it is not necessary now to enter . The Asvlum , like a lusty pedagogue , has so used the ferrule , as to make those who did not wish to learn , read their lesson with some show of decency ; and among these , " Detractor" himself , who , when the Master of a Lodge having omitted to attend the class at the Monthly Lodge of Benevolence , must be content to hold out his hand and wince a little at the rod . I conclude , by recommending him wheu speaking , as he is in the habit of doing , of the Asylum and its supporters , to bear in mind the Horatian
maxim" Virtus , repulso nescia sordido lntavninatis fidget honoribus . " For myself , as an individual , I would return his invariable discourtesies by as much good-humour as 1 possess : " Veusmc faites . seigneur , En ni ' iataquaul , bcaucoup d'huuuuu . " FlDl'S .