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Article PROSPECTUS OF A PLAN Page 1 of 5 →
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Prospectus Of A Plan
PROSPECTUS OF A PLAN
By which Ample Funds might be easilg obtained for the purpose of Establishing and Endowing Masonic Institutions in Edinburgh , similar to those that have been , and are about to be established in the other Capitals of the Kingdom , and for other Benevolent Purposes .
BV NICHOLAS P . C . LLOYD , PROVINCIAL GBAND MASTEB FOIl NEW ZEALAND , ETC . FREEMASONRY has been defined— "A peculiar system of morality , founded on the principles of geometry , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . " " The three grand principles of Masonry are , brotherly loverelief
, , and truth . " Such being the definition , and such the objects of Masonry , it is time that we , as Scotch Masons , should ask , what has been done in Edinburgh , and generally , what has been done in the land of our forefathers , for the relief of distressed Freemasons ? Money has , indeed , ever been cheerfully given to distressed applicants ; but , although more than three hundred Lodges exist in Scotland , and although hundreds of thousands have been enrolled under their banners , numbering
among them noblemen and gentlemen of the first rank and fortune , it is lamentable to find that , for the permanent benefit of poor Brethren , not one institution has been established in Scotland . To what is this attributable ? Not to want of liberality—not to want of Masonic feeling ; but to want of an unquestionably feasible plan by which funds might , for the proposed purposes , be easily obtained . When it will be shown that such apian has , for centuries , been adopted with complete success in several continental countries , as well as in the sister island ; and when it will be shown that the proposed object might ,
without the loss of one shilling to any individual , be easily obtained , it is not too much to expect , that the spirit of Masonry will arise from its apathy , and , invigorated by kindred feeling , of religion and benevolence , will animate our Lodges with electric celerity and force , until funds will have been accumulated , sufficient for the erection and endowment of institutions for the benefit of the orphans and widows of Freemasons , and distressed and aged Brethren . Let it not be anticipated that this be a chimerical annunciationPlans
. , like individuals , should not be condemned without a fair trial . The spirit of emulation , like the spirit of courage , increases by association of ideas , not only in individual , but in congregated minds . The plan about to be proposed is , in the abstract , not the most desirable that philanthropy would approve , but it is the best that circumstances can generate ; and , having been triumphantly tested by experience , it cannot , it is presumedfail to receive the cordial approval of the Grand Lod which
, ge , will ultimately and speedily secure its general adoption . It is proposed to obtain a joint-stock fund of £ 100 , 000 , by means of money to be raised on debentures of £ 5 , £ 10 , £ 20 , £ 50 , and £ 100 each , payable by instalments , bearing interest at six per cent , per annum ; that ivith this fund , four benevolent loan banks , under the patronage and controul of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , be established—three in Edin-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Prospectus Of A Plan
PROSPECTUS OF A PLAN
By which Ample Funds might be easilg obtained for the purpose of Establishing and Endowing Masonic Institutions in Edinburgh , similar to those that have been , and are about to be established in the other Capitals of the Kingdom , and for other Benevolent Purposes .
BV NICHOLAS P . C . LLOYD , PROVINCIAL GBAND MASTEB FOIl NEW ZEALAND , ETC . FREEMASONRY has been defined— "A peculiar system of morality , founded on the principles of geometry , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . " " The three grand principles of Masonry are , brotherly loverelief
, , and truth . " Such being the definition , and such the objects of Masonry , it is time that we , as Scotch Masons , should ask , what has been done in Edinburgh , and generally , what has been done in the land of our forefathers , for the relief of distressed Freemasons ? Money has , indeed , ever been cheerfully given to distressed applicants ; but , although more than three hundred Lodges exist in Scotland , and although hundreds of thousands have been enrolled under their banners , numbering
among them noblemen and gentlemen of the first rank and fortune , it is lamentable to find that , for the permanent benefit of poor Brethren , not one institution has been established in Scotland . To what is this attributable ? Not to want of liberality—not to want of Masonic feeling ; but to want of an unquestionably feasible plan by which funds might , for the proposed purposes , be easily obtained . When it will be shown that such apian has , for centuries , been adopted with complete success in several continental countries , as well as in the sister island ; and when it will be shown that the proposed object might ,
without the loss of one shilling to any individual , be easily obtained , it is not too much to expect , that the spirit of Masonry will arise from its apathy , and , invigorated by kindred feeling , of religion and benevolence , will animate our Lodges with electric celerity and force , until funds will have been accumulated , sufficient for the erection and endowment of institutions for the benefit of the orphans and widows of Freemasons , and distressed and aged Brethren . Let it not be anticipated that this be a chimerical annunciationPlans
. , like individuals , should not be condemned without a fair trial . The spirit of emulation , like the spirit of courage , increases by association of ideas , not only in individual , but in congregated minds . The plan about to be proposed is , in the abstract , not the most desirable that philanthropy would approve , but it is the best that circumstances can generate ; and , having been triumphantly tested by experience , it cannot , it is presumedfail to receive the cordial approval of the Grand Lod which
, ge , will ultimately and speedily secure its general adoption . It is proposed to obtain a joint-stock fund of £ 100 , 000 , by means of money to be raised on debentures of £ 5 , £ 10 , £ 20 , £ 50 , and £ 100 each , payable by instalments , bearing interest at six per cent , per annum ; that ivith this fund , four benevolent loan banks , under the patronage and controul of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , be established—three in Edin-