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Article THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine.
working of the present system . The Brethren below the dais also took alarm . They considered , whether rightly or not wc are not disposed to argue , that an attempt was being made to infringe their privileges , and therefore they almost unanimously gave an adverse vote to the proposition . That the constitution of the Board of Benevolence may be
altered , is clear ancl conclusive . But two years have passed since a new element was introduced into it . Up to that period the Board was composed of all Present and Past Grand Officers , ancl W . M . ' s of all Lodges , under the English constitution . Twelve P . M / s were then introduced by annual election in the Grand Loclge , held in the month of December . This change
arose out of the circumstance of several Brethren , who had taken a prominent part in the transactions of the Board during the period of their Mastership , being no longer eligible after they had passed the Chair . Although so short a time has elapsed since this change was made , it has already become apparent , that the nomination of the P . M . ' s , thus added to the constitution of the Board , is degenerating into a job . This year , for instance , especial care was taken that there should be no contest in the
Grand Lodge of December , just a sufficient number of names having been put forward at the Board of Masters , and sent up , to prevent the necessity of a ballot . Whilst the Board of Benevolence was free of the presence of the twelve P . M . ' s , there was often occasion to complain of the manner , in which the suppliants for relief were interrogated .
We have ourselves wished , whilst such interrogatories were going on , that the floor of the Lodge would open and hide us from the presence of our suffering Brethren , who had to endure the ordeal of a cross-examination by one or two officious Brethren , and who must have lamented the hour in which they entered the Orderif such were the practical consequences
, of the sentiments they had then heard inculcated . In those times , however , such conduct was but occasional . Now it has become proverbial ! Several of the Brethren , who pursued this course when W . M / s , are now amongst the twelve P . M / s . They are also the most constant and regular in their attendance at the Board . The consequence isthat the state of things
here-, tofore only occasional , and which we have no terms strong enough to denounce , is perpetuated . Questions are now invariably put to our poor and needy Brethren that would disgrace the Board of Guardians of an Union workhouse .
It is asserted that the applications to the Board of Benevolence by poor Brethren , who , from residence within the precincts of the metropolitan districts , must attend for personal examina-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine.
working of the present system . The Brethren below the dais also took alarm . They considered , whether rightly or not wc are not disposed to argue , that an attempt was being made to infringe their privileges , and therefore they almost unanimously gave an adverse vote to the proposition . That the constitution of the Board of Benevolence may be
altered , is clear ancl conclusive . But two years have passed since a new element was introduced into it . Up to that period the Board was composed of all Present and Past Grand Officers , ancl W . M . ' s of all Lodges , under the English constitution . Twelve P . M / s were then introduced by annual election in the Grand Loclge , held in the month of December . This change
arose out of the circumstance of several Brethren , who had taken a prominent part in the transactions of the Board during the period of their Mastership , being no longer eligible after they had passed the Chair . Although so short a time has elapsed since this change was made , it has already become apparent , that the nomination of the P . M . ' s , thus added to the constitution of the Board , is degenerating into a job . This year , for instance , especial care was taken that there should be no contest in the
Grand Lodge of December , just a sufficient number of names having been put forward at the Board of Masters , and sent up , to prevent the necessity of a ballot . Whilst the Board of Benevolence was free of the presence of the twelve P . M . ' s , there was often occasion to complain of the manner , in which the suppliants for relief were interrogated .
We have ourselves wished , whilst such interrogatories were going on , that the floor of the Lodge would open and hide us from the presence of our suffering Brethren , who had to endure the ordeal of a cross-examination by one or two officious Brethren , and who must have lamented the hour in which they entered the Orderif such were the practical consequences
, of the sentiments they had then heard inculcated . In those times , however , such conduct was but occasional . Now it has become proverbial ! Several of the Brethren , who pursued this course when W . M / s , are now amongst the twelve P . M / s . They are also the most constant and regular in their attendance at the Board . The consequence isthat the state of things
here-, tofore only occasional , and which we have no terms strong enough to denounce , is perpetuated . Questions are now invariably put to our poor and needy Brethren that would disgrace the Board of Guardians of an Union workhouse .
It is asserted that the applications to the Board of Benevolence by poor Brethren , who , from residence within the precincts of the metropolitan districts , must attend for personal examina-