Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry During The Grand Mastership Of H.R.H. The Fringe Of Wales.
unbroken prosperity in the case of our Boys School . True , about the latter part of 1888 , there spread abroad among the Governors and Subscribers a feeling of doubt as to whether the Institution was as well administered as it
ought to be . A Committee of Investigation was therefore appointed to inquire into the management ancl expenditure of the Charity ancl the education it bestowed on its charges , the result bcinp * that a new executive officer and a new educational
staff were appointed , the administration of the School was vested in a new body known as thc Board of Management , and generally steps were taken to place the Institution on a firmer and better footing . These measures have been attended with great success , and whether we have regard to the training and
education the boys now receive , the tone and character of the children generally , or the care with which thc work of administration is carried out , there can be no doubt whatever that the School has made great strides during the six years the new regime has been established . It had done great things before in the way of
progress and had conferred great benefits on its scholars prior to 18 90 , but since then its progress has been by leaps and bounds , and the question which is now to the front is to discover a better locality to which the School may bc removed and how to dispose of the present land and buildings to the best advantage .
In the meantime it is gratifying to know that while between the years 18 75 and 1890 the old capital which had been expended in the erection of the main portion of the present premises had been made good , and even increased to £ 17 , 500 ; and while in 188 3 and following years the sum necessary lor the erection of
a Preparatory School and new Hall was raised without trenching upon the ordinary expenditure or the newly-replaced capital , there has been since 1890 a further increase of the latter
to £ 60 , 000 , and at the same time the evidence is forthcoming year by year lhat the education and training havc been vastly improved . The youngest of our Charities is
THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTHUTIO ** - ? , which is in fact , two—or , if we include the Asylum at Croydon , three , Institutions under one Committee of Management—that is to say , the Male Annuity Fund , founded by Grand Lodge in 18 42 , the Widows' Annuity Fund , founded by Grand Lodge in
1 S 40 , ancl the aforesaid Asylum , the funds for the erection of which had been in great part raised by the late Bro . CRUCEFIX and his friends , and which , in 1850 , was amalgamated with the two Grand Lodge Annuity Funds , the whole being formed into the Charity as now designated above . As regards this Institution ,
the progress it has made under the auspices of the Prince of WALES as President is even more amazing than that of our Schools . In 1875 , the number of annuitants on the Male Fund was 120 , and on the Widows' Fund 88 , the amount which each male and widow annuitant received yearly being £ 3 6 in the
former case and £ 28 in the latter . At the present time there are 200 male annuitants receiving £ 40 a year each , and 240 widow annuitants receiving £ 32 a year each . In addition , there are some 25 widows—but the number is always fluctuating—who arc entitled to receive each the half of her late husband ' s annuity
for five years , instead of three , as was the case 20 years ago , I bus in this comparatively brief period , and omitting the halfannunity widows from the calculation in both cases , the outlay in annuities on the two Funds , which amounted to £ 6 7 8 4 in 1 S 75 , is at this moment £ 15 , 680 , or £ 2000 more than twice
as much as it was at the ** former date . It is difficult to realise that such an increase has been made during these 21 years , but there is no question as lo the reality of the increase , or that while it was being steadily made the invested capital of the Institution has been very largely
augmented , thanks in the first place to the steady support which the Institution has received year by year and the exceeding care with which its affairs have been administered by the governing body ; and in the next to the brilliant success which attended the celebration of the Jubilee Festival , which was held in
February , 1892 , in Covent Garden Theatre , under the presidency of the Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE , Dep . Grand Master of England and Prov . Grand Master of Cornwall , when thc sum raised by a Board of 1520 Stewards amounted ultimately to £ 69 , 000 . It must also be mentioned that in 1882 Grand Lodge increased its
annual grants to the two Funds to £ 800 in each case , the additional £ 300 voted to the Male Fund and the £ 500 to the Widows' Fund being , however , payable from the Fund for General Purposes , whereas the £ 500 previously payable to the Male ar . d the £ 300 to the Widows' Fund were taken from the
Fund of Benevolence . Nor must we lose sight of the fact lhat in i 8 c , o , when it was found that in spite of the successive augmentations in the number of annuitants on the two Funds which had been made from time to time , the lists of candidates for admission were steadily becoming more formidable , the laws defining
Freemasonry During The Grand Mastership Of H.R.H. The Fringe Of Wales.
the qualifications of candidates were very carefully revised , the general tenour of the changes then adopted being in the direc tion of greater stringency . There is no doubt these amendments
have had the effect of diminishing the number of applicants but there has not as yet been time for their full effect to be felt , and in all probability it will be some years before the lists show * a really appreciable reduction .
Having described the chief circumstances in the career of our great central Charitable Institutions , there is still another class of Charities respecting which it seems desirable that w * e should say a few words . These are
THE PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS , which have been established from time to time , and which have proved eminently serviceable in the localities in which thev are severally situated . There are three such in the Province of West Lancashire , namely , an Educational Institution , and the Hamer
and Alpass Benevolent Institutions . Then there is the Cheshire Educational Institution , which has been growing in strength during the last 21 years , so that it is now in a position to deal with most , if not all , of the cases which arc brought to its notice . The Cheshire Benevolent Institution , which was founded two or
three years since , with a capital of about £ 3000 , is modelled on the lines of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The East Lancashire Educational and Benevolent Institution , which as its name betokens , looks after thc children as well as the wornout brethren and their widows , held its first Festival on the 1 st
July , 18 95 , when its Stewards had the satisfaction of raisin-r upwards of £ 4000 ; and there are thc Educational or Annuity Funds which have been established in Hampshire and thc Isle of Wight , North and East Yorkshire , the City of Leeds , the Provinces of Durham , Dorsetshire , Cornwall , Devonshire ,
Lincolnshire , and elsewhere , which are all doing excellent work . As regards the Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence which spends some £ 9000 in temporarily relieving poor brethren and their widows , the Provincial and Lodge Funds , which render the same service , their very existence tends to show that the spirit of
Charity moves freely abroad among the members of our Society and that the dictum of the Prince of WALES in the Royal Albert Hall on the day of his installation as Grand Master as to Charity being one of the " watchwords" of Masonry , is true , or at all events , is being day by day more clearly exemplified than when
it was uttered . It is with no desire to speak in terms of exaggerated praise when we draw attention to the constantly increasing work that is being done by Masons in the field of Charily , and affirm that there is no other Society in the world which is more successful in the discharge of its duty towards those who need the assistance of their fcllowmen .
We cannot bring this article to a conclusion without devoting at least a few passing words to the chief events which have occurred since the Prince of WALES became our Grand Master . His installation we have already referred to , and we need say nothing further than that such a meeting will rarely , if ever , be
held under the banner of the Cralt . Many gatherings have , however , since been held , and many things have been done , which show how great has been the influence which Freemasonry has exercised under his auspices . Thus , in 1 S 7 6 , his Royal Highness was pleased to lay thc foundation-stones of the
new Docks at Bombay , the new Market at Gibraltar , and the new Post Office at Glasgow , while the year following Grand Lodge voted £ 4000 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in commemoration of his Royal Highness's safe return from his visit to India . In 1880 , the Prince laid the foundation-stone of
tlie new Cathedral at Truro , while two years later a Special Grand Lodge was held , at which his Royal Highness presided , and thc Dukes of CoxNAUGHT and ALBANY , Past G . Wardens , were present , when an address of congratulation was passed unanimously to her Majesty the QUEEN on her providential
escape from the hands of an assassin . During the same year , too , her Majesty was pleased to emphasise the interest she has always taken in Freemasonry ancl . its Institutions by accepting the position of Chief Patroness of the Girls' School . In 1 SS 3 , there occurred what may be spoken of as about the only
misfortune which has befallen the Craft for many years . The Great Hall in Freemasons' Hall , which was erected in 1775 , was part' ) destroyed by lire , the only article of value at the time in t , ie Hall which escaped destruction being the marble bust of H . R * ''' the Duke of SUSSEX , by the late Bro . E . H . BAILEY , the
Academician . However , the building itself and its contents wc - insured , and only about 12 months elapsed ere the brethren were once again enabled to meet in Quarterly Communication in t' 1 ( j restored and more commodious building , which was the scene 0
a portion ot the proceedings on Wednesday . In 1885 , the UM' ** - Master had the pleasure of initiating his eldest son , the la tc Prince ALBERT VICTOR , the ceremony being performed in *¦ lC Royal Alpha Lodge , No . 16 , by his Royal Highness . In tl , c
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry During The Grand Mastership Of H.R.H. The Fringe Of Wales.
unbroken prosperity in the case of our Boys School . True , about the latter part of 1888 , there spread abroad among the Governors and Subscribers a feeling of doubt as to whether the Institution was as well administered as it
ought to be . A Committee of Investigation was therefore appointed to inquire into the management ancl expenditure of the Charity ancl the education it bestowed on its charges , the result bcinp * that a new executive officer and a new educational
staff were appointed , the administration of the School was vested in a new body known as thc Board of Management , and generally steps were taken to place the Institution on a firmer and better footing . These measures have been attended with great success , and whether we have regard to the training and
education the boys now receive , the tone and character of the children generally , or the care with which thc work of administration is carried out , there can be no doubt whatever that the School has made great strides during the six years the new regime has been established . It had done great things before in the way of
progress and had conferred great benefits on its scholars prior to 18 90 , but since then its progress has been by leaps and bounds , and the question which is now to the front is to discover a better locality to which the School may bc removed and how to dispose of the present land and buildings to the best advantage .
In the meantime it is gratifying to know that while between the years 18 75 and 1890 the old capital which had been expended in the erection of the main portion of the present premises had been made good , and even increased to £ 17 , 500 ; and while in 188 3 and following years the sum necessary lor the erection of
a Preparatory School and new Hall was raised without trenching upon the ordinary expenditure or the newly-replaced capital , there has been since 1890 a further increase of the latter
to £ 60 , 000 , and at the same time the evidence is forthcoming year by year lhat the education and training havc been vastly improved . The youngest of our Charities is
THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTHUTIO ** - ? , which is in fact , two—or , if we include the Asylum at Croydon , three , Institutions under one Committee of Management—that is to say , the Male Annuity Fund , founded by Grand Lodge in 18 42 , the Widows' Annuity Fund , founded by Grand Lodge in
1 S 40 , ancl the aforesaid Asylum , the funds for the erection of which had been in great part raised by the late Bro . CRUCEFIX and his friends , and which , in 1850 , was amalgamated with the two Grand Lodge Annuity Funds , the whole being formed into the Charity as now designated above . As regards this Institution ,
the progress it has made under the auspices of the Prince of WALES as President is even more amazing than that of our Schools . In 1875 , the number of annuitants on the Male Fund was 120 , and on the Widows' Fund 88 , the amount which each male and widow annuitant received yearly being £ 3 6 in the
former case and £ 28 in the latter . At the present time there are 200 male annuitants receiving £ 40 a year each , and 240 widow annuitants receiving £ 32 a year each . In addition , there are some 25 widows—but the number is always fluctuating—who arc entitled to receive each the half of her late husband ' s annuity
for five years , instead of three , as was the case 20 years ago , I bus in this comparatively brief period , and omitting the halfannunity widows from the calculation in both cases , the outlay in annuities on the two Funds , which amounted to £ 6 7 8 4 in 1 S 75 , is at this moment £ 15 , 680 , or £ 2000 more than twice
as much as it was at the ** former date . It is difficult to realise that such an increase has been made during these 21 years , but there is no question as lo the reality of the increase , or that while it was being steadily made the invested capital of the Institution has been very largely
augmented , thanks in the first place to the steady support which the Institution has received year by year and the exceeding care with which its affairs have been administered by the governing body ; and in the next to the brilliant success which attended the celebration of the Jubilee Festival , which was held in
February , 1892 , in Covent Garden Theatre , under the presidency of the Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE , Dep . Grand Master of England and Prov . Grand Master of Cornwall , when thc sum raised by a Board of 1520 Stewards amounted ultimately to £ 69 , 000 . It must also be mentioned that in 1882 Grand Lodge increased its
annual grants to the two Funds to £ 800 in each case , the additional £ 300 voted to the Male Fund and the £ 500 to the Widows' Fund being , however , payable from the Fund for General Purposes , whereas the £ 500 previously payable to the Male ar . d the £ 300 to the Widows' Fund were taken from the
Fund of Benevolence . Nor must we lose sight of the fact lhat in i 8 c , o , when it was found that in spite of the successive augmentations in the number of annuitants on the two Funds which had been made from time to time , the lists of candidates for admission were steadily becoming more formidable , the laws defining
Freemasonry During The Grand Mastership Of H.R.H. The Fringe Of Wales.
the qualifications of candidates were very carefully revised , the general tenour of the changes then adopted being in the direc tion of greater stringency . There is no doubt these amendments
have had the effect of diminishing the number of applicants but there has not as yet been time for their full effect to be felt , and in all probability it will be some years before the lists show * a really appreciable reduction .
Having described the chief circumstances in the career of our great central Charitable Institutions , there is still another class of Charities respecting which it seems desirable that w * e should say a few words . These are
THE PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS , which have been established from time to time , and which have proved eminently serviceable in the localities in which thev are severally situated . There are three such in the Province of West Lancashire , namely , an Educational Institution , and the Hamer
and Alpass Benevolent Institutions . Then there is the Cheshire Educational Institution , which has been growing in strength during the last 21 years , so that it is now in a position to deal with most , if not all , of the cases which arc brought to its notice . The Cheshire Benevolent Institution , which was founded two or
three years since , with a capital of about £ 3000 , is modelled on the lines of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The East Lancashire Educational and Benevolent Institution , which as its name betokens , looks after thc children as well as the wornout brethren and their widows , held its first Festival on the 1 st
July , 18 95 , when its Stewards had the satisfaction of raisin-r upwards of £ 4000 ; and there are thc Educational or Annuity Funds which have been established in Hampshire and thc Isle of Wight , North and East Yorkshire , the City of Leeds , the Provinces of Durham , Dorsetshire , Cornwall , Devonshire ,
Lincolnshire , and elsewhere , which are all doing excellent work . As regards the Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence which spends some £ 9000 in temporarily relieving poor brethren and their widows , the Provincial and Lodge Funds , which render the same service , their very existence tends to show that the spirit of
Charity moves freely abroad among the members of our Society and that the dictum of the Prince of WALES in the Royal Albert Hall on the day of his installation as Grand Master as to Charity being one of the " watchwords" of Masonry , is true , or at all events , is being day by day more clearly exemplified than when
it was uttered . It is with no desire to speak in terms of exaggerated praise when we draw attention to the constantly increasing work that is being done by Masons in the field of Charily , and affirm that there is no other Society in the world which is more successful in the discharge of its duty towards those who need the assistance of their fcllowmen .
We cannot bring this article to a conclusion without devoting at least a few passing words to the chief events which have occurred since the Prince of WALES became our Grand Master . His installation we have already referred to , and we need say nothing further than that such a meeting will rarely , if ever , be
held under the banner of the Cralt . Many gatherings have , however , since been held , and many things have been done , which show how great has been the influence which Freemasonry has exercised under his auspices . Thus , in 1 S 7 6 , his Royal Highness was pleased to lay thc foundation-stones of the
new Docks at Bombay , the new Market at Gibraltar , and the new Post Office at Glasgow , while the year following Grand Lodge voted £ 4000 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in commemoration of his Royal Highness's safe return from his visit to India . In 1880 , the Prince laid the foundation-stone of
tlie new Cathedral at Truro , while two years later a Special Grand Lodge was held , at which his Royal Highness presided , and thc Dukes of CoxNAUGHT and ALBANY , Past G . Wardens , were present , when an address of congratulation was passed unanimously to her Majesty the QUEEN on her providential
escape from the hands of an assassin . During the same year , too , her Majesty was pleased to emphasise the interest she has always taken in Freemasonry ancl . its Institutions by accepting the position of Chief Patroness of the Girls' School . In 1 SS 3 , there occurred what may be spoken of as about the only
misfortune which has befallen the Craft for many years . The Great Hall in Freemasons' Hall , which was erected in 1775 , was part' ) destroyed by lire , the only article of value at the time in t , ie Hall which escaped destruction being the marble bust of H . R * ''' the Duke of SUSSEX , by the late Bro . E . H . BAILEY , the
Academician . However , the building itself and its contents wc - insured , and only about 12 months elapsed ere the brethren were once again enabled to meet in Quarterly Communication in t' 1 ( j restored and more commodious building , which was the scene 0
a portion ot the proceedings on Wednesday . In 1885 , the UM' ** - Master had the pleasure of initiating his eldest son , the la tc Prince ALBERT VICTOR , the ceremony being performed in *¦ lC Royal Alpha Lodge , No . 16 , by his Royal Highness . In tl , c