Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS io . The Boys' School 108 United Grand Lolge 108 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 105 Freemasonry in England in 1743 MI
CORRESPONDENCEThe Grand Lodge of Ireland Ji Our Masonic Charities n The Grand Treasurership 113 Re the Extra Grand I-od . ce Grant of . A'foo to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 113
Instruction 117 Royal Arch 118 Mark Masonrv 118 The Theatres ..: ' . 118 Masonic and General Tidings 119 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 120
Reviews 113 Masonic Notes and Queries ..: 113 Concert at the Manchester Athcn ;_ um ... 114 Portugal 114 Obituary 114 REPORTS OF AIASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry ni
Ar00101
THE Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution took place on Wednesday last , under the distinguished presidency of our esteemed and well-known Bro . General J . S . BROWNRIGG , Prov . Grand Master for Surrey , with 272 Stewards . The returns amounted to £ 13 , 047 . Of
these sums the Metropolis , with 137 Stewards , sends £ 7646 , and the Provinces , with 135 Stewards , remits £ 5 , 40 1 , Surrey bringing up £ 1 , 000 . This is a noble commencement for 1 SS 3 . We shall call special attention to the returns in our next issue .
* * THE Festival of the Girls' School is the next in order , and we desiderate for it a most successful gathering . But we would press upon all our friends and readers who intend to be Stewards to send in their names at once to Bro . HEDGES .
* WE call attention to a communication of Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , by which it will be seen the number of Masonic Constitutions is increased by two , which have bcen recently unearthed at Cologne .
* * THE agenda paper for Grand Lodge i . s before us with not much of importance . The election for G RAND MASTER will be enthusiastically completed , and there can be no doubt but that our excellent GRAND TREASURER
will be again elected with warm expressions of goodwill and confidence . The fact that there are 800 amendments for the revised Book of Constitution fully justifies the action of our authorities in the matter , and it is in truth alike the most constitutional and the most dignified course of procedure to
refer these Soo amendments to the Board of General Purposes for consideration and report . The proposed vote for the Jamaica distress of 100 guineas will we feel sure be heartily acceded to by Grand Lodge . The votes for the Lodge of Benevolence will also come before Grand Lodge for confirmation .
We note a complaint that Grand Lodge votes these sums without knowing the particulars thereof , but surely such a complaint is untenable when it is remembered that all present and past Grand Officers are " ex-oflicio " members of the Board of Benevolence . Certain it is moreover lhat never at any time
in the history of the Lodge of Benevolence was more attention devoted lo the claims of the petitioners , and we have often been struck by the patient investigation and minute discussion which every individual case for the most part receives . Since the December meeting the standard of the grants has
been materially and practically lowered , and if such a wise course is constantly pursued , we have no doubt that the close of 1883 will witness a much desired equilibrium of financial receipts and expenditure . An annual
overdraught would be a serious contingency to realize , and must lead to grave dissatisfaction and a determined change . Unless some unexpected discussion arises on this sensible proposal , thc sitting of the next Quarterly Communication will not be a long one .
* * WE continue to receive letters about the contributions to the Benevolent Fund . Some good brethren have an idea , that in order to constitute an
equal claim upon its resources , the contributions should be equal capitationally in the metropolis and in the provinces . But all such worthy brethren overlook the fallacy which permeates their proposition . " Costeris paribus , " of course it is right and proper that all applicants who claim benefit from
Ar00102
a common fund should pay equally to that fund . But in the case of the provinces three points arise : 1 . The Book of Constitutions deliberately orders and sanctions the present duplicate system of provincial payments , and proclaims the right of the provincial brethren notwithstanding to receive the equal benefits of the Fund . 2 . The gross amount of the
provincial returns to the Fund far exceeds the amount paid b y the metropolitan brethren , while the claims for relief are not in excess of the rightful numerical proportion . It must also be borne in mind , thirdly , that owing to the expense of locomotion and the drawback of distance , the administration of our Grand Lodge Benevolence practicall y is vested in
the hands of the metropolitan brethren . The proportion of provincial masters present at any meeting of the Board is very small indeed . For all these reasons and others which may be fairly alleged , we hope and trust that this unwise controversy is at an end . However abstractedl y it may appear
proper to some and just , to " level up the contributions of metropolitan and provincial brethren , yet in the concrete such a proceeding is impracticable , firstly because it would savour of " mala fides , " and secondly because it would be manifestly unjust to provincial brethren .
WE hasten to announce , for the information of all Masonic Students , as will be seen elsewhere , that through the intermediation our esteemed Bro . W . H . RYLANDS , a baptismal entry of the son of a Freemason who is also styled " Gentleman" has been discovered of the date 11 ) 03 . We venture to think , as we have often before remarked , that in the terra incognita of English seventeenth-century Freemasonry some important finds must ere long be made .
* * THE Masonic news from France is not reassuring . It seems from the " Monde Maconnique , " reviewed elsewhere , that already a new movement has begun in the Grand Orient of France to " revise " the Constitution , and a sort of permanent committee of delegates from 45 lodges is now
installed in Paris , under the sanction , too , of the authorities , to consider this subject and all matters coming before the General "Convent" in September next . Until we know the exact " but" or " and" of these proposals and intentions we will not anticipate or prejudge . AH we think it right now to say is , that it seems to us a very curious proceeding " per se " to sanction
the installation of a body with all the nomenclature and surroundings of the Grand Orient itself , to discuss and debate on the revision of the Constitution , & c . This seems to us to be ' * prima facie " a veryabnormal proceeding , inasmuch as it may constitute an " imperium in imperio , " a " caucus " within a governing body , which may have most serious , nay , pernicious , results
But we will wait to hear and to realize what is really the goal to wliich these somewhat peculiar proceedings seem to tend . If indeed we could think or hope that this movement foreshadowed the possibility of a return to ancient landmarks and forgotten principles ; if we could indulge in the belief that , finding they had made a great mistake , the French Freemasons were willing
to retrace their steps and resume communion and S 3 'nipathy with Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry , we should be the first to rejoice , the earliest to hail the coming change . But such we fear is " too good news to be true , " and knowing from old experience that change begets change and revolution leads to revolution in things general and things Masonic alike , we
cannot , as at present advised , but gravely doubt if any good can arise from that nil but universal state of restlessness , excitement , unsound teaching , and unwise action which seems to us , we say it without offence , to dominate French Freemasonry just now . At the same time we repeat we wish sincerely well to our Gallic brethren . We
cannot see why F ' reemasonry with its own generous principles and on its own true merits , should not flourish on Gallic soil , and we desiderate for the Grand Orient a return , an immediate return , to its own better and truer declarations and developements both of theory and practice . It has gained nothing by revolutionary iconoclasm but irritation , weakness , and loss of
prestige ; let it have the moral courage to own that it has been in the wrong , and at once to retrace its steps . We note that Bro . GRIMAUX , who has been called to the Secretariat of the Grand Orient oi France , has resigned the editorship of the " Monde Maconnique , " at Paris , and is succeeded by Bro .
ROCHER . We trust that the new editor will carry on the " Monde Maconnique " with the same ability , kindness , and moderation really and truly which have distinguished Bro . GRIMAUX , We allude to the Monde Maconnique " elsewhere .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS io . The Boys' School 108 United Grand Lolge 108 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 105 Freemasonry in England in 1743 MI
CORRESPONDENCEThe Grand Lodge of Ireland Ji Our Masonic Charities n The Grand Treasurership 113 Re the Extra Grand I-od . ce Grant of . A'foo to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 113
Instruction 117 Royal Arch 118 Mark Masonrv 118 The Theatres ..: ' . 118 Masonic and General Tidings 119 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 120
Reviews 113 Masonic Notes and Queries ..: 113 Concert at the Manchester Athcn ;_ um ... 114 Portugal 114 Obituary 114 REPORTS OF AIASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry ni
Ar00101
THE Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution took place on Wednesday last , under the distinguished presidency of our esteemed and well-known Bro . General J . S . BROWNRIGG , Prov . Grand Master for Surrey , with 272 Stewards . The returns amounted to £ 13 , 047 . Of
these sums the Metropolis , with 137 Stewards , sends £ 7646 , and the Provinces , with 135 Stewards , remits £ 5 , 40 1 , Surrey bringing up £ 1 , 000 . This is a noble commencement for 1 SS 3 . We shall call special attention to the returns in our next issue .
* * THE Festival of the Girls' School is the next in order , and we desiderate for it a most successful gathering . But we would press upon all our friends and readers who intend to be Stewards to send in their names at once to Bro . HEDGES .
* WE call attention to a communication of Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , by which it will be seen the number of Masonic Constitutions is increased by two , which have bcen recently unearthed at Cologne .
* * THE agenda paper for Grand Lodge i . s before us with not much of importance . The election for G RAND MASTER will be enthusiastically completed , and there can be no doubt but that our excellent GRAND TREASURER
will be again elected with warm expressions of goodwill and confidence . The fact that there are 800 amendments for the revised Book of Constitution fully justifies the action of our authorities in the matter , and it is in truth alike the most constitutional and the most dignified course of procedure to
refer these Soo amendments to the Board of General Purposes for consideration and report . The proposed vote for the Jamaica distress of 100 guineas will we feel sure be heartily acceded to by Grand Lodge . The votes for the Lodge of Benevolence will also come before Grand Lodge for confirmation .
We note a complaint that Grand Lodge votes these sums without knowing the particulars thereof , but surely such a complaint is untenable when it is remembered that all present and past Grand Officers are " ex-oflicio " members of the Board of Benevolence . Certain it is moreover lhat never at any time
in the history of the Lodge of Benevolence was more attention devoted lo the claims of the petitioners , and we have often been struck by the patient investigation and minute discussion which every individual case for the most part receives . Since the December meeting the standard of the grants has
been materially and practically lowered , and if such a wise course is constantly pursued , we have no doubt that the close of 1883 will witness a much desired equilibrium of financial receipts and expenditure . An annual
overdraught would be a serious contingency to realize , and must lead to grave dissatisfaction and a determined change . Unless some unexpected discussion arises on this sensible proposal , thc sitting of the next Quarterly Communication will not be a long one .
* * WE continue to receive letters about the contributions to the Benevolent Fund . Some good brethren have an idea , that in order to constitute an
equal claim upon its resources , the contributions should be equal capitationally in the metropolis and in the provinces . But all such worthy brethren overlook the fallacy which permeates their proposition . " Costeris paribus , " of course it is right and proper that all applicants who claim benefit from
Ar00102
a common fund should pay equally to that fund . But in the case of the provinces three points arise : 1 . The Book of Constitutions deliberately orders and sanctions the present duplicate system of provincial payments , and proclaims the right of the provincial brethren notwithstanding to receive the equal benefits of the Fund . 2 . The gross amount of the
provincial returns to the Fund far exceeds the amount paid b y the metropolitan brethren , while the claims for relief are not in excess of the rightful numerical proportion . It must also be borne in mind , thirdly , that owing to the expense of locomotion and the drawback of distance , the administration of our Grand Lodge Benevolence practicall y is vested in
the hands of the metropolitan brethren . The proportion of provincial masters present at any meeting of the Board is very small indeed . For all these reasons and others which may be fairly alleged , we hope and trust that this unwise controversy is at an end . However abstractedl y it may appear
proper to some and just , to " level up the contributions of metropolitan and provincial brethren , yet in the concrete such a proceeding is impracticable , firstly because it would savour of " mala fides , " and secondly because it would be manifestly unjust to provincial brethren .
WE hasten to announce , for the information of all Masonic Students , as will be seen elsewhere , that through the intermediation our esteemed Bro . W . H . RYLANDS , a baptismal entry of the son of a Freemason who is also styled " Gentleman" has been discovered of the date 11 ) 03 . We venture to think , as we have often before remarked , that in the terra incognita of English seventeenth-century Freemasonry some important finds must ere long be made .
* * THE Masonic news from France is not reassuring . It seems from the " Monde Maconnique , " reviewed elsewhere , that already a new movement has begun in the Grand Orient of France to " revise " the Constitution , and a sort of permanent committee of delegates from 45 lodges is now
installed in Paris , under the sanction , too , of the authorities , to consider this subject and all matters coming before the General "Convent" in September next . Until we know the exact " but" or " and" of these proposals and intentions we will not anticipate or prejudge . AH we think it right now to say is , that it seems to us a very curious proceeding " per se " to sanction
the installation of a body with all the nomenclature and surroundings of the Grand Orient itself , to discuss and debate on the revision of the Constitution , & c . This seems to us to be ' * prima facie " a veryabnormal proceeding , inasmuch as it may constitute an " imperium in imperio , " a " caucus " within a governing body , which may have most serious , nay , pernicious , results
But we will wait to hear and to realize what is really the goal to wliich these somewhat peculiar proceedings seem to tend . If indeed we could think or hope that this movement foreshadowed the possibility of a return to ancient landmarks and forgotten principles ; if we could indulge in the belief that , finding they had made a great mistake , the French Freemasons were willing
to retrace their steps and resume communion and S 3 'nipathy with Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry , we should be the first to rejoice , the earliest to hail the coming change . But such we fear is " too good news to be true , " and knowing from old experience that change begets change and revolution leads to revolution in things general and things Masonic alike , we
cannot , as at present advised , but gravely doubt if any good can arise from that nil but universal state of restlessness , excitement , unsound teaching , and unwise action which seems to us , we say it without offence , to dominate French Freemasonry just now . At the same time we repeat we wish sincerely well to our Gallic brethren . We
cannot see why F ' reemasonry with its own generous principles and on its own true merits , should not flourish on Gallic soil , and we desiderate for the Grand Orient a return , an immediate return , to its own better and truer declarations and developements both of theory and practice . It has gained nothing by revolutionary iconoclasm but irritation , weakness , and loss of
prestige ; let it have the moral courage to own that it has been in the wrong , and at once to retrace its steps . We note that Bro . GRIMAUX , who has been called to the Secretariat of the Grand Orient oi France , has resigned the editorship of the " Monde Maconnique , " at Paris , and is succeeded by Bro .
ROCHER . We trust that the new editor will carry on the " Monde Maconnique " with the same ability , kindness , and moderation really and truly which have distinguished Bro . GRIMAUX , We allude to the Monde Maconnique " elsewhere .