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Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 3 Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 3 →
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Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
The Annual Festival of this Institution was held on Wednesday at Freemasons' Tavern , General Brownrigg , C . B ., Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , in the chair . There were nearly 350 brethren present , and over 190 ladies . Among the brethren who supported the gallant General were Bros . General Laurie , Grand Master of Nova Scotia ; Colonel Lloyd Philipps ,
Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk ; Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary ; Thomas Fenn , P . G . D . ; John Messent , Grand Swd . Br . ; Baron de Ferrieres , M . P . ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Chas . Greenwood , P . G . S . B . ;
Thos . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; Comptroller Bake , A . Barfield , C . Belton , R . N . Howard , R . Vassar Smith , R . Eve , Dr . Strong , F . R . W . Hedges , Sec . Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . O . ; J . Terry , Sec . Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; R . Percy Middlemist , Hy . Smith , Vice-Patron ; Clement Tudway , and Bradshaw Brown , P . G . Stewards ; Dr . Edwards , R . H . Griffin , Lieut .-Col . Radcliffe , and Hy .
Lovegrove . After dinner grace was sung and the list of toasts was proceeded with . In proposing the toast of" Her Majesty the Queen " the Chairman said the first toast in all assemblies of Englishmen is that of " The Queen . " We are essentially subjects of her Majesty , but we cannot disassociate her
Majesty from the Craft , and we all know that when we drink as Freemasons our toasts on festive occasions in the Craft her Majesty ' s name is coupled with the first . We must remember that her Majesty is the daughter of a Mason , and of her four sons three of them are distinguished in the Order ,
and I hope—it is not a presumptuous hope—if it be so I am quite sure you will agree with me in hoping that the time is not far distant when those two gallant young princes who will be serving her Majesty and serving the country , who are already under the tongue of good report , may be enrolled members of the Craft . ( Cheers . )
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm and was followed by the National
Anthem . The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The Health of the Prince of Wales ( the patron and president of the Institution ) , the Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal family , " and said : I have no doubt there are many present who remember the occasion of the installation of H . R . H . the
Grand Master of the Order —( hear , hear)—and I think it would be impossible that any assembly of men could have presented such a spectacle as we saw on that occasion . Large masses of armed men might have produced a more picturesque effect , but to our hearts as Freemasons nothing could have been more impressive than the sight we witnessed at that time . ( Cheers . )
Considering the important duties he has to perform , I think the attention H . R . H . has paid to Freemasonry entitles him to our gratitude and our best thanks . ( Hear , hear . ) The most difficult task H . R . H . has to perform is in the selection of those upon whom he considers the purple ought to be bestowed . From a much smaller experience I know
how many deserving Masons there are who deserve that honour , and yet how few distinctions there are to be conferred . The sentiment of the Craft is I believe that his Royal Highness makes the selection with judgment and with taste . ( Cheers . ) That gracious lady , the Princess of Wales , was brought up in an atmosphere of Freemasonry .
The Scandinavians were famous for their Masonic ceremonial . Hear , hear . ) I have myself seen a great deal of it in the Grand Lodge of Copenhagen , and remember her Royal Highness ' s brother is now the Grand Master of the Order in Denmark . ( Cheers . ) I cannot help hoping that at all events we shall have the kind sympathy of the Princess of Wales , and that her sons may become Masons in due course . ( Cheers . )
In proposing " The Health of the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , " the Chairman said : Brethren , you all know that it is the privilege of a Prince of the Blood Royal when he assumes any Masonic functions to provide somebody to act for him in his absence . It has pleased H . R . H . to appoint as the Pro Grand Master to represent him in his absence the Earl
of Carnarvon . Those who have been present in Grand Lodge and witnessed the way in which he has performed those duties must I am sure have been struck with the ability and the terseness of his remarks and the general
ability with which he has performed his duties , together with the courtesy he has exhibited in receiving questions and answering questions put to him . I ask you to drink the heath of the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon .
The toast was drunk vvith acclamation , and was followed by Miss Clara SamucII singing " Rose softly blooming . " The CHAIRMAN in proposing the next toast said : Brethren , the next toast I have to propose to you is a somewhat comprehensive one ; it is that of "The Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , the Deputy Grand Master ; and
the Present and Past Grand Officers . " Those who know the Earl of Lathom and have seen him in Grand Lodge must have been struck by that personal appearance , that specimen , that he is in my opinion , of a thorough Englishman ; not only good looking in himself , but good in all he does . He is a good cricketer ; I believe he is a good rider to hounds , and he is a good ,
straightforward Englishman in every way , and we are very proud of him in that capacity . He has a geniality in his position which render him extremely popular among all who know him . The duties of the Grand Officers are very varied . Those who are in office have duties prescribed for them . But
there are duties when the officers are out of office , when it is difficult to define their position ; but I believe these officers have a thorough feeling , for their duty is to do their best for the Craft , to give advice where it is needed , to be constant in their attendance at Grand Lodge , and to support the dignity
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
of our Order . That they do this generally I believe is an acknowledged fact . That is the way in which I have always found them received . Whenever I have been in lodge or provincial grand lodge the presence of a Grand Officer has always been most cordiall y received and fraternally accepted , and therefore wc have reason to believe that their conduct generally is approved
of . I know that they try to do their duty . If they fail it is in consequence of those feelings to which we mortals are subject . I really believe they do their best . We have so many toasts this evening that I will not detain you
longer than ask of you to drink this toast , and calling upon the Right Worshipful brother who presided over this festival last year , Bro . Col . Lloyd Philipps , Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales .
Bro . Col . LLOYD PIIILII-. S in responding to the toast said * . It gives me great pleasure to come here and to return thanks for such a toast . I am sure that everything that your R . W . Chairman said of Lord Lathom is fully
deserved , and you all know that thepresent and past Grand Officers have always endeavoured to do their duty , whether in this great city or in thc provinces with which they are connected . ( Hear , hear . ) The toast having been drunk ,
Tlie CHAIRMAN - said : In proposing the next toast 1 have to make some few observations . We have had an omission on this occasion which I will ask you to correct . We have omitted " Thc Sister Grand Lodges of the rest of the World . " We have on this occasion a very distinguished brother sitting on my left . He is not a provincial grand master , but there he is
before you , a living Grand Master in his own ri ght—General Laurie , the Grand Master of Nova Scotia . It is very seldom when we are able to have in our society an actual grand master excepting our own , and I am quite sure I am speaking the sentiments of you all when I say we give him thc heartiest welcome . We are always glad to see those who hail from other
lodges . We always meet when we visit any of our colonies with the greatest warmth from our brother Freemasons , and we arc very glad to return it . I ask you to drink " The Health of General Laurie , the Grand Master of Nova Scotia , and the Sister Grand Lodges all over the world . " ( Cheers . ) General LAURIE in replying said : Right Worshipful sir and brethren ,
in referring to the toast which has been given with such grace from the chair — " The Sister Grand Lodges "—I may say it at present naturally suggests the sister grand lodges of English-speaking people , because they after all are those which most strictly practise Craft Masonry as we understand it . The questions may arise , sir , why there should be any sister grand lodges ?
why we should not all be under the time-worn banner of the old Grand Lodge of England . ( Hear , hear . ) But , sir , the question answers itself to a large extent . We have the Grand Lodge of Scotland , we have the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and you must recollect that when your Grand Lodge chartered lodges in the colonies they looked upon those colonies as unoccupied
territory , and we had lodges working under old charters from England , Scotland , and Ireland in the same towns . Now , that of itself would cause an immense deal of confusion . I shall not touch upon the question which explains itself as to why our cousins in the American States naturally formed their own grand lodges when they declared their political independence ; that was
natural , and we will not go into it . But in the case of the colonies I think I haveexplained it to you to a certain extent when I say it caused terrible con . fusion , and worse than confusion , when we had lodges working under three different constitutions and under different reputations in the same town , and it did not conduce to that brotherly love that should always prevail among
Masons . When the matter was first put before your Grand Lodge , particularly the Grand Master and your Board of General Purposes and your Grand Lodge , they saw the force of the arguments advanced , and it was considered desirable to recommend that we should form separate grand lodges , and carry on the organisation of the work of Masonry in our
own locality and under our own authority . I think , sir , that Masonry has not suffered by this . I can assure you that the sentiments entertained at the old mother Grand Lod ge were quite as warm as they were in the days wheh we were a Provincial Grand Lodge . I can tell you , sir , that one of the duties with which 1 was charged in coming over a few weeks
since was that one of my lodges unfortunatel y having had a Masonic Hall and the whole of its furniture and its charter burned , I was to see if it was at all possible to get a copy of their old charter furnished to them by the Grand Lodge of England . Of course it was their intention to get a new charter from our Grand Lodge ; but their sentiments lo the old Grand lodge
were so strong that they wanted a copy of their old charter . I had the satisfaction when I visited your Grand Secretary ' s office to fin d an old college comrade , an old comrade under fire , Col . Clerke , and I must congratulate you on having as official manager of your business a gentleman and a brother who is so thoroughly competent to send away disappointed applicants in aa
happy a state as if he had been able to grant them all they -wanted . He informed me that the request could not be granted , but il was in such a way that the brethren may be almost as pleased as if a new charter had been granted from the supreme authority to that lodge . ( Laughter . ) But our lodge recognises that it was high on the roll of Grand Lodge of England ,
and it looks back to the time when it stood tinder your banner and still feels that it rests under those banners . On behalf of all Masons where lhey follow out our system of Craft Masonry or where it ranges under the system of Orients as some do , I desire to return thanks for thc kind way in whicli you have given and the brethren have received this loast . ( Cheers ) .
The CHAIRMAN , proposing the toasl of the evening , " Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , " said : It is with the object of supporting this Charity , brethren , that we have met on this occasion . I can give you a very recent report , for it was only about 50 hours ago that I was at the Asylum . That , I say , was very deep self-reproach as the first visit I had paid to it , but it shall certainlv
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
The Annual Festival of this Institution was held on Wednesday at Freemasons' Tavern , General Brownrigg , C . B ., Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , in the chair . There were nearly 350 brethren present , and over 190 ladies . Among the brethren who supported the gallant General were Bros . General Laurie , Grand Master of Nova Scotia ; Colonel Lloyd Philipps ,
Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk ; Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary ; Thomas Fenn , P . G . D . ; John Messent , Grand Swd . Br . ; Baron de Ferrieres , M . P . ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Chas . Greenwood , P . G . S . B . ;
Thos . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; Comptroller Bake , A . Barfield , C . Belton , R . N . Howard , R . Vassar Smith , R . Eve , Dr . Strong , F . R . W . Hedges , Sec . Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . O . ; J . Terry , Sec . Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; R . Percy Middlemist , Hy . Smith , Vice-Patron ; Clement Tudway , and Bradshaw Brown , P . G . Stewards ; Dr . Edwards , R . H . Griffin , Lieut .-Col . Radcliffe , and Hy .
Lovegrove . After dinner grace was sung and the list of toasts was proceeded with . In proposing the toast of" Her Majesty the Queen " the Chairman said the first toast in all assemblies of Englishmen is that of " The Queen . " We are essentially subjects of her Majesty , but we cannot disassociate her
Majesty from the Craft , and we all know that when we drink as Freemasons our toasts on festive occasions in the Craft her Majesty ' s name is coupled with the first . We must remember that her Majesty is the daughter of a Mason , and of her four sons three of them are distinguished in the Order ,
and I hope—it is not a presumptuous hope—if it be so I am quite sure you will agree with me in hoping that the time is not far distant when those two gallant young princes who will be serving her Majesty and serving the country , who are already under the tongue of good report , may be enrolled members of the Craft . ( Cheers . )
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm and was followed by the National
Anthem . The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The Health of the Prince of Wales ( the patron and president of the Institution ) , the Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal family , " and said : I have no doubt there are many present who remember the occasion of the installation of H . R . H . the
Grand Master of the Order —( hear , hear)—and I think it would be impossible that any assembly of men could have presented such a spectacle as we saw on that occasion . Large masses of armed men might have produced a more picturesque effect , but to our hearts as Freemasons nothing could have been more impressive than the sight we witnessed at that time . ( Cheers . )
Considering the important duties he has to perform , I think the attention H . R . H . has paid to Freemasonry entitles him to our gratitude and our best thanks . ( Hear , hear . ) The most difficult task H . R . H . has to perform is in the selection of those upon whom he considers the purple ought to be bestowed . From a much smaller experience I know
how many deserving Masons there are who deserve that honour , and yet how few distinctions there are to be conferred . The sentiment of the Craft is I believe that his Royal Highness makes the selection with judgment and with taste . ( Cheers . ) That gracious lady , the Princess of Wales , was brought up in an atmosphere of Freemasonry .
The Scandinavians were famous for their Masonic ceremonial . Hear , hear . ) I have myself seen a great deal of it in the Grand Lodge of Copenhagen , and remember her Royal Highness ' s brother is now the Grand Master of the Order in Denmark . ( Cheers . ) I cannot help hoping that at all events we shall have the kind sympathy of the Princess of Wales , and that her sons may become Masons in due course . ( Cheers . )
In proposing " The Health of the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , " the Chairman said : Brethren , you all know that it is the privilege of a Prince of the Blood Royal when he assumes any Masonic functions to provide somebody to act for him in his absence . It has pleased H . R . H . to appoint as the Pro Grand Master to represent him in his absence the Earl
of Carnarvon . Those who have been present in Grand Lodge and witnessed the way in which he has performed those duties must I am sure have been struck with the ability and the terseness of his remarks and the general
ability with which he has performed his duties , together with the courtesy he has exhibited in receiving questions and answering questions put to him . I ask you to drink the heath of the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon .
The toast was drunk vvith acclamation , and was followed by Miss Clara SamucII singing " Rose softly blooming . " The CHAIRMAN in proposing the next toast said : Brethren , the next toast I have to propose to you is a somewhat comprehensive one ; it is that of "The Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , the Deputy Grand Master ; and
the Present and Past Grand Officers . " Those who know the Earl of Lathom and have seen him in Grand Lodge must have been struck by that personal appearance , that specimen , that he is in my opinion , of a thorough Englishman ; not only good looking in himself , but good in all he does . He is a good cricketer ; I believe he is a good rider to hounds , and he is a good ,
straightforward Englishman in every way , and we are very proud of him in that capacity . He has a geniality in his position which render him extremely popular among all who know him . The duties of the Grand Officers are very varied . Those who are in office have duties prescribed for them . But
there are duties when the officers are out of office , when it is difficult to define their position ; but I believe these officers have a thorough feeling , for their duty is to do their best for the Craft , to give advice where it is needed , to be constant in their attendance at Grand Lodge , and to support the dignity
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
of our Order . That they do this generally I believe is an acknowledged fact . That is the way in which I have always found them received . Whenever I have been in lodge or provincial grand lodge the presence of a Grand Officer has always been most cordiall y received and fraternally accepted , and therefore wc have reason to believe that their conduct generally is approved
of . I know that they try to do their duty . If they fail it is in consequence of those feelings to which we mortals are subject . I really believe they do their best . We have so many toasts this evening that I will not detain you
longer than ask of you to drink this toast , and calling upon the Right Worshipful brother who presided over this festival last year , Bro . Col . Lloyd Philipps , Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales .
Bro . Col . LLOYD PIIILII-. S in responding to the toast said * . It gives me great pleasure to come here and to return thanks for such a toast . I am sure that everything that your R . W . Chairman said of Lord Lathom is fully
deserved , and you all know that thepresent and past Grand Officers have always endeavoured to do their duty , whether in this great city or in thc provinces with which they are connected . ( Hear , hear . ) The toast having been drunk ,
Tlie CHAIRMAN - said : In proposing the next toast 1 have to make some few observations . We have had an omission on this occasion which I will ask you to correct . We have omitted " Thc Sister Grand Lodges of the rest of the World . " We have on this occasion a very distinguished brother sitting on my left . He is not a provincial grand master , but there he is
before you , a living Grand Master in his own ri ght—General Laurie , the Grand Master of Nova Scotia . It is very seldom when we are able to have in our society an actual grand master excepting our own , and I am quite sure I am speaking the sentiments of you all when I say we give him thc heartiest welcome . We are always glad to see those who hail from other
lodges . We always meet when we visit any of our colonies with the greatest warmth from our brother Freemasons , and we arc very glad to return it . I ask you to drink " The Health of General Laurie , the Grand Master of Nova Scotia , and the Sister Grand Lodges all over the world . " ( Cheers . ) General LAURIE in replying said : Right Worshipful sir and brethren ,
in referring to the toast which has been given with such grace from the chair — " The Sister Grand Lodges "—I may say it at present naturally suggests the sister grand lodges of English-speaking people , because they after all are those which most strictly practise Craft Masonry as we understand it . The questions may arise , sir , why there should be any sister grand lodges ?
why we should not all be under the time-worn banner of the old Grand Lodge of England . ( Hear , hear . ) But , sir , the question answers itself to a large extent . We have the Grand Lodge of Scotland , we have the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and you must recollect that when your Grand Lodge chartered lodges in the colonies they looked upon those colonies as unoccupied
territory , and we had lodges working under old charters from England , Scotland , and Ireland in the same towns . Now , that of itself would cause an immense deal of confusion . I shall not touch upon the question which explains itself as to why our cousins in the American States naturally formed their own grand lodges when they declared their political independence ; that was
natural , and we will not go into it . But in the case of the colonies I think I haveexplained it to you to a certain extent when I say it caused terrible con . fusion , and worse than confusion , when we had lodges working under three different constitutions and under different reputations in the same town , and it did not conduce to that brotherly love that should always prevail among
Masons . When the matter was first put before your Grand Lodge , particularly the Grand Master and your Board of General Purposes and your Grand Lodge , they saw the force of the arguments advanced , and it was considered desirable to recommend that we should form separate grand lodges , and carry on the organisation of the work of Masonry in our
own locality and under our own authority . I think , sir , that Masonry has not suffered by this . I can assure you that the sentiments entertained at the old mother Grand Lod ge were quite as warm as they were in the days wheh we were a Provincial Grand Lodge . I can tell you , sir , that one of the duties with which 1 was charged in coming over a few weeks
since was that one of my lodges unfortunatel y having had a Masonic Hall and the whole of its furniture and its charter burned , I was to see if it was at all possible to get a copy of their old charter furnished to them by the Grand Lodge of England . Of course it was their intention to get a new charter from our Grand Lodge ; but their sentiments lo the old Grand lodge
were so strong that they wanted a copy of their old charter . I had the satisfaction when I visited your Grand Secretary ' s office to fin d an old college comrade , an old comrade under fire , Col . Clerke , and I must congratulate you on having as official manager of your business a gentleman and a brother who is so thoroughly competent to send away disappointed applicants in aa
happy a state as if he had been able to grant them all they -wanted . He informed me that the request could not be granted , but il was in such a way that the brethren may be almost as pleased as if a new charter had been granted from the supreme authority to that lodge . ( Laughter . ) But our lodge recognises that it was high on the roll of Grand Lodge of England ,
and it looks back to the time when it stood tinder your banner and still feels that it rests under those banners . On behalf of all Masons where lhey follow out our system of Craft Masonry or where it ranges under the system of Orients as some do , I desire to return thanks for thc kind way in whicli you have given and the brethren have received this loast . ( Cheers ) .
The CHAIRMAN , proposing the toasl of the evening , " Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , " said : It is with the object of supporting this Charity , brethren , that we have met on this occasion . I can give you a very recent report , for it was only about 50 hours ago that I was at the Asylum . That , I say , was very deep self-reproach as the first visit I had paid to it , but it shall certainlv