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Article DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL. Page 1 of 1 Article DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL. Page 1 of 1 Article Correspondence. Page 1 of 1 Article Correspondence. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.
DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL .
A Special Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal was held at Freemasons ' Hall , 55 , Bentinek Street , Calcutta , on Thursday , April 15 , 1875 . There were present—The Worshipful J . B . Roberts , P . D . D . G . M ., as D . G . M .: W . Bros . W . B . Mactavish , D . S . G . W . ;
W . G . Amos , P . D . G . D ., as D . J . G . W . ; W . H . Jones , D . G . Treasurer ; H . H . Locke , Past Dep . D . G . M ., as D . G . S . ; W . H . Fitze , P . D . G . D ., as D . S . G . D . ; A Le Franc , D . J . G . D . ; Jas . Watson , D . G . Dir . of Cer . ; Prosonno Coomar Dutt , D . G . A . D . of Cer . ; J . H . E . Beer , P . D . G . Org .,
as D . G . Org . ; W . H . T . Ayres , D . G . Pursmvt ; Bros . Dr . , E . Reilly , as D . G . S . B . ; H . M . Rustwmjee , D . G . S . ; J . L . Anderson , D . G . S . ; Lieut . B . D . Hayes , D . G . S . ; G . Alexander , D . G . T . The following lodges were represented : — Industry and Perseverance , 109 ; Humility with
Fortitude , 229 ; True Friendship , 218 ; Marine , 232 ; Anchor and Hope , 234 ; Courage with Humanity , 392 ; St . J ohn , 486 ; Excelsior , 825 ; Star of Orissa , uo * i ; Temperance and Benevolence , 1160 ; Sandeman , 1374 . Visitor—Bro . E . Stegemann .
District Grand Lodge was opened in form at 5 . 40 p . m . Apologies for non-attendance were announced from several brethren . The following notice , which had been issued to every lodge in the province , with the summons for this special communication of District Grand Lodge , was read : —
" Worshipful Master , —I am directed to notify to you , and to the Wardens of your lodge , and to such Past Masters in the Craft as are subscribing members of your lodge , that a special communication of District Grand Lodge will be held at Freemasons' Hall , Bentinck-st ., Calcutta ,
on Thursday , the 15 th April , at half-past five o ' clock p . m ., for the purpose of confirming the resolutions passed at the special communication of the 7 th Feb ., the minutes of which are herewith enclosed as required by the Constitutions .
" I . am to request that you will make known this notice to your Wardens and Past Masters ; three spare copies being enclosed foi circulation . " I am , Worshipful Master , yours fraternally , " H . H . LOCKE , "P . D . D . G . M ., A . D . G . S . " The District Grand Master in the chair : —
Worshipful Brethren , I might say that I am sorry to call you together to an extra meeting of District Grand Lodge at a season of the year when the heat is so trying as it now is , and at an hour when many of you have barely concluded your business for the day , but I am sure that you do
not regret being so summoned on this occasion , the business before us being the completion of a circle of Masonic labour which was begun some nine months ago . Looking to what this work is ( and I may tell you that , even although it is not yet fully accomplished , it has already called
forth not only a unanimous support from the members of our fraternity , but expressions of admiration from those who are outsiders ) , looking , 1 say , to what this work is , I feel sure that , with me , you all feel glad that at this communication of D . G . L . in which we are met this
afternoon , we have to take what is , for us at any rate , the last step towards its complete accomplishment . W . Bro . McGregor , W . M . 392 , moved" That the minutes of the special communication of District Grand Lodge held on the 7 th
January , 1875 , having been printed and circulated , and having been passed at the quarterl y communication of the 20 th March , 1875 , as a correct record of the proceedings of the aforesaid special communication of the 9 th January , 1875 , be now taken as read . "
W . Bro . Mactavish , D . S . G . W . and P . M . 109 , seconded the motion , which was carried . W . Bro . Fitze , P . D . G . D . & P . M . 218 , moved" That the resolutions passed at the special communication of District Grand Lodge held on the 7 th January , 1875 , be now confirmed . "
The resolutions referred to are as follows : — "That an assessment of one rupee per quarter be paid by all Lodges in the province of Bengal towards the support of the Bengal Masonic Association for the Educafion of the Children of Indigent Freemasons . " That in order to give effect to the foregoing
District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.
provision , the following alterations and additions be made in , and to , the Bye-laws of District Grand Lodge , and transmitted to England for the approval of the M . W . the Grand Master . " Page 10 . —After the line ' and—The Fund of Benevolence' insert as a separate line , the words
' 3 rd . —The Masonic Association Assessment . " The headings ' Masonic Hall Sustentation Fund' and' Grand Stewards' Banqueting Fund , ' now numbered respectively ' 3 rd' and ' 4 th , 'to be numbered respectively ' 4 th' and ' 5 th . ' " Between the Bye-laws No . 20 and No . 21 ,
insert the following , which shall be numbered 21 , the present No . 21 becoming 22 , and all the following numbers being altered so as to follow in proper sequence . The Masonic Association Assessment is a subscription towards the support of the Bengal Masonic Association for the
Education of Children of Indigent Freemasons , and consists of a contribution from each lodge in the province of one rupee per quarter for every Brother who has been a subscribing member of such lodge for any part of the quarter . The payments on account of this Assessment
shall be sent to the District Grand Treasurer , along with the returns and dues to District Grand Lodge and Fund of Benevolence , and the District Grand Treasurer shall , within three clear office days of his receipt thereof , pay the same over to the Treasurer of the Association .
" At page 1 $ , in the Bye-law now numbered 40 , but which , as provided for above , will become No . 41 , after the words ' Fund of Benevolence ' insert ' and the Masonic Association Assessment ' "At page 25 , endorsement of Form A , under the head ' abstract of dues , ' insert below the
word ' contributions to Fund of Benevolence , ' Ditto to Masonic Association ( same amount ) . "At page 26 , insert'Masonic Association , as above , under thewords' Fund of Benevolence , in the abstract of payments at foot of returns . " W . Bro . W . G . Amos , P . D . G . D . and W . M
22 9 , seconded W . Bro . Fitze ' s motion , for the confirmation of the above resolutions ; the motion was then put , and was declared by the District Grand Master to be carried unanimously . W . Bro . D . McGregor , W . M . 392 , said that on behalf of his lodge which had voted against
the proposed assessment when it was first brought forward , he desired to say that they had opposed the measure simply because it was thought that it would be found impracticable to carry it out , and because some members thought that improvements might be made as to the
manner of the elections to the benefits of the Bengal Masonic Association . W . Bro . W . H . Ayres , D . G . P . and W . M . 825 , said that his lodge had also been set down as against the proposition , but they had not really disapproved of it ; they had only suggested
another way of attaining the same result . W . Bro . Locke , P . D . D . G . M . and A . D . G . S ., said it must have been gratifying to have heard the remarks just made by Bros . McGregor and Ayres , as practically the number of dissentient
lodges was now reduced to three ; even these appeared to have abandoned opposition at the last stage , inasmuch as no vote had been given by any of them against the resolutions . After a few words from the D . G . M ., the lodge was closed in due form .
Correspondence.
Correspondence .
THE 1717 ASSERTION . ' To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Bro ., I observe that Bro . Hughan offers to enter upon a controversy with Bro . Buchan upon this exploded subject .
Bro . Hughan ' s time , devoted to Masonic writings and researches , is valuable , and I would ask him to pause ere he enters upon the waste of it , which would be involved in such a discussion . What is erroneously called a " theory" ( 1717 ) has never been shown to have any other origin than the bare persistent assertion of Bro . Buchan
himself . That brother has never supported it by one single piece of evidence ; and what is still worse , he ignores any evidence which is adduced by anybody else . He challenged me to produce any proof of the nse of thc word " speculative , " in any document dated before 1717 ; I accepted his challenge , and produced two instances in thc MS .
Correspondence.
of circa , 5 , of which a transcript was published by Bro . Cooke . Bro . Buchan then cast doubts upon the genuineness of the MS ., and upon the good faith of the transcriber ; upon which I took the trouble to have the original examined and verified by a competent expert , and published an
extract from his letter . What was the result ? Why , Bro . Buchan , who as good as placed his " theory " in the balance with his challenge , said not a word afterwards , but retreated into defeated silence until the circumstance was perhaps forgotten , and then reproduced his pet myth as fresh as ever . I
observe that he now repeats his 1717 assertions for the benefit of new brethren , and new readers ; but I would call their attention to the foregoing fact , and I warn them that the 1717 theory ( so called ) is nothing but a bare assertion , which has been long since amply disproved .
I strongly recommend Bro . Hughan to enter upon no such discussion until Bro . Buchan will be content to fairly admit distinct evidences when they are published , and on his own part to adduce proofs ( which he has never yet done ) instead of mere personal assertions . I some time since called
attention to an Indenture of Covenants , temp . Hen . VI ., noticed in XXV Quarterly Review , p . 146 , between the churchwardens of a parish in Suffolk , and a company of Freemasons , which contains a stipulation as to white apron and gloves , and a properly tyled lodge , to be provided at the expense
of the parish . The original of this indenture can perhaps be inspected , and I invite Bro . Woodford ' s attention to it . If it bears out the notice in the Quarterly , it may go far , if not the whole way , to prove that these were operative Masons , practising the speculative element . LUPUS .
ROYAL MASONIC . INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , I can best answer the query of " W . D ., 489 , S . C , " in your last number , by quoting from the Laws of the Institution . " 2 . Object . To receive
under its protection , and to maintain , clothe , and educate the sons of Freemasons of every religious denomination under the English Constitution , " & c . This definition amounts to an exclusion of the sons of hrethren under the Irish or Scotch
Constitution . Our Irish brethren are energetically promoting the cause of Masonic education . Their schools for boys and girls , though in their infancy , especially the former , are making wonderful progress . It was my good fortune to be present , in April last , at the
distribution of prizes to the pupils of both schools . The Queen ' s representative presided , the prizes were given by his daughter , Lady Georgina Hamilton , in the presence of 9 , 000 of the tlitc of the Order , and of Irish society . I regarded the scene with singular feelings of surprise , admiration , and
—I must confess it—envy ; and while indulging in the hope that I might live to witness such a scene in England in association with our own schools , I could not repress a sigh in despair at its accomplishment . As regards our Scotch brethren , I opened a
correspondence with the late Grapd Secretary , some few years since , on thc suggestion of an influential and generous brother , who is both an English and an Irish Mason , and a noble supporter of our Institution , with a view to an enquiry if it were not possible that by some well-arranged scheme ,
approved by the authorities m both kingdoms , the benefits of our Institutions might be rendered available for the children of Scottish Masons . M y communication found its way , as I presume , to its most fitting destination—the Grand Secretary ' s
waste paper basket—for no reply was vouchsafed , and the matter ended . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES , Secretary .
THE INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND MASTER H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , A letter appears in your issue of February 6 th , from the pen of a worthy brother T . C . W . 141 , 1381 , 1503 . I am sure many of the brethren in this distant part of Her Majesty's dominions
will cordially agree with all its contents , and aM the office bearers of lodges under the Grand Lodge of England , would be proud to wear some memento of that kind , and got up in that way , to commemorate the most important Masonic event in 1875 ,
viz . : the Installation of H . R . H . as Grand Master . Trusting you will kindly do me the honour of inserting this humble epistle in your interesting paper , 1 remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , J . J . MAY , S . W ., No . 1 = 33 , E . C . Greymouth , N . Z ., April 10 th , 1 S 75 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.
DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL .
A Special Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal was held at Freemasons ' Hall , 55 , Bentinek Street , Calcutta , on Thursday , April 15 , 1875 . There were present—The Worshipful J . B . Roberts , P . D . D . G . M ., as D . G . M .: W . Bros . W . B . Mactavish , D . S . G . W . ;
W . G . Amos , P . D . G . D ., as D . J . G . W . ; W . H . Jones , D . G . Treasurer ; H . H . Locke , Past Dep . D . G . M ., as D . G . S . ; W . H . Fitze , P . D . G . D ., as D . S . G . D . ; A Le Franc , D . J . G . D . ; Jas . Watson , D . G . Dir . of Cer . ; Prosonno Coomar Dutt , D . G . A . D . of Cer . ; J . H . E . Beer , P . D . G . Org .,
as D . G . Org . ; W . H . T . Ayres , D . G . Pursmvt ; Bros . Dr . , E . Reilly , as D . G . S . B . ; H . M . Rustwmjee , D . G . S . ; J . L . Anderson , D . G . S . ; Lieut . B . D . Hayes , D . G . S . ; G . Alexander , D . G . T . The following lodges were represented : — Industry and Perseverance , 109 ; Humility with
Fortitude , 229 ; True Friendship , 218 ; Marine , 232 ; Anchor and Hope , 234 ; Courage with Humanity , 392 ; St . J ohn , 486 ; Excelsior , 825 ; Star of Orissa , uo * i ; Temperance and Benevolence , 1160 ; Sandeman , 1374 . Visitor—Bro . E . Stegemann .
District Grand Lodge was opened in form at 5 . 40 p . m . Apologies for non-attendance were announced from several brethren . The following notice , which had been issued to every lodge in the province , with the summons for this special communication of District Grand Lodge , was read : —
" Worshipful Master , —I am directed to notify to you , and to the Wardens of your lodge , and to such Past Masters in the Craft as are subscribing members of your lodge , that a special communication of District Grand Lodge will be held at Freemasons' Hall , Bentinck-st ., Calcutta ,
on Thursday , the 15 th April , at half-past five o ' clock p . m ., for the purpose of confirming the resolutions passed at the special communication of the 7 th Feb ., the minutes of which are herewith enclosed as required by the Constitutions .
" I . am to request that you will make known this notice to your Wardens and Past Masters ; three spare copies being enclosed foi circulation . " I am , Worshipful Master , yours fraternally , " H . H . LOCKE , "P . D . D . G . M ., A . D . G . S . " The District Grand Master in the chair : —
Worshipful Brethren , I might say that I am sorry to call you together to an extra meeting of District Grand Lodge at a season of the year when the heat is so trying as it now is , and at an hour when many of you have barely concluded your business for the day , but I am sure that you do
not regret being so summoned on this occasion , the business before us being the completion of a circle of Masonic labour which was begun some nine months ago . Looking to what this work is ( and I may tell you that , even although it is not yet fully accomplished , it has already called
forth not only a unanimous support from the members of our fraternity , but expressions of admiration from those who are outsiders ) , looking , 1 say , to what this work is , I feel sure that , with me , you all feel glad that at this communication of D . G . L . in which we are met this
afternoon , we have to take what is , for us at any rate , the last step towards its complete accomplishment . W . Bro . McGregor , W . M . 392 , moved" That the minutes of the special communication of District Grand Lodge held on the 7 th
January , 1875 , having been printed and circulated , and having been passed at the quarterl y communication of the 20 th March , 1875 , as a correct record of the proceedings of the aforesaid special communication of the 9 th January , 1875 , be now taken as read . "
W . Bro . Mactavish , D . S . G . W . and P . M . 109 , seconded the motion , which was carried . W . Bro . Fitze , P . D . G . D . & P . M . 218 , moved" That the resolutions passed at the special communication of District Grand Lodge held on the 7 th January , 1875 , be now confirmed . "
The resolutions referred to are as follows : — "That an assessment of one rupee per quarter be paid by all Lodges in the province of Bengal towards the support of the Bengal Masonic Association for the Educafion of the Children of Indigent Freemasons . " That in order to give effect to the foregoing
District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.
provision , the following alterations and additions be made in , and to , the Bye-laws of District Grand Lodge , and transmitted to England for the approval of the M . W . the Grand Master . " Page 10 . —After the line ' and—The Fund of Benevolence' insert as a separate line , the words
' 3 rd . —The Masonic Association Assessment . " The headings ' Masonic Hall Sustentation Fund' and' Grand Stewards' Banqueting Fund , ' now numbered respectively ' 3 rd' and ' 4 th , 'to be numbered respectively ' 4 th' and ' 5 th . ' " Between the Bye-laws No . 20 and No . 21 ,
insert the following , which shall be numbered 21 , the present No . 21 becoming 22 , and all the following numbers being altered so as to follow in proper sequence . The Masonic Association Assessment is a subscription towards the support of the Bengal Masonic Association for the
Education of Children of Indigent Freemasons , and consists of a contribution from each lodge in the province of one rupee per quarter for every Brother who has been a subscribing member of such lodge for any part of the quarter . The payments on account of this Assessment
shall be sent to the District Grand Treasurer , along with the returns and dues to District Grand Lodge and Fund of Benevolence , and the District Grand Treasurer shall , within three clear office days of his receipt thereof , pay the same over to the Treasurer of the Association .
" At page 1 $ , in the Bye-law now numbered 40 , but which , as provided for above , will become No . 41 , after the words ' Fund of Benevolence ' insert ' and the Masonic Association Assessment ' "At page 25 , endorsement of Form A , under the head ' abstract of dues , ' insert below the
word ' contributions to Fund of Benevolence , ' Ditto to Masonic Association ( same amount ) . "At page 26 , insert'Masonic Association , as above , under thewords' Fund of Benevolence , in the abstract of payments at foot of returns . " W . Bro . W . G . Amos , P . D . G . D . and W . M
22 9 , seconded W . Bro . Fitze ' s motion , for the confirmation of the above resolutions ; the motion was then put , and was declared by the District Grand Master to be carried unanimously . W . Bro . D . McGregor , W . M . 392 , said that on behalf of his lodge which had voted against
the proposed assessment when it was first brought forward , he desired to say that they had opposed the measure simply because it was thought that it would be found impracticable to carry it out , and because some members thought that improvements might be made as to the
manner of the elections to the benefits of the Bengal Masonic Association . W . Bro . W . H . Ayres , D . G . P . and W . M . 825 , said that his lodge had also been set down as against the proposition , but they had not really disapproved of it ; they had only suggested
another way of attaining the same result . W . Bro . Locke , P . D . D . G . M . and A . D . G . S ., said it must have been gratifying to have heard the remarks just made by Bros . McGregor and Ayres , as practically the number of dissentient
lodges was now reduced to three ; even these appeared to have abandoned opposition at the last stage , inasmuch as no vote had been given by any of them against the resolutions . After a few words from the D . G . M ., the lodge was closed in due form .
Correspondence.
Correspondence .
THE 1717 ASSERTION . ' To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Bro ., I observe that Bro . Hughan offers to enter upon a controversy with Bro . Buchan upon this exploded subject .
Bro . Hughan ' s time , devoted to Masonic writings and researches , is valuable , and I would ask him to pause ere he enters upon the waste of it , which would be involved in such a discussion . What is erroneously called a " theory" ( 1717 ) has never been shown to have any other origin than the bare persistent assertion of Bro . Buchan
himself . That brother has never supported it by one single piece of evidence ; and what is still worse , he ignores any evidence which is adduced by anybody else . He challenged me to produce any proof of the nse of thc word " speculative , " in any document dated before 1717 ; I accepted his challenge , and produced two instances in thc MS .
Correspondence.
of circa , 5 , of which a transcript was published by Bro . Cooke . Bro . Buchan then cast doubts upon the genuineness of the MS ., and upon the good faith of the transcriber ; upon which I took the trouble to have the original examined and verified by a competent expert , and published an
extract from his letter . What was the result ? Why , Bro . Buchan , who as good as placed his " theory " in the balance with his challenge , said not a word afterwards , but retreated into defeated silence until the circumstance was perhaps forgotten , and then reproduced his pet myth as fresh as ever . I
observe that he now repeats his 1717 assertions for the benefit of new brethren , and new readers ; but I would call their attention to the foregoing fact , and I warn them that the 1717 theory ( so called ) is nothing but a bare assertion , which has been long since amply disproved .
I strongly recommend Bro . Hughan to enter upon no such discussion until Bro . Buchan will be content to fairly admit distinct evidences when they are published , and on his own part to adduce proofs ( which he has never yet done ) instead of mere personal assertions . I some time since called
attention to an Indenture of Covenants , temp . Hen . VI ., noticed in XXV Quarterly Review , p . 146 , between the churchwardens of a parish in Suffolk , and a company of Freemasons , which contains a stipulation as to white apron and gloves , and a properly tyled lodge , to be provided at the expense
of the parish . The original of this indenture can perhaps be inspected , and I invite Bro . Woodford ' s attention to it . If it bears out the notice in the Quarterly , it may go far , if not the whole way , to prove that these were operative Masons , practising the speculative element . LUPUS .
ROYAL MASONIC . INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , I can best answer the query of " W . D ., 489 , S . C , " in your last number , by quoting from the Laws of the Institution . " 2 . Object . To receive
under its protection , and to maintain , clothe , and educate the sons of Freemasons of every religious denomination under the English Constitution , " & c . This definition amounts to an exclusion of the sons of hrethren under the Irish or Scotch
Constitution . Our Irish brethren are energetically promoting the cause of Masonic education . Their schools for boys and girls , though in their infancy , especially the former , are making wonderful progress . It was my good fortune to be present , in April last , at the
distribution of prizes to the pupils of both schools . The Queen ' s representative presided , the prizes were given by his daughter , Lady Georgina Hamilton , in the presence of 9 , 000 of the tlitc of the Order , and of Irish society . I regarded the scene with singular feelings of surprise , admiration , and
—I must confess it—envy ; and while indulging in the hope that I might live to witness such a scene in England in association with our own schools , I could not repress a sigh in despair at its accomplishment . As regards our Scotch brethren , I opened a
correspondence with the late Grapd Secretary , some few years since , on thc suggestion of an influential and generous brother , who is both an English and an Irish Mason , and a noble supporter of our Institution , with a view to an enquiry if it were not possible that by some well-arranged scheme ,
approved by the authorities m both kingdoms , the benefits of our Institutions might be rendered available for the children of Scottish Masons . M y communication found its way , as I presume , to its most fitting destination—the Grand Secretary ' s
waste paper basket—for no reply was vouchsafed , and the matter ended . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES , Secretary .
THE INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND MASTER H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , A letter appears in your issue of February 6 th , from the pen of a worthy brother T . C . W . 141 , 1381 , 1503 . I am sure many of the brethren in this distant part of Her Majesty's dominions
will cordially agree with all its contents , and aM the office bearers of lodges under the Grand Lodge of England , would be proud to wear some memento of that kind , and got up in that way , to commemorate the most important Masonic event in 1875 ,
viz . : the Installation of H . R . H . as Grand Master . Trusting you will kindly do me the honour of inserting this humble epistle in your interesting paper , 1 remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , J . J . MAY , S . W ., No . 1 = 33 , E . C . Greymouth , N . Z ., April 10 th , 1 S 75 .