Masonic And General Insurance Company.

we did not make a similar rapid progress , but thc directors of this company would never engage in'the expenditure of money by anticipation , well knowing that a day of reckoning must come . Those four offices now , gentlemen , are not one hundred miles from Chancery Lane , while we

still remain in New Bridge Street . In Grant s recent edition of" British Battles , " he adverts to an incident that forcibly illustrates the axiom that tlie "race is not always to thc swift . " AVhile commanding a British contingent in 1630 , the French Marshal Biron complained to the

English officer , Sir Roger Williams , that lie did not bring up his companies—I don ' t mean life assurance companies ( laughter)—fast enough . Sir Roger replied , " This was the pace , Marshall , with which our forefathers conquered your country ( Francei ) , and I don ' t mean to alter it . "

Depend upon it , gentlemen , the slow and steady pace will , in the long run , prove in our case the safest . ( Hear , hear . ) As regards the "battle not being always to the strong , " I may remark that phrenologists tell us that " Size , ewleris liarihts , is the measure of power . " 1 question if

this applies mall cases . Lake , for example , the Claimant . ( Laughter ) I hope I shall not be considered guilty of contempt of court when 1 say he is a man of prodi g ious size , and yet he seem ;; to liave a very weak case . Then again , f liave my eye on a worthy friend of mine at this

tabic who weighs some three stone more than myself , and yet , in half au hour , I could walk him into a shadow , or a great perspiration . Neither does il invariably apply to life offices . Witness the European and Albert Companies . AVhy , sirs , it was their very size that sunk them ,

like water-logged vessels , m the very first gait they had to encounter ! It should also be remembered that many of the greatest institutions of the present day , when of our age , had not accomplished the amount of business we liave succeeded in obtaining . ( Hear . ) As regards

the question of the ratio of expenditure to income , I should very much like , if time permitted , to c . id to you a recent article that appeared in one of the assurance journals , which is evidently the work of of an able and independent writer . He speaks of the palpable injustice of comparing thc

expenditure ol a young with an old ollice , and remarks , among other things . " It stands to reason that in the early years of an ollice its premium income will be comparatively small , because , obviously enough , it has its customers yet to . seek . " ( Hear . ) Now , gentlemen , the

whole gist of the argument , as affecting our company , lies in this—We have done a small business , hence we have small liabilities . If we have assets of , £ ' 4 , 000 to meet possible liabilities of / . ' 2 , oco , 1 contend that we are in assolvent a condition as the company that has , £ 40 . 000 to meet

. £ 20 , 000 . ( Hear . ) AVe know we have at present an income that enables us to save money every year , and more than sufficient reserve lo meet all probable claims . We know that our death claims , as estimated b y the tables were iibout ei ght , at the average amount of about i

t ' .. . - I , — t .. . r ... n . . 1-, £ 24 . - each , or - £ V / JO annuall y . Of course , I am onl y giving you now a rough rule-of-thuinb ( estimate . By the same rough estimate we know that if every one at this festive board were to assure wilh us for f 1 , 000 each , while it would add £ 1 ,-011 a year to our income , il would cerlainlv

bring us a claim of one life at least before the twelve months have expired . ( Sensation ) Life nsvimux ; genih-iiieii , is a science of such linen ing accuracy that / pin my faith to it . But it reels wilh you to make " assurance doubly sure' ' by bringing to llie Masonic all the policies vc . u

can influence among your Iriends and connexions . You will thus be assisting in the promulgation of a noble cause , adding io the solidity of your investments , and , in the graphic and symbolical language of our Masonic ritual , " raisin :- - ! slncturo

a > 'ipcr .: perf et in its parts am ! Jnciour .-t lile lo the builders . " ( A pplau-e . ) Bro . ( i . Lanras ' or , of Portsmouth , proposed "Tht He . ilih of the Board of Director :- ; , " remarkinij that it was a great salisfaclio'i to him lo . see then ! all present .

bro . Suttees iccpond-.-d on IHnlf of his colleagues , a 1 t . d was necessaril y brit f , as he had only a lew minutes al hit . tli ' -p . J-al io secure Use last train .

Masonic And General Insurance Company.

Bro . Bridger proposed the " Directors of the Local Board , " which was responded to by Mr . Cudlipp , in a speech of remarkable ability and humour . The Chairman then gave "The Visitors , Messrs . Bridger , Tallerman , and Loveland . '

Bro . Loveland , of the -Temple , responded , observing that as a director of another assurance company , he could scarcely be expected to do more than indirectly give his assistance to the

Masonic in respect of assurances , but that from connexion with the Craft he felt bound to take shares in the company , which he should certainly do , and he advised the brotherhood to go and do likewise .

"The London and Provincial Medical Examinecrs" was proposed b y Bro . Snnley , who acted jointl y with Mr . Eglese as one ofthe Vice-Presidents . In responding for tho London officers , Dr . Cross remarked that while the directors were

the thought , and the manager the voice , the medical olficers were the ear and eye to this body corporate , that both he and his worthy colleague , Dr . Hibberd , had every case under their inspection , and passed neither the lives nor the country papers until they had thoroughly satisfied

themselves that the proposals and reports were satisfactory . He had been for many years the medical officer to a company which was now /////// sccundtts , but which , when of the age of the Masonic , was certainly not doing so large an amount of business . He said this in

corroboration of liro . Bi gg ' s statement , and to give encouragement both to him and to the present assembly . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Dv . Bower , of AViudsor , responded for the country examiners , " The Agents" were proposed by Bro . Bigg in

appropriate terms . He highly eulogised certain of the agents , who , by their zeal and " activity in their calling , had done much to promote the prosperity of the company , while he felt that an agent who consented to accept the appointment , and never exerted himself , was open to the

severest censure , and was even worse than useless . He felt great pleasure in making special allusion to three agents now present , who b y their energy and perseverance , seemed to realise Longfellow ' s " A'illage Blacksmith . "

"Toiling , rejoicing , sorrowing , Onward through life he goes . Each morning sees some work begun Each evening sees its close . Something attempted , something done , Has earned a night ' s repose . "

—( A pplause . ) Our energetic and respected representative , Bro . Hacker , of Aldershot , had unfortunatel y left , but he hoped both Bro . Lloyd , of Sowerby-bridge , and Bro . Coram , of Dover , would favour the company with their views . ( Hear . )

I'liesc gentlemen severall y addressed the meeting , and spoke hi ghly of their satisfaction at the way in which the business was conducted , and expressed the greatest hope of the future .

Bro . Murby also briefl y responded . "The Health ofthe Chairman , Bro . Stebbing , " was given by Bro . Biillivant , ami received by the company with the greatest enthusiasm . Though suffering from the effects of hoarseness , he

displnyed all his characteristic ability and eloquence , and appeared to afford thc company the liveliest enjoyment . The company dispersed at a late hour , afler spending a most enjoyable evening .

Grand Lodge Of New York.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK .

( Cfit / . ' . 'iucdjrnin Page 42 1 ) . Resolved— "Tint the proposed amendments to the Constitution and general statutes be adopted as a whole , subject to amendments , and

that such amendments be taken up and exaiiiimd in numerical order . An amendment to adopt the Constitution as read , and then lo offer amend'vonts , as in committee of the whole . "

M . W . James Gibson then read the amendli ) .-.-ic ; si-riiiUni . T / ie title was changed so as to read , " Constitution and Statutes of the Grand Lodge of I ' ivo and Accepted Masons oi' lin .-Suuc of New York , " thus striking out the word

Grand Lodge Of New York.

" laws , " and substituting " statutes , " and the words " Most AVorshi pful " and " Ancient and Honourable Fraternityc " On the fourth section of Title I . being presented , which provided for " Acting Masters " and exclusion of AVardens to be representatives

in the Grand Lodge , a long debate ensued , during which the five-minute rule was adopted , and , finally , the section limiting the representation in the Grand Ledge to one representative from one lodge , who shall be the Master , one of the AVardens , or a proxy dul y appointed by the lodge .

The fifth section as adopted , makes the Grand Chaplains and Grand Lecturer appointed officers . They were formerl y elected . In the title , " Masonic Law , " nineteen rules , heretofore known as "landmarks , " were stricken out , and are , therefore , no longer a part of the Constitution .

A clause , in section 46 , giving lodges power to exempt the Secretary , Chaplain , and Tyler from payment of dues , was stricken out , thus placing these officers on a footing with all the brethren .

A clause was insetted directing the compensation of the Grand Treasurer , Grand Secretary , Grand Lecturer , Grand Pursuivant , and Grantl Tyler , to be fixed before they , or either of them , are elected or appointed , and not to be altered at any time so as to affect the incumbent in office .

An amendment , by R . AV . Enoch P . Breed , empowering a lodge to disfranchise a member who has not paid his dues , was adopted . The Grand Lodge was then called off until 9 a . m . next morning , when

The Grand Lodge again assembled at the appointed hour , the M . AV . Grand Matter on the throne . Prayer was offered by the R . AV . and Rev . John G . AVebster , of Palmyra . The committee on exemplification of the work were directed to meet in Kane Lod ge-rooms this

morning at 9 o clock . The Grand Secretary announced that he had a check for 767 . 62 dols . from Holland Lodge , No . 8 , which with 1 , 350 dols . alread y handedim by individual members makes a total from . ' that lodge of 2 , 117 . 62 dols . for the Hall and ! Asylum Fund .

Ihe amendments to the constitution were then declared in order , and M . AV . James Gibson commenced to read the sections from where he left off the evening before . To the section reading thus : "A warrant of a lodge can only be surrendered b y a vote of

two-thirds of the members present at a stated communication duly summoned , with notice of the proposed surrender stated in the summons , which vote shall have been previousl y called for upon the written request of at least two-thirds of the members of the lodge , " the following

amendment was added . " Provided , That a warrant cannot be surrendered if seven qualified members vote to retain it . On reading the qualifications for membership , the clause conferring such by affiliation was made to read thus : " But no Master Mason shall become a member of a lodge other

thanthat in which , or at the request , or upon thc consent of which he received the third degree , unless it shall appear b y certificate from a regular lodge that he is non-affiliated , and that he is not indebted to any lod « -e , for dues or assessments , and that there are no ' charges for unmasonic conduct pemlin" against h ,, IOC im .

An animated debate took place upon a motion to strike out the following section , the motion being made b y AV . L . J . fieiloiii , Jr .. of Alcana Lodge : " An unaffiliated Mason " shall not be allowed to visit any lodge , or join in a Masonic procession , or receive Masonic relief or burial . " The motion to strike out was lost .

An amendment was then offered to strike out tlie word " or" after tlie word " procession , " and insert instead the words , " and . shall not he entitled to . " This was also lost ; but an amendment to allow an unalliliaied Ma-on to visit a lod ge once onl y was adopted by the committee , but was rejected Jjy the Grand l . otl ^ e . ¦ Section tot , which is as follows , was taken up : —