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Grand Mark Lodge.
Hervey , Grand Secretary of Grand Craft Lodge , they found the same course would have been taken if a similar dispute had arisen in Craft Mastmry . He thought it was a very great grievance to private lodges to be asked to pay
fees for work done when that work was never done ; and he was glad to see so many Provincial Grand Masters present to hear what he was saying . The Prov . Grand Masters from the colonies were not concerned in the question of
raising the fees ; but unfortunately Provincial Grand Lodges in the colonies did not meet so regularly as they might . This was not the case with the home Provincial Grand Lodges , for the Provincial Grand Masters were very diligent in
holding their lodges regularly , but it would be a great boon if they were held at stated times , and a great stimulus to Provincial Grand Masters . He brought forward his motion because he thought the matter contained in it was a fair
subject for discussion , and he would be very glad to see it passed . They would simply assert the principle that they would not ask persons to pay for a thing which had not happened , which ought to have been done but had not been done .
Bro . Thomas Meggy seconded the motion . Bro . the Rev . John Huyshe , said : he had been 25 years a Provincial Grand Master and had never on one occasion omitted to hold a Grand Lodge .
Carried unanimously , without discussion . The festival jewels were then presented by Earl of Limerick to the Stewards . The names of the brethren were Major J . Tanner Davy , Prov . Grand Master for Devonshire ; Ed . Thos .
Inskip , J . G . D ; T . W . Coffin , G . Sword-bearer ; H . W . Binckes , Assist . G . Sec ; R . H . Thrupp , P . P . S . W ., Middlesex and Surrey , and Brothers
Entwisle , Macher , Sugg and Trigg . Bro . F . Binckes announced that he had received letters of apology for non-attendance from numerous brethren .
There was one ommission he had made which he would immediately supply . He had just received a letter from Grand Treasurer stating that he was suffering from severe indisposition and would be unable to
attend . In his stead , therefore , he ( Bro . Binckes ) would read the statement of accounts . RECEIPTS . Balance from last account - - ^ 441 4 6 Receipts for 6 months to 3 rd December , 1 S 73 309 15 2
750 19 S Expenditure - - - 415 4 6 Balance - - - - 335 15 2
FUND Of DENEVOLKXCE . Balance from last account - - jQi $ 8 5 Donations 115 14 6 Half year ' s interest to July - - 7 82
135 11 1 Disbursements ( one petitioner ) 300 135 n ! Reduced by the purch-ise of an-• other Canadian Bond - - *¦ 106 10 o £ ? 9 1 T
The report was received on the mution of Bro . F . Davison , seconded by Bro . Collin . Col . Burdett said : that as it had been unanimously agreed that the Benevolent Fund Festival should be held on a fixed day in every
year , he would give notice that that day should be the 15 th July , the third Wednesday . Of course it would be competent to the Board to alter the day . Bro . C . Horsley thought that at the same
time that they were considering the day they might nane the place . Bro . F . Binckes said : Bro . Horsley should remember that the festival was managed by
Stewards , and it would be curtailing their privileges if they were so interfered with . Bro . Inskip would suggest that it should be held at one or other of the Masonic Institutions
Grand Mark Lodge.
where the inmates would be very glad to see the brethren . It might also be profitable to such Institution . Bro . Binckes replied that as Secretary of one of those Institutions , although they had a very fine building at Wood Green , they could not
accommodate the Mark Benevolent Fund . Grand Lodge was then closed . A grand banquet was afterwards partaken of , at which the Rev . G . R . Portal , P . G . M ., presided . After the cloth had been cleared grace was sung and the toasts were proposed .
The toast of "The Queen and Mark Masonry " having been disposed of the acting Grand Master in proposing " The Health of the Grand Master " said he was sorry his lordship was not sufficiently well to have presided in Grand Lodge . He was far away in the north of England , but
Grand Secretary could inform them that nevertheless Grand Lodge business was never at a standstill on that account . The Rev . John Huyshe proposed " The Health of the acting Grand Master . " He did not mean to sayJone word against the other Past
Grand Masters who were all well deserving of the highest regard and esteem ; but he had no hesitation in saying that among them all there was no one who deserved so especially the brethren ' s esteem as his most excellent friend
who now sat in the chair . Out of all the Grand Mark Masters there was not one who had done so much for Mark Masonry as he , and he ( Bro . Huyshe ) could only hope that others would follow his example .
The Rev . G . R . Portal said he should be the most ungrateful of men if he failed even to be present in Grand Lodge when his presence might be useful to the brethren who had supported him so cordially during his term of office and whose support he looked for during many
years to come . He believed they had done right that night by increasing the fees for certificates , for this reason , that they would be enabled to have the appearance of more importance by larger and better offices . As in private life a man ' s respectability derived no little aid from
the respectability of the house he lived in , so would Mark Grand Lodge be aided in its respectability by the premises it occupied . They were about to have a handsome suite of rooms where lodges might be held at a merely nominal price , where every facility would be afforded
except the facility of getting refreshment . Ultimately he hoped they would have a name ancl habitation of their own , which could only be done by investing capital , and they might put by , £ 100 a year for that purpose , private lodges would not then be the losers by the increase in the fees .
'Ihe Rev . G . R . Portal then proposed "The Past Grand Masters , " and apologised for the absence of Earl Limerick from the table , which was caused by considerable ill-health . He congratulated Grand Lodge on having obtained the adhesion of the last of the Mark lodges
working under the Scotch Constitution . This lodge was held at Bristol in Lord Limerick ' s own province , ancl that very morning the Grand Master ' s warrant had been sent there . The adhesion of this Lodge was greatly due to Lord Limerick . He would connect with this toast
the name of the Grand Secretary who had the rank of Past Junior Grand Warden . The Mark degree was most fortunate in having so hardworking a body of officers as it had ; but he attributed that to the way in which the Grand
Lodge appointments were made . Brethren instead of being chosen for ornamental or honorary reasons they were selected according as they had shewn their zeal for the Order by their hard work .
Bro . F . Binckes , in responding , said ; I speak with the almost sincerity regarded from either point of view when I say , Most Worshipful Grand Master , that 1 rise to respond to the toast you have just now so kindly given , with mingled
feelings of regret and of pride—with regret that by unquestionably the accident of circumstances over which , no doubt , not one of those distinguished brethren had any control , no one more qualified to respond to this toast is present than myself ;—with pride that I have been singled
Grand Mark Lodge.
out by the position I hold to have my name coupled with the toast which has just been recommended for the brethren's reception by the Grand Master . And that pride is not diminished when I know ancl feel that by the exercise of the perogative vested in our Grand Master , he
chose to single me out for a distinguished honour , which I shall value as long as life is spared to me ; by which perogative I am the senior Past Grand Officer present . I look around this room , and I look at the meeting we had upstairs , and I say that the position I occupy is one which
any man might may be proud of , that many men may envy perhaps , and that all may indulge in the hope they may arrive at . The gist of our Most Worshipful Grand Master ' s observations was this , that hard and persevering work will ensure to every man , no matter what his station , a great and honourable reward . I am
satisfied that we have had at the head of this Order no Grand Master who would ever distribute his honours wantonly or without due consideration , but who has always made it his earnest study to give to all matters his best consideration , to see where merit could be found . When that merit has been found it has always been rewarded .
Now , my observations as far as this goes do not apply to myself , for I know I owe a great deal to the kindness of the brother who has presided over us as Grand Master to-night ; but there was one special occasion when his firmness and gentleness were of immeasurable value . His
kindness I shall never forget , and he thought me worthy of the high honour which I now hold . I cannot surely be deemed guilty of egotism in acknowledging this kindness of our Grand Master , or of pride in saying how gratefully I bear the honour that distinguished brother has
bestowed on me , and surely if my position to-night is an accidental one , no brother , however distinguished , will envy me . In Grand Mark Lodge we have no undue influences brought to bear on these appointments . In our Grand Mark Lodge merit , work , labour , zeal , exertion ,
are the simple passports to our highest honours . Let us always bear this in mind . We see it and know it . It is practically brought to bear upon us year by year , as our Grand Masters succeed each other . If this continue to be the case , and this is understood , wc never can fail
to have a large number of brethren duly qualified ; ancl those brethren when appointed , duly sensible of the honours conferred upon them . I look round this table to-night—I speak on behalf of a large number of distinguished brethren—and I see brethren who , if I speak dispassionately ,
by the work they have done for the degree have no honour which they have not deserved . But I feel sure their services have been cheerfully rendered , and they have earned for themselves the honours they bear upon their breasts , and the orders they wear on the clothing that adorns
them . They have been rewarded to a certain extent for the duties they have performed , and if they know within themselves they have earned by their own work those distinctions , so much the more qualified must they be to take part in the working of Grand Lodge than those who have
been elevated by the exercise of caprice or favour . On behalf of Deputy Grand Master , whose absence we so much regret , but whose services wc must acknowledge for the way in which he discharged his duties upstairs—for I know I shall be confirmed by you when 1 say 1 never saw a meeting
presided over with more firmness on the one hand , and consideration on the other , when one little slight step might have created a great difficulty . 1 beg to thank you . I think we ought to be very proud of our Grand Mark Masters . 1 will take our acting Grand Master to-night ,
Lord Limerick , as a fair sample of what our Gtand Master's have been , what our Grand Master is and what our Grand Masters will be , ancl what the Grand Officers present and past are . It is a unanimous opinion that the Mark
Grand Lodge is the model body as regards Masonic legislation ancl Masonic working . We made at one time a protest , and we said to another body we would endeavour to make one of our own . With what success have wc done it ? With 7 , 000 enrolled Mark Masons on our
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Mark Lodge.
Hervey , Grand Secretary of Grand Craft Lodge , they found the same course would have been taken if a similar dispute had arisen in Craft Mastmry . He thought it was a very great grievance to private lodges to be asked to pay
fees for work done when that work was never done ; and he was glad to see so many Provincial Grand Masters present to hear what he was saying . The Prov . Grand Masters from the colonies were not concerned in the question of
raising the fees ; but unfortunately Provincial Grand Lodges in the colonies did not meet so regularly as they might . This was not the case with the home Provincial Grand Lodges , for the Provincial Grand Masters were very diligent in
holding their lodges regularly , but it would be a great boon if they were held at stated times , and a great stimulus to Provincial Grand Masters . He brought forward his motion because he thought the matter contained in it was a fair
subject for discussion , and he would be very glad to see it passed . They would simply assert the principle that they would not ask persons to pay for a thing which had not happened , which ought to have been done but had not been done .
Bro . Thomas Meggy seconded the motion . Bro . the Rev . John Huyshe , said : he had been 25 years a Provincial Grand Master and had never on one occasion omitted to hold a Grand Lodge .
Carried unanimously , without discussion . The festival jewels were then presented by Earl of Limerick to the Stewards . The names of the brethren were Major J . Tanner Davy , Prov . Grand Master for Devonshire ; Ed . Thos .
Inskip , J . G . D ; T . W . Coffin , G . Sword-bearer ; H . W . Binckes , Assist . G . Sec ; R . H . Thrupp , P . P . S . W ., Middlesex and Surrey , and Brothers
Entwisle , Macher , Sugg and Trigg . Bro . F . Binckes announced that he had received letters of apology for non-attendance from numerous brethren .
There was one ommission he had made which he would immediately supply . He had just received a letter from Grand Treasurer stating that he was suffering from severe indisposition and would be unable to
attend . In his stead , therefore , he ( Bro . Binckes ) would read the statement of accounts . RECEIPTS . Balance from last account - - ^ 441 4 6 Receipts for 6 months to 3 rd December , 1 S 73 309 15 2
750 19 S Expenditure - - - 415 4 6 Balance - - - - 335 15 2
FUND Of DENEVOLKXCE . Balance from last account - - jQi $ 8 5 Donations 115 14 6 Half year ' s interest to July - - 7 82
135 11 1 Disbursements ( one petitioner ) 300 135 n ! Reduced by the purch-ise of an-• other Canadian Bond - - *¦ 106 10 o £ ? 9 1 T
The report was received on the mution of Bro . F . Davison , seconded by Bro . Collin . Col . Burdett said : that as it had been unanimously agreed that the Benevolent Fund Festival should be held on a fixed day in every
year , he would give notice that that day should be the 15 th July , the third Wednesday . Of course it would be competent to the Board to alter the day . Bro . C . Horsley thought that at the same
time that they were considering the day they might nane the place . Bro . F . Binckes said : Bro . Horsley should remember that the festival was managed by
Stewards , and it would be curtailing their privileges if they were so interfered with . Bro . Inskip would suggest that it should be held at one or other of the Masonic Institutions
Grand Mark Lodge.
where the inmates would be very glad to see the brethren . It might also be profitable to such Institution . Bro . Binckes replied that as Secretary of one of those Institutions , although they had a very fine building at Wood Green , they could not
accommodate the Mark Benevolent Fund . Grand Lodge was then closed . A grand banquet was afterwards partaken of , at which the Rev . G . R . Portal , P . G . M ., presided . After the cloth had been cleared grace was sung and the toasts were proposed .
The toast of "The Queen and Mark Masonry " having been disposed of the acting Grand Master in proposing " The Health of the Grand Master " said he was sorry his lordship was not sufficiently well to have presided in Grand Lodge . He was far away in the north of England , but
Grand Secretary could inform them that nevertheless Grand Lodge business was never at a standstill on that account . The Rev . John Huyshe proposed " The Health of the acting Grand Master . " He did not mean to sayJone word against the other Past
Grand Masters who were all well deserving of the highest regard and esteem ; but he had no hesitation in saying that among them all there was no one who deserved so especially the brethren ' s esteem as his most excellent friend
who now sat in the chair . Out of all the Grand Mark Masters there was not one who had done so much for Mark Masonry as he , and he ( Bro . Huyshe ) could only hope that others would follow his example .
The Rev . G . R . Portal said he should be the most ungrateful of men if he failed even to be present in Grand Lodge when his presence might be useful to the brethren who had supported him so cordially during his term of office and whose support he looked for during many
years to come . He believed they had done right that night by increasing the fees for certificates , for this reason , that they would be enabled to have the appearance of more importance by larger and better offices . As in private life a man ' s respectability derived no little aid from
the respectability of the house he lived in , so would Mark Grand Lodge be aided in its respectability by the premises it occupied . They were about to have a handsome suite of rooms where lodges might be held at a merely nominal price , where every facility would be afforded
except the facility of getting refreshment . Ultimately he hoped they would have a name ancl habitation of their own , which could only be done by investing capital , and they might put by , £ 100 a year for that purpose , private lodges would not then be the losers by the increase in the fees .
'Ihe Rev . G . R . Portal then proposed "The Past Grand Masters , " and apologised for the absence of Earl Limerick from the table , which was caused by considerable ill-health . He congratulated Grand Lodge on having obtained the adhesion of the last of the Mark lodges
working under the Scotch Constitution . This lodge was held at Bristol in Lord Limerick ' s own province , ancl that very morning the Grand Master ' s warrant had been sent there . The adhesion of this Lodge was greatly due to Lord Limerick . He would connect with this toast
the name of the Grand Secretary who had the rank of Past Junior Grand Warden . The Mark degree was most fortunate in having so hardworking a body of officers as it had ; but he attributed that to the way in which the Grand
Lodge appointments were made . Brethren instead of being chosen for ornamental or honorary reasons they were selected according as they had shewn their zeal for the Order by their hard work .
Bro . F . Binckes , in responding , said ; I speak with the almost sincerity regarded from either point of view when I say , Most Worshipful Grand Master , that 1 rise to respond to the toast you have just now so kindly given , with mingled
feelings of regret and of pride—with regret that by unquestionably the accident of circumstances over which , no doubt , not one of those distinguished brethren had any control , no one more qualified to respond to this toast is present than myself ;—with pride that I have been singled
Grand Mark Lodge.
out by the position I hold to have my name coupled with the toast which has just been recommended for the brethren's reception by the Grand Master . And that pride is not diminished when I know ancl feel that by the exercise of the perogative vested in our Grand Master , he
chose to single me out for a distinguished honour , which I shall value as long as life is spared to me ; by which perogative I am the senior Past Grand Officer present . I look around this room , and I look at the meeting we had upstairs , and I say that the position I occupy is one which
any man might may be proud of , that many men may envy perhaps , and that all may indulge in the hope they may arrive at . The gist of our Most Worshipful Grand Master ' s observations was this , that hard and persevering work will ensure to every man , no matter what his station , a great and honourable reward . I am
satisfied that we have had at the head of this Order no Grand Master who would ever distribute his honours wantonly or without due consideration , but who has always made it his earnest study to give to all matters his best consideration , to see where merit could be found . When that merit has been found it has always been rewarded .
Now , my observations as far as this goes do not apply to myself , for I know I owe a great deal to the kindness of the brother who has presided over us as Grand Master to-night ; but there was one special occasion when his firmness and gentleness were of immeasurable value . His
kindness I shall never forget , and he thought me worthy of the high honour which I now hold . I cannot surely be deemed guilty of egotism in acknowledging this kindness of our Grand Master , or of pride in saying how gratefully I bear the honour that distinguished brother has
bestowed on me , and surely if my position to-night is an accidental one , no brother , however distinguished , will envy me . In Grand Mark Lodge we have no undue influences brought to bear on these appointments . In our Grand Mark Lodge merit , work , labour , zeal , exertion ,
are the simple passports to our highest honours . Let us always bear this in mind . We see it and know it . It is practically brought to bear upon us year by year , as our Grand Masters succeed each other . If this continue to be the case , and this is understood , wc never can fail
to have a large number of brethren duly qualified ; ancl those brethren when appointed , duly sensible of the honours conferred upon them . I look round this table to-night—I speak on behalf of a large number of distinguished brethren—and I see brethren who , if I speak dispassionately ,
by the work they have done for the degree have no honour which they have not deserved . But I feel sure their services have been cheerfully rendered , and they have earned for themselves the honours they bear upon their breasts , and the orders they wear on the clothing that adorns
them . They have been rewarded to a certain extent for the duties they have performed , and if they know within themselves they have earned by their own work those distinctions , so much the more qualified must they be to take part in the working of Grand Lodge than those who have
been elevated by the exercise of caprice or favour . On behalf of Deputy Grand Master , whose absence we so much regret , but whose services wc must acknowledge for the way in which he discharged his duties upstairs—for I know I shall be confirmed by you when 1 say 1 never saw a meeting
presided over with more firmness on the one hand , and consideration on the other , when one little slight step might have created a great difficulty . 1 beg to thank you . I think we ought to be very proud of our Grand Mark Masters . 1 will take our acting Grand Master to-night ,
Lord Limerick , as a fair sample of what our Gtand Master's have been , what our Grand Master is and what our Grand Masters will be , ancl what the Grand Officers present and past are . It is a unanimous opinion that the Mark
Grand Lodge is the model body as regards Masonic legislation ancl Masonic working . We made at one time a protest , and we said to another body we would endeavour to make one of our own . With what success have wc done it ? With 7 , 000 enrolled Mark Masons on our