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    Article HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. ← Page 2 of 2
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Page 7

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

tions "be respectfull y submitted to the Governors and Subscribers and to the Lodges in General , and that they be requested to co-operate with the Committee in rescuing it from its present difficulties . " We have seen that an almost equall y urgent appeal had been successfully made only two years before , but on this occasion thc circumstances were less favourable , while a greater amount of ground hacl to be made good . And as though there were

not enough to harass the minds of the well-wishers of the Chanty , an unforeseen difficulty occurred in filling Bro . Lindo ' s place . At the Special General Meeting on the ioth February , 1 S 23 , Bro . Ramsbottom , M . P ., P . G . S . W ., was elected Treasurer , but at the Quarterly Meeting on 7 th April a letter was read from liim to the Secretary , in which he explained the impossibility of his undertaking the office , and another Special Meeting was held on the

251 I 1 of the same month , when on the motion of Sir F . G . Fowke , Bart ., P . G . S . W ., seconded by the Hon . Washington Shirley , Bro . Frederick Win . Pott was unanimously elected Treasurer . Meantime , the Committee had evidently determined upon being cautious . In June , we read " It was resolved ( after mature consideration ) that if the Receipts at the ensuing Festival should amount to £ 300 , the number of children at present on the

establishment should be increased to 50 at the Quarterly Meeting in July , but if that sum be not collected then that no election should'take place until January next . " The proceedings of the Committee on this occasion , when they were submitted for confirmation at the said Quarterly Meeting on 7 th July , appear to have been neither confirmed nor rescinded , nor are wc vouchsafed any information as to the amount raised at the festival , but we infer

it must have becn an appreciable sum , as , notwithstanding the opposition ofthe Hon . W . Shirley , who proposed that only 12 candidates should be elected , thc number placed on the establishment was 17 from a reduced list of 41 candidates . At the same meeting a Special Committee consisting of Bros . F . VV . Pott ( Treasurer ) , R . F . Mestayer , James Agar , Sir F . G . Fowke , Bart ., Benjamin Rouse , W . H . White , Edwards Harper , W . H .

Thisclton , and Wm . Harris—three to form a quorum—was appointed to revise the Bye-Laws and to suggest such alterations and amendments as might seem necessary and report them to a general meeting . In September the Secretary announced his intention of retiring , and in October tendered his resignation , which was accepted , and arrangements were made for thc election of his successor on the third Tuesday in November , the salary to be attached

to the oflice being £ 40 per annum . Owing , however , to a suggestion thrown out by thc Duke of Sussex that the election should nol take place till all the Governors had received notice , the Special Meeting for the purpose was not held till the ist December , when Bro . Thomas J . Jackson was elected over Bro . Moxon by 172 votes to 20 . At the same meeting the resignation of Bro . Aldhousc , as Collector , on account of his advanced age , was accepted ,

and he was allowed a pension of £ 6 6 s . as well as a salary of _ £ io ios . a year for the services he would still continue to render as messenger . At the Committee Meeting held on thc 15 th of thc same month steps . were taken to remedy certain irregularities "which had occurred * ' in thc removal of the children in the Institution from the schools in which they were originally ' placed , " in consequence of which a correct account of thc boys could not

be procured without an investigation . Al the Quarterly Meeting held on 5 th January , 1824 , the office of Collector was filled up , there being two candidates , Messrs . Cooper and Soley , ' of whom the former was elected by 118 votes to 65 cast for his opponent . It was also unanimously resolved "that the thanks of this Quarterly Meeting be and are hereby given to Bro . William Hancock for the very able , faithful , and zealous manner in which

hc has fulfilled thc duties of the situation of Secretary to this Institution for a period of iS years , " and also " that a copy of this resolution , when fairly transcribed , be presented to Bro . Hancock . " In July , when eleven children were elected from a list of 43 candidates , a very sensible resolution was adopted , to the effect " that prior to the monthly meeting next but one preceding each election a letter shall be addressed to thc Parents or Relatives of each candidate to inform them of the day of election and to inquire

whether any . alteration has occurred in their situation or circumstances , and lhat answers to such letters be laid before the said Committee ; and in case the ' parties to whom such letters arc addressed cannot be found that thc name of the candidate be struck out of the list . " In October , Bros . Ramsbottom , M . P ., and James Agar , were elected Trustees in place of Bros , Gill and Scott , deceased , and in the following January , Bro . Pott resigned the Treasurership , undertaking , however , to continue the duties until a successor had been-chosen . Bro . Pott ' s tenure of the office had been a brief

one , but he had been personally most attentive to thc interests of thc Charity , and it is not surprising therefore lhat the Governors and Subscribers should have unanimously resolved "That the resignation of Brother Pott be accepted with every feeling of regret , respect , and gratitude towards him for the great and strenuous exertions which he has made for the general interests of the Charity , and that thc thanks of this General Meeting be . riven

to him for the same . In April a new Treasurer was found in the person of Bro . Benjamin Rouse , who was elected over Bro . William Harris by 14 to 11 votes . In July nine children were elected , one of them being the son of a Life Governor and Past Master of several lodges , who had been overtaken by misfortune and was thus compelled to seek help from a Charity hc had assisted when in affluent circumstances . In September a letter was

received from Bro . I . J . H . Coe , as President of the Nore Executive Committee , enclosing a cheque for £ 68 os . Sd ., being the proceeds of the first of a long and highly profitable series of excursions made for the express purpose of benefiting the Charity . As a matter of course , so useful a contribution was not allowed to pass unrecognised , and a cordial vole of thanks was passed to the President , Treasurer , and members of the Excursion Committee . In ¦

October , it was agreed " that the Treasurer of this Institution for the time being shall , if present , take the chair at all meetings of the Charity , unless ' One of the Patrons of the Institution be present , in which case the chair shall be first offered to each Patron . '" lt was also determined that the byelaws of the Institution should undergo revision , and that Bros . Lythgoe , Pott , Rouse , Mestayer , Agar , White , U . S ., Edwards Harper , G . S ., Coe , and

Humphreys should be a Committee for the purpose of carrying out the revision . In January , 1826 , this Committee handed in their report , which was approved subject to confirmation by the next quarterly meeting , and a vole of thanks ' was unanimously recorded to Bro . Lythgoe for the "pains and trouble" hc had taken in drawing it up . In March , after a slill briefer tenure of the office than his predecessor , Bro . Rouse sent in his resignation ,

and it was resolved that the resignation of Bro . Rouse . be accepted with every expression of regret at his loss , and thai the Committee feel hi ghly sensible of thc services which he had rendered the Institution since hc accepted the office of Treasurer . It was also resolved—and we can well understand that in the dismay caused by two successive resignations of the office within three years such a step would seem advisable to the Com-. mittec—that Bros . Rouse , Lythgoe , and Sattcrley should be a deputation "to

History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

wait upon such individuals respectivel y of rank and consequence in Masonry as they may think proper , to solicit an acceptance of the office of Treasurer of this Institution . " . It may not-have been altogether the most dignified course to pursue , this going about , as it were , "informa pauperis , " soliciting the help and countenance oi a brother of rank and weight in Masonry ; but it will be seen a . little later on that there was a very sufficient reason for the

adoption of this course , though we confess we think this might have been done without mviling the recommendation of the Grand Master . For the Governors and Subscribers to go thus far was tantamount to their sacrificing altogether the independence of their position as the governing body of the Institution , and we are strongl y inclined lo believe that thc healthy progress of the Charity was materially delayed by their thus placinsr themselves .

almost helplessly , under the thumb of his Royal Highness . ' No'doubt thc Grand Master was a large-hearted supporter of this , as of all our Charities , and was most anxious for its welfare ; but hc was likewise most tenacious , even to obstinacy , of his opinions , and , as we shall see in more instances than one , was very chary of countenancing suggestions which did not originate with himself . But of this anon . The question who ' was to be the next

Treasurer was referred to his Royal Highness , who was requested to nominate a gentleman for the office , the result of these preliminary negotiations being made apparent at the Special Grand Meeting held on Ihe iSth April , when Bro . Thomas Moore was unanimouly elected to the vacant post . The only intermediate events worth recording are the election of a new Collector , Bro . George Paradice , and the adoption of certain tentative measures in

connection with the Festivals of the Institution , wilh a view to recovering for them a greater and more regular increase of success . To this end it was proposed that circulars should be addressed to the several lodges , requesting them to appoint Stewards for the ensuing Anniversary , and also that the list of Stewards should be made known every year at the General Meeting in January , so that there mi ght be ample time for completing it , as well as for organising the necessary arrangements for thc celebration ' .

m CHA PTER VI . THE TREASURERSHIP or BRO . THOMAS MOORK , 1826—1 S 41 . We are not allowed to remain long in the dark as to the circumstances which had had the effect of inducing- Bros . Poll and Rouse to resign thc charge which had been successively entrusted to them . Bro . Aloore took his seat , and fulfilled the preliminary obligations of his office on the ist May , and at the Quarterly General Meeting in July Bro . Rouse rose in his nlace

and distinctly charged thc Secretary with a general course of misconduct , but more particularly with having retained in his possession thc sum of £ 20 2 s . after he had bcen ordered to pay it over to the new Treasurer . Bro . Jackson admitted the charge ; but pleaded poverty and unforeseen losses in extenuation of his conduct , and in tendering his resignation threw himself unreservedly on thc mercy of the Court . Thc resi gnation was accepted , Bro .

Jackson was ordered to hand over all books and papers to Bro . Moore , and thc quarter ' s salary due to him was retained towards making good his defalcations . Moreover , a Committee , consisting of the Treasurer and Bros . Rouse ( Past Treasurer ) , T . R . Smith . 'Lythgoe , Mestayer , and Finlaison , was appointed to inquire into thc duties and emoluments of thc office of Secretary , and to report any improvements they might deem nccessarv to a

Special General Meeting . I his Meeting was held on thc 4 th September , when the Treasurer having reported that the late Secretary had handed over to him most , but not all , of his books and papers , without , however , satisfying-his pecuniary liabilities , thc Committee handed in a very exhaustive report , which will be found in the Appendix , and which clear ! v shows

how the falling off in the resources of the Institution had arisen . This report was accepted on thc motion of Bro . Past Treasurer Pott , while , on the motion of Bro . John Finlaison , who had kindly undertaken to act as Secretary in thc interval that must elapse before a new one could be appointed , thc following were added to thc Standing Orders and Regulations of thc Institution :

1 . That the Secretary give Bond in £ 100 with two Sureties . 2 . That no Candidate for thc office of Secretary shall be admitted to the ballot until his qualifications for the office and the sufficiency of his Sureties be approved by a Select Committee to be appointed previously to the election . 3 . That the Secretary do consider thc directions of the Treasurer to be imperative on him in all cases relative to the affairs of the Institution .

4 . lhat the Treasurer be entrusted with the power of suspending thc Secretary under thc circumstances and with the provisions specified in thc said report . 5 . That the Secretary be restrained from interfering or canvassing in elections , directl y or indirectly , and that hc be deprived of the privilege of voting at General and Committee Meetings . 0 . That the said Meetings be in future held at Freemasons' Tavern , agreeably to thc suggestion of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , and in conformity to the report of the Committee . '

7 . That the Treasurer be authorised to engage accommodation for the Secretary in some central situation , whereon , at least , one stated day in the week he may be constantly found by all persons having business to transact with the Institution during certain hours to be named by the Treasurer . Thc arrangements for the election of a new Secretary were then made , and a Committee appointed for the purpose of examining into the quali - cations of the different candidates , the result being that Bro . Aug . U .

Thiselton was chosen out of the five candidates by a large majority of vote ' s , Bro . XV . Farnfield , who afterwards became Secretary , first of the Asylum for Decayed Freemasons and afterwards of the Annuity Fund , being one of his opponents . A cordial vote of thanks to Bro . hinlaison was also passed unanimously , and having been inscribed on vellum was personall y presented to that worthy brother at the Quarterl y Meeting in October . The following is the text of this complimentary vote :

At a Special General Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Charity for Educating , Clothing , and Apprenticing the Sons of Indigent and Deceased Freemasons , held at the Freemasons' Tavern , London , on Monday , the 4 th day of September , 1826 / Thomas Moore Esq ., in the chair / Treasurer .

Impressed with a deep sense of the important services rendered by J FINLAISON , ESQUIRE , , in thc voluntary discharge of thc duties of Secretary , pro tempore . By the exertion of his great talent in investigating and restoring to order the Accounts and affairs of the Charity and by his active co-operation with the 'Treasurer in

the proper placing of the objects of the Institution . THIS MEETING request that ( next to the lasting approbation of his own heart ) he will accept their best thanks for his gratuitous and highly meritorious services in the cause of this most interesting and useful Charity , and for his great zeal and exertions to promote and render permanent the best objects of an Institution upon which depends the future welfare of a large portion of the rising generation . ( To be continued ) .

“The Freemason: 1884-06-07, Page 7” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 15 Aug. 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_07061884/page/7/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
CONTENTS.. Article 1
Untitled Article 1
UNITED GRAND LODGE. Article 2
GRAND MARK LODGE. Article 3
CONSECRATION OF THE LODGE OF KING SOLOMON, No. 2029. Article 5
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Article 6
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 9
Untitled Ad 9
Untitled Ad 9
Untitled Ad 9
Untitled Ad 9
To Correspondents. Article 9
Untitled Article 9
Original Correspondence. Article 9
Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 9
RESUSCITATION OF THE MARK LODGE, No. 4, M.M.M. Article 9
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE. Article 9
Australia. Article 10
PRESENTATION TO BRO. G. DAVIS, P.M., PRECEPTOR 1642. Article 11
THE POPE'S ENCYCLICAL LETTER "DE SECTA MASSONUM." Article 11
MASONIC FUNERAL: Article 11
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 12
INSTRUCTION. Article 13
Royal Arch. Article 13
Mark Masonry. Article 13
Obituary. Article 13
Birth, Marriage, and Deaths. Article 13
MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS Article 14
THE THEATRES. Article 14
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

tions "be respectfull y submitted to the Governors and Subscribers and to the Lodges in General , and that they be requested to co-operate with the Committee in rescuing it from its present difficulties . " We have seen that an almost equall y urgent appeal had been successfully made only two years before , but on this occasion thc circumstances were less favourable , while a greater amount of ground hacl to be made good . And as though there were

not enough to harass the minds of the well-wishers of the Chanty , an unforeseen difficulty occurred in filling Bro . Lindo ' s place . At the Special General Meeting on the ioth February , 1 S 23 , Bro . Ramsbottom , M . P ., P . G . S . W ., was elected Treasurer , but at the Quarterly Meeting on 7 th April a letter was read from liim to the Secretary , in which he explained the impossibility of his undertaking the office , and another Special Meeting was held on the

251 I 1 of the same month , when on the motion of Sir F . G . Fowke , Bart ., P . G . S . W ., seconded by the Hon . Washington Shirley , Bro . Frederick Win . Pott was unanimously elected Treasurer . Meantime , the Committee had evidently determined upon being cautious . In June , we read " It was resolved ( after mature consideration ) that if the Receipts at the ensuing Festival should amount to £ 300 , the number of children at present on the

establishment should be increased to 50 at the Quarterly Meeting in July , but if that sum be not collected then that no election should'take place until January next . " The proceedings of the Committee on this occasion , when they were submitted for confirmation at the said Quarterly Meeting on 7 th July , appear to have been neither confirmed nor rescinded , nor are wc vouchsafed any information as to the amount raised at the festival , but we infer

it must have becn an appreciable sum , as , notwithstanding the opposition ofthe Hon . W . Shirley , who proposed that only 12 candidates should be elected , thc number placed on the establishment was 17 from a reduced list of 41 candidates . At the same meeting a Special Committee consisting of Bros . F . VV . Pott ( Treasurer ) , R . F . Mestayer , James Agar , Sir F . G . Fowke , Bart ., Benjamin Rouse , W . H . White , Edwards Harper , W . H .

Thisclton , and Wm . Harris—three to form a quorum—was appointed to revise the Bye-Laws and to suggest such alterations and amendments as might seem necessary and report them to a general meeting . In September the Secretary announced his intention of retiring , and in October tendered his resignation , which was accepted , and arrangements were made for thc election of his successor on the third Tuesday in November , the salary to be attached

to the oflice being £ 40 per annum . Owing , however , to a suggestion thrown out by thc Duke of Sussex that the election should nol take place till all the Governors had received notice , the Special Meeting for the purpose was not held till the ist December , when Bro . Thomas J . Jackson was elected over Bro . Moxon by 172 votes to 20 . At the same meeting the resignation of Bro . Aldhousc , as Collector , on account of his advanced age , was accepted ,

and he was allowed a pension of £ 6 6 s . as well as a salary of _ £ io ios . a year for the services he would still continue to render as messenger . At the Committee Meeting held on thc 15 th of thc same month steps . were taken to remedy certain irregularities "which had occurred * ' in thc removal of the children in the Institution from the schools in which they were originally ' placed , " in consequence of which a correct account of thc boys could not

be procured without an investigation . Al the Quarterly Meeting held on 5 th January , 1824 , the office of Collector was filled up , there being two candidates , Messrs . Cooper and Soley , ' of whom the former was elected by 118 votes to 65 cast for his opponent . It was also unanimously resolved "that the thanks of this Quarterly Meeting be and are hereby given to Bro . William Hancock for the very able , faithful , and zealous manner in which

hc has fulfilled thc duties of the situation of Secretary to this Institution for a period of iS years , " and also " that a copy of this resolution , when fairly transcribed , be presented to Bro . Hancock . " In July , when eleven children were elected from a list of 43 candidates , a very sensible resolution was adopted , to the effect " that prior to the monthly meeting next but one preceding each election a letter shall be addressed to thc Parents or Relatives of each candidate to inform them of the day of election and to inquire

whether any . alteration has occurred in their situation or circumstances , and lhat answers to such letters be laid before the said Committee ; and in case the ' parties to whom such letters arc addressed cannot be found that thc name of the candidate be struck out of the list . " In October , Bros . Ramsbottom , M . P ., and James Agar , were elected Trustees in place of Bros , Gill and Scott , deceased , and in the following January , Bro . Pott resigned the Treasurership , undertaking , however , to continue the duties until a successor had been-chosen . Bro . Pott ' s tenure of the office had been a brief

one , but he had been personally most attentive to thc interests of thc Charity , and it is not surprising therefore lhat the Governors and Subscribers should have unanimously resolved "That the resignation of Brother Pott be accepted with every feeling of regret , respect , and gratitude towards him for the great and strenuous exertions which he has made for the general interests of the Charity , and that thc thanks of this General Meeting be . riven

to him for the same . In April a new Treasurer was found in the person of Bro . Benjamin Rouse , who was elected over Bro . William Harris by 14 to 11 votes . In July nine children were elected , one of them being the son of a Life Governor and Past Master of several lodges , who had been overtaken by misfortune and was thus compelled to seek help from a Charity hc had assisted when in affluent circumstances . In September a letter was

received from Bro . I . J . H . Coe , as President of the Nore Executive Committee , enclosing a cheque for £ 68 os . Sd ., being the proceeds of the first of a long and highly profitable series of excursions made for the express purpose of benefiting the Charity . As a matter of course , so useful a contribution was not allowed to pass unrecognised , and a cordial vole of thanks was passed to the President , Treasurer , and members of the Excursion Committee . In ¦

October , it was agreed " that the Treasurer of this Institution for the time being shall , if present , take the chair at all meetings of the Charity , unless ' One of the Patrons of the Institution be present , in which case the chair shall be first offered to each Patron . '" lt was also determined that the byelaws of the Institution should undergo revision , and that Bros . Lythgoe , Pott , Rouse , Mestayer , Agar , White , U . S ., Edwards Harper , G . S ., Coe , and

Humphreys should be a Committee for the purpose of carrying out the revision . In January , 1826 , this Committee handed in their report , which was approved subject to confirmation by the next quarterly meeting , and a vole of thanks ' was unanimously recorded to Bro . Lythgoe for the "pains and trouble" hc had taken in drawing it up . In March , after a slill briefer tenure of the office than his predecessor , Bro . Rouse sent in his resignation ,

and it was resolved that the resignation of Bro . Rouse . be accepted with every expression of regret at his loss , and thai the Committee feel hi ghly sensible of thc services which he had rendered the Institution since hc accepted the office of Treasurer . It was also resolved—and we can well understand that in the dismay caused by two successive resignations of the office within three years such a step would seem advisable to the Com-. mittec—that Bros . Rouse , Lythgoe , and Sattcrley should be a deputation "to

History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

wait upon such individuals respectivel y of rank and consequence in Masonry as they may think proper , to solicit an acceptance of the office of Treasurer of this Institution . " . It may not-have been altogether the most dignified course to pursue , this going about , as it were , "informa pauperis , " soliciting the help and countenance oi a brother of rank and weight in Masonry ; but it will be seen a . little later on that there was a very sufficient reason for the

adoption of this course , though we confess we think this might have been done without mviling the recommendation of the Grand Master . For the Governors and Subscribers to go thus far was tantamount to their sacrificing altogether the independence of their position as the governing body of the Institution , and we are strongl y inclined lo believe that thc healthy progress of the Charity was materially delayed by their thus placinsr themselves .

almost helplessly , under the thumb of his Royal Highness . ' No'doubt thc Grand Master was a large-hearted supporter of this , as of all our Charities , and was most anxious for its welfare ; but hc was likewise most tenacious , even to obstinacy , of his opinions , and , as we shall see in more instances than one , was very chary of countenancing suggestions which did not originate with himself . But of this anon . The question who ' was to be the next

Treasurer was referred to his Royal Highness , who was requested to nominate a gentleman for the office , the result of these preliminary negotiations being made apparent at the Special Grand Meeting held on Ihe iSth April , when Bro . Thomas Moore was unanimouly elected to the vacant post . The only intermediate events worth recording are the election of a new Collector , Bro . George Paradice , and the adoption of certain tentative measures in

connection with the Festivals of the Institution , wilh a view to recovering for them a greater and more regular increase of success . To this end it was proposed that circulars should be addressed to the several lodges , requesting them to appoint Stewards for the ensuing Anniversary , and also that the list of Stewards should be made known every year at the General Meeting in January , so that there mi ght be ample time for completing it , as well as for organising the necessary arrangements for thc celebration ' .

m CHA PTER VI . THE TREASURERSHIP or BRO . THOMAS MOORK , 1826—1 S 41 . We are not allowed to remain long in the dark as to the circumstances which had had the effect of inducing- Bros . Poll and Rouse to resign thc charge which had been successively entrusted to them . Bro . Aloore took his seat , and fulfilled the preliminary obligations of his office on the ist May , and at the Quarterly General Meeting in July Bro . Rouse rose in his nlace

and distinctly charged thc Secretary with a general course of misconduct , but more particularly with having retained in his possession thc sum of £ 20 2 s . after he had bcen ordered to pay it over to the new Treasurer . Bro . Jackson admitted the charge ; but pleaded poverty and unforeseen losses in extenuation of his conduct , and in tendering his resignation threw himself unreservedly on thc mercy of the Court . Thc resi gnation was accepted , Bro .

Jackson was ordered to hand over all books and papers to Bro . Moore , and thc quarter ' s salary due to him was retained towards making good his defalcations . Moreover , a Committee , consisting of the Treasurer and Bros . Rouse ( Past Treasurer ) , T . R . Smith . 'Lythgoe , Mestayer , and Finlaison , was appointed to inquire into thc duties and emoluments of thc office of Secretary , and to report any improvements they might deem nccessarv to a

Special General Meeting . I his Meeting was held on thc 4 th September , when the Treasurer having reported that the late Secretary had handed over to him most , but not all , of his books and papers , without , however , satisfying-his pecuniary liabilities , thc Committee handed in a very exhaustive report , which will be found in the Appendix , and which clear ! v shows

how the falling off in the resources of the Institution had arisen . This report was accepted on thc motion of Bro . Past Treasurer Pott , while , on the motion of Bro . John Finlaison , who had kindly undertaken to act as Secretary in thc interval that must elapse before a new one could be appointed , thc following were added to thc Standing Orders and Regulations of thc Institution :

1 . That the Secretary give Bond in £ 100 with two Sureties . 2 . That no Candidate for thc office of Secretary shall be admitted to the ballot until his qualifications for the office and the sufficiency of his Sureties be approved by a Select Committee to be appointed previously to the election . 3 . That the Secretary do consider thc directions of the Treasurer to be imperative on him in all cases relative to the affairs of the Institution .

4 . lhat the Treasurer be entrusted with the power of suspending thc Secretary under thc circumstances and with the provisions specified in thc said report . 5 . That the Secretary be restrained from interfering or canvassing in elections , directl y or indirectly , and that hc be deprived of the privilege of voting at General and Committee Meetings . 0 . That the said Meetings be in future held at Freemasons' Tavern , agreeably to thc suggestion of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , and in conformity to the report of the Committee . '

7 . That the Treasurer be authorised to engage accommodation for the Secretary in some central situation , whereon , at least , one stated day in the week he may be constantly found by all persons having business to transact with the Institution during certain hours to be named by the Treasurer . Thc arrangements for the election of a new Secretary were then made , and a Committee appointed for the purpose of examining into the quali - cations of the different candidates , the result being that Bro . Aug . U .

Thiselton was chosen out of the five candidates by a large majority of vote ' s , Bro . XV . Farnfield , who afterwards became Secretary , first of the Asylum for Decayed Freemasons and afterwards of the Annuity Fund , being one of his opponents . A cordial vote of thanks to Bro . hinlaison was also passed unanimously , and having been inscribed on vellum was personall y presented to that worthy brother at the Quarterl y Meeting in October . The following is the text of this complimentary vote :

At a Special General Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers to the Royal Masonic Charity for Educating , Clothing , and Apprenticing the Sons of Indigent and Deceased Freemasons , held at the Freemasons' Tavern , London , on Monday , the 4 th day of September , 1826 / Thomas Moore Esq ., in the chair / Treasurer .

Impressed with a deep sense of the important services rendered by J FINLAISON , ESQUIRE , , in thc voluntary discharge of thc duties of Secretary , pro tempore . By the exertion of his great talent in investigating and restoring to order the Accounts and affairs of the Charity and by his active co-operation with the 'Treasurer in

the proper placing of the objects of the Institution . THIS MEETING request that ( next to the lasting approbation of his own heart ) he will accept their best thanks for his gratuitous and highly meritorious services in the cause of this most interesting and useful Charity , and for his great zeal and exertions to promote and render permanent the best objects of an Institution upon which depends the future welfare of a large portion of the rising generation . ( To be continued ) .

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