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Article UNITED GRAND LODGE. ← Page 2 of 4 Article UNITED GRAND LODGE. Page 2 of 4 Article UNITED GRAND LODGE. Page 2 of 4 →
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United Grand Lodge.
first to read the law as it stood , and then as it was proposed to be altered . Bro . Rucker begged permission to read a few statistics ; but the Acting Grand Master desired the Grand Secretary to
comply with Bro Havers' request , which Bro . Binckes considered unnecessary , as the Grand Secretary had meet kindly and fully explained the matter .
After a few words from Bro . Algernon Perkins , the Grand Secretary read the rule and its alteration . Bro . Francis Bennoch said it would be a
great convenience if at this moment the Grand Lodge was informed of the amount of money already invested , for if they did not know something of the means at their disposal , he did not see how they could
come to a conclusion on the point . Bro . J . A . Rucker explained how the male and female funds stood . The male fund commenced in 1842 , when there was nothing invested , and it was then ordered
that two-thirds of the annual subscriptions , all life donations and all bequests , should be invested . In 1845 , the sum invested being £ 2 , 600 , it was ordered that one-third of the annual subscriptions , all life annuities , and
all bequests , should be similarly treated . In 1857 , there being £ 9 , 440 on account of the men , and £ 1 , 853 on account of the widows , the rule was again altered . All life donations , and all bequests were still
ordered to be invested . Iu 1 S 67 , the amount to the credit of the male fund being £ 20 , 500 , and to that of the female fund £ 11 , 450 , it was further changed ; and it was now , in 1 S 71 , thought prudent that
one-third of the life donations should be excepted from the funds invested . The circumstances were these . The building at Croydon was in a dilapidated state , and as a matter of necessity , must be repaired .
This would require an outlay of £ 2 , 600 , and it was better to take this sum out of the Institution ' s own funds , than come to the brethren in Grand Lodge for it . He thought there could not be a doubt iu the
mind of any man who had heard the figures read , as to which was the proper course . There was now £ 22 , 900 on account of the men , and £ 13 , 700 on account of the women , and it would be relieving posterity
of a burden to apply some portion of the future funds to the necessary repairs of the building . This was the object they had in view in proposing the alteration of the 42 nd
rule , and he begged Grand Lodge to understand that by making the alteration , they would not cease to increase the invested fund , as all bequests still remained to be put by .
Bro . Bristowe , W . M . 14 , thought the proposition a good one . Bro . W . S . Gover , W . M . 1 , said that although the principle of the rule was good , a limit should be put to the rule . It was
not for the benefit of the Institution that thesum invested should increase without limit . If a limit were fixed , say to £ 30 , 000 or £ SO , ooo , it would prevent impairing the present for an unnecessary provision for the
future . He wished , therefore , that had been a part of the suggestion made in the motion .
Bro . F . Adlard , mentioned that the amount had been fixed . The proposed alteration was then approved and adopted .
_ Bro . Matthew Cooke , P . M . in No . 23 , in rising to introduce the following motion , " That whilst this Grand Lodge recognizes the
private right of every Brother to belong to any extraneous Masonic organization he may choose , H as firmly forbids , now and at any future time , all Brethren while engaged as Salaried Officials
United Grand Lodge.
under this Grand Lodge to mix themselves up m any way with such bodies as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite ; the Rites of Misraim and Memphis ; the spurious orders of Rome and Constantine : the schismatic body styling itself
the Grand Mark Lodge of England , or any other exterior Masonic organization whatever ( even that of the Order of Knights Templar , which is alone recognized by the Articles of Union ) under the pain of immediate dismissal from employment
by this Grand Lodge , " said : Most Worshipful Grand Master , I believe that no society or body of men have ever been more conservative and less inclined to innovation than the society of
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons . Within the last six or seven years a great innovation has , however , crept in , an innovation that we ought to look to and ought to stop , before it grows to too great a height , In
the book of Constitutions we hold forth that it is not in the power of any man or body of men to make innovations in the body of Masonry ; but when we come to find that in our own office there are
innovations daily taking place—that they are growing—that they are absolutely compounding new degrees—that the business
of sale is carried on , and the place is made a warehouse—I think it becomes necessary for us to consider how far this is to be tolerated .
Bro . F . Binckes rose to order . The Acting Grand Master said it was but right that Bro . Cooke should explain the
grounds on which his motion was made . Grand Lodge would have an opportunity of hearing anything Bro . Binckes had to say when Bro . Cooke had concluded his motion .
Bro . Matthew Cooke in continuation of his address said : In any commercial establishment we are perfectly well aware of one thing , that if the subordinates are allowed to carry on a similar business to their
employers ' , ruin must at last ensue ( cries of " oil , oh" ) , because " a house divided against itself cannot stand , " and our house is being turned out of windows . We are at the present time supposed to be carrying on
but the simple three degrees in Freemasonry . Our clerks are paid for certain services ; but they go beyond that , and on their own account they formulate , tabulate , and send abroad other degrees , and they make our
office the place from whence they emanate . Nay , they do more than that , they play into the hands of certain people ; they give and they sell information ; they withhold information from certain channels ; they pour
it into others : and I taxed a manufacturer one night in the next hall with receiving such information ; aud lie said , at first , he had not received it . I said " Then , how came it that at the consecration of a certain
lodge at which I was present , an application from this manufacturer to find the clothing and the necessaries for the opening of the lodge was dated exactly a fortnight before even the Grand Secretary ' s letter stating that the warrant would be issued had
reached the parties who had applied for the warrant ? " He said , " Well , if you know that , all I can say is , that I have paid for that information , and dearly paid for it ,
through the nose . Now , I say that that is not the thing that our Grand Secretary ' s office is established for . We have no right to allow our clerks to be receiving per ccntages while in our service .
Bro . Havers here interposed . Although he thought it quite right that Bro . Cooke should be allowed to bring forward his
motion , he protested in the name of all the brethren of Grand Lodge against any statements being made which , if true , were most highly libellous , and which , if not
United Grand Lodge.
true , ought not to have been made . He must respectfully submit to the Acting Grand Master that Bro . Cooke was bound to keep to the words of his motion . The Acting Grand Master said that his
feeling was that Bro . Cooke was making a statement of a character which Grand Lodge could not receive , and therefore he hoped that brother would moderate his language , and keep within bounds ; because ,
if he continued in the way he had begun , he would only raise a spirit of indignation . Thecharges Bro . Cooke was making against the Grand Secretary ' s office were of a most frightfuIdescription ,-and he ( the Acting G .
Master ) was amazed and astonished at what he had heard . Sitting in that chair , he did not wish to suppress anything ; but he must
insist on any statements which Bro . Cooke had to make being made with moderation . He must ask him to confine himself simply to his motion .
Bro . Matthew Cooke , in continuation , said : I will not go into any statements but what I can prove . The things are true . But , however , as you , sir , do not think I am justified in stating them , I shall not
proceed with that . I shall , therefore , as you wish it , confine myself strictly to the motion ; and I say this , that while we have clerks in our office , they have no right to be taking up any other degrees than those
they are paid for . They have no right to be dabbling with other things , because they must learn certain things—and , I hope , sir , I am strictly in accordance with the motion in what I am saying—they must , in their
intercourse with others , learn certain things ; and I say that both in their intercourse in the office , and with other degrees and
rites , naturally things must leak out , and matters be talked over which should have no influence and no bearing the one ' on the other .
Bro . Dr . Daniel Moore , interrupting , said it appeared to him that what Bro . Cooke was now stating had nothing to do with the question at issue . The Acting G . Master admitted that he
was of the same opinion . He thought Bro . Cooke was travelling into questions which did not concern Grand Lodge to any great extent . If Bro . Cooke had charges to prefer against the Grand Secretary , or the
department of which he had the supervision , it was quite clear he was not pursuing the proper course . The matter should be
brought before the Board of General Purposes in the first instance . He , however , had not done so , and the language he was now using was very irregular .
Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , here rose , and , addressing the Acting Grand Master with great earnestness , said : Most Worshipful Grand Master , I do trust that the brethren in Grand Lodge , and yourself ,
will permit Bro . Cooke , who is making an attack on the office of which I am the head , to make his statement fully and exhaustively . I do trust that you will hear him
make any observation he has to make against the Grand Secretary ' s office , and against those who are in it , in the fullest and most exhaustive manner . Grand
Lodge will have an opportunity of judging whether the motion which he is about to make is just and well founded . If it is so , well and good ; if it is not , the motion of which he has given notice will not be carried .
Bro . the Rev . J . Huyshe , Prov . G . M . of Devonshire , did not think that this Grand Lodge ought to listen to any libellous charges which were made against their officers , even though it should be the desire
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
United Grand Lodge.
first to read the law as it stood , and then as it was proposed to be altered . Bro . Rucker begged permission to read a few statistics ; but the Acting Grand Master desired the Grand Secretary to
comply with Bro Havers' request , which Bro . Binckes considered unnecessary , as the Grand Secretary had meet kindly and fully explained the matter .
After a few words from Bro . Algernon Perkins , the Grand Secretary read the rule and its alteration . Bro . Francis Bennoch said it would be a
great convenience if at this moment the Grand Lodge was informed of the amount of money already invested , for if they did not know something of the means at their disposal , he did not see how they could
come to a conclusion on the point . Bro . J . A . Rucker explained how the male and female funds stood . The male fund commenced in 1842 , when there was nothing invested , and it was then ordered
that two-thirds of the annual subscriptions , all life donations and all bequests , should be invested . In 1845 , the sum invested being £ 2 , 600 , it was ordered that one-third of the annual subscriptions , all life annuities , and
all bequests , should be similarly treated . In 1857 , there being £ 9 , 440 on account of the men , and £ 1 , 853 on account of the widows , the rule was again altered . All life donations , and all bequests were still
ordered to be invested . Iu 1 S 67 , the amount to the credit of the male fund being £ 20 , 500 , and to that of the female fund £ 11 , 450 , it was further changed ; and it was now , in 1 S 71 , thought prudent that
one-third of the life donations should be excepted from the funds invested . The circumstances were these . The building at Croydon was in a dilapidated state , and as a matter of necessity , must be repaired .
This would require an outlay of £ 2 , 600 , and it was better to take this sum out of the Institution ' s own funds , than come to the brethren in Grand Lodge for it . He thought there could not be a doubt iu the
mind of any man who had heard the figures read , as to which was the proper course . There was now £ 22 , 900 on account of the men , and £ 13 , 700 on account of the women , and it would be relieving posterity
of a burden to apply some portion of the future funds to the necessary repairs of the building . This was the object they had in view in proposing the alteration of the 42 nd
rule , and he begged Grand Lodge to understand that by making the alteration , they would not cease to increase the invested fund , as all bequests still remained to be put by .
Bro . Bristowe , W . M . 14 , thought the proposition a good one . Bro . W . S . Gover , W . M . 1 , said that although the principle of the rule was good , a limit should be put to the rule . It was
not for the benefit of the Institution that thesum invested should increase without limit . If a limit were fixed , say to £ 30 , 000 or £ SO , ooo , it would prevent impairing the present for an unnecessary provision for the
future . He wished , therefore , that had been a part of the suggestion made in the motion .
Bro . F . Adlard , mentioned that the amount had been fixed . The proposed alteration was then approved and adopted .
_ Bro . Matthew Cooke , P . M . in No . 23 , in rising to introduce the following motion , " That whilst this Grand Lodge recognizes the
private right of every Brother to belong to any extraneous Masonic organization he may choose , H as firmly forbids , now and at any future time , all Brethren while engaged as Salaried Officials
United Grand Lodge.
under this Grand Lodge to mix themselves up m any way with such bodies as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite ; the Rites of Misraim and Memphis ; the spurious orders of Rome and Constantine : the schismatic body styling itself
the Grand Mark Lodge of England , or any other exterior Masonic organization whatever ( even that of the Order of Knights Templar , which is alone recognized by the Articles of Union ) under the pain of immediate dismissal from employment
by this Grand Lodge , " said : Most Worshipful Grand Master , I believe that no society or body of men have ever been more conservative and less inclined to innovation than the society of
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons . Within the last six or seven years a great innovation has , however , crept in , an innovation that we ought to look to and ought to stop , before it grows to too great a height , In
the book of Constitutions we hold forth that it is not in the power of any man or body of men to make innovations in the body of Masonry ; but when we come to find that in our own office there are
innovations daily taking place—that they are growing—that they are absolutely compounding new degrees—that the business
of sale is carried on , and the place is made a warehouse—I think it becomes necessary for us to consider how far this is to be tolerated .
Bro . F . Binckes rose to order . The Acting Grand Master said it was but right that Bro . Cooke should explain the
grounds on which his motion was made . Grand Lodge would have an opportunity of hearing anything Bro . Binckes had to say when Bro . Cooke had concluded his motion .
Bro . Matthew Cooke in continuation of his address said : In any commercial establishment we are perfectly well aware of one thing , that if the subordinates are allowed to carry on a similar business to their
employers ' , ruin must at last ensue ( cries of " oil , oh" ) , because " a house divided against itself cannot stand , " and our house is being turned out of windows . We are at the present time supposed to be carrying on
but the simple three degrees in Freemasonry . Our clerks are paid for certain services ; but they go beyond that , and on their own account they formulate , tabulate , and send abroad other degrees , and they make our
office the place from whence they emanate . Nay , they do more than that , they play into the hands of certain people ; they give and they sell information ; they withhold information from certain channels ; they pour
it into others : and I taxed a manufacturer one night in the next hall with receiving such information ; aud lie said , at first , he had not received it . I said " Then , how came it that at the consecration of a certain
lodge at which I was present , an application from this manufacturer to find the clothing and the necessaries for the opening of the lodge was dated exactly a fortnight before even the Grand Secretary ' s letter stating that the warrant would be issued had
reached the parties who had applied for the warrant ? " He said , " Well , if you know that , all I can say is , that I have paid for that information , and dearly paid for it ,
through the nose . Now , I say that that is not the thing that our Grand Secretary ' s office is established for . We have no right to allow our clerks to be receiving per ccntages while in our service .
Bro . Havers here interposed . Although he thought it quite right that Bro . Cooke should be allowed to bring forward his
motion , he protested in the name of all the brethren of Grand Lodge against any statements being made which , if true , were most highly libellous , and which , if not
United Grand Lodge.
true , ought not to have been made . He must respectfully submit to the Acting Grand Master that Bro . Cooke was bound to keep to the words of his motion . The Acting Grand Master said that his
feeling was that Bro . Cooke was making a statement of a character which Grand Lodge could not receive , and therefore he hoped that brother would moderate his language , and keep within bounds ; because ,
if he continued in the way he had begun , he would only raise a spirit of indignation . Thecharges Bro . Cooke was making against the Grand Secretary ' s office were of a most frightfuIdescription ,-and he ( the Acting G .
Master ) was amazed and astonished at what he had heard . Sitting in that chair , he did not wish to suppress anything ; but he must
insist on any statements which Bro . Cooke had to make being made with moderation . He must ask him to confine himself simply to his motion .
Bro . Matthew Cooke , in continuation , said : I will not go into any statements but what I can prove . The things are true . But , however , as you , sir , do not think I am justified in stating them , I shall not
proceed with that . I shall , therefore , as you wish it , confine myself strictly to the motion ; and I say this , that while we have clerks in our office , they have no right to be taking up any other degrees than those
they are paid for . They have no right to be dabbling with other things , because they must learn certain things—and , I hope , sir , I am strictly in accordance with the motion in what I am saying—they must , in their
intercourse with others , learn certain things ; and I say that both in their intercourse in the office , and with other degrees and
rites , naturally things must leak out , and matters be talked over which should have no influence and no bearing the one ' on the other .
Bro . Dr . Daniel Moore , interrupting , said it appeared to him that what Bro . Cooke was now stating had nothing to do with the question at issue . The Acting G . Master admitted that he
was of the same opinion . He thought Bro . Cooke was travelling into questions which did not concern Grand Lodge to any great extent . If Bro . Cooke had charges to prefer against the Grand Secretary , or the
department of which he had the supervision , it was quite clear he was not pursuing the proper course . The matter should be
brought before the Board of General Purposes in the first instance . He , however , had not done so , and the language he was now using was very irregular .
Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , here rose , and , addressing the Acting Grand Master with great earnestness , said : Most Worshipful Grand Master , I do trust that the brethren in Grand Lodge , and yourself ,
will permit Bro . Cooke , who is making an attack on the office of which I am the head , to make his statement fully and exhaustively . I do trust that you will hear him
make any observation he has to make against the Grand Secretary ' s office , and against those who are in it , in the fullest and most exhaustive manner . Grand
Lodge will have an opportunity of judging whether the motion which he is about to make is just and well founded . If it is so , well and good ; if it is not , the motion of which he has given notice will not be carried .
Bro . the Rev . J . Huyshe , Prov . G . M . of Devonshire , did not think that this Grand Lodge ought to listen to any libellous charges which were made against their officers , even though it should be the desire