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Services Of The Grand Officers.
W M . of the Mount Moriah Lodge in 1847 . He Provincial Grand Chaplain of Worcester-\ ire in 1854 and subsequent years , and on S moving into Kent as vicar of St . Peter ' s , Maidlone , 011 the installation of Lord Viscount u . lmesdale , M . P ., at Gravesend , in Oct ., i 860 ,
Provincial Grand Master , was appointed Prov . frand Chaplain , and has so continued to this rlite having been presented , at the Grand Festival held at Canterbury last year , with a magnificent evidence of esteem in the shape of money
ind p late . He is sincerel y attached to our ' incient ] andmarks , and his pulp it addresses , and the orations delivered at the consecration of the lodges in the province during the firm but eenial reign of the noble P . G . M ., have been ereatly appreciated . This year he presides as First Principal of tho Hig h Cross Chapter , No .
829- P RESIDENT OK THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . Bro . John B . Monckton was initiated into Masonry in the Belvidere Lodge ( 503 ) ,
Maidstone , Kent , about the year 18 55 . In January , 1064 , he joined the Jerusalem Lodge ( 197 ) , famous in the Craft as the lodge at whose centenary meeting , in February , 1871 , when Bro .
Monckton was I . P . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales first saw English Masonry . In 1867 Bro . Monckton was active in founding the Bucking ham and Chandos Lodge ( 1150 ) , of which he is now the Senior Past Master . In 1868 he
represented Jerusalem Lodge as Grand Steward , and served as Secretary of the Board of Grand Stewards , and in the same year he was elected on the Board of General Purposes , of which in the following year he became Vice-President , a
post he held by successive elections for three ) ears . In 1871 he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon of England , and two years later succeeded t'te lamented Bro . Horatio Lloyd , Q . C ., as , and has ever since remained , President of the Board
of General Purposes , having for some time previously acted as President of the Colonial Board . Bv virtue of his office , Bro . Monckton was Chairman of the Committee who so successfully carried out the memorable installation at the ' Albert Hall of H . R . H . the present Grand
Master , without doubt the greatest Masonic event in modern times . He is Past Grand Princi pal Sojourner in Grand Chapter , member of many lodges , Mark Mason , Kni ght Templar , and 32 , and has been frequently Steward of the Charities .
SENIOR GRAND DEACON . Bro . Reginald Bird , M . A ., Fellow of Magdalen College , Oxford , was initiated in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , in the year 1852 , when Bro . W . W . B . Beach was Master . After
an absence of several years from England , he was on his return appointed to a Wardenshi p in his mother lodge , and served the office of Master in the year 1872 . In the following year ( 18 73 ) H . R . H . the Grand Master filled that chair , and
appointed Bro . Bird as his Deputy Master . Also in the year 1872 Bro . Bird was appointed Senior Warden of the province of Oxfordshire ( by the present Grand Registrar ) , who was then adminstering the province . Upon the resignation of
Bro . R . J . Spiers in 1 S 74 , Bro . Bird was appointed ( also b y the Grand Registrar ) Deputy Provincial Grand Master , which office he continues to hold under H . R . H . Prince Leopold . In the same year he was elected Treasurer of the Apollo Lodge , Oxford , which office
Jte now holds . During the ensuing year » e was installed first Master of the St . Wary Magdalen Lodge-, No . 1523 , of which he Was one of the founders . Fie has also served stewardshi ps for all the Masonic Charities , and ls a member of various other lod ges in London ; nd Oxfordshire .
JUNIOR GRAND DEACON . Bro . Matthew E . Clark was initiated , passed , ? d raised in Lodge of Harmony , No . 255 , b y Lord Y ' . terden , K . C . B ., and occupied the Master ' s ^ ir in 1871 . He was annointed D . P . O . M . for
Prvi lS 7 ? ' y the ' ate B '' ° ' Kobert Ba SS"aw , 18-r ^ ssex ruIed tlle province during 1875 , 7 < 5 , and 1677 , during which time he had entire ate , owing to the P . G . M . ' sill health . He resigned
Services Of The Grand Officers.
the office in 1878 on account of an illness . In April , 1879 , he received notification from Grand Lodge , and was appointed Grand Deacon on the 30 th ult . He is Past Master of Harmony Lodge , No . 255 , and Bagshaw Lodge , Buckhurst Hill 5 Past Principal Chapter of Iris ; member of Studholme Lodge of Mark Masons .
ASSISTANT GRAND DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES . Bro . George Burt was initiated in the Old Dundee Lodge , No . 18 , on the 2 nd December , 1851 , served the office of j . D . in 1855 , S . D . in 18 5 6 , J . Warden in 1 S 57 , S . W . in 18 58 , W . M . in
. 1859 . On the consecration of the De Moulham Lodge , No . 1146 , at Swanage , Dorset , in March 1467 Bro . J . Mowlem was appointed W . M ., Bro . J . Freeman , S . W ., and Bro . G . Burt . vJTW ., being the three members of the firm of John Mowlem
and Co ., who founded the lodge , tn 1868 Bro . Bird served the office of Senior Warden in the same lodge , and in 1869 , as also in 18 70 , was the W . M . thereof . Further in 1859 he served as Steward ofthe Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution . In 1864 Steward of the Boys' School , Festival . In 186 7 Steward of the Girls' School Festival ; in which year ( 1867 ) he was made Provincial Grand Senior Warden of Dorset , and in 1879 Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of Grand Lodge .
GRAND SWORD BEARER . Bro . Samuel Mullens was initiated in September , i 860 , in Prince Frederick William Lodge , No . 7 . 53 , and served the office of W . M . in that lodge for two successive years—1 S 6 9 and 18 , 0 .
In 186 7 he was one of the founders ( in conjunction with Bros . J . B . Monckton , P . B . G . P ., and P . de Lande Long , P . G . U ., and others ) of the Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , 1150 , which was first established in connection with
the First Middlesex Artillery Volunteers , of which corps the founders were all members . He served the office of W . M . in that lodge for the year i 8 ; c-7 i , holding the office of Master of two lodges at the same time , by dispensation .
He was a member of the Board of General Purposes during three years , and was one of the special Stewards at the installation of the present M . W . G . M ., in 187 , 5 . He is a Life Governor of each of the four Masonic Charities .
ASSISTANT GRAND PURSUIVANT . Bro . James Kench , the Assistant Grand Pursuivant , was initiated on the 3 rd January , 1867 , in the Lodge La Tolerance , No , 538 , a lodge originally founded by some French refugees ,
residing in London , but which would have been erased from the books of the Grand Registrar in 1866 had not some English brethren met together and succeeding in resuscitating it . Bro . Kench was the first initiate that entered the lodge
after its resuscitation , and was installed W . M . of the same in 1870 . In the following year he was elected Treasurer of the lodge , a position he has held ever since—having been re-elected every year to that office . In the same year that he
was initiated into the mysteries of the Craft , Bro . Kench became a member of the Rural Philanthropic Lodge , No . 291 , that meets at Hi ghbridge , in Somersetshire , and in the year 186 9 he was one of the founders of the Stanhope
Lodge , No . 1269 , whose meetings are held at the i'hicket Hotel , Anerley . In the same year that he was W . M . of his mother lodge , Bro . Kench was elected W . M . ofthe Stanhope Lodge . He had , therefore , to apply to the M . W . G . M .
( the Ri ght Hon . the Eail de Grey and Ripon ) for a dispensation to enable him to be W . M . of both lodges at the same time , and as at that time there was no other brother in the Stanhope Lodge eligible for the position , Bro . Kench was
successful in his application . This was , we believe , a very exceptional circumstance , as it is onl y in very rare instances such dispensations are granted . Bro . Kench was exalted in the Royal Arch on the 20 th October , 1868 , in the Industry Chapter , No . 186 , and in the year 1872 he was
one of the founders of the Vane Chapter that is attached to the Lodge La Tolerance . He is a P . Z . and the Treasurer of that chapter , and also the I . P . Z . of the Stanhope Chapter , No . 126 9 , the chapter that is attached to the lod ge of the same name . Bro . Kench is , we believe , a very zealous Mason , being indefati g able in his exer-
Services Of The Grand Officers.
tions to maintain the efficiency of the working members of his lodges and chapters , and to extend the influence of the mystic art , and it was in a great measure due to his exertions that the La Tolerance Lodge of Instruction was formed , a lodge that is noted for its excellent working
under the stern discip line of its able Preceptor , Bro . Charles D . ivis , P . M . of the Royal Union Lodge , Uxbridge . Bro . Kench is a Life Governor of the three Masonic Institutions , having frequentl y rep resented La Tolerance and the Vane as a Steward at the different festivals .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[\ V * i do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . !
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The minute books of the Grand Lodge of Scotland for the period between 179 . 7 ana" 1805 , or thereby , are unfortunately lost , but an abstract of the more important minutes is given in Laurie's " History of Freemasonry . "
In the edition of 1804 we have , under date 1802 , a statement as to the institution tf the Supreme Council of Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of North America , now designated by its Sovereign Grand Commander "The Mother Council of the world . " If it be correct that the " Mother " Supreme Council was formed about 1802 , it is clear that Frederick the Great ,
who died in 1 78 ft , had no p irt in the formation of these councils ; and I concur in thinking with some of your correspondents that it would have been for the peace and advantage of Freemasonry had they never existed . The edition of Lauiie ' s " History , " in which this important statement is made , is now scarce . It was written by the well known philosopher , Sir David Brewster ,
sometime piincipil of the University of St . Andrew ' s , and afterwards pri vcipal of the University of Edinburgh . The statement was published shortly after the occurrence of the facts to which it relates , and as it possesses an historical value , and is omitted in the siibscejuent edition of Laurie ' s " History , " and is , therefore , apt to be lost sight of by " Masonic Students , " I take the liberty to request you to
give it a place in the Freemason . It is as follows : " 1802 . A circular letter was this year received from the Grand Lodge of America . The spirit of illumination which it breathed , and the supernumerary degrees , amounting to about fitty , which it authorised , were sufficient reasons for drawing down the contempt of Scotch Masons , whose honour it is to have preserved Freemasonry for many
centuries in its original and simple form , and whose pride it shall ever be to transmit to the latest posterity the principles and ceremonies of their Order unpolluted and unimpaired . " The views of the Grand Ledge of Scotland are so coriect that I cannot help expressing my surprise that Supreme Councils have suc-eeded in obtaining anyfooting
in the estimation of ordinarily , well informed Craftsmen . But yet we see brethren of high , social , and Masonic position induced , probably by the high-sounding but ludicrous titles attached to the offices , however humble , which they hold in these bodies , associating themselves with them , to the prejudice of the general interests of Freemasonry , and in face of the resolutions of their respective
Grand Lodges refusing them recognition . These Councils too are , in almost all cases—the Councils of Charlestown and Scotland not excepted—of spurious origin . It is to be hoped that such brethren act unthinkingly in connecting themselves with such bodies , which are not only not Masonic , but are in principle antagonistic to Freemasonry .
1 he valuable Masonic library of your distinguished correspondent Bro . Hughan will likely possess the circular referred to in the statement eiuotcd from Laurie ' s History , and if it does , I respectfully suggest that he should kindly oblige your readers by publishing it in the Freemason . Yours fraternally , PAST MASTER .
AN EDUCATION SCHEME . Dsar Bro . Kenning , — You may probably recollect that I wrote some letters to you last year and the year previous , some of which you published in the Freemason , on the subject of provincial education , and if by your great influence any other province could be induced to adopt the same s imple
method of providing for the education of the children of distressed and deceased Freemasons , especially those who are candidates for the central Charities , " pending their election , " many of which are unsuccessful , and through no fault of their own , but their age , have to retire , " because they ate ineligible , " much to the regret of those concerned , after great trouble , anxiety , and pecuniary loss , anel perhaps receiving no benefit from Freemasonry—I
think your influence might obtain a benefit for these poor unfortunates , whose characteristic is to be forsaken or forlorn , and though non-election always will be a source of regret , it will not be attended by those heart-burnings that now take place after their last chance is gone . The rapiel increase in the numbers of the Craft must necessarily make a corresponding increased demand upon our central Charities , by increasing the number of candidates . I beg to remaindear BroKenning faithfull
, . , yours y , ROBT . THORPE , P . M . 588 . Sleaford , Lincolnshire , 26 th April , 1879 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Services Of The Grand Officers.
W M . of the Mount Moriah Lodge in 1847 . He Provincial Grand Chaplain of Worcester-\ ire in 1854 and subsequent years , and on S moving into Kent as vicar of St . Peter ' s , Maidlone , 011 the installation of Lord Viscount u . lmesdale , M . P ., at Gravesend , in Oct ., i 860 ,
Provincial Grand Master , was appointed Prov . frand Chaplain , and has so continued to this rlite having been presented , at the Grand Festival held at Canterbury last year , with a magnificent evidence of esteem in the shape of money
ind p late . He is sincerel y attached to our ' incient ] andmarks , and his pulp it addresses , and the orations delivered at the consecration of the lodges in the province during the firm but eenial reign of the noble P . G . M ., have been ereatly appreciated . This year he presides as First Principal of tho Hig h Cross Chapter , No .
829- P RESIDENT OK THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . Bro . John B . Monckton was initiated into Masonry in the Belvidere Lodge ( 503 ) ,
Maidstone , Kent , about the year 18 55 . In January , 1064 , he joined the Jerusalem Lodge ( 197 ) , famous in the Craft as the lodge at whose centenary meeting , in February , 1871 , when Bro .
Monckton was I . P . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales first saw English Masonry . In 1867 Bro . Monckton was active in founding the Bucking ham and Chandos Lodge ( 1150 ) , of which he is now the Senior Past Master . In 1868 he
represented Jerusalem Lodge as Grand Steward , and served as Secretary of the Board of Grand Stewards , and in the same year he was elected on the Board of General Purposes , of which in the following year he became Vice-President , a
post he held by successive elections for three ) ears . In 1871 he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon of England , and two years later succeeded t'te lamented Bro . Horatio Lloyd , Q . C ., as , and has ever since remained , President of the Board
of General Purposes , having for some time previously acted as President of the Colonial Board . Bv virtue of his office , Bro . Monckton was Chairman of the Committee who so successfully carried out the memorable installation at the ' Albert Hall of H . R . H . the present Grand
Master , without doubt the greatest Masonic event in modern times . He is Past Grand Princi pal Sojourner in Grand Chapter , member of many lodges , Mark Mason , Kni ght Templar , and 32 , and has been frequently Steward of the Charities .
SENIOR GRAND DEACON . Bro . Reginald Bird , M . A ., Fellow of Magdalen College , Oxford , was initiated in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , in the year 1852 , when Bro . W . W . B . Beach was Master . After
an absence of several years from England , he was on his return appointed to a Wardenshi p in his mother lodge , and served the office of Master in the year 1872 . In the following year ( 18 73 ) H . R . H . the Grand Master filled that chair , and
appointed Bro . Bird as his Deputy Master . Also in the year 1872 Bro . Bird was appointed Senior Warden of the province of Oxfordshire ( by the present Grand Registrar ) , who was then adminstering the province . Upon the resignation of
Bro . R . J . Spiers in 1 S 74 , Bro . Bird was appointed ( also b y the Grand Registrar ) Deputy Provincial Grand Master , which office he continues to hold under H . R . H . Prince Leopold . In the same year he was elected Treasurer of the Apollo Lodge , Oxford , which office
Jte now holds . During the ensuing year » e was installed first Master of the St . Wary Magdalen Lodge-, No . 1523 , of which he Was one of the founders . Fie has also served stewardshi ps for all the Masonic Charities , and ls a member of various other lod ges in London ; nd Oxfordshire .
JUNIOR GRAND DEACON . Bro . Matthew E . Clark was initiated , passed , ? d raised in Lodge of Harmony , No . 255 , b y Lord Y ' . terden , K . C . B ., and occupied the Master ' s ^ ir in 1871 . He was annointed D . P . O . M . for
Prvi lS 7 ? ' y the ' ate B '' ° ' Kobert Ba SS"aw , 18-r ^ ssex ruIed tlle province during 1875 , 7 < 5 , and 1677 , during which time he had entire ate , owing to the P . G . M . ' sill health . He resigned
Services Of The Grand Officers.
the office in 1878 on account of an illness . In April , 1879 , he received notification from Grand Lodge , and was appointed Grand Deacon on the 30 th ult . He is Past Master of Harmony Lodge , No . 255 , and Bagshaw Lodge , Buckhurst Hill 5 Past Principal Chapter of Iris ; member of Studholme Lodge of Mark Masons .
ASSISTANT GRAND DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES . Bro . George Burt was initiated in the Old Dundee Lodge , No . 18 , on the 2 nd December , 1851 , served the office of j . D . in 1855 , S . D . in 18 5 6 , J . Warden in 1 S 57 , S . W . in 18 58 , W . M . in
. 1859 . On the consecration of the De Moulham Lodge , No . 1146 , at Swanage , Dorset , in March 1467 Bro . J . Mowlem was appointed W . M ., Bro . J . Freeman , S . W ., and Bro . G . Burt . vJTW ., being the three members of the firm of John Mowlem
and Co ., who founded the lodge , tn 1868 Bro . Bird served the office of Senior Warden in the same lodge , and in 1869 , as also in 18 70 , was the W . M . thereof . Further in 1859 he served as Steward ofthe Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution . In 1864 Steward of the Boys' School , Festival . In 186 7 Steward of the Girls' School Festival ; in which year ( 1867 ) he was made Provincial Grand Senior Warden of Dorset , and in 1879 Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of Grand Lodge .
GRAND SWORD BEARER . Bro . Samuel Mullens was initiated in September , i 860 , in Prince Frederick William Lodge , No . 7 . 53 , and served the office of W . M . in that lodge for two successive years—1 S 6 9 and 18 , 0 .
In 186 7 he was one of the founders ( in conjunction with Bros . J . B . Monckton , P . B . G . P ., and P . de Lande Long , P . G . U ., and others ) of the Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , 1150 , which was first established in connection with
the First Middlesex Artillery Volunteers , of which corps the founders were all members . He served the office of W . M . in that lodge for the year i 8 ; c-7 i , holding the office of Master of two lodges at the same time , by dispensation .
He was a member of the Board of General Purposes during three years , and was one of the special Stewards at the installation of the present M . W . G . M ., in 187 , 5 . He is a Life Governor of each of the four Masonic Charities .
ASSISTANT GRAND PURSUIVANT . Bro . James Kench , the Assistant Grand Pursuivant , was initiated on the 3 rd January , 1867 , in the Lodge La Tolerance , No , 538 , a lodge originally founded by some French refugees ,
residing in London , but which would have been erased from the books of the Grand Registrar in 1866 had not some English brethren met together and succeeding in resuscitating it . Bro . Kench was the first initiate that entered the lodge
after its resuscitation , and was installed W . M . of the same in 1870 . In the following year he was elected Treasurer of the lodge , a position he has held ever since—having been re-elected every year to that office . In the same year that he
was initiated into the mysteries of the Craft , Bro . Kench became a member of the Rural Philanthropic Lodge , No . 291 , that meets at Hi ghbridge , in Somersetshire , and in the year 186 9 he was one of the founders of the Stanhope
Lodge , No . 1269 , whose meetings are held at the i'hicket Hotel , Anerley . In the same year that he was W . M . of his mother lodge , Bro . Kench was elected W . M . ofthe Stanhope Lodge . He had , therefore , to apply to the M . W . G . M .
( the Ri ght Hon . the Eail de Grey and Ripon ) for a dispensation to enable him to be W . M . of both lodges at the same time , and as at that time there was no other brother in the Stanhope Lodge eligible for the position , Bro . Kench was
successful in his application . This was , we believe , a very exceptional circumstance , as it is onl y in very rare instances such dispensations are granted . Bro . Kench was exalted in the Royal Arch on the 20 th October , 1868 , in the Industry Chapter , No . 186 , and in the year 1872 he was
one of the founders of the Vane Chapter that is attached to the Lodge La Tolerance . He is a P . Z . and the Treasurer of that chapter , and also the I . P . Z . of the Stanhope Chapter , No . 126 9 , the chapter that is attached to the lod ge of the same name . Bro . Kench is , we believe , a very zealous Mason , being indefati g able in his exer-
Services Of The Grand Officers.
tions to maintain the efficiency of the working members of his lodges and chapters , and to extend the influence of the mystic art , and it was in a great measure due to his exertions that the La Tolerance Lodge of Instruction was formed , a lodge that is noted for its excellent working
under the stern discip line of its able Preceptor , Bro . Charles D . ivis , P . M . of the Royal Union Lodge , Uxbridge . Bro . Kench is a Life Governor of the three Masonic Institutions , having frequentl y rep resented La Tolerance and the Vane as a Steward at the different festivals .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[\ V * i do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . !
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The minute books of the Grand Lodge of Scotland for the period between 179 . 7 ana" 1805 , or thereby , are unfortunately lost , but an abstract of the more important minutes is given in Laurie's " History of Freemasonry . "
In the edition of 1804 we have , under date 1802 , a statement as to the institution tf the Supreme Council of Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of North America , now designated by its Sovereign Grand Commander "The Mother Council of the world . " If it be correct that the " Mother " Supreme Council was formed about 1802 , it is clear that Frederick the Great ,
who died in 1 78 ft , had no p irt in the formation of these councils ; and I concur in thinking with some of your correspondents that it would have been for the peace and advantage of Freemasonry had they never existed . The edition of Lauiie ' s " History , " in which this important statement is made , is now scarce . It was written by the well known philosopher , Sir David Brewster ,
sometime piincipil of the University of St . Andrew ' s , and afterwards pri vcipal of the University of Edinburgh . The statement was published shortly after the occurrence of the facts to which it relates , and as it possesses an historical value , and is omitted in the siibscejuent edition of Laurie ' s " History , " and is , therefore , apt to be lost sight of by " Masonic Students , " I take the liberty to request you to
give it a place in the Freemason . It is as follows : " 1802 . A circular letter was this year received from the Grand Lodge of America . The spirit of illumination which it breathed , and the supernumerary degrees , amounting to about fitty , which it authorised , were sufficient reasons for drawing down the contempt of Scotch Masons , whose honour it is to have preserved Freemasonry for many
centuries in its original and simple form , and whose pride it shall ever be to transmit to the latest posterity the principles and ceremonies of their Order unpolluted and unimpaired . " The views of the Grand Ledge of Scotland are so coriect that I cannot help expressing my surprise that Supreme Councils have suc-eeded in obtaining anyfooting
in the estimation of ordinarily , well informed Craftsmen . But yet we see brethren of high , social , and Masonic position induced , probably by the high-sounding but ludicrous titles attached to the offices , however humble , which they hold in these bodies , associating themselves with them , to the prejudice of the general interests of Freemasonry , and in face of the resolutions of their respective
Grand Lodges refusing them recognition . These Councils too are , in almost all cases—the Councils of Charlestown and Scotland not excepted—of spurious origin . It is to be hoped that such brethren act unthinkingly in connecting themselves with such bodies , which are not only not Masonic , but are in principle antagonistic to Freemasonry .
1 he valuable Masonic library of your distinguished correspondent Bro . Hughan will likely possess the circular referred to in the statement eiuotcd from Laurie ' s History , and if it does , I respectfully suggest that he should kindly oblige your readers by publishing it in the Freemason . Yours fraternally , PAST MASTER .
AN EDUCATION SCHEME . Dsar Bro . Kenning , — You may probably recollect that I wrote some letters to you last year and the year previous , some of which you published in the Freemason , on the subject of provincial education , and if by your great influence any other province could be induced to adopt the same s imple
method of providing for the education of the children of distressed and deceased Freemasons , especially those who are candidates for the central Charities , " pending their election , " many of which are unsuccessful , and through no fault of their own , but their age , have to retire , " because they ate ineligible , " much to the regret of those concerned , after great trouble , anxiety , and pecuniary loss , anel perhaps receiving no benefit from Freemasonry—I
think your influence might obtain a benefit for these poor unfortunates , whose characteristic is to be forsaken or forlorn , and though non-election always will be a source of regret , it will not be attended by those heart-burnings that now take place after their last chance is gone . The rapiel increase in the numbers of the Craft must necessarily make a corresponding increased demand upon our central Charities , by increasing the number of candidates . I beg to remaindear BroKenning faithfull
, . , yours y , ROBT . THORPE , P . M . 588 . Sleaford , Lincolnshire , 26 th April , 1879 .