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Grand Lodge.
GRAND LODGE .
The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge took place on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of CARNARVON , D . G . M ., presided , in the absence of the M . W . G . M ., the Earl of LIMERICK taking the position of D . G . M . Col . Burdett ,
Prov . G . M . Middlesex , occupied the S . W . chair , and Sir F . Martin Williams Bart ., M . P ., was in his postasJ . G . W . Grand Lodge was but scantily attended , as is customary at the September meeting ; and there was but a small amount of business to be transacted . Among the brethren
who attended we noticed the following : Bros . Colonel E . C . Malet de Carteret , Prov . G . M ., Jersey ; Samuel Rawson , Past D . G . M ., China ; Revs . C . J . Martyn and Walter F . Short , G . Chaplains ; Revs . R . J . Simpson and C . R . Davy , P . G . Chaplains ; H . Lloyd , Q . C ., S . G . D . ;
G . Cox , G . W . K . Potter , C . H . Gregory , Brackstone Baker , J . M . Clabon , E . J . Fraser , 'H . Browse , E . S . Snell , S . L . Tomkins , and T- RStebbing , P . G . D . ' s ; M . J . Mclntyre , G . Reg . ; J . LI . Evans , Pres . Bd . Gen . Purposes ; G . C . Dumas , A . G . D . C . ; T . Fenn , P . A . G . D . C . ; W .
Famfield , P . A . G . Sec . ; R . W . Hollon , G . S . B . ; H . Pullen , J . Nunn , W . Young , E . H . Patten , R . J . Spiers , and James Mason , P . G . S . B . ' s ; J . Coward , G . O . ; J . Brett , G . P . ; J . Coutts , A . G . P . ; W . Ough , J . Smith , and T . A . Adams , P . G . P . ' s ; R . W . Stewart , E . Cox , R . Spencer , C . A .
Cottebrune , G . Kenning , Samuel May , H . G . Buss , F . Walters , S . Rosenthal , W . C . Moutrie , W . Watson , S . Gale , G . King , sen ., and G . King , jun ., F . Davison , R . Wentworth Little , H . W . Lindus , C . J . Lacey ,
Capt . J . W . C . Whitbread , R . Kenyon , A . A . Pendlebury , AV . Smith , G . Dudley , Matt . Cooke , R . Gumey , J . Hughnan , H . Massey , C . Sendey , J . Thomas , G . Gee , S . Coulton , J . Bendy , J . F . Creswick , AV . Dodd , C . Bennett , AV . AVigginton , and Henry Radcliffe .
The GRAND SECRETARY read the minutes of last Quarterly Communication in June , and on these being put by the acting GRAND MASTER for confirmation , Bro . RAYNHAM AV . STEWART moved as an
amendment that the part of the minutes relating to the purchase of an organ for Grand Lodge be not confirmed . It seemed extraordinary " that Grand Lodge should be asked to pay ^ 600 for an organ . It was a perfect waste of money .
The GRAND REGISTRAR supported the amendment . He had opposed the grant at the time it was brought forward on these grounds : that at the present time Grand Lodge was very considerably in debt , and it ought to be out of debt before this money was laid out . AVlien the
motion was brought forward there was a very thin lodge , most of the brethren having departed . He had thought it should stand over until further information was obtained upon it thereafter , either from the Board of General Purposes or a committee appointed to inquire into
the subject . He met the motion with a direct negative , but it was carried by a majority . But that had not altered his opinion that it was inexpedient to lay out a large sum of money until Grand Lodge was out of debt . Bro . Li „ EVANS said that they had been lately
of necessity obliged to incur great expenses in painting and cleaning the buildings , and therefore Grand Lodge was not in a position to go to further expense , and pay as large a sum for a luxury which they could obtain at ^ 5 a quarter on hire , as it had cost to put the hall in repair .
He also agreed that they should first pay their debts . Bro . J AMES MASON had had the honour of bringing the motion for the grant before Grand Lodge on the last occasion , and that , too , in a lodge composed of more members than were now present . He believed that , at the time he
brought it forward the strong opposition to it was grounded on the fact that k \ v members were present . Now , however , there were fewer . If ever a motion was opposed weakl y , this was opposed most weakly . He always felt great
reluctance in opposing anything that was proposed by the distinguished brother the Grand Registrar , for whom he entertained the most profound respect but he entertained anything but a profound respect for his arguments on this
Grand Lodge.
occasion . He believed they wanted but an organ to render their solemnities complete . They were not asked to expend £ 600 , but not to exceed £ 600 . If an organ could be provided for a crown or a pound , they were to get it . The discnt ! v- ) as to the expense was left in the
hands of the Board of General Purposes . So much for the argument as to the great amount to be expended ; and then , looking at their large funds , they need not be alarmed at the sum . Pie remembered a time when the procession came into the hall with dignity , and not as a funeral
procession , with that " solemn silence" with which it was now ushered in . An organ , although not a very good one , was played , and , as he believed , added much to the pleasure of every brother who attended Grand Lodge . Brethren who attended and wanted a good place
for hearing must come an hour before the Grand Master took his seat on the throne . During the interval they mi ght have " most excellent music . " No one could object to provide for Grand Lodge that which was provided for almost every private lodge in the Craft . Therefore he hoped they would not be niggardly about so small a
sum , which would make the ceremonies complete . He would say one word with respect to their Grand Organist , Bro . Coward . His fame was world-wide ; and to appoint a Grand Organist , while having no organ at all , was not a plan that was consistent with the common sense of Freemasons . He felt satisfied the resolution would be confirmed .
Bro . AVIGGINTON was surprised that the Grand Registrar should say there were but few brethren in the hall when the motion was brought forward . If any brethren . wished to stay to prevent the motion being carried , they could do so . He hoped that so large a bodv as the Freemasons
would not allow it to go forth to the world that theirceremonies were suffered to be shorn of their grandeur for a few pounds . Bro . HoLLONwas sure all the brethren desired to have an organ , but he wished to know what was the amount of the debt owed by Grand Lodge .
The GRAND SECRETARY replied that the debt owing by the Fund of General Purposes to the Fund of Benevolence was , £ 19 , , the interest on which was ^ 760 a year . Bro . STEHMNG adopted the argument that what was considered necessary by private lodges
ought to be necessary for Grand Lodge . Pie need only mention the cold , flat , and uncomfortable manner in which the procession entered Grand Lodge that evening , without even the solemnity which used to characterise their proceedings when they had a very imperfect
instrument to assist them . Although £ boo was not sufficient , the principle ought to be affirmed that they should have an organ for the building , and without which instrument it would not be perfect and their ceremonies would not be complete . He did not speak for himself , but for the creat
men who presided over the brethren . Those great men would not have the dignity which was attached to all other proceedings in which they took part , and which dignity should be an essential portion of the proceedings of Grand Lodge . Something was said about respect for
great men . Well , he did not know that he had much respect for anybody —( oh );—but he had great respect for great people ' s opinions , and for the great opinions whether of great people or little people ; but he must say there was no greatness in the objection to this motion , on a
question of ^ , ' 600 in the Grand Lodge of England . As a question of finance , it was entirely out of the question . AVas an organ a proper adjunct to Masonry ? All over the world it was brought in with very grout effect , and he thought that when Grand Lodge entered this
buildingsometimes , they might hope , with members of the Royal family , distinguished ministers , and distinguished foreigners—if it was assisted with the solemn and beautiful instrument , instead of with that dead flat silence they had had that night , it would be more imposing , andij what all
bodies were glad to have attached to them . Upon the question of money , when they had been so lavish , and when so many thousands had been spent on the buildings , do not let such a consideration weigh with lliein . J f , £ 600 were not enough , let them double it . Let " them have
Grand Lodge.
an instrument worthy of Masonry ; and if , as he had heard said before , that the use of it three 01 four times would not keep it in proper order , let it be used fourteen or fifteen times a year , and give people an opportunity of coming and listening to it , and have that extra hour ' s recreation
for brethren when they assembled , if . it was necessary to make the organ more useful . Let it not go forth to the world that , upon the confirmation of the minutes , they allowed ; £ 6 oo to interfere with that which gave dignity and decorum to their proceedings , without which
this beautiful building would be shorn of its fanproportions . Bro . J AMES COWARD said he was disappointed , grieved , and wounded at this paltry opposition . He said paltry opposition , because when Grand Lodge was asked for ^ 600 to buy an organ after
, £ 60 , 000 or , £ 70 , 000 had been spent on the building , ^ 600 was not a large sum . The Grand Registrar had to-night entirely changed his ground . Last time , his argument was that the organ would be always getting out of repair . Pie now found that argument untenable , and he
changed it . Now . he put his objection on the ground of expense . He ( Bro . Coward ) hoped the brethren would not be led away by half a dozen non-musical brethren—those who had not a soul for music . Grand Lodge should rise up with a soul equal to the occasion , and affirm the
principle that there ought to be an organ to grace its proceedings . Bro . E . Cox thought that after spending £ 60 , 000 or , £ 70 , 000 on the building , care should be taken that the organ should not be
so placed as to destroy its uniformity . As £ 600 was proposed for the organ , that would be about , £ 12 a minute for every time it was played . He thought that when they had an opportunity of spending the . £ 600 to so much better advantage at the Board of Benevolence it was thrown away
on an organ . Bro . RADCUFF reminded the brethren that when a motion had been carried in Grand Lodge after full argument it was expected that if a brother rose to move the omission of that part of the minutes which related to it some stronger
reasoning would be brought forward to commend itself to Grand Lodge . The only argument had been the expense , which seemed utterly , beside the question . Probably Bro . Raynham Stewart , who was already boiling over with his reply , would bring forward some very strong reasons in support of his amendment of the minutes .
In reply to Bro . Cox , it seemed absurd to suppose that the architect who had the superintendence of all the buildings would not be able to prepare plans with the organ builders that would rather grace the hall than destroy its symmetry . There could be no doubt that an organ was an absolute necessity for their proceedings , and they would stultify themselves if they altered the
minutes . Bro . R . A \ . STE \ VAUT did not think that Masonry wanted the assistance of music or anything of the sort , and he did not suppose that brethren would come an hour earlier to hear the organ . As he had said before , he thought they should first pay off their debt . He had no wish to curtail the
committee in any way , and he did not think there was any argument which had been adduced to justify their going to so great an extra expense . But he would leave the matter in the hands of the brethren . Bro . Stewart ' s amendment was thereupon put and lost .
Bro . HORACE LI . OYD , Q . C ., would move another amendment . The Grand Secretary stated on lhe minutes that the Grand Deacons collected the voting papers on the occasion of the ballot for the Board of General Purposes . This was not so . He ( Bro . Lloyd ) declined to do it , on
the ground that it was the work of the Scrutineers . The correction he considered important . The Scrutineers collected them . Bro . 15 . BAKER said if a mistake occurred in the minutes it was in the power of Grand Lodge to correct it . Bro . Lloyd had made a mere verbal correction of a matter which was of no
consequence . The ACTING G . M . : I think it is unnecessary to discuss this question . It is quite clear there
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Lodge.
GRAND LODGE .
The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge took place on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of CARNARVON , D . G . M ., presided , in the absence of the M . W . G . M ., the Earl of LIMERICK taking the position of D . G . M . Col . Burdett ,
Prov . G . M . Middlesex , occupied the S . W . chair , and Sir F . Martin Williams Bart ., M . P ., was in his postasJ . G . W . Grand Lodge was but scantily attended , as is customary at the September meeting ; and there was but a small amount of business to be transacted . Among the brethren
who attended we noticed the following : Bros . Colonel E . C . Malet de Carteret , Prov . G . M ., Jersey ; Samuel Rawson , Past D . G . M ., China ; Revs . C . J . Martyn and Walter F . Short , G . Chaplains ; Revs . R . J . Simpson and C . R . Davy , P . G . Chaplains ; H . Lloyd , Q . C ., S . G . D . ;
G . Cox , G . W . K . Potter , C . H . Gregory , Brackstone Baker , J . M . Clabon , E . J . Fraser , 'H . Browse , E . S . Snell , S . L . Tomkins , and T- RStebbing , P . G . D . ' s ; M . J . Mclntyre , G . Reg . ; J . LI . Evans , Pres . Bd . Gen . Purposes ; G . C . Dumas , A . G . D . C . ; T . Fenn , P . A . G . D . C . ; W .
Famfield , P . A . G . Sec . ; R . W . Hollon , G . S . B . ; H . Pullen , J . Nunn , W . Young , E . H . Patten , R . J . Spiers , and James Mason , P . G . S . B . ' s ; J . Coward , G . O . ; J . Brett , G . P . ; J . Coutts , A . G . P . ; W . Ough , J . Smith , and T . A . Adams , P . G . P . ' s ; R . W . Stewart , E . Cox , R . Spencer , C . A .
Cottebrune , G . Kenning , Samuel May , H . G . Buss , F . Walters , S . Rosenthal , W . C . Moutrie , W . Watson , S . Gale , G . King , sen ., and G . King , jun ., F . Davison , R . Wentworth Little , H . W . Lindus , C . J . Lacey ,
Capt . J . W . C . Whitbread , R . Kenyon , A . A . Pendlebury , AV . Smith , G . Dudley , Matt . Cooke , R . Gumey , J . Hughnan , H . Massey , C . Sendey , J . Thomas , G . Gee , S . Coulton , J . Bendy , J . F . Creswick , AV . Dodd , C . Bennett , AV . AVigginton , and Henry Radcliffe .
The GRAND SECRETARY read the minutes of last Quarterly Communication in June , and on these being put by the acting GRAND MASTER for confirmation , Bro . RAYNHAM AV . STEWART moved as an
amendment that the part of the minutes relating to the purchase of an organ for Grand Lodge be not confirmed . It seemed extraordinary " that Grand Lodge should be asked to pay ^ 600 for an organ . It was a perfect waste of money .
The GRAND REGISTRAR supported the amendment . He had opposed the grant at the time it was brought forward on these grounds : that at the present time Grand Lodge was very considerably in debt , and it ought to be out of debt before this money was laid out . AVlien the
motion was brought forward there was a very thin lodge , most of the brethren having departed . He had thought it should stand over until further information was obtained upon it thereafter , either from the Board of General Purposes or a committee appointed to inquire into
the subject . He met the motion with a direct negative , but it was carried by a majority . But that had not altered his opinion that it was inexpedient to lay out a large sum of money until Grand Lodge was out of debt . Bro . Li „ EVANS said that they had been lately
of necessity obliged to incur great expenses in painting and cleaning the buildings , and therefore Grand Lodge was not in a position to go to further expense , and pay as large a sum for a luxury which they could obtain at ^ 5 a quarter on hire , as it had cost to put the hall in repair .
He also agreed that they should first pay their debts . Bro . J AMES MASON had had the honour of bringing the motion for the grant before Grand Lodge on the last occasion , and that , too , in a lodge composed of more members than were now present . He believed that , at the time he
brought it forward the strong opposition to it was grounded on the fact that k \ v members were present . Now , however , there were fewer . If ever a motion was opposed weakl y , this was opposed most weakly . He always felt great
reluctance in opposing anything that was proposed by the distinguished brother the Grand Registrar , for whom he entertained the most profound respect but he entertained anything but a profound respect for his arguments on this
Grand Lodge.
occasion . He believed they wanted but an organ to render their solemnities complete . They were not asked to expend £ 600 , but not to exceed £ 600 . If an organ could be provided for a crown or a pound , they were to get it . The discnt ! v- ) as to the expense was left in the
hands of the Board of General Purposes . So much for the argument as to the great amount to be expended ; and then , looking at their large funds , they need not be alarmed at the sum . Pie remembered a time when the procession came into the hall with dignity , and not as a funeral
procession , with that " solemn silence" with which it was now ushered in . An organ , although not a very good one , was played , and , as he believed , added much to the pleasure of every brother who attended Grand Lodge . Brethren who attended and wanted a good place
for hearing must come an hour before the Grand Master took his seat on the throne . During the interval they mi ght have " most excellent music . " No one could object to provide for Grand Lodge that which was provided for almost every private lodge in the Craft . Therefore he hoped they would not be niggardly about so small a
sum , which would make the ceremonies complete . He would say one word with respect to their Grand Organist , Bro . Coward . His fame was world-wide ; and to appoint a Grand Organist , while having no organ at all , was not a plan that was consistent with the common sense of Freemasons . He felt satisfied the resolution would be confirmed .
Bro . AVIGGINTON was surprised that the Grand Registrar should say there were but few brethren in the hall when the motion was brought forward . If any brethren . wished to stay to prevent the motion being carried , they could do so . He hoped that so large a bodv as the Freemasons
would not allow it to go forth to the world that theirceremonies were suffered to be shorn of their grandeur for a few pounds . Bro . HoLLONwas sure all the brethren desired to have an organ , but he wished to know what was the amount of the debt owed by Grand Lodge .
The GRAND SECRETARY replied that the debt owing by the Fund of General Purposes to the Fund of Benevolence was , £ 19 , , the interest on which was ^ 760 a year . Bro . STEHMNG adopted the argument that what was considered necessary by private lodges
ought to be necessary for Grand Lodge . Pie need only mention the cold , flat , and uncomfortable manner in which the procession entered Grand Lodge that evening , without even the solemnity which used to characterise their proceedings when they had a very imperfect
instrument to assist them . Although £ boo was not sufficient , the principle ought to be affirmed that they should have an organ for the building , and without which instrument it would not be perfect and their ceremonies would not be complete . He did not speak for himself , but for the creat
men who presided over the brethren . Those great men would not have the dignity which was attached to all other proceedings in which they took part , and which dignity should be an essential portion of the proceedings of Grand Lodge . Something was said about respect for
great men . Well , he did not know that he had much respect for anybody —( oh );—but he had great respect for great people ' s opinions , and for the great opinions whether of great people or little people ; but he must say there was no greatness in the objection to this motion , on a
question of ^ , ' 600 in the Grand Lodge of England . As a question of finance , it was entirely out of the question . AVas an organ a proper adjunct to Masonry ? All over the world it was brought in with very grout effect , and he thought that when Grand Lodge entered this
buildingsometimes , they might hope , with members of the Royal family , distinguished ministers , and distinguished foreigners—if it was assisted with the solemn and beautiful instrument , instead of with that dead flat silence they had had that night , it would be more imposing , andij what all
bodies were glad to have attached to them . Upon the question of money , when they had been so lavish , and when so many thousands had been spent on the buildings , do not let such a consideration weigh with lliein . J f , £ 600 were not enough , let them double it . Let " them have
Grand Lodge.
an instrument worthy of Masonry ; and if , as he had heard said before , that the use of it three 01 four times would not keep it in proper order , let it be used fourteen or fifteen times a year , and give people an opportunity of coming and listening to it , and have that extra hour ' s recreation
for brethren when they assembled , if . it was necessary to make the organ more useful . Let it not go forth to the world that , upon the confirmation of the minutes , they allowed ; £ 6 oo to interfere with that which gave dignity and decorum to their proceedings , without which
this beautiful building would be shorn of its fanproportions . Bro . J AMES COWARD said he was disappointed , grieved , and wounded at this paltry opposition . He said paltry opposition , because when Grand Lodge was asked for ^ 600 to buy an organ after
, £ 60 , 000 or , £ 70 , 000 had been spent on the building , ^ 600 was not a large sum . The Grand Registrar had to-night entirely changed his ground . Last time , his argument was that the organ would be always getting out of repair . Pie now found that argument untenable , and he
changed it . Now . he put his objection on the ground of expense . He ( Bro . Coward ) hoped the brethren would not be led away by half a dozen non-musical brethren—those who had not a soul for music . Grand Lodge should rise up with a soul equal to the occasion , and affirm the
principle that there ought to be an organ to grace its proceedings . Bro . E . Cox thought that after spending £ 60 , 000 or , £ 70 , 000 on the building , care should be taken that the organ should not be
so placed as to destroy its uniformity . As £ 600 was proposed for the organ , that would be about , £ 12 a minute for every time it was played . He thought that when they had an opportunity of spending the . £ 600 to so much better advantage at the Board of Benevolence it was thrown away
on an organ . Bro . RADCUFF reminded the brethren that when a motion had been carried in Grand Lodge after full argument it was expected that if a brother rose to move the omission of that part of the minutes which related to it some stronger
reasoning would be brought forward to commend itself to Grand Lodge . The only argument had been the expense , which seemed utterly , beside the question . Probably Bro . Raynham Stewart , who was already boiling over with his reply , would bring forward some very strong reasons in support of his amendment of the minutes .
In reply to Bro . Cox , it seemed absurd to suppose that the architect who had the superintendence of all the buildings would not be able to prepare plans with the organ builders that would rather grace the hall than destroy its symmetry . There could be no doubt that an organ was an absolute necessity for their proceedings , and they would stultify themselves if they altered the
minutes . Bro . R . A \ . STE \ VAUT did not think that Masonry wanted the assistance of music or anything of the sort , and he did not suppose that brethren would come an hour earlier to hear the organ . As he had said before , he thought they should first pay off their debt . He had no wish to curtail the
committee in any way , and he did not think there was any argument which had been adduced to justify their going to so great an extra expense . But he would leave the matter in the hands of the brethren . Bro . Stewart ' s amendment was thereupon put and lost .
Bro . HORACE LI . OYD , Q . C ., would move another amendment . The Grand Secretary stated on lhe minutes that the Grand Deacons collected the voting papers on the occasion of the ballot for the Board of General Purposes . This was not so . He ( Bro . Lloyd ) declined to do it , on
the ground that it was the work of the Scrutineers . The correction he considered important . The Scrutineers collected them . Bro . 15 . BAKER said if a mistake occurred in the minutes it was in the power of Grand Lodge to correct it . Bro . Lloyd had made a mere verbal correction of a matter which was of no
consequence . The ACTING G . M . : I think it is unnecessary to discuss this question . It is quite clear there