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Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
Bro . Raynham W . Stewait : But it is exclusive of youv commission . Bro . Massa : Yes . Thc commission would be some £ 1200 . The Chairman said , that perhaps the brethren might ask why thc committee were proposing to build so large a school . It was for these simple reasons ; first , that the
requirements of the Craft were rapidly becoming very large , and there was no doubt that in ten or fifteen years all the space now proposed to be gWen would be required ; and secondly , that instead of patching , as they had been doing for the last twelve years , it was thought best to do all that was required at once , and make but one iob of it . From the year 1862 they had been putting on a bit
here to the building , and a bit there , and this had cost £ 15 , 609 . He would ask whether it was not better to go into the thing at once and do it properly , than continue on this principle . Bro . Kenyon said it would probably be in the recollection of many of the brethren that at the last quarterly meeting several propositions were brought forward ,
one by Bro . Joshua Nunn , that £ 25 , 000 should be expended in the purchase of land and the erection of a new building elsewhere than at Battersea Rise . There was also a proposition of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart that they should utilise the infirmary , on which a large sum of money had already been expended . Bro . Rucker brought
forward another proposition ; and the result was that the whole question was referred to a Special House Committee ; but this House Committee was to receive suggestions which any brother might feel disposed to offer , and give them due consideration . He understood that the House Committee did receive such suggestions , considered , and then ignored them one after another . The scheme now before the
meeting he understood met with the approval of the majority of the House Committee . To that scheme he had some objection , and at the monthly meeting of the General Committee , which was held on the 25 th November , he proposed an amendment to the report of the House Committee . He was met by Bro . Dubois starting the objection that he could not put that amendment at that meeting ,
and the Chairman ruled in Bro . Dubois' favour , that it could not be done at the committee meeting , but must be done at this court . The Chairman said no , not at this Special Court , but at the regular Quarterly Court . Bro . Kenyon could do so still by giving proper notice to the General Committee . Bro . Kenyon said , at all events he was to bring it on here .
The Chairman proposed to call a Special Court in order to save time . However , he ( Bro . Kenyon ) was debarred from bringing his amendment on at the General Committee . The Chairman , interposing , said , in the first place Bro . Kenyon did not give notice of his motion . He must do that . He ( the Chairman ) told him he could bring his
motion forward at a Quarterly Court , but it was not his business to tell him to give notice there and then . Bro . Kenyon replied that he had received a letter from Bro . Little saying that he could not bring his motion on at the present Special Meeting ; he would therefore move the rejection of the proposition and go to the Quarterly Court with his own scheme , which he proposed to have
carried out . He would now state the reason why he opposed the adoption of this Report . In the first place he thought it very impolitic and unwise to go to so large an expense to erect a building on the present site . They all knew very well it was not one of the most healthy . They also knew that the land which they now possessed was not very extensive ; and to erect a very large building , in
addition to that which they already possessed , would be foolish , inasmuch as they ought not to crowd a large number of children together in a building . In the next place they knew , for they saw it every day of their lives , that there was a large colony of small houses springing up around this school ; and in a few years there would be found a very crowded neighbourhood there , which would
not be conducive to the health of the children . The next objection he had was to the very large amount of money which it was proposed to spend . Now , it was perfectly true they had £ 40 , 000 , the accumulated fund of several years' saving ; but the Committee came down to this court , and proposed at one fell swoop to strike off about £ 21 , 000 . Let them bear this in mind ; they proposed to
take upon themselves the increased responsibility of another ninety-four children , whom they must clothe , feed , and educate ; and at the same time they were knocking off £ ioooa year from their income by expending the £ 21 , 000 on the building . No man of ordinary business pursuits would do such a thing . And what had they got when they had done this ? If there had before been a chance of
the railway company taking the present building , when the compensation they would have to pay was increased by £ 20 , 000 or £ 30 , 000 that chance would be destroyed . A railway company , before embarking on an extension of their works , would hesitate when they had such a sum to pay as' £ 40 , 000 or £ 50 , 000 ; and they would gladly abandon the project when it could only be done on such
terms . The brethren would be wrong in spending such a large sum of money on the present site . They should look out for a healthy locality where they might have extensive grounds , and where a building might be erected which was fit for Freemasons to have , not for the present only , but for the future . He thought Bro . Massa was wrong when they said thc expense would be less than the estimate , rather than more . He had never known such a
thing in his life—he did not know whether any one else had—of a building costing less than the original estimate . The building , he thought , would cost more than £ 30 , 000 , instead of less than £ 20 , 000 . It always had been the case , and always would be . Every one who had entered in building operations knew that an estimate never was reduced . Therefore he had a very strong objection to the expenditure of this money . He did not think that because
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
they had £ 40 , 000 they ought to expend £ 25 , 000 in erecting an addition to this present building on a portion of the land they had , in which building they would crowd the children , and so not conduce to their health . He would therefore move , " That this Report be rejected , " and if it were rejected , as he hoped it would be , then the House Committee could bring forward any other proposal they think
fit . He would then bring forward his proposition , which would not cost half the amount , and the brethren would get an institution of their own worthy of them . He was precluded from introducing the particulars of his proposal by the ruling of the Chairman . The Chairman : No , not by my ruling , but by the rules of this Institution .
Bro . Kenyon : If this Report were rejected ( he did not see that there was any haste required in the matter ) he would bring forward his motion as a substantive motion at the next Quarterly General Court . Bro . John Symonds said that as a matter of form there was no necessity to move an amendment . Bro . Kenyon , if he disagreed with the mover of the propositon , could vote
with those who opposed it . Bro . H . Browse had no doubt that the brethren must add very considerably to the estimate of £ 21 , 000 . Never in his life had he seen an estimate from an architect—and he had had large experience—when it had not been
exceeded . It had even been the case with this Institution . The The . infirmary was an instance . He was quite sure that for £ 21 , 000 ought to be read £ 25 , 000 at least . Do not let them go into the undertaking under any false impression ; it would not be done , he thought , even for £ 25 , 000 . Bro . W . Winn : And then there is the cost of the
furniture . Bro . H . Browse : There had been other schemes before the committee which would cost but half the money . Bro . W . Ramsey said that a remark had been made by Bro . Kenyon in respect of the healthiness of the present site ; was it true that this site was not a healthy one ? The Chairman said he would answer that question
by saying that in seven years they had had but two deaths . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart observed that he did not think they were justified in going to this enormous expense ; there was really no necessity for it . Although they had an estimate for a new building , the Infirmary might be utilised ; and at a small cost they might be able to
accommodate a large additional number of children . They might build a hall , and the whole expense would come out at about £ 10 , 000 ; £ 14 , 000 at the very extreme . That had been his proposition ; but he was met by the architect , saying ( at least he believed he said ) that his ( Bro . Stewart ' s ) plan was to pull down this place , which cost £ 7000 , and build up another which must cost £ 14 , 000 .
That was not his proposition ; he would have been an idiot to propose such a thing . As that was the feeling , he withdrew his scheme . His scheme was still to utilise the infirmary . The chairman had said they had had only two deaths in seven years . If that was the case they did not want such an infirmary . Let them make use of it ; lengthen their dining hall ; and go to an expense of
£ 10 , 000 or £ 11 , 000 ; and then , if the railway company wanted their premises they would pay them compensation . He did not think there was any chance of the railway coming there ; but at the same time , as Bro . Browse had said , this new scheme could not be covered by £ 25 , , or anything like it ; therefore he could not say he agreed in the plan .
Bro . Herbert Dicketts wished to call attention to the subject of the healthiness of the neighbourhood of the present building . Her Majesty's Goverment always looked out for the most healthy places to build their gaols ; and they issued royal commissions to enquire into the subject . There had been two such commissions , and both had reported favourably on this locality ; and in it they had
built the Royal Patriotic School for Girls and the Royal Patriotic School for Boys . The parishjtoo had proposed to build a district workhouse there . Bro . Z . D . Berry , P . M . 179 , said it was a mistake to think that the present site was an unhealthy one . A more healthy spot did not exist , with the exception perhaps of Hampstead . As to the building of a large place , he
thought that any business man would face a difficulty at once . Instead of frittering away their money as they had been doing for the last thirteen years , they should have their expense once for all . His experience was that the cheapest way was to grasp the subject now ; and meet their liabilities and demands . Was it possible that they were to be retrograde in their movements , and not
maintain the position they had hitherto attained ? Was there any reason for believing that their subscriptions would not advance , as he was glad to say the Boys' School subscriptions had advanced ? The arguments he had heard had convinced him of the desirability of adopting the recommendations of the committee . He was well acquainted with subjects of this kind . He had been on a great
number of committees , more perhaps than any one in that room , and he knew that questions refeired to them were fully considered . W as it fair to the committee to waste a lot of time , now that they came forward with a report , to which there were but two dissentients ? Let them at once put their shoulders to the wheel and act upon it . As to finances , there would be no difficulty ; but as to the
railway coming on to the site of the school , it was only a bugbear : there was not much probability of their coming . Col . Burdett said that the brethren were all aware that the neighbourhood of Clapham Junction was beginning to be crowded with houses and other buildings ; and
although it was very healthy now , when it became more crowded a different state of circumstances might occur , and it might be found to be a very unhealthy position indeed . They would then find that having spent a large sum of money , it had been thrown away , and a much larger sum than was now proposed to be laid out would
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
be required for another building . This question h thought required a great deal more consideration than it had yet had . It was one of vital importance to themselves and those who were under their care . If the building R 0 t hemmed in by all sorts of buildings—they could not tell what they might be—they might repent having laid out so much money , although the healthiness of th * m „ .
might now bevery great . With regard to the House of Correction , and other large public buildings having been erected in the neighbourhood , it must be remembered that they were at a very great distance from the Girls' School and not likely to be shut in by houses being erected . Bro . Z . D . Berry said there was a large space of ground round about the Girls' School , on which no buildings could be erected , as it was secured for ever to the general public
( No , no . ) Bro . E . J . Barron' remarked that there was one con . elusive answer to the brother who last spoke ( Col . Burdett ) , that they had Wandsworth Common within three four minutes' walk , which could not possibly be built upon . They also had Clapham Common , which could not be built upon on that side of them . Then again , there was the railway on the other side , which could not be built
upon . Bro . W . Roebuck thought it would assist the brethren in their deliberations if they were to be told what acreage of ground was already the property of the school . The Chairman : Two acres-and-a-half . Bro . W . Roebuck believed that it ought to be considered
before they laid out £ 25 , 000 in placing more buildings on this space , of which an acre was already covered , whether it was likely they would be able to acquire more ground adjoining . The Chairman : We are promised the refusal of some adjoining ground on the death of a lady who is now very old .
Bro . Roebuck : If we are only promised we have very little to depend upon . As regards the buildings springing up around us not on the railway side , no doubt every year we shall be built in more than we are now . I quite agree with Col . Burdett that before we agree to spend £ 25 , , which may be £ 30 , 000 , the matter ought to be more considered than it has been up to the present moment .
Bro . Dudley Rolls believed that after laying out this money it would be found expedient at a future time to remove these schools . In connection with all the various termini in London as Clapham Junction was , no doubt in course of time the neighbourhood would become as densely populated as Whitechapel . The time was therefore , not far distant when they would have again to take into consideration the removal of the school to a more beneficial
site . They had now two-and-a-half acres of land . It would increase in value in the ^ course of years , and they would get a larger sum for it than now , in addition to the value of the building materials . They would then go to a purer district , where they would have all that they wanted . Such being the case it appeared to him evident that whatever sum of money was laid out now would be
entirely useless and absolutely thrown away . Bro . W . Winn reminded the Court that although the Chairman had stated they had had but two deaths in seven years , he had omitted to state that they had had various epidemics . In cases of illness it was necessary to have perfect quiet round the building ; but with the railway locomotives screeching night and day this could not be
obtained , and it was very detrimental to sick people . The time must come , he thought , when they must follow the example of other institutions , and remove out of the densely populated neighbourhood of London to seek the fine and healthy atmosphere of the country , where they would have larger grounds , a better institution , and more inmates than they could have in their present circumscribed space .
Bro . Dr . Ramsay had not intended to oppose the proposition of the Special Committee ; but he thought he must oppose it now on the following grounds : —That to erect a building to cost upwards of £ 25 , , or even £ 20 , 000 , on an area of two-and-a-half acres seemed to him most unwise and opposed to sound policy . The arguments adduced by Col . Burdett and others had great weight with
him . Had the sum been moderate he would not have opposed it ; but a large expenditure of this kind without a large equivalent was a waste of money . It was highly improbable that they would ever get it back—however long they might wait for it—or anything like that sum . Whether the spot was or was not unhealthy now , in a short time it would be hemmed in , and they must remove thc
children to a better position . Bro . Joseph Smith would move an amendment with the view of bringing both parties together , and he thought the brethren ought to be very nearly unanimous in supporting it . He was not disposed to reject the report of the committee , because he thought they must have taken a great deal of trouble about it . His amendment was that after having
heard the arguments pro and con the report should be referred back to the committee for further consideration . If that should be carried by anything like a majority the committee , when they had the report back , would consider any other scheme involvinga smaller expenditure of money . That could then be brought before the Court , and if tliev could be unanimous it would be desirable . If the present
report was carried , he was sure it would not be by a large majority . If it were carried by only a few votes it would not be satisfactory to the Craft . They must look to the Craft at large for support ; and if it went forth that they were spending a large sum of money it might do harm-But if after consideration they should come to the
conclusion to spend a large sum , no doubt as Masonry was increasing , and they should extend their building , it would meet with the concurrence of the whole Craft . Bro . John Boyd seconded the amendment . Bro . H . Browse said it was true that this was the report of the committee with only two dissentients ; but there had been two other schemes before that committee which had
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Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
Bro . Raynham W . Stewait : But it is exclusive of youv commission . Bro . Massa : Yes . Thc commission would be some £ 1200 . The Chairman said , that perhaps the brethren might ask why thc committee were proposing to build so large a school . It was for these simple reasons ; first , that the
requirements of the Craft were rapidly becoming very large , and there was no doubt that in ten or fifteen years all the space now proposed to be gWen would be required ; and secondly , that instead of patching , as they had been doing for the last twelve years , it was thought best to do all that was required at once , and make but one iob of it . From the year 1862 they had been putting on a bit
here to the building , and a bit there , and this had cost £ 15 , 609 . He would ask whether it was not better to go into the thing at once and do it properly , than continue on this principle . Bro . Kenyon said it would probably be in the recollection of many of the brethren that at the last quarterly meeting several propositions were brought forward ,
one by Bro . Joshua Nunn , that £ 25 , 000 should be expended in the purchase of land and the erection of a new building elsewhere than at Battersea Rise . There was also a proposition of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart that they should utilise the infirmary , on which a large sum of money had already been expended . Bro . Rucker brought
forward another proposition ; and the result was that the whole question was referred to a Special House Committee ; but this House Committee was to receive suggestions which any brother might feel disposed to offer , and give them due consideration . He understood that the House Committee did receive such suggestions , considered , and then ignored them one after another . The scheme now before the
meeting he understood met with the approval of the majority of the House Committee . To that scheme he had some objection , and at the monthly meeting of the General Committee , which was held on the 25 th November , he proposed an amendment to the report of the House Committee . He was met by Bro . Dubois starting the objection that he could not put that amendment at that meeting ,
and the Chairman ruled in Bro . Dubois' favour , that it could not be done at the committee meeting , but must be done at this court . The Chairman said no , not at this Special Court , but at the regular Quarterly Court . Bro . Kenyon could do so still by giving proper notice to the General Committee . Bro . Kenyon said , at all events he was to bring it on here .
The Chairman proposed to call a Special Court in order to save time . However , he ( Bro . Kenyon ) was debarred from bringing his amendment on at the General Committee . The Chairman , interposing , said , in the first place Bro . Kenyon did not give notice of his motion . He must do that . He ( the Chairman ) told him he could bring his
motion forward at a Quarterly Court , but it was not his business to tell him to give notice there and then . Bro . Kenyon replied that he had received a letter from Bro . Little saying that he could not bring his motion on at the present Special Meeting ; he would therefore move the rejection of the proposition and go to the Quarterly Court with his own scheme , which he proposed to have
carried out . He would now state the reason why he opposed the adoption of this Report . In the first place he thought it very impolitic and unwise to go to so large an expense to erect a building on the present site . They all knew very well it was not one of the most healthy . They also knew that the land which they now possessed was not very extensive ; and to erect a very large building , in
addition to that which they already possessed , would be foolish , inasmuch as they ought not to crowd a large number of children together in a building . In the next place they knew , for they saw it every day of their lives , that there was a large colony of small houses springing up around this school ; and in a few years there would be found a very crowded neighbourhood there , which would
not be conducive to the health of the children . The next objection he had was to the very large amount of money which it was proposed to spend . Now , it was perfectly true they had £ 40 , 000 , the accumulated fund of several years' saving ; but the Committee came down to this court , and proposed at one fell swoop to strike off about £ 21 , 000 . Let them bear this in mind ; they proposed to
take upon themselves the increased responsibility of another ninety-four children , whom they must clothe , feed , and educate ; and at the same time they were knocking off £ ioooa year from their income by expending the £ 21 , 000 on the building . No man of ordinary business pursuits would do such a thing . And what had they got when they had done this ? If there had before been a chance of
the railway company taking the present building , when the compensation they would have to pay was increased by £ 20 , 000 or £ 30 , 000 that chance would be destroyed . A railway company , before embarking on an extension of their works , would hesitate when they had such a sum to pay as' £ 40 , 000 or £ 50 , 000 ; and they would gladly abandon the project when it could only be done on such
terms . The brethren would be wrong in spending such a large sum of money on the present site . They should look out for a healthy locality where they might have extensive grounds , and where a building might be erected which was fit for Freemasons to have , not for the present only , but for the future . He thought Bro . Massa was wrong when they said thc expense would be less than the estimate , rather than more . He had never known such a
thing in his life—he did not know whether any one else had—of a building costing less than the original estimate . The building , he thought , would cost more than £ 30 , 000 , instead of less than £ 20 , 000 . It always had been the case , and always would be . Every one who had entered in building operations knew that an estimate never was reduced . Therefore he had a very strong objection to the expenditure of this money . He did not think that because
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
they had £ 40 , 000 they ought to expend £ 25 , 000 in erecting an addition to this present building on a portion of the land they had , in which building they would crowd the children , and so not conduce to their health . He would therefore move , " That this Report be rejected , " and if it were rejected , as he hoped it would be , then the House Committee could bring forward any other proposal they think
fit . He would then bring forward his proposition , which would not cost half the amount , and the brethren would get an institution of their own worthy of them . He was precluded from introducing the particulars of his proposal by the ruling of the Chairman . The Chairman : No , not by my ruling , but by the rules of this Institution .
Bro . Kenyon : If this Report were rejected ( he did not see that there was any haste required in the matter ) he would bring forward his motion as a substantive motion at the next Quarterly General Court . Bro . John Symonds said that as a matter of form there was no necessity to move an amendment . Bro . Kenyon , if he disagreed with the mover of the propositon , could vote
with those who opposed it . Bro . H . Browse had no doubt that the brethren must add very considerably to the estimate of £ 21 , 000 . Never in his life had he seen an estimate from an architect—and he had had large experience—when it had not been
exceeded . It had even been the case with this Institution . The The . infirmary was an instance . He was quite sure that for £ 21 , 000 ought to be read £ 25 , 000 at least . Do not let them go into the undertaking under any false impression ; it would not be done , he thought , even for £ 25 , 000 . Bro . W . Winn : And then there is the cost of the
furniture . Bro . H . Browse : There had been other schemes before the committee which would cost but half the money . Bro . W . Ramsey said that a remark had been made by Bro . Kenyon in respect of the healthiness of the present site ; was it true that this site was not a healthy one ? The Chairman said he would answer that question
by saying that in seven years they had had but two deaths . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart observed that he did not think they were justified in going to this enormous expense ; there was really no necessity for it . Although they had an estimate for a new building , the Infirmary might be utilised ; and at a small cost they might be able to
accommodate a large additional number of children . They might build a hall , and the whole expense would come out at about £ 10 , 000 ; £ 14 , 000 at the very extreme . That had been his proposition ; but he was met by the architect , saying ( at least he believed he said ) that his ( Bro . Stewart ' s ) plan was to pull down this place , which cost £ 7000 , and build up another which must cost £ 14 , 000 .
That was not his proposition ; he would have been an idiot to propose such a thing . As that was the feeling , he withdrew his scheme . His scheme was still to utilise the infirmary . The chairman had said they had had only two deaths in seven years . If that was the case they did not want such an infirmary . Let them make use of it ; lengthen their dining hall ; and go to an expense of
£ 10 , 000 or £ 11 , 000 ; and then , if the railway company wanted their premises they would pay them compensation . He did not think there was any chance of the railway coming there ; but at the same time , as Bro . Browse had said , this new scheme could not be covered by £ 25 , , or anything like it ; therefore he could not say he agreed in the plan .
Bro . Herbert Dicketts wished to call attention to the subject of the healthiness of the neighbourhood of the present building . Her Majesty's Goverment always looked out for the most healthy places to build their gaols ; and they issued royal commissions to enquire into the subject . There had been two such commissions , and both had reported favourably on this locality ; and in it they had
built the Royal Patriotic School for Girls and the Royal Patriotic School for Boys . The parishjtoo had proposed to build a district workhouse there . Bro . Z . D . Berry , P . M . 179 , said it was a mistake to think that the present site was an unhealthy one . A more healthy spot did not exist , with the exception perhaps of Hampstead . As to the building of a large place , he
thought that any business man would face a difficulty at once . Instead of frittering away their money as they had been doing for the last thirteen years , they should have their expense once for all . His experience was that the cheapest way was to grasp the subject now ; and meet their liabilities and demands . Was it possible that they were to be retrograde in their movements , and not
maintain the position they had hitherto attained ? Was there any reason for believing that their subscriptions would not advance , as he was glad to say the Boys' School subscriptions had advanced ? The arguments he had heard had convinced him of the desirability of adopting the recommendations of the committee . He was well acquainted with subjects of this kind . He had been on a great
number of committees , more perhaps than any one in that room , and he knew that questions refeired to them were fully considered . W as it fair to the committee to waste a lot of time , now that they came forward with a report , to which there were but two dissentients ? Let them at once put their shoulders to the wheel and act upon it . As to finances , there would be no difficulty ; but as to the
railway coming on to the site of the school , it was only a bugbear : there was not much probability of their coming . Col . Burdett said that the brethren were all aware that the neighbourhood of Clapham Junction was beginning to be crowded with houses and other buildings ; and
although it was very healthy now , when it became more crowded a different state of circumstances might occur , and it might be found to be a very unhealthy position indeed . They would then find that having spent a large sum of money , it had been thrown away , and a much larger sum than was now proposed to be laid out would
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
be required for another building . This question h thought required a great deal more consideration than it had yet had . It was one of vital importance to themselves and those who were under their care . If the building R 0 t hemmed in by all sorts of buildings—they could not tell what they might be—they might repent having laid out so much money , although the healthiness of th * m „ .
might now bevery great . With regard to the House of Correction , and other large public buildings having been erected in the neighbourhood , it must be remembered that they were at a very great distance from the Girls' School and not likely to be shut in by houses being erected . Bro . Z . D . Berry said there was a large space of ground round about the Girls' School , on which no buildings could be erected , as it was secured for ever to the general public
( No , no . ) Bro . E . J . Barron' remarked that there was one con . elusive answer to the brother who last spoke ( Col . Burdett ) , that they had Wandsworth Common within three four minutes' walk , which could not possibly be built upon . They also had Clapham Common , which could not be built upon on that side of them . Then again , there was the railway on the other side , which could not be built
upon . Bro . W . Roebuck thought it would assist the brethren in their deliberations if they were to be told what acreage of ground was already the property of the school . The Chairman : Two acres-and-a-half . Bro . W . Roebuck believed that it ought to be considered
before they laid out £ 25 , 000 in placing more buildings on this space , of which an acre was already covered , whether it was likely they would be able to acquire more ground adjoining . The Chairman : We are promised the refusal of some adjoining ground on the death of a lady who is now very old .
Bro . Roebuck : If we are only promised we have very little to depend upon . As regards the buildings springing up around us not on the railway side , no doubt every year we shall be built in more than we are now . I quite agree with Col . Burdett that before we agree to spend £ 25 , , which may be £ 30 , 000 , the matter ought to be more considered than it has been up to the present moment .
Bro . Dudley Rolls believed that after laying out this money it would be found expedient at a future time to remove these schools . In connection with all the various termini in London as Clapham Junction was , no doubt in course of time the neighbourhood would become as densely populated as Whitechapel . The time was therefore , not far distant when they would have again to take into consideration the removal of the school to a more beneficial
site . They had now two-and-a-half acres of land . It would increase in value in the ^ course of years , and they would get a larger sum for it than now , in addition to the value of the building materials . They would then go to a purer district , where they would have all that they wanted . Such being the case it appeared to him evident that whatever sum of money was laid out now would be
entirely useless and absolutely thrown away . Bro . W . Winn reminded the Court that although the Chairman had stated they had had but two deaths in seven years , he had omitted to state that they had had various epidemics . In cases of illness it was necessary to have perfect quiet round the building ; but with the railway locomotives screeching night and day this could not be
obtained , and it was very detrimental to sick people . The time must come , he thought , when they must follow the example of other institutions , and remove out of the densely populated neighbourhood of London to seek the fine and healthy atmosphere of the country , where they would have larger grounds , a better institution , and more inmates than they could have in their present circumscribed space .
Bro . Dr . Ramsay had not intended to oppose the proposition of the Special Committee ; but he thought he must oppose it now on the following grounds : —That to erect a building to cost upwards of £ 25 , , or even £ 20 , 000 , on an area of two-and-a-half acres seemed to him most unwise and opposed to sound policy . The arguments adduced by Col . Burdett and others had great weight with
him . Had the sum been moderate he would not have opposed it ; but a large expenditure of this kind without a large equivalent was a waste of money . It was highly improbable that they would ever get it back—however long they might wait for it—or anything like that sum . Whether the spot was or was not unhealthy now , in a short time it would be hemmed in , and they must remove thc
children to a better position . Bro . Joseph Smith would move an amendment with the view of bringing both parties together , and he thought the brethren ought to be very nearly unanimous in supporting it . He was not disposed to reject the report of the committee , because he thought they must have taken a great deal of trouble about it . His amendment was that after having
heard the arguments pro and con the report should be referred back to the committee for further consideration . If that should be carried by anything like a majority the committee , when they had the report back , would consider any other scheme involvinga smaller expenditure of money . That could then be brought before the Court , and if tliev could be unanimous it would be desirable . If the present
report was carried , he was sure it would not be by a large majority . If it were carried by only a few votes it would not be satisfactory to the Craft . They must look to the Craft at large for support ; and if it went forth that they were spending a large sum of money it might do harm-But if after consideration they should come to the
conclusion to spend a large sum , no doubt as Masonry was increasing , and they should extend their building , it would meet with the concurrence of the whole Craft . Bro . John Boyd seconded the amendment . Bro . H . Browse said it was true that this was the report of the committee with only two dissentients ; but there had been two other schemes before that committee which had