Grand Lodge Of England

GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND

A Grand Lodge of Emergency was held on Friday evening , i 6 thinst ., in the Temple for the purpose of considering and deciding upon a motion proposed by the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , for a grant of ^ 500

towards the fund now being raised , under the auspices of the Prince of Wales , for aid to the sick and wounded in war . The Earl of Carnarvon presided as Grand Master , and was supported by the Bros , the Earl of Limerick ,

Prov . G . M . Bristol , as D . G . M . ; Col . Burdett , Prov . G . M . Middlesex , as S G . W . ; S . Rawson , P . G . D . M . China , as J . G . W . ; M . J . Mclntyre . G . R . ; J . LI . Evans , Pres . B . G . P . ; J . Hervey , G . Sec . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , G . Chaplain : H .

Browse , P . G . D . ; J . Hogg , P . G . D . •T . Fenn , P . A . G . D . C . ; J . Coward , G . O . ; J . Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; E . H . Patten , P . G . S . B . : W . Young ,

P . G . S . B . ; J . Brett , G . P . ; J . Coutts , A . G . P . ; T . A . Adams , P . G . R ; J . Mason , P . G . S . B . ; R . W . Stewart , S . C . Hadley , J . M . Stedwell , F . Walters , Pestonjee Bazonjee , C . A . Cottebrune , G . Gee , S . G . Foxall , J . C . Fourdrinier , H .

Parsons , G . Neall , D . M . Folkard , C . Tatham , J Glass , T . E . Webb , H . Thomson , S . Gale , M . Cook , W . M . Bywater , A . G . Church , F . Hockley , T . Robinson , W . Stone , J . A . Rucker , T , Massa , J . Tanner , H . Ash , A . H . Tattershall

W . J . Ferguson , H . W . Hemsworth , J . R . Sheen , E . Stanton Jones , R . Wentworth Little , J W . Palmer , S . Rosenthal , J . King , G . Pym , E . Cox , W . West Smith , W . Dodd , T . Griffin , M .

Edersheim , W . Mann , H . G . Buss , A . Bryant , J . B . Poole , C . J . Hogg , J . Bond , E . W . Davis , A . A . Pendlebury , E . Gottheil , H . Bartlett , W . Wigginton , J . R . Foulger , H . Massey , H . W . Lindus .

The GRAND SECRETARY having read letters from the Prince of Wales and the Earl of Zetland , expressing their earnest approval of the object for which this Grand Lodge of Emergency was called ,

The Earl of CARNARVON * rose and said : It has not been without some consideration that I have given notice of this motion for this evening . I have been led to do so both from the circumstances of the case and from a feeling that in

placing this motion on the paper I was 111 harmony with the sense of the great majority of the Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) I need not take up your time by recapitulating the miserable events which have rendered such a grant necessary . The

circumstances are , unfortunately , too familiar to all of us , and there is not a single day that passes that does not bring through the columns of the public papers vividly before our eyes the horrors and miseries of this most lamentable war .

( Hear . ) Moreover , I think no one can study the public prints without being aware of the deep necessity which exists for some such aid as that proposed . I might add to that necessity this consideration , that though , as a matter of

fact , the mortality in this war has been , in actual battle , very large indeed the mortality that results from the consequences of those battles , from sickness , from privation , from wounds , from the illness and the

fevers that set in in consequence of them , are in this case , as they are in all other similar cases , far greater than the actual mortality in battle j and in the next place I might also remind you that so far from this war having been less

bloody and less cruel in its operation , it has Perhaps since science has been invoked in its aid more terribh in the wounds inflicted . Suffering , under the scientific instruments of

destruction which are now being used on each side , is aggravated rather than diminished . At the same tune I should not think it right to ask you to vote so large a sum as this , and under circumstances which I feel to be of an exceptional and

Grand Lodge Of England

peculiar nature—I should not feel it right to ask you to do this , without at the same time stating all that I think may be fairly stated in objection to my own proposal . It will show , at least , that I have considered this matter as fairly as I can , and that I am desirous that the Grand Lodge should act in this matter as I would have Grand

Lodges act 111 this matter—with its eyes open ; seeing the arguments on the right hand and the left , and then finally deciding on that which it thinks right . At the same time , I would also say , in a case of this sort , which I admit to be of an exceptional character , I am glad to find

that we have the open and express concurrence of two members of the Craft , one of whom , indeed , though he has only recently joined our Order , fills so great and distinguished position in it—the Prince of Wales ; and on the other hand that we have the concurrence of our late Grand

Master , who , as you all know , for so many years presided over the Craft , attended to all its concerns , was familiar with every vote of this kind that has been given , and does not hesitate to say that though exceptional , still it has precedents in the past , and that he gives it , and so

far as his high station and his position m the Craft warrants him , he gives his full warrant and approval . ( Hear . ) I would , however , also state the arguments that may be raised in opposition . It may be said that this is a grant of money to those who are not members of our

Order . It is perfectly true . But I have still to learn that either in principle or in practice the benefits of Masonry are to be exclusively and selfishly confined to our own Order . ( Hear . ) Our teaching and our principles would , if that were the case , be fairly open to cavil . And let me

remind you that in practice it has never been so in this Grand Lodge . When the Crimean war raged , this Grand Lodge subscribed ^ 1 , 000—subscribed it not in the aid of Masons but in the aid of all those that came within the range of the Patriotic Fund . Again , when the Indian mutiny

broke out , this Grand Lodge also subscribed on the same scale . Again , when the Lancashire distress made itself felt it England , this Grand Lodge was equally munificent . And I may cite one case—and I believe there are more cases , if I chose to refer to them—a case which is so

strong and so applicable to the present , that when that terrible earthquake occurred some years ago in Peru , this Grand Lodge did not hesitate to step in , and grant 100 guineas by way of assuaging the sufferings of the afflicted . I have received several letters as to the mode of the

application of tins money ; ancl it has been urged upon me that it might be better to hand it over to foreign societies for them to distribute either to French or to Prussians as the case might be . I differ , for my own part , on consideration , from that proposal . We have established , here in

London , an organisation which I believe is satisfactory , complete , and perfectly impartial in its objects , and I have no wish to refuse to take advantage of the operations of that society . Again , I might remind Grand Lodge that that society is presided over by no other than His

Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , who may be fairly said in that capacity to represent Grand Lodge and the Craft in the distribution of that money . And , lastly , we are entirely neutral , thank God , in this war . We are very often blamed by the two contending parties for being

too cold and too neutral . We incur some opprobrium from either side . Let us , at all events , be able to say that if we can give not the material assistance of war to cither party , we are prepared to give liberally in money to succour the wounded and the sick , those who for the time being are

taken out of the category of belligerents ; as we are neutral , so let us give this money through a neutral agency . I have heard that there are some also who hold that this proposed grant of ^ 500 is too large , whilst others hold that it is too small . ( Hear , hear . ) When I hear these

two objections urged against this amount I am satisfied I have hit upon the right sum , because I have decided between the two , and I believe it is neither too large nor too small . I do not think it is too large , because I think it is well for Grand Lodge when it makes these exceptional votes to make them a liberal spirit and on a

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handsome scale . On the other hand , ^ 500 is not too small , because I must remind you that it is , after all , money granted not only not to Masons , not only not to Englishmen , as in the case of the Lancashire distress , the Indian mutiny ,

and the Patriotic Fund—but to foreigners . If I needed any other argument , I would tell you that the Grand Orient of France , which must be more interested in such a case than we possibly can be—the Grand Orient has held it sufficient

to vote £ , 120 . Therefore , I say , Grand Lodge may feel its mind perfectly free , and discharged of all obligations when it makes so handsome a vote as ^ £ 500 . It would not be right if , when I am asking you to accept so large a proposition , with whatever authority it may come from this chair , and the person who for the time being fills

it , if I did not remind you that there is a tendency in all large bodies—and we can claim no exception from the weaknesses of other large bodies—to spend freely of money , to dip their hands into the public pocket , so to speak , and to lay out freely the funds at their disposal . It is simply human nature . It is my duty to caution you of it , and when I have heard sometimes votes of

money proposed 111 this hall , and opposed by those who know what the funds are at our disposal , what the heavy calls are upon those funds , what the amount of all the moneys with which we have to deal , and seeing that in these cases we should be just before we are generous— -I say

it is an invidious duty to have to perform ; but it is the duty of any one sitting in this chair to press that duty upon Grand Lodge , not from any niggardly or churlish feeling of parsimony , but from a consideration of what is due to the Order , and those sound principles of economy of which

I may say they are the guardians and the trustees . ( Hear , hear . ) I think there is but one other point which I need notice , which it would not not have occurred to me to notice but that'I have seen it urged by Masons whose opinions entitle them to great weight .. It is said that

every pound that is subscribed to such a fund as this does in reality prolong the war , by supplying material assistance to both the belligerents , and consequently makes us responsible for protracting the horrors of that war . Well , I cannot deny that tlure is truth in that statement : but it

is abstract truth , and we cannot in this hall , any more than we can in the world at large , govern our conduct by simply abstract considerations . There will constantly arise a conflict of duties j there will constantly be a greater evil and a less evil , and it behoves us , then , both as Masons

and as sensible Englishmen , to choose the least of those evils , ancl to accept the greatest amount of good that we can . Charity , no doubt , in a certain sense , is opposed to what are called the principles of abstract science and political economy ; but , after all , is there one single

Mason 111 this room , one single member of Grancl Lodge , who does not know that , in spite of all the teachings and the abstract rules of political economy , charity is the great principle round which we revolve ; the illuminating principle , the hinge of all our actions , the cement

which holds us together , the bond without which Masonry itself would be as nothing . ( Hear . ) And therefore I say do not let us govern ourselves by too abstract considerations ; let us look at the question as Grand Lodge has looked at it before ; Jet us endeavour to give freely and

handsomely , but at the same time not wastefully or excessively . ( Hear , hear . ) Let us endeavour to comply in the spirit , and not in the letter , with the teaching which our Order has prescribed to us . Lastly , I have hut one wish to express , and that is , that in this vote which I

am now about to propose to you there should be , if possible , entire unanimity . ( Hear , hear . ) Most of our charities are clone here , as it were , in private , away from the gaze of the world , far away from the eye and cognisance of all who do not belong to us ; but this , in a certain sense ,

is a public charity , and I should grieve more than I can say if it were to go forth to the world at large that this—either as regards the nature of the vote or as regards the amount—had been made in any way the subject of dispute or controversy . ( Hear , hear . ) I can assure you I have considered this as fully as I couw . I