Grand Lodge Of England

deeply regret that the Grand Master , who is at a great distance from London , has not had the opportunity of expressing his opinion on the subject ; but I am satisfied from a letter I had , authorising me to call this Grand Lodge of

Emergency , that he would be fully prepared to concur with what I am now proposing . I may say , if you will do me the justice to believe , that this thing has been fully considered , that the objections have been carefully weighed , and

that I myself have come to the conclusion that to vote - £ 500 is a medium between the two extremes—a medium which satisfies the case and consults the feelings of the Grand Lodge and the Graft at large . Then , I sincerely trust you

will agree in this proposal , and will give it all the grace that complete unanimity on so important a subject can afford . ( Great applause . ) Brethren , the vote which I shall propose will be , " That a siim of ^ 500 be granted from the Fund

of General Purposes to the fund now being raised under the presidency of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , ICG ., and Past Grand Master , in aid of the sick and wounded in the present war . "

The EARL of LIMERICK : Brethren , I shall second the present motion that has been proposed by the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , in a speech as able and as truly Masonic as has ever been heard in this hall . I shall second it in but few

words , for I believe that any words of mine will only weaken the effect that must have been created by that speech . The Right Worshipful Brother has gone most fully into not only the reasons for this vote , but also

into arguments which might be objected to it , and why he has come to a conclusion in favour of granting this sum . I myself cannot see that although those who are to benefit by a grant such as the present may

not be all Masons , the grant for that reason should not be a truly Masonic one . I look to the great principle of our Craft . I find

that principle is charity . ( Hear , hear . ) I look to what is one of the great types of charity—the type of charity that is given to us in the New Testament—and I find it in

the parable of the Good Samaritan . I do not find that he inquired whether the wounded man that he relieved was one of his own country or his own nation . He

knew that it was not so . He did not stop to make any such inquiries . Neither do I think it is our duty to go into abstruse questions as to the merits or demerits of the war . All that we have to

inquire is , whether there is in tin ' s case such distress , and suffering , and misery , as should oblige us to come forward and use our utmost efforts to alleviate them ; and I think the accounts that have been daily given of

the horrible distress that prevails is such as to lead us to believe that it is a work most acceptable to do all in our power to relieve it . We have fortunately , as the Deputy Grand Master has said , the means

of doing so through a body to which no exception can be taken—a body presided over by our Past Grancl Master , iris Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . Wc have a

certainty that any money subscribed will be most impartially distributed by that body ; and I must say for myself , that if I had been a week ago opposed to the grant of such a sum as this I should have been

converted by certain scenes that I have witnessed , as I dare say other brethren have , in the streets of London . I have seen ladies , no doubt , suffering much from anxiety as

regards their relations . I saw once , a case in the streets of London : an elderly lady , a homely looking person , one who was no doubt the wife of an officer of some rank in

the French army , who had been obliged to come over to England , accompanied by a little girl . She evidently did not understand English , the little girl , seemed to

Grand Lodge Of England

understand it slightly , and the child was spelling out to her mother , the announcements on one of those newspaper placards which we see lying down in the mud on the street side . The face of the mother

exnibited tokens of the greatest concern and anxiety at the news which was conveyed to her , and , as I said just now , if I had been opposed to this grant , I should have come down , as I do this night , and

assisted in doing everything I could to promote a gift that would in any way relieve the sufferings of the wounded or the feelings of the widows and children and those who depend on the men who are wounded

and in distress . I will not trouble you any further , brethren , for all that can be said about the subject' has been said by our Deputy Grand Master . I most cordially and heartily second the motion that has been proposed by him .

The grant was then agreed to , and Bro . S . TOMKINS , Grand Treasurer , stated that he should pay over the amount at once without waiting for the confirmation of the grant by next Grand Lodge . ( Great cheering . ) The GRAND MASTER then closed the Grand Lodge .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , W . Bro . Thos . Fenn , P . A . G . D . C ., in the chair , supported by W . Bro . Henry Empson ,

P . G . S . B ., as S . W . ; and W . Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B ., as J . W . ; when grants to the extent of £ 215 were made to thirteen petitioners . Besides Master and Wardens ,

we noticed Bros . John Hervey , G . S . ; J . Brett , G . P . ; J . Ough , P . G . P . ; J . Coutts , A . G P . ; Dr . Wyatt Smith , J . R . Sheen , Coulton ,

W . M . 382 ; H . W . Hemswortb , W . M . 190 ; Dr . Hood , C . A . Cottebrune , P . M . 733 ; and Samuel May .

The Prince Of Wales' Visit To Edinburgh.

THE PRINCE OF WALES' VISIT TO EDINBURGH .

The following programme and regulations are to be observed by the members of the Grancl Lodge of Scotland , the Masters of lodges , and brethren , & c , upon the occasion of the procession on Thursday , the 13 th October , at the laying of the foundation stone of the Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh by His

Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales : — 1 . The members of the Grand Lodge will assemble in the Freemasons' Hall , 9 S , George-street , at one o ' clock , p . m ., precisely , when lhe Grand Lodge will be opened in ample form by the M . W . the Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Karl of Dalhousie , A * . ' P ., & c . 2 . The othcrbrcthren will assemble in Charlotte-square

at the . same hour . 3 . The Grand Lodge being adjourned , the members thereof will put themselves under the immediate direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies ; and the other brethren will be arranged by tlie Grand Marshals accordin" lo the seniority of their lodges on the roll , under the superintendence of the Masters and office-bearers of their

respective lodges . 4 . The procession will , upon a given signal , move off in the following order : Delaclimcnt of cavalry : band of music ; guard of honour ; llie members of subordinate lodges , live abreast , junior lodge in front ; band of music ; members of the Grand Lodge , viz ., Masters or proxies and ih . 'ir Wardens , in the like order ; the office-bearers of

the Grand Lodge , accompanied by their proper officers ; the carriage of His Royal Highness the Patron and the M . W . the Grand Master ; rear guard of cavalry . 5 . When the junior lodge shall have arrived at the entrance to the site , it will halt , take open order , anil the whole lodges in the rear will follow the like example , so

that the Grand Lodge may pass through the ranks lo the platform , attended by the . Masters and Wardens only of each lodge present . 6 . The route of the procession will be as follows : — From Charlotlc-square along George-street , St . Andrewsquare , South St . Andrew-street , I ' rince ' s-strcet , Mound , Bank-street , George the Fourth-bridge , to the site of the stone .

The Prince Of Wales' Visit To Edinburgh.

7 . The ceremony being over , the procession will be re-formed , and return in inverted order to the place of meeting , where the Grand Lodge will be closed . The brethren will then dismiss . 8 . Costume—Full Masonic costume . 9 . Bands of music brought by lodges to consist of not less than eight performers , and to be under the complete control of the Director of Music as to their place in the

procession . It is requested that the brethren will give the most implicit attention to the foregoing regulations , and assist the Marshals in promoting the maintenance of good order and discipline .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Reports of Masonic Meetings .

THE CRAFT .

METROPOLITAN . City of London Lodge , No . 901 . —On Monday evening this lodge met for thenrst time after its vacation , at the Guildhall Tavern , when Bro . Washington Edmonds Haycock , W . M ., raised Bro . J . T . Lucas , and initiated Mr . William Christian Rubhardt and Mr . H . J . Stich . The work was admirably performed both by the W . M .

and his officers . The brethren then adjourned to the banquet , which was well supplied and creditably selected , and the W . M . proposed the toasts which fell to him with considerable tact and ability . In proposing the Past Grand Master ' s health , he referred to the great amount of interest evinced by the Prince of Wales in everything that concerned Masonry . The health of the Deputy Grand

Master , & c ., elicited expressions of admiration for the mental abilities of the Earl of Carnarvon , and the W . M . also said he felt assured , from what he had heard from brother Masons , that he took a prominent part in all the affairs of the Craft , which was nearest his heart . —Bro . Gibson , P . M ., proposed " TheHealth of the W . M . " His performanceofthedutiesentrusted to him , both that evening

and whenever he had held an office , was always distinguished by the display of great mental qualities . His general courtesy had won the warm and affectionate feelings of the brethren , and the rapidity with which he had learned the ceremonies , while his time was much engaged in other matters , commanded the admiration of all the members of the lodge . So young a Mason seldom attained to such excellence . —The W . M . : It would be

the merest and most contemptible of affectation 111 me , if I should say I did not rise with real and heartfelt pleasure to respond to the toast you have just drunk . It has been proposed in such eulogistic and evidently sincere terms by my esteemed Bro . ( Past Master for two years ) Gibson , that I really do not know how to express to you in proper language , what I feel on this occasion ; but I

can say , without beating about the bush or indulging in any rhetorical phrases , that I treasure up tlie kindly things you say of me with very great satisfaction . I am not an old member of your lodge , and I have taken a part unobtrusive , but , I trust , earnest and sincere , in everything appertaining to its business and general welfare ; and I am conscious that on some occasions , urged on by an

enthusiasm which was not guided by the best of discretion , I have sometimes come into unpleasant connection with , and have indulged in an unguardedness of expression towards , brethren of the lodge , that , at the time it occurred , has given pain to them , and subsequently , after years of deliberation , has caused me unfeigned regret . ( Hear . ) However , on looking back to lhe course I may

have taken , aud the conflicts I may have had with sundry members of the lodge on matters regarding the ruling of it , I can say most sincerely that , although an unguardedness of expression and an infirmity of temper may have led me to say that which I do not mean , yet on those occasions I have only been influenced by a desire to do that which appeared to me to he the best calculated to

benefit this lodge and Masonry in general . I feel bound in all sincerity to make these admissions . It may appear that I have waited a long time before making this openbreasted confession ; but I do make it , because I feel that in times past I may have said many things which , perhaps , it would appear , could not be justified ; but I know that all will acquit me of an unfriendly hearing , and will

allow that I have done the best , in my humble judgment , for tlie welfare and prosperity of the lodge . 1 have not the honour of being a member of this lodge for a very long time ; but during the short period that I have held this high and dignified office , I can only say that I have received from one and all an amount of kindly consideration and assistance that has made a verv deep and , I

trust , a lasting impression upon my heart , I am conscious of very many defects . I have not had lime to attain to that degree of efficiency in working the ceremonies and conducting the business of Masonry in that manner lhat I desired to do ; but 1 assure you that I have done on all occasions the very best I possibly could , an / 1 it has been a source of satisfaction lhat I have no words lo express

that I have heard from individual members , and indirectly many miles from this place , that the brethren of this lodge have said that , in electing me to the very high and dignified office I now hold , they did that which was consonant with the wishes of their own hearts , and eminently conducive to the prosperity of this lodge . I take it , that to occupy the position I now hold is one of the highest

positions a man can aspire to ; and having held il , and been supported by all lhat kindness and geniality and real , unfeigned respect that I have , I feel myself bankrupt in words to express to you how much I feel gratified by your constant demeanour towards me . It will be my study in the future , as Master and as Past Master of this lodge , to do everything which lies within my humble abilities to bring about a state of prosperity to this lodge ,