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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1 Article THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1
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Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.
provinces in England . He hoped that this would soon be the case , and in the meantime that all the lodges would work together harmoniously . Bros J . Sutcliffe , R . W . P . G . M . Lincolnshire , and T . Y . Strachan , D . P . G . M . of Northumberland , who were present , also addressed the brethren , after which Bro . F . Binckes , Grand Sec , congratulated the province upon its
condition and the manner in which it was worked . He alluded to the fact of the Prince of Wales having lately been made a Mark Mason and accepted the rank of Past Grand Master . He described the progress of the Order and its present strength , and urged the brethren to maititairi the dignity of the elegree .
The Prov . G . M . having signified his wish to hold the next annual meeting at Middlesborough , Provincial Grand Lodge was closed and after the retirement of its officers the York Lodge was closed . A banquet was afterwards held at the Queen ' s Hotel , at which the Prov . Grand Master presided .
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
( Continued from page 576 . ) But in a certain sense perhaps , the most interesting communication that was submitted on this occasion was the following letter from Bro . W . Halton , P . M ., of the Burlington Lodge , No . 113 , now No . 96 . 9 , Charles Street , St . James ' s Square , 7 th February ,
1837-Dear Sirs and Brethren . —The interest which the Craft have felt in the success which has attended our laudable exertions for the erection of an Asylum for Aged Freemasons has been approved by all who are desirous that the pure principles of our Order shall be fully exemplified and made manifest to the world . I consider the object of our solicitude and prayers is now beyond the possibility of failure . Our deep and lasting gratitude is due to many brethren who have toiled hard in this truly Masonic cause , but more
particularly so to my friend Bro . Crucefix , who has , night and day , through evil and good report ( without dismay ) so fought the battles and defended the interests of this Asylum as to demand a more lasting token of our thanks than mere words . I have , therefore , the pleasure to inform you that our present Treasurer , Dr . Crucefix , has sat for his portrait to Bro . Moseley , who has , I think , succeeded in giving a very good likeness of our friend upon canvas highly creditable to him as an artist .
The portrait I humbly venture to beg- the Governors of the Asylum to accept as a memorial of my personal respect and Masonic gratitude . I have entrusted it to the custody of my mother lodge ( the Burlington , No . 113 ) , who will deliver it up as soon as the Board room of our Institution shall be in a state to receive it . —I am , & o , ( Signed ) W . HALTON , P . M . To the Sub-Committee of the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons .
The portrait was accepted and in the resolution that was passed to that effect the hope- was expressed that it might encourage other brethren to follow in -he footsteps of Bro . Crucefix and emulate his exertions to obtain the accommodation referred to . As regards the presentation , it must have been highly gratifying , not only to Bro . Crucefix , but to lhe provisional Committee likewise . Its immediate effect on the former must have been to strengthen him amid the trials and anxieties he had experienced from the
very commencement of his advocacy of the cause he had so much at heart and to stimulate him to , if possible , still greater efforts , so that he might make the success that had already been achieved still more conspicuous . It must have been equally encouraging to the Committee , who knew well enough that , though Bro . Halton ' s expression of opinion that " the object of our solicitude and prayers is now beyond the possiblity of failure " might be accepted as representing something more than his individual views , they
were only as yet at the beginning , as it were , of their labours , and that with actual opposition to their plans in one direction and the possibility of their being further opposed in other directions , it would tax all their energies and resources in order to make their success enduring . _ There was also the possibility and even probability that such a recognition of Bro . Crucefix ' s disinterested endeavours to secure a refuge for the Aged Mason might have the
effect , if not of restricting the opposition he experienced with in narrow limits , at all events of evoking a strong sense of sympathy among brethren who previously had been imbued with no particular feeling either in favour of or opposition to the proposed Charity . In any circumstances , it was a graceful act on the part of Bro . Halton and as such well worthy of the prominence assigned to it in the records of the Asylum .
The other business at this February meeting may be described briefly Bro . Crucefix as Chairman drew attention " to the great importance of an early demonstration of the wishes of the subscribers being made in Grand Lodge , that the position of the Institution might be understood "; and expressed his conviction that no other objection existed with the M . W . Grand Master , but doubt as to the means to effect the object in view , and which doubt it would be necessary to remove . Thereupon it was resolved that a general
meeting of the subscribers should be held on the 24 th of February to consider the present state of the Charity and what measures it will be most beneficial to adopt with regard to its future prosperity . " It was also resolved that the annual festival in aid of the funds of the Asy lum should be held on the 2 ist of June following . The meeting , as appointed , was held , as usual , at Radley ' s Hotel , when the Audit Committee presented a most satisfactory statement of account , which showed that of a total received amounting to / 707 is . 2 d ., there had been expended in the purchase of . £ 600 3-per-cent .
Consols £ 546 , and for incidental expenses £ 2 $ i ? s - 9 *> leaving a balance of J £ 35 3 s- Sd-, of which £ 100 was in the hands of the bankers , and ^ 35 3 s . 5 d . in those of the Treasurer . It was also unanimously resolved " that this meeting consider it advisable to bring the question of the Aged Masons ' Asylum before Grand Lodge , and accordingly resolved that the Sub-Committee shall take the necessary steps to effect this object as soon as they can do so effectually . " The matter being thus relegated to the Sub-Committee that body , at its usual monthly meeting on the 10 th of May , unanimously adopted the following resolution :
That abundant proofs having been adduced on the part of the Craft both in London and in the Provinces of their anxious desire to erect and endow an Asylum for the Aged and decayed Freemasons ; and further that , as the delay of the recognition of such an Institution by Grand Lodge appears to be the only obstacle to the completion of so desiable an end . which mav be inferred from correspondence from the highest Masonic
authorities , it is expedient that the necessary steps should be taken forthwith to bring the question before the Craft , and for this purpose that the Treasurer of the Institution he instructed and fully empowered on the part of the subscribers at large to give notice at the next meeting of the General Committee of Grand Lodge of a motion with a view to bring the Aged Masons' Asylum under the sanction and protection of Grand Lodge .
The Treasurer , Bro . Crucefix , announced at the June meeting that in accordance with the foregoing resolution he had given notice of motion to the Committee of Masters for the purpose stated , but that in consequence of the great pressure of business at the meeting of Grand Lodge , the consideration of the subject had had to be postponed till the next Quarterly Communication in September , Under these circumstances the subject was
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
again prominently discussed at the general meeting of subscribers on the gth ot August . vhen the following resolution was submitted and agreed to . namely : That the following be adopted as the substantive motions to be brought before the ensuing Grand Lodge in September , and that the Treasurer be empowered to act discretionally as circumstances may require :
1 st . That the opinion of the Craft with regard to the erection and endowment of an Asylum for Aged and Decayed I'reemasons having been taken in the most public manner possible , and the result being most decidedly in favour of such Institution , that this Grand Lodge recommend the same to the protection and support of all lodges within the Constitution of England . "
2 nd . That with a view to the more considerate attention of Grand Lodge to the subject of an Asylum , a Committee of inquiry be appointed , who shall examine and report thereon . And at the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Monday , 4 th September , it was agreed that an addition should be made to the above resolutions to ' the effect that " such Committee shall consist of six brethren , three of whom shall be nominated by the Grand Master , and three bv the Sub-Committee
of the contemplated Asylum . It seems , however , that when the eventful day arrived , and Grand Lodge was in full session , Bro . Crucefix was " abruptly informed , "—to use his own words—that his Royal Hin-lmcss " was opposed to the measure , " and he had no alternative but to postpone or press the motion—its withdrawal being , as he suggests , out of the question—and in the exercise of his discretion he elected to postpone it . Bui there is a saying to the effect that everything comes to him who waits , and when Grand Lodge met in December , the subject was again introduced , and the
following resolution unanimously adopted , namely , "That this Grand Lodn- e recommend the contemplated Asylum for the Aged and Decayed Freemason to the favourable consideration of the Craft . " " This resolution was unanimously confirmed at the communication held on 7 th March , 18 3 8 , so that Bro . Crucefix and his enthusiastic coadjutors had at length the satisfaction of knowing that , in spite of the difficulties they had had to contend with , their cherished p lan for erecting an Asylum for the aged Mason had at length received the " imprimatur" of the Supreme Craft authority in England .
But though the move was ultimately crowned with success , it must not be imagined that Bro . Crucefix had had an easy task to accomplish . It has already been stated that at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on the 8 th February , 1837 , the annual festival of the Institution was fixed for the 2 ist June , and Bro . Pattison , M . P ., late Governor of the Bank of England , was invited to preside on the occasion . In the first instance , Bro . Pattison conditionally acceded to the request , but , as will be seen from the . following letters , reasons subsequently presented themselves which precluded him from carrying out his purpose :
Welbeck-street , Evening 7 th May , 1 S 37 . Dear Sir , —I enclose the answer I have received to thc letter 1 stated to you I should write to Lord John Churchill . I feel I ought not to preside on the 21 st June , and trust , therefore , you will allow me to withdraw from the oflice I undertook for that day . It will give me great satisfaction if . on some future occasion , I can show my anxious zeal for the Charity when , by its admission and acknowledgment by the Grand Lodge , 1 can do so with the full consent of the Grand Master .
Believe me , & c , ~ ., „ ,. ., ( Signed ) J AMES PATTISON . To Dr . Crucefix , & c
IXCLOSURE . Palace , Kensington , 7 th May , 1 S 3 ? . Dear Sir and Brother , —In reply to your ' s of yesterday's date , I have the honour to inform you that I submitted your letter to his Royal Highness the Grand Master , who has commanded me to state " that he sees no reason to alter his opinion , expressed last year of the contemplated 'Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , ' his Koyal High * ness still thinking that such Asylum will tend to hold out an inducement for an improper class of individuals to enter the Fraternity , as also run counter to the interests of the
two Chanties ( viz ., Boys' and Girls' Schools ) already established , the latter of which now has a considerable debt to be liquidated , and both of which require the utmost exertions of his Royal Hi ghness the Grand Master and the Fraternity at large to sustain without infringing on their funds . " Believe me , & c , „ , , . ( -Signed ) H . J SPENCER CHURCHILL , D . G . M . To Jas . Pattison , Esq ., M . P ., & c .
Such a letter as that of Lord Churchill ' s was certain to provoke a reply , which , however , it was resolved should be written " in a spirit of honest and deferential courtesy . " Care was also taken that a copy of the said reply should be forwarded to Bro . Pattison when thanking him for his courtesy , and expressing regret at his inability under the circumstances to preside at the festival . The letter in question ran thus :
.,.. _ , _ , , _ , , , Freemasons' Tavern , May 1 S 37 . My Lord , —The Board of Stewards for fhe approaching festival in aid of the contemplated Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons had been led to hope that on the day appointed for its celebration James Pattison , Esq ., M . P ., P . G . J . W ., and late Governor of the Bank of England , would honour them and afford his important assistance towards establishing the Charity by taking the chair . But subsequently to the cheerful promise made by that respected gentleman and excellent Mason , a correspondence has taken place , of which a copy is sent herewith , that no longer admits the hope so warmly entertained .
With the utmost respect for the opinions expressed by H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . in attachment to whom the Board of Stewards beg unfeignedly to state that they stand , second to no other members of the fraternity , they deferentially entreat permission to say that they do not in the smallest degree participate in the apprehension entertained " that such Asylum will tend to hold out an inducement for an improper class of individuals to enter the fraternity , " or that it will " run counter to the interests of rh ,. twn
Charities ( viz . Boys and Girls Schools ) already established . " That the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons cannot become the means of inducing an improper class of persons to enter the fraternity appears to the Board of . Stewards to be decided by the fact that it is set out as the fundamental rule of the Charity that no Freemason can be eligible even for election , unless he shall have fullv proved his intellectual ability and zeal for the due maintenance of the Craft , habitual propriety , and moral worth . And with reference to the interests ol the other Charities tne ot atewaras submit
Boara very respectlully that the recei pts in favour of the Boys ' and Girls Schools , so far from having diminished since the first promulgation of a plan for the assistance of Aged and Decayed Freemasons , have on the contrary very materially It is a pleasing proof of the universality of charity in its application to Masonic objects to notice also , that several members of the Board of Stewards for the Asylum have served the same office for one or both of the established Charitii's , and that two of d ° G ™ l ^ Sh f ° equal honour as the Secretaries respectively to the Boys '
These points the Board of Stewards would hesitate to adduce were the belief in tho appropriate application of the objections suggested confined to themselves ; but thev can scarcely question the fairness of the opinions they venture to entertain when they reflect that these opinions are common to a very large portion of the Craft , and are evinced , among other proofs , by the long list of members comprising the present Board , nearly all of whom are either Masters or Past M » i » c „ t i ~ I ^ " v
„ It is with the most poignant sorrow that the Board of Stewards feel themselves called upon to make this communication , which , however , they do not without a hope that in ^ WG M a favourable > nter P reter ° f their sentiments to H " . H . the I have the honour , & c , -r „ t „ •» u 1 1 . c ou -.- » ™ § -. » 1 ) E > R- MORAS , Hon . Sec , To Lord H . John Spencer Churchill , D . G . M . ' ( To be continued ) .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.
provinces in England . He hoped that this would soon be the case , and in the meantime that all the lodges would work together harmoniously . Bros J . Sutcliffe , R . W . P . G . M . Lincolnshire , and T . Y . Strachan , D . P . G . M . of Northumberland , who were present , also addressed the brethren , after which Bro . F . Binckes , Grand Sec , congratulated the province upon its
condition and the manner in which it was worked . He alluded to the fact of the Prince of Wales having lately been made a Mark Mason and accepted the rank of Past Grand Master . He described the progress of the Order and its present strength , and urged the brethren to maititairi the dignity of the elegree .
The Prov . G . M . having signified his wish to hold the next annual meeting at Middlesborough , Provincial Grand Lodge was closed and after the retirement of its officers the York Lodge was closed . A banquet was afterwards held at the Queen ' s Hotel , at which the Prov . Grand Master presided .
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
( Continued from page 576 . ) But in a certain sense perhaps , the most interesting communication that was submitted on this occasion was the following letter from Bro . W . Halton , P . M ., of the Burlington Lodge , No . 113 , now No . 96 . 9 , Charles Street , St . James ' s Square , 7 th February ,
1837-Dear Sirs and Brethren . —The interest which the Craft have felt in the success which has attended our laudable exertions for the erection of an Asylum for Aged Freemasons has been approved by all who are desirous that the pure principles of our Order shall be fully exemplified and made manifest to the world . I consider the object of our solicitude and prayers is now beyond the possibility of failure . Our deep and lasting gratitude is due to many brethren who have toiled hard in this truly Masonic cause , but more
particularly so to my friend Bro . Crucefix , who has , night and day , through evil and good report ( without dismay ) so fought the battles and defended the interests of this Asylum as to demand a more lasting token of our thanks than mere words . I have , therefore , the pleasure to inform you that our present Treasurer , Dr . Crucefix , has sat for his portrait to Bro . Moseley , who has , I think , succeeded in giving a very good likeness of our friend upon canvas highly creditable to him as an artist .
The portrait I humbly venture to beg- the Governors of the Asylum to accept as a memorial of my personal respect and Masonic gratitude . I have entrusted it to the custody of my mother lodge ( the Burlington , No . 113 ) , who will deliver it up as soon as the Board room of our Institution shall be in a state to receive it . —I am , & o , ( Signed ) W . HALTON , P . M . To the Sub-Committee of the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons .
The portrait was accepted and in the resolution that was passed to that effect the hope- was expressed that it might encourage other brethren to follow in -he footsteps of Bro . Crucefix and emulate his exertions to obtain the accommodation referred to . As regards the presentation , it must have been highly gratifying , not only to Bro . Crucefix , but to lhe provisional Committee likewise . Its immediate effect on the former must have been to strengthen him amid the trials and anxieties he had experienced from the
very commencement of his advocacy of the cause he had so much at heart and to stimulate him to , if possible , still greater efforts , so that he might make the success that had already been achieved still more conspicuous . It must have been equally encouraging to the Committee , who knew well enough that , though Bro . Halton ' s expression of opinion that " the object of our solicitude and prayers is now beyond the possiblity of failure " might be accepted as representing something more than his individual views , they
were only as yet at the beginning , as it were , of their labours , and that with actual opposition to their plans in one direction and the possibility of their being further opposed in other directions , it would tax all their energies and resources in order to make their success enduring . _ There was also the possibility and even probability that such a recognition of Bro . Crucefix ' s disinterested endeavours to secure a refuge for the Aged Mason might have the
effect , if not of restricting the opposition he experienced with in narrow limits , at all events of evoking a strong sense of sympathy among brethren who previously had been imbued with no particular feeling either in favour of or opposition to the proposed Charity . In any circumstances , it was a graceful act on the part of Bro . Halton and as such well worthy of the prominence assigned to it in the records of the Asylum .
The other business at this February meeting may be described briefly Bro . Crucefix as Chairman drew attention " to the great importance of an early demonstration of the wishes of the subscribers being made in Grand Lodge , that the position of the Institution might be understood "; and expressed his conviction that no other objection existed with the M . W . Grand Master , but doubt as to the means to effect the object in view , and which doubt it would be necessary to remove . Thereupon it was resolved that a general
meeting of the subscribers should be held on the 24 th of February to consider the present state of the Charity and what measures it will be most beneficial to adopt with regard to its future prosperity . " It was also resolved that the annual festival in aid of the funds of the Asy lum should be held on the 2 ist of June following . The meeting , as appointed , was held , as usual , at Radley ' s Hotel , when the Audit Committee presented a most satisfactory statement of account , which showed that of a total received amounting to / 707 is . 2 d ., there had been expended in the purchase of . £ 600 3-per-cent .
Consols £ 546 , and for incidental expenses £ 2 $ i ? s - 9 *> leaving a balance of J £ 35 3 s- Sd-, of which £ 100 was in the hands of the bankers , and ^ 35 3 s . 5 d . in those of the Treasurer . It was also unanimously resolved " that this meeting consider it advisable to bring the question of the Aged Masons ' Asylum before Grand Lodge , and accordingly resolved that the Sub-Committee shall take the necessary steps to effect this object as soon as they can do so effectually . " The matter being thus relegated to the Sub-Committee that body , at its usual monthly meeting on the 10 th of May , unanimously adopted the following resolution :
That abundant proofs having been adduced on the part of the Craft both in London and in the Provinces of their anxious desire to erect and endow an Asylum for the Aged and decayed Freemasons ; and further that , as the delay of the recognition of such an Institution by Grand Lodge appears to be the only obstacle to the completion of so desiable an end . which mav be inferred from correspondence from the highest Masonic
authorities , it is expedient that the necessary steps should be taken forthwith to bring the question before the Craft , and for this purpose that the Treasurer of the Institution he instructed and fully empowered on the part of the subscribers at large to give notice at the next meeting of the General Committee of Grand Lodge of a motion with a view to bring the Aged Masons' Asylum under the sanction and protection of Grand Lodge .
The Treasurer , Bro . Crucefix , announced at the June meeting that in accordance with the foregoing resolution he had given notice of motion to the Committee of Masters for the purpose stated , but that in consequence of the great pressure of business at the meeting of Grand Lodge , the consideration of the subject had had to be postponed till the next Quarterly Communication in September , Under these circumstances the subject was
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
again prominently discussed at the general meeting of subscribers on the gth ot August . vhen the following resolution was submitted and agreed to . namely : That the following be adopted as the substantive motions to be brought before the ensuing Grand Lodge in September , and that the Treasurer be empowered to act discretionally as circumstances may require :
1 st . That the opinion of the Craft with regard to the erection and endowment of an Asylum for Aged and Decayed I'reemasons having been taken in the most public manner possible , and the result being most decidedly in favour of such Institution , that this Grand Lodge recommend the same to the protection and support of all lodges within the Constitution of England . "
2 nd . That with a view to the more considerate attention of Grand Lodge to the subject of an Asylum , a Committee of inquiry be appointed , who shall examine and report thereon . And at the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Monday , 4 th September , it was agreed that an addition should be made to the above resolutions to ' the effect that " such Committee shall consist of six brethren , three of whom shall be nominated by the Grand Master , and three bv the Sub-Committee
of the contemplated Asylum . It seems , however , that when the eventful day arrived , and Grand Lodge was in full session , Bro . Crucefix was " abruptly informed , "—to use his own words—that his Royal Hin-lmcss " was opposed to the measure , " and he had no alternative but to postpone or press the motion—its withdrawal being , as he suggests , out of the question—and in the exercise of his discretion he elected to postpone it . Bui there is a saying to the effect that everything comes to him who waits , and when Grand Lodge met in December , the subject was again introduced , and the
following resolution unanimously adopted , namely , "That this Grand Lodn- e recommend the contemplated Asylum for the Aged and Decayed Freemason to the favourable consideration of the Craft . " " This resolution was unanimously confirmed at the communication held on 7 th March , 18 3 8 , so that Bro . Crucefix and his enthusiastic coadjutors had at length the satisfaction of knowing that , in spite of the difficulties they had had to contend with , their cherished p lan for erecting an Asylum for the aged Mason had at length received the " imprimatur" of the Supreme Craft authority in England .
But though the move was ultimately crowned with success , it must not be imagined that Bro . Crucefix had had an easy task to accomplish . It has already been stated that at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on the 8 th February , 1837 , the annual festival of the Institution was fixed for the 2 ist June , and Bro . Pattison , M . P ., late Governor of the Bank of England , was invited to preside on the occasion . In the first instance , Bro . Pattison conditionally acceded to the request , but , as will be seen from the . following letters , reasons subsequently presented themselves which precluded him from carrying out his purpose :
Welbeck-street , Evening 7 th May , 1 S 37 . Dear Sir , —I enclose the answer I have received to thc letter 1 stated to you I should write to Lord John Churchill . I feel I ought not to preside on the 21 st June , and trust , therefore , you will allow me to withdraw from the oflice I undertook for that day . It will give me great satisfaction if . on some future occasion , I can show my anxious zeal for the Charity when , by its admission and acknowledgment by the Grand Lodge , 1 can do so with the full consent of the Grand Master .
Believe me , & c , ~ ., „ ,. ., ( Signed ) J AMES PATTISON . To Dr . Crucefix , & c
IXCLOSURE . Palace , Kensington , 7 th May , 1 S 3 ? . Dear Sir and Brother , —In reply to your ' s of yesterday's date , I have the honour to inform you that I submitted your letter to his Royal Highness the Grand Master , who has commanded me to state " that he sees no reason to alter his opinion , expressed last year of the contemplated 'Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , ' his Koyal High * ness still thinking that such Asylum will tend to hold out an inducement for an improper class of individuals to enter the Fraternity , as also run counter to the interests of the
two Chanties ( viz ., Boys' and Girls' Schools ) already established , the latter of which now has a considerable debt to be liquidated , and both of which require the utmost exertions of his Royal Hi ghness the Grand Master and the Fraternity at large to sustain without infringing on their funds . " Believe me , & c , „ , , . ( -Signed ) H . J SPENCER CHURCHILL , D . G . M . To Jas . Pattison , Esq ., M . P ., & c .
Such a letter as that of Lord Churchill ' s was certain to provoke a reply , which , however , it was resolved should be written " in a spirit of honest and deferential courtesy . " Care was also taken that a copy of the said reply should be forwarded to Bro . Pattison when thanking him for his courtesy , and expressing regret at his inability under the circumstances to preside at the festival . The letter in question ran thus :
.,.. _ , _ , , _ , , , Freemasons' Tavern , May 1 S 37 . My Lord , —The Board of Stewards for fhe approaching festival in aid of the contemplated Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons had been led to hope that on the day appointed for its celebration James Pattison , Esq ., M . P ., P . G . J . W ., and late Governor of the Bank of England , would honour them and afford his important assistance towards establishing the Charity by taking the chair . But subsequently to the cheerful promise made by that respected gentleman and excellent Mason , a correspondence has taken place , of which a copy is sent herewith , that no longer admits the hope so warmly entertained .
With the utmost respect for the opinions expressed by H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . in attachment to whom the Board of Stewards beg unfeignedly to state that they stand , second to no other members of the fraternity , they deferentially entreat permission to say that they do not in the smallest degree participate in the apprehension entertained " that such Asylum will tend to hold out an inducement for an improper class of individuals to enter the fraternity , " or that it will " run counter to the interests of rh ,. twn
Charities ( viz . Boys and Girls Schools ) already established . " That the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons cannot become the means of inducing an improper class of persons to enter the fraternity appears to the Board of . Stewards to be decided by the fact that it is set out as the fundamental rule of the Charity that no Freemason can be eligible even for election , unless he shall have fullv proved his intellectual ability and zeal for the due maintenance of the Craft , habitual propriety , and moral worth . And with reference to the interests ol the other Charities tne ot atewaras submit
Boara very respectlully that the recei pts in favour of the Boys ' and Girls Schools , so far from having diminished since the first promulgation of a plan for the assistance of Aged and Decayed Freemasons , have on the contrary very materially It is a pleasing proof of the universality of charity in its application to Masonic objects to notice also , that several members of the Board of Stewards for the Asylum have served the same office for one or both of the established Charitii's , and that two of d ° G ™ l ^ Sh f ° equal honour as the Secretaries respectively to the Boys '
These points the Board of Stewards would hesitate to adduce were the belief in tho appropriate application of the objections suggested confined to themselves ; but thev can scarcely question the fairness of the opinions they venture to entertain when they reflect that these opinions are common to a very large portion of the Craft , and are evinced , among other proofs , by the long list of members comprising the present Board , nearly all of whom are either Masters or Past M » i » c „ t i ~ I ^ " v
„ It is with the most poignant sorrow that the Board of Stewards feel themselves called upon to make this communication , which , however , they do not without a hope that in ^ WG M a favourable > nter P reter ° f their sentiments to H " . H . the I have the honour , & c , -r „ t „ •» u 1 1 . c ou -.- » ™ § -. » 1 ) E > R- MORAS , Hon . Sec , To Lord H . John Spencer Churchill , D . G . M . ' ( To be continued ) .