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Article THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1 Article THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
( Continued from page 6 j / . ) At the Quarterly General Meeting on the 14 th July , Bro . Faudcl , on behalf of this Sub-Committee , delivered the report , which was to the effect that they had visited sundry plots offered in thc neighbourhood of Croydon , some of which were unsuitable , while others were well situated , but in no
case did thc Sub-Committee feel it competent to them to recommend any of the offers being accepted . In an addendum , however , to the report they speak of having been in communication with two of the owners whose land appeared suitable , one of whom seemed disposed to treat on reasonable terms . On motion made and seconded , the report , or rather reports , for
there were virtually two , were accepted . 'Ihe Committee then , on the suggestion of the Treasurer , Bro . Crucefix , agreed to invite thc Earl of Southampton to accept the office of President of the Asylum ; that all donors of 50 guineas should be Vice-Presidents ; and that Bro . R . G . Alston , who the month previous had for thc second time presided at an Anniversary
festival of the Asylum , should be requested to accept the distinction of a Vice-President . Bro . Faudel subsequently proposed that the designation of the Institution should be changed from " Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons" to " College for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , " on the ground that it had been again and again contemptuously thrown in their teeth that
they were building a union for decayed brethren ; but though those present generally approved of Bro . Faudcl ' s remarks , they did not see their way clear to adopting any specific solution of the difficulty . At thc Annual General Meeting held the same day , the resolutions as to the Presidency of the Institution and the Vice-Presidents just noted were confirmed . The
Auditors' report , showing a balance in hand , after purchasing a further £ 200 Consols , amounting to , in round figures , £ 393 , thc assets , including investments and thc said balance , exceeding by a small fraction the sum of £ 4083 . The Officers and Committee were elected , and Bros . S . H . Lee and J . Lee Stevens had the distinction conferred upon them of Honorary Life
Governorships . The report as to the Festival held on the 16 th June , under the presidency of Bro . Alston , when subscriptions , & c , were announced in excess of £ 500 , was handed in , and thanks to all concerned were voted , while that of the Sub-Committee on the purchase of land for building the Asylum also met with the approval of the meeting .
At a Special General Meeting on the iSth August , the Treasurer announced that he had received a letter from Lord Southampton accepting the office of President of the Asylum , on which a vote of thanks to his lordship for his condescension was unanimously passed . Bro . Faudel , as Chairman of thc Sub-Committee , then submitted the plans of several
eligible sites' for the erection of their building , when , after a lengthened discussion , it was agreed to request the Sub-Committee to continue their labours . At the Quarterly Meeting in September , the same Committee reported that , after further careful consideration , and having regard to what they considered were indispensable conditions in governing their selection ,
namely , that the site chosen should be healthily situated ; that it should be capable of being well drained and supplied with water ; near a town where medical advice could be obtained , and good provisions ; near a church and other places of divine worship ; within easy access for the friends of thc Asylum and the inmates ; and not costly ; they reported in favour of three
plots in the vicinity of Croydon , each of which appeared to them to meet to a greater or lesser extent these various requirements . The report was received , and thc Sub-Committee were thereupon authorised by resolution , and empowered to prepare plans , and enter into such preliminary arrangements as they mig ht deem necessary , with a view to thc purchase of a
suitable plot of land . At a meeting on the 2 Sth October , the Sub-Committee reported that after sundry negotiations they were prepared to recommend the purchase of a piece of ground belonging to Mr . Morland , the terms and conditions , as well as thc advantages , being all most carefully set forth , and the Committee at once determined on recommending the proposed purchase ,
and at a special meeting held the evening of thc same day this resolution was confirmed , a vote of thanks passed to the Sub-Committee on thc completion of their labours , and a new Sub-Committee , consisting of Bros . Crucefix , Faudel , Wright , Tombleson , Barrett , Stevens , and Savage appointed to effect the purchase , and take thc requisite preliminary steps for thc erection of a suitable building or buildings .
It is quite unnecessary to enter into all the details of the proceedings of Ihe new Sub-Committee . Designs were invited for an Asylum to accommodate fifty occupants , with two rooms each , at a cost not to exceed £ 350 for each eight rooms with suitable conveniences , a premium of £ 20 to be given to thc plan selected . The first design that was approved had to be referred
back to the Committee . The next , to which thc premium was awarded , though thc Committee did not pledge themselves to carry it out , was in excess of the cost— £ 4700—which had been set down as the maximum limit , and , moreover , was held to possess certain architectural defects . Thc architect was therefore requested to modify it ; and to assist them in more
effectually carrying out their object , Bros . S . B . Wilson and Pryer were considered members of the Sub-Committee , whose action was subsequently endorsed by thc Committee . The modified plan , when submitted , was not ¦ ipproved , and seven architects , including the winner of thc premium , were invited to send in plans , the result being that that of Bro . Daukes ,
afterwards Grand Superintendent of Works , was accepted , thc correctness of the accompanying particulars as to cost being verified by Messrs . Cubitt and Co . flie design for this building , in accordance with the instructions issued , Provided for 68 rooms with suitable offices , a Committee-room and anter ° om , & c , with well , reservoir , rain water tanks , & c , to be erected at a cost of £ 4700 . The action of the Sub-Committee in the several steps they
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
took was accepted by thc Committee , and ultimately the tender of Mr . Mark Patrick to build the Asylum was accepted as being the lowest , and also because his reputation stood deservedl y high . This last step , however , was not finally arranged till the early spring of 1 S 49 , a "d in the meantime there had been held as usual the Anniversary Festival , the Chairman bciiv
Bro . Col . the Hon . George Anson , M . P ., P . G . M . Staffordshire , who had already presided on a previous occasion , while the subscriptions , & c , exceeded 500 guineas . In recognition of his services , Col . Anson was elected a Vice-President , votes of thanks to the Board of Stewards being also passed . It was further suggested at the Annual Meeting , at which this
result was announced , and other important business , such as the reception of the Auditors' report and the election of officers , was dealt with , that it would be desirable to obtain the countenance of the Grand Master for their future proceedings in connection with the building of thc Asylum , and that with that end in view , his lordship be respectfully requested to lay the foundation-stone with Masonic ceremonial . The Building Committee , in
conjunction with the Treasurer , were charged with the duties of fixino- the time and making the necessary arrangements for the ceremonial . It may also be mentioned in connection with the payment of the contractor as the works progressed , that thc offer of Bro . B . Bond Cabbell , one of thc Trustees , to act for himself and co-Trustees in selling out the Asylum's stock in order to meet these claims was gratefully accepted , and that a power of attorney in order to enable him to do so was obtained .
At a special meeting of the Committee , held on the 24 th March , 1 S 49 , it was resolved that the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the Asylum should take place on the 24 th May ; that application should be made to R . W . Bro . Alexander Dobie , Prov . G . Master of Surrey , for permission to appear in -Masonic clothing , and that in order to give additional effect to the ceremony ladies should be respectfully invited to raise contributions and
present them on the occasion , every lady so presenting a purseof five guineas to be entitled to the privileges of a life-subscriber . The meeting also resolved that it was desirable every possible publicity should be given to the approaching proceedings ; that a special appeal should be made to thc Craft to support the Charity ; and further that the invitation to lay the stone should in the first instance be addressed to their President , the Earl of Southampton .
One other question of great importance , namely , the Union of the Asylum and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund , was considered at some length . The Secretary , Bro . Whitmore , said thathehad had several conversations with influential Masons on the subject , a Past Grand Officer of Grand Lodge , who had invited him to discuss the subject having / aid down some general outlines for effecting it , which however , did not commend
themselves to him as being likely to coincide with the views of the Committee . Within the preceding month , however , he had been in communication with a " distinguished Past Grand Officer and one who occupied a high position in the estimation of the whole Craft , " who " had kindly submitted some propositions which he considered a fair basis on which the two Committees might treat and treat successfully . He ( Bro . Whitmore ) regretted that he had not received that brother ' s permission to place his letter before the
meeting , but the terms were , as he conceived , exceedingly just and equitable , and such as both Committees might agree to with the most scrupulous reservation of the rights of each particular charity . " A long conversation followed this announcement , but the Committee were , of course , unable to do more than " express in general terms the very great satisfaction with which " they would be prepared to "assist in promoting , upon fair and equitable grounds , a union of the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons with the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund . "
So much of the foregoing proceedings as relate to the contemplated ceremony of laying the foundation-stone were deferred ; in fact , no such ceremony appears to have taken place , but the opportunity of bringing about the union of the two Institutions was not lost sight of , and at a Specitl Meeting of Grand Committee on the 31 st Mav . iS _ to . the vprv imnL ' ,
„ proceedings which had taken place since the Annual Meeting of the veir previous on this question were considered . These had their origin j „ a c 0 m . munication which the Secretary and Bro . Faudel had had with Bro R G Alston with a viewto obtaining through him the consent of the Grand Master to lay the firststone of the Asylum building . In the first instance Bro . \ lston
did not see ins way to preferring any such application , but on reconsidering the matter he came to the conclusion that it might be done with some prospect of success if a union of the two Institutions could be effected . Correspondence on the subject continued , and at length the Secretary had an interview with Bro . Dobie , Grand Registrar , before whom he laid an outline such as had been suggested by Bro . Alston , of thc terms on which an amalgamation ' micht he broup-ht ahnnt . 'I his rpcultort !„ ^ m » ni ; ., » . ., . 1 o .- _ , ..-, <¦ . . ¦ 7 *¦*¦¦& 111 join ot
" ' ; . , -- " - " -- '" " •••<>•• u » c . April tne 1 two Sub-Committees which had been appointed in 18 45 , Bros Crucefix Savage , Sangster , Faudel , and Whitmore being present on behalf of the Asylum , and Bros . Dobie , White , Parkinson , Havers , McMuIIen and Parnfield on behalf of thc Annuity Fund , while Bro . Alston attended ' bv invitation of both Sub-Committees . The following terms for a union were then drawn up and agreed to , viz . : —
decided u o n ° '" ' ° nS to be united under some appropriate name to be hereafter 2 . That each Institution retain its own Trustees . e A 3 ' JA C P . n -M- As ? , \ £ " , and a"y ot ,, er funds which may be subscribed to a fund called a Bui ding bund " to be employed in building- or enlarging ; the builoW and keeping the same in repair , and all necessary expenses . k H 4 ! u , , ^ subscribed to the new fund to be called the "Buildinff Fund " after the rstdayof July next to be _ invested in the names of four Trustee . tJ , hTA * nominated the Annuit
by present y Chanty and two by the Asylum Charity » . " 1 . 1 f u ! ii i !" : '" ^ . . t 0 reccive inmates shall be occupied by Annultants . In default of : there being a sufficient number of Annuitants who are willing to become inmates of the Asylum , then the Committee shall nominate from thc number of the unsuccessful candidates the brother who shall have polled the greatest number of votes at the last election to fill the said vacancy , who shall receive fuch an amount o annuity as may hereafter be determined upon . 1 . 1 ' - . ' herc , sha 11 be but one election in each year , which election shall include both annuitants and inmates . uuac
7 . 1 he Asylum Committee to have control of all funds collected for the Asvlnm previous to the 1 st of July . * wyium S . That at and alter the union of the two Charities , the Governors and Subscribers of each shall have votes in the election of annuitants or inmates in proportion to the amount of their respective subscriptions . 5 ( To be continued ) .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
( Continued from page 6 j / . ) At the Quarterly General Meeting on the 14 th July , Bro . Faudcl , on behalf of this Sub-Committee , delivered the report , which was to the effect that they had visited sundry plots offered in thc neighbourhood of Croydon , some of which were unsuitable , while others were well situated , but in no
case did thc Sub-Committee feel it competent to them to recommend any of the offers being accepted . In an addendum , however , to the report they speak of having been in communication with two of the owners whose land appeared suitable , one of whom seemed disposed to treat on reasonable terms . On motion made and seconded , the report , or rather reports , for
there were virtually two , were accepted . 'Ihe Committee then , on the suggestion of the Treasurer , Bro . Crucefix , agreed to invite thc Earl of Southampton to accept the office of President of the Asylum ; that all donors of 50 guineas should be Vice-Presidents ; and that Bro . R . G . Alston , who the month previous had for thc second time presided at an Anniversary
festival of the Asylum , should be requested to accept the distinction of a Vice-President . Bro . Faudel subsequently proposed that the designation of the Institution should be changed from " Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons" to " College for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , " on the ground that it had been again and again contemptuously thrown in their teeth that
they were building a union for decayed brethren ; but though those present generally approved of Bro . Faudcl ' s remarks , they did not see their way clear to adopting any specific solution of the difficulty . At thc Annual General Meeting held the same day , the resolutions as to the Presidency of the Institution and the Vice-Presidents just noted were confirmed . The
Auditors' report , showing a balance in hand , after purchasing a further £ 200 Consols , amounting to , in round figures , £ 393 , thc assets , including investments and thc said balance , exceeding by a small fraction the sum of £ 4083 . The Officers and Committee were elected , and Bros . S . H . Lee and J . Lee Stevens had the distinction conferred upon them of Honorary Life
Governorships . The report as to the Festival held on the 16 th June , under the presidency of Bro . Alston , when subscriptions , & c , were announced in excess of £ 500 , was handed in , and thanks to all concerned were voted , while that of the Sub-Committee on the purchase of land for building the Asylum also met with the approval of the meeting .
At a Special General Meeting on the iSth August , the Treasurer announced that he had received a letter from Lord Southampton accepting the office of President of the Asylum , on which a vote of thanks to his lordship for his condescension was unanimously passed . Bro . Faudel , as Chairman of thc Sub-Committee , then submitted the plans of several
eligible sites' for the erection of their building , when , after a lengthened discussion , it was agreed to request the Sub-Committee to continue their labours . At the Quarterly Meeting in September , the same Committee reported that , after further careful consideration , and having regard to what they considered were indispensable conditions in governing their selection ,
namely , that the site chosen should be healthily situated ; that it should be capable of being well drained and supplied with water ; near a town where medical advice could be obtained , and good provisions ; near a church and other places of divine worship ; within easy access for the friends of thc Asylum and the inmates ; and not costly ; they reported in favour of three
plots in the vicinity of Croydon , each of which appeared to them to meet to a greater or lesser extent these various requirements . The report was received , and thc Sub-Committee were thereupon authorised by resolution , and empowered to prepare plans , and enter into such preliminary arrangements as they mig ht deem necessary , with a view to thc purchase of a
suitable plot of land . At a meeting on the 2 Sth October , the Sub-Committee reported that after sundry negotiations they were prepared to recommend the purchase of a piece of ground belonging to Mr . Morland , the terms and conditions , as well as thc advantages , being all most carefully set forth , and the Committee at once determined on recommending the proposed purchase ,
and at a special meeting held the evening of thc same day this resolution was confirmed , a vote of thanks passed to the Sub-Committee on thc completion of their labours , and a new Sub-Committee , consisting of Bros . Crucefix , Faudel , Wright , Tombleson , Barrett , Stevens , and Savage appointed to effect the purchase , and take thc requisite preliminary steps for thc erection of a suitable building or buildings .
It is quite unnecessary to enter into all the details of the proceedings of Ihe new Sub-Committee . Designs were invited for an Asylum to accommodate fifty occupants , with two rooms each , at a cost not to exceed £ 350 for each eight rooms with suitable conveniences , a premium of £ 20 to be given to thc plan selected . The first design that was approved had to be referred
back to the Committee . The next , to which thc premium was awarded , though thc Committee did not pledge themselves to carry it out , was in excess of the cost— £ 4700—which had been set down as the maximum limit , and , moreover , was held to possess certain architectural defects . Thc architect was therefore requested to modify it ; and to assist them in more
effectually carrying out their object , Bros . S . B . Wilson and Pryer were considered members of the Sub-Committee , whose action was subsequently endorsed by thc Committee . The modified plan , when submitted , was not ¦ ipproved , and seven architects , including the winner of thc premium , were invited to send in plans , the result being that that of Bro . Daukes ,
afterwards Grand Superintendent of Works , was accepted , thc correctness of the accompanying particulars as to cost being verified by Messrs . Cubitt and Co . flie design for this building , in accordance with the instructions issued , Provided for 68 rooms with suitable offices , a Committee-room and anter ° om , & c , with well , reservoir , rain water tanks , & c , to be erected at a cost of £ 4700 . The action of the Sub-Committee in the several steps they
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
took was accepted by thc Committee , and ultimately the tender of Mr . Mark Patrick to build the Asylum was accepted as being the lowest , and also because his reputation stood deservedl y high . This last step , however , was not finally arranged till the early spring of 1 S 49 , a "d in the meantime there had been held as usual the Anniversary Festival , the Chairman bciiv
Bro . Col . the Hon . George Anson , M . P ., P . G . M . Staffordshire , who had already presided on a previous occasion , while the subscriptions , & c , exceeded 500 guineas . In recognition of his services , Col . Anson was elected a Vice-President , votes of thanks to the Board of Stewards being also passed . It was further suggested at the Annual Meeting , at which this
result was announced , and other important business , such as the reception of the Auditors' report and the election of officers , was dealt with , that it would be desirable to obtain the countenance of the Grand Master for their future proceedings in connection with the building of thc Asylum , and that with that end in view , his lordship be respectfully requested to lay the foundation-stone with Masonic ceremonial . The Building Committee , in
conjunction with the Treasurer , were charged with the duties of fixino- the time and making the necessary arrangements for the ceremonial . It may also be mentioned in connection with the payment of the contractor as the works progressed , that thc offer of Bro . B . Bond Cabbell , one of thc Trustees , to act for himself and co-Trustees in selling out the Asylum's stock in order to meet these claims was gratefully accepted , and that a power of attorney in order to enable him to do so was obtained .
At a special meeting of the Committee , held on the 24 th March , 1 S 49 , it was resolved that the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the Asylum should take place on the 24 th May ; that application should be made to R . W . Bro . Alexander Dobie , Prov . G . Master of Surrey , for permission to appear in -Masonic clothing , and that in order to give additional effect to the ceremony ladies should be respectfully invited to raise contributions and
present them on the occasion , every lady so presenting a purseof five guineas to be entitled to the privileges of a life-subscriber . The meeting also resolved that it was desirable every possible publicity should be given to the approaching proceedings ; that a special appeal should be made to thc Craft to support the Charity ; and further that the invitation to lay the stone should in the first instance be addressed to their President , the Earl of Southampton .
One other question of great importance , namely , the Union of the Asylum and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund , was considered at some length . The Secretary , Bro . Whitmore , said thathehad had several conversations with influential Masons on the subject , a Past Grand Officer of Grand Lodge , who had invited him to discuss the subject having / aid down some general outlines for effecting it , which however , did not commend
themselves to him as being likely to coincide with the views of the Committee . Within the preceding month , however , he had been in communication with a " distinguished Past Grand Officer and one who occupied a high position in the estimation of the whole Craft , " who " had kindly submitted some propositions which he considered a fair basis on which the two Committees might treat and treat successfully . He ( Bro . Whitmore ) regretted that he had not received that brother ' s permission to place his letter before the
meeting , but the terms were , as he conceived , exceedingly just and equitable , and such as both Committees might agree to with the most scrupulous reservation of the rights of each particular charity . " A long conversation followed this announcement , but the Committee were , of course , unable to do more than " express in general terms the very great satisfaction with which " they would be prepared to "assist in promoting , upon fair and equitable grounds , a union of the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons with the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund . "
So much of the foregoing proceedings as relate to the contemplated ceremony of laying the foundation-stone were deferred ; in fact , no such ceremony appears to have taken place , but the opportunity of bringing about the union of the two Institutions was not lost sight of , and at a Specitl Meeting of Grand Committee on the 31 st Mav . iS _ to . the vprv imnL ' ,
„ proceedings which had taken place since the Annual Meeting of the veir previous on this question were considered . These had their origin j „ a c 0 m . munication which the Secretary and Bro . Faudel had had with Bro R G Alston with a viewto obtaining through him the consent of the Grand Master to lay the firststone of the Asylum building . In the first instance Bro . \ lston
did not see ins way to preferring any such application , but on reconsidering the matter he came to the conclusion that it might be done with some prospect of success if a union of the two Institutions could be effected . Correspondence on the subject continued , and at length the Secretary had an interview with Bro . Dobie , Grand Registrar , before whom he laid an outline such as had been suggested by Bro . Alston , of thc terms on which an amalgamation ' micht he broup-ht ahnnt . 'I his rpcultort !„ ^ m » ni ; ., » . ., . 1 o .- _ , ..-, <¦ . . ¦ 7 *¦*¦¦& 111 join ot
" ' ; . , -- " - " -- '" " •••<>•• u » c . April tne 1 two Sub-Committees which had been appointed in 18 45 , Bros Crucefix Savage , Sangster , Faudel , and Whitmore being present on behalf of the Asylum , and Bros . Dobie , White , Parkinson , Havers , McMuIIen and Parnfield on behalf of thc Annuity Fund , while Bro . Alston attended ' bv invitation of both Sub-Committees . The following terms for a union were then drawn up and agreed to , viz . : —
decided u o n ° '" ' ° nS to be united under some appropriate name to be hereafter 2 . That each Institution retain its own Trustees . e A 3 ' JA C P . n -M- As ? , \ £ " , and a"y ot ,, er funds which may be subscribed to a fund called a Bui ding bund " to be employed in building- or enlarging ; the builoW and keeping the same in repair , and all necessary expenses . k H 4 ! u , , ^ subscribed to the new fund to be called the "Buildinff Fund " after the rstdayof July next to be _ invested in the names of four Trustee . tJ , hTA * nominated the Annuit
by present y Chanty and two by the Asylum Charity » . " 1 . 1 f u ! ii i !" : '" ^ . . t 0 reccive inmates shall be occupied by Annultants . In default of : there being a sufficient number of Annuitants who are willing to become inmates of the Asylum , then the Committee shall nominate from thc number of the unsuccessful candidates the brother who shall have polled the greatest number of votes at the last election to fill the said vacancy , who shall receive fuch an amount o annuity as may hereafter be determined upon . 1 . 1 ' - . ' herc , sha 11 be but one election in each year , which election shall include both annuitants and inmates . uuac
7 . 1 he Asylum Committee to have control of all funds collected for the Asvlnm previous to the 1 st of July . * wyium S . That at and alter the union of the two Charities , the Governors and Subscribers of each shall have votes in the election of annuitants or inmates in proportion to the amount of their respective subscriptions . 5 ( To be continued ) .