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Article FREEMASONRY IN 1888. ← Page 3 of 5 Article FREEMASONRY IN 1888. Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In 1888.
serves us , is the first of its kind in the annals of Mark Masonry . But we need not continue our remarks , what we have said already being more than sufficient to show that the Mark system has gained strength during the year 1888 to a very appreciable degree , and that it remains , as it has been for many years past , one of the most popular of our modern Masonic
organisations . ClIIVALRIC AND HlGH GRADE MASONRY . We think there is little doubt that the Order of the Temple has made some material progress during the past 12 months , not , it may be , in respect of numbers so much as in the greater vigour of its proceedings . It has been our agreeable duty to report more Templar meetings than in former
years , and we have noted in particular that greater activity has been shown by the executive officers of many of the Provincial Priories—that is , if we may regard the greater prominence which the meetings of several of these bodies has had a right to claim at our hands . The most intent on the performance of their duties would seem to have been the Priories of Northumberland , Durham , & c , of West Yorkshire , of Devonshire , which in
Sir Knight Lemon has a most energetic ruler , and Kent and Surrey . Great Priory , also , has been adopting stringent measures , with a view to setting its house in better order , and at its annuil meeting , in May , a hrge number of preceptories , which had existed for years past in name only , were erased from the roll . Unfortunately , a difficulty exists owing to the conduct of the Great Ptiory of
Canada in establishing preceptories at Melbourne , and the two Great Priories may be said to be at daggers drawn . There can be little doubt as to which of the two is in the wrong . Frater McLeod Moore , Supreme G . Master of the Canadian Templars , said distinctly in his Allocution at the meeting of his Great Priory , in July , that the issue of a warrant for a preceptory in Melbourne had originated in the mistaken belief on his part
that there were no preceptories under the banner of England in that Colony , and he recommended the withdrawal of the objectionable warrant . The Great Priory of Canada , however , paid no attention to his recommendation , but expressed its determination to pursue its own course . It is not , therefore , surprising that the friendly relations hitherto existing between the two Great Priories should have ceased and determined . The Ancient and
Accepted Rite is happy in having no history for the past year ; by which we do not mean that it has done nothing , but that its proceedings have been so regular , and its position , both as regards membership and pecuniarily , so satisfactory , that it is impossible to say more of its proceedings than that they indicate a perfectly sound condition on the part of this influential body . The Order of Rome and the Red
Cross of Constantine is somewhat modest in its doings , nor do we gather from the records of the year that it has materially strengthened its position , though there is little doubt , we think , as to its having maintained it satisfactorily . The Royal Order of Scotland and the Rosicrucian Society have a somewhat similar account to render of what has passed during' 1888 , while the Royal and Select Masters and the Allied Masonic Degrees seem to have increased in numbers . Lastly , there is the
Order of the Secret Monitor , which , though of recent introduction into this country , has been making very considerable headway , and already has quite an appreciable number of conclaves ranged under its banner , with the prospect of many additions being made to the roll . The annual meeting , which took place on the 20 th June , and was followed by the celebration of the Grand Festival with considerable pomp and circumstances , showed there was plenty of vitality in the Order .
OUR INSTITUTIONS . It is incontestable that the support extended to our principal Masonic Institutions has been greater in 1888 than at any previous period of their history , even the large total contributed during the year of the Queen ' s Jubilee , when Grand Lodge supplemented the donations and subscriptions of the Craft with upwards of ¦ £ 12 , 000 , having been exceeded
by a round £ 10 , 000 . But though the year 1888 will be memorable on this account , our sense of rejoicing at the receipt by our Charities of the splendid sum of £ 75 , 000 is materially affected by the striking disparity which is noticeable between the product of this year's Festival of the Boys' School and the average product of the preceding 13 years , the latter having been £ 13 , 066 per year , while the total of the 90 th Anniversary Festival on the
27 th June was only £ 8673 , the falling off being only a few pounds short of £ 4400 . There is , of course , no difficulty in accounting for this very serious reduction , but it is one which ought never to have been permitted to occur either in consequence of the tremendous enthusiasm aroused among the lodges and brethren in connection with the Centenary of the Girls ' School , or because a certain amount of dissatisfaction with the management
of the authorities existed among certain sertain sections of the Craft . We should have attached less importance to the method which we have good reason to believe was adopted by some lodges and individual members of signalising this dissatisfaction by withholding their annual contributions , had the Institution been able at a moment ' s notice to contract its expenditure so as to keep within its reduced income , or if its invested capital had
been more considerable . But the authorities were bound to continue the same rate of expenditure for the reason that they had undertaken , at the instance of the whole Craft itself , to maintain , clothe , and educate a certain number of boys , and no reduction—no immediate reduction—if this undertaking was to be carried out properly , was possible . We consider the Craft was bound in honour , under these circumstances , to furnish the sum
indispensably necessary to meet the requirements of the Institution , and if it , or any portion of it , had reason to believe that the authorities were careless , or were wilfully neglectful in their management , it would still have been able to prosecute any inquiry it might have thought desirable into the conduct of those authorities . Had this latter course been adopted , and the amount
provided for the year ' s expenditure , our pride and gratification at what , perhaps , may be called the charitable campaign of the year would have been without detraction of any sort or kind . We have said enough , however , on this score , and will proceed to give the usual details as to the results of the said campaign as they more particularly affect each Institution .
Taking the Charities in the order in which their respective anniversaries were held , we note that Bro . Sir George Elliot , Bart , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of the Eastern Division of South Wales , presided at the Annual Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution on the 29 th February .
that he was ably supported by a Board of 276 Stewards , with the indefatigable Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., as its Honorary Secretary , and that , after the usual earnest and eloquent appeal of the Chairman , Bro . Terry had the satisfaction of announcing a total which was ultimately increased to ^ 15129 6 , a sum sufficient to provide for the annuities of the year and
Freemasonry In 1888.
leave a margin of a few hundreds of pounds with which to satisfy any unforeseen contingencies . But , at the annual meeting of the Governors and Subscribers on the 3 rd Friday in May , though the number of vacancies on the two Funds was small , and the candidates were extremel y numerous , it was not considered desirable to create any fresh annuities , and thereby increase the heavy annual responsibilities of the Institution . Hence , while
the report of the Committee of Management rendered full justice to the services rendered by Bro . Sir Geo . Elliot and his Board of Stewards , and accorded them a hearty vote of thanks for the success of their efforts on behalf of the Charity , it was by tacit consent agreed that only the vacancies which had occurred during the year and the deferred annuities should be filled . Consequently , only 23 men , from a list of 67 candidates , and 15
widows , from a list of 62 candidates—including in both cases thedeferred annuitants—were elected , the unsuccessful candidates carrying forward their votes to the election which will take place in May , 1889 . An attempt on the part of some provincial brethren to have the date of the annual election altered from the third Friday in May to the Monday following the last Friday in April was defeated , and Bro . J . A . Famfield , Vice-Patron , P . A . G . D . C . —a son of the
first Secretary of the Institution—was elected Treasurer , vice Bro . Edgar Bowyer , deceased . The customary New Year and Summer Entertainments to the inmates of the Asylum were given , and passed off as satisfactorily as in previous years ; nor must we omit to mention that the Old Masonians—a society or club composed of former pupils of our Boys' School—paid a visit to the Asylum on one occasion for the express purpose of entertaining the
Old Folks , a purpose in which it is hardly necessary to say that they succeeded admirably ; and we trust so acceptable a courtesy will be repeated in the years to come . As for the immediate future , it is early yet to attempt any forecast of what will be the result of the Festival which will be held on the 27 th February next , under the auspices of Bro . the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . Master of Northants and Hunts . We know that the Board of Stewards
is about 200 strong , and that Bro . Terry is devoting his whole energy and time to obtaining the services of further brethren as members of the Board , and we trust his efforts will be crowned with success . Thf-re is likely to be a heavier list of candidates than ever at the election in May of next year , and we all know , or can easily imagine , the difficulty which must be experienced in raising annually so large a sum as £ 15 , , especially when
there are two other Institutions appealing to the same body of donors and subscribers for the supplies with which to accomplish their appointed work . However , as we have just said , all concerned have our best wishes for their success ; and we know it will not be for lack ot hard work on the part of Bro . Terry and the Stewards if the Returns should fall short of the sum required .
I he friends of the senior Chanty—the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls—have every reason to be content , and even mote than content , with the proceedings of the Craft in its behalf during the year . Centenary celebrations are events of by no means rare occurrence in Masonry ; but these have hitherto been confined to our lodges and chapters . It was not till the close of last year that people found themselves in a position to
form any idea of the probable character which the Centenary Festival of one of our Institutions would assume . No one ever doubled that the most persistent efforts would be made on the part of the Committees and Secretary of the Institution , in order that so unaccustomed an anniversary should beheld with the utmost possible pomp and splendour ; but even the most sanguine among the prophets of a grand success can hardlv have been
prepared for one which is incomparably the greatest that has yet been recorded in the annals of Charitable festivities . The Board of Stewards , which it was hoped at the outset might muster 1000 brethren , consisted ultimately of 1475 brethren , while , instead of the £ 30 , 000 or £ 32 , 000 which the authorities had set themselves to raise in order to meet the ordinary expenses of the year and provide for the Centenary Memorial Scheme of a
new Hall and reconstructed premises , the total announced from the chair was upwards of £ 50 , 500 , and has since been augmented to upwards of £ 51 , 000 . But it is not only in these two particulars that this Centenary anniversary stands out so conspicuously among this class of festive gatherings . With so large a Board of Stewards , each of whom—to say nothing of the ladies and non-Stewards , who always muster in proportionately large
numbers at these meetings—would have the right to be present at the Festival , it was necessary to obtain premises large enough to accommodate the multitude which was certain to attend . Hence the Royal Albert Hall was engaged and the lower portion of it transformed into a vast and handsomely decorated banquet hall , in which about 1200 of the Stewards and principal guests sat down to dinner , while the upper portion was devoted to the
accommodation of ladies , and non-Stewards , the latter of whom were all required to be members of our Society , and wore the clothing and insignia of their rank . His Royal Highness the Grand Master presided in person , and was supported by his Majesty the King of Sweden—who had been made Past Master of England the day previously , by resolution of Grand Lodge , and who graciously accepted the Steward ' s badge from the Prince of
Waleshis eldest son , Prince Albert Victor of Wales , P . S . G . W ,, Sir Archibald Campbell , Bart ., G . Master of Scotland ; the Marquis of Headfort , S . G . W . of Ireland ; the Earls of Carnarvon and Lathom , Pro and Deputy Grand Masters of England , respectively ; the Duke of St . Albans , Prov . Grand Master Nottinghamshire ; Lords Leigh , Kensington , Suffield , and Harlech , the Earl of Euston , Viscount Ebrington , Lord Egerton of Tatton ,
and many other Prov . Grand Masters , besides Grand and Past Grand Officers innumerable . the whole company present including some thousands , and the scene being such as has never before been witnessed , and will probably never be surpassed . The Anglo-Danish Exhibition had also been engaged for the sole benefit of the guests during the evening , and but that the weather was not precisely suited for outdoor display , the gardens and the conservatory
would have been as brilliant and gay as the Albert Hall . But the celebration was not confined to the banquet . The distribution of prizes has for many years past been an important feature of the anniversary festivity , and in this instance the prizes were distributed and the calisthenic exercises , for which the School is so famous , performed in the same Albert Hall on the Monday preceding the Festival , in the presence of the Prince and Princess of
Wales and their daughters , and some thousands of interested and delighted spectators , the Princess of Wales herself most graciously decorating the two medallists of the year , while the rest of the prizes were distributed by the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon ; the Pro Grand Master , the Earls o £ Lathom and Euston and other dignitaries of the Order being present , as
well as Bro . Grey , Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Stewards , Bro . Hedges , Secretary of the Institution , Bros . Frank Richardson , Thomas Fenn , & c . Since then Miss Davis and the educational staff , Miss Buck , the Matron , and her assistants , and all the pupils have been presented with memorials of the great event , the g irls with silver and the rest
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In 1888.
serves us , is the first of its kind in the annals of Mark Masonry . But we need not continue our remarks , what we have said already being more than sufficient to show that the Mark system has gained strength during the year 1888 to a very appreciable degree , and that it remains , as it has been for many years past , one of the most popular of our modern Masonic
organisations . ClIIVALRIC AND HlGH GRADE MASONRY . We think there is little doubt that the Order of the Temple has made some material progress during the past 12 months , not , it may be , in respect of numbers so much as in the greater vigour of its proceedings . It has been our agreeable duty to report more Templar meetings than in former
years , and we have noted in particular that greater activity has been shown by the executive officers of many of the Provincial Priories—that is , if we may regard the greater prominence which the meetings of several of these bodies has had a right to claim at our hands . The most intent on the performance of their duties would seem to have been the Priories of Northumberland , Durham , & c , of West Yorkshire , of Devonshire , which in
Sir Knight Lemon has a most energetic ruler , and Kent and Surrey . Great Priory , also , has been adopting stringent measures , with a view to setting its house in better order , and at its annuil meeting , in May , a hrge number of preceptories , which had existed for years past in name only , were erased from the roll . Unfortunately , a difficulty exists owing to the conduct of the Great Ptiory of
Canada in establishing preceptories at Melbourne , and the two Great Priories may be said to be at daggers drawn . There can be little doubt as to which of the two is in the wrong . Frater McLeod Moore , Supreme G . Master of the Canadian Templars , said distinctly in his Allocution at the meeting of his Great Priory , in July , that the issue of a warrant for a preceptory in Melbourne had originated in the mistaken belief on his part
that there were no preceptories under the banner of England in that Colony , and he recommended the withdrawal of the objectionable warrant . The Great Priory of Canada , however , paid no attention to his recommendation , but expressed its determination to pursue its own course . It is not , therefore , surprising that the friendly relations hitherto existing between the two Great Priories should have ceased and determined . The Ancient and
Accepted Rite is happy in having no history for the past year ; by which we do not mean that it has done nothing , but that its proceedings have been so regular , and its position , both as regards membership and pecuniarily , so satisfactory , that it is impossible to say more of its proceedings than that they indicate a perfectly sound condition on the part of this influential body . The Order of Rome and the Red
Cross of Constantine is somewhat modest in its doings , nor do we gather from the records of the year that it has materially strengthened its position , though there is little doubt , we think , as to its having maintained it satisfactorily . The Royal Order of Scotland and the Rosicrucian Society have a somewhat similar account to render of what has passed during' 1888 , while the Royal and Select Masters and the Allied Masonic Degrees seem to have increased in numbers . Lastly , there is the
Order of the Secret Monitor , which , though of recent introduction into this country , has been making very considerable headway , and already has quite an appreciable number of conclaves ranged under its banner , with the prospect of many additions being made to the roll . The annual meeting , which took place on the 20 th June , and was followed by the celebration of the Grand Festival with considerable pomp and circumstances , showed there was plenty of vitality in the Order .
OUR INSTITUTIONS . It is incontestable that the support extended to our principal Masonic Institutions has been greater in 1888 than at any previous period of their history , even the large total contributed during the year of the Queen ' s Jubilee , when Grand Lodge supplemented the donations and subscriptions of the Craft with upwards of ¦ £ 12 , 000 , having been exceeded
by a round £ 10 , 000 . But though the year 1888 will be memorable on this account , our sense of rejoicing at the receipt by our Charities of the splendid sum of £ 75 , 000 is materially affected by the striking disparity which is noticeable between the product of this year's Festival of the Boys' School and the average product of the preceding 13 years , the latter having been £ 13 , 066 per year , while the total of the 90 th Anniversary Festival on the
27 th June was only £ 8673 , the falling off being only a few pounds short of £ 4400 . There is , of course , no difficulty in accounting for this very serious reduction , but it is one which ought never to have been permitted to occur either in consequence of the tremendous enthusiasm aroused among the lodges and brethren in connection with the Centenary of the Girls ' School , or because a certain amount of dissatisfaction with the management
of the authorities existed among certain sertain sections of the Craft . We should have attached less importance to the method which we have good reason to believe was adopted by some lodges and individual members of signalising this dissatisfaction by withholding their annual contributions , had the Institution been able at a moment ' s notice to contract its expenditure so as to keep within its reduced income , or if its invested capital had
been more considerable . But the authorities were bound to continue the same rate of expenditure for the reason that they had undertaken , at the instance of the whole Craft itself , to maintain , clothe , and educate a certain number of boys , and no reduction—no immediate reduction—if this undertaking was to be carried out properly , was possible . We consider the Craft was bound in honour , under these circumstances , to furnish the sum
indispensably necessary to meet the requirements of the Institution , and if it , or any portion of it , had reason to believe that the authorities were careless , or were wilfully neglectful in their management , it would still have been able to prosecute any inquiry it might have thought desirable into the conduct of those authorities . Had this latter course been adopted , and the amount
provided for the year ' s expenditure , our pride and gratification at what , perhaps , may be called the charitable campaign of the year would have been without detraction of any sort or kind . We have said enough , however , on this score , and will proceed to give the usual details as to the results of the said campaign as they more particularly affect each Institution .
Taking the Charities in the order in which their respective anniversaries were held , we note that Bro . Sir George Elliot , Bart , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of the Eastern Division of South Wales , presided at the Annual Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution on the 29 th February .
that he was ably supported by a Board of 276 Stewards , with the indefatigable Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., as its Honorary Secretary , and that , after the usual earnest and eloquent appeal of the Chairman , Bro . Terry had the satisfaction of announcing a total which was ultimately increased to ^ 15129 6 , a sum sufficient to provide for the annuities of the year and
Freemasonry In 1888.
leave a margin of a few hundreds of pounds with which to satisfy any unforeseen contingencies . But , at the annual meeting of the Governors and Subscribers on the 3 rd Friday in May , though the number of vacancies on the two Funds was small , and the candidates were extremel y numerous , it was not considered desirable to create any fresh annuities , and thereby increase the heavy annual responsibilities of the Institution . Hence , while
the report of the Committee of Management rendered full justice to the services rendered by Bro . Sir Geo . Elliot and his Board of Stewards , and accorded them a hearty vote of thanks for the success of their efforts on behalf of the Charity , it was by tacit consent agreed that only the vacancies which had occurred during the year and the deferred annuities should be filled . Consequently , only 23 men , from a list of 67 candidates , and 15
widows , from a list of 62 candidates—including in both cases thedeferred annuitants—were elected , the unsuccessful candidates carrying forward their votes to the election which will take place in May , 1889 . An attempt on the part of some provincial brethren to have the date of the annual election altered from the third Friday in May to the Monday following the last Friday in April was defeated , and Bro . J . A . Famfield , Vice-Patron , P . A . G . D . C . —a son of the
first Secretary of the Institution—was elected Treasurer , vice Bro . Edgar Bowyer , deceased . The customary New Year and Summer Entertainments to the inmates of the Asylum were given , and passed off as satisfactorily as in previous years ; nor must we omit to mention that the Old Masonians—a society or club composed of former pupils of our Boys' School—paid a visit to the Asylum on one occasion for the express purpose of entertaining the
Old Folks , a purpose in which it is hardly necessary to say that they succeeded admirably ; and we trust so acceptable a courtesy will be repeated in the years to come . As for the immediate future , it is early yet to attempt any forecast of what will be the result of the Festival which will be held on the 27 th February next , under the auspices of Bro . the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . Master of Northants and Hunts . We know that the Board of Stewards
is about 200 strong , and that Bro . Terry is devoting his whole energy and time to obtaining the services of further brethren as members of the Board , and we trust his efforts will be crowned with success . Thf-re is likely to be a heavier list of candidates than ever at the election in May of next year , and we all know , or can easily imagine , the difficulty which must be experienced in raising annually so large a sum as £ 15 , , especially when
there are two other Institutions appealing to the same body of donors and subscribers for the supplies with which to accomplish their appointed work . However , as we have just said , all concerned have our best wishes for their success ; and we know it will not be for lack ot hard work on the part of Bro . Terry and the Stewards if the Returns should fall short of the sum required .
I he friends of the senior Chanty—the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls—have every reason to be content , and even mote than content , with the proceedings of the Craft in its behalf during the year . Centenary celebrations are events of by no means rare occurrence in Masonry ; but these have hitherto been confined to our lodges and chapters . It was not till the close of last year that people found themselves in a position to
form any idea of the probable character which the Centenary Festival of one of our Institutions would assume . No one ever doubled that the most persistent efforts would be made on the part of the Committees and Secretary of the Institution , in order that so unaccustomed an anniversary should beheld with the utmost possible pomp and splendour ; but even the most sanguine among the prophets of a grand success can hardlv have been
prepared for one which is incomparably the greatest that has yet been recorded in the annals of Charitable festivities . The Board of Stewards , which it was hoped at the outset might muster 1000 brethren , consisted ultimately of 1475 brethren , while , instead of the £ 30 , 000 or £ 32 , 000 which the authorities had set themselves to raise in order to meet the ordinary expenses of the year and provide for the Centenary Memorial Scheme of a
new Hall and reconstructed premises , the total announced from the chair was upwards of £ 50 , 500 , and has since been augmented to upwards of £ 51 , 000 . But it is not only in these two particulars that this Centenary anniversary stands out so conspicuously among this class of festive gatherings . With so large a Board of Stewards , each of whom—to say nothing of the ladies and non-Stewards , who always muster in proportionately large
numbers at these meetings—would have the right to be present at the Festival , it was necessary to obtain premises large enough to accommodate the multitude which was certain to attend . Hence the Royal Albert Hall was engaged and the lower portion of it transformed into a vast and handsomely decorated banquet hall , in which about 1200 of the Stewards and principal guests sat down to dinner , while the upper portion was devoted to the
accommodation of ladies , and non-Stewards , the latter of whom were all required to be members of our Society , and wore the clothing and insignia of their rank . His Royal Highness the Grand Master presided in person , and was supported by his Majesty the King of Sweden—who had been made Past Master of England the day previously , by resolution of Grand Lodge , and who graciously accepted the Steward ' s badge from the Prince of
Waleshis eldest son , Prince Albert Victor of Wales , P . S . G . W ,, Sir Archibald Campbell , Bart ., G . Master of Scotland ; the Marquis of Headfort , S . G . W . of Ireland ; the Earls of Carnarvon and Lathom , Pro and Deputy Grand Masters of England , respectively ; the Duke of St . Albans , Prov . Grand Master Nottinghamshire ; Lords Leigh , Kensington , Suffield , and Harlech , the Earl of Euston , Viscount Ebrington , Lord Egerton of Tatton ,
and many other Prov . Grand Masters , besides Grand and Past Grand Officers innumerable . the whole company present including some thousands , and the scene being such as has never before been witnessed , and will probably never be surpassed . The Anglo-Danish Exhibition had also been engaged for the sole benefit of the guests during the evening , and but that the weather was not precisely suited for outdoor display , the gardens and the conservatory
would have been as brilliant and gay as the Albert Hall . But the celebration was not confined to the banquet . The distribution of prizes has for many years past been an important feature of the anniversary festivity , and in this instance the prizes were distributed and the calisthenic exercises , for which the School is so famous , performed in the same Albert Hall on the Monday preceding the Festival , in the presence of the Prince and Princess of
Wales and their daughters , and some thousands of interested and delighted spectators , the Princess of Wales herself most graciously decorating the two medallists of the year , while the rest of the prizes were distributed by the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon ; the Pro Grand Master , the Earls o £ Lathom and Euston and other dignitaries of the Order being present , as
well as Bro . Grey , Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Stewards , Bro . Hedges , Secretary of the Institution , Bros . Frank Richardson , Thomas Fenn , & c . Since then Miss Davis and the educational staff , Miss Buck , the Matron , and her assistants , and all the pupils have been presented with memorials of the great event , the g irls with silver and the rest