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Article PEOVIFCIAL. ← Page 13 of 23 →
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Peovifcial.
doing good—are facts well known to us all . The question may , however , be asked , 'Do Freemasons act in accordance with these precepts and examples ? ' I assert that we do , and , in proof of this assertion , will state a few facts in connection with the principal charitable institutions and fund supported by our Order . First , the Boyal Freemasons' School for Female Children , instituted 25 th March , 1788 , for the purpose of clothing female children , orphans or otherwise , of
Freemasons whose reduced circumstances may prevent their affording their female offspring a proper education . This institution is supported entirely by voluntary contributions . Upwards of 700 children have been admitted into this school since its establishment . The annual expenditure is about £ 1 , 800 . Secondly , the Royal Masonic Institution for clothing , educating , and apprenticing the sons of indigent or deceased Freemasons , of all religious denominations , and wherever resident ; instituted 1798 ; age for admission , from seven to ten ; cost of buildings ' , & c , £ 4 , 000 ; number at present maintained and educated , thirty-five . Thirdly , the
Royal Masonic Institution for aged Freemasons and their widows , instituted 1842 ; male pensioners , thirty-nine—amount of pensions , £ 767 ; female pensioners , twenty—amount of pensions , £ 450 ; residence not compulsory . Fourthly , tbe Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence . From this fund all Masons are relieved who can establish a fair claim for relief ; and from this fund upwards of £ 1 , 500 annually are given to the poor and distressed . " The Oration concluded with an earnest appeal on behalf of a fund to be raised for similar purposes as the foregoing charitable fund , but to be under the management of " The Provincial Grand Lodge . "
THE BANQUET . In the evening the Brethren re-assembled at the New Assembly Booms ( where Lodge No . 522 now holds its meetings ) , and partook of an elegant banquet , served by Bro . S . C . Harrison , of the Crown and Anchor Hotel . The chair was occupied by the R . W . D . J ? rov . G . M ., supported by nearly every Brother £ > resent at the Provincial Grand Lodge , with the exception of the R , W . Bro . Bagshaw , Prov . G . M . for Essex , who was compelled to leave by an early train—there being nearly ninety Brethren present .
On the removal of the cloth , the RW . D . Prov . G . M . gave the healths of her Majesty , his Royal Highness the Prince Consort , and the rest of the royal family , which were loyally responded to . The R . W . D . Prov . G . M . said he would now give them the pride of Old England , the "Army and Navy , " coupled with the names of Bros . Owens and Case . Bro . Owens assured the Brethren that he had great pleasure in responding to
the toast on behalf of the army . It was but rarely that a military man had the opportunity of attending a meeting of Masons such as he had then the honour of addressing ; hut he had found in the various parts of the world which he had traversed the advantages of the institution in the friendly greeting he had always received from the members of the Craft . The satisfactory news just received from India left no douht but that the British Arm y would prevail in restoring order , and prove the continued prowess of the English soldier . ( Applause . )
Bro . Case returned thanks on behalf of tho navy , and expressed his conviction that , though the navy had as yet had no opportunity of distinguishing itself in India , Captain Peel and his naval brigade would soon be able to give as good an account of their services as it did in the Crimea . ( Applause . ) The next toast was the " Bishop and Clergy of tlie Diocese , " coupled with the name of the Rev . Bro . Freeman , P . Prov . G . S . W .
The Rev . Bro . Freeman hoped the Brethren would accept his sincere thanks for the kind and handsome manner iu which the last toast had been responded to . He was happy to say that the majority of the clergy fully appreciated the principles of the Craft , and if he should ever meet the reverend gentleman who recently refused his church , in a neighbouring county , for the preaching of a Masonic sermon for charitable purposes , he would take the opportunity of endeavouring to disabuse hU mind of any prejudices ho might entertain against tho
order . ( Applause . ) The healths of the M . W . G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , - acd of YOli . III . 6 Q
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Peovifcial.
doing good—are facts well known to us all . The question may , however , be asked , 'Do Freemasons act in accordance with these precepts and examples ? ' I assert that we do , and , in proof of this assertion , will state a few facts in connection with the principal charitable institutions and fund supported by our Order . First , the Boyal Freemasons' School for Female Children , instituted 25 th March , 1788 , for the purpose of clothing female children , orphans or otherwise , of
Freemasons whose reduced circumstances may prevent their affording their female offspring a proper education . This institution is supported entirely by voluntary contributions . Upwards of 700 children have been admitted into this school since its establishment . The annual expenditure is about £ 1 , 800 . Secondly , the Royal Masonic Institution for clothing , educating , and apprenticing the sons of indigent or deceased Freemasons , of all religious denominations , and wherever resident ; instituted 1798 ; age for admission , from seven to ten ; cost of buildings ' , & c , £ 4 , 000 ; number at present maintained and educated , thirty-five . Thirdly , the
Royal Masonic Institution for aged Freemasons and their widows , instituted 1842 ; male pensioners , thirty-nine—amount of pensions , £ 767 ; female pensioners , twenty—amount of pensions , £ 450 ; residence not compulsory . Fourthly , tbe Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence . From this fund all Masons are relieved who can establish a fair claim for relief ; and from this fund upwards of £ 1 , 500 annually are given to the poor and distressed . " The Oration concluded with an earnest appeal on behalf of a fund to be raised for similar purposes as the foregoing charitable fund , but to be under the management of " The Provincial Grand Lodge . "
THE BANQUET . In the evening the Brethren re-assembled at the New Assembly Booms ( where Lodge No . 522 now holds its meetings ) , and partook of an elegant banquet , served by Bro . S . C . Harrison , of the Crown and Anchor Hotel . The chair was occupied by the R . W . D . J ? rov . G . M ., supported by nearly every Brother £ > resent at the Provincial Grand Lodge , with the exception of the R , W . Bro . Bagshaw , Prov . G . M . for Essex , who was compelled to leave by an early train—there being nearly ninety Brethren present .
On the removal of the cloth , the RW . D . Prov . G . M . gave the healths of her Majesty , his Royal Highness the Prince Consort , and the rest of the royal family , which were loyally responded to . The R . W . D . Prov . G . M . said he would now give them the pride of Old England , the "Army and Navy , " coupled with the names of Bros . Owens and Case . Bro . Owens assured the Brethren that he had great pleasure in responding to
the toast on behalf of the army . It was but rarely that a military man had the opportunity of attending a meeting of Masons such as he had then the honour of addressing ; hut he had found in the various parts of the world which he had traversed the advantages of the institution in the friendly greeting he had always received from the members of the Craft . The satisfactory news just received from India left no douht but that the British Arm y would prevail in restoring order , and prove the continued prowess of the English soldier . ( Applause . )
Bro . Case returned thanks on behalf of tho navy , and expressed his conviction that , though the navy had as yet had no opportunity of distinguishing itself in India , Captain Peel and his naval brigade would soon be able to give as good an account of their services as it did in the Crimea . ( Applause . ) The next toast was the " Bishop and Clergy of tlie Diocese , " coupled with the name of the Rev . Bro . Freeman , P . Prov . G . S . W .
The Rev . Bro . Freeman hoped the Brethren would accept his sincere thanks for the kind and handsome manner iu which the last toast had been responded to . He was happy to say that the majority of the clergy fully appreciated the principles of the Craft , and if he should ever meet the reverend gentleman who recently refused his church , in a neighbouring county , for the preaching of a Masonic sermon for charitable purposes , he would take the opportunity of endeavouring to disabuse hU mind of any prejudices ho might entertain against tho
order . ( Applause . ) The healths of the M . W . G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , - acd of YOli . III . 6 Q