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Article THE MASONIC MIRROR. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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The Masonic Mirror.
tasteful to the feelings of Grand Lodge ; and then he has to induce Grand Lodge to take action upon them . He is practically the prime minister of the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge of England . But he is placed in this anomalous position that unless rank should be given to him in another capacity by the Grand Master , he has no position in Grand Lodge by virtue of his office as President of that Board , and we consider that an officer who is so hard worked as the President of that Board
ought to take that position in the Craft to which he is justly entitled . The Grand Master has his chief executive officers in the Grand Registrar and Grand Secretary , but the President of the Board of General Purposes is an executive officer with equal work to do , but without suitable rank , and we consider that Grand Lodge ought , by resolution , to place bim in the position of being an officer of Grand Lodge , to rank with the other
executive officers of the Craft . This would place him in a right position ; ancl I move , therefore , that the President of the Board of General Purposes shall , by virtue of his office , be a grand officer , and rank immediately after the Grand Registrar and Past Grand Registrar , and on retiring from office shall have his past rank in the same position . Earlier in my career I might have had some delicacy in moving such a resolution as this , but I bave no hesitation now , inasmuch as it is not
proposed to increase my own rank in Grand Lodge , but to give to others the rank they are justly entitled to . I am confident thai we shall not be slow to give that honour and rank in Grand Lodge to those who have discharged these difficult and arduous duties , which by their services they are justly ' entitled to expect . The worthy brother concluded by moving his resolution . Bro . LLOYD seconded the motion . Bro . SAA'AGE suggested the omission of the words " Grand
Registrar , " because it was immediately after the Past Grand Registrars that it was intended the President of the Board of General Purposes should take rank . This was agreed to , and the resolution as amended was put . Bro . GREGORY , P . G . D .:- —If theGrandMaster had proposed this motion I should not have been opposed to it , because I think we ought always to do anything we can to enable the Grand Master to pay honour where honour is due . - Such a proposition had it emanated from his lordship would have been received
Avith profound respect ; but under the circumstances I think that Grand Lodge will not consider it necessary to accept this motion . My Lord , I think you have never thought it right to appoint to that office any brother until he has obtained celebrity and respect in the Craft . Your lordship has never appointed to that office any brother who was comparatively unknown , and to continue in this practice of only promoting well-known brethren to the office wouldin
, my opinion , be more satisfactory than the present proposition . I do not know if my observations are acceptable to Grand Lodge , but while I would not hesitate to place in the hands of the Grand Master the power of conferring honour upon those who are worthy of it , I still think that the experience of tbe past will show us that this resolution is unnecessary ; and that , in fact , the Grand Master , whoever he might be , would be likely
only to put into that position one who had all tbe honours that Masonry could give . I submit , therefore , that this motion is unnecessary , but I have no amendment to propose . Bro . HOKTON S . iriTH : —My Lord , I would beg to oppose the view taken by Bro . Gregory . Although it is true that your lordship has appointed to that office only brethren who have -already obtained a high position in the Craft , still I think that when a brother is appointed President of the Board of General
Purposes he should have the rank ex-ofjicio of Grand Officer . This would enable-your lordship to appoint a brother who had not previously attained to the dignity of Grand Officer . I think the motion will commend itself to the adoption of Grand Lodge . Bro . J . RANKIN STEERING . —I think the experience of last year is a fitting answer to Bro . Gregory , when you thought it
right , in order to give the President of the Board of General Purposes a proper position in Grand Lodge , to make him a Grand Officer a second time ; for having served Grand office with great distinction in a lower . rank , you make him S . G . D ., and then President of the Board of General Purposes . I do not call in question your lordship ' s right to do this . If you thought he should hold a higher position in Grand
Lodge , you could confer on him the additional rank ; ancl even if the effect of this resolution is not to give a higher station , still tbe President of the Board of General Purposes , who does so much work—half as much as the Grand Secretary—though he does
not get a farthing for it —( Laughter . )—I think should have this additional distinction as one of those toilers in the hive who do so much work for Grand Lodge . The GRAND MASTER . —It is not necessary that I should make any observation on this question . The motion was submitted to me , and met with my cordial approbation . I think it is for the benefit of the Craft that it should be carried , and I shall now put tho motion and leave yon to deal with it as you think right . The question was then put and unanimously agreed to .
THE ROYAI BENEA * OEENT INSTITUTION . The annual report of this institution having been submitted , Prov . SY -A TONDS , P . G . D . C ., proposed— "That rule 12 of the rules and regulations be amended by erasing the name of the Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborongh in each case , in which it was in the said rule , and substituting in each case the name of the Right Hon . the Earl De Grey and Ripon . " He said—The Earl of
Yarborough , being unhappily deceased , it became necessary to appoint a successor as trustee . He had to congratulate the subscribers and friends of the institution , and also Grand Lodge , that so eminent a man as the Earl De Grey and Ripon had consented to except the responsibilities of the position . He felt satisfied that Grand Lodge would approve of the motion . The question was then put and carried unanimously . Bro . HOPWOODP . G . D . moved— " That it shall be lawful for the
, , subscribers at special general meetings of this institution to entertain motions for the adoption of any new regulation or law , or the abrogation or alteration of any existing regulation or law , provided such official general meeting be convened in conformity to rule S . " He said—The want of such a resolution in this institution has led to considerable inconvenience . I can hardly imagine that there can be any objection to it , and I do not know that there is any . I believe that tbe general
feeling of Grand Lodge would be in favour of it , and I , therefore , move it . Bro . JOHN UDAM , P . G . D ., seconded the motion . Bro . SAVAGE , P . G . D ,: I must oppose this proposition , as I think it would be a dangerous alteration of our laws . I think the proper time to make alterations in the regulations of this institution is at the general meeting in May , which is the only occasion on which we have a fair attendance . At the other meetings the
attendance is very small . I think it would be not more than twelve . It would be dangerous , therefore , to give such power as is now proposed to any special general meeting . It is true that such meetings are convened by advertisements in the
public papers , but we do not all go through the Times advertisements , and as I said before these meetings would be thinly attended , and the practical result of the present proposition would be to give to a small meeting the power of altering fundamentally the laws of this charity . Some of the regulations are very serious and ought only to be altered at a full regular meeting , such as is commonly held in May . I shall , thereforeoppose this resolution if I stand alonewhich I do
, , not think likely , ancl I hope Grand Lodgo will negative so dangerous a proposition . I am sure it will not work well for the charity . Bro . SYAIONDS : —From what Bro . Savage has said , it might be supposed that some innovation was contemplated by this motion , but such is not the case . Bro . Savage forgets that it is only by the incidental operation of the law , never intended to
apply to special meetings , that this power of passing laws at special meetings of subscribers has been taken away . It existed until within three or four years , when it was taken away under these circumstances . I say this advisedly , because I was the author of the law by which that power was accidentally taken away . Some three or four years ago I was startled at a general meeting of subscribers to find that a motion was brought forward for the alteration of a law without notice . Than seemed
anomalous , but there was no law to prevent it , and the resolution was carried . The alteration in that case was not objectionable , but such a plan is liable to great danger . Therefore , when at a subsequent meeting , it was proposed to alter certain of the laws , I proposed the following- law : — " That no motion for any new regulation or law , or abrogation or alteration of any existing regulation or lawshall be entertained at the
, annual general meeting , unless a copy of the same shall have been communicated , to the Committee of Management , & c . " That was intended to apply only to motions brought forward at the annual general meeting ; and subsequently when it was proposed to hold a special meeting for the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mirror.
tasteful to the feelings of Grand Lodge ; and then he has to induce Grand Lodge to take action upon them . He is practically the prime minister of the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge of England . But he is placed in this anomalous position that unless rank should be given to him in another capacity by the Grand Master , he has no position in Grand Lodge by virtue of his office as President of that Board , and we consider that an officer who is so hard worked as the President of that Board
ought to take that position in the Craft to which he is justly entitled . The Grand Master has his chief executive officers in the Grand Registrar and Grand Secretary , but the President of the Board of General Purposes is an executive officer with equal work to do , but without suitable rank , and we consider that Grand Lodge ought , by resolution , to place bim in the position of being an officer of Grand Lodge , to rank with the other
executive officers of the Craft . This would place him in a right position ; ancl I move , therefore , that the President of the Board of General Purposes shall , by virtue of his office , be a grand officer , and rank immediately after the Grand Registrar and Past Grand Registrar , and on retiring from office shall have his past rank in the same position . Earlier in my career I might have had some delicacy in moving such a resolution as this , but I bave no hesitation now , inasmuch as it is not
proposed to increase my own rank in Grand Lodge , but to give to others the rank they are justly entitled to . I am confident thai we shall not be slow to give that honour and rank in Grand Lodge to those who have discharged these difficult and arduous duties , which by their services they are justly ' entitled to expect . The worthy brother concluded by moving his resolution . Bro . LLOYD seconded the motion . Bro . SAA'AGE suggested the omission of the words " Grand
Registrar , " because it was immediately after the Past Grand Registrars that it was intended the President of the Board of General Purposes should take rank . This was agreed to , and the resolution as amended was put . Bro . GREGORY , P . G . D .:- —If theGrandMaster had proposed this motion I should not have been opposed to it , because I think we ought always to do anything we can to enable the Grand Master to pay honour where honour is due . - Such a proposition had it emanated from his lordship would have been received
Avith profound respect ; but under the circumstances I think that Grand Lodge will not consider it necessary to accept this motion . My Lord , I think you have never thought it right to appoint to that office any brother until he has obtained celebrity and respect in the Craft . Your lordship has never appointed to that office any brother who was comparatively unknown , and to continue in this practice of only promoting well-known brethren to the office wouldin
, my opinion , be more satisfactory than the present proposition . I do not know if my observations are acceptable to Grand Lodge , but while I would not hesitate to place in the hands of the Grand Master the power of conferring honour upon those who are worthy of it , I still think that the experience of tbe past will show us that this resolution is unnecessary ; and that , in fact , the Grand Master , whoever he might be , would be likely
only to put into that position one who had all tbe honours that Masonry could give . I submit , therefore , that this motion is unnecessary , but I have no amendment to propose . Bro . HOKTON S . iriTH : —My Lord , I would beg to oppose the view taken by Bro . Gregory . Although it is true that your lordship has appointed to that office only brethren who have -already obtained a high position in the Craft , still I think that when a brother is appointed President of the Board of General
Purposes he should have the rank ex-ofjicio of Grand Officer . This would enable-your lordship to appoint a brother who had not previously attained to the dignity of Grand Officer . I think the motion will commend itself to the adoption of Grand Lodge . Bro . J . RANKIN STEERING . —I think the experience of last year is a fitting answer to Bro . Gregory , when you thought it
right , in order to give the President of the Board of General Purposes a proper position in Grand Lodge , to make him a Grand Officer a second time ; for having served Grand office with great distinction in a lower . rank , you make him S . G . D ., and then President of the Board of General Purposes . I do not call in question your lordship ' s right to do this . If you thought he should hold a higher position in Grand
Lodge , you could confer on him the additional rank ; ancl even if the effect of this resolution is not to give a higher station , still tbe President of the Board of General Purposes , who does so much work—half as much as the Grand Secretary—though he does
not get a farthing for it —( Laughter . )—I think should have this additional distinction as one of those toilers in the hive who do so much work for Grand Lodge . The GRAND MASTER . —It is not necessary that I should make any observation on this question . The motion was submitted to me , and met with my cordial approbation . I think it is for the benefit of the Craft that it should be carried , and I shall now put tho motion and leave yon to deal with it as you think right . The question was then put and unanimously agreed to .
THE ROYAI BENEA * OEENT INSTITUTION . The annual report of this institution having been submitted , Prov . SY -A TONDS , P . G . D . C ., proposed— "That rule 12 of the rules and regulations be amended by erasing the name of the Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborongh in each case , in which it was in the said rule , and substituting in each case the name of the Right Hon . the Earl De Grey and Ripon . " He said—The Earl of
Yarborough , being unhappily deceased , it became necessary to appoint a successor as trustee . He had to congratulate the subscribers and friends of the institution , and also Grand Lodge , that so eminent a man as the Earl De Grey and Ripon had consented to except the responsibilities of the position . He felt satisfied that Grand Lodge would approve of the motion . The question was then put and carried unanimously . Bro . HOPWOODP . G . D . moved— " That it shall be lawful for the
, , subscribers at special general meetings of this institution to entertain motions for the adoption of any new regulation or law , or the abrogation or alteration of any existing regulation or law , provided such official general meeting be convened in conformity to rule S . " He said—The want of such a resolution in this institution has led to considerable inconvenience . I can hardly imagine that there can be any objection to it , and I do not know that there is any . I believe that tbe general
feeling of Grand Lodge would be in favour of it , and I , therefore , move it . Bro . JOHN UDAM , P . G . D ., seconded the motion . Bro . SAVAGE , P . G . D ,: I must oppose this proposition , as I think it would be a dangerous alteration of our laws . I think the proper time to make alterations in the regulations of this institution is at the general meeting in May , which is the only occasion on which we have a fair attendance . At the other meetings the
attendance is very small . I think it would be not more than twelve . It would be dangerous , therefore , to give such power as is now proposed to any special general meeting . It is true that such meetings are convened by advertisements in the
public papers , but we do not all go through the Times advertisements , and as I said before these meetings would be thinly attended , and the practical result of the present proposition would be to give to a small meeting the power of altering fundamentally the laws of this charity . Some of the regulations are very serious and ought only to be altered at a full regular meeting , such as is commonly held in May . I shall , thereforeoppose this resolution if I stand alonewhich I do
, , not think likely , ancl I hope Grand Lodgo will negative so dangerous a proposition . I am sure it will not work well for the charity . Bro . SYAIONDS : —From what Bro . Savage has said , it might be supposed that some innovation was contemplated by this motion , but such is not the case . Bro . Savage forgets that it is only by the incidental operation of the law , never intended to
apply to special meetings , that this power of passing laws at special meetings of subscribers has been taken away . It existed until within three or four years , when it was taken away under these circumstances . I say this advisedly , because I was the author of the law by which that power was accidentally taken away . Some three or four years ago I was startled at a general meeting of subscribers to find that a motion was brought forward for the alteration of a law without notice . Than seemed
anomalous , but there was no law to prevent it , and the resolution was carried . The alteration in that case was not objectionable , but such a plan is liable to great danger . Therefore , when at a subsequent meeting , it was proposed to alter certain of the laws , I proposed the following- law : — " That no motion for any new regulation or law , or abrogation or alteration of any existing regulation or lawshall be entertained at the
, annual general meeting , unless a copy of the same shall have been communicated , to the Committee of Management , & c . " That was intended to apply only to motions brought forward at the annual general meeting ; and subsequently when it was proposed to hold a special meeting for the