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Article THE MASONIC MIRROR. ← Page 5 of 6 →
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The Masonic Mirror.
it was clear could not be satisfactorily gone into at that period of the evening . But he thought that the matter might be met by their simply passing a resolution remitting the matter to the Board of General Purposes , which might bring up a more full report to the next Grand Lodge , it being clear , as he had stated , it could not be fully discussed that evening . The Board said : "The Board beg further to report , that they have hud several plans laid before them for the appropriation of the freehold
property belonging to the Society . Some of these plans are based upon the continuance or increase of the present tavern accommodation ; but inasmuch as Grand Lodge , in 1858 , decided that the attention of the Board should be directed solely to schemes for appropriating the property , or a portion thereof , to Masonic purposes exclusively , it was considered that the Board ought not to entertain such schemes until the sanction of Grand Lodge for their so doing should be obtained . It was therefore
resolved—. " That whereas the . following resolutions were agreed to at a Quarterly Communieation of the Grand Lodge , holden on the 1 st December , 1858 , viz .: — " 1 st . That it is desirable that the freehold property now belonging to the Society , or such part thereof as may be necessary , shall be devoted exclusively to Masonic purposes . _ " 2 nd . That the subject be referred back to the Board , with directions to report thereon to the Grand Lod aud to bring
ge , "before it such a scheme as may appear to be practicable for carrying out the first resolution , and to authorise the Board to expend a sum not exceeding £ 300 for that purpose ; and if they see fit , to submit the subject to the public competition of the whole Masonic body , and to offer a sum , not exceeding 150 guineas , in premiums for the best design . " 3 rd . That in the scheme which they will have to consider , it
will be desirable to proceed only with a view of providing fitting and appropriate accommodation to be devoted solely and exclusively to Masonic purposes . "And whereas several members of the Board of General Purposes are of opinion that it is desirable to have power to consider the propriety of appropriating a portion of the property for the purposes of a tavern—should the judgment of the Board take that direction— -it is respectfully requested that such
additional power be granted to the Board by Grand Lodge accordingly . " His Lordship'then proceeded to say , that it was plain to him that under the resolutions he had just read , the Board of
General Purposes had power to make a report to Grand Lodge . Strict and definite powers had been given to the Board of General Purposes to consider if any and what portion of the Grand Lodge property could be set aside for the purposes of the Craft only ; and they now asked for powers to consider whether any portion of the property should be set aside for the purposes of a tavern . He had never heard any suggestion that the whole of the property should be devoted to Masonic purposes . The
resolution directed the Board to confine its attention to what part of the property might be set aside for Masonic purposes , and that , he thought , could easily be done . They were not asked to consider the appropriation of the whole of the property , though he did not say that they ought not to have the power to do so . In the first instance they were directed to apply their attention to the providing additional accommodation for the Craft ; and he submitted that if the Board of General
Purposes wanted further powers , the time to ask for them would be when they brought up the report on that which had been already referred to them . He would not say a word against the providing of tavern accommodation , but it would be time enough to talk of that when the Board brought up its report , in June , on the points already referred to it . In the first instance the Boardit appeared to himshould confine its attention to the
, , powers given them under the resolutions of 1858 ; and he thought that , having determined that the report should be taken as rend and entered on the minutes , it might be then remitted to the Board to bring up a scheme at the next Grand Lodge , forgiving accommodation to the Craft .
The report having been taken as read—Bro . STEBBING , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , stated that the Board ought to be placed in a position to consider the whole question , and if they were not , nothing would be done by the next Grand Lodge—nor , indeed , until 1882 , when , as has been stated elsewhere , Grand Lodge would be burned down ( laughter ) . The Board ought to have power to consider the question of tavern or no tavern ; and to no decision could they come to until they had these powers . The
Board were divided upon the point , and he confessed he had not yet made up his mind on the subject . They had had various meetings , and in every one they were stopped on matters of form by the stringency of the resolutions of 1858 . If the Grand Lodge wanted a report they must g ive the Board more extensive power , otherwise they could not act . Bro . GEEGOEY , G . D ., as a member of the Board of General Purposesalso lained of their being so limited
, comp powers that they had no real power . If the Grand Lodge would settle the question of tavern or no tavern , the matter would soon be settled , and the Board would at once give them a report . If the matter were deferred , he hoped Grand Lodge would not confine them to the words of the resolution of 1858 . Bro . HOETON SMITH thought there could be no doubt of the power given to the Board of General Purposes , and that the
question of tavern or no tavern might be discussed hereafter . The M . W . GEAND MASTEE was sorry if he had been misunderstood . He did not wish to limit the powers of the Board , but if Grand Lodge agreed with him it would adhere to its resolution of 1858 , and the question of tavern accommodation might be postponed until after the report had been received on the other part of the scheme . The PEESIDENT OE THE BOAED OE GENEEAL PUEPOSES believed
that what they had first to consider was whether the whole or what part of the property should be devoted to Masonic purposes , and to lay a scheme upon the subject before Gd . Lodge before attempting to carry out other objects . Some members of the Board , however , thought that no scheme could be perfect without giving increased tavern accommodation , and to enable them to carry out that object was it that they required further powers . He felt that they ought first to determine what portion of the property
should be devoted solely to Masonic purposes , leaving the rest of the property to be dealt with hereafter . He believed that such a scheme could be agreed upon if they had also the power of sending up another scheme embracing the two objects . The GEAND REGISTEAB thought it clear that this question would not be settled without much discussion . He would , therefore , suggest that if his lordship gave them a special Grand Lodge , every brother would have an opportunity of expressing his opinion , and they might come to a fair and
reasonable decision on the matter . Bro . SAVAGE , P . G . D ., thought there was great fairness in the proposition of the Grand Registrar , and trusted that it would be acceded to . The GEAND MASTEE could not see that the matter would be further advanced by giving them a special Grand Lodge until the Board of General Purposes had presented them a scheme for consideration . If a report were brought up in June , and a
special Grand Lodge was then found to be necessary , it could be given . Bro . S . B . WILSON , P . G . D ., was about to address the Grand Lodge wiien he was interrupted on the ground that there was no motion before the chair . The D . GEAND MASTEE , for the purpose of enabling the discussion to proceed , would move a resolution to the effect that it he remitted to the Board of General Purposes further to
consider the object referred to them under the resolutions of 1858 —this being that they would be prepared with a report in June . It appeared to be a matter of great importance , and after so long a period as between three or four years had elapsed , he thought there ought to be no difficulty in making a report . He therefore moved that Grand Lodge adhere to these resolutions of 1858 , and remit them to the Board of General Purposes for a report thereon .
Br . Sir Lucius CUBTIS , Prov . Grand Master , Hants , seconded the resolution . Bro . WILSON , P . G . D ., said that the resolutions of 1858 , to which the D . Grand Master wished to bind them , only asked them to give a report as to what part of the Grand Lodge property could be solely devoted to Masonic purposes , " if practicable . " Now he boldly declared that it was not practicable
to give them any such scheme without considering the property as a whole , and power to do that was all the Board now asked . Bro . HEAL , as a member of the Board of General Purposes , declared that it was impossible to give any report as to what part of the property should be devoted solely to Masonic purposes , without knowing how the rest of the property was to be disposed of . They must apply themselves to the whole subject , or it would be impossible to bring a satisfactory report before the Craft . Bro . HEEVEY , P . G . D ., as a member of the Board of General
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The Masonic Mirror.
it was clear could not be satisfactorily gone into at that period of the evening . But he thought that the matter might be met by their simply passing a resolution remitting the matter to the Board of General Purposes , which might bring up a more full report to the next Grand Lodge , it being clear , as he had stated , it could not be fully discussed that evening . The Board said : "The Board beg further to report , that they have hud several plans laid before them for the appropriation of the freehold
property belonging to the Society . Some of these plans are based upon the continuance or increase of the present tavern accommodation ; but inasmuch as Grand Lodge , in 1858 , decided that the attention of the Board should be directed solely to schemes for appropriating the property , or a portion thereof , to Masonic purposes exclusively , it was considered that the Board ought not to entertain such schemes until the sanction of Grand Lodge for their so doing should be obtained . It was therefore
resolved—. " That whereas the . following resolutions were agreed to at a Quarterly Communieation of the Grand Lodge , holden on the 1 st December , 1858 , viz .: — " 1 st . That it is desirable that the freehold property now belonging to the Society , or such part thereof as may be necessary , shall be devoted exclusively to Masonic purposes . _ " 2 nd . That the subject be referred back to the Board , with directions to report thereon to the Grand Lod aud to bring
ge , "before it such a scheme as may appear to be practicable for carrying out the first resolution , and to authorise the Board to expend a sum not exceeding £ 300 for that purpose ; and if they see fit , to submit the subject to the public competition of the whole Masonic body , and to offer a sum , not exceeding 150 guineas , in premiums for the best design . " 3 rd . That in the scheme which they will have to consider , it
will be desirable to proceed only with a view of providing fitting and appropriate accommodation to be devoted solely and exclusively to Masonic purposes . "And whereas several members of the Board of General Purposes are of opinion that it is desirable to have power to consider the propriety of appropriating a portion of the property for the purposes of a tavern—should the judgment of the Board take that direction— -it is respectfully requested that such
additional power be granted to the Board by Grand Lodge accordingly . " His Lordship'then proceeded to say , that it was plain to him that under the resolutions he had just read , the Board of
General Purposes had power to make a report to Grand Lodge . Strict and definite powers had been given to the Board of General Purposes to consider if any and what portion of the Grand Lodge property could be set aside for the purposes of the Craft only ; and they now asked for powers to consider whether any portion of the property should be set aside for the purposes of a tavern . He had never heard any suggestion that the whole of the property should be devoted to Masonic purposes . The
resolution directed the Board to confine its attention to what part of the property might be set aside for Masonic purposes , and that , he thought , could easily be done . They were not asked to consider the appropriation of the whole of the property , though he did not say that they ought not to have the power to do so . In the first instance they were directed to apply their attention to the providing additional accommodation for the Craft ; and he submitted that if the Board of General
Purposes wanted further powers , the time to ask for them would be when they brought up the report on that which had been already referred to them . He would not say a word against the providing of tavern accommodation , but it would be time enough to talk of that when the Board brought up its report , in June , on the points already referred to it . In the first instance the Boardit appeared to himshould confine its attention to the
, , powers given them under the resolutions of 1858 ; and he thought that , having determined that the report should be taken as rend and entered on the minutes , it might be then remitted to the Board to bring up a scheme at the next Grand Lodge , forgiving accommodation to the Craft .
The report having been taken as read—Bro . STEBBING , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , stated that the Board ought to be placed in a position to consider the whole question , and if they were not , nothing would be done by the next Grand Lodge—nor , indeed , until 1882 , when , as has been stated elsewhere , Grand Lodge would be burned down ( laughter ) . The Board ought to have power to consider the question of tavern or no tavern ; and to no decision could they come to until they had these powers . The
Board were divided upon the point , and he confessed he had not yet made up his mind on the subject . They had had various meetings , and in every one they were stopped on matters of form by the stringency of the resolutions of 1858 . If the Grand Lodge wanted a report they must g ive the Board more extensive power , otherwise they could not act . Bro . GEEGOEY , G . D ., as a member of the Board of General Purposesalso lained of their being so limited
, comp powers that they had no real power . If the Grand Lodge would settle the question of tavern or no tavern , the matter would soon be settled , and the Board would at once give them a report . If the matter were deferred , he hoped Grand Lodge would not confine them to the words of the resolution of 1858 . Bro . HOETON SMITH thought there could be no doubt of the power given to the Board of General Purposes , and that the
question of tavern or no tavern might be discussed hereafter . The M . W . GEAND MASTEE was sorry if he had been misunderstood . He did not wish to limit the powers of the Board , but if Grand Lodge agreed with him it would adhere to its resolution of 1858 , and the question of tavern accommodation might be postponed until after the report had been received on the other part of the scheme . The PEESIDENT OE THE BOAED OE GENEEAL PUEPOSES believed
that what they had first to consider was whether the whole or what part of the property should be devoted to Masonic purposes , and to lay a scheme upon the subject before Gd . Lodge before attempting to carry out other objects . Some members of the Board , however , thought that no scheme could be perfect without giving increased tavern accommodation , and to enable them to carry out that object was it that they required further powers . He felt that they ought first to determine what portion of the property
should be devoted solely to Masonic purposes , leaving the rest of the property to be dealt with hereafter . He believed that such a scheme could be agreed upon if they had also the power of sending up another scheme embracing the two objects . The GEAND REGISTEAB thought it clear that this question would not be settled without much discussion . He would , therefore , suggest that if his lordship gave them a special Grand Lodge , every brother would have an opportunity of expressing his opinion , and they might come to a fair and
reasonable decision on the matter . Bro . SAVAGE , P . G . D ., thought there was great fairness in the proposition of the Grand Registrar , and trusted that it would be acceded to . The GEAND MASTEE could not see that the matter would be further advanced by giving them a special Grand Lodge until the Board of General Purposes had presented them a scheme for consideration . If a report were brought up in June , and a
special Grand Lodge was then found to be necessary , it could be given . Bro . S . B . WILSON , P . G . D ., was about to address the Grand Lodge wiien he was interrupted on the ground that there was no motion before the chair . The D . GEAND MASTEE , for the purpose of enabling the discussion to proceed , would move a resolution to the effect that it he remitted to the Board of General Purposes further to
consider the object referred to them under the resolutions of 1858 —this being that they would be prepared with a report in June . It appeared to be a matter of great importance , and after so long a period as between three or four years had elapsed , he thought there ought to be no difficulty in making a report . He therefore moved that Grand Lodge adhere to these resolutions of 1858 , and remit them to the Board of General Purposes for a report thereon .
Br . Sir Lucius CUBTIS , Prov . Grand Master , Hants , seconded the resolution . Bro . WILSON , P . G . D ., said that the resolutions of 1858 , to which the D . Grand Master wished to bind them , only asked them to give a report as to what part of the Grand Lodge property could be solely devoted to Masonic purposes , " if practicable . " Now he boldly declared that it was not practicable
to give them any such scheme without considering the property as a whole , and power to do that was all the Board now asked . Bro . HEAL , as a member of the Board of General Purposes , declared that it was impossible to give any report as to what part of the property should be devoted solely to Masonic purposes , without knowing how the rest of the property was to be disposed of . They must apply themselves to the whole subject , or it would be impossible to bring a satisfactory report before the Craft . Bro . HEEVEY , P . G . D ., as a member of the Board of General