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Article GRAND LODGE. ← Page 7 of 8 →
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Grand Lodge.
advise the directors that they should abandon the name of "Freemasons , "' and I have every reason to believe they will give due consideration to such advice . I must take this opportunity of requesting your attention to the circumstances of a notice of a somewhat curious description given by Mr . Gray Clarke , Grand Secretary , on the 1 st November ult ., to the manager of the Company , that the
proceedings the Company were taking , in making alterations in the great banqueting room and elsewhere in the new tavern , were considered as an act of tenancy , and that the increased rent as agreed in the agreement for a . lease would commence from half quarter day next , the lltb of November instant . By order , & c . Now whilst the Company are exceedingly anxious to perform
every part of tbe agreement devolving upon them , and the directors are most willing so soon as the trustees have complied with thc agreement on their part , so as to entitle them to the the additional rent of £ 400 per annum , to pay such rent , still they must protect the shareholders by objecting to Mr . Gray Clarke ' s intimation as being conclusive upon that agreement . I fear , therefore , I must trouble you with some explanation
of the ci renin stances whence this notice appears to have arisen . The "Dickens' Dinner" being about to be held , the gentlemen forming the committee for managing such dinner , applied to the Grand Secretary and Building Committee for permission to decorate the banquetting hall , by adding stencil colouring in the panels , with a border , and inserting the names of tho principally attractive of Charles Dickens' literary productions . Permission was given to themnot to the companyaud they
, , having , under the guidance of the architect , commenced operations , Mr . Havers was pleased to require from the manager of the Company an undertaking that such an act by Mr . Dickens ' committee should render the Company liable , to the increased rent of £ 1 , 200 per annum , as from the 11 th November last . To this demand the manager replied , that he would obtain directions from the chairman of the Company . Upon this Mr .
Gray Clarke wrote , on the 30 th October , 1 SG 7 , a letter ( copy whereof I enclose herewith ) reiterating Mr . Havers' demand against the Company , and intimating that what was done in decorating the banqueting room should be at the sole cost of the Company , and the walls of the banqueting room should be , if required , reinstated at the cost of the Companv .
The manager ( whose reply is also herewith ) answered on the same day , that without the consent of his co-directors the chairman could not give his sanction to an undertaking such as required by Mr . Gray Clarke . Upon this Mr . Havers stopped the decorations , and gave orders that they should not proceed unless the company undertook as required by him and Mr . Gray Clarke on the 31 st October last . Telegraphic communication being had witli Mr . Havers upon the subject of thus marring
the otherwise elegant appearance of the banquetting roomthe Company still refusing to give such undertaking— -the decorations , not by the Company , but by Mr . Charles Dickens ' dinner committee , were by re-permission to them , at the instance of Mr . Havers proceeded with , they undertaking to reinstate where required . Ou the 1 st November , the notice hereinbefore adverted
to was given by Mr . Gray Clarke . ( Copy whereof also accompanies this letter ) . Now it is obvious this proposition cannot be acceded to and you cannot , I think , with all deference , advise that such increased rent has become payable by the Company , under the agreement b y the trustees of the society , to grant the lease . This intimation to you has become the more necessary in
consequence of a statement in the report of the building committee to Grand Lodge , which is printed and published , "that the occupancy of the Company on the increased rent commenced on the 11 th November . " Such statement is not accurate , as whilst , as I have observed , the Company are quite willing , so soon as the trustees entitle themselves thereto , to pay such increased rent , the trustees have not at present done
so in accordance with the agreement for lease . I observe with great satisfaction that in the same report the great inconvenience consequent upon the delay in the buildings to the lessees is not lost sight of ; and I trust that all such penalties will be devoted to the remuneration of the Company for the enormous loss and injury they have sustained in that respect to which I have hitherto called the attention of the Grand Secretary , and which have been of vital and serious importance to the Company .
\ v lnlst I feel the delicacy of any allusion to the printed report of the Building Committee , who may be supposed to represent to some extent the trustees of the Society of Freemasons , and there is obvious difficulty in dealing copiously with the report , yet I ought to give you an intimation that the Company are not in any way bound by the statements therein , of which they were not previously apprised , nor have they been conferred with upon the subject . The report seems to me to deserve
much further consideration on tbe points adverted to , and particularly with respect to their recommendations to appropriate the room called "The Clarence , " at present the coffee room , apparently dealing with it exclusively and obviously to the detriment of the lessees , as if remaining the property of the trustees , whereas it forms pai _ , and is comprised within the premises agreed to be leased to the Company , by whom
possession is held , ancl it has , in fact , at considerable outlay and expense been carpeted and furnished for use . Any further information within my power I shall be happy at all times , with sincere frankness and candour , to convey to you , as I am sure the Company will permit me to do so ; and I must say I am most anxious that kindly feelings should exist between the landlords of so important a property and their lessees ; and the landlords should be assured the Tavern will be so conducted by the lessees as to entitle them to the encouragement and support of the Society .
I am , my dear Sir , Yours very truly and fraternally , ( Signed ) H . WELLIXGTOX VALLAXCE . To Alexander Dobie , Esq . Bro . HATERS said he hoped they would all forget what was past , and go to the plain business of the evening . He directed the attention of the Grand Lodge to the first notice of motion
on page 5 of the printed paper . It was there stated that no rent had been charged to the lodges they had supplied with accommodation until the building was completed . He was sorry that the fees were not lower , but if the committee were able they would be happy to reduce them . He moved " That the rents for the use of lodge rooms shall commence and be payable on and after the 1 st of January 1868 . "
, In answer to a question from some brother , Bro . HAVERS said they were anxious to avoid large collections , of furniture , and ho alluded to the damage that occurred to furniture when a large party was held . They would fix as low rates as possible for storing the furniture of lodges . The resolution w-as then put and carried . Bro . HAVERS said there could be no possible question about ,
the necessity of a cott ' ee-voom , for from the earliest time that question had been a sine qua non with Freemasons . The tariff of Bro . Gosden was exceeding moderate , and the committee were inclined to leave it in the hands of Grand Lodge to fix the amount for the use of tho coffee-room and library , but after consideration the committee had fixed such charges as they
believed would be fair and just . He moved " That the subscription of Masons residing within the London districts shall beto the coffee-room , £ 1 Is . ; to the library , 10 s . per annum . Bro . BEXXOCH wanted to know what was to be supplied in the eoifee-room . Bro . HAVERS said : Breakfasts , dinners , suppers , wines , and spirits . Bro . BEXXOCH said there appeared to be some difference of
opinion as to whether the coffee-room was included in the lease to fhe company , and he wanted to have it fairly stated if the coffee-room belonged to the Tavern Company or to the Grand Lodge . If it was shown that it belonged to the Tavern Company , would the Grand Lodge provide another coffee-room . Bro . HAVERS said from the very first a coffee-room and library were required in the new building . There was not a shadow of doubt that they were so includedancl only to be
, used for Masonic purposes . A brother wanted to know why there should be any charge to the library and coffee-room at all . He moved as an amendment , " That the coffee-room and library be open to the Craft at large free . " Bro . RAT . MOXD STUART seconded the amendment . Bro . HAVERS said the committee would be delighted to throw open the coffee-room and library , but it was built by
the subscriptions of Masons all over England , and thoy as London Masons had no right to use it without making some compensation to their country brethren . The amendment was then put and negatived .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Lodge.
advise the directors that they should abandon the name of "Freemasons , "' and I have every reason to believe they will give due consideration to such advice . I must take this opportunity of requesting your attention to the circumstances of a notice of a somewhat curious description given by Mr . Gray Clarke , Grand Secretary , on the 1 st November ult ., to the manager of the Company , that the
proceedings the Company were taking , in making alterations in the great banqueting room and elsewhere in the new tavern , were considered as an act of tenancy , and that the increased rent as agreed in the agreement for a . lease would commence from half quarter day next , the lltb of November instant . By order , & c . Now whilst the Company are exceedingly anxious to perform
every part of tbe agreement devolving upon them , and the directors are most willing so soon as the trustees have complied with thc agreement on their part , so as to entitle them to the the additional rent of £ 400 per annum , to pay such rent , still they must protect the shareholders by objecting to Mr . Gray Clarke ' s intimation as being conclusive upon that agreement . I fear , therefore , I must trouble you with some explanation
of the ci renin stances whence this notice appears to have arisen . The "Dickens' Dinner" being about to be held , the gentlemen forming the committee for managing such dinner , applied to the Grand Secretary and Building Committee for permission to decorate the banquetting hall , by adding stencil colouring in the panels , with a border , and inserting the names of tho principally attractive of Charles Dickens' literary productions . Permission was given to themnot to the companyaud they
, , having , under the guidance of the architect , commenced operations , Mr . Havers was pleased to require from the manager of the Company an undertaking that such an act by Mr . Dickens ' committee should render the Company liable , to the increased rent of £ 1 , 200 per annum , as from the 11 th November last . To this demand the manager replied , that he would obtain directions from the chairman of the Company . Upon this Mr .
Gray Clarke wrote , on the 30 th October , 1 SG 7 , a letter ( copy whereof I enclose herewith ) reiterating Mr . Havers' demand against the Company , and intimating that what was done in decorating the banqueting room should be at the sole cost of the Company , and the walls of the banqueting room should be , if required , reinstated at the cost of the Companv .
The manager ( whose reply is also herewith ) answered on the same day , that without the consent of his co-directors the chairman could not give his sanction to an undertaking such as required by Mr . Gray Clarke . Upon this Mr . Havers stopped the decorations , and gave orders that they should not proceed unless the company undertook as required by him and Mr . Gray Clarke on the 31 st October last . Telegraphic communication being had witli Mr . Havers upon the subject of thus marring
the otherwise elegant appearance of the banquetting roomthe Company still refusing to give such undertaking— -the decorations , not by the Company , but by Mr . Charles Dickens ' dinner committee , were by re-permission to them , at the instance of Mr . Havers proceeded with , they undertaking to reinstate where required . Ou the 1 st November , the notice hereinbefore adverted
to was given by Mr . Gray Clarke . ( Copy whereof also accompanies this letter ) . Now it is obvious this proposition cannot be acceded to and you cannot , I think , with all deference , advise that such increased rent has become payable by the Company , under the agreement b y the trustees of the society , to grant the lease . This intimation to you has become the more necessary in
consequence of a statement in the report of the building committee to Grand Lodge , which is printed and published , "that the occupancy of the Company on the increased rent commenced on the 11 th November . " Such statement is not accurate , as whilst , as I have observed , the Company are quite willing , so soon as the trustees entitle themselves thereto , to pay such increased rent , the trustees have not at present done
so in accordance with the agreement for lease . I observe with great satisfaction that in the same report the great inconvenience consequent upon the delay in the buildings to the lessees is not lost sight of ; and I trust that all such penalties will be devoted to the remuneration of the Company for the enormous loss and injury they have sustained in that respect to which I have hitherto called the attention of the Grand Secretary , and which have been of vital and serious importance to the Company .
\ v lnlst I feel the delicacy of any allusion to the printed report of the Building Committee , who may be supposed to represent to some extent the trustees of the Society of Freemasons , and there is obvious difficulty in dealing copiously with the report , yet I ought to give you an intimation that the Company are not in any way bound by the statements therein , of which they were not previously apprised , nor have they been conferred with upon the subject . The report seems to me to deserve
much further consideration on tbe points adverted to , and particularly with respect to their recommendations to appropriate the room called "The Clarence , " at present the coffee room , apparently dealing with it exclusively and obviously to the detriment of the lessees , as if remaining the property of the trustees , whereas it forms pai _ , and is comprised within the premises agreed to be leased to the Company , by whom
possession is held , ancl it has , in fact , at considerable outlay and expense been carpeted and furnished for use . Any further information within my power I shall be happy at all times , with sincere frankness and candour , to convey to you , as I am sure the Company will permit me to do so ; and I must say I am most anxious that kindly feelings should exist between the landlords of so important a property and their lessees ; and the landlords should be assured the Tavern will be so conducted by the lessees as to entitle them to the encouragement and support of the Society .
I am , my dear Sir , Yours very truly and fraternally , ( Signed ) H . WELLIXGTOX VALLAXCE . To Alexander Dobie , Esq . Bro . HATERS said he hoped they would all forget what was past , and go to the plain business of the evening . He directed the attention of the Grand Lodge to the first notice of motion
on page 5 of the printed paper . It was there stated that no rent had been charged to the lodges they had supplied with accommodation until the building was completed . He was sorry that the fees were not lower , but if the committee were able they would be happy to reduce them . He moved " That the rents for the use of lodge rooms shall commence and be payable on and after the 1 st of January 1868 . "
, In answer to a question from some brother , Bro . HAVERS said they were anxious to avoid large collections , of furniture , and ho alluded to the damage that occurred to furniture when a large party was held . They would fix as low rates as possible for storing the furniture of lodges . The resolution w-as then put and carried . Bro . HAVERS said there could be no possible question about ,
the necessity of a cott ' ee-voom , for from the earliest time that question had been a sine qua non with Freemasons . The tariff of Bro . Gosden was exceeding moderate , and the committee were inclined to leave it in the hands of Grand Lodge to fix the amount for the use of tho coffee-room and library , but after consideration the committee had fixed such charges as they
believed would be fair and just . He moved " That the subscription of Masons residing within the London districts shall beto the coffee-room , £ 1 Is . ; to the library , 10 s . per annum . Bro . BEXXOCH wanted to know what was to be supplied in the eoifee-room . Bro . HAVERS said : Breakfasts , dinners , suppers , wines , and spirits . Bro . BEXXOCH said there appeared to be some difference of
opinion as to whether the coffee-room was included in the lease to fhe company , and he wanted to have it fairly stated if the coffee-room belonged to the Tavern Company or to the Grand Lodge . If it was shown that it belonged to the Tavern Company , would the Grand Lodge provide another coffee-room . Bro . HAVERS said from the very first a coffee-room and library were required in the new building . There was not a shadow of doubt that they were so includedancl only to be
, used for Masonic purposes . A brother wanted to know why there should be any charge to the library and coffee-room at all . He moved as an amendment , " That the coffee-room and library be open to the Craft at large free . " Bro . RAT . MOXD STUART seconded the amendment . Bro . HAVERS said the committee would be delighted to throw open the coffee-room and library , but it was built by
the subscriptions of Masons all over England , and thoy as London Masons had no right to use it without making some compensation to their country brethren . The amendment was then put and negatived .