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Masonic Missions.
MASONIC MISSIONS .
LONDON , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 19 , 1859 .
IN our number of August 20 fch , Ave briefly revieAved the proceedings of the various Provincial Grand Lodges , so far as they had taken place , and Ave now resume our review to allude to those subsequently held j as with the commencement ofthe London season that in the country , so far as their aggregate provincial nreetings are concerned , may be said to end . The last Provincial Grand Lodge to which we alluded was
that of Dorsetshire , and the first upon our present lust is Wiltshire , the annual gathering of which took place on the 23 rd of August , under the presidency of our noble brother , the Right Honourable Lord Methuen , assisted by his able Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Pro . D . Gooch , and an excellent muster of officers . At this Provincial Grand Lodge
a very good arrangement was agreed to , by which the various Masters and officers of private Lodges as Avell as those of the Provincial Grand Lodge are to pay fees of honour on their appointments , in order to raise a charity fund , by which the various Lodges aro to be in their turn rendered life governors of the various charities . At this meeting a most important
question was raised under the Book of Constitutions , relative to the appointment of Provincial Grand Oflicers , which AVC are sorry is not more generally attended to in Grand Lodge , viz ., the appointment of non-resident oflicers in the Provincial Grand Lodges . On this point , the Book of Constitutions clearly states , that Provincial Grand Officers " must all be
resident within the province and subscribing members to some Lodge therein , but tho Most Worshipful Grand Master may grant a dispensation for non-residence . A fee of tAvo guineas for Grand Wardens , and one guinea for any subordinate officer , shall bo paid to the general fund of charity for such dispensation . " To this the Deputy Provincial Grand Master replied by referring to another part of the Book of Constitutions , Avhich states that the Provincial Grand Master is by his patent " invested with a rank and power in his
particular district , similar to those possessed by the Grand Master , " and therefore the Deputy Provincial Grand Master argued that in appointing the bretliren the Provincial Grand Master might be supposed to have given them the necessary dispensation to hold their respective offices . If the Provincial Grand Master holds that power , well and good ; and in this case it was understood that the bretliren would be called
on for their fees—we hope to the advantage of the General Charity Fund . But as wo read tho LISA '—and upon this point wo should like the opinion of Bro . Dobie , the Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , by Avhom we believe it was originally introduced—the power of dispensation is wholly confined to the Most Worshipful Grand Muster—tho fees to
be levied not going to the Provincial but to the General Fund of Benevolence j and we are strengthened in this belief by the knoAvledge that Avhen Bro . Charles Purton Cooper , the Provincial Grand Master for Kent , a most able equity lawyer , wished to appoint a non-resident Superintendent of Worksa dispensation was applied for to the Most
Worship-, ful Grand Master , and refused on the ground that able brethren mig ht be found within the province who ought not . to be superseded by non-residents . NOAV this objection , is plain and intelligible , but had the power rested with tho Provincial Grand Master , and not with the Most Worshi pful Grand Master of England , it is clear that the appointment
would have been made and if there is any ambiguity iu the law , it ought to be cleared up at once and for over . Bnt there is another important question to be raised . From the objection , known or presumed to exist on the part of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , to the granting of these dispensationsthe laAv is systematicallevaded—the general
, y charit y fund to a considerable extent deprived of fees which it ought to receive—and brethren having no local standing beyond their connection with Provincial , we might almost say iu the present state of railway communication- suburban .
Lodges , strut in purple aud fine gold as Provincial Grand Officers , unchallenged ancl nnrebuked , even within the Supreme Grand Lodge itself . We are not amongst those who would deprive brethren of one province of the honours of another in which they clo suit aud service as members , and perhaps as the only
workinomembers of the Lodges , but we would have the dispensations granted freely and liberally , and insist upon the fees being duly paid . Is there no brother who will move for a return of such dispensations applied for during tho last five years , and the number granted—following it up , if need be , by a motion that a return shall be annually made to the Most
Worshipful Grand Master , or the Grand Lodge , of all appointments in the various provinces , with the residences of the respective brethren . / Relative to the Grand Lodge of Sussex which took place on the 2 nd September , AVO have nothing to offer , excepting to congratulate the brethren on the increasing prosperity of
their province , and upon their having established so efficient a system of aiding the charities that'they were enabled to qualify two of the Lodges hailing within the jnwince as Governors of the Royal Benevolent Institution for aged Masons ancl their widows , and the ro-establishment of one of the oldest'Lodges in the Craft . Long may it flourish !
The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire was distinguished by the consecration of a new Masonic Hall , designed and carried out under the direction of Brother Millican , Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works—thus proving that there aro provinces the Provincial Grand Masters of Avhich regard thafc office as something more
than honorary , and that there aro members of the Craft Avho , in taking ifc , confer honour and dignity upon the Order of which they aro members ; but upon this subject we shall speak more at length in an early number . On the Gth of October another Provincial Grand Lodgo was held at Ashby-do-la-Zouch when a new Lodge was
consecrated under the direction of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Earl Howe , assisted by his most excellent deputy , Bro . Kelly , to whom Masonry in Leicestershire is deeply indebted . The HCAV Lodge is entitled the Ferrers and Ivanhoe . The only damp upon the proceedings was the unfortunate demise of the Master first named in the Avarrant prior to the
consecration of the Lodge ( Earl Ferrers ) , who had given promise of becoming a most valuable member of the Order , in the prosperity of which he evidently took great interest . The next Provincial Grand Lodge upon our list is that of Worcestershire , held upon the 20 th of September and we confess thafc wo ahvays approach anything like a notice of its proceedings with difficulty , from the fact that our brethren in the " West Couutrie" appear peculiarly sensitive . Wo have
more than once trodden upon their corns , and brought a storm upon our heads , which , luckily , we have been enabled to live through . But upon the present occasion we are not going to find fault even with the appointments , as there does nofc appear to be any idea of a IICAV hall Avithin the province , whilst AVO can congratulate , them upon the honour they pay
to their Provincial Grand Master—than whom , though wo have not always agreed with him in opinion , Ave believe , there is no more Avorthy brother in tho Craft—and in their support to the charities by creating him a vice-president for life of the boys' school . This is effected by the presentation of fifty guineas to the charity , and then insuring the life of
the Provincial Grand Master so that at his death—AA'hich wc hope may be far distant—tho principal sum returns to the Provincial Grand Lodgo for the purpose of conferring the same distinction upon his successor . On September 2 Sth tho bretliren of Cheshire assembled miller the superintendence of the venerable and E . W . Bn > . Viscount Combermere , everything being conducted with thafc regularity and punctuality which have ever distinguished that gallant soldier .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Missions.
MASONIC MISSIONS .
LONDON , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 19 , 1859 .
IN our number of August 20 fch , Ave briefly revieAved the proceedings of the various Provincial Grand Lodges , so far as they had taken place , and Ave now resume our review to allude to those subsequently held j as with the commencement ofthe London season that in the country , so far as their aggregate provincial nreetings are concerned , may be said to end . The last Provincial Grand Lodge to which we alluded was
that of Dorsetshire , and the first upon our present lust is Wiltshire , the annual gathering of which took place on the 23 rd of August , under the presidency of our noble brother , the Right Honourable Lord Methuen , assisted by his able Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Pro . D . Gooch , and an excellent muster of officers . At this Provincial Grand Lodge
a very good arrangement was agreed to , by which the various Masters and officers of private Lodges as Avell as those of the Provincial Grand Lodge are to pay fees of honour on their appointments , in order to raise a charity fund , by which the various Lodges aro to be in their turn rendered life governors of the various charities . At this meeting a most important
question was raised under the Book of Constitutions , relative to the appointment of Provincial Grand Oflicers , which AVC are sorry is not more generally attended to in Grand Lodge , viz ., the appointment of non-resident oflicers in the Provincial Grand Lodges . On this point , the Book of Constitutions clearly states , that Provincial Grand Officers " must all be
resident within the province and subscribing members to some Lodge therein , but tho Most Worshipful Grand Master may grant a dispensation for non-residence . A fee of tAvo guineas for Grand Wardens , and one guinea for any subordinate officer , shall bo paid to the general fund of charity for such dispensation . " To this the Deputy Provincial Grand Master replied by referring to another part of the Book of Constitutions , Avhich states that the Provincial Grand Master is by his patent " invested with a rank and power in his
particular district , similar to those possessed by the Grand Master , " and therefore the Deputy Provincial Grand Master argued that in appointing the bretliren the Provincial Grand Master might be supposed to have given them the necessary dispensation to hold their respective offices . If the Provincial Grand Master holds that power , well and good ; and in this case it was understood that the bretliren would be called
on for their fees—we hope to the advantage of the General Charity Fund . But as wo read tho LISA '—and upon this point wo should like the opinion of Bro . Dobie , the Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , by Avhom we believe it was originally introduced—the power of dispensation is wholly confined to the Most Worshipful Grand Muster—tho fees to
be levied not going to the Provincial but to the General Fund of Benevolence j and we are strengthened in this belief by the knoAvledge that Avhen Bro . Charles Purton Cooper , the Provincial Grand Master for Kent , a most able equity lawyer , wished to appoint a non-resident Superintendent of Worksa dispensation was applied for to the Most
Worship-, ful Grand Master , and refused on the ground that able brethren mig ht be found within the province who ought not . to be superseded by non-residents . NOAV this objection , is plain and intelligible , but had the power rested with tho Provincial Grand Master , and not with the Most Worshi pful Grand Master of England , it is clear that the appointment
would have been made and if there is any ambiguity iu the law , it ought to be cleared up at once and for over . Bnt there is another important question to be raised . From the objection , known or presumed to exist on the part of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , to the granting of these dispensationsthe laAv is systematicallevaded—the general
, y charit y fund to a considerable extent deprived of fees which it ought to receive—and brethren having no local standing beyond their connection with Provincial , we might almost say iu the present state of railway communication- suburban .
Lodges , strut in purple aud fine gold as Provincial Grand Officers , unchallenged ancl nnrebuked , even within the Supreme Grand Lodge itself . We are not amongst those who would deprive brethren of one province of the honours of another in which they clo suit aud service as members , and perhaps as the only
workinomembers of the Lodges , but we would have the dispensations granted freely and liberally , and insist upon the fees being duly paid . Is there no brother who will move for a return of such dispensations applied for during tho last five years , and the number granted—following it up , if need be , by a motion that a return shall be annually made to the Most
Worshipful Grand Master , or the Grand Lodge , of all appointments in the various provinces , with the residences of the respective brethren . / Relative to the Grand Lodge of Sussex which took place on the 2 nd September , AVO have nothing to offer , excepting to congratulate the brethren on the increasing prosperity of
their province , and upon their having established so efficient a system of aiding the charities that'they were enabled to qualify two of the Lodges hailing within the jnwince as Governors of the Royal Benevolent Institution for aged Masons ancl their widows , and the ro-establishment of one of the oldest'Lodges in the Craft . Long may it flourish !
The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire was distinguished by the consecration of a new Masonic Hall , designed and carried out under the direction of Brother Millican , Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works—thus proving that there aro provinces the Provincial Grand Masters of Avhich regard thafc office as something more
than honorary , and that there aro members of the Craft Avho , in taking ifc , confer honour and dignity upon the Order of which they aro members ; but upon this subject we shall speak more at length in an early number . On the Gth of October another Provincial Grand Lodgo was held at Ashby-do-la-Zouch when a new Lodge was
consecrated under the direction of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Earl Howe , assisted by his most excellent deputy , Bro . Kelly , to whom Masonry in Leicestershire is deeply indebted . The HCAV Lodge is entitled the Ferrers and Ivanhoe . The only damp upon the proceedings was the unfortunate demise of the Master first named in the Avarrant prior to the
consecration of the Lodge ( Earl Ferrers ) , who had given promise of becoming a most valuable member of the Order , in the prosperity of which he evidently took great interest . The next Provincial Grand Lodge upon our list is that of Worcestershire , held upon the 20 th of September and we confess thafc wo ahvays approach anything like a notice of its proceedings with difficulty , from the fact that our brethren in the " West Couutrie" appear peculiarly sensitive . Wo have
more than once trodden upon their corns , and brought a storm upon our heads , which , luckily , we have been enabled to live through . But upon the present occasion we are not going to find fault even with the appointments , as there does nofc appear to be any idea of a IICAV hall Avithin the province , whilst AVO can congratulate , them upon the honour they pay
to their Provincial Grand Master—than whom , though wo have not always agreed with him in opinion , Ave believe , there is no more Avorthy brother in tho Craft—and in their support to the charities by creating him a vice-president for life of the boys' school . This is effected by the presentation of fifty guineas to the charity , and then insuring the life of
the Provincial Grand Master so that at his death—AA'hich wc hope may be far distant—tho principal sum returns to the Provincial Grand Lodgo for the purpose of conferring the same distinction upon his successor . On September 2 Sth tho bretliren of Cheshire assembled miller the superintendence of the venerable and E . W . Bn > . Viscount Combermere , everything being conducted with thafc regularity and punctuality which have ever distinguished that gallant soldier .