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Hampshire.
deliberation , whatever the extent and character of the alterations it was necessary they should have iu Great Queen-street—Masonic apartments in which the brethren could assemble without being ashamed—iu which the dignity of the Craft could be properly uphold , and in which accommodation coulcl be provided for all lodges which might think proper to meet there . He had seen in America Masonic Halls constructed on a scale of great magnificence , in ivhich were provided not only rooms for the
more immediate purposes of Masonry , but also apartments for tho Grand Officers and others . Their American brethren were noted for their energy in this respect . Above all , in Great Queen-street we should have rooms appropriated exclusively to Masonry . In the lodge of the University of Oxford , with which he had the honour of being connected , they had a spacious room confined to the practices of Masonry , and beautifully and emblematically ornamented . With Bros . Stebbing and Binckes
he deprecated any extravagant expenditure , and he most seriously protested against any interference with the funds devoted to charity—that brightest jewel in the Masonic crown . He hoped that all brethren would exhibit mutual consideration ancl forbearance in respect to tbis great topic , and joining heart and hand would unite in carrying out a scheme prudent and effective . ( Hear . ) He thanked the brethren for the kindness with which they had received himand ivas very happy to have met
, with them on that very interesting occasion . —Bro . LE CROIX , P . M ., saicl it appeared to him that two schemes had heen brought before the brethren that evening—the one attractive from its magnificence and splendour , the other commended by its prudential considerations . He thought it must be sufficiently evident to all that an outlay much greater than that which had been recommended by some of the brethren , if made u'isely and prudently ivould ,
commercially and Masonically speaking , produce a profitable return . They < vho lived in Cathedral toivns ivere taught to appreciate large and splendid buildings , and kneAV that the reverential awe which they produced tended to the increase of religion , charity , and benevolence . This was confirmed by the instinct of the human heart , ancl the experience of history . Many of their most splendid buildings in modern times took their rise fro ; n public charity , which was nothing
more than practical Freemasonry . So far from restricting the improvements to the bare provision of the necessary Masonic apartments , he would rather see the great body of the Craft appealed to , and a great Masonic cathedral erected , to ivhich all the Masons of the universe ivould look up . ( Hear . )—Bro . BINCKES rose to propose the health of the W . Master . He Avas very much indebted to him for the extreme kindness he had shown . He coulcl recollect no visit to a Masonic lodge ivhich
had given him so much pleasure as that , and he hoped he should be enabled often to repeat it . He strongly approved of such meetings as the present , they encouraged a free interchange of opinion , and gave an opportunity of calmly discussing the great questions Avhich came before the Craft . The conduct of the W . M . in the chair that eA-ening showed to him that the destinies of the lodge could not be in bettor hands . He would not delay them by further enlarging on the toastbut ivould ive
, g them Avith heartfelt sincerity , the " Health of their W . M ., " to Avhom ancl the other members of lodge No . 90 he felt himself much indebted . ' —Bro . JACOB , P . M ., here raised the question of the legality of the W . M . parting Avith his gavel to any brother proposing a toast , and expressed a wish that some of the eminent brethren present might give an authoritative opinion on this much agitated point . —Bro . BINCKES said it was quite in
accordance with Masonic usage . —Bro . BEACH saicl that Avhen the W . M . parted ivith his gavel , it was customary for tho two Wardens to rise at its sound . —The toast of the W . M . 's health was drunk with great cordiality . —The W . M . thanked Bro . Binckes for the eloquent terms in which he had proposed his health , and assured the brethren that he felt it a high honour to sit in the chair of a lodge of such ancient date and great
repute . He should always consider it his duty to do all in his power for the interest of the Loclge of Economy and the Craft in general . He was very much obliged to the brethren b y whom he was then surrounded , for their suggestions ancl ideas on the important question which had been under discussion . He was sorry to differ in opinion from Bros . Binckes , Beach , and Stebbing , and feared he thereby came under Sydney Smith ' s
definition of a madman—being' in a minority of one , ivith everybody for the majority against him . ( Laughter . ) Ihe Masonic Craft had at last aivoke to a sense of its duty . As Freemasonry exalted architecture and the art of building , it was their duty
Hampshire.
as Masons to present to the outer world some practical complication of their theoretical principles . He quite agreed with Bro . La Croix ' s remarks on the elevating effects of magnificent edifices , and had witnessed an apposite illustration in the observations made by Bro . Binckes , when viewing their ancient Cathedral thai afternoon . Whether it were degeneracy or whether it were economy , the present age produced no such edifices as those erected by their ancient brethren . He stigmatised
the present building in Great Queen-street as a disgrace to the Craft , bearing as it did , a greater resemblance to a farmer's barn than a Masonic Temple . He thought it ridiculous to restrict expenditure on Grand Lodge to the paltry sum of £ 18 , 000 , Avhen they considered the sums laid out by many private lodges , he more particularly referred to those in the North of England . Whatever the decision of Grand Lodge might be , he felt sure that if the interest of the general body of Masons AA'ere thoroughly
roused , a structure Avould be raised Avorthy the antiquity of their art and the dignity of the craft . He Avas glad to meet so many visiting brethren that evening , ancl hoped on their return to their homes , they ivould press on their own lodges the importance of this great subject . In the absence of that general association of Masons which all ivould wish to see , and which many brethren of No . 90 , had attempted to establish , he ivould urge all the brethren present to seek for
general Masonic information where it could alone be found , in the columns of their able and valuable Magazine . He knew there were many who looked on it askance , even if they did not think it unmasonic . The FREEMASON ' S MAGZINE was to Masonry , what the general press was to society at large , and a Mason , whose Masonic information was restricted to his own experience and the verbal reports of his brethren , was as ignorant of the progress of the Craft , and the true bearing of the great questions which came before it as the majority of Englishmen two centuries ago were of the
circumstances of their own time . He trusted Masonry would never be the only association which deprived itself of an organ of its own . Iu conclusion he thanked the brethren for the compliment they had paid him , and begged to propose the health of the Past Masters of No . 90 , coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Sherry , the Senior Past Master of the loclge . This toast was very heartily drunk . —Bro . SHERRY returned thanks for the honour done him . At that late hour of the evening he
would not detain the brethren by entering into the merits of the question which had been discussed , more especially as it was intended at the next meeting of the lodge ( which he hoped would be numerously attended ) , to examine into the matter more thoroughly . He could not sit down , however , without expressing his thorough approval of all which had fallen from the TV . M . in respect to the MAGAZINE . He did this the more readily because
he was afraid there was a disposition in some quarters to suppress that valuable medium of Masonic information . He hoped every lodge and every brother iu the Province , would do all in their power tosupportthe MAGAZINE . In conclusionhe saicl he hacl felt great pleasure in listening to the discussion , and assured the brethren that the matter had been debated by tbem in a calmer and more dispassionate manner than in their great Masonic Parliament . —Bro . HASLEHAM then proposed the health of tho
visiting brethren , ivhich was warmly received . —Bro . HULBERT , W . M . 995 , Basingstoke , responded to the toast . He observed that his every clay ' s experience convinced him , that the practices of Freemasonry , made them all better Christians and better men . The premises in Great Queen-street , he must confess , were not such as an influential body like the Masonic Craft of England ought to possess . If every Provincial Master were to take
his officers to Grand Lodge , where coulcl they be put ? All were bound to be properly represented , but this could not be with the present limited accommodation . The lodge closed at the hour of high twelve . STAFFORDSHIRE . WozLVErnixzsiVTO 2 J . —St . Peter'sLodgeQi ( o 607 ) . —The monthly
meeting of this loclge took place on Thursday , the 5 th inst ., the W . M ., Bro . Cooper , presiding . The lodge Avas opened according to ancient form , and Bro . Whitehouse having answered the necessary questions , was passed to the degree of F . C , after which Bro . Haselar , P . M ., delivered the charge , also a lecture on the Second Tracing Board very impressively . The W . M . had given notice of a proposition making " all P . M . 's of the Lodge Life Members upon the single payment of five guineas , " but wishing to give the subject more mature consideration , desired to postpone it for another month .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Hampshire.
deliberation , whatever the extent and character of the alterations it was necessary they should have iu Great Queen-street—Masonic apartments in which the brethren could assemble without being ashamed—iu which the dignity of the Craft could be properly uphold , and in which accommodation coulcl be provided for all lodges which might think proper to meet there . He had seen in America Masonic Halls constructed on a scale of great magnificence , in ivhich were provided not only rooms for the
more immediate purposes of Masonry , but also apartments for tho Grand Officers and others . Their American brethren were noted for their energy in this respect . Above all , in Great Queen-street we should have rooms appropriated exclusively to Masonry . In the lodge of the University of Oxford , with which he had the honour of being connected , they had a spacious room confined to the practices of Masonry , and beautifully and emblematically ornamented . With Bros . Stebbing and Binckes
he deprecated any extravagant expenditure , and he most seriously protested against any interference with the funds devoted to charity—that brightest jewel in the Masonic crown . He hoped that all brethren would exhibit mutual consideration ancl forbearance in respect to tbis great topic , and joining heart and hand would unite in carrying out a scheme prudent and effective . ( Hear . ) He thanked the brethren for the kindness with which they had received himand ivas very happy to have met
, with them on that very interesting occasion . —Bro . LE CROIX , P . M ., saicl it appeared to him that two schemes had heen brought before the brethren that evening—the one attractive from its magnificence and splendour , the other commended by its prudential considerations . He thought it must be sufficiently evident to all that an outlay much greater than that which had been recommended by some of the brethren , if made u'isely and prudently ivould ,
commercially and Masonically speaking , produce a profitable return . They < vho lived in Cathedral toivns ivere taught to appreciate large and splendid buildings , and kneAV that the reverential awe which they produced tended to the increase of religion , charity , and benevolence . This was confirmed by the instinct of the human heart , ancl the experience of history . Many of their most splendid buildings in modern times took their rise fro ; n public charity , which was nothing
more than practical Freemasonry . So far from restricting the improvements to the bare provision of the necessary Masonic apartments , he would rather see the great body of the Craft appealed to , and a great Masonic cathedral erected , to ivhich all the Masons of the universe ivould look up . ( Hear . )—Bro . BINCKES rose to propose the health of the W . Master . He Avas very much indebted to him for the extreme kindness he had shown . He coulcl recollect no visit to a Masonic lodge ivhich
had given him so much pleasure as that , and he hoped he should be enabled often to repeat it . He strongly approved of such meetings as the present , they encouraged a free interchange of opinion , and gave an opportunity of calmly discussing the great questions Avhich came before the Craft . The conduct of the W . M . in the chair that eA-ening showed to him that the destinies of the lodge could not be in bettor hands . He would not delay them by further enlarging on the toastbut ivould ive
, g them Avith heartfelt sincerity , the " Health of their W . M ., " to Avhom ancl the other members of lodge No . 90 he felt himself much indebted . ' —Bro . JACOB , P . M ., here raised the question of the legality of the W . M . parting Avith his gavel to any brother proposing a toast , and expressed a wish that some of the eminent brethren present might give an authoritative opinion on this much agitated point . —Bro . BINCKES said it was quite in
accordance with Masonic usage . —Bro . BEACH saicl that Avhen the W . M . parted ivith his gavel , it was customary for tho two Wardens to rise at its sound . —The toast of the W . M . 's health was drunk with great cordiality . —The W . M . thanked Bro . Binckes for the eloquent terms in which he had proposed his health , and assured the brethren that he felt it a high honour to sit in the chair of a lodge of such ancient date and great
repute . He should always consider it his duty to do all in his power for the interest of the Loclge of Economy and the Craft in general . He was very much obliged to the brethren b y whom he was then surrounded , for their suggestions ancl ideas on the important question which had been under discussion . He was sorry to differ in opinion from Bros . Binckes , Beach , and Stebbing , and feared he thereby came under Sydney Smith ' s
definition of a madman—being' in a minority of one , ivith everybody for the majority against him . ( Laughter . ) Ihe Masonic Craft had at last aivoke to a sense of its duty . As Freemasonry exalted architecture and the art of building , it was their duty
Hampshire.
as Masons to present to the outer world some practical complication of their theoretical principles . He quite agreed with Bro . La Croix ' s remarks on the elevating effects of magnificent edifices , and had witnessed an apposite illustration in the observations made by Bro . Binckes , when viewing their ancient Cathedral thai afternoon . Whether it were degeneracy or whether it were economy , the present age produced no such edifices as those erected by their ancient brethren . He stigmatised
the present building in Great Queen-street as a disgrace to the Craft , bearing as it did , a greater resemblance to a farmer's barn than a Masonic Temple . He thought it ridiculous to restrict expenditure on Grand Lodge to the paltry sum of £ 18 , 000 , Avhen they considered the sums laid out by many private lodges , he more particularly referred to those in the North of England . Whatever the decision of Grand Lodge might be , he felt sure that if the interest of the general body of Masons AA'ere thoroughly
roused , a structure Avould be raised Avorthy the antiquity of their art and the dignity of the craft . He Avas glad to meet so many visiting brethren that evening , ancl hoped on their return to their homes , they ivould press on their own lodges the importance of this great subject . In the absence of that general association of Masons which all ivould wish to see , and which many brethren of No . 90 , had attempted to establish , he ivould urge all the brethren present to seek for
general Masonic information where it could alone be found , in the columns of their able and valuable Magazine . He knew there were many who looked on it askance , even if they did not think it unmasonic . The FREEMASON ' S MAGZINE was to Masonry , what the general press was to society at large , and a Mason , whose Masonic information was restricted to his own experience and the verbal reports of his brethren , was as ignorant of the progress of the Craft , and the true bearing of the great questions which came before it as the majority of Englishmen two centuries ago were of the
circumstances of their own time . He trusted Masonry would never be the only association which deprived itself of an organ of its own . Iu conclusion he thanked the brethren for the compliment they had paid him , and begged to propose the health of the Past Masters of No . 90 , coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Sherry , the Senior Past Master of the loclge . This toast was very heartily drunk . —Bro . SHERRY returned thanks for the honour done him . At that late hour of the evening he
would not detain the brethren by entering into the merits of the question which had been discussed , more especially as it was intended at the next meeting of the lodge ( which he hoped would be numerously attended ) , to examine into the matter more thoroughly . He could not sit down , however , without expressing his thorough approval of all which had fallen from the TV . M . in respect to the MAGAZINE . He did this the more readily because
he was afraid there was a disposition in some quarters to suppress that valuable medium of Masonic information . He hoped every lodge and every brother iu the Province , would do all in their power tosupportthe MAGAZINE . In conclusionhe saicl he hacl felt great pleasure in listening to the discussion , and assured the brethren that the matter had been debated by tbem in a calmer and more dispassionate manner than in their great Masonic Parliament . —Bro . HASLEHAM then proposed the health of tho
visiting brethren , ivhich was warmly received . —Bro . HULBERT , W . M . 995 , Basingstoke , responded to the toast . He observed that his every clay ' s experience convinced him , that the practices of Freemasonry , made them all better Christians and better men . The premises in Great Queen-street , he must confess , were not such as an influential body like the Masonic Craft of England ought to possess . If every Provincial Master were to take
his officers to Grand Lodge , where coulcl they be put ? All were bound to be properly represented , but this could not be with the present limited accommodation . The lodge closed at the hour of high twelve . STAFFORDSHIRE . WozLVErnixzsiVTO 2 J . —St . Peter'sLodgeQi ( o 607 ) . —The monthly
meeting of this loclge took place on Thursday , the 5 th inst ., the W . M ., Bro . Cooper , presiding . The lodge Avas opened according to ancient form , and Bro . Whitehouse having answered the necessary questions , was passed to the degree of F . C , after which Bro . Haselar , P . M ., delivered the charge , also a lecture on the Second Tracing Board very impressively . The W . M . had given notice of a proposition making " all P . M . 's of the Lodge Life Members upon the single payment of five guineas , " but wishing to give the subject more mature consideration , desired to postpone it for another month .