History Of Freemasonry In Worcestershire.

and must be especially so to those of Worcestershire . It would be well if in every province some such zealous and diligent brother as Bro . Griffiths ,-would give to the brethren the result of their researches in such interesting form as is here presented .

Grand Lodge Fund Of Benevolence.

GRAND LODGE FUND OF BENEVOLENCE .

The following laws relating to the Fund of Benevolence , as altered and approved by Grand Lodge , on the 2 nd March , and confirmed 1 st June , 1870 , are to be substituted for pages 96 to 103 of the " Book of Constitutions , " edition 1867 .

Considering it important that the Master and officers of every lodge within the jurisdiction of our Grand Lodge , should be acquainted Avith the important alterations therein contained , Ave give them entire , as in many cases , great hardships might occur to applicants for relief through want of knoAvledge of the alterations .

OP . FUND OP BENEVOLENCE . 1 . The fund appropriated to the object of benevolence shall be solely devoted to charity . 2 . Every member of each lodge within the London district shall pay toAvards the fund of benevolence one shilling per quarteror four shillings per

, annum , ancl every member of each country and military lodge , sixpence per quarter , or two shillings per annum . 3 . The distribution and application of this fund shall take place on the last Wednesday but one of every monthby a lodge of benevolencewhich

, , shall consist of a President or Master , to be appointed by the Grand Master , at the Grand Lodge in December , and of all the Present and Past Grand Officers , and all actual masters of lodges , and twelve Past Masters to be

nominated at the board of masters annuall y in November , and to be elected by the Grand Lodge in December , in the same manner as the elected members of the board of general purposes ; but no Past Master shall be eligible to be re-elected who shall have neglected to attend

the lodge of benevolence at six meetings . If the actual master of the year of any lodge cannot attend , the Immediate Past Master may supply his place ; should that brother be unable to attend , some other Past Master of such lodge may act for him ; but in every case the Past Master must be

a subscribing member of the lodge . The brother presiding shall be bound strictly to enforce all the regulations of the Craft respecting the distribution of this fund , and shall be satisfied , before any petition be read , that all the required formalities have been complied with .

At the board of masters next preceding the Grand Lodge in December , brethren shall be nominated for election to the offices of Senior and Junior Vice-presidents of the Lodge of Benevolence , and the names so nominated shall be submitted to Grand Lodge in Decemberwho shall

, elect a Senior Vice-president , and a Junior Vice-president out of the names respectively submitted for those offices , in the same manner as in the case of elected members of

the board of general puposes . The Vice-presidents so elected shall act as Wardens of the Lodge of Benevolence during the ensuing year . In the absence of the President , the Senior Vice-president , and in the absence of both , the Junior Vice-president shall take the chair ; should all

three be absent , the brother present who is highest in rank and seniority shall preside ; and if either of the Vice-presidents shall bs absent , or be in the chair , his place shall be filled in like manner . No brother shall be re-elected as a Vice-president who shall have failed to attend the Lodge of

Benevolence at six meetings during the tAvelve months immediately preceding . The members shall not be subject to canvass or previous solicitation , but shall have their minds free from prejudice , to decide on the merits of

each case with the impartiality and purity of Masonic feeling . If it shall appear that this rule has been wilfully transgressed , the consideration of the case of the brother on whose behalf the canvass or solicitation has been made , shall be deferred for the space of three months ; and no

member shall at any time vote upon the petition of any person , for Avhom he may have been canvassed , or to whom he is related , or who is a member of the lodge to which he himself belongs ; though such member may be heard on the merits of the petitionand must then withdraw .

, If any Master of a lodge shall canvass or otherwise solicit on behalf of a petitioner , he shall be rendered incapable of attending as a member of the Lodge of Benevolence for twelve months .

4 . No Master shall act as a member of the Lodge of Benevolence if his lodge have neglected to make its returns and pay its contribution s to the funds ofthe Grand Lodge during the preceding tAvelve months .

5 . No Mason registered under the constitution of the Grand Lodge of England shall receive the benefit of this fund unless he have paid the full consideration fee , have been registered in the books of the Grand Lodge , have continued a subscribing member to a contributing lodge for at

least two years , and during that period , paid his quarterly dues the Fund of Benevolence . The limitation of two years , however , does not apply to the cases of shipwreck , capture at sea , loss by fire , or breaking or dislocating a limb , fully attested and proved . Secretaries , who are by their lodges exempted from