Especial Grand Lodge—Aid To The Sick And Wounded.

other hand , it is not too small , because I must remind you that it is after all money granted not only not to Masons , not only not to Englishmen , as in the case of tho Lancashire distress , the Indian Mutiny , and the Patriotic Fund , but to foreigners . If I needed any other argument I would tell you that the Grand Orient of France , which must be more interested in

such a case than we can possibly be , has held it sufficient to vote £ 120 . Therefore , I say Grand Lodge may feel its mind perfectly free and discharged of all obligations when it makes so handsome a vote as £ 500 . It would not be right if , when I am asking you to accept so large a proposition , with whatever authority may come from this chair , and the person who for

the time being fills it , I did not remind you that there is a tendency in all large bodies—and we can claim no exception from the weakness of other large bodies—to spend freely of money , to dip their bauds into the public packet , so to speak , and to lay out freely tho funds at their disposal . It is simply human nature . It is my duty to caution yon of it , and when

I have heard sometimes , votes of money proposed in this ball and opposed by those who know not what the funds are at our disposal , what the heavy calls aro upon those funds , what the amount of all the moneys with which we have to deal , and seeing that in these oases wo should be just before we are generous , I say it is an invidious duty to have to perform ; but

i t is the duty of any one sitting in this chair to press that duty upon Grand Lodge , not from any niggardly or churlish feeling of parsimony , but from a consid eration of what is due to the Order , and those sound principles of economy which I may say they are the guardians and the trustees . ( Hear , hear . ) I think there is but one other point which I need notice , and which would not have occurred to me to notice but that I have se en it urged by Masons whose opinions entitle them to great

weight . It is said that every pound that is subscribed to such a fund as this does in reality prolong the war by supplying material assistance to both the belligerents , and consequently makes us responsible for protracting the horrors of that war-Well , I cannot deny that there is truth in that statement ; but it is abstract truth , and we cannot in this hall , any more than we can in the world at large , govern our conduce by simply

abstract considerations . There will constantly arise a conflict of duties ; there will come to be a greater evil and a less evil ; and it behoves us then , both as Masons and as sensible Englishmen , to choose the least of those evils and to accept the greatest amount of good that we can . Charity , no doubt , in a certain sense , is opposed to what are called the principles

of abstract science and political economy ; but , after all , is there one single Mason in this room , one single member of Grand Lodge , who dees not know that in spite of all the teachings and the abstract rules of political economy , charity is the great principle round which we revolve , the illuminating principle , tho hinge of all our actions , the cement which hold

us together , the bond without which Masonry itself would be as nothing . ( Hear , hear . ) And , therefore , I say , do not le * us govern ourselves by too abstract considerations ; lot us look at the question as Grand Lodgo has looked at it before ; let us endeavour to give freely and handsomely , but at the same time , not wastefully or excessively ( hear ; let us endeavour to

comply , in the spirit and not in the letter , with the teaching which our Order has prescribed to us . lastly , I have but one wish to express , and that is that in this vote which I am now about to propose to you there should bo , if possible , entire unaminity . ( Hear , hear . ) Most of our charities are done here , as it were , in private , away from tho gaze of tho world , far away from the eye and cognizance of all who do not belong

Especial Grand Lodge—Aid To The Sick And Wounded.

to us ; but this in a certain sense is a public charity ; and I should grieve more than I can say if it were to go forth to the world at large that this , either as regards the nature of tha vote or as regards the amount , had been made in any way tho subject of dispute or controversy . ( Hear . ) I can assure you I have considered this as fully as I could . I deeply regret that the Grand Master , who is at a great distance from London , has

not had the opportunity of expressing his opinion on the sub - ject ; but I am satisfied , from a letter I had authorizing me to call this Grand Lodge of Emergency , that he would be fully prepared to concur with what I am now proposing . I may say , if you will do me the justice to believe that this thing- has been fully considered , that the objections have been carefully

weighed , ancl that I myself have come to the conclusion that to vote £ 500 is a medium between the two extremes—a medium which satisfies the case , and consults the feelings of the Grand Lodge and the Craft at large . Then I sincerely trust you will agree in this proposal and will give it all the grace that complete unanimity on so important a subject can afford .

( Great applause . ) Brethren , the vote which I shall propose will be " That a sum of £ 500 be gra nted from tho fund o general purposes to the fund now being raised , under the presidency of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , KG ., and Past Grand Master , in aid of the sick and wounded in the present war . "

Bro . Raynham W . Stewart opposed , aud asked the Grand Registrar as to the legality of the proposed grant . Tin : Grand Registrar did not reply . Brother Browse and his intending seconder both consented to withdraw the proposition for a grant of £ 1 , 000 . Bro . Johnston , W . M . of the St . George ' s Lodge ( No . 1-1-0 ) ,

also objected to the grant . Brother Jabez Hogg , G . J . D ., also opposed in an admirable speech . The Earl of LIMERICK seconded the motion , which was carried , and Grand Lodge was then formally closed .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

METROPOLITAN . VITRUVIAN LODGE , ( NO . 87 ) . —This lodge met on Wednesday , the loth . inst . at the White Hart Tavern , College Street , Lambeth , the W . M ., Bro . E . Vorley , in tlie chair . The business consisted in laising a brother to the third degree , ancl passing three brethren to the second degree . The votes for tlie boys , ancl girls schools were given to the W . M . in

favour of the candidates named by him . In the course ofthe evening Bro . Samuel May , P . M ., 780 ( who was for some years a member of the Vitruvian ) , presented the lodge with a beautiful set of working tools , ancl in doing so said that ho always looked with pleasure to the happy hours he had spent during the time he was a member of the lodgo . The W . M . in the name of the lodge thanked Bro . May for his present , assuring him that the Vitrnvians would always be happy to see him

amongst them , aud to show Bro . May how much his kindness was appreciated , he proposed him as an honorary member . The motion was carried unanimously . Tho lodgo having been closed the brethen sat clown to an excellent banquet . Tho visitors were Bro . Samuel May , G . S . L . P . M ., 780 ; Bro . Littlewood , W . M ., 780 ; Bro Chrubb , 177 ; Bro . Rushton , 212 . BSACONTREE LODGE ( No . 1 , 228 ) . —The Installation Meeting

of this loclge was held on Wednesday , 14 th inst ., at the Cannon-street Hotel , instead its regular place of meeting , at Leytonstone , under dispensation from the Grand Master . Their Rooms having changed hands , a new Masonic Hall is in course of erection but not yet completed . The lodge was opened at five o'clock by Bro . W . Wrenn , W . M . Bro . Charles Gilford was passed to second degree ; Bro . W . A . Thnrp installed the W . M ., elect . The W . M . appointed as his officers ,