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  • The Freemason's Chronicle
  • June 3, 1882
  • Page 2
  • TRADING ON MASONRY.
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The Freemason's Chronicle, June 3, 1882: Page 2

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    Article TRADING ON MASONRY. ← Page 2 of 2
    Article THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1
    Article THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1
    Article "HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE." Page 1 of 2 →
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Trading On Masonry.

were once an object of reverence , but now , to his depraved mind , the spring from which he may extort black-mail almost at will . Wo fail , therefore , to seo what advantage

tho system can bo to a Freemason—whatever it may be to others ; for while on the ono hand it causes the vory mon "whom they strive to catch as customers to hold aloof , ou the other it tends to breed a class of loafers who , it must

be admitted , have foisted their unwelcome presence upon the ranks of Masonry , though perhaps not toquite so large an extent as upon those of every other institution in the "world . A careful and judicious note taken in individual

Lodges of those who adopt this nefarious system of trading , and an equally careful avoidance of dealing with such brethren , would speedily cure the evil which now rests as a blot and a slur upon the social system of the Masonic Craft .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

AS will be seen from the agenda paper we publish in another part of our columns , the business that will come before Grand Lodge on Wednesday next is of unusual importance . Not the least important , however , is Bro .

Raynham Stewart ' s resolution , which has already been once accepted by Grand Lodge , to the effect that an additional grant of £ 800 per annum be made to the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , £ 300 to the Male Fund , and £ 500 to the Female Fund , thus equalising the grants to the two Funds . It will of course be in the recollection of our

readers that in December last Bro . Raynham Stewarts motion to this end was carried nnanimously , the only change in the wording of his resolution being that the money should be provided out of the General Purposes Fund , instead of being apportioned equally between that

and the Fund of Benevolence , as was originally proposed . In March Bro . Philbrick P . G . D . and Deputy P . G . M . Essex moved , that so mnch of the minutes of the December Communication as referred to the motion of Bro . Stewart should be non-confirmed , and the motion "was carried ; a

Committee , consisting of Bros . Raynham Stewart , General Brownrigg P . G . M . Surrey , Lieut .-Colonel Creaton Grand Treasurer , Sir John B . Monckton President of the Hoard of General Purposes , and Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke Grand Secretary , being subsequently appointed to inquire

into and report upon the funds of Grand Lodge , and the income it derives therefrom . Many , no doubt , will suggest that the services of a Board of General Purposes may very well be dispensed with , if , with an elaborate system of accounts , duly audited by a professional

accountant , it is incapable of stating roughly whether or not the Funds of Grand Lodge , with an average annual balance of income over expenditure to the extent of over £ 4 , 000 , is competent to endure the additional outlay of £ 800 annually . A schoolboy who has just bad his first

lesson in the rule of three would solve so simple a problem off hand , but the collective wisdom of our said Board of General Purposes is unequal to the occasion . A Committee of Enquiry , consisting of our worthy brethren , Tvho know as little about arithmetic as Jumbo does about

Latin , must needs be appointed , and after three months of most laborious work , they have arrived at the conclusion that , " at the present time Grand Lodge is in receipt of an average nett income of about £ 4 , 000 , which is , however , liable to considerable fluctuations in proportion to the

number of admissions of members into the Order , and from various other causes . " Tlie exact meaning of the Report is not , perhaps , as clear as it might bo , and we can onl y suppose the Committee intend to convey to the Craft the idea that after it has cleared all its expenses Grand Lodge

has a balance in hand of over £ 4 , 000 a year . This , if we have interpreted it correctly , is in accordance with our own views . The accounts for the Quarter ended 31 st December 1881 show receipts to the extent of £ 6 , 854 Is 6 d , including a balance brought forward of £ 4 , 087 16 s 8 d , the

expenditure being no more than £ 1 , 609 17 s lOd , so that the balance left in hand was £ 5 , 244 3 s 8 d . Now , fluctuations apart , one quarter will be as well as another in

guiding the curious brother . At all events , in the three months of 1881 , the Board of General Purposes received upwards of £ 2 , 500 , or at the rate of £ 10 , 000 per annum ; and it must be borne in mind that of this sum close on £ 1 , 000 was income derived from rents and investments .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

On the other hand the expenditure was , in round figures £ 1 , 600 , or at tho rate per annum of £ 6 , 400 . Consequentl y tho balance in hand , on this calculation , must be quite ; 6 ?» , 600 . Under these circumstances we doubt if there if any one , outside the Board of General Purposes

who will question the ability of Grand Lodge to sustain the additional charge of £ 800 per annum , for even then it may reckon on an average annual surplus of £ 2 , 800 , or considerably over 25 per cent , of its incomings . We can only express our astonishment—with the

figures before him for the September , if not for the December quarter—Bro . Philbrick , himself a member of this wonderful Board of General Purposes , should have

risen in his place in Grand Lodge and exposed his ignorance , which , by the way , would seem to havebeenmore than shared by his colleague , Sir John B . Monckton , President of the Board .

As to the merits of the case there is no doubt . If we take only the few years whicb this journal has been in existence , we find that the number of annuitants has increased over 50 per cent ., while each of them receives £ 4 more than he or she did in 1874 . Grand Lodge has added

nothing to its annual contribution since 1858 , and were there no Benevolent Institution it is hard to say how it would fare writh the Fund of Benevolence , which is now spending more than its income , and has the greatest difficulty in rubbing along . But for the Benevolent Fund , the

Fund of Benevolence would be instantly in a condition of insolvency , and hence the necessity for—to say nothing of the justice of—Bro . Stewart ' s motion . We may occa .

sionally feel it to be our duty to question the consistency of Grand Lodge , but we will not doubt its ability to understand a few plain figures , or its readiness to further support a Charity of its own creation .

"Honour To Whom Honour Is Due."

" HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE . "

WE wish to draw the attention of our readers to a cor . respondence , bearing the above title , which was initiated by " 609 " a fortnight since , and is still progressing in our columns . It had its origin in the first instance in a letter headed "A Little Help , " by " P . M . 458 , I . G . 609 . " which appeared on the Gth ult ., the writer of which

expressed surprise that out of twelve or so active promoters of a case at the recent election for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which he was invited to support , only five were subscribers to one or the other of our Charities , while the great majority had obtained Grand or

Provincial Grand honours . His advice was of a practical nature , and was to the effect that people who take so deep an interest in a candidate as openly to recommend his claims to election would set the best example of their

good intentions by purchasing votes for him . On the strength of this letter , " 609 , " in the letter which he communicated to us , and which appeared on the 20 th ult ., went on to advocate the policy of conferring Grand and Prov . Grand office on those who contribute to our Institutions . To

this policy , " Reader , " in his long and interesting letter we published last week , took exception , very properly remarking that it was tantamount to making those offices dependent on the possession of ample means , and pointing out that such a course was in direct opposition to the

fundamental principles of the Craft . What has since been written on this subject will be seen elsewhere , and as the discussion has reached an interesting stage , we may as well avail ourselves of the present opportunity to contribute

a few observations , though , as the subject is manifestly one of extreme delicacy , they will be of a purely general character , so that , even in laying down a principle , we may as far as possible avoid giving offence .

We have no wish to inflict a sermon on our readers , but

we think they will agree with us that , in the examination of this question , it is next to impossible to avoid reference to a certain well-known Biblical exposition of the constituent parts of that greatest of all virtues—Charity . This necessity is the more obvious , seeing that the tendency of

the day appears to be to limit the meaning of the word " Charity " to the mere bestowal of alms . Indeed , something of the kind lies at the bottom of this discussion , or

how otherwise should we have one brother suggesting that the first duty of those who recommend the claims of a candidate is to qualify as electors , and another that honour should be conferred , if not only , at all events principally

“The Freemason's Chronicle: 1882-06-03, Page 2” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fcn/issues/fcn_03061882/page/2/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
TRADING ON MASONRY. Article 1
Untitled Article 1
THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Article 2
"HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE." Article 2
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Article 3
QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF UNITED GRAND LODGE. Article 4
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 5
FREEMASONRY. Article 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN, Article 7
THE THEATRES, &c. Article 7
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Article 9
THE ROYAL VISIT TO LEICESTER. Article 9
DIARY FOR THE WEEK. Article 10
INSTALLATION MEETINGS, &c. Article 11
UNDER THE TONGUE OF GOOD REPORT. Article 13
Untitled Ad 13
Untitled Ad 13
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
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Trading On Masonry.

were once an object of reverence , but now , to his depraved mind , the spring from which he may extort black-mail almost at will . Wo fail , therefore , to seo what advantage

tho system can bo to a Freemason—whatever it may be to others ; for while on the ono hand it causes the vory mon "whom they strive to catch as customers to hold aloof , ou the other it tends to breed a class of loafers who , it must

be admitted , have foisted their unwelcome presence upon the ranks of Masonry , though perhaps not toquite so large an extent as upon those of every other institution in the "world . A careful and judicious note taken in individual

Lodges of those who adopt this nefarious system of trading , and an equally careful avoidance of dealing with such brethren , would speedily cure the evil which now rests as a blot and a slur upon the social system of the Masonic Craft .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

AS will be seen from the agenda paper we publish in another part of our columns , the business that will come before Grand Lodge on Wednesday next is of unusual importance . Not the least important , however , is Bro .

Raynham Stewart ' s resolution , which has already been once accepted by Grand Lodge , to the effect that an additional grant of £ 800 per annum be made to the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , £ 300 to the Male Fund , and £ 500 to the Female Fund , thus equalising the grants to the two Funds . It will of course be in the recollection of our

readers that in December last Bro . Raynham Stewarts motion to this end was carried nnanimously , the only change in the wording of his resolution being that the money should be provided out of the General Purposes Fund , instead of being apportioned equally between that

and the Fund of Benevolence , as was originally proposed . In March Bro . Philbrick P . G . D . and Deputy P . G . M . Essex moved , that so mnch of the minutes of the December Communication as referred to the motion of Bro . Stewart should be non-confirmed , and the motion "was carried ; a

Committee , consisting of Bros . Raynham Stewart , General Brownrigg P . G . M . Surrey , Lieut .-Colonel Creaton Grand Treasurer , Sir John B . Monckton President of the Hoard of General Purposes , and Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke Grand Secretary , being subsequently appointed to inquire

into and report upon the funds of Grand Lodge , and the income it derives therefrom . Many , no doubt , will suggest that the services of a Board of General Purposes may very well be dispensed with , if , with an elaborate system of accounts , duly audited by a professional

accountant , it is incapable of stating roughly whether or not the Funds of Grand Lodge , with an average annual balance of income over expenditure to the extent of over £ 4 , 000 , is competent to endure the additional outlay of £ 800 annually . A schoolboy who has just bad his first

lesson in the rule of three would solve so simple a problem off hand , but the collective wisdom of our said Board of General Purposes is unequal to the occasion . A Committee of Enquiry , consisting of our worthy brethren , Tvho know as little about arithmetic as Jumbo does about

Latin , must needs be appointed , and after three months of most laborious work , they have arrived at the conclusion that , " at the present time Grand Lodge is in receipt of an average nett income of about £ 4 , 000 , which is , however , liable to considerable fluctuations in proportion to the

number of admissions of members into the Order , and from various other causes . " Tlie exact meaning of the Report is not , perhaps , as clear as it might bo , and we can onl y suppose the Committee intend to convey to the Craft the idea that after it has cleared all its expenses Grand Lodge

has a balance in hand of over £ 4 , 000 a year . This , if we have interpreted it correctly , is in accordance with our own views . The accounts for the Quarter ended 31 st December 1881 show receipts to the extent of £ 6 , 854 Is 6 d , including a balance brought forward of £ 4 , 087 16 s 8 d , the

expenditure being no more than £ 1 , 609 17 s lOd , so that the balance left in hand was £ 5 , 244 3 s 8 d . Now , fluctuations apart , one quarter will be as well as another in

guiding the curious brother . At all events , in the three months of 1881 , the Board of General Purposes received upwards of £ 2 , 500 , or at the rate of £ 10 , 000 per annum ; and it must be borne in mind that of this sum close on £ 1 , 000 was income derived from rents and investments .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

On the other hand the expenditure was , in round figures £ 1 , 600 , or at tho rate per annum of £ 6 , 400 . Consequentl y tho balance in hand , on this calculation , must be quite ; 6 ?» , 600 . Under these circumstances we doubt if there if any one , outside the Board of General Purposes

who will question the ability of Grand Lodge to sustain the additional charge of £ 800 per annum , for even then it may reckon on an average annual surplus of £ 2 , 800 , or considerably over 25 per cent , of its incomings . We can only express our astonishment—with the

figures before him for the September , if not for the December quarter—Bro . Philbrick , himself a member of this wonderful Board of General Purposes , should have

risen in his place in Grand Lodge and exposed his ignorance , which , by the way , would seem to havebeenmore than shared by his colleague , Sir John B . Monckton , President of the Board .

As to the merits of the case there is no doubt . If we take only the few years whicb this journal has been in existence , we find that the number of annuitants has increased over 50 per cent ., while each of them receives £ 4 more than he or she did in 1874 . Grand Lodge has added

nothing to its annual contribution since 1858 , and were there no Benevolent Institution it is hard to say how it would fare writh the Fund of Benevolence , which is now spending more than its income , and has the greatest difficulty in rubbing along . But for the Benevolent Fund , the

Fund of Benevolence would be instantly in a condition of insolvency , and hence the necessity for—to say nothing of the justice of—Bro . Stewart ' s motion . We may occa .

sionally feel it to be our duty to question the consistency of Grand Lodge , but we will not doubt its ability to understand a few plain figures , or its readiness to further support a Charity of its own creation .

"Honour To Whom Honour Is Due."

" HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE . "

WE wish to draw the attention of our readers to a cor . respondence , bearing the above title , which was initiated by " 609 " a fortnight since , and is still progressing in our columns . It had its origin in the first instance in a letter headed "A Little Help , " by " P . M . 458 , I . G . 609 . " which appeared on the Gth ult ., the writer of which

expressed surprise that out of twelve or so active promoters of a case at the recent election for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which he was invited to support , only five were subscribers to one or the other of our Charities , while the great majority had obtained Grand or

Provincial Grand honours . His advice was of a practical nature , and was to the effect that people who take so deep an interest in a candidate as openly to recommend his claims to election would set the best example of their

good intentions by purchasing votes for him . On the strength of this letter , " 609 , " in the letter which he communicated to us , and which appeared on the 20 th ult ., went on to advocate the policy of conferring Grand and Prov . Grand office on those who contribute to our Institutions . To

this policy , " Reader , " in his long and interesting letter we published last week , took exception , very properly remarking that it was tantamount to making those offices dependent on the possession of ample means , and pointing out that such a course was in direct opposition to the

fundamental principles of the Craft . What has since been written on this subject will be seen elsewhere , and as the discussion has reached an interesting stage , we may as well avail ourselves of the present opportunity to contribute

a few observations , though , as the subject is manifestly one of extreme delicacy , they will be of a purely general character , so that , even in laying down a principle , we may as far as possible avoid giving offence .

We have no wish to inflict a sermon on our readers , but

we think they will agree with us that , in the examination of this question , it is next to impossible to avoid reference to a certain well-known Biblical exposition of the constituent parts of that greatest of all virtues—Charity . This necessity is the more obvious , seeing that the tendency of

the day appears to be to limit the meaning of the word " Charity " to the mere bestowal of alms . Indeed , something of the kind lies at the bottom of this discussion , or

how otherwise should we have one brother suggesting that the first duty of those who recommend the claims of a candidate is to qualify as electors , and another that honour should be conferred , if not only , at all events principally

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