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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE. ← Page 2 of 3 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE. Page 2 of 3 →
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Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
Edmonds P . P . G . A . D . C ., J . J . Now P . P . G . A . D . C , W . Affleck P . P . G . P ., & c , & o . Amongst tho Visitors wero Bros , the Marqnis of Ailesbury , Lord F . Bruce , Rev . T . C . Lyons P . G . Chap . Somerset , & c , & e . Tho roll of the various Lodges in tho Province was called , and Provincial Grand Lodge having been duly opened , tho minntes of the last meeting were confirmed and the Treasurer ' s acconnts , which had
been duly audited , wero afterwards read and passed . The Prov . G . Sec . Bro . Henry C . Tombs P . G . D . then read the minutes of a meeting of the Charity Committee , which had been held immediately before the meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge , from which it appeared that having in view a recommendation for the establishment of a Benevolent Fnnd which wonld this day be made by the
Committee appointed on that subject , a grant of £ 50 to such Benevolent Fund , should it be established , was recommended by the Charity Committee . The Charity Committee also called attention to tho heavy burden which fell npon Bro . Nott , tho Secretary of the Provincial Charity Organisation Committee , in carrying out the objects of that Committee , as well as expenses actually out of pocket , a great
deal of his clerk ' s time being occupied , and otherwise , and recommended that ho should be reimbursed in these respects . Such re . commendations were approved and confirmed . The Prov . Grand Registrar , Bro . W . Nott P . P . J . G . W ., read his Annnal Report , by which ib appeared that tbe nnmber of members of Lodges in the Province was practically tho same as last year , standing at 448 as against 455 .
Tho general working expenses , including rent , Tylers , and refreshments , stood at an average of 15 s per member , the amonnt devoted to charity , averaging 5 s fid per member , varying from quite a nominal sum in one Lodge to 14 s 5 d per member in another . The Registrar ' s Report again , as last year , called attention to the large amount of arrears of subscription outstanding in one or two Lodges , and
also to the repeated laxity in sending in tbe necessary returns shown by some Lodges . This Report was adopted . Brother Nott then , as Secretary to tho Provincial Charity Organization Committee , rose to read his report of the work done by that Committee during the past year . Before doing so , however , he took the opportunity of thanking the Provincial Grand Master , and brethren , for their adoption
of the recommendation of the Charity Committee that his expenses shonld be paid , and said that as regards actual expenses out of pocket , such as railway fares , printing , & c , he considered ifc nothing bufc fair that these should be paid out of the Provincial Fund , but beyond that he should not think of accepting a penny . He then read the report , showing that the Province dnring the past year had been
successful in carrying the election of two candidates for the Girls ' School . As the result of this , the Committee stood pledged to an extent which wonld require all its available votes for the next election or two , but the Committee felt sure that it would not lack for the support of the Province in this direction , seeing what success had been achieved . The report further stated that the Committee had received
from the Lodges and Masons of the Province during the year 1132 votes for the various Institutions , and it mentioned thafc their Province was now working on intimate reciprocal terms with no less than eleven other Provinces . In addition to this report , the Secretary of the Provincial Charity Organisation Committee stated thafc he felt personally indebted to Bro . Captain S . G . Homfray D . P . G . M .
Monmouthshire , -who had rendered him , and therefore the Province of Wiltshire , very great assistance at the recent Girls' School election , on the 9 th of this month , when ho , the secretary , was personally unable to be present . His place , however , had been kindly and well filled by Captain Homfray , with the result of securing the success of their candidate , and he trusted that the members of the Provincial
Grand Lodge of Wiltshire would join with him in expressing its thanks to the D . P . G . M . of Monmouth for his valuable assistance . On the motion of Bro . Tombs , seconded by Brother Affleck , the report was approved , and the thanks of the Provincial Grand Lodge voted to Brother Homfray . The R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Lord Methuen , then alluded to the next subject on the agenda paper ,
namely , { he consideration of the Report of the Committee appointed afc the last Provincial Grand Lodge as to the establishment of a Provincial Benevolent Fnnd . He , the Provincial Grand Master , had read such report , and had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion thafc it was well worthy of adoption , although at first sight he thought there might have been some objection to it , on the ground of causing a
collision between this Provincial Lodge and the General Masonic Charities . The Provincial Grand Master then said , that printed copies of the report having been circulated among the brethren , it should be taken as read , and he called upon Bro . F . H . Goldney , the chairman of the Committee , to introduce the subject to the meeting . W . Bro . F . H . Goldney P . G . Treas . said , that after a considerable amonnt of
discussion the Committee , at a very large meeting , where every Lodge in the Province he believed was represented , had come to tho unanimons decision to present to this Provincial Grand Lodge tho report as it then stood . A considerable amonnt of discussion took place , chiefly on minor points , the principal one of importance raised having reference to one
of the objects of the proposed Benevolent Fund . As recommended by the Committee , there was to be power to make grants to " Benevolent and Charitable purposes generally . " Bro . Stokes , of Salisbury , objected to this wide range , and read a letter from Lord Harry Thynne , who was unfortunately prevented from being present , also taking this view , the principal reason boing that whilst such
powers wero vested as now in tho Provincial Grand Lodge they were unnecessary in the case of tho proposed Fund , and Bro . Stokes proposed the insertion of the word " Masonic " before the words quoted . Bro . Henry 0 . Tombs strongly opposed this , as savouring too much of selfishness , and urged that , as Masons , it behoved us to show to the world at largo that Masons were large-hearted and did not
confine their charity to themselves . However , after somo discussion , the conclusion was come to thafc as tho Fund would for tho present have but little to spare in tho direction indicated , and as an alteration conld at any time be made , tho word "Masonic" shonld bo inserted as proposed . Aud ifc was then , on the motion of Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Barfc ., D . P . G . M ,, seconded by Bro . Stokes P . P . S . G . W ., re-
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
solved unanimously— " That tho powers of the present Provincial Charity Organization Committee bo increased , and that its namo be altered to that of tho Provincial Charity Organisation and Benevolent Fund Committee , and that it consist , as at present , of the Provincial Grand Master , tho Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Treasurer ] the Registrar and tho Secretary for the timo bein < r of the Province ,
the Secretary to the Committee , and a Representative from each Lodgo , together with tho addition of Life Governors to be constituted by donations to the Fund . That the Fund to bo at tho disposal of such new Committee be composed of grants from Provincial Grand Lodge , subscriptions from each Lodge in the Provinco ( willing to subscribe ) , and other voluntary subscriptions and donations from Lodges and
brethren . That for the present , and until farther direction by Provincial Grand Lodgo , not loss than three-fonrths of the annual income be capitalised and invested . And that the Fund be applied by the Committee for ( a ) the relief of aged or necessitous brethren of this Province or their indigent widows 5 ( b ) the relief , education and ! advancement of the children of Freemasons of this Province ; ( c ) the
support of the general Masonic Charities , subject to the approval of Provincial Grand Lodge ; ( d ) Masonic Benevolent and Charitable purposes generally . " A set of Rules for the carrying out of the recommendations contained in tho Report had been prepared by the Committee and accompanied its Report . These Rules , with the necessary alterations to make them accord with
tho foregoing resolution , were also unanimously adopted , on the proposition of Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , seconded by Bro . Stokes . The Provincial Grand Master then called attention to the valuable work descriptive of the History of Freemasonry in this Provinco which had been , since the last , meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , completed by the Provincial Grand Treasurer Bro . F . H .
Goldney , who , entirely at his own expense , had presented a copy of such work to every brother in the Province . He was sure thafc such a handsome and valuable contribution to Freemasonry in this Province deserved some substantial mark of appreciation , and ho therefore begged to propose thafc a jewel be presented to the author by this Provincial Grand Lodge , and thafc he be asked to accept tho
warmest thanks of the brethren for his liberality . This was seconded by Bro . E . T . Payne P . G . D ., and carried by acclamation . The Provincial Grand Treasurer briefly returned thanks . The Provincial Grand Master then referred to the trouble taken by Bro . Nott in relation to preparing the report and draft rules as to the establishment of a Benevolent Fund , as well as to his services as
Secretary of the Provincial Charity Organisation Committee , and to the very liberal way in which he had treated the P . G . Lodgo as regarded his expenses in connection with thafc Committee , and proposed that a jewel shonld be also voted to Bro . Nott as some recognition of those services . The P . G . M . further proposed thafc the Provincial Grand Secretary and two Wardens should act as a Com .
mittee for carrying out this and the preceding resolution . This proposition was seconded by Sir G . Goldney , and carried by acclamation . Brother Notfc subsequently tendered his thanks to the Provincial Grand Lodge for this token of its appreciation of his services . The next bnsiness on the agenda paper was to consider the Bye-laws and Charity rules of the Province , with a
view to the amendment thereof if found necessary ; and on the proposition of Brother H . C . Tombs , seconded by Brother W Nott , it was resolved that it be referred to a committee , composed of the same members as that to which the question of the Benevolent Fund had been referred , to consider tho necessity for the revision of snch bye-laws and rules , nnd to report thereon to the next
Provincial Grand Lodge ; and , further , that it be a direction to such Committee to consider the desirability of increasing the fees of honour . The Provincial Grand Master then declared all offices vacant , and Bro . F . H . Goldney having been unanimously re-elected Treasurer , the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were then appointed and invested as follows : —Bros . Charles
F . Marshall 335 Corsham P . S . G . W ., Alfred Plummer 1533 New Swindon P . G . J . W ., Rev . John A . Lloyd 1533 New Swindon P . G . Chaplain , F . H . Goldney ( re-elected ) 626 Chippenham P . G . Treasurer , William Nott ( re-appointed ) 663 Devizes P . G . Reg ., Henry C . Tombs ( reappointed ) 355 Swindon P . G . Sec , Alderman E . N . Fowler 626 Chippenham P . S . G . D ., Thomas S . Futcher 586
Salisbury P . J . G . D ., E . B . Merriman 1533 Marlborough P . G . S . Wks ., John Chandler ( re-appointed ) 355 Swindon P . G . D . C ., Thomas R . Lavington 632 Trowbridge P . G . A . D . C , John Carter 1533 Marlborough P . G . S . B ., W . S . Bambridge 1533 Marlborough P . G . Org ., J . Hammond 1533 Marlborough P . G . Pars ., John Savory ( re-elected ) P . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Master , before closing the Lodge ,
said he was happy to congratulate the Worshipfnl Master and members of the Lodge of Loyalty on the success whioh it had attained after an existence of only five years , and stated how pleased he was to hear that its finances had been so carefully managed that it was out of debt—a good example for other Lodges . He conld not doubt thafc the Lodge of Loyalty mnst flourish with the countenance and support
of snch eminent mon as the Marquis of Ailesbury and his sons , and of Bro . Merriman and others . There was one event which had occurred during the past year thafc he conkl not refrain from alluding to , and he took the opportunity of congratulating the Depnty Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart ., upon tho high and distinguished honour Her Majesty had been pleased to
confer upon him iu creating him a baronet , for his assiduous attention to his public duties , and as an acknowledgment of his general worth . Ifc was most gratifying to him ( the Provincial Grand Master ) that he should have selected two brethren as Deputy Prov . Grand Masters who had proved such good men and true , and had made for themselves snch mark in tho world as to entitle them to receive , as they
justly deserved , such approval at the hand of Her Majesty—namely , Sir Daniel Gooch , formerly Deputy Provincial Graud Master of this Province , and now the Prov . Grand Master of Berks and Bucks , and his successor , Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart . The Prov . Grand Master alluded to the irregularity in sending iu the returns from tho various Lodges alluded to in the report of the Registrar , but stated
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
Edmonds P . P . G . A . D . C ., J . J . Now P . P . G . A . D . C , W . Affleck P . P . G . P ., & c , & o . Amongst tho Visitors wero Bros , the Marqnis of Ailesbury , Lord F . Bruce , Rev . T . C . Lyons P . G . Chap . Somerset , & c , & e . Tho roll of the various Lodges in tho Province was called , and Provincial Grand Lodge having been duly opened , tho minntes of the last meeting were confirmed and the Treasurer ' s acconnts , which had
been duly audited , wero afterwards read and passed . The Prov . G . Sec . Bro . Henry C . Tombs P . G . D . then read the minutes of a meeting of the Charity Committee , which had been held immediately before the meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge , from which it appeared that having in view a recommendation for the establishment of a Benevolent Fnnd which wonld this day be made by the
Committee appointed on that subject , a grant of £ 50 to such Benevolent Fund , should it be established , was recommended by the Charity Committee . The Charity Committee also called attention to tho heavy burden which fell npon Bro . Nott , tho Secretary of the Provincial Charity Organisation Committee , in carrying out the objects of that Committee , as well as expenses actually out of pocket , a great
deal of his clerk ' s time being occupied , and otherwise , and recommended that ho should be reimbursed in these respects . Such re . commendations were approved and confirmed . The Prov . Grand Registrar , Bro . W . Nott P . P . J . G . W ., read his Annnal Report , by which ib appeared that tbe nnmber of members of Lodges in the Province was practically tho same as last year , standing at 448 as against 455 .
Tho general working expenses , including rent , Tylers , and refreshments , stood at an average of 15 s per member , the amonnt devoted to charity , averaging 5 s fid per member , varying from quite a nominal sum in one Lodge to 14 s 5 d per member in another . The Registrar ' s Report again , as last year , called attention to the large amount of arrears of subscription outstanding in one or two Lodges , and
also to the repeated laxity in sending in tbe necessary returns shown by some Lodges . This Report was adopted . Brother Nott then , as Secretary to tho Provincial Charity Organization Committee , rose to read his report of the work done by that Committee during the past year . Before doing so , however , he took the opportunity of thanking the Provincial Grand Master , and brethren , for their adoption
of the recommendation of the Charity Committee that his expenses shonld be paid , and said that as regards actual expenses out of pocket , such as railway fares , printing , & c , he considered ifc nothing bufc fair that these should be paid out of the Provincial Fund , but beyond that he should not think of accepting a penny . He then read the report , showing that the Province dnring the past year had been
successful in carrying the election of two candidates for the Girls ' School . As the result of this , the Committee stood pledged to an extent which wonld require all its available votes for the next election or two , but the Committee felt sure that it would not lack for the support of the Province in this direction , seeing what success had been achieved . The report further stated that the Committee had received
from the Lodges and Masons of the Province during the year 1132 votes for the various Institutions , and it mentioned thafc their Province was now working on intimate reciprocal terms with no less than eleven other Provinces . In addition to this report , the Secretary of the Provincial Charity Organisation Committee stated thafc he felt personally indebted to Bro . Captain S . G . Homfray D . P . G . M .
Monmouthshire , -who had rendered him , and therefore the Province of Wiltshire , very great assistance at the recent Girls' School election , on the 9 th of this month , when ho , the secretary , was personally unable to be present . His place , however , had been kindly and well filled by Captain Homfray , with the result of securing the success of their candidate , and he trusted that the members of the Provincial
Grand Lodge of Wiltshire would join with him in expressing its thanks to the D . P . G . M . of Monmouth for his valuable assistance . On the motion of Bro . Tombs , seconded by Brother Affleck , the report was approved , and the thanks of the Provincial Grand Lodge voted to Brother Homfray . The R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Lord Methuen , then alluded to the next subject on the agenda paper ,
namely , { he consideration of the Report of the Committee appointed afc the last Provincial Grand Lodge as to the establishment of a Provincial Benevolent Fnnd . He , the Provincial Grand Master , had read such report , and had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion thafc it was well worthy of adoption , although at first sight he thought there might have been some objection to it , on the ground of causing a
collision between this Provincial Lodge and the General Masonic Charities . The Provincial Grand Master then said , that printed copies of the report having been circulated among the brethren , it should be taken as read , and he called upon Bro . F . H . Goldney , the chairman of the Committee , to introduce the subject to the meeting . W . Bro . F . H . Goldney P . G . Treas . said , that after a considerable amonnt of
discussion the Committee , at a very large meeting , where every Lodge in the Province he believed was represented , had come to tho unanimons decision to present to this Provincial Grand Lodge tho report as it then stood . A considerable amonnt of discussion took place , chiefly on minor points , the principal one of importance raised having reference to one
of the objects of the proposed Benevolent Fund . As recommended by the Committee , there was to be power to make grants to " Benevolent and Charitable purposes generally . " Bro . Stokes , of Salisbury , objected to this wide range , and read a letter from Lord Harry Thynne , who was unfortunately prevented from being present , also taking this view , the principal reason boing that whilst such
powers wero vested as now in tho Provincial Grand Lodge they were unnecessary in the case of tho proposed Fund , and Bro . Stokes proposed the insertion of the word " Masonic " before the words quoted . Bro . Henry 0 . Tombs strongly opposed this , as savouring too much of selfishness , and urged that , as Masons , it behoved us to show to the world at largo that Masons were large-hearted and did not
confine their charity to themselves . However , after somo discussion , the conclusion was come to thafc as tho Fund would for tho present have but little to spare in tho direction indicated , and as an alteration conld at any time be made , tho word "Masonic" shonld bo inserted as proposed . Aud ifc was then , on the motion of Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Barfc ., D . P . G . M ,, seconded by Bro . Stokes P . P . S . G . W ., re-
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.
solved unanimously— " That tho powers of the present Provincial Charity Organization Committee bo increased , and that its namo be altered to that of tho Provincial Charity Organisation and Benevolent Fund Committee , and that it consist , as at present , of the Provincial Grand Master , tho Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Treasurer ] the Registrar and tho Secretary for the timo bein < r of the Province ,
the Secretary to the Committee , and a Representative from each Lodgo , together with tho addition of Life Governors to be constituted by donations to the Fund . That the Fund to bo at tho disposal of such new Committee be composed of grants from Provincial Grand Lodge , subscriptions from each Lodge in the Provinco ( willing to subscribe ) , and other voluntary subscriptions and donations from Lodges and
brethren . That for the present , and until farther direction by Provincial Grand Lodgo , not loss than three-fonrths of the annual income be capitalised and invested . And that the Fund be applied by the Committee for ( a ) the relief of aged or necessitous brethren of this Province or their indigent widows 5 ( b ) the relief , education and ! advancement of the children of Freemasons of this Province ; ( c ) the
support of the general Masonic Charities , subject to the approval of Provincial Grand Lodge ; ( d ) Masonic Benevolent and Charitable purposes generally . " A set of Rules for the carrying out of the recommendations contained in tho Report had been prepared by the Committee and accompanied its Report . These Rules , with the necessary alterations to make them accord with
tho foregoing resolution , were also unanimously adopted , on the proposition of Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , seconded by Bro . Stokes . The Provincial Grand Master then called attention to the valuable work descriptive of the History of Freemasonry in this Provinco which had been , since the last , meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , completed by the Provincial Grand Treasurer Bro . F . H .
Goldney , who , entirely at his own expense , had presented a copy of such work to every brother in the Province . He was sure thafc such a handsome and valuable contribution to Freemasonry in this Province deserved some substantial mark of appreciation , and ho therefore begged to propose thafc a jewel be presented to the author by this Provincial Grand Lodge , and thafc he be asked to accept tho
warmest thanks of the brethren for his liberality . This was seconded by Bro . E . T . Payne P . G . D ., and carried by acclamation . The Provincial Grand Treasurer briefly returned thanks . The Provincial Grand Master then referred to the trouble taken by Bro . Nott in relation to preparing the report and draft rules as to the establishment of a Benevolent Fund , as well as to his services as
Secretary of the Provincial Charity Organisation Committee , and to the very liberal way in which he had treated the P . G . Lodgo as regarded his expenses in connection with thafc Committee , and proposed that a jewel shonld be also voted to Bro . Nott as some recognition of those services . The P . G . M . further proposed thafc the Provincial Grand Secretary and two Wardens should act as a Com .
mittee for carrying out this and the preceding resolution . This proposition was seconded by Sir G . Goldney , and carried by acclamation . Brother Notfc subsequently tendered his thanks to the Provincial Grand Lodge for this token of its appreciation of his services . The next bnsiness on the agenda paper was to consider the Bye-laws and Charity rules of the Province , with a
view to the amendment thereof if found necessary ; and on the proposition of Brother H . C . Tombs , seconded by Brother W Nott , it was resolved that it be referred to a committee , composed of the same members as that to which the question of the Benevolent Fund had been referred , to consider tho necessity for the revision of snch bye-laws and rules , nnd to report thereon to the next
Provincial Grand Lodge ; and , further , that it be a direction to such Committee to consider the desirability of increasing the fees of honour . The Provincial Grand Master then declared all offices vacant , and Bro . F . H . Goldney having been unanimously re-elected Treasurer , the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were then appointed and invested as follows : —Bros . Charles
F . Marshall 335 Corsham P . S . G . W ., Alfred Plummer 1533 New Swindon P . G . J . W ., Rev . John A . Lloyd 1533 New Swindon P . G . Chaplain , F . H . Goldney ( re-elected ) 626 Chippenham P . G . Treasurer , William Nott ( re-appointed ) 663 Devizes P . G . Reg ., Henry C . Tombs ( reappointed ) 355 Swindon P . G . Sec , Alderman E . N . Fowler 626 Chippenham P . S . G . D ., Thomas S . Futcher 586
Salisbury P . J . G . D ., E . B . Merriman 1533 Marlborough P . G . S . Wks ., John Chandler ( re-appointed ) 355 Swindon P . G . D . C ., Thomas R . Lavington 632 Trowbridge P . G . A . D . C , John Carter 1533 Marlborough P . G . S . B ., W . S . Bambridge 1533 Marlborough P . G . Org ., J . Hammond 1533 Marlborough P . G . Pars ., John Savory ( re-elected ) P . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Master , before closing the Lodge ,
said he was happy to congratulate the Worshipfnl Master and members of the Lodge of Loyalty on the success whioh it had attained after an existence of only five years , and stated how pleased he was to hear that its finances had been so carefully managed that it was out of debt—a good example for other Lodges . He conld not doubt thafc the Lodge of Loyalty mnst flourish with the countenance and support
of snch eminent mon as the Marquis of Ailesbury and his sons , and of Bro . Merriman and others . There was one event which had occurred during the past year thafc he conkl not refrain from alluding to , and he took the opportunity of congratulating the Depnty Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart ., upon tho high and distinguished honour Her Majesty had been pleased to
confer upon him iu creating him a baronet , for his assiduous attention to his public duties , and as an acknowledgment of his general worth . Ifc was most gratifying to him ( the Provincial Grand Master ) that he should have selected two brethren as Deputy Prov . Grand Masters who had proved such good men and true , and had made for themselves snch mark in tho world as to entitle them to receive , as they
justly deserved , such approval at the hand of Her Majesty—namely , Sir Daniel Gooch , formerly Deputy Provincial Graud Master of this Province , and now the Prov . Grand Master of Berks and Bucks , and his successor , Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart . The Prov . Grand Master alluded to the irregularity in sending iu the returns from tho various Lodges alluded to in the report of the Registrar , but stated