Masonic Impostors.

Bro . J . H . Ford ( Leeds ) seconded the resolution . He said it was a rather remarkable fact that only the previous evening he had attended a meeting of the Local Relief Fund , when the same question was discussed . It might not be known to all present , but in Leeds they had adopted within

the city the identical system which had been suggested by Bro . Morton . A Committee was formed about twenty years ago for the purpose of checking this imposition by itinerant Masons , and the Committee drew up a code of rules which was in existence to-day . He believed if the existence of the

Committee were better known among the younger members of the Craft , to whom appeals were generally made , it would tend greatly to check the evil . Since the resignation of the last Almoner , Bro . Newton , and the appointment of the

present one , Bro . Wheeler , for four months he acted as Almoner for the Leeds Lodges ; and he must say that interesting as were many of the cases which came under his notice as Clerk to the Guardians , those with which he had to deal while he held the office of Almoner were still more

interesting . Last year out of 168 applicants who applied for relief , only thirty-two obtained it . They kept a " Black List" in a book . It was , however , a disadvantage to have only a local black list . Many of those who applied for relief

were sent to the Infirmary , and were there found to be suffering from confirmed or suppressed delirium tremens . He believed Bro . Stansfield made inquiries in ioo cases , and out of these onl y three were genuine ones . A few years ago the relief of itinerant Masons cost the Leeds Almoners '

Fund £ 25 , whereas last year the amount disbursed amounted to only £ 6 13 s ; and as a shilling call per member realised about £ 24 , at the present rate that sum would last about three years . He could quite coincide with Bro . Morton ' s statement , and gave the case of a man named Tames Ovens

who applied for relief . He stated that he was stranded in Leeds , told a most plausible tale , and said he wanted to go to Huddersfield . He was well dressed , with a silk hat , frock coat , and tie , and proved himself completely . He had been Master of his Lodge , and was well up in Chapter work . He

( Bro . Ford ) gave him 5 s . The next day the man turned up and made an application to the Relieving Officer in a deplorable condition , without tie or frock coat or hat , and

said he belonged to Ireland . He had spent the 5 s , had disposed of his hat and coat and tie , and had spent the night in a doorway . On the case being reported to him , he found it was the man Ovens . Rather than allow himself to be sent

to Ireland , where he was known , the man discharged himself and was subsequently brought before the magistrates at Bradford for sleeping out , but was discharged on the ground that he had slept in a railway carriage . He believed the man eventually made his way to Huddersfield , where he managed to get 5 s from Bro . Morton .

Bro . W . D . Quarmby ( Dewsbury ) said that a mistake was made in some districts in appointing fresh Almoners every year , for they were not able to cope with these impostors . He had acted as Almoner for nineteen years ,

and had kept a record of all the itinerants who had applied to him . He had made a practice of never giving relief to a person on his second call , however miserable a tale he might tell , for he felt convinced that the man was making a living out of Masonry .

Bro . C . Stokes ( Sheffield ) said that if Bro . Webster , of Sheffield , who was unable to be present and whom he represented that evening , had been able to attend , he would have given them a lively story of the cases which had come under his notice . He believed Bro . Webster was preparing

a paper on the subject , and if that meeting were adjourned , he could read it to them and his experience would astonish them . He ( Bro . Stokes ) heartily supported the resolution , and suggested that the meeting should be adjourned , and that an endeavour should be made to induce the Almoners of

the Province to work with one common aim . The Almoner at Sheffield would not give relief without a Certificate . If those itinerants had not performed their duty by paying to

the Lodge they once belonged to , they had no right to live on the Society , the welfare of which all present had at heart . The Chairman said they had had ample experience of the want of a proper system of giving relief in these cases .

Several Brethren expressed the opinion that an endorsement on the Certificate would prevent deserving cases being dealt with , inasmuch as such Brethren would not care , in the event of rehabilitating themselves , having the endorsment always in evidence . The W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master said he believed the remarks which had been made throughout the

Masonic Impostors.

discussion would not be without beneficial results . He quite agreed with the position taken up by Bro . Morton . They could do something by passing the resolution , and then begin by doingsomething at home . They could propose a scheme , and if Brother Pownall in East Lancashire proposed the

best scheme , they could adopt it , and in going to Grand Lodge they could have the advantage of stating they had tried it , and a universal scheme on similar lines might be adopted . He did not see why they could not get the Almoners of West Yorkshire to agree to a system after being called together .

He had intended to call them , but there were several difficulties in getting them all together . In some districts there were five of six Almoners , and he had great difficulty

in finding who they were . He thought he had at last succeeded . They had had a very representative meeting , for about 2 , 300 members , being about one-half the Province , were represented .

Bro . F . Stafford ( Wakefield ) remarked that in Wakefield the office had been changed once in twenty years . His experience was similar to that of the Brethren who had spoken , and he often wished that he could get into touch with other Almoners , with respect to those men who tramped

from town to town , for it would help him materially . As a rule he kept a description of every person who applied , whether he relieved him or not , and could tell him again as soon as he ( Bro . Stafford ) saw him again . He should be glad to do anything he could to forward the movement . The motion was put and carried unanimously .

The Chaiman said they were determined to put down the evil if possible . He should like to have another meeting of Almoners before the next meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge ; the subject could then be brought forward at the Provincial Meeting .

Bro . L . J . F . Watson moved That a summary of the proceedings of that Conference be printed and circulated among the Almoners of West Yorkshire , and that the list provided by Bro . Pownall be appended . "

The motion was carried unanimously . A vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Pownall for his attendance and his able paper , and to Bro . Morton , and the proceedings concluded .

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