Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

of their own . We have not started that in West Yorkshire yet ; we havo remained loyal and faithful to the three great Institutions , but thero arc other Provinces in the country which think that these Institutions are getting support enough ; but at tho samo time thoy aro formulating Institutions of their own , and that is what I want not to see . I want to support all the

Institutions , where we get all the privileges we require . I do not want there to be introduced any patchwork into the Benevolent Institution to the prejudice of the Boys and the Girls School . The poor old people Bro . Terryhas taken great trouble over , and deserve support , but I maintain also that the Boys and Girls Institutions deserve the same support and tho same

assistance . You will find on the lists of the Boys and the Girls some mothers left with six , seven , eight , nine or ten children ; it is a god-send to that mother to get rid of ono girl and one boy placed in the Institutions ; but at the same time it would never do for us to have these Institutions have

an unfair rivalry ; let us have fair rivalry ; for if there is one set of Masons rallying to Bro . Terry ' s Institution , another to Bro . McLeod's , and another to Bro . Hedges ' s I am suro it will be unworthy of us . I have no more to say , but let us all go on and support all tho three Institutions .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield : We are very much obliged to Bro . Smithson , but he may be surprised to hear that the lowest that got in at an election was sixty-two . Bro . Smithson speaks o [ tho number of votes in this Institution increasing , but he does not tell you that the Boys and Girls votes have

increased in the same proportion . He puts the Boys and Girls separately and lumps the old men and women aud makes them £ 300 , 000 ; but he ought to take the Boys and Girls together if he takes the old men and women together . If he divides them he will find we have not had yet our fair proportion : that is our view .

Bro . Frederick Mead : You have explained this matter of voting and we aro much obliged to you . It has been foreshadowed that you are giving an undue number of votes ; we are giving or proposing to give only half the

number of votes to a Lodge or Chapter that we give to an individual . In every instance I can assure you tho proposal was half the number of votes to Lodges and Chapters that are given to individuals . Bro . J . A . Farnfield : Have you read the last clause ?

Bro . John Glass : I understand that you propose that these notices of motion are to be withdrawn ; but , Sir , I thiuk after the expression of opinion that has been volunteered in regard to the interpretation of this Law this meeting ought to have an assurance from you that it is not intended to act

upon this , and I shall not be satisfied until I hear that it is not the intention —without offence to you I say it , as many might try to obtain qualifications for additional votes—to act upon tho proposition that is before the meeting . Therefore I ask you to state on behalf of the Committee whether it is your intention not to act on the proposition .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield : We intend to act as we always have done , Brother Glass ; we aro not going to alter anything that has existed , but we shall keep on exactly as we have from tho beginning of the Institution . If you ask me to pledge myself for the Committee I would rather not ; that is rather a large order , as the Committee is somewhat about sixty or seventy members . Bro . James Terry : 374 .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield : I would rather not pledge myself as to what they would or would not do . Bro . William Masters : Then I would ask are all these propositions withdrawn ?

Bro . J . A . Farnfield : Except the last as to tho vacancies on the Committee ; and if I may put it as we understand it we shall always carry it out—for every additional Ten Guineas to such particular Fund shall bo further entitled to four votes at each election . That is what we do and what we propose doing in the future—all Lodges and Chapters only .

Bro . John Glass : Bye-Law 24 , that a donation of Fifty Guineas to either Fund , or partly to each Fund , in one sum or in sums of not less than Five Guineas each , shall constitute the donor a Vice-President of the Institution and a member of tho Committee of Management ; do you intend to apply that to Lodges and Chapters ? Bro . J . A . Farnfield : I think we shall still keep that .

Bro . Richard Eve : Of course you are asking now that the propositions which have been made should be withdrawn , but in order to do that thoy ought to be moved and seconded , and withdrawn ; because when it is asked to adopt them then I shall have to move an amendment on the statement by

our Chairman that the present law will bo acted on . On that statement of the Chairman it is perfectly clear to all of us that wo shall now go on with a distinct understanding that this law will not be varied . I will move that as an amendment when the proposition is before us .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield : It is impossible for us to alter the mode of dealing which we have already exercised unless we go to Graud Lodge . Grand Lodge thought fit to adjourn it until we had looked further into the matter

we prefer to stand on the law as it is—to keep to the same course of action and not alter it . The committee thought we should peril our vote in Grand Lodge . The laws have to be submitted to Grand Lodge . You may depend upon it that while I am Treasurer of this Institution I shall not imperil it .

Bro . W . A . Scurrah : I think that this thing should be carried out and be done in due order and form . As a matter of form I think it ought to bo proposed that such alteration should be mado , —that that should be seconded by some Brother and put by the Chairman , and if any Brother thinks fit to

make an amendment to that it can be put from the chair , and we shall have it in due form and due order ; therefore I move as a matter of form that the alteration of the Laws as suggested by this notice be approved . Brp . J . S . Cumberland : That places us in a very false position . If one

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Brother proposes and another seconds it they will expect it to be carried . That puts us in a peculiar position . I could not support Bro . Scurrah , Here is a difficulty , and a peculiar difficulty to me . You have a special oammittee ; you havo submitted certain rules to them ; you have called us here to-night to consider them and place them before us ; and now you

proposo to withdraw them after an explanation . With deference to Brother Scurrah I say that this meeting has no power to withdraw them . At the samo time I think it has placed this Institution in rather an unfortunate position to bring this matter forward in opposition , if I may call it so , to the

Boys and Girls Institutions , because if they do not work in harmony it will be to the great detriment'of the Institution . As I said , if it is put before the meeting it places us in a false position . I would ask Bro . Eve as a lawyer whether tho proper way would not bo to move that the various resolutions up to the last be withdrawn , and let some one second it , and then put it .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield : Pardon me . How can a resolution be withdrawn that has never been put ? Bro . J . S . Cumberland : I follow Bro . Glass to this extent that the explanation you have put on various Laws is somewhat different to what it was before , and that we should have somo guarantee that the Rulos , when

withdrawn should have a Masonic practical application and no more ; and I say with all deference to you let us have a Masonic explanation , rather than a legal explanation . We have had a good deal of law ; if wo had more

Masonry it might be better for us . I move that these Rules that you have formulated be not accepted by this meeting and that we revert to the old rule . Bro . Stanley At t enborough : Clause 25 is an important clause .

Bro . W . A . Scurrah : I do not know if any Brothor has seconded my proposition . Bro . John Glass - . It seems to me that Bro . Scurrah is in order to discuss the matter on the paper . That motion on tho paper i " s the first motion to be made ; as a matter of form I second it , I think it is the only practical way out of the difficulty .

Bro . Stanley Attenborough : I will second Bro . Cumberland with the exception of 25 , because if you pass that scheme it will settle the question fo over . " A Vice-President , boing an individual donor . " You will never be able to get Lodges and Chapters or Societies in that ; so that if we carry Brother

Cumberland ' s motion retaining the last two paragraphs of this speciai report I think we shall be doing what is right for the Institution , and it seems to me that the Sub-Committee of the Benevolent Institution do not wish to havo much to our regret—the Vice-Presidents and Presidents . I am sorry to see it , I second Bro . Cumberland ' s resolution .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield : Are there any other amendments ? Somebody may havo to talk on it or say something about it . Very well , I will put it now * . "That these Rules on the paper that you have , save the last two Clauses , be withdrawn . " Bro . Stanley Attenborough : With tho exception of the two last Clauses .

Bro . J . S . Cumberland : Anything that comes nearer to the wishes of the Brethren I will adopt . Bro . Cumberland ' s amendment to Bro . W . A . Seurrah ' s resolution was put , and carried by twenty-nine votes against one vote . Brother J . A . Farnfield : Will some Brother now move as to these two

Clauses . Bro . A . C . Spaull : I will move that the two last Clauses on the business paper be adopted . Bro . C . J . R . Tijou : I second it . Brother Hawkins asked that the two Clauses be taken separately , as he

wished to move an ] amendment in regard to ono of thorn , This was dono , and tho motion referring to Clause 25 was carried by twenty votes to five . Bro . Hawkins : I should like to propose as an amendment to the last paragraph , after the words in the third line " for the remainder of the year by the Lodge to which the late member belonged , " so as to give tho Lodge the opportunity of filling up the vacancy .

Bro . J . A . Farnfield : I do not follow you . Supposing that the Lodge does not subscribe to the Charity at all ; are you going to give that Lodge the right to place some Brothor to audit the accounts ? Why should some outside person of the Lodge have the right to meddle in the management of this Institution ? The General Committee appoint these Brethren .

Bro . Hawkins : It would be a vory unlikely thing for a member to bc appointed on the Committee by a Lodgo that does not subscribe . Bro . J . A . Farnfield : Does anyone second Bro . Hawkins ' s amendment ? No answer being given the motion was put and carried . Bro . Richard Eve : I do feel that you ought to have the privilege of

having Vice-Patrons and Patrons of the Institution , to be put on a par with the other Institutions ; it would be better for all of them . I think if the suggestion thrown out in the letter I wrote and had the privilege of sending to the Secretary this afternoon was put for the Committee to confer upon with the others so as to enable them to make Patrons and Vice-Patrons it

would be well . Bro . J . A . Farnfield : My feeling is this , that our Rules want revising all through . At some time when this matter is a little allayed we shall have a

Committee to revise the rules . These rules are fifteen years old , and I think it is time they should be revised . I have got the thing in my mind and have talked to Bro . Fairchild about it . We shall consider it and we will confer with some of tho Committee of the other Institutions .

Bro . Richard Eve : And you may be sure we shall confer with you with pleasure to make you level with us . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .