Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Benevolent Institution. Proposed Alterations In Rules
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . PROPOSED ALTERATIONS IN RULES
WE have on more than one occasion urged the desirability of making alterations in the rules governing admission to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which should have some effect in relieving
tlie very long lists of candidates brought forward each year , and efforts have recently been made to secure this end . We cannot say the results will prove all tbat are desired , indeed at first blush we are inclined
to think the proposed remedies will become more objectionable than the evils they are intended to remove , but the alterations have been agreed to after considerable discussion among those who take an
active part m the management- ot the affairs oi the Institution , and we suppose those who are content to stand passively by , and allow their work to be carried out by others , must accept the situation as it now stands .
A Special General Meeting of Governors and Subscribers was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons ' Hall , when the proposed alterations were taken into consideration , and formally disposed of , so far as is
necessary , previous to seeking the approval of Grand Lodge , which approval will no doubt be accorded in clue course , as there is nothing in the alterations , as agreed to , likely to be regarded as being of sufficient
importance to need rejection from the higher authority . Briefly , the alterations may be described as experimental . Something was absolutely necessary to relieve the long list of applicants , and that
something has now received the approval of the Special General Meeting , but whether it will prove satisfactory in practice remains to be seen . The first suggestion is to make an addition to Rule 37 of the Institution , which now provides that
Should any candidate be unsuccessful afc two successive elections , and have attained the age of eighty years , the Committee of Management shall have the power to place him or her on the list of Annuitants .
The proposal is , to add the words "if in their opinion efforts have been made to secure his or her election . " This addition is of material importance , as without it the Committee of Management feel
virtually compelled to place all aged candidates on the rands of the Institution after a certain period , no matter what efforts have been made to secure admission by the ordinarv means . It therefore onlv became
necessary to get an aged candidate on the list , wait a year or two , and then claim the advantage of this rule , JT m ? the candidate had not secured a single vote The addition of the suggested words will give
: !~ V ? ittee a discretion in the matter , and we are convinced that discretion will be used most judiciously . « will , ol course , be verv difficult to decide whether norts
have been made to secure an election or hv \ T T canclidate may secure 1500 votes ( or more ) y one effort , while another may work mnch harder ,
Benevolent Institution. Proposed Alterations In Rules
and come out with 15 or less , but the addition will give the Committee an opportunity of considering each case on its merits , whereas without it their action is somewhat fettered . This must certainly be regarded
as an improvement . The next suggestion was to add to Rule 1 , Qualifications for Male Fund , the following : —
That no Brother or Widow of a Brother shall be eligible for the annuity of this Institution , unless the said Brother shalt have been a Life Governor of this Institution at least two years , or a Subscriber of 21 s annually for five years before presenting bis petition , or before his death .
This proposal , although approved by the original Committee to whom it was submitted , was rejected on Wednesday—and justly so—by a majority of 22 to 11 . Tlie proposer of this restriction and those who
afterwards allowed oi its being seriously considered , must be possessed of a wrong idea as to whom the Institution is intended to benefit . To restrict the annuities to those who have in years gone by provided the funds is probably fair , but as every Mason who pays
dues to ( jrand Lodge helps to keep up this J . und , tnere must be no exclusion on the lines here laid down . Grand Lodge contributes £ 1600 a year , and it was virtually a bargain that in doing so it should secure for every Mason the right to become a candidate for
an annuity . Un this ground alone the proposal was bad , but if we bear in mind the many Provincial and Private Lodge contributions , we must at once recognise the injustice of excluding the men who
enabled their Lodges to subscribe . Later on we shall find other restrictions agreed to which make it quite difficult enough even to hope for an annuity , and we are considerably gratified that
the proposal , as submitted , was rejected . We cannot believe Grand Lodge would have agreed to if , even if the subscribers had done so ; it would , either have been a question of removing the law , or
stopping the subscription , and the latter course would be regarded with less favour than the former , although we know there are some who look upon the conditions as to Lodge votes , & c , which attaches to the annual
grant of Grand Lodge , as somewhat objectionable . The meeting was assured by Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., the Provincial Grand Master of Durham , that the whole of the northern Provinces were opposed
to the proposal , and such , we believe , would be the view of most of the subscribers if they were canvassed on the point . However , as we have said , there is no fear of the proposal being carried into
effect , at least for some time , as it was rejected by a majority of 2 to 1 . The next proposed alteration is one that makes it quite difficult enough to secure acceptance as a cancuuaie it to ueeii
, as compels eacn petitioner nave a subscribing member to a Lodge for fifteen years , or in the case of a Secretary exempt by a Lodge from the payment of subscription , renders it imperative
that his dues to the Fund ol ± senevolence shall nave been paid for a like period . This alteration met with
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Benevolent Institution. Proposed Alterations In Rules
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . PROPOSED ALTERATIONS IN RULES
WE have on more than one occasion urged the desirability of making alterations in the rules governing admission to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which should have some effect in relieving
tlie very long lists of candidates brought forward each year , and efforts have recently been made to secure this end . We cannot say the results will prove all tbat are desired , indeed at first blush we are inclined
to think the proposed remedies will become more objectionable than the evils they are intended to remove , but the alterations have been agreed to after considerable discussion among those who take an
active part m the management- ot the affairs oi the Institution , and we suppose those who are content to stand passively by , and allow their work to be carried out by others , must accept the situation as it now stands .
A Special General Meeting of Governors and Subscribers was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons ' Hall , when the proposed alterations were taken into consideration , and formally disposed of , so far as is
necessary , previous to seeking the approval of Grand Lodge , which approval will no doubt be accorded in clue course , as there is nothing in the alterations , as agreed to , likely to be regarded as being of sufficient
importance to need rejection from the higher authority . Briefly , the alterations may be described as experimental . Something was absolutely necessary to relieve the long list of applicants , and that
something has now received the approval of the Special General Meeting , but whether it will prove satisfactory in practice remains to be seen . The first suggestion is to make an addition to Rule 37 of the Institution , which now provides that
Should any candidate be unsuccessful afc two successive elections , and have attained the age of eighty years , the Committee of Management shall have the power to place him or her on the list of Annuitants .
The proposal is , to add the words "if in their opinion efforts have been made to secure his or her election . " This addition is of material importance , as without it the Committee of Management feel
virtually compelled to place all aged candidates on the rands of the Institution after a certain period , no matter what efforts have been made to secure admission by the ordinarv means . It therefore onlv became
necessary to get an aged candidate on the list , wait a year or two , and then claim the advantage of this rule , JT m ? the candidate had not secured a single vote The addition of the suggested words will give
: !~ V ? ittee a discretion in the matter , and we are convinced that discretion will be used most judiciously . « will , ol course , be verv difficult to decide whether norts
have been made to secure an election or hv \ T T canclidate may secure 1500 votes ( or more ) y one effort , while another may work mnch harder ,
Benevolent Institution. Proposed Alterations In Rules
and come out with 15 or less , but the addition will give the Committee an opportunity of considering each case on its merits , whereas without it their action is somewhat fettered . This must certainly be regarded
as an improvement . The next suggestion was to add to Rule 1 , Qualifications for Male Fund , the following : —
That no Brother or Widow of a Brother shall be eligible for the annuity of this Institution , unless the said Brother shalt have been a Life Governor of this Institution at least two years , or a Subscriber of 21 s annually for five years before presenting bis petition , or before his death .
This proposal , although approved by the original Committee to whom it was submitted , was rejected on Wednesday—and justly so—by a majority of 22 to 11 . Tlie proposer of this restriction and those who
afterwards allowed oi its being seriously considered , must be possessed of a wrong idea as to whom the Institution is intended to benefit . To restrict the annuities to those who have in years gone by provided the funds is probably fair , but as every Mason who pays
dues to ( jrand Lodge helps to keep up this J . und , tnere must be no exclusion on the lines here laid down . Grand Lodge contributes £ 1600 a year , and it was virtually a bargain that in doing so it should secure for every Mason the right to become a candidate for
an annuity . Un this ground alone the proposal was bad , but if we bear in mind the many Provincial and Private Lodge contributions , we must at once recognise the injustice of excluding the men who
enabled their Lodges to subscribe . Later on we shall find other restrictions agreed to which make it quite difficult enough even to hope for an annuity , and we are considerably gratified that
the proposal , as submitted , was rejected . We cannot believe Grand Lodge would have agreed to if , even if the subscribers had done so ; it would , either have been a question of removing the law , or
stopping the subscription , and the latter course would be regarded with less favour than the former , although we know there are some who look upon the conditions as to Lodge votes , & c , which attaches to the annual
grant of Grand Lodge , as somewhat objectionable . The meeting was assured by Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., the Provincial Grand Master of Durham , that the whole of the northern Provinces were opposed
to the proposal , and such , we believe , would be the view of most of the subscribers if they were canvassed on the point . However , as we have said , there is no fear of the proposal being carried into
effect , at least for some time , as it was rejected by a majority of 2 to 1 . The next proposed alteration is one that makes it quite difficult enough to secure acceptance as a cancuuaie it to ueeii
, as compels eacn petitioner nave a subscribing member to a Lodge for fifteen years , or in the case of a Secretary exempt by a Lodge from the payment of subscription , renders it imperative
that his dues to the Fund ol ± senevolence shall nave been paid for a like period . This alteration met with