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  • The Freemason's Chronicle
  • Nov. 27, 1886
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  • FREEMASONRY AND THE PROPOSED JUBILEE INSTITUTE.
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Freemasonry And The Proposed Jubilee Institute.

FREEMASONRY AND THE PROPOSED JUBILEE INSTITUTE .

THE Freemasons of England will , next Wednesday , be called upon to express an opinion OD a subject which requires , as it will no doubt receive , the fullest attention at their hands . At the meeting of Grand Lodge Bro .

Raynham W . Stewart P . G . D . will move , " That H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , having invited the co-operation of Her Majesty ' s subjects in the formation of an Imperial Institute of the Colonies and

India , as the Memorial of Her Majesty ' s Jubilee , it be resolved that this Grand Lodge do hereby vote the sum of £ 1000 from the Fund of General Purposes as its contribution towards the proposed Institute , " and it will

be for the brethren then assembled to decide what steps shall be taken in regard to the proposal . Whatever may be the result , so far as next Wednesday is concerned , we have no doubt but that the Masons of England will

eventually contribute something towards the proposed Institute , but we think the motion submitted by Brother Stewart is premature , and we hope the decision of the matter will be postponed until a more suitable occasion .

The general feeling in regard to the proposed Institute is that it may be productive of much benefit if properly established and conducted ; while , on the other hand , there is hardly any limit to the evils it may create , if nastily

started or wrongly worked . Freemasons are proverbial for their caution , and , considering their earliest lessons , this is hardly to be wondered at . They may therefore well pause ere they commit themselves

to the support of a scheme about which so little is at present settled , much less vote a large sum from their funds in aid of it . No doubt there are many brethren who will be inclined to accept the invitation of their beloved

Grand Master without question , and give His Royal Highness all the support that lies in their power in furtherance of tho scheme he has set his heart upon , and we feel no hesitation in urging individual brethren to adopt

such a course , as by that means we believe the desired objects of the Grand Master are the most likely to be achieved , but the same advice cannot be given when it becomes a question of voting away public money . Before

Grand Lodge is asked to devote any part of its funds to the Institute all preliminary details should be settled , and before that can be done the scheme must secure such support as will leave no doubt in the minds of those who care to inquire as to the lines on which it is to be conducted .

There are some of its advocates who urge that the Institute should be worked on the basis of a hu ° -e trading concern . Under such circumstances it should

be self-supporting , or its operations would have a disastrous effect on the trading classes , who . can hardl y he expected to compete with an institute supported by public funds . This view of the matter is alone sufficient

to induce the brethren to postpone their decision on the proposal now submitted to them , for in view of the prevailing distress in the country , and the consequent heavy demands which are continually being made on the

charitable instincts of Freemasons , it would be most unwise to support any proposal which , even in the most remote way , mi ght tend to increase that distress . There is little doubt but that this objection will be removed ere the Institute is actuall y started , but until it is settled the Freemasons of

Freemasonry And The Proposed Jubilee Institute.

England should not spend any part of their public funds in support of the proposal . As we have said , they are quite justified in devoting any money of their own to any object

they choose , but the funds of Grand Lodge are not equally applicable ; they were subscribed for a given purpose , and any departure from the ordinary course should only be sanctioned after the most mature consideration .

As Freemasons we are bound to recognise the actions of the majority of those who attend Grand Lodge , but it does not follow that every decision there arrived at represents the opinion of the Craft , or that every vote meets the

approval of the majority of the brethren ; indeed , the occasional non-confirmation of portions of the minutes supplies ample evidence to the contrary . It must be remembered that the risrht to attend Grand Lodge is restricted to a

very small proportion of the brethren , and , further , that a large majority of those eligible to take part in its deliberations are unable to attend the stated Communications . Hence is it desirable the greatest care should be exercised

in submitting any proposal which may not be in accord with the views of every suction of the Order , more especially when the proposal is in connection with a subject manifestly outside the limits of Freemasonrv , as this proposed Colonial and Indian Institute undoubtedly is .

It must also be borne in mind that whatever is proposed in Grand Lodge in connection with such a subject as that under notice is more than likely to be copied by Private Lodges , and wherever such a proposal as that to be

submitted oil Wednesday is made , we think a discussion is probable . In view of such a contingency we can but feel that the line which divides the subject from those which are justly forbidden in Masonry is a very narrow one ,

indeed , it is more than probable that some brethren will find , it difficult to recognise the question as a truly national one , while , on the contrary , many will regard it as being somewhat of a party character . If it can be demonstrated

that the Institute is to be established and maintained for the public good , irrespective of any cliqueism or benefit to a particular section , then Freemasons may justly be asked to contribute to its funds , and there is little doubt but that the result will be

of the character which the promoters of the scheme desire , as Freemasons are not slow in exercising their sympath y with all proposals made with a view of benefitting their

fellow creatures , but as we have already said , nothing definite has yet been settled , and accordingly Freemasons may this year vote money for an object which next they may deem to be neither desirable nor worthy of support .

We regret that a brother usually so alive to tho interests of the Craft at large , and so mindful of detail , as Brother Raynham W . Stewart , should have been carried away by his enthusiasm for the Grand Master , as he apparently has

been on this occasion . Although we have the greatest faith in our Grand Master ' s power to accomplish what he undertakes , and fully believe his aim in connection with the proposed Institute is to benefit tho people over whom he will

in all probability some day be called upon to rule , we question his ability to successfull y combat the opposition which is sure to be shown in certain quarters if tho Institute is established on lines which are likely to affect tho trading

classes of the community , and so far it appears to be widely recognised that some such contingency must arise if its prime object is to be the fostering of trade between the various sections of the Empire . Another plan on which it is proposed the Institute shall

“The Freemason's Chronicle: 1886-11-27, Page 1” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 2 Aug. 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fcn/issues/fcn_27111886/page/1/.
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FREEMASONRY AND THE PROPOSED JUBILEE INSTITUTE. Article 1
LIMITATIONS OF OBLIGATIONS. Article 2
NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Article 4
Untitled Article 6
THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS Article 6
NEW MUSIC. Article 6
DEATH OF BRO. LEONARD D. WESTCOTT. Article 6
EXTENSION OF GRAND LODGE HONOURS. Article 7
GLEANINGS. Article 7
STATUARY FOR FLOOD'S BUILDING. Article 7
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Untitled Article 8
QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF UNITED GRAND LODGE . Article 8
CONSECRATION OF THE OSBORNE LODGE Article 9
Untitled Ad 11
THE THEATRES, &c Article 11
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DIARY FOR THE WEEK. Article 12
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry And The Proposed Jubilee Institute.

FREEMASONRY AND THE PROPOSED JUBILEE INSTITUTE .

THE Freemasons of England will , next Wednesday , be called upon to express an opinion OD a subject which requires , as it will no doubt receive , the fullest attention at their hands . At the meeting of Grand Lodge Bro .

Raynham W . Stewart P . G . D . will move , " That H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , having invited the co-operation of Her Majesty ' s subjects in the formation of an Imperial Institute of the Colonies and

India , as the Memorial of Her Majesty ' s Jubilee , it be resolved that this Grand Lodge do hereby vote the sum of £ 1000 from the Fund of General Purposes as its contribution towards the proposed Institute , " and it will

be for the brethren then assembled to decide what steps shall be taken in regard to the proposal . Whatever may be the result , so far as next Wednesday is concerned , we have no doubt but that the Masons of England will

eventually contribute something towards the proposed Institute , but we think the motion submitted by Brother Stewart is premature , and we hope the decision of the matter will be postponed until a more suitable occasion .

The general feeling in regard to the proposed Institute is that it may be productive of much benefit if properly established and conducted ; while , on the other hand , there is hardly any limit to the evils it may create , if nastily

started or wrongly worked . Freemasons are proverbial for their caution , and , considering their earliest lessons , this is hardly to be wondered at . They may therefore well pause ere they commit themselves

to the support of a scheme about which so little is at present settled , much less vote a large sum from their funds in aid of it . No doubt there are many brethren who will be inclined to accept the invitation of their beloved

Grand Master without question , and give His Royal Highness all the support that lies in their power in furtherance of tho scheme he has set his heart upon , and we feel no hesitation in urging individual brethren to adopt

such a course , as by that means we believe the desired objects of the Grand Master are the most likely to be achieved , but the same advice cannot be given when it becomes a question of voting away public money . Before

Grand Lodge is asked to devote any part of its funds to the Institute all preliminary details should be settled , and before that can be done the scheme must secure such support as will leave no doubt in the minds of those who care to inquire as to the lines on which it is to be conducted .

There are some of its advocates who urge that the Institute should be worked on the basis of a hu ° -e trading concern . Under such circumstances it should

be self-supporting , or its operations would have a disastrous effect on the trading classes , who . can hardl y he expected to compete with an institute supported by public funds . This view of the matter is alone sufficient

to induce the brethren to postpone their decision on the proposal now submitted to them , for in view of the prevailing distress in the country , and the consequent heavy demands which are continually being made on the

charitable instincts of Freemasons , it would be most unwise to support any proposal which , even in the most remote way , mi ght tend to increase that distress . There is little doubt but that this objection will be removed ere the Institute is actuall y started , but until it is settled the Freemasons of

Freemasonry And The Proposed Jubilee Institute.

England should not spend any part of their public funds in support of the proposal . As we have said , they are quite justified in devoting any money of their own to any object

they choose , but the funds of Grand Lodge are not equally applicable ; they were subscribed for a given purpose , and any departure from the ordinary course should only be sanctioned after the most mature consideration .

As Freemasons we are bound to recognise the actions of the majority of those who attend Grand Lodge , but it does not follow that every decision there arrived at represents the opinion of the Craft , or that every vote meets the

approval of the majority of the brethren ; indeed , the occasional non-confirmation of portions of the minutes supplies ample evidence to the contrary . It must be remembered that the risrht to attend Grand Lodge is restricted to a

very small proportion of the brethren , and , further , that a large majority of those eligible to take part in its deliberations are unable to attend the stated Communications . Hence is it desirable the greatest care should be exercised

in submitting any proposal which may not be in accord with the views of every suction of the Order , more especially when the proposal is in connection with a subject manifestly outside the limits of Freemasonrv , as this proposed Colonial and Indian Institute undoubtedly is .

It must also be borne in mind that whatever is proposed in Grand Lodge in connection with such a subject as that under notice is more than likely to be copied by Private Lodges , and wherever such a proposal as that to be

submitted oil Wednesday is made , we think a discussion is probable . In view of such a contingency we can but feel that the line which divides the subject from those which are justly forbidden in Masonry is a very narrow one ,

indeed , it is more than probable that some brethren will find , it difficult to recognise the question as a truly national one , while , on the contrary , many will regard it as being somewhat of a party character . If it can be demonstrated

that the Institute is to be established and maintained for the public good , irrespective of any cliqueism or benefit to a particular section , then Freemasons may justly be asked to contribute to its funds , and there is little doubt but that the result will be

of the character which the promoters of the scheme desire , as Freemasons are not slow in exercising their sympath y with all proposals made with a view of benefitting their

fellow creatures , but as we have already said , nothing definite has yet been settled , and accordingly Freemasons may this year vote money for an object which next they may deem to be neither desirable nor worthy of support .

We regret that a brother usually so alive to tho interests of the Craft at large , and so mindful of detail , as Brother Raynham W . Stewart , should have been carried away by his enthusiasm for the Grand Master , as he apparently has

been on this occasion . Although we have the greatest faith in our Grand Master ' s power to accomplish what he undertakes , and fully believe his aim in connection with the proposed Institute is to benefit tho people over whom he will

in all probability some day be called upon to rule , we question his ability to successfull y combat the opposition which is sure to be shown in certain quarters if tho Institute is established on lines which are likely to affect tho trading

classes of the community , and so far it appears to be widely recognised that some such contingency must arise if its prime object is to be the fostering of trade between the various sections of the Empire . Another plan on which it is proposed the Institute shall

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