-
Articles/Ads
Article UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. ← Page 8 of 12 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
United Grand Lodge Of England.
throwing open the red apron to all than this fact ? But there was a greater evil still . It was so natural that aspiring Masons should seek for distinction , that they often left their mother lodges for no other reason than to obtain the red apron , and thus deserted the home in which their first lesson was taught ; it was the case in his own lodge , ancl he was too well convinced that it was the case in many others ; the system was more than defectiveit was dishonest—the best shoots of the blue lodges were
, taken from them , and made to blossom elsewhere—and thus was the fallacious list presented with a view , most improperly , to gain votes in Grand Lodge . Let his statement be refuted on the instant . To his knowledge some red apron lodges could not sustain themselves but by the joining principle , and he challenged the opponents of the motion to deny the fact ; and would conclude with repeating his observation , that whether the red apron be an honour or a burdenit should be equall
, y shared by all the London lodges . Bro . DOBIE would merely state , that the details he had caused to be printed were given to him by the parties competent to furnish them , and he had no reason to doubt their correctness . In most red apron lodges the by-laws directed that the Grand Steward should serve as Steward for the other charities . Bro . SAVAGE fully concurred with those who hacl complained of the
present state of the red apron arrangement , it might be attempted to be glossed over , it might be attempted to be excused , it might be attempted to be palliated , it might even be attempted to be shown to work profitably for the charities : but no one had attempted to justify it , that was too much of an Herculean task for any one to attempt ; yet the utmost
efforts were made to prevent an alteration , which he considered was a decided improvement . By the present arrangement , distinguished brethren , be would instance the present Sheriff of London , was deprived of serving the office of Grand Steward because the loclge to which he belonged , though as respectable as any , very numerous , ancl never behind in contributing to private or public charities , was not one of the extraordinary eighteen so-called red apron lodges . One argument in favour of the reds had been brought forward by Bro . Haversthat the Grand
, Stewards' Lodge was the disseminator of masonic working ; every one , who knew anything at all about the subject , very well knew that the Grand Stewards' Lodge was not the Board of Grand Stewards : that it was an entire fallacy . To become either a Grand Steward or a member of the Grand Stewards' Lodge , required no particular talent , no masonic knowledge nor understanding . Any brother serving as a Grand Steward , on paying a certain feecould become a member of the Grand Stewards '
, Lodge ; and he need hardly say , without meaning anything offensive , there were plenty of Grand Stewards , and also of the Grand Stewards ' Lodge , that were not in any way capable of giving the slightest instruction or information in Masonry ; and if even they could , was twice a-year , which was all the opportunity that was given to the Craft to hear or see them , sufficient for the purpose ? if it was , how came it that Lodges of Instruction and Improvement were opened in all parts of
London , and found absolutely requisite that each should meet once in every week to instruct the brethren , among the most distinguished of which he would name the one conducted by the P . G . D . Bro . Peter Thompsorw He was rather surprised Bro . Havers should make such a very extraordinary statement as the one he hacl put forward . Bro . HUMFREY supported the view taken by Bro . Alston , and was
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
United Grand Lodge Of England.
throwing open the red apron to all than this fact ? But there was a greater evil still . It was so natural that aspiring Masons should seek for distinction , that they often left their mother lodges for no other reason than to obtain the red apron , and thus deserted the home in which their first lesson was taught ; it was the case in his own lodge , ancl he was too well convinced that it was the case in many others ; the system was more than defectiveit was dishonest—the best shoots of the blue lodges were
, taken from them , and made to blossom elsewhere—and thus was the fallacious list presented with a view , most improperly , to gain votes in Grand Lodge . Let his statement be refuted on the instant . To his knowledge some red apron lodges could not sustain themselves but by the joining principle , and he challenged the opponents of the motion to deny the fact ; and would conclude with repeating his observation , that whether the red apron be an honour or a burdenit should be equall
, y shared by all the London lodges . Bro . DOBIE would merely state , that the details he had caused to be printed were given to him by the parties competent to furnish them , and he had no reason to doubt their correctness . In most red apron lodges the by-laws directed that the Grand Steward should serve as Steward for the other charities . Bro . SAVAGE fully concurred with those who hacl complained of the
present state of the red apron arrangement , it might be attempted to be glossed over , it might be attempted to be excused , it might be attempted to be palliated , it might even be attempted to be shown to work profitably for the charities : but no one had attempted to justify it , that was too much of an Herculean task for any one to attempt ; yet the utmost
efforts were made to prevent an alteration , which he considered was a decided improvement . By the present arrangement , distinguished brethren , be would instance the present Sheriff of London , was deprived of serving the office of Grand Steward because the loclge to which he belonged , though as respectable as any , very numerous , ancl never behind in contributing to private or public charities , was not one of the extraordinary eighteen so-called red apron lodges . One argument in favour of the reds had been brought forward by Bro . Haversthat the Grand
, Stewards' Lodge was the disseminator of masonic working ; every one , who knew anything at all about the subject , very well knew that the Grand Stewards' Lodge was not the Board of Grand Stewards : that it was an entire fallacy . To become either a Grand Steward or a member of the Grand Stewards' Lodge , required no particular talent , no masonic knowledge nor understanding . Any brother serving as a Grand Steward , on paying a certain feecould become a member of the Grand Stewards '
, Lodge ; and he need hardly say , without meaning anything offensive , there were plenty of Grand Stewards , and also of the Grand Stewards ' Lodge , that were not in any way capable of giving the slightest instruction or information in Masonry ; and if even they could , was twice a-year , which was all the opportunity that was given to the Craft to hear or see them , sufficient for the purpose ? if it was , how came it that Lodges of Instruction and Improvement were opened in all parts of
London , and found absolutely requisite that each should meet once in every week to instruct the brethren , among the most distinguished of which he would name the one conducted by the P . G . D . Bro . Peter Thompsorw He was rather surprised Bro . Havers should make such a very extraordinary statement as the one he hacl put forward . Bro . HUMFREY supported the view taken by Bro . Alston , and was