Brother Clabon's Proposed Alterations In The Book Of Constitutions Affecting The Fund Of Benevolence.

35 . The Committee observe that the surplus of the Fund of Benevolence diminished from £ 888 in 1860 , to £ 179 in 1862 , since which time it has steadily increased , having been £ 587 in 1863 , £ 915 in 1864 , £ 1843 in 1865 , £ 1989 in 1866 , and £ 2372 in 1867 .

36 . Tho scheme only proposes to deal with two-thirds of tho surplus of each year , thus leaving it in the power of the Lodge of Benevolence , of the Grand Master on its recommendation , and of Grand Lodge , to apply tho whole income of the Fund of Benevolence for distressed Masons or their families .

37 . And it leaves one-third of any surplus of each year to be dealt with , as is at present the case with the whole surplus , by accumulation . 38 . Your Committee , after full consideration , are of opinion that the time has arrived when it is not desirable to continue the accumulation of the whole of the surplus ,

ancl that a portion of it may be applied with advantage in making provision for apprenticing the children of Freemasons on their leaving the Masonic Schools , or in otherwise assisting them to commence life . 39 . "Until the recent change in the rules of the two Schools , there was no fund existing for such

apprenticeship or assistance . The amended rules of each School now provide that upon a child leaving the School , if fount ! deserving , and the General Committee shall be satisfied that there is a fair prospect of the child ' s obtaining by such aid the means of permanent provision , such Committee may appropriate for his or her benefit , in such manner as may seem best , a sum not exceeding

£ 15 . But the Committee © have no special funds for this purpose ; any aid to be given must come out of the general revenues of their school , if sufficient . 40 . Your Committee have ascertained that about twelve girls leave school every year , of whom half at least require help , to the extent , on an average , of £ 25 each j

and that , on an average , from fifteen to twenty boys leave chool each year , full one-half of whom require assistance to start them in life , to the extent of from £ 30 to £ 50 . 41 . The boys leave at the age of 15 and the girls at 16 . They could not be kept longer in the schools ,

without a serious limit to the numbers admitted . It is clear that , at this age , there ought to be some apprenticeship , or period of qualifying themselves to earn their own living . Another two years , with propor help , would finish the education of the girls , and qualify them to be governesses : or it would enable them to learn a trade .

Another but longer period , with like help , would enable the more clever boys to continue their studies , in the hope of their raising to eminence , and enable the others to learn a trade , or otherwise aid them to become breadwinners . It is this help which the scheme proposes to furnish to those children whose parents or friends

cannot afford to give it . 42 . The Committee , having very carefully considered the scheme , passed the first paragraph of it , which contains tho principle of the scheme , unanimously , adding words to recognise the power of Grand Lrdge to stop the appropriation at any time . 43 . They have made various alterations in the

remainder of the scheme , the most important being that , instead of leaving it to the House Committee of either school to give the aid , they place this duty on the General Committee , on the recommendation of the House Committee , and that no aid is to be given by the General

Committee beyond £ 25 , except it be confirmed by a Quarterly Court . 44 . The following is the scheme , as amended and adopted by yout \ Committee : — ( a . ) " Until Grand Lodge shall otherwise direct , onethird of the annual surplus of the Fund of Benevolence

shall be appropriated for the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , and another third for the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls , in forming funds for apprenticing the children of Freemasons who have been in those schools , or in otherwise assisting them to commence life . (& . ) " Such one-third parts respectively shall be

invested in the names of four trustees for each school , to be appointed by Grand Lodge , and the dividends paid to the treasurer of each school . ( c . ) " The General Committee , on the recommendation of the House Committee of each school , may apply the dividends of the funds respectively appropriated to the

school for the benefit of children who have been at the school during the preceding twelve months , in apprenticing them to any business or profession , or otherwise

aiding them to obtain employment , or in applying any sum granted , by annual instalments , for a limited period , for the benefit of those proceeding to any School , College , or University . ( d . ) " No sum exceeding £ 25 shall be appropriated for the benefit of any child , without the consent of the

Quarterly Court of the school , and such court shall render to Grand Lodge an annual account of the receipts and expenditure on account of the said funds . 45 . Your Committee recommended the adoption of this scheme by Grand Lodge , and suggest the following motion to be made in Grand Lodge for the purpose : —

" That the scheme , as recommend by the Committee , be , and the same is hereby adopted by Grand Lodge , and added to the Book of Constitutions under the head , Fund of Benevolence , after No . 16 , as Nos . 17 , 18 , 19 , and 20 . "And , in the event of the foregoing motion being

carried , . " That No . 3 under the same head be amended by adding , after the word ' shall' in the second line , the words ' except as provided for by Clauses No . 17 , 18 , 19 , and 20 . ' " 46 . Your Committee append a copy of the Book of Constitutions , under the head "Fund of Benevolence , " with the alterations recommended by them shown in red ink .

The report is daied 9 th February 1869 , aud Bro . Gabon was chairman of the Committee . That the scheme is unpopular is well-known ; that it will not be carried in Grand Lodge is pretty certain , that a strong feeling antagonistic to Bro . Gabon ' s project is rapidly extending amongst the members of the Order , is in some