Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Masonic Observer
  • Dec. 1, 1856
  • Page 14
Current:

The Masonic Observer, Dec. 1, 1856: Page 14

  • Back to The Masonic Observer, Dec. 1, 1856
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Page 14

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.

Adams ... 67 Andrews ... 77 H . S . Cooper ... 81 C . Buckman 76 Potter ... 73 Prince ... 71 Alexander 60 D . Samuels 75 H . G . Warren 67 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . The G . Secretary then read the Report of the relief afforded by the Board of Benevolence during the months of Sept ., Oct ., and Nov ., which was as follows : — Sept . 24 Brother Crohn in the Chair 4 petitioners were relieved

, , with sums amounting in the aggregate to £ 60 . Oct . 29 , Brother John Hervey in the Chair , 10 petitioners were relieved with sums amounting in the aggregate to £ 117 ; £ 30 was ordered to be given to Brother John McLaren , of No . 264 , and a recommendation to extend that grant was referred to G . L . . Nov . 26 , Brother John Hervey in the Chair , 12 petitioners wore relieved in sums Which amounted in the whole to £ 121 .

THE CASE OF BROTHER MC LAREN . The M . W . the G . M . then put the question that £ 30 be granted to the wife of Brother McLaren , of No . 264 , London , in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Benevolence . . Brother Binckes moved , as an amendment , that the sum be £ 50 instead of £ 30 , and said that he hoped his amendment would meet with the unanimous approval of G . L . The case was a very deserving oneIt had been objected that they had better give £ 30

. now , than , by consenting to this amendment , give £ 50 at a future date ; but , from personal investigation into the case , he had found that such was not the fact . Mrs . McLaren would rather wait and have £ 50 than have £ 30 now . This was one of the most painful cases he had ever known ; here were a mother and 8 children deprived of the support of their natural protector by one of the most awful visitations of Providence which could well be imagined . The father had been subjected to the loss of his reasonand wasin fact

, , , at that moment the helpless inmate of a lunatic asylum . ( Sensation ) . He ( Brother Binckes ) could not find any cause for believing that Brother McLaren had brought this upon himself , in any way , by intemperance , or excesses of any kind . ( Hear , hear , and cheers ) . He had been a subscribing member 24 i years to the Lodge of Stability , and the Master of that Lodge had taken upon himself to see that the money granted should really be applied to the relief of the wife and children , and not be absorbed by the

parochial authorities . The poor woman had been enabled to open a little shop , but was not doing very much , and this grant would enable her to open a better stocked shop in a more eligible locality . He hoped that the amendment would bo agreed to . Brother Potter agreed with all that Brother Binckes had said . This poor woman was moving in as respectable society as many of them were , not long ago . The amendment that £ 50 instead of £ 30 be given was then put by the M . W . the G . M ., and carried unanimously amidst loud applause .

BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES REPORT . This Report , which was read by the G . Secretary , announced the insertion of Mr . Cockney's name on the lease of the Freemasons ' Tavern in lieu of that of Mr . Bellinger , and also that the agreement had been prepared and executed accordingly , that a counterpart had been executed by the tenants and delivered into the custody of the G . Secretary . The Board also reported that , in pursuance of the resolution of the last Q . C . of G . L . referring back to the Board

the subject of the purchase of certain houses adjoining Freemasons ' Hall , by and with the advice and consent of the G . Sup . of Works . The G . Sup . of Works had accordingly inspected the said property and reported it to be worth £ 2 , 250 . That sum had been offered to the owner of the property , subject to the decision of the G . Reg . as to the title deeds , which having been reported satisfactory , the purchase had been completed . The Report next set forth a statement of the receipts and disbursements on account of

G . L . during the present quarter , as reported by the Finance Committee , up to their meeting , Nov . 21 . On account of the Fund of Benevolence , balance in hand Oct . 1 , £ 974 ; subsequent receipts , £ 158 12 s . 2 d . ; making total receipts , £ 1 , 132 12 s . 2 d . Disbursements , £ 152 , leaving a balance on that account of £ 980 12 s . 2 d . On account of the General Purposes' Fund . —Balance , Oct . 1 , £ 2 , 105 17 s . Id . ; since received , £ 534 5 s . ; gross receipts , £ 2 , 640 2 s . Id , ; disbursements to the Boys' Institution , £ 1 , 000 ; to the Annuity Fund , £ 1 , 000 ; to the Widows'Fund , £ 500 ; total disbursements , £ 2 , 501 Is . Gd . ; leaving a balance in hand of £ 139 .

Moneys received for the appropriation of which directions have not yet been given , £ 430 13 s . Id . ; total balance in hand , £ 1 , 556 5 s . Wd In the hands of the G . Treasurer , £ 105 . Dated Freemason ' s Hall , November 25 , 1856 . These Reports were ordered to be received . Letters were announced to have been received in acknowledgment of the grants above named to the Boys' School and the Annuity Fund . HAVE THE W . M . AND WARDENS POWER TO REFUSE ADMISSION

INTO A LODGE ? An appeal from the members of Lodge No . 548 , Sydney , New South Wales , as well as two petitions from the independent G . L . of Canada ( one of which was sent in Nov . 1855 ) , were referred to the Colonial Board , and then a communication from Lord Naas ( accompanied by Resolutions of the G . L , of Ireland ) was read . Lord Naas , who is the Irish representative at the G . L . of England , was unavoidably absentHis letter was addressed to the

GSecre-. . tary , and was dated November 22 , 1856 . The letter was , as nearly as we could catch it , in the following terms : — " Sir , —I regret that I was not fortunate enough to find you at the Freemasons' Hall when I called the other day , as I was desirous of consulting you about the Australian Lodge . I beg you will make the following statement to G . L . on the first occasion which presents itself . Complaints have been preferred against the G . L . of Sydney acting under the G . L . of England , by Lodge , No . 266 ,

holding under the Constitutions of the G . L . of Ireland , for refusing admission into any of the English Lodges of Brethren belonging to the Irish Lodge ; and also for refusing to allow members of English Lodges to visit the Irish Lodge . The subject having been brought under the consideration of the G . L . of Ireland , 1 was requested by that body to place the question before the G . L . of England . While the subject was under the discussion of the Board of General Purposes , that Board availed itself of the presence of the D . P . G . M . of Australia , Bro . Williams , who happened to be iu Dublin on a visit , and from him they understood that he considered the Lodges holding of the G L . of England had a right to refuse the admission of a member of the Irish Lodge—though such Brother might not be

under suspension—into any of their Lodges ; and also thr t the P . G . Lodge had the power to forbid their members from visi ! ng the Irish Lodge . You will , doubtless , observe that the principle involved in this opinion—the principle on which the Lodges under the English Constitution in Sydney appear to have acted—is most important , and deserves the consideration of the G . L . of England . At a meeting of the G . L . of Ireland , held in August last , the law of Masonry , as propounded by Bro . Williams , was discussed and dissented from as being contrary not only to the written rulesbut

, to the spirit of the Order . The principles on which the English P . G . M . in Sydney has acted appeared to the G . L . of Ireland to be untenable , viz ., that because Lodge No . 266 fraternizes with the St . Andrew ' s Lodge—which it clearly appears is a regularly constituted Lodge holding under the G . L . of Scotland—therefore the members of it ( i . e . the Irish Lodge ) are to be refused admission into the English Lodges—because certain members who appear to have been elected in the English Lodge were ballotted for and elected in

the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , which the P . G . M . for Sydney has not thought proper to recognize . Such a course of conduct the G . L . of Ireland considers has a tendency to cast a certain amount of stigma upon the Irish Lodges . " I have the honour to enclose a copy of a communication forwarded by Bro . McPherson , and an extract from the Minutes of the G . L . of Ireland , at their meeting of August 7 . These documents place the matter in the clearest possible light .

" I regret that I was not able to be present at the Q . C . of the G . L . of England in June . "I can assure you that the G . L . of Ireland is most anxious that this subject should be discussed in a Masonic spirit , and that the difficulty should be so adjusted as to restore to the Australian Lodges , whether they are acting under the English , Scotch , or Irish Constitutions , that harmony and mutual good-will which so happily prevail in the Order in the mother country . " I remain , with the greatest respect , & c . & c . ( Signed ) "NAAS , " Irish representative in the G . L . of England . " W . H . White , Esq ., Grand Secretary . "

ENCLOSURES . The first enclosure was a communication dated Sydney , March 1 , 1856 , from the Lodge , No . 266 , above named . It was as follows : — "At the formation of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge ( Scotch ) , No . 358

“The Masonic Observer: 1856-12-01, Page 14” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 24 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mob/issues/mob_01121856/page/14/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
GRAND LODGE OF EMERGENCY, Nov. 19. Article 2
Untitled Article 7
Untitled Article 8
NEW SCHOOL ATLASES. Article 8
Untitled Article 8
Untitled Article 8
Untitled Article 9
Untitled Article 9
Untitled Article 9
Untitled Article 9
Untitled Article 10
Untitled Article 10
Untitled Article 11
QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE. Article 12
Untitled Article 15
Untitled Article 16
"A TUB TO THE WHALE." Article 16
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BILL SYKES AND THE CREEPING CRACKSMAN ON MASONRY IN GENERAL AND G. L. IN PARTICULAR. Article 16
NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 17
Untitled Article 17
Correspondence. Article 17
Untitled Ad 18
PROVINCIAL MESS. Article 18
Untitled Article 18
Untitled Article 18
Untitled Article 18
Page 1

Page 1

2 Articles
Page 2

Page 2

3 Articles
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

2 Articles
Page 8

Page 8

4 Articles
Page 9

Page 9

4 Articles
Page 10

Page 10

3 Articles
Page 11

Page 11

2 Articles
Page 12

Page 12

2 Articles
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

2 Articles
Page 16

Page 16

3 Articles
Page 17

Page 17

4 Articles
Page 18

Page 18

6 Articles
Page 14

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.

Adams ... 67 Andrews ... 77 H . S . Cooper ... 81 C . Buckman 76 Potter ... 73 Prince ... 71 Alexander 60 D . Samuels 75 H . G . Warren 67 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . The G . Secretary then read the Report of the relief afforded by the Board of Benevolence during the months of Sept ., Oct ., and Nov ., which was as follows : — Sept . 24 Brother Crohn in the Chair 4 petitioners were relieved

, , with sums amounting in the aggregate to £ 60 . Oct . 29 , Brother John Hervey in the Chair , 10 petitioners were relieved with sums amounting in the aggregate to £ 117 ; £ 30 was ordered to be given to Brother John McLaren , of No . 264 , and a recommendation to extend that grant was referred to G . L . . Nov . 26 , Brother John Hervey in the Chair , 12 petitioners wore relieved in sums Which amounted in the whole to £ 121 .

THE CASE OF BROTHER MC LAREN . The M . W . the G . M . then put the question that £ 30 be granted to the wife of Brother McLaren , of No . 264 , London , in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Benevolence . . Brother Binckes moved , as an amendment , that the sum be £ 50 instead of £ 30 , and said that he hoped his amendment would meet with the unanimous approval of G . L . The case was a very deserving oneIt had been objected that they had better give £ 30

. now , than , by consenting to this amendment , give £ 50 at a future date ; but , from personal investigation into the case , he had found that such was not the fact . Mrs . McLaren would rather wait and have £ 50 than have £ 30 now . This was one of the most painful cases he had ever known ; here were a mother and 8 children deprived of the support of their natural protector by one of the most awful visitations of Providence which could well be imagined . The father had been subjected to the loss of his reasonand wasin fact

, , , at that moment the helpless inmate of a lunatic asylum . ( Sensation ) . He ( Brother Binckes ) could not find any cause for believing that Brother McLaren had brought this upon himself , in any way , by intemperance , or excesses of any kind . ( Hear , hear , and cheers ) . He had been a subscribing member 24 i years to the Lodge of Stability , and the Master of that Lodge had taken upon himself to see that the money granted should really be applied to the relief of the wife and children , and not be absorbed by the

parochial authorities . The poor woman had been enabled to open a little shop , but was not doing very much , and this grant would enable her to open a better stocked shop in a more eligible locality . He hoped that the amendment would bo agreed to . Brother Potter agreed with all that Brother Binckes had said . This poor woman was moving in as respectable society as many of them were , not long ago . The amendment that £ 50 instead of £ 30 be given was then put by the M . W . the G . M ., and carried unanimously amidst loud applause .

BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES REPORT . This Report , which was read by the G . Secretary , announced the insertion of Mr . Cockney's name on the lease of the Freemasons ' Tavern in lieu of that of Mr . Bellinger , and also that the agreement had been prepared and executed accordingly , that a counterpart had been executed by the tenants and delivered into the custody of the G . Secretary . The Board also reported that , in pursuance of the resolution of the last Q . C . of G . L . referring back to the Board

the subject of the purchase of certain houses adjoining Freemasons ' Hall , by and with the advice and consent of the G . Sup . of Works . The G . Sup . of Works had accordingly inspected the said property and reported it to be worth £ 2 , 250 . That sum had been offered to the owner of the property , subject to the decision of the G . Reg . as to the title deeds , which having been reported satisfactory , the purchase had been completed . The Report next set forth a statement of the receipts and disbursements on account of

G . L . during the present quarter , as reported by the Finance Committee , up to their meeting , Nov . 21 . On account of the Fund of Benevolence , balance in hand Oct . 1 , £ 974 ; subsequent receipts , £ 158 12 s . 2 d . ; making total receipts , £ 1 , 132 12 s . 2 d . Disbursements , £ 152 , leaving a balance on that account of £ 980 12 s . 2 d . On account of the General Purposes' Fund . —Balance , Oct . 1 , £ 2 , 105 17 s . Id . ; since received , £ 534 5 s . ; gross receipts , £ 2 , 640 2 s . Id , ; disbursements to the Boys' Institution , £ 1 , 000 ; to the Annuity Fund , £ 1 , 000 ; to the Widows'Fund , £ 500 ; total disbursements , £ 2 , 501 Is . Gd . ; leaving a balance in hand of £ 139 .

Moneys received for the appropriation of which directions have not yet been given , £ 430 13 s . Id . ; total balance in hand , £ 1 , 556 5 s . Wd In the hands of the G . Treasurer , £ 105 . Dated Freemason ' s Hall , November 25 , 1856 . These Reports were ordered to be received . Letters were announced to have been received in acknowledgment of the grants above named to the Boys' School and the Annuity Fund . HAVE THE W . M . AND WARDENS POWER TO REFUSE ADMISSION

INTO A LODGE ? An appeal from the members of Lodge No . 548 , Sydney , New South Wales , as well as two petitions from the independent G . L . of Canada ( one of which was sent in Nov . 1855 ) , were referred to the Colonial Board , and then a communication from Lord Naas ( accompanied by Resolutions of the G . L , of Ireland ) was read . Lord Naas , who is the Irish representative at the G . L . of England , was unavoidably absentHis letter was addressed to the

GSecre-. . tary , and was dated November 22 , 1856 . The letter was , as nearly as we could catch it , in the following terms : — " Sir , —I regret that I was not fortunate enough to find you at the Freemasons' Hall when I called the other day , as I was desirous of consulting you about the Australian Lodge . I beg you will make the following statement to G . L . on the first occasion which presents itself . Complaints have been preferred against the G . L . of Sydney acting under the G . L . of England , by Lodge , No . 266 ,

holding under the Constitutions of the G . L . of Ireland , for refusing admission into any of the English Lodges of Brethren belonging to the Irish Lodge ; and also for refusing to allow members of English Lodges to visit the Irish Lodge . The subject having been brought under the consideration of the G . L . of Ireland , 1 was requested by that body to place the question before the G . L . of England . While the subject was under the discussion of the Board of General Purposes , that Board availed itself of the presence of the D . P . G . M . of Australia , Bro . Williams , who happened to be iu Dublin on a visit , and from him they understood that he considered the Lodges holding of the G L . of England had a right to refuse the admission of a member of the Irish Lodge—though such Brother might not be

under suspension—into any of their Lodges ; and also thr t the P . G . Lodge had the power to forbid their members from visi ! ng the Irish Lodge . You will , doubtless , observe that the principle involved in this opinion—the principle on which the Lodges under the English Constitution in Sydney appear to have acted—is most important , and deserves the consideration of the G . L . of England . At a meeting of the G . L . of Ireland , held in August last , the law of Masonry , as propounded by Bro . Williams , was discussed and dissented from as being contrary not only to the written rulesbut

, to the spirit of the Order . The principles on which the English P . G . M . in Sydney has acted appeared to the G . L . of Ireland to be untenable , viz ., that because Lodge No . 266 fraternizes with the St . Andrew ' s Lodge—which it clearly appears is a regularly constituted Lodge holding under the G . L . of Scotland—therefore the members of it ( i . e . the Irish Lodge ) are to be refused admission into the English Lodges—because certain members who appear to have been elected in the English Lodge were ballotted for and elected in

the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , which the P . G . M . for Sydney has not thought proper to recognize . Such a course of conduct the G . L . of Ireland considers has a tendency to cast a certain amount of stigma upon the Irish Lodges . " I have the honour to enclose a copy of a communication forwarded by Bro . McPherson , and an extract from the Minutes of the G . L . of Ireland , at their meeting of August 7 . These documents place the matter in the clearest possible light .

" I regret that I was not able to be present at the Q . C . of the G . L . of England in June . "I can assure you that the G . L . of Ireland is most anxious that this subject should be discussed in a Masonic spirit , and that the difficulty should be so adjusted as to restore to the Australian Lodges , whether they are acting under the English , Scotch , or Irish Constitutions , that harmony and mutual good-will which so happily prevail in the Order in the mother country . " I remain , with the greatest respect , & c . & c . ( Signed ) "NAAS , " Irish representative in the G . L . of England . " W . H . White , Esq ., Grand Secretary . "

ENCLOSURES . The first enclosure was a communication dated Sydney , March 1 , 1856 , from the Lodge , No . 266 , above named . It was as follows : — "At the formation of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge ( Scotch ) , No . 358

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 13
  • You're on page14
  • 15
  • 18
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy