-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 3 of 6 Article PROVINCIAL. Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
these : —1 st . Whatever the improvement should cost , should it be of sueli a nature as to allow of Masonry being kept apart , and distinct from any other purpose ? Second , should the present disgraceful premises he so altered , extended , and improved as to make the Masonic home something worthy of the Craft ? and third , shall the expense not exceed £ 18 , 000 , the sum at present in the hands of the Board of General Purposes ? Of course it ivas requisite they should be guided bprudenceancl a clue
rey , gard for the charities ancl institutions . They should not entirely forget bow far speculative building might be made to answer , or if there was not some way of laying out their money in a profitable investment . He ivould now call on Bro . Stebbing to pontiruie the snliiect from -where tbev Inffc nlV at their hist
discussion . Bro . STEBBIXG said lie had taken great interest . in this subject , one of great financial importance , ancl he had already urged his views on Grancl Lodge . It was his intention to put a notiee of a resolution on the agenda paper , for the next meeting in London to the effect that it was desirable that a not larger sum than £ 18 , 000 should be expended for the improvement of , or addition
to the Grand Lodge Property , that being the amount of the fund in hand for general purposes , and be should arrange Ins motion that the future should be bound by the terms of the resolution , He was quite of opinion thai ; all the plans hitherto submitted , for the alteration or improvement of their property in Great Queen-street , were calculated to very seriously exceed the sum mentioned as being in hand . He clid not care how sure persons might be of successif they speculated with otliDi- funds
, of the Craft , those funds might never he replaced . Each particular department of their funds should be strictly guarded , and used for no purpose whatever but that for which they had been accumulated . He most urgently opposed any proposition that might in the slightest maimer jeopardize their charity funds . Then , if they resolved to borrow money , ifc would be an undignified proceeding , the results uncertain , and likely to involve them in future difficulty . He would go as far as to admit that
£ 18 , 000 might be wisely spent , and their premises thereby vastly improved , hut even ivere it necessary , and he did not know that it ivas , to devote a larger sum in order to secure greater accommodation , they were not justified in borrowing funds . It had
been urged that as they had an excess of income : of £ 2000 or £ 3000 a year , they might spend that for improvement purposes . But the Craft might want the surplus arising at the present time in many ways . There was always the liability of extra ancl unforeseen expenditure , and it was incumbent upon them at all times to secure as large a sum in excess as they could over the amount ordinarily calculated , as the expenditure they would be required to meet . Anyone who ever bad had anything to do
with building , knew well that they were sure to be led to spend more than they first intended , and generally the sum outlaid was twice as much as originally calculated . As he had already said , any little yearly surplus might at any time be swallowed up by unexpected expenses , therefore it would be unwise to touch that . But there were other reasons why he strongly objected to their determining on the expenditure of a large sum of money in this
matter . If , for instance , they were to agree to pull about and alter , ancl attempt to improve the present buildings , they would find that they were rendering their revenue less , and their expenditure considerably more , It was never satisfactory to patch up old buildings . He saw that the brethren had ground plans
of the Masoiuc property "before them . He directed their attention to that portion of the property on the west end ; they would see some of it described as . " vacant space . " There were four general divisions of main area , the hotel , temple and offices , hall , and tavern , and the vacant space so called , partly now occupied by some ruinous tenements which , if not quickly pulled down , ivould fall down ; ancl then there were two private houses fronting to Queen-street . In his opinionthe most reasonable
, thing they could do would be to build all the extra accommodation they wanted in the vacant space alluded to , and that iu front of it . They possessed £ 18 , 000 and a piece of land 4 Gft . by 200 ft ., on which there was certainly room to build everything they could possibly require . Though , with a greater sum they might build a truly palatial erection , they had not a greater sumnor did they want a larger erection . If this were clone
, , which he recommended , there would he no occasion for the present income arising from the hall and tavern to be touched , and the tavern could be benefited by having the additional accommodation of the present offices to be given up , and use the Temple for large lodges and chapters , and they would thus be spared the necessity of pulling about old premises and check-
Provincial.
ing the business of tbe tavern . He was very much disposed to oppose any speculative outlay whatever ; he would leave nothing , to speculation . They knew that they now had an income or rent of £ 1000 per annum , and they should still make sure of that untouched and unaffected ; goon with that , ancl , as he suggested , build what they wanted besides on the vacant space of ground . If hereafter larger premises should be necessary , in of increased numbers and greater Masonic business
consequence , they could then purchase more of the premises bounding their present property on the west , ancl put the whole on such an improved footing as the importance of the Masonic Craft and means hereafter at disposal , might justify . He objected to entering into an expenditure the end of which no man could foresee . If the Craft were going to start a ' new property altogether ^ they would perhaps be warranted in going to work iu a different
way ; they might enter upon a general appeal for help to the whole of the Craft , and efforts mig ht then be made to raise a place well worthy of the importance of Freemasonry , like as they found abroad in other countries , the most stately edifices marked the assembling places of tbe Masonic Craft . But they were not in that position ; they were not required , to make a commencement in providing building accommodation . They
already had something to go on ivith , but which , ifc ivas thought , required an extension . Yet he must confess that he did . not object to grandeur as grandeur alone . If the JIasonie body would decide on building for themselves a stately edifice in London , if the brethren wished it , then let them put their hands in their pockets and pay for it . A general appeal would not bo made in vain . They miht all individually put their
g shoulders to the wheel , and do their utmost . For himself , though but of comparatively small means , he could not refuse such an application . He should he exceedingly happy over a period of time to contribute his £ 150 , or it mig ht , be more , for a commensurate object . ( Hear . ) The idea must be carried out in that way alone , if it was desired to be carried out at all . Thoy must all make some sacrifice to mark
their personal interest in the welfare of Masonry . He had no objection to the raising of the necessary funds in . this manner , and it would be a good plan to appoint a committee , in order to see ivhat mig ht he done . He hacl an idea that some £ 50 , 000
might be raised in the way he hinted , and that too in the course of a very short period . If one hundred men only gave £ 500 each or 200 half that sum , that amount would be immediately raised ; ancl it must be recollected that in the Craft there were a great many of the highest standing and the greatest means , and who could easily do this . But , afc any rate , don't let them touch the funds belonging to their charities , or begin to borrow . ( Hear . ) The W . M . had just now alluded to some other
money brethren , who had not made their appearance at the meeting . It must be remembered that their annual provincial meeting was coining on very shortly ( the Sth of July , afc Havant ) , and perhaps many brethren chose rather to put off until then the expression of their opinions , as most likely the subject would be brought on for discussion tit that assembly , and this might account for there not being a more numerous response to the
W . M . 's invitation to attend the lodge that evening . Ho should be exceedingly glad , if it was in ins power , to represent the matter before the Board of General Purposes . The recent Grand Lodge had gone rather wide of the subject , ancl it stood postponed to the meeting in September , when the proposition ivould he made for appointing a special committee to consider it . He hoped the Craft generally would be induced to adhere strictly
to this , not to enter upon any speculative undertaking whatever , nor to spend any money accumulated for charitable purposes ; and not to pull about tiie old building . If , then , they resolved to have a stately edifice of their own , let the suggested appeal be made to the united Craft to come forward liberally with assistance , ancl in case they clid not so come forward liberally , nothing more had better be said on the matter than merely
meeting absolute necessities with the monies actually in hand . BI-O . LA CROIX , P . M ., had been at a loss to understand what occasion there was of hurrying over the matter of the building improvement . Bro . STEBBIXG : —The fact is , that of late years there has been a growing disposition that our lodges should not meet in taverns . Efforts had been made in the provincies to buildancl there was
, a general tone pervading the Craft tending to add to the temperateness , the solemnity , ancl the dignity of their assemblies . A bad example seemed to be at the head of the Craft , while Grand Lodge itself met in a place that was in fact a tavern . Masonic lodges assembling in such places tended to set
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
these : —1 st . Whatever the improvement should cost , should it be of sueli a nature as to allow of Masonry being kept apart , and distinct from any other purpose ? Second , should the present disgraceful premises he so altered , extended , and improved as to make the Masonic home something worthy of the Craft ? and third , shall the expense not exceed £ 18 , 000 , the sum at present in the hands of the Board of General Purposes ? Of course it ivas requisite they should be guided bprudenceancl a clue
rey , gard for the charities ancl institutions . They should not entirely forget bow far speculative building might be made to answer , or if there was not some way of laying out their money in a profitable investment . He ivould now call on Bro . Stebbing to pontiruie the snliiect from -where tbev Inffc nlV at their hist
discussion . Bro . STEBBIXG said lie had taken great interest . in this subject , one of great financial importance , ancl he had already urged his views on Grancl Lodge . It was his intention to put a notiee of a resolution on the agenda paper , for the next meeting in London to the effect that it was desirable that a not larger sum than £ 18 , 000 should be expended for the improvement of , or addition
to the Grand Lodge Property , that being the amount of the fund in hand for general purposes , and be should arrange Ins motion that the future should be bound by the terms of the resolution , He was quite of opinion thai ; all the plans hitherto submitted , for the alteration or improvement of their property in Great Queen-street , were calculated to very seriously exceed the sum mentioned as being in hand . He clid not care how sure persons might be of successif they speculated with otliDi- funds
, of the Craft , those funds might never he replaced . Each particular department of their funds should be strictly guarded , and used for no purpose whatever but that for which they had been accumulated . He most urgently opposed any proposition that might in the slightest maimer jeopardize their charity funds . Then , if they resolved to borrow money , ifc would be an undignified proceeding , the results uncertain , and likely to involve them in future difficulty . He would go as far as to admit that
£ 18 , 000 might be wisely spent , and their premises thereby vastly improved , hut even ivere it necessary , and he did not know that it ivas , to devote a larger sum in order to secure greater accommodation , they were not justified in borrowing funds . It had
been urged that as they had an excess of income : of £ 2000 or £ 3000 a year , they might spend that for improvement purposes . But the Craft might want the surplus arising at the present time in many ways . There was always the liability of extra ancl unforeseen expenditure , and it was incumbent upon them at all times to secure as large a sum in excess as they could over the amount ordinarily calculated , as the expenditure they would be required to meet . Anyone who ever bad had anything to do
with building , knew well that they were sure to be led to spend more than they first intended , and generally the sum outlaid was twice as much as originally calculated . As he had already said , any little yearly surplus might at any time be swallowed up by unexpected expenses , therefore it would be unwise to touch that . But there were other reasons why he strongly objected to their determining on the expenditure of a large sum of money in this
matter . If , for instance , they were to agree to pull about and alter , ancl attempt to improve the present buildings , they would find that they were rendering their revenue less , and their expenditure considerably more , It was never satisfactory to patch up old buildings . He saw that the brethren had ground plans
of the Masoiuc property "before them . He directed their attention to that portion of the property on the west end ; they would see some of it described as . " vacant space . " There were four general divisions of main area , the hotel , temple and offices , hall , and tavern , and the vacant space so called , partly now occupied by some ruinous tenements which , if not quickly pulled down , ivould fall down ; ancl then there were two private houses fronting to Queen-street . In his opinionthe most reasonable
, thing they could do would be to build all the extra accommodation they wanted in the vacant space alluded to , and that iu front of it . They possessed £ 18 , 000 and a piece of land 4 Gft . by 200 ft ., on which there was certainly room to build everything they could possibly require . Though , with a greater sum they might build a truly palatial erection , they had not a greater sumnor did they want a larger erection . If this were clone
, , which he recommended , there would he no occasion for the present income arising from the hall and tavern to be touched , and the tavern could be benefited by having the additional accommodation of the present offices to be given up , and use the Temple for large lodges and chapters , and they would thus be spared the necessity of pulling about old premises and check-
Provincial.
ing the business of tbe tavern . He was very much disposed to oppose any speculative outlay whatever ; he would leave nothing , to speculation . They knew that they now had an income or rent of £ 1000 per annum , and they should still make sure of that untouched and unaffected ; goon with that , ancl , as he suggested , build what they wanted besides on the vacant space of ground . If hereafter larger premises should be necessary , in of increased numbers and greater Masonic business
consequence , they could then purchase more of the premises bounding their present property on the west , ancl put the whole on such an improved footing as the importance of the Masonic Craft and means hereafter at disposal , might justify . He objected to entering into an expenditure the end of which no man could foresee . If the Craft were going to start a ' new property altogether ^ they would perhaps be warranted in going to work iu a different
way ; they might enter upon a general appeal for help to the whole of the Craft , and efforts mig ht then be made to raise a place well worthy of the importance of Freemasonry , like as they found abroad in other countries , the most stately edifices marked the assembling places of tbe Masonic Craft . But they were not in that position ; they were not required , to make a commencement in providing building accommodation . They
already had something to go on ivith , but which , ifc ivas thought , required an extension . Yet he must confess that he did . not object to grandeur as grandeur alone . If the JIasonie body would decide on building for themselves a stately edifice in London , if the brethren wished it , then let them put their hands in their pockets and pay for it . A general appeal would not bo made in vain . They miht all individually put their
g shoulders to the wheel , and do their utmost . For himself , though but of comparatively small means , he could not refuse such an application . He should he exceedingly happy over a period of time to contribute his £ 150 , or it mig ht , be more , for a commensurate object . ( Hear . ) The idea must be carried out in that way alone , if it was desired to be carried out at all . Thoy must all make some sacrifice to mark
their personal interest in the welfare of Masonry . He had no objection to the raising of the necessary funds in . this manner , and it would be a good plan to appoint a committee , in order to see ivhat mig ht he done . He hacl an idea that some £ 50 , 000
might be raised in the way he hinted , and that too in the course of a very short period . If one hundred men only gave £ 500 each or 200 half that sum , that amount would be immediately raised ; ancl it must be recollected that in the Craft there were a great many of the highest standing and the greatest means , and who could easily do this . But , afc any rate , don't let them touch the funds belonging to their charities , or begin to borrow . ( Hear . ) The W . M . had just now alluded to some other
money brethren , who had not made their appearance at the meeting . It must be remembered that their annual provincial meeting was coining on very shortly ( the Sth of July , afc Havant ) , and perhaps many brethren chose rather to put off until then the expression of their opinions , as most likely the subject would be brought on for discussion tit that assembly , and this might account for there not being a more numerous response to the
W . M . 's invitation to attend the lodge that evening . Ho should be exceedingly glad , if it was in ins power , to represent the matter before the Board of General Purposes . The recent Grand Lodge had gone rather wide of the subject , ancl it stood postponed to the meeting in September , when the proposition ivould he made for appointing a special committee to consider it . He hoped the Craft generally would be induced to adhere strictly
to this , not to enter upon any speculative undertaking whatever , nor to spend any money accumulated for charitable purposes ; and not to pull about tiie old building . If , then , they resolved to have a stately edifice of their own , let the suggested appeal be made to the united Craft to come forward liberally with assistance , ancl in case they clid not so come forward liberally , nothing more had better be said on the matter than merely
meeting absolute necessities with the monies actually in hand . BI-O . LA CROIX , P . M ., had been at a loss to understand what occasion there was of hurrying over the matter of the building improvement . Bro . STEBBIXG : —The fact is , that of late years there has been a growing disposition that our lodges should not meet in taverns . Efforts had been made in the provincies to buildancl there was
, a general tone pervading the Craft tending to add to the temperateness , the solemnity , ancl the dignity of their assemblies . A bad example seemed to be at the head of the Craft , while Grand Lodge itself met in a place that was in fact a tavern . Masonic lodges assembling in such places tended to set