Approaching Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent
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APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL THE CRITIC AT FAULT. MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. It is to be regretted that a well-informed journal like our Three weeks hence we shall be on the eve of the first of the worthy contemporary the Canadian Craftsman , which is an year's great Anniversary Festivals—that of- the Royal Masonic admirable exponent of Canadian Masonic op inion , and which in Benevolent Institution—which is appointed to be held at Free- all, or nearly all, matters affecting the current progress of the masons' Tavern on Wednesday, the 25th prox., and at which Craft in the Dominion , may be regarded as a trustworthy, if not Bro. Earl AMHERST, R.W. Provincial Grand Master of Kent, quite an infallible authority, should endanger its high reputation has kindly consented to preside. We do not propose going over by venturing on the somewhat hazardous experiment of criti- the ground we have so often traversed in previous articles. We cising subjects which it evidently does not understand, or about have again and again endeavoured to impress upon our readers which it is assuredly very imperfectly informed. We can the inestimable benefits conferred by this important Charity, appreciate, and even to a certain extent sympathise, with it in and the large amount of money which it is necessary to raise its expressions of regret in its issue for December last " that the annually in order to provide the ways and means for its expen- Grand Lodge of England has declined to recognise the newly- diture. We have many times remarked that £15,000, or there- established Grand Lodge of New Zealand." We can assure our abouts, takes a great deal of raising, and have pointed out that contemporary that had the so-called Grand Lodge of New in order to carry out successfully so serious a duty, it is necessary Zealand been established in the same manner as the Grand not only that the experienced Craftsman should renew his Lodges of South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and labours annual ly, but also that the inexperienced should make Tasmania, the Grand Lod ge of England would not have regarded an early beginning with his, and then—to use the expressive the act as " a revolt " against its authority, neither would it have language of the late President LINCOLN —keep pegging regarded " the loss of direct jurisdiction in that remote colony away. It may be wearisome for us to be continuall y repeating as a piece lost from the cream of English Masonry. But the the same story, and as wearisome for our constituents to be con- Canadian Craftsman must forgive us if we suggest that it is tinual ly listening to it, but donations and subscriptions, albeit talking nonsense when it permits itself to express such state- they are voluntaril y made, do not of themselves flow into an ments as that " the British Grand Lodges are singularl y, or exchequer which sorely needs them , and, therefore, our appeals rather selfishly, blind to the universal welfare of Masonry " ; and those of others engaged in the same task must be frequently " the English Grand Lodge believes itself to be the Masonic reiterated if we desire they should prove effective. hub of the Universe " ; " secure in the knowled ge that England As regards the Festival which is now so close at hand , the would back up their claims, however absurd, lodges in the prospects are to a certain extent encouraging. Bro TERRY has colonies have held aloof from newly-formed Grand Lodges for no succeeded in obtaining the services of about 250 brethren as earthly reason other than ' better terms.' This is what the Stewards for the occasion. The number may be a few more or kickers in New Zealand are after. They want the Grand Lodge a few less than it was at the corresponding date of last year, but offices, in fact the earth , and England is foolish enough to stand it is a goodly number , and there is the likelihood , amounting by them , even if they desire a whitewashed fence and a chromo almost to a certainty, that between now and the 25th prox. it will thrown in." As for the assertion that " the sooner be England , very considerably increased. The Chairman 's Province of Scotland , and Ireland adopt the American princi le of territorial Kent p , which invariabl y acquits itself well, even when there is no jurisdiction the better for Freemasonry and the Colonies " special , we stimulus to exertion , is likely to be stronglyand numerously have no doubt this is the belief of our contemporary, but we represented , while London and the other provinces will no doubt claim for the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland, and Ireland perform their part of the duty they have undertaken with their that they also are entitled to hold opinions on a question which accustomed readiness and generosity. Yet, with all this bright so intimatel y concerns them as the relations of their respective outlook before us, we must bear in mind that £15,000, a year's lodges in the colonies to themselves, and we believe we interest are on a cap ital sum of half a million pounds sterling, requires justified in affirming that the Grand Lodges of the United a big >,^ JJ effort:— to-~ raise-—~_,, and«...^. we may"iij be"i. forgivenluigivcn if11 wevvc haveiictve some Kingdom are not quite so enthusiastic in their love of American aoubts as to a Board of 250 Stewards being quite strong enough Masonic arrangements as are the Americans themselves. This effect * , j o the desired object , without that further hel p which Is indeed , is only natural , nor do we dream for one moment of «ely to come, but which , if it be much longer De postponed , will quarrelling with them because they prefer their own system to comparativel y of little or no avail. Again, Bro. TERRY , in ours. °"e of his speeches at the winter entertainment t to the old folks Some of the earlier of the above assertions of the Canadi an Croy don, referred hopefully to some of the ists promised Stewards' Craftsman may be passed by without notice, but those which which he had heard were well calculated ne to swell more immediatel y concern our private lodges in the colonies, and announcement it will be his duty to make on which represent the Grand Lodge authorities at home as being y aPP°in ted - Yet we must not lose sight of ready to back them up in any absurd course they may see fit to th!e tactt . ' that it will require very many large lists adopt, cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. These statements, C Up S formidabIe a sum as 000. In short indeed show clearl thnough 1 i ° £15, , , y that our contemporary, as we pointed out , the—- prospectsf ^-^i^^^ arein, hopefuluujj ciui ,, we trustLIUS L thatinai thistnis factrace j ter° will not at the beginning of this article, does not understand the subject brethren of enterprise from lending their support either it has taken upon itself to discuss. We presume, however that stewards , or contributors. Their help is still needed, and will the Craftsman is sufficientl conversant with the princi ^ y ples of more or less '""material .IA-IICI. 1 valueYiiu^ accordingaLuuiuing ascts theirLiicu servicesheivices are Masonic law—which in this particular are the same in all Prnf'fn. a or ^ ^ earlier ]ater period during the interval that countries—t o be aware that when a Grand Lodge issues its rem ams.' We again b , therefore, most earnestl y appeal to the warrant for the constitution of a private lodge—which warrant, enerall and S y to support the Committee of Management be it remembered , is issued to brethren who owe it obedience, R rERRY in their and f efforts to raise the necessary supplies, not to those who are under some other Grand Lodge—it does so on remember that if m com - 61 °reof than is required should be forth- the understanding that the lodge so constituted shall obey the laws "6 arC u wards men and widow for aH ^'-^ P J 5° candidates and ordinances of the Supreme Authority, while the new lodge, ^mission to the benefits of this most deserving Institution. in return for the obedience it renders and for so long as it renders it , has the right to expect , and indeed to insist, that the ri ghts and privileges it has become possessed of under its SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER. charter of constitution shall be protected by that Supreme The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday Authority. It ought also to be aware—though it evidentl y is riot next :—¦ —that though the private lod ge may at any time surrender its , The minutes of the last warrant-—we are assuming, of course, that , in so doing, the Quarterl y Convocation to be read for confirmation. members are acting in concert together—and so terminate its allegiance to the present Grand Lodge, it is not in the power of Communication from the M.E. the First Grand Princi pal— the latter to recall its warrant so long as the conditions on which The United Grand Lodge of Eng land having, at its last meeting on the 3rd December , 1890, conferred the rank of Past Grand Master upon Lieutenant- it was granted are observed. Therefore , if Lodge A determines Genera l H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, K.G., Provincial Grand on surrendering its warrant of constitution to the Grand Lodge Master of Sussex , and District Grand Master of Bombay, on the occasion of his which granted it , in order that it may enrol itself under some other return from the East Indies, after comp leting a term of military service there as Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army.