S8 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM
Proceedings of Meetings of the Grand Lodge.
Appendix, No.
2.
brotherhood, by a member in the society who had already been most liberally relieved by
the deputy grand master of England and Wales, through the medium of the organ of the institution.
For the guidance of the benevolent, whom the deputy grand secretary feels it to be his duty to protect, from a renewal of applications so disreputable and so unorangehlce he hopes and trusts they will withhold their bounty in future, until they shall have ascer¬ tained the true merits" of the applicant, and to what extent he may have previously been relieved.
Some few of the provincial brethren having declined to pay for their annual certificates the deputy grand secretary takes this mode of informing them, that unless they shall imme¬ diately comply with the regulations of the society, he will be under the necessity of reporting them at the ensuing grand lodge with a view to their expulsion.
With honest pride and exultation the deputy grand secretary has the honour to announce that his late, as well as his former tour, was attended with the strongest, the most unfeio-ned marks of gratification in all quarters, and from all ranks of the brotherhood.
In the absence of the most Noble the Duke of Gordon, D.
G.
M.
of Scotland, the deputy grand secretary did not consider it indispensable to detail some matters of interest, which will be brought forward with more effect when his Grace shall be present.
As was observed in the last circular, one of the most conclusive tests as to the utility of his visitations may be gathered from the simple fact, that not a member from the country has felt the necessity of repairing to London since, (producing to them a saving of no less trouble than inconvenience) for the purpose of attending the two last grand lodges.
A sensible reduction in the pro¬ vincial correspondence has moreover been effected to a consequent saving of a heavy expense in the postage of letters.
In the revision of the rules and ordinances of the society, it will be submitted to the grand lodge, that as the anniversary meeting of the Orange Institution is now held on the 4th of June, the birth-day of our late venerated monarch George III.,
it is expedient that the annual election of officers take place on that day, throughout the kingdom, and that they enter on the execution of their duties on the 1 st day of July next following.
Proxies.
Those brethren who, having seats in the grand lodge, may occasionally find it necessary to supply their own absence by appointing a proxy, should bear in mind that no individual can, of right, take his seat as a proxy in the grand lodge, but such as may have the privi¬ lege of admission there in his own person; other individuals, so appointed, can only be admitted for the purpose of representing their principals in, and attending to, the special business on which they are deputed; at the conclusion of which they must withdraw, except by the permission of the grand lodge.
This notice formerly given is now repeated, for the purpose of preventing disappointment in future nominations.
Visitors properly introduced and honorary members, are, of course, exceptions to this rule.
Cannon-row, Westminster.
W.
Blennerhassett Fairman, D.
G.
S.
&c.
N.
B.—The
members of the grand committee are hereby warned, that none can be admitted, at the ensuing grand lodge, but such as have qualified by taking up their certifi¬ cates and clearing off all arrears.
In the body of the certificates must be inserted the name or the number of the lodge in which they stand enrolled, from whose master they ought to obtain a receipt for their dues.
Such gentlemen as shall fail to comply with the order now issued will be reported to the next grand lodge for removal.
To the district masters and the masters of warrants these observations are equally applicable.
s
For the simplification of the accounts, and with a view to a half-yearly auditship, it is desirable that all payments should be made at fixed periods, viz.
on or before the 30th of June and 31st of December.
The duties of the deputy grand secretary are so irksome and onerous (from difficulties thrown gratuitously in his way) as to compel him to notify, that his labours will not admit of the additional toils imposed, by applications for patronage and places, which are pouring in upon him daily.
To so oppressive an extent have such importunities been carried, as to be sufficient to engross the whole attention of any one individual to read (far less to inves¬ tigate the merits of) memorials and petitions, with the prayers of which neither the illus¬ trious grand master of the empire, nor the deputy grand master, has the power of complying.
For the relief of those personages, whose time is too valuable and important to be sacrificed or trespassed on, (as likewise for his own indeed) the deputy grand secretary has to remind the brotherhood, that it never was intended the institution should be rendered thus subservient to the personal views and private ends of the interested.
Instead of two hours daily, as prescribed for his attendance at the office, every hour in the four-and-twenty is not unfrequently devoted to the affairs of the society, to' the total neglect of his own concerns, to the irreparable injury of his health, which has been sadly impaired by his end¬ less fatigues, and an utter deprivation of the most ordinary comforts and recreations of life.
The deputy grand secretary has therefore to desire, that the brotherhood will in future be more considerate and less unreasonable, than to communicate with him on matters not connected with his office, to entertain which is no part of his duty, had he even the leisure to do so, and this he affirms most solemnly he has not!!
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