MAGrandCharity1774

From MasonicGenealogy
Jump to: navigation, search

THE GRAND CHARITY OF GRAND LODGE, 1774

From Proceedings, Page I-211:

dated 01/28/1774

The Worshipful Masters, Treasurers, Wardens and Officers of each Lodge in Boston, with many of the Brethren of the Fraternity; they having been all summonsed on special Occasion.

INTRODUCTION

The Right Worshipful Grand Master informed the Lodge the necessity we were under to form a well regulated plan, that our Brethren in distress may always find Relief by applying to this Lodge; for which purpose he proposed, and recommended, that Monies be raised and made into an aggregate Fund, for the Relief of such regular Brethren, their Widows, and Orphans, who, by the Providence of the Almighty Architect may be reduced to low Circumstances and need assistance; That he had drawn his designs for the Work, and doubted not of its being finished in such a masterly manner, as to last while Charity shall be a Virtue.

The beautiful fabrick of Masonry is Benevolence! The Pillars which have been and ever will be its support, are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth; The design being examined, the Lodge saw from it a prospect of lasting Honor, and Emolument, therefore they chose the five Brethren following, to wit, R. W. Benjamin Church, W. Samuel Barrett Esqr R. W. Samuel Fitch, Esqr R. W. Thomas Aylwin, Esqr and R. W. Abraham Savage, to be a Committee, to prepare the work in such manner as might answer the desired purposes, and to make report to the Grand Lodge, which Adjourned to Friday the 11th February to receive the same.

The said Committee having drawn up the following Rules, and Regulations, they beg leave to Report, and submit the same to this Right Worshipful Lodge.

Article 1st.

A Book shall be opened in this Rt. Worshipful Grand Lodge for all voluntary Donations to this Fund of Charity, and kept open at every Meeting, (Feast Days not excepted), and as many Masons do attend the two Feasts, who are not Members of any particular Lodge, The R4 Worshipful Grand Master, or in his absence The Rt. Worshipful Deputy Grand Master will, on every Feast Day, after he has returned Thanks, appoint two Brethren to go to such, requesting their Donations: a Subscription shall also be opened in this Lodge for the R4 Worshipful Grand Officers to sign such Sums as they choose to pay to this Charity Quarterly.

Article 2d.

That a Subscription Book shall be opened in every Lodge under this Jurisdiction, that each Brother may Subscribe what Sum he chooses to pay Quarterly; the first payment to be made at subscribing, and so to continue paying during pleasure, one quarter in Advance. And inasmuch As many Brethren may be absent at the time of Quarterly Payments, 'tis expected they will pay their Arrears the next Lodge Night; and 'tis presumed the Hearts of many will be so dilated with this general and lasting plan for Charity, as to make some handsome Donations to set it forward: such Donations shall always be entered in a place distinct from Quarterly Subscriptions.

Article 3d.

The Treasurer of each Lodge shall send to the Rt. Worshipful Grand Secretary Quarterly, or as soon after as may be convenient, the Money so raised by Donations, or by Subscriptions, with a List of the Donor's Names, and the Sums given by each; also another List of the Subscribers, and the Sums paid by each; that the Money may be placed at Interest, and the Names and Sums of each may be Recorded in the Grand Lodge Books.

Article 4th.

No part of the aggregate Stock shall be diminished on any account whatever; but all Grants and Payments of Charity shall be made from the Interest Money only. This Article shall forever be Inviolable.

Article 5th.

The Rt. Worshipful Grand Master, R4 Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens, and Grand Treasurer, for the time being, together with all Masters of Regular Lodges under this Jurisdiction, shall be the Grand Committee of Charity; The Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master in absence of the Rt. Worshipful Grand Master, will always take his place and power; and all Masters of Lodges who do not reside in Boston may appoint their Proxies. When the Rt. Worshipful Grand Officers and three Masters of Lodges, or their Proxies are present, the majority of Votes shall be final: Five of the foregoing Grand Committee of Charity shall be a Quoram, to act in all cases of emergency; but their determinations must be unanimous. They have power to approve or otherways of such persons who want to borrow Money, and also of their Sureties; They may determine what part of Interest Money shall lay unaggregating for objects of Charity, examine Petitions, and grant Relief by Warrant under their Hands to the Grand Treasurer, and audit his Accounts, which they must do within a Month of the Election for the next Treasurer.

Article 6th.

A Grand Treasurer, and Sub-Grand Treasurer, shall be annually chosen at the Quarterly Communication in January, who must be Brethren of good worldly Substance, nominated by the Rt. Worshipful Grand Master, and Elected by Vote of two thirds of the Grand Lodge present. The Grand Treasurers' Accounts shall be presented to the Grand Committee of Charity, to be Audited one Month before the next Election. He shall keep a fair Journal of entrys of the Monies he receives, and from whom received; of what Monies are placed at Interest, and paid in Charity, also such other things as are expressed in the 10th Article. No payments must be made but by Warrant signed by a Quoram of the aforesaid Grand Committee of Charity, nor any Monies paid contrary to the 4th Article.

Article 7th.

A Grand Secretary shall be annually appointed by the Rt. Worshipful Grand Master at the Quarterly Communication in January, who shall attend each Meeting of the aforesaid Grand Committee of Charity, and keep their Votes, and a fair Journal of Entrys of all Monies received; by whom the same was subscribed, whether raised by Donation, Collected, or received for Interest; and of what Sums are placed at Interest; and to whom lent, or paid out in Charity ; and also every other matter that need be on Record; He shall transmit to each Lodge annually the state of this Fund of Charity, (as is done by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge in England) soon after the Feast of St. John the Evangelist; and in case of the Death or Inability of either the Grand Treasurer, Sub-Grand Treasurer, or Grand Secretary, the Survivor or able one shall Summon the Grand Lodge to choose another.

Article 8th.

Each Donor, or Subscriber, his Widow, or Orphans, shall have a Right to all the Monies he may give or subscribe and pay, if at any {time} he or they are reduced to indigent Circumstances, and not otherways; The prayers of such shall always be Granted in preference to the Petitions of Non-Subscribers; nevertheless both are subject to the 4th Article.

Article 9th.

For all Monies put out to Interest belonging to this Fund, the Borrower shall give his Note of Hand hereafter described, payable to the Grand Treasurer and Sub-Grand Treasurer, with two good Sureties jointly and severally in presence of two Witnesses, and neither the Borrower or Sureties to be Masons, and neither the Borrower or Sureties shall be allowed to have more than the Sum of £100, lawful Money, of the Money belonging to this Fund, in either or all of their Hands at one and the same time; The Grand Treasurer shall also give Receipts to the Grand Secretary for what Monies and Notes he receives at coming into Office, and for all Cash and every Note he receives during his being in Office, in the forms hereafter described. No Note shall remain unpaid longer than two Months after it becomes due, without being Sued for, unless cause be shewn to the Quoram of the Grand Committee, to their Approbation.

Article 10th.

All Relief must be applyed for by Petition to the Rt. Worshipful Grand Lodge, under Cover, directed to the Grand Secretary, who shall wait on the Rt. Worshipful Grand Master, to know his Judgment and receive directions, either to call the Grand Committee together, or let the Petition lay untill the next Quarterly Communication.

Petitions from persons who belong to Lodges, out of Boston, must always be accompanied with Certificates thereon, signed by the Master and both the Wardens of the Lodge they belonged to, or have frequently visited; that they know the petitioners to be Regular Masons, and fit Objects of this Charity, and that the Allegations in the Petitions are true, adding whether they were Subscribers to this Fund or not, and in what Lodges.

The Widows or Orphans of such Brethren, to entitle them to this Charity, must have Certificates in manner aforesaid, respecting the deceased, setting forth that the Petitioners are the Widows and Orphans of such deceased Brethren, and are proper Objects of Charity; those who are Resident in Boston shall petition in like manner; but in place of a written Certificate, they must have three living Vouchers of good Credit to the truth of what they alledge, who will attend the Grand Committee, and answer such Questions as may be asked ; each one will be relieved as the finances will permit, and the exigencys of their Affairs require, due deference being always had to the 3d and 4th Articles.

Article 11th.

That such a Number of these Proceedings, and Rules, may be printed, as the R4 Worshipful Grand Lodge shall judge meet; that each Lodge under this Jurisdiction may be furnished with them, accompanied with circular Letters, signed by the R4 Worshipful Grand Master, strongly recommending the plan, and its necessity, and warmly soliciting their Subscriptions, and Payments to their respective Treasurers.

Article 12th.

None of the foregoing Articles have any connection with, or lay any restraint on Charitable Acts, which any Lodge may choose to make, or on their particular Funds of Charity. Lastly. These Rules, Regulations, and Proceedings, shall be Inserted at length, at the beginning of every Subscription Book, to be opened in each Lodge, and immediately after shall be added the following form of a Subscription for every Brother who shall think proper to Sign : Vizt.

We, whose Names are hereunto subscribed, have perused the foregoing Rules, Regulations, and Proceedings, which we respectively approve of, and agree to; and accordingly hereby severally promise to pay Quarterly the several Sums, to our respective Names annexed, to the Treasurer of this Lodge, in manner agreeable to, and for the charitable Uses and Purposes in said Rules and Regulations mentioned and prescribed.

FORMS

Form of a Note to be given by a Borrower of Money from this Fund:

BOSTON, 17 . . .

For Value received this Day in Cash, we promise jointly and severally to pay Messrs J. G. and A. S. or order, in twelve Months after Date, _____ Pounds, lawful Money, with lawful Interest from this Date until paid.

A. B.
C. D.
E. F.

Test. G. H.
J. K.

Form of the Grand Secretary's Letter to the Grand Treasurer:

BOSTON, 17 . . .

To Mr.

Sir:

I am directed by the Grand Committee of Charity to inform you, that they esteem A. B. a proper Person to borrow one hundred Pounds of the aggregate Fund for Charity; and they approve of C. D. and E. F. as proper Security's for him, therefore you will please to loan him that Sum in due form, taking those two for his Sureties.

I am &c.

Form of a Receipt which the Grand Treasurer shall give the Grand Secretary for each Note he has:

BOSTON, 17 . . .

To Mr. T. B., Grand Secretary.

Sir:

I have in consequence of your Letter loaned A. B. _____ Pounds, lawful Money, of the Charitable Fund of which I am Treasurer, and have his Note of Hand, payable to me and A. S. jointly, dated this Day, in due form, Signed also by his two sureties C. D. and E.F. which you say are approved of.

Yours, &c.

J . G.

Form of a Receipt which the new Grand Treasurer shall give the new Grand Secretary:

BOSTON, 17 . . .

To Mr Gr : Secy.

Sir,

I have received of J. G. late Grand Treasurer, the Capital of the Grand Fund of Charity, which is in Cash Pounds, lawful Money; and a Note of Hand Signed by A. B. and others, for ____ Pounds, like Money, bearing Interest, which I promise for myself, my Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, shall be delivered to A. S. Sub-Grand Treasurer, or my Successor in Office, on demand.

Yours, &c.

Form of a Warrant to the Grand Treasurer:

BOSTON, 17 . . .

To Mr J. G. L.

Sir,

Pay the Bearer Pounds, lawful Money, out of the Free Masons Interest Money you now have unaggregate. If you have not so much, pay what you have, and write it off on the back of this Warrant, and inform the Bearer when you suppose you shall have enough to pay the remainder; it is for Brother A. B. who is in want, and has been a Subscriber (or who is in want, and has not been a subscriber).

We are, Your Affectionate Brethren & huml. Servts.

L., M., N., O., P.
A Quoram of the Grand Committee of Charity.