The losses of the Masonic Fraternity.--Great Destruction of Masonic
Regalia and Paraphernalia.--Organization of the General Masonic
Board of Relief.--Amount received in Aid of the Suffering Brethren.
The losses of the Masonic fraternity have been computed, and found to be
much greater than was at first supposed. The private lodges saved
nothing, and all their warrants, banners, jewels, clothing, and other
paraphernalia were lost. Some of them even did not rescue their seals;
and Hibernia, Union Lodge of Portland, and New Brunswick Lodge, lost
their records. The Union Lodge of Portland was a heavy loser. Her loss
amounts to $1,250; Albion, No. 1, $850; St. John's, No. 2, about $600;
Leinster, No. 9, and New Brunswick, No. 22, foot up to $750 each; and
Hibernia, No. 3, to $850.
The Chapters have also fared badly. Carleton Royal Arch Chapter, formed
in 1802, lost the seal and $1,150 worth of property; while New Brunswick
Chapter meets with a loss of $1,475.
There were two Encampments which met in Masonic Hall. St. John
Encampment not only lost $2,300 worth of property, which included the
rich regalia of the order, the jewels, banners, charters, and general
paraphernalia, but also the seal of the Encampment, and the regalia in
the armory, which was owned by the private members. This latter
consisted for the most part, of the chapeaux, swords, belts, gauntlets,
baldrics, aprons, etc., usually worn by the Sir Knights when on parade
and other duty. Hardly a member of the organization saved his masonic
clothing. The regalia of this body was especially gorgeous in character,
and no better dressed organization, before the fire, existed anywhere.
The Union De Molay Encampment experienced the same loss of general
wardrobe and appliances. Their loss reaches upwards of two thousand
dollars. The bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Rite lost everything but
the records. The Royal Order of Scotland--a very select body,--saved
their records only; the entire paraphernalia and regalia were lost. All
the furniture and furnishings, the organ, etc., belonging to the General
Hall Committee of the body, with all the paintings, photographs, and
engravings, were destroyed with the rest.
Only the regalia and records, and full register of members belonging to
the Grand Lodge were saved. The magnificent library of over four hundred
volumes, many of them rare and scarce, and the most complete thing of
the kind in the Dominion, was burned. In the work of collecting these
books, the Grand Secretary, W. F. Bunting, Esq., spent many years; and
the destruction of the noble volumes is a serious and irreparable loss
to Freemasonry; many of the books destroyed can never be replaced.
Besides this, a good many were of incalculable value, on account of
certain associations connected with them, and each one had a little
history of its own. Some of them were presentation volumes, others again
were out of print, and not a few were high-priced modern text-books,
especially valuable to the masonic student. All the blank forms and
certificates, fyles of documents and books of constitutions, and all
copies of printed proceedings were swept away in the common ruin. Grand
Lodge has suffered severely, and her total loss above insurance cannot
be less than one thousand dollars; while the loss she has met with which
money cannot replace is enormous. Even Carleton Union Lodge, which met
on the other side of the harbour, did not escape. Her beautiful banners,
which she had lent St. John Encampment at the time of the late ball,
were in the lodge room when the fire was sweeping all before it, and
they were consequently burned.
The walls of the Lodge-room were always tastefully decorated with well
executed engravings on Masonic subjects. These all perished, as well as
the handsome auto-type of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales in full Masonic
regalia, which was presented to the craft last year, by Thomas Furlong,
Esq., and which was greatly admired. An oil painting of P. G. M.
Balloch, by Holman, in full Masonic clothing, which hung near the
Master's Chair, and a fine picture in oil of "The Ascension," by Dr. T.
A. D. Forster, formerly of St. John, were burned along with everything
else. Indeed the fraternity will find it impossible to replace a tithe
of the useful and ornamental things with which it was surrounded. The
order in this city was well equipped, and amply provided with
everything.
Notwithstanding, however, that they had suffered so largely themselves,
publicly and privately, as individuals and as masons, the leading
members of the fraternity at once organized a board of relief and
proceeded to care for the wants of the brethren who had met with
reverses. The general masonic board of relief is a special organization
which grew out of the present calamity, and is separate and distinct
from the regular or ordinary relief board of the city. It is composed of
city members of the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge, and
the presiding officers of all the Masonic bodies of the city. Grand
Master R. T. Clinch is Chairman, Grand Treasurer Jas McNichol, Jr., is
Treasurer, and Grand Secretary William F. Bunting is Secretary of the
board. R. W. Bro. Edwin J. Wetmore is clerk, and has charge of the
office and attends daily from three to five o'clock in the afternoon, to
receive applications from brethren in distress. The board meets every
day, in the office rented for the purpose, from four to five o'clock to
consider applications and grant such relief as they deem advisable. In
the administration of the fund at their disposal the board exercises
great discretion and discrimination. Not only are brethren of the craft
helped, but the hearts of their widows and orphans are made glad. Often
the board does not wait for a distressed brother to make application for
relief, but other means are taken to find out his necessities and aid is
sent to him whenever this can be ascertained. All benefits are granted
in money, and range from sums of twenty to fifty dollars, payable by
check signed always by the treasurer, and one other officer of the
board. As soon as money is received it is deposited in the Bank of
British North America, in the names of the Chairman, Treasurer and
Secretary. The system works admirably and already a great amount of
good, in really necessitous cases, has been done. The gentlemen at the
head of the board are men of sterling character and reputation, and any
funds placed in their hands are judiciously and properly disbursed.
Every provision is being made for the coming winter months, when it is
expected that sore distress will prevail in the city, and with this in
view the board feel the necessity of having a good fund at their
disposal to meet the wants of worthy but unfortunate members of the
fraternity. Thus far the craft abroad have responded to the needs of the
suffering brethren quite liberally. Up to late date these sums have been
received:
From Craft in Chicago, Ill. $930 00
" Grand Lodge of Canada 1,000 00
" " " Illinois 237 75
" Craft in Charlottetown, P. E. I. 300 00
" " Newfoundland 336 44
" Masonic Relief Board, Memphis, Tenn. 94 75
" St. Andrew's Lodge, Bangor, Me. 95 00
" St. John's Lodge, Bathurst, N. B. 50 00
" Star in the East Lodge, Oldtown, Me. 66 50
" Alexandria Lodge, St. Mary's, York Co., N. B. 20 00