Page 60 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

60 An Account of the

In tendering my resignation, I trust however I may indulge a hope, that the
length of time, I have filled the office, diligently, will be taken into consideration
by Your Royal Highnefs and the Craft, and that the Grand Lodge would grant
me, such an allowance on retirement as would afsist me in the Education and
advancement in life of a young and numerous family.
I shall feel it a duty to give every afsistance in my power, to facilitate Businefs
until final arrangements shall be made for its future conduct.
I have the honor to be
with profound respect,
Most Worshipful Grand Master
Your Royal Highnefs’s
most Obedient and Humble Servant
(Signed) EDW. HARPER.
To His Royal Highnefs
The Duke of Sufsex, K.G.
&c &c &c
The singular punctuation may be due to the copying clerk.
It is gratifying to know that the appeal was not in vain, and that a “retired
allowance” of £100 per annum was granted by the Grand Lodge.
The amount does not sound over-generous, but it must be remembered
that salaried work of this kind was poorly paid a hundred years ago. Bro. White,
Edward Harper’s colleague, carried on the Grand Secretaryship alone at a salary
of £300 a year, assisted by two clerks drawing respectively £150 and £100. He
did not resign till 1857.
Bros. Shirley and da Costa were members of the first Board of General
Purposes, and with Sir Wm. Rawlins were very active members of the Grand
Lodge in the years following the Union. On 4 June 1823 the thanks of the
Grand Lodge, inscribed on vellum, were presented to the R.W. Bro. da Costa,
President of the Board of Finance for the past four years, for his zeal and for “the
perspicacious and satisfactory statement now made of the Financial Concerns of
the Grand Lodge”.