The story line tells of the purchase of Grove House in 1926, to serve as an orphanage because the other orphanage ‘Aldridge’ in Walsall had reached its capacity and could not cope with the growing number of children needing our services, plus the fact that the schools in Walsall could no longer accomodate the children we sent there. It tells of the cost and how the funds were raised to pay for it, schemes to pay for Grove House were being operated all over the country, the most successful by far being the sale of tickets purporting to be for a yard of ground for one shilling. Thirty thousand square yards had been “sold” plus 908 donors had paid one guinea and received the Grove House jewel.
Bro. Mervyn Payne in his book “The Origin and Development of the R.A.O.B.” recalls Grove House Estate was bought to the notice of Grand Lodge in October 1925 and it received such a build up that the delegates were induced, with litle opposition, to authorise negotiations with the owners. The people appointed for this purpose being the Grand Secretary, Bro. Tom Kirby, and the Secretary of Aldridge Bro. Leonard I. Aulton.
The opposition became more pointed and vocal at the January 1926 meeting when the negotiators admitted that they had construed “negotiate” to mean that they, the delegates, considered the premises necessary and their representatives could make an offer for it.
These are the actual words of the Grand Secretary Bro. Billy Rose, “the resolution of the last Grand Lodge instructed them to negotiate. He interpreted that as meaning that, being satisfied that that the property was a necessity, he, as their representative, had made a distinctive offer for it”.
So it would appear that although Grand Lodge, reluctantly, gave their approval, the purchase of Grove House was a “done deal” before the floor of Grand Lodge had a real chance to approve or disapprove the purchase. It seems to ring a few bells and bring back memories when purchases by Grand Lodge were also “done deals” in the years after.
If you wish to read more on this subject please click on this link New Orphanage Souvenir
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