Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HERTFORDSHIRE .

THF annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Barnet , on Friday , the 24 th nit . The Provincial Grand Mastpr , Bro . T . F . Ilalsey , M . P ., was supported by Bros . J . E . Dawson Deputy Prov . Grand Master , F . Sumner Knyvett Treasnrer , Charles

Bullock Registrar , Geo . E . Lake Secretary , J . Terry D . of C , FI . Beadell St . B ., W . A . Sproat , H . Hughes and W . K . Hopkin Stewards ; George Lambert P . G . S . B . England , T . S . Carter P . P . G . W ., James Cntbush P . P . G . A . D . C , George Mickley P . P . G . D ., H . J . Foster W . M . 501 , C . E . Playfair P . P . G . S . of W ., F . L . Lane S . W . 504 . J . G .

Yolland P . P . G . S . B ., W . J . Thody W . M . 1580 , G . Askew P . P . S . G . D ., H . J . Gill' -r W . M . 19 S 4 , W . Warr J . W . 2086 , . T . Knight P . P . S G . D ., J . Shilrock P . P G . J . W ., J . Pnrrott . P . P . G . S . B ., H . Edwards P . P . S . G . W .,

E . F . Young P . P . J . G . D ., J . Euerbv P . P . G . P . G . Young P . P . G . P ., Henry Cox P . P . G . S . of \ V ., Henrv J . Moxon 2054 , R . Townsend J . W . 1984 , " George G . Flint P . M . 404 . W . Gilbert P . P . J . G . W .. W . A . Ropers P . P . J . G . D ., J . Tydemnn P . P . G . P . Essex , W . Lewis P . P . G . S ., J . Robinson P . P . J . G . W . ' , T . Reilly P . P . G . P ., W . Large P . P . S . G . D .,

T . Giant P . M . 1984 , W . Smith W . M . 409 , E . Bowyer P P . S . G . W P . G . S . B . England , W . J . Crutch J . W . 1580 . Percy W . Tayloi P . P . J . G . W ., J . E . Cnssans P . P . S . G . W ., J . Brittain P . P . G . S ., F Yenables P . P . G . P ., Charles Lacev P . P . G . D ., J . Lowthin P . P . S . G . W ., Charles E . Kevnes P . P . J . G . W ., J . R . Cocks P . P . J . G . W ., Rev . C . W

Harvey Chaplain 403 , G . S . Biglev J . D . 809 , F . R . Barrett 469 , Jos . Mellor J . D . 1757 , G . F . Kempson A . D . C . 1385 , J . S . Webb I . G . 1580 , P . W . Dunville J . W . 1479 , C . H . Marriott 1385 . G . Holdswo-th Senior Deacon 1327 , D . Schmidt Jnnior Warden 1385 , S . Trvon 19 o 0 . H . E . Roberts 449 , E . P . Debenham I . G . 1479 , B . Gotto D . C . 1385

W . Mole S . D . 1757 , R . W . Wilson Steward 2054 , A . Phillips Hills ' I . G . 2054 , J . H . Baxter 1385 , G . Rule 1984 , G . W . Brnmell 1414 , W . Bellingham 1964 , L . Marcus J . W . 409 . J . Terry S . D . 1964 ,

F . Christmas J . W . 194 , W . Lewis S . D . 1385 , and others . The minutes having been confirmed , and the roll of Lodges in tho Province called over , Bro . Knyvett was re-elected to the office of Provincial Grand Treasurer , and then the following brethren were

appointed as the Officers of the year : — Bro . George Mickley P . M . 449 - Senior Warden John Brittain W . M . 1385 - Junior Warden Rev . Philip Deedes W . M . 1479 - ) nu , . -r » / -. „ T-T r ,, . ™ > Chaplains

jtev . v . vv . narvpy unnp . au < j - ) F . S . Knyvett P . M . 404 - Treasurer H . S . Sherry W . M . 404 - - Registrar G . E . Lake P . M . 401 - . Secretary

H . J . Foster W . M . 501 - - Senior Deacon F . Hall W . M . 403 - - Jnnior Deacon W . Smith W . M . 409 - - Supt . of Works J . Terry P . M . 1327 - - Dir . of Ceremonies

H . Hnghes W . M . 869 - - Assist . D . of Cere . W . K . Hopkin S W . 13 S 5 - Sword Bearer H . J . Moxon P . M . 2054 - - ) „ , , , „ -117 r "i i unr iron J Standard Bearers W . J . ihodv W . M . 1580 - \

W . Wnrr J . ' W . 2086 - - Organist Henrv Holmes 1385 - - Assistant Secretary H . J . ' Giller W . M . 1984 - Pursuivant W . Mole J . D . 1757 - - Assistant Pursuivant W . T . Graves S . W . 1981

D . Schmidt J . W . 1385 - W . Lewis S . D . 1385 - - ' J . Mellor J . D . 1757 - . f Stewards P . W . Dumvillel . G . 1479 - E . P . Debenham 1479 - -- >

Bro . Wright was elected Prov . Grand Tyler , and Bro . Thomas Assistant . The report of the Board of Finance having been snbmitted , Bro . T . S . Carter P . P . G . W . P . M . and Secretary 403 p-oposed " That the sum of twenty gnineas be voted from the fnnds of Provincial Grand Lodge to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ,

and that the amount be placed on Bro . George E . Lake ' s list as Steward . " Bro . JaniPS Terry Prov . G . D . of C . P . M . and Sec . 15 S 0 proposed " That the snm of ten pounds be voted from the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge to the Gladsmuir Lodge , No . 13 S 5 , towards defraying the expenses of entertaining Provincial Grand Lodge . "

Bro . Charles E . Keyset- P . P . G . W . P . M . 404 proposed " That the sum often pounds be voted from tho funds of Provincial Grand Lodge to the High Barnet Schools . " Bro . G . E . Lake Prov . G . Sec . P . M . and Treas . 401 proposed "That I ho publication of tho Provincial Calendar be continued , " and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master proposed

" That the thanks of the brethren are due and are hereby tendered to the Rev . R . E . Hutton for his courtesy in p ' acing tho School Honse at tho disposal of Provincial Grand Lodge . " , Each of these propositions wns agreed to , and then two notices of motion , which formed the subject of a supplemental agenda , were considered . The first ,

submitted by Bro . J . Tydemnn P . M . 1327 , was to the effect "That the sum of ten pounds bo voted from the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge to the Fund for the Restoration of Queen Eleanor ' s Cross , Waltham Cross , " and the second by Bro . A . T . Brett , 31 D ., P . M . 404 P . P . G . S . W ., " That the snm of twenty gnmcas bo vo'nrl from the

funds of Provincial Grand Lodge to the Building Fund of the Watford District Cottage Uo .-pitul . " After discussion of the former proposition , tho Provincial Grand Treasurer submitted as a counter motion "That the sum of ten gnineas be invested in Consols . " Ultimately the original proposition was negatived , and thereupon Bro . Brett

withdrew his proposal . After the transaction of some formal business , Provincial Gtand Lodge was closed , and the brethren repaired to the banquet , wh ' ch was served b y the proprietor of the Red Lion Hotel , Barnet , Mr . H . S . Roberts , and presided over by tho

Provincial Gtand Mast jr . The usual toasts followed . The Prov . Grand Master hoped the 1 rst toast would not , have to be varied for many years to come , but that Her Majesty would continue her reign and continue to meet that reception always accorded her . He spoke of

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire.

the marriage of the Princess Beatrice , and was assured every Mason wished her happiness . In proposing the toast of the Grand Master , he had to say tho same thing year after year , bnt each time with greater conviction of its trrith . no snoke of the way in which the Craft had flourished nnder tho rnlo of the Prince of

Wales , and felt that if any opportunity conld bo fonrnl of showing the present feeling of Masons towards His Royal Highness , it would far exceed the grandenr of his installation cernmony . It was hardly necessary to say much on behalf of the Pro Grand Master and fc > e Deputy G rand Misrer , as it was well known that in consequence of the mnltifarions duties of the Grand Master mnch of the work of

ruling the Craft devolved on them . The brethren might congranlate themselves on tho way in which they performed their duties . He feared they would not have so much of the company of the Earl of Carnarvon as formerly . They could bnfc wish him God spe d in the office he had been pleased to accept in Ireland . The Earl of Lathom

was eqnally worthy of their esteem , and was equally beloved by the brethren . Of the other Grand Officers he would leivo the two distinguished members of Grand Lodgo who wero present to speak . There was one thing , however , tho brethren must not forget . Each wore Past Wardens of the Province of Hertfordshire . Bro . Lambert

was tho first to reply . The Grand Officers had worked well—did work well . He could say , from personal knowledge , the Earl of Carnarvon and the Earl of Lathom were ever ready to perform their share in the work of Freemasonry . Neither seemed to spare time or expense in doing anything that might bo required of them . Bro . Bowyer

also responded . The Deputy Prov . G . M . then gave the health of the Provincial Grand Master . It was not necessary to make a long sppech in submitting this toast . The Provincial Grand Master had bpen pleased to nllnd" to tho time when the Grand Master was installed , bnt there in Hertfordshire he felt thoy wanted to centre

their thoughts on the day they secured the services of Bro . Halsey as Masonic ruler of the county . That was indeed a day worthy of being recorded in their memory , as under his rule Masonry had flourished and prospered in the district . The Prov . G . M . replied . It was a source of great gratification to him that Masonry had so

greatly increased in the Province during the past few years . All the Lodges embraced were on a satisfactory footing and progressing as well as conld be desired . So long as they pulled together as they had done in the past they would do well . The brethren of the Province of Hertfordshire appeared to consecrate a new Lodge

each year , and if this continued , with the same amount of prosperity surrounding them as they then experienced , there was no knowing to what position they might rise . No one could dispute that Freemasonry was flourishing in the county . He hoped the members of the new Lodges would follow the example of the old ones , and that

the older ones would keep up their enthnsiasm for Freemasonry . He felt that no Provincial Grand Master could be better supported by tho members of his Province and by his Officers than he had been . He next gave the tonst of the Deputy , and the Provincial Grand Officers . He was gratified that ho had always had such distinguished

Masons to assist him in the Province . It was a groat comfort to him to be snppoi ted hy a brother so well acquainted with the Lodges of the District , as was his Deputy Bro . Dawson , while the manner in which the other Provincial Officers performed their work gave evidence that they had their hearts in it . It gave Bro . Dawson

great satisfaction to reply to the toast . Whenever he had the pleasnre of attending any of the Lodges he received a most enthusiastic reception . He filled a very difficult office , in having to follow the lamented Bro . Wilson lies . So long as he was permitted to hold the office he was then honoured with he shonld endeavour to devote

his best services to the Province and the Lodges comprising it . Brother Mickley Senior Warden followed . He was proud of being a Hertfordshire Mason , and was sure every Officer appointed by tho Provincial Grand Master was proud of his position . He thought he might answer for all that they would assist , to the utmost

of their power , in upholding the dignity of the Province . The next toast was the Worshi pful Masters of the Lodges in the Province . When they looked back at what the older Masters had done , and witnessed how the younger ones were trving toemnlatethe work of their predecessors , they need have no fear of tho result . The

Provinee was mnch indebted to the Gladsmuir Lodge for tho way in which its members had come forward on an emergency and prepared for the annual meeting ofthe Province . It had been arranged that the King Henry VIII . Lodge at Hemel Hempstead should this year entertain Grand Lodge , but the sudden death of its Master ' had

put an end to this . The Gladsmnir Lodge had stepped forward and nobly undertaken the duty . Unfortunately their presence there that day was not one of unalloyed pleasnre . He missed from among the Past Masters ofthe entertaining Lodge the face of an old and worthy brother , Dr . John Livingston . He believed the loss of

the two distinguished members ho had mentioned would be felt by every Mason in tho Province . Ho trusted tho present Masters would follow in the footsteps of their predecessors , and that they might so perform their duties as to provide examples for those who would como after them . Bro . Brittain , W . M . of the Gladsmuir Lodge ,

replied , thanking tho Provincial Grand Master for the honour he had dons tho Misters of the Province in proposing their health . He felt lie was only expressing tho feelings of every Worshipful Master iu siying how pleased they wore to once mora meet their ruler in Lodge , and to sue him in good health . Their duty Was nofc only to do the

work of their respective L-idgo-, but also to make themselves capable of meeting any envrgencj- they might be called upon to face . The Provincial Mn , ; ter had referred to the circumstance?—the nuFortnnatc circumstances— -nnder which their meeting had taksn place that year at Barnet . As soon as ho , as Worshipful Master of the

Gladsmuir Lodge , heard of the d--sire to hold the Lodgo under their banner , he called a meeting of tho Past Masters , and so great was the interest they took in the work of tho Province that a larger nnmber of them assembled than had been known for years before . They theu fully proved the desire they felt to carry out the wishes and commands of the Provincial Grand Master . The toast of the