Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

np tlE annual meeting was held on tho 29 th ult ., at the - * - Grand Assembly Rooms , Barras Bridge , Newcastle There was a large attendance of Provincial Grand Office r .-and Officers and Brethren of the various Lodges in thc Province . The R . W . Provincial Grand Master Sir M . W ,

Jxidley , Bart ., M . P ., presided , supported by Bro . the very Worshipful Richard Henry Holmes P . G . D . C . of England , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and also by the R . W . Grand Master of Durham Sir Hedworth Williamson , and the Rev . Canon Tristram D . P . G . M . of Durham . An

excellent Teport of the Lodges in the province was presented . It was agreed that the services of Bro . B . J . Thompson , who has retired from the offico of Provincial Grand Secretary , after many years of valuable labour

should be acknowledged by an illuminated address . On the motion of Bro . Holmes , seconded by Bro . Addison Potter , C . B ., Bro . John Strachan was appointed Provincial Grand Treasurer .

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX .

THE annual meeting was held at the Town Hall , Eastbourne , on the 24 th ult . The W . Bro . the Rt . Hon . Sir . W . T . Marriott , Q . O ., M . P ., Judge Advocate-General , P . Grand Steward Deputy Provincial Grand Master presided ; the Wardens' chairs being occupied by Brothers R .

Clowes P . G . S . W . and T . Billing P . G . J . W . The Prov . Grand Officers present included Bros . E . R . Currie , Dean of Battle , Chaplain , R . Pidcock Registrar , V . P . Freeman P . G . D . Secretary , W . H ; Causton Senior Deacon , A . M . Betchley Sword Bearer , R . Hughes Standard Bearer , B .

Burfield Assistant Secretary , T . Berry Pursuivant , L . R . Styer , W . E . Morrison , E . T . Cooksey , W . Botting , A . Brazier Stewards , and H . H . Hughes Tyler . The large gathering inclnded Past Prov . Grand Officers , members of Sussex Lodges , with numerous visitors . The minutes of

the last meeting , annual meeting , and especial meeting having been confirmed , a letter was read from Mrs . Gerard Ford , in which she acknowledged the sympathetic vote of condolence passed by tho Prov . Grand Lodgo on the death of her late husband . The roll of Lodsres in the Province

having been called , it was found th : it each Lodge was represented . The report of the Board of Finance , with the Treasurer ' s accounts , and the report of the Charities Committee were passed . The Prov . Grand Secretary read statistics which showed that the Province now numbered

1275 Brethren , an increase on the year of 75 . It was decided to continue the publication of the Masonic Almanac . The Wor . Bro . the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , M . P ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master ,. next addressed the Brethren . He said he and all present greatly

regretted the absence of his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught Prov . Grand Master . His Royal Highness would have been present had his many engagements permitted him , but during this month he was in Germany carrying out very important duties . He , however ,

confidently hoped to be abler to preside at the Prov . Grand Lodge meeting next year . Looking back , he said the Lodge had causes for regret , and also for boasting . They all deeply regretted the death of the late Bro . Crawford Pocock P . G . S . W ., an ardent Freemason , who entered upon his office

last year with vigour and enthusiasm . Bro . Pocock had rendered great assistance to him ( Bro . Marriott ) and materially lightened his labours . He was a Mason in heart and sonl , and his great wish had always been to do good to all around him . The Province was able to boast of

being in a prosperous condition . From the various reports it was evident that the past year had been a successful one . The brethren had increased by 75 , and the Province seemed likely to hold even a higher position among the Prov . Grand Lodges of the country . During the past year the Burrell

Lodge , named after the late and much beloved Sir Walter Burrell , had removed from Shoreham to Brighton , the former town having no room sufficiently large enough foi the accommodation of the members . In conclusion , he said

he should be always ready ready to give his poor services for the advancement of Freemasonry in the Province . On the motion of Bro . Smith , seconded by Bro . Faruconibe , Bro . J . M . Reed was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master having

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

thanked the Officers for tho able assistance they had rendered him during the past year , appointed tho following Officers for the ensuing year , and iuvested those present with the insignia of their respective offices .

Bro . Major James Grahaai-Edvvardes ... Senior Warden W . E . Morrison ... ... Junior Warden Very Rov . E . R . Currie ... ) r < v , o „ i „;„ o Rev L . D . Dowdall j Chaplains R . Pidcock ... ... ... Registrar V . P . Freeman ... ... Secretary

E . T . Cooksey ... ... Senior Deacon L . R . Styer ... ... ... Junior Deacon W . Botting ... ... ... Sapfc . of Works A . Lloyd ... ... ,.. Dir . of Cers . A . Brazier ... ... .. Assist . Dir . of Cers . J . Pearco ... ... -... Sword Bearer . T . TT . Fffivvna . . ... ... ' ) « . . - ¦ . »

„ ,,, . , ,. J standard bearers G . W . Campbell ... ... ) J . Easter ... ... ... Organist B . Burfield ... ... ... Assistant Secretary G . Mitchell ... ... ... Pursuivant II . Anscombe ... ... ... Assistant Pursuivant

G . T . Shaft ^ G . B . Simpson ... ... J ?cSWoii::::::«* G . Rawlinson ... J . Cooke ... ... ... A

H . H . Hughes Tyler The Lodge having been duly closed , the brethren adjourned to the large room of the Town Hall , where they sat down to an elegant banquet , supplied by the Queen ' s Hotel Company , the catering of the manager , Mr . Steinle ,

giving universal satisfaction . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master Wor . Bro . Sir . W . T . Marriott presided , and was supported by the Officers of Grand Lodge and of Provincial Grand Lodge . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master opened the toast list by proposing the Queen

and the Craft . Ho then gave H . R . H .. the Prince of Wales M . W . Grand Master , and the Officers of Grand Lodge Present and Past , alluding in feeling terms to tho great loss the Craft had sustained by the death of the late Pro Grand Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon Bro .

Sauderaan responded on behalf of the Grand Lodge . In proposing H . B . H . the Duke of Connaught R . W . Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master said it was a toast which he was sure all prosent would receive with respect arid affection . Since his installation tho Duko

hud been working hard in British Dominions beyond the sea , and had brought great credit to himself and tho United Kingdom . Susses Freemasons would be rejoiced to havo him again in their midst , and it was hoped that he would be able to preside over thom next year at one

meeting , aud possibly at two . Bro . Shadwell H . Clerke Grand Secretary proposed the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Deputy Provincial Grand Masler . On many previous occasions he had , he said , the honour of proposing the

toast of the Deputy Provincial Graud Master , and he recalled occasions when he had submitted the toast on behalf of the late Bros . Sir Walter Burrell , J . H . Scott , and Gerard Ford . He had had the honour of installing Sir William Marriott in the absence of H . R . H . the Duke of

Connaught , and he believed their Deputy Provincial Grand Master had carried out his duties to the entire satisfaction of the Provincial Grand Master and the bretbreu at large . Amidst his multifarious duties Sir William Marriott would , he was sure , continue to do all ho could for the support

of the Order , and thus prove himself worthy of the high position he hold . Sir W . Marriott was warmly applauded on rising to respond . It gave him great pleasure , he said , to preside over them at the first meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge in Eastbourne , and also at the banquet

held in the magnificent hall in which they were seated . Ho expressed the great pleasure he felt in having the Mayor of Eastbourne , Bro . W . E . Morrison , as Provincial Grand Junior Warden , and congratulated him upon the excellent arrangements made for the reception of the

Provincial Grand Lodge . He then gave the Senior and Junior Wardens and the remaining Officers of Provincial Grand Lodgo Present and Past . Bros . Major James Graham Edwardes and W . F . Morrison responded . The latter proposed the Visitors , which Bro . Major G . Lambert

acknowledged . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master gave the W . M . and Brethren of the Tyrian Lodge . Bro . W . E . Morrison responded . The remaining toasts were the W . M . s of the Province , the Masonic Institutions , and the Stewards . During the evening a pleasing selection of music was rendered , under the direction of Bro . John Easter P . M .