Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

THE annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Agricultural Hall , Oakham , in the county of Entland , on Tuesday , 21 st November . In consequence of the inclement state of the weather , and the distance of the place of meeting from most of tho Craft Lodges in tho Province , there was only a moderate attendance . The Vale of Catnios Lodge , 1265 , under whose banner tho Prov .

Grand Lodge assembled , was opened at half-past one o'clock , shortly after which tho W . Deputy Provincial Grand Mastei ^* ucconipauied by the Provincial Graud Officers , entered the Lodge-room , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master being received with the customary honours . Amongst those present were W . Bros . G . Toller jun . P . G . S . B . Eng . D . P . G . M ., Eev . W . Langley P . P . G . S . W . acting D . P . G . M ., T . Harrold

Prov . G . J . W ., Eev . J . Bird Prov . G . Chaplain , Waite Prov . Grand Treasurer , Wright Prov . G . Eegistrar , Partridge Prov . G . Secretary , Allen Prov . G . S . D ., Young Prov . G . D . C ., Crow Prov . G . A . D . C , Gibson Prov . G . P ., Walker Prov . G . A . P ., Marris and Butler Provincial G . Stewards , Law Prov . G . Standard Bearer , Tanser and Dunn Prov .

G . Tylers , Carrick , Crofts and Duncombe P . P . G . Junior Wardens , Eichardson and Kelp P . P . G . Sword'Bearers , Bennett P . P . G . J . D ., Stretton P . P . G . Supt . of Works , Halford and Barber P . P . G . A . D . of C . ' s , Wilkinson P . P . G . P ., and many others . Before proceeding with the business of the day , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master said he was sure that the brethren would hear

with regret that the E . W . Provincial Grand Master the Earl Ferrers , who had intended to be present on that occasion , and had arranged to instal tbe W . M . elect of the Yale of Catmos Lodge , was prevented from attending , in consequence of having met with an accident in the hunting field . Tho Deputy Provincial Grand Master then took the chair of the

Craft Lodge , and in a very impressive and able manner installed Bro . Miles J . Walker as W . M . for the ensuing year . The Provincial Grand Lodge was afterwards opened in form , and the rolls of Lodges and of Provincial Grand Officers were called , the former roll being answered by all the Lodges in the Province except St . Peter ' s , 1330 , and the latter showing an unusually large number of absentees .

The minutes of the previous annual meeting , and of a special meeting , held in May last , on the occasion of the visit of their Eoyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales to Leicester were duly confirmed . The Eeport of the Provincial Grand Lodge Committee of General Purposes was read , and , npon motion duly made , was received and

adopted . The Eeport , amongst other matters , referred to the Eoyal visit to Leicester , in May last , the presentation to H . E . H . the Prince of Wales of a Masonic address of welcome on that occasion , and to the satisfactory arrangements made for the ceremony and the successful way in which they were carried out . The next subject was the draft of the proposed Revision of the Book of Constitntions , of

which , after explaining at some length the more prominent changes made in the existing laws , and with the exception of revised article No . 172 , the Committee expressed their approval , the work appearing to them to have been carried out with much thought and attention , and to be a great improvement on the existing edition . As to article No . 172 , the views of the Committee and of the Authors of the

proposed revision were at variance . The Provincial Grand Lodge , at its last annual meeting , favoured the enforcement of the payment ot quarterage in respect of members whose subscriptions were in arrear , at which meeting the question was fully discussed . The Committee had since been unable to discover any fresh reason for changing their views , and they suggested that Provincial Grand Lodge shonld oppose

the adoption of the new rule . The motion of Bro . J . M . Clabon P . G . D ., proposing an increase in the Quarterage payable to the Grand Lodge Fnnd of Benevolence , was also referred to in the Eeport , the Committee stating that the views of the several Lodges in the Province had been asked , and there appeared to be a general concurrence of opinion that the proposed increase was undesirable . A few

appropriate remarks on the loss the Province had snstained by the deaths of some of its Past Provincial Grand Officers brought the Eeport to a close . The P . P . G . Officers referred to were the late Bros . J . M . McAllister P . P . G . S . D ., Capt . E . B . Hartopp P . P . G . Eeg ., Major C . T . Freer P . P . G . S . B ., and the Eev . J . 0 . Pieton P . P . G . Chaplain . The following Eeport of the Provincial Charity Committee was

read and duly adopted . THE ANNUAL EEPOUT OF THE PKOVINCIAL CHARITY COMMITTEE . In presenting their Annual Eeport the Committee are glad to be able to state that their Candidate for admission to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , who was unsuccessful at the October election of 1881 , was elected in April last , though at a heavy cost of voting

power . After the October election of 1881 the Province owed 625 boys ' votes . This indebtedness was raised iu April to the large sum of 1 , 179 . This at first sight may seem to have been a rash and unwise act , bnt it must be remembered that , as a large number of votes had been already expended on the case , the sooner the boy was elected

the better , to save waste at future elections , and secure his entrance npon the advantage s of the School before he became too old . No votes wore , in fact , wasted , as he was amongst the lowest of those elected . To the Secretaries of the Provisional Charity Committees of Wilts , Monmouthshire , Derbyshire , and North Wales , for their kind help in lending votes , the Committee feel that their thanks are due .

At the election in October the outstanding debt was reduced to 975 . The Committee hope that brethren will do their best to support this excellent Charity at the uext Festival , and they would remind them that money given to the Building Fund in the next year will secure a d < uble quantity of votes . The Committee now hold 471 girls' votes , which will be called up at the April election , and polled for the daughter of a deceased bro-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

tt or of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 279 , who has been adopted as their candidate . In the Old People ' s Charities the Committee are still 100 votes in i-ebt from the election in 1880 , but these will be cleared off in May next . An application for relief has been made by the widow of a member of the Vale of Catmos Lodge , and a sum of £ 5 5 s was voted by the

Committee for her present needs . Tho Committee have pleasure in proposing the name of W . Bro , J . G . F . Eichardson , P . M . 1560 , as Provincial Steward for the next Festival of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , and they have voted a sum of £ 21 to be placed on his list when appointed by the Provincial Grand Lodge . The accounts have been duly audited , shewing a sum of £ 39 lis 8 d to the credit of the Committee .

( Signed ) S . S . P ARTETQE P . P . G . S . W . Chairman . Freemasons' Hall , Leicester . 13 th November 1882 . The Eeport of the Committee of the Leicestershire and Rutland Masonic Charity Association was presented and received .

The Committee report that the two half-yearly drawings had taken place , as usual , when twenty-three Life Subscriberships were drawn . The number of Life Subscriberships drawn sinco the formation of the Association , in 1878 , was ninety-three , which represented a considerable permanent accession to the voting strength of the Province . The number of members was 134 . The Committee draw special

attention to the recent elections for the two Masonic Educational Charities . At the October election for tbe Boys' School , candidates polling a less number than 2464 votes were unsuccessful , and for the Girls' Institution the lowest successful number was 2212 . Five or six years ago 1000 votes , or less , would generally be sufficient to ensure the election of a boy candidate , and a still smaller number

was required for election into the Girls' School . In the face of these facts the Committee pointed out that the necessity for an Association of this description , and for its being heartily and systematically supported , need hardly be insisted on if local candidates for the future were to stand any chance of election . The Provincial Grand Treasurer then submitted his annual

statement of accounts , which was duly passed . The Provincial Grand Eegistrar ' s report showed an increase in the number of subscribing members in the Province ; but , though small , it was believed that the accessions to the rolls of the several Lodges during the past year comprised those only who wonld help to sustain and add credit to onr Order . In other respects , the report stated that

the several Lodges in the Province were in a very satisfactory condition . The election of Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year was next in order on the agenda paper , when W . Bro . Eobert Waite P . P . G . J . W ., who has now held the office for several years , was

unanimously re-elected , a vote of thanks for his past services being at the same time accorded to him . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master having declared all offices vacant , proceeded to invest the following brethren as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : —

Bro . Clement E . Stretton P . M . 279 ... G . Senior Warden Miles J . Walker W . M . 1265 ... G . Junior Warden Eev . J . Bird P . M . 442 1560 ... G . Senior Chaplain Eev . Ambrose P . Dawson 1560 ... G . Junior Chaplain Eobert Waite P . M . 279 G . Treasurer Joseph Barber P . M . 50 G . Eegistrar

Samuel S . Partridge P . M . 523 ... G . Secretary John Halford P . M . and W . M . 1391 G . Senior Deacon John Orlando Law W . M . 279 ... G . Jnnior Deacon E . Bradshaw Smith W . M . 50 ... G . Snpt . of Works Joseph Young P . M . 523 G . Director of Ceremonies Edgar Taylor I . P . M . 523 ... G . Asst . D . C .

William S . Black W . M . 1130 ... G . Sword Bearer Alfred Lewin I . P . M . 779 ... G . Organist George Oliver W . M . elect 1007 ... G . Pursuivant John Hassell W . M . 779 ... G . Asst . Pursuivant Edward H . Butler 1391 ... G . Standard Bearer Eobert Michie 279 G . Steward

Eobert R . Cole 50 ,, Benjamin A . Smith 523 ,, James F . Hodson 1007 „ Edmund Jeeves 1130 „ Charles Oliver 1391 „ Thomas Dunn 523 G . Tyler James Tanser 279 ... ... „

W . Brother Captain Eichardson P . M . 1560 P . P . G . S . B . was unanimously appointed to represent the Provincial Grand Lodge as Charity Steward at the next Festival of the Boys' School . The Provincial Grand Secretary read a letter from the Grand Secretary of England , on the subject of Brother Clabon ' s motion , when , after some discussion , the following resolution was unanimously ,

adopted : — "That this Provincial Grand Lodge considers the proposed increase in the Quarterage payable by Craft Lodges to tho Grand Ledge Fnnd of Benevolence , as suggested by Brother J . M . Clabon's motion , both undesirable and unnecessary . " After some further business the Provincial Grand Lodge was

closed in form . The annual banquet afterwards took place at the George Hotel , under the presidency of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; the admirable catering of the worthy host Brother J . Bead giving every satisfaction . The beautiful peal of bells in the Parish Church was rung in honour of the visit of the Provincial Grand Lodge .