Gloucestershire.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

THE annual Convocation of the Provincial Grand Chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Cheltenham , on Friday , 20 th ult . The Eight Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., Grand Superintendent of the Province presided , supported by Comp . E . V . Vassar-Smith P . Z . 82 and 839 Prov . G . H ., and others .

The business of Prov . G . Chapter was , with one exception , purely formal . Comp . Bryan had resigned the elective office of Treasurer , and Comp . J . Bruton the Treasurer of Prov . G . Lodge was unanimously elected in his stead . The following were invested as the Officers for the ensuing year : —

Comp . R . V . Vassar-Smith P . Z . 82 and 839 - H . W . B . Felton P . Z . 82 ... J . ' James B . Winterbotham P . Z . 82 - - Scribe E . "W . 0 . Ferris P . Z . 493 - - - Scribe N . J . Bruton P . Z . 839 P . Prov . G . J . - - Treasurer William Warman 702 ... Registrar E . N . Witohell P . Z . 839 - - - Principal Sojourner

E . L . Baylis Z . 82 - T - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner 0 . G . Clark Z . 493 - - - - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner Col . Richard Rogers J . 82 - - - Sword Bearer Edwin Lea J . 493 - - - - Standard Bearer R . W . Northcott 702 - - - Director of Ceremonies J . A . Matthews 82 - - - - Organist Llewellyn Evans 82 - - - Assistant Scribe E . Sergt .-Major M . Carroll ... Janitor .

Prov . G . Chapter having been closed , the Companions , dined together in the banqueting room of the Hall . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach presided . During the evening his health as Grand Superintendent of the Province was proposed by the Baron de

Ferrieres . The Baron spoke of the pleasure with which he had undertaken the task entrusted to him . He congratulated the Masons of the Province on the fact that Sir Michael had found time , amid the cares of the high office he held in the State , to come amongst them once more .

Sir Michael , in reply , feelingly acknowledged the cordiality of his reception . The cares to which the Baron had referred added to the pleasure with which he found himself once more surrounded by his Brethren . Eemembering the many happy hours he had spent amongst them , it would indeed be strange if he did not keep a warm corner in his heart for his old county and the Masons of Gloucestershire . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach was the guest of Comp . Vassar-Smith for the night , at Charlton Park .

The members of the Woodgrange Lodge , No . 2409 , announce that the second annual Masonic ball in connection with their suseessful Lodge will be held at the Stratford Town Hall , on Wednesday , 5 th February , in aid of the funds of the

West Ham Hospital , Brethren of other Lodges and non-Masons being invited . Craft , Eoyal Arch , and Mark clothing will be worn . The Hon , Secretary Brother Henry Wm . Clarke , of 53 Osborne Eoad , Forest Gate , will be glad to send further particulars .

Gloucestershire.

On Friday , 27 th ult ., under the auspices of the Eoyal St . Edmunds and the Abbey Lodges , a grand ball was held in the Athenaeum Hall , Bury St . Edmunds . The ball was under fche distinguished patronage of the Marquis and Marchioness of Bristol , Lord Henniker Provincial Grand Master Suffolk , the

Earl of Euston Provincial Grand Master Norths and Hunts , Viscount Chelsea , M . P . for Bury St . Edmunds , Ian Malcolm , M . P . for the North-Western ( Stowmarket ) Division of Suffolk , Eev . C . J . Martyn Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( formerly rector of Long Melford ) , John G . Oliver P . M . P . P . G . S . W . Mayor

of Bury St . Edmunds , the Mayoress , and other distinguished ladies and gentlemen and members of the Craft . The Brethren appeared in Masonic costume , and military officers in uniform . The scene was remarkably picturesque as dancing proceeded , many of the dresses of the ladies being much admired .

The Stockton Freemasons' Hall and Club Co ., Limited , has been formed to acquire the buildings known as fche Stockton Freemasons' Hall , with its furnishings , & c . ; to take over fche Freemasons' Club , its fittings , & c , and to let the buildings and devote the profits to the company . The building originally cost ,

with furnishing , £ 7 , 300 odd , and belongs to the Lodge of Philanthropy , who have agreed to tranfer the property to the company for £ 5 , 100 , of which £ 100 will be taken in snares . The capital of the company is £ 5 , 000 in £ 1 shares . The company is confined to Freemasons , and . a great many shares have been

subscribed . Eight of the leading Masons of Stockton are the directors , with , as a ninth , and who is chairman of the company , Brother W . J . Watson P . M . P . P . J . G . D ., the Town Clerk of Thornaby-on-Tees , Messrs . Backhouse and Co . are the bankers , Messrs . Wilson , Ornsby , and Cadle the solicitors , and Bro . B . Tinkler , Eosebank , Stockton , the secretary .

The Cardinal Vicar has addressed the following letter to the Central Executive Committee in Italy for the first Anti-Masonic Congress :- " The Anti-Masonic Congress which will be held next year is looked forward to by all religious persons . It is unnecessary to demonstrate the errors of Freemasonry

or to regret the havoc wrought by it , to you who are so perfectly acquainted with its theoretic and practical character . Nor is there any need to insist upon the fact thafc the Catholic Church and civilised society are confronted with no more powerful obstacle than Freemasonry , which is the

enemy , of all their endeavours to procure the temporal and eternal welfare of the nations . Notwithstanding this , nay , in consequence of it , I encourage you to work in the Congress , carrying beyond the Alps , in the name of Eome and of Italy , fche treasures of your learning , experience , and virtue . Such enemies

can only be overcome by the power of God , Who , in making men the instruments of His designs , would have them aflame with faith and charity . " The letter is given : " From fche Vicariate on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception , 1895 . " — " Tablet . "

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RoyalMasonicInstitutionforBoys, WOOD GREEN , LONDON , N . Grand Patron— -HEE MAJESTY THE QUEEN . President-R .-R . R . THE PEINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . v , , „ . , C THE ET . HON . THE EAEL OE LATHOM M . W . PROG . M . ratrons ( ex-ofiicio ) - | TBB RT- H 0 N THB EARL 0 E MOUNT-EDGCUMBE E . W . DBP . G . M . Treasurer—CHAELES E . KEYSER , ESQ ., P . G . DEACON , PATRON OF INSTITUTION . Bankers—LONDON & WESTMINSTEE BANK , LTD . ( BLOOMSBORY BRANCH ) , HIGH HOLBORN , LONDON , W . C . 2176 Boys liave received the benefits of the Institution since its foundation in 1798 . 278 Boys are now being Educated , Clothed , and Maintained . PERMANENT ANNUAL INCOME £ 1 , 750 ONLY . The NINETY-EIGHTH ANNIVEESAEY FESTIVAL will be held in June 1896 , under the distinguished Presidency of HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE , K . G ., THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL , R . W . PROV . G . M . DERBYSHIRE , VICE-PATROL OF THE INSTITUTION . The services of Brethren as Stewards ( representing Lodges or Provinces ) and Ladies , are earnestly requested , and will be gratefully acknowledged . OO 0 Sri ?_ K , IBTJTXOJSrS EI ^ E , 3 STESTXJ'S" SOLICITED . Secretary— J . MOEEISON McLEOD , VICE PRESIDENT , 6 FREEMASONS' HALL , LONDON , W . C .