Prov. Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

THE annual meeting ot' the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Staffordshire was held , on thc oUth ult ., at Stafford , and was attended bj over 200 brethren from all parts ot tl ; e Provinces . Special interest was also attached to the gathering Prom the fact that Bro . Colonel Foster Gough was

installed Provincial Grand Master . It is now some years since a similar ceremony was performed in Staffordshire , the last Grand Master being Bro . Colonel Tudor , who succeeded tbe late Earl of Shrewsbury . Colonel Tudor ,

however , resigned his ofhee about twelve months ago , since when Colonel Foster Gough has been the acting Provincial Grand Master . In March of this year his Royal Highness the Princo of Wales appointed Colonel Foster Gough

Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire , and he was duly installed to this high office . The brethren assembled at the Shiro Hall at a quarter to one o ' clock . The Right Worshipful Bro . Colonel Tudor , Installing Master , accompanied by

Bro . Colonel S . H . Clerke Grand Secretary of England , Bro . J . Terry Secretary Royal Masonic Benevolont Institution , Bro . J . T . Collins D . P . G . M . of Warwickshire , and the Provincial Grand Officers , Past and Present ,

entered tho Lodgo in procession , after which the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened . The roll of private Lodges having been called , tho Installing Master addressed the Provincial Grand Lodgo , with special

reference to the installation of the Provincial Grand Master Designate as Provincial Grand Master . He said it gave him great pleasure to meet so many of tho brethren of Staffordshire . Ho had also the pleasure of installinc

as Grand Master one whom he had known for thirty years . He had been intimately connected with him in various matters , and ho had always fouud everything he had done , had been clone well . He felt quite sure if the brethren

showed the same spirit towards Colonel Gough as they had shown towards him they would have reason , to be satisfied with the manner iu which Colonel Gough would perform the duties of Provincial Grand Master of this Province .

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales might easily have selected one from outside to fill this distinguished position ; but he had thought proper to provide a Grand Master from amongst themselves , thereby doing honour to Colonel

Gough and tho Province . The arrival of the Provincial Grand Master designate was announced , aud hia patent presented and read , after which the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies retired with seven Past Masters ,

and tho Provincial Grand Master designate entered the Lodge , when he was installed as Provincial Grand Master hj Bro . Colonel Tudor . Having b ? en invested with his apron , chain , and jewel of office , he took the chair . Colonel

Gough then briefly addressed tho Lodge , and gracefully re turned his thanks for the high honour conferred on him He then appointed Bro . Lieutenant Colonel Bindley P . M

G 24 as his Deputy Provincial Grand Master , after which Bro . J . Bodenham was unanimously re-elected Treasurer . The Piovincial Grand Master appointed and invested the following as Officers .

Bro . Eev . W . Eandali , D . D ., P . M . 482 Senior Warden Major F . Walton P . M . 1838 - Junior Warden Eev . H . Abud , M . A ., 456 - ) „ , Eev . A . H . Talbot , il . A ., 720 . j ^ aplaiM J . Bodenham P . M . 726 - - Treasurer

W . T . Copeiaml P . M . 637 - Eegistrar Major E . H . Thorne P . M . 526 - Secretary F . MountfordP . M . 460 - - Senior Deacon H . J . Clarson P . M . 1060 - Junior Deacon J . Powell P . M . 347 - - Supt . of Works G . H . Stanger P . M . 419 - Director of Ceremonies . J . T . Eayrs P . M . 662 - - Assist . D . C .

J . Stovenson P . M . 1942 - Sivord Bearer C . Gee P . M . 1941 - . } , . . _ W . E . Marsh P . M . 536 - - j & fcanclard Bearers Dr . Taylor 726 - - Organist F . E . F . Bailey T . M . 539 - Assist . Secretary Samuel Watson W . M . 2064 - Pursuivant

Thomas Jones P . M . 60 S - Assist . Pursuivant W . D . Batkin P . M . 726 - . "• , T . Evans P . M . 1520 . . j E . Lougden W . M . 1838 - . „ .

J . Godwin W . M . 98 - . f Awards G . Vanghan P . M . 419 - . i E . J . Monsley W . M . 72 S J W . Twist - - . Tyler The Lodge then adjourned , when thc brethren formed in procession and piece dec ! to . Divine sorvice to St . Mary ' s

Church . The effect of the procession , which is always a very imposing one , was spoiled by tho rain . The sermon was preached by the Provincial Grand Chaplain Bro . Rev . H . Abud . The Provincial Grand Organist played Stainer ' a

" Jubilant March " as an incoming , and Mendelssohn s " War March of the Priests" as an outgoing voluntary . Tho Lodgo afterwards resumed , when several items of business were transacted . The brethren afterward . 3 dined together at the Swan Hotel .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

SOUTH MIDDLESEX LODGE , No . 858 . A WELL-KNOWN marksman , Colour Sergoant W . H . Hobbiss , of -Ci- tho South Middlesex Eifle Yolunfceerp , and formerly of the Bromsgrovo Company of 2 nd Worcester , was , on Thursday , 25 th April , installed W . M . of this Lodge . The ceremony was

performed by Bro . Major C . H . Eeid-Todd . There was a good mustei of visitors , principally representatives of Metropolitan corps . Hearty good wishes were forwarded from Bro . A . L . Shackleford and friends in the Leigh Lodge , Birmingham .

PELHAM LODGE , No . 1303 ,

' piIE annual meeting took place at the Freemasons'Hall , Lewes , on -t Friday , the 19 th ult . Bro . W . Wright was installed as W . M . For the ensning year , and appointed his Officers , as follow .- —Bros . G . Wilson S . W ., J . J . Snelgrove J . W ., E . Weston S . D ., J . Woolgar J . D ., V . White Treasurer , J . C . Berry I . G ., F . S . Shenstone D . C , W . W .

Turner Secretary , and H . Hall Tyler . The retiring W . M ., Bro . W . W . Turner , was presented with a charity jewel , in recognition of his paat services to the Lodge . Subsequently about 30 brethren sat down to a banquet , provided at the Bear Hotel by Bro . Whitcomb .

FRATERNITY LODGE , No . 1418 .

ON Thursday , 25 th ulfc ., the annual festival took place , iu the Masonic Hall , * Stockton , when Bro . H . Tomkins S . W . waa installed in tho chair ofK . S . by Bro . T . Bowman , and thereafter the Worshipful Master invested the following brethren as his Offioersfor tho ensuing year : —Bros . T . Gibson I . P . M ., W . Thorman S . W .,

J . W . Gatt J . W ., W . J . Watson Treasurer , T Browne Seoretary , T . Preston Organist , J . L . Green S . D ., W . Hutchinson J . D ., C . W Anderson I . G ., J . P . Crosthwaite and James Wright Stewards . Sub . sequer . tly the brethren and a number of visitors dined in the banqueting hall .

ANTIENT BRITON LODGE , No . 1675 .

rflLlE now Officers of this young though flonrishing Lodge of Free * i- masons wore duly installed , on the 24 th ult ., at the Masonio Temple , Hopo . strcet , Liverpool , there being a very numerous assembly of members of the Lodge and a large gathering of visitors from other Lodges . The Antient Briton Lodge is now in ita fourteenth year , and it ha 3 progressed so rapidly that there are very

few Lodges in this Province which contribute more to tbe Masonic Charities . During last year no less than £ 97 10 s has been directly contributed to Charities , in addition to sums devoted indirectly to Charity . During the past seven years , in which Bro . Bottomley has officiated as Treasurer , the total amount contributed to charities haa

been £ 712 . The retiring Treasurer on taking office had a balanoe in hand of - £ 41 , and the pasfc year has closed with a balance to tbe good of £ 91 . The installation ceremony was conducted by Bro . Dr . J .

Kellett Smith , the presenting brethren being Bros . J . Hughes and T . IT . W . Walker . The newly-installed W . M . was Bro . Samuel J . Hughes , the other Officers installed being as follows : —Bros . O . J . Rowlands S . W ., W . Hawkings J . W ., W . E . Coxen Treasurer , E ,

M'Gee Secretary , S . M . Leigh S . D ., J . H . Peak J . D ., J . Thomas I . G ., E . E . Ellis S . S ., J . J . G . Little J . S ., J . Lane A . S ., R . Lloyd A . S ., J . T . Jones , Mus . D ., and J . K . Cave Organists , M . Williams Tyler . Immediately upon the conclusion of the installation ceremony , the brethren sat down to a banquet , afc which the newly-elected W . M . presided . An excellent musical programme had been provided , and as the toasts were briefly proposed and responded to , and a couple of

vocal or instrumental pieces were sung or played between each toaBt , the proceedings were natarally of an exceedingly pleasant and enjoy , able nature . The musical brethren were Bros . Bowlands , Kirkbam , Jones . Faraher . Nicholls . Little . Lane . Griffiths . Eavmnnrl . nnd Shnw j

/ cj i / ~~ 7 - " / — - —j — — — j —¦—« VWII ( violin ) . In addition to individoal items by these the brethren of the Cambrian Quartette were present , ' and sang several four-parfc songs . During the evening the retiring W . M . was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel .

SUNBURY LODGE , No . 1733 . THE installation meeting of this Lodge was held at the Magpie Hotel , Sunbury , on Wednesday , 24 th April . Bro . Austin W . M . opened the Lodge , supported by Bros . Forty S . W . W . M . elect , Covell J . W ., Clark Treasurer , Phillips P . M . 975 2032 Secretary Fisk S . D ..

Jebbett J . D ., Webster I . G ., Tucker I . P . M ., Blackburn P . M P . P . G . S . B ., En ^ x- 'fjuu 'fi . Thrupp Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and abont thirty ^ aher brethren , amongst whom were Bros . Axford W . M . 809 , L . Coubro t " : * Y . 1 M 5 . Blasby P . M . 780 , 2032 , Hopkins 1512 , & c . The minutes of

last meeting having been read and confirmed , a ballot was taken for Bro . Col . Hariield P . M . 145 and Bro . A . Stearns P . M . 1637 , as joining member *; the result was nnanimons in their favour . A successful ballot was then takon for Mr . A . Auberfc , and that gentleman was duly initiated into Fre-saasonry by the W . M . in a most impressive