Durham.

Masters of the Lodges in the town . His worship has consented to accept the Chairmanship , and will do his utmost to make the visit successful . The following Officers were also appointed :

—Vicechairman , Bro . J . D . Todd ; Secretaries , Bros . E . J . Willis and T . Harrison ; Treasurer , Bro . Richard Todd . Subcommittees were also appointed . Brother Thos . Robinson P . P . S . G . D . represents the Provincial Grand Secretary on the Committee .

It was also agreed that a suitable memento of the event , in the form of an illuminated address in album form be presented to Lord Barnard on the occasion of his visit , this matter being placed in the hands of Bro . T . Robinson P . M .

Herefordshire

HEREFORDSHIRE

IT seems peculiarly fitting that the first Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire to be held in the reign of King Edward VII , as Protector of the Craft , should , in the

rotation of anniversaries , visit Leominster , in order to take place under the banner of the Royal Edward Lodge , because it is the memory of one of his Majesty ' s predecessors of ancient renown which is thus perpetuated in the local title . Interesting accounts of the Lodge and its possessions have

already been published ; suffice it to say , that Bro . J . B . Dowding Worshipful Master upheld the dignity of the Lodge and of the Craft generally in right royal manner on Monday , 22 nd ult , in his reception of those who wear the purple . Although the Lodge is at present , we believe , not by any

means the largest m the Province—but it would not be surprising to find it so very soon under its new Master—the assembly on Monday probably ranks among the biggest numerically of the last few years , the total being upwards of seventy . It was certainly one of the most enjoyable

gatherings in the history of the Provincial Lodge , the Officers of the Royal Edward , as if put on their mettle , having made such arrangements as will furnish some of the happiest recollections of a life-time . The Town Hall was engaged and adapted for the occasion , the large plain room , in which

Judge Lea and the magistrates ordinarily sit to adjudicate , being transformed into a splendid Grand Lodge by the Tyler of the Royal Edward Brother W . Baxter , with the proper Masonic furniture , and a profusion of banners and other decorative material ; while Bro . W . Bradford , mine host at

the Royal Oak- Hotel , not only arranged the catering in first-class style , but induced several of his old Masonic friends in the musical world to come down from Westminster Abbey and other places to assist him in what is commonly

called the harmony . Inasmuch as Leominster , and the Masonic Lodge especially , is rich in musical men , what with them and the visiting Brethren , the glorious old Masonic songs , as well as modern compositions , were heard to perfection . All this reflected honour on the W . M . and his

circle of Officers . The only cause for regret was the inability of the Grand Master of the Province Lord Glanusk to be present . He had fully intended presiding , as usual , but late on the morning of Monday a telegram arrived saying that

his medical adviser had ordered him south to the sea owing to the state of his health . However , Bro . Ii . C . Beddoe Deputy Provincial Grand Master proved an ideal substitute , his wide experience and spirited geniality ensuring a smooth and pleasant continuance of the programme .

After lunch at the Royal Oak Hotel , the Brethren proceeded to the Town Hall where , after formalities , the reports of the Lodges in the Province were handed in , and indicated a decided increase in the membership and a satisfactory financial condition .

Bro . W . W . Robinson , of Hereford , who had undertaken the Office of Secretary of the Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association on the retirement of Bro . T . Smith two years ago , presented his report in conformity with bye-law 20 , pointing out that the individual subscription of a guinea a lor

ycdi nve yeais , or 01 several individual guinea subscriptions , constituted desirable amalgamations for using the votes . His report was as follows .- — " Since this Association was formed , in August 18 / S , it has collected and remitted to the Masonic Institutions the following sums : To the Boys

^ ciioo-i , ^ 504 , to tne Girls behoof £ 294 , to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( male fund ) £ 1 / 3 5 s , ( female fund ) £ 152 5 s , total £ 1 , 123 1 os . The Committee beg to remark that , as the Province of Herefordshire , through its successful candidates , has so largel y benefitted by the funds of the

Herefordshire

Masonic Institutions , it ought to subscribe more to those funds than it has hitherto done . In conclusion , the Committee have much pleasure in stating that this Association for the purpose of using the votes , has , by the kind permission of the Provincial Grand Master , been amalgamated with the

Midland Masonic Provinces Association , which comprises Staffordshire , Shropshire , North Wales , and Herefordshire ; also that the D . P . G . M . Brother H . C . Beddoe has consented to act as one of the Committee , together with the Hon .

Secretary of this Association , Bro . W . W . Robinson P . r'rov . S . G . D . It was added that the Midland Masonic Provinces Association had elected Bros . Beddoe and Robinson to represent Herefordshire on their Committee .

Still another very useful subsidiary organisation appeared in the form of the Herefordshire Local Charity Association , of which the seventh annual report was presented by Bro . Hewett , of Ross . It showed that the amount received during the year 1900 was £ 150 19 s 6 d . The

payments amounted to £ 128 , so that the balance in hand had been increased during the year by £ 22 19 s 6 d . The total amount granted since the formation of the Association had been £ 558 , an average of £ 80 per annum , while the total receipts had been £ 893 14 s 7 d . The Committee trust

that the Brethren of the Province will continue the support which they have so generously given since the Association was established , and that it may continue to prosper and to help the needs of those who are really in want of assistance . The D . P . G . M . said he had not received any notification

from Lord Glanusk as to where the next Provincial Grand Lodge would be held . It was usual at this juncture to announce the place , and he assumed that Royal Arrow Lodge came next in rotation , but the Brethren would receive notice in due course .

The D . P . G . M . then appointed and invested the Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : BRO . Thomas Blinkhorn ... Senior Warden A . Cutfield ... Junior Warden Rev . Wilfrid Buckle ... Chaplain

J . E . S . Hewett ... Treasurer F . P . Young ... Registrar W . R . Stafford ... Secretary J . S . Norton ... Senior Deacon W . Hampton ... Junior Deacon

L . U . Wooler ... Supt . of Works A . G . Hudson ... Dir . of Ceremonies H . H . Parry ... Assist . Dir . of Cers . R . Bright ... Sword Bearer B . A . Hamer ... Standard Bearer

Sam Mayor ... Organist J . B . Dowding ... Pursuivant " E . C . Gurney ... Steward

W . H . Smith ... Ditto W . H . Church ... Ditto W . H . Powell ... Ditto C . A . Stephens ... Tyler .

After the closing of the Provincial Grand Lodge a banquet was held at the Royal Oak Hotel . — " Hereford Times . "

East Lancashire.

EAST LANCASHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at Darwen , on Wednesday , 15 th inst .

Sussex.

SUSSEX .

THE " West Sussex Gazette " gives the following interesting particulars respecting the new chief of this important Province . The Earl of March comes of a family which has been long identified with the Masonic Fraternity . His grandfather , the fifth Duke of Richmond , was Provincial

Grand Master of Sussex from 1823 to i 860 . The fourth Duke also held the Office from 1814 to 1819 . Another Duke of Richmond was in 16 95 appointed Grand Master of England , ha then being Master of the Lodge at Chichester ; and he had , as Deputy Grand Master , Sir Christopher Wren ,

who was then engaged in the building of St . Paul ' s Cathedral . Lord March ' s Masonic career began in 1 & 77 , when he was initiated in the Lodge of Union , No . 38 , at Chichester . Five years later he was Worshipful Master of this Lodge and

also Senior Grand Warden of England . His brothers , Lords Algernon and Walter Gordon-Lennox , have also been Masters of the Lodge at Chichester . Lord March has also been First Principal of the Royal Arch Chapter in the same city .