Our Forty-Fourth Volume.

OUR FORTY-FOURTH VOLUME .

WE gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded by the commencement of our FOBTY-FOTJBTH VOLUME to again tender good wishes to our readers , whom we heartily thank for the increased interest displayed in our work . This induces us to hope that we may be able to make our pages

of yet greater service to the Craft m the future than they have been in the past , and as our aim will be to improve the paper as far as lies in our power , we trust we shall receive increased support during the running of our present volume .

The Quarterly Courts.

THE QUARTERLY COURTS .

npHB Quarterly Courts of the Governors and Subscribers of - ¦ - the two Educational Institutions will be held next week , that in connection with the Girls School on Thursday , at 12 o ' clock , and the Boys the following day at 4 . There is little' beyond the usual routine to engage the

attention of the Courts on this occasion , the chief business being the settlement of the lists for the October elections , and the declaration of the number of vacancies then to be filled . In the case of the Girls School , however , the Subscribers

will be asked to endorse the unanimous recommendation of the House and General Committees that a pension of £ 225 per annum be accorded to Miss Davis , in view of the long and pre-eminently successful services rendered to the Institution

in her capacity of Head Governess of the School during the past thirty-five years . We believe the actiou of the general body of supporters of the Institution will be as unanimous in this matter as was that of the two Committees already

referred to , and that Miss Davis will carry with her into retirement the good wishes of the Craft , their hearty thanks for work zealously ard efficiently performed in the past , and

a sincere wish that she may yet live for many years to enjoy well earned rest after her long period of association with our Girls School .

Beading between the lines it is evident there is some amount of friction at the present time in regard to the eligibility of some of the candidates put forward for the benefits of the Institutions , and it is but right that the points of

difference should be submitted to the Subscribers in General Court . "While the strictest enquiry is at all times desirable we can hardly believe ultimate good will result from a too severe test—in such cases it is far better to err on the side of leniency than adopt a too literal reading of rules .

; The weekly meetings of the Queen ' s Westminster Lodge of Instruction , No . 2021 , have been suspended for the summer , the Lodge adjourning at its last gathering until the first Monday in October .

The Eoyal Jubilee Lodge of Instruction , No . 72 , stands adjourned until the first Wednesday in September , when it is proposed to resume the weekly meetings .

Cumberland And Westmorland.

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

THE half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Whitehaven , on the 5 th ult ., Bro . Col . Sewell . D . P . G . M . presiding . The Brethren subsequently dined at the Grand Hotel , where an excellent banquet was served , and the usual toasts were proposed and responded to .

Devonshire.

DEVONSHIRE .

THE installation of Sir Stafford Northcote , O . B ., M . Jf ., as Provincial Grand Master will take place in Exeter , on Wednesday , 12 th August . The ceremony will be performed by the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe Provincial Grand Master for

Cornwall and Past Deputy Grand Master of England . The present Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . G . C . Davie P . G . A . D . C . of England has consented to continue to hold office . Bro . John Stocker P . M . 39 P . P . J . G . W . has accepted the Provincial Grand Master ' s invitation to act as P . G . Sec , in succession" to Bro . ' John Brewer P . M . 251 , who retires .

A large gathering of the Brethren is anticipated ,. on account of the popularity of the appointment , and the fact that there has been a very considerable increase in the memberships of the Lodges in the larger towns of the Province , since Viscount Ebrington succeeded the late Bev . John Huyshe , of Clyst Hydon , as Provincial Grand Master . Bro . John Stocker ' s acceptance of the office of Provincial Grand Secretary will give considerable satisfaction . He is in close touch with the Craft

throughout Devon , and is held in high esteem in Masonic circles . Sir Stafford , by accepting this appointment , becomes the Provincial Grand Master of both Craft and Mark Masonry in Devonshire , a distinction accorded to few .

Middlesex.

MIDDLESEX .

THE Provincial Grand Chapter will assemble this afternoon ( Saturday ) , for the twenty-second annual Convocation , at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , the proceedings commencing at 4 o ' clock .

Suffolk.

SUFFOLK .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Gorleston , on Monday , 29 th ult ., under the banner of St . Andrew ' s Chapter , the Bev . C . J . Martyn P . G . Prin . Soj . Grand Superintendent presiding . The Chapter was opened in due form , the roll of Chapters called and reports submitted . The Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were appointed and invested as follow :

Comp . W . J . Wilton - - - - H . A . A . Bennett - - - - J . N . Tracy- .... Scribe E . T . Grimwood .... Scribe N . J . G . Oliver .... Treasurer W . E . Holt .... Registrar

A . R . Trew ... . Principal Sojourner W . G . Synnot - 1 st Assistant Sojourner C C Vincent .... 2 nd Assistant Sojourner J . C . B . Winder - - - Sword Bearer H . Cockrell - Standard Bearer

J . M . Franks ... - Director of Ceremonies 0 . H . Downes ... - Assistant Dir . of Cers . 0 . H . Youngman -. - - Organist A . Spalding .... Assistant Scribe E . E . Harvey .... Janitor .

A collection was made on behalf of the new wing to the Gorleston Hospital . A vote of thanks was accorded to the Companions of St . Andrew for the perfect arrangements made for the reception of the Provincial Chapter . The company partook of an excellent luncheon , provided at the Anchor and Hope Hotel , Gorleston .