Provincial Grand Lodge, South Wales (Western Division.)

Church , on return from which , aud labour being resumed in Lodge , a very cordial vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Stanley Balcombo , the late Secretary , whoso change of residence rendered it impossible that he could continue the active services which he had , with so much ability , rendered to the Province . Tho resolution was entered on tho minutes , but it was also understood that tho respect ancl esteem

of the brethren will shortly take a moro substantial form . Grand Lodgo was then closed in duo form , and tho brethren adjourned to Bro . Jenkins , of the Victoria Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet awaited them , and to which upwards of one hundred guests sat down , ancl did ample justice to . Toast and song followed iu rapid succession , until the time warned those from a distance that trains were no

moro inclined to wait than time and tide . Wo subjoin a list of the officers appointed for tho year 1877-78 : — Bros . Rbt . Blargravo W . Bt . 671 S . W ., W . G . Phillips P . BI . 990 J . W ., David Williams ( Canon ) 671 and Rev . Jas . Bowden 366 Chaplains , Richard Thomas I . P . M . 476 Registrar , Geo Griffiths P . BI . 336 Treas ., Edward Earner P . M . 1072 Sec , D . A . Reid W . BI . 1177 S . D ., T . D .

Harris P . BI . 378 J . D ., D . Blathias W . M . 366 S . of Works , John Blay W . BI . 461 D . of C , Hy . C . Buckley 671 Assist . D . of C . John Cavill 476 Swd . Br ., W . H . Ribbon 378 Org ., Edwin Thomas 378 Purs ., Wm . Hy . Richards 1177 , Edgar Atwood , 1072 , B . E . Morgan 1072 , Thomas Brown J . W . 378 , Geo . W . Ford J . D . 990 , VV . Murray 1177 Stewards , John Williams 366 Tyler .

Talbot Lodge, No. 1323, Swansea

TALBOT LODGE , No . 1323 , SWANSEA

THE ever genial W . M . of this Lodsje , Bro . J . G . Hall J . P ., with the thoughtfulness so characteristic of him , issued an invitation to the Masonic members of the Joint North and South Wales Bir , who are now on circuit in South Wales , to attend Lodgo on Wednesday , 1 st August , and after due labour in Lodgo to a slight refection , in the shape of a social dinner . The kindness and brotherly feeling of such

an invitation was as genially aud fraternally accepted by Bros . iEneas Mclntyre Q . C . Grand Registrar of England , J . W . Bowen Q . C ., B . Francis Williams , A . G . P . Lewis , W . D . Benson , and C . A . Fyffe . Perhaps it gave no little zest to tho professional brethren to be present to see so worthy a young professional brother as Walter Daltou tako his third degree in the honourable

fraternity . The ceremony of raising was performed iu the quiet unassuming manner so peculiarly his own , by the W . M ., ably seconded by his officers . After the labour proper of the evening was completed the W . M . spoke in very feeling terms of the presence of a distinguished brother who had not for some little time been so often amongst them as they wished , although he was the founder of

the Lodge . Since his last appearance there he had been selected by the favour of H . R . H . the Princo of Wales , and appointed to tho honourable office of Grand Deacon of England , ho very cor lially wished Bro . Blorris long life to enjoy the high honour he had attained , and the easo and retirement his long and distinguished services fairly entitled him to . The W . BI . then instructed his S . W .

according to ancient form to close the Lodgo . After which the brethren repaired to tho banquet room , where the usual monthly banquet was laid out , the merits of which having been properly discussed , and justice fairly dono by , the W . M . gave the patriotic and Masonic toasts of tho Queen and Craft , and H . R . H . the Princo of Wales Grand Blaster of the Order . Bro . Hall then gave what is ,

next to the loyal aud patriotic toasts , always tho toast of tho evening at the Talbot Lodge , viz ., " The Visitors . " The W . M ., in proposing this favourite toast , spoko of the great pleasure ifc gave him as W . BI . of the Talbot Lodge , to seo such a gathering of Blasonic brethren belonging to tho honourable profession of the Bar present as guests of the Talbot Lodge . He hoped that the fraternal knowledge

of each other , began that evening , would be extended in the future by many moro meetings under the banner of the same Lodgo . Bro . Mclntyro , in responding , spoke of the singularly friendly aud gentlemanly way in which he , and other members of tho North Wales Circuit , had been received by the South Wales Circuit . He could not tell , but ho thought some of thafc kindliness of fueling had been

engendered by the principles of Freemasoury . He hoped that his acquaintance with the brethren of South Wales , thus auspiciously begau , would become closer and more iutimate . He also spoke of the pleasure ifc gave him to meet , on his own ground , and in the Lodge of which he was the founder , a brother whoso Blasonic merits had been recognised by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . He had long

known Bro . Blorris by repute , but he was now glad to number him amongst his personal friends . He thanked tho brethren of the Talbot Lodge on behalf of himself aud other visitors for the very cordial welcome they had received at their hands , and re-echoed tho wish of the W . M . that , at some future period , they might again meet at tho same Lodge . Bro . J . W . Bowen , who was also called upon to

respond , excused himself for the slight rust upon his Blasonic knowledge which had come upon him , because of the demands which his profession made upon him . Ho could remember years ago , when he used to attend tho St . Peter ' s Lodge , the great interest that he took in all Blasonic labour . He hoped the time would soon come when ho would bo ablo again to give himself the pleasure

of being a moro frequent attendant at Lodge . Ho thanked the brethren for their kindly notice ancl reception of him . The health of the W . BI . having been proposed and received in tho way his name always is received , he gave " Our Next Bleeting , " after which song and jest whiled the hours away , a result to which the admirable singing of Bros . Harding , of 476 , A . G . P . Lewis , also of 476 , J . Jones

Hewson , and J . B . Richards , of 1336 , materially contributed . Tho inimitable W . BI . of the Blerlin Lodge , Pontypridd , Bro . Matthew Wayne Blorgau , by his rich , racy humour , created roars of laughter . Altogether , we may say that a moro pleasurable evening has never been spent by the Bar in South Wales ; nor , we venture to say , have the hospitable Talbot Lodgo ever more thoroughly enjoyed tho visit pf lu'eMu'eu from a distauco tliau upon this occasion ,

The Surrey Masonic Hall

THE SURREY MASONIC HALL

THE meeting suggested by our correspondent , " P . BI ., P . Z . iu his letter , published in our columns last week , was held at tho Surrey Masonic Hall , ou tho evening of Monday last . Amongst tho brethren present wero Bros . Dr . Pinclor , G . H . N . Bridges , N . B . Headon , BI . S . Larlham , T . L . Green , E . Moody , K . Clark , S . Drysdalo , H . Carrod , John Constable , James Stevens , W . C . Dovereux , L . J . Altman , W . Sim , G . J . Dawson , W . W . Morgan ,

W . Ramsoy , VV . Smith , J . O . Gardner , B . Turner , and numerous others , whoso faces are familiar to ns ; but , as no signature book was prepared for reference , we cannot remember their names . Although tho gathering might fairly bo considered sufficiently representative , it was uot , however , so largo as tho circumstances of the caso had ted many to expect , and it was soon discovered that tho largo Hall

would not bo required for tho purposes of tho meeting . Tho dining-hall was therefore thrown open , aud this was very sufficiently filled by members of tho Craft , shareholders iu the company , or otherwise . Bro . Jamos Stevens was nominated as chairm iu , bat stating that he was the writer of the letter which had led to the meeting , declined that position , and Bro . N . B . Headon P . M ., of tho

Groat City , No . 1426 , was requested to preside . Tho chairman , after briefly explaining thafc the gathering together of the brethren on this occasion , was moro for tho purposes of consultation on the position of tho Surrey Blasonic Hall Company , and the risk of the baildiog being purchased for , and devoted to other purposes , than for the passing of resolutions , condemnatory or otherwise , of past

proceedings in relation thereto , hoped thafc the subject would be approached by each speaker in a proper Masonio spirit ani , as far as possible , free from personality or bias , A cool , calm consideration was necessary , and that conld not be given if foaling was to bo strongly displayed . The meeting was not formal , nor held

under authority . It was moro as a committee of interested persons than as a body of men capable of deciding upon action , and of carrying that action to a practical result . He called upon Bro . Stevens to read the letter published iu the Blasonic papers , and this was done .

From this point a lengthy discussion ensusd , the details of whioh we consider jt quite unnecessary to report . Freemasons have natural feelings and impulses , aud ifc is nofc to ba woudered at that tho narration of certain past proceedings should havo occasioned indignant remarks , which , although each speaker endeavoured to avoid personality , could not fail to bo unacceptable to some

individuals . However , all who desired to speak were listened to with attention , and many propositions were pat forward with a view to remedy the past . A director endeavoured to explain away some of the extraordinary proceedings which wero attributed to the Board , but failed to do so . Indignation was expressed that tho shareholders had not been called

together prior to the announcement of the sale by auction , under fore , closure by tho mortgagees . Sympathy for the builder , Bro . J . Oliver , whose unpaid balance for tho erection of the building amounts to nearly dB 1 , 000 , was generally expressed , and tho tone of tho meeting subsequently became thafc of a general desire to see him saved from so great a loss . Nothing ,

however , resulted of a practical nature , as so little timo remained for carrying out any of the suggestions made , and after two hours' debate tho brethren separated , very donbtful , indeed , as to the issue of the morrow ' s public sale of the building . Wo attended the auction on the 31 sfc ult ., and noticed a moderate

attendance of Freemasons . Tho biddings were opened by one of £ 3 , 000 , which sum was iucreased to £ 1 , 600 , at which price the Surrey Masonic Hall was sold , as wo were given to understand , to Bro . Oliver , the builder , and the fact formed a subject of great congratulation among those present when the hammer fell .

Woodbridge Grammar School.

WOODBRIDGE GRAMMAR SCHOOL .

' 1 HE annual concert , previous to the vacation of this school , was held on Tuesday last , at the school-room , and was well attended . The programme , which comprised the cantata , " The Jackdaw of Rheims , " aud some songs and selections , was very well sustained , On the following day , which was speech day , Col . St . John Barnes M . P . presided , and was surrounded by a large number of the

principal gentry and ladies of the town and neighbourhood . Several valuable prizes , chiefly well-bound books , were distributed to tho pupils of the school . Great credit ancl praise was given to tho head master , Dr . James Rnssel Wood , and his assistant masters , for tho efficiency shown by the boys under their caro as boarders and clay

scholars . The names of those who received prizes were : —F . BLrley , A . Hewetsou , J . C . Thorpe , D . T . B . Wood , J . Arnott , W . J . Shipman , G . 0 . Wood , J . Devonshire , R . L . Devonshire , W . B . Harfcridge , S . 0 . Wood , W . J . Naunton , A . K . BI . Wood , A . H . Mayhew , E . C . Pettitt , D . B . Capou , R . E . Vaughau , aud VV . Jarvis .

Notice.—Back Numbers.

NOTICE . —BACK NUMBERS .

Brethren who desire to complete their sets of tho FREEMASON ' CHBONICLB , should make early application for Back Numbers . At present all are in print , but of some we have only a few copies left . Cases for binding

the several volumes can Ibe iiacl at tlie Office , 67 Barwcau ,