Prov. Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE .

THE annual meeting was held on Monday , tho 23 rd ult ., at the sohool-room , Rose Ash , near South Molton , for the purpose of laying the corner-stone of Rose Ash Chnrch on its being restored and to fix the keystone of the arch . Aa this waa tbe first time in the history of Mark Masonry in Eugland that suoh an

interesting ceremony—the combining of practical with symbolic Masonry—was performed , there was a goodly attendance of brethren , the majority from the Three Towns . Although Rose Ash is rather a difficult place to visit , being several miles from any station , the brethren attended in larger numbers than would

otherwise have been the case , on account of the fact that tho ceremonial was arranged out of respect to the late P . G . M . M . M . of Devon . W . Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel Tanner . Davey , J . P ., the announcement of whose death , in April of last year , wa 3 received with manifestations of regret by the whole Province . The brethren from the

West travelled by the fast South Western train at 80 a . m . from North Road to Eggesford where conveyances wore waiting to con . vey them to Rose Ash , a distance of thirteen miles . The journey to and fro was accomplished safely , although the roads were heavy and the vehicles , on account of some misunderstanding , somewhat

overladen . Oa arrival at Rose Ash the party was kindly received by Mrs . Tanner-Davey , at her charming residence , the grounds of whioh were much admired . The parish church dedicated to St . Peter , is an ancient edifice of the third pointed date ; the lower part of the tower may be older . The old chnrch , which consists

entirely of a chancel , nave , and embattled tower . The font is Norman , and there is an Early English window in the tower . In the north aisle , which was added more than 200 years ago , is a rood loft door , and there is also a rood screen whioh , however , is in a very dilapidated condition . At the west of that wall is a tablet , on

which is inscribed " Robert Ayre , churohwarden , 1767 ; " another stone bearing " R . L ., 1623 , " which was in the south wall will be replaoed . A most remarkable thing is to be seen in the chancel which has not yet been torn down . In the panels are painted descriptions and illustrations of the martyrdom , together with the

names of the Apostles and Evangelists—S . S . Paul , Matthias , Mark , James-the-Great , James-the-Less , Matthew , Peter , Philip , Andrew , Bartholomew , Simon , Judo , Luke , John , and Thomas . Tho whole of the church will practically be restored in the Early English style , with a porch in the south wall of the nave , from plans and

specifications prepared by Messrs . F . Aubyn and Wadling , Architects , of the Temple , London , Mr . J . Clotworthy , of Witheridge , being the builder . The walls , roof , windows , and floors of the church will be rebuilt first , the chnrch being in a wretched condition of repair . The arch of the tower will only be restored . It has

a splendid peal of five bells , which were thoroughly restored about four yeara ago . It is expected that the work will be finished at Christmas . About £ 600 will be expended now , the total cost being estimated at £ 1 , 200 to £ 1 , 500 . Other portions of the work will be

proceeded with as funds are available . The present Rector ia the Rev . H . G . Sonthcombe , and the living has been in the hands of the family for over 200 ycar 3 , the present being the seventh Southcombe who has held it in succession . There is a handsome

communion plate in a good state of preservation , which was given by the Rev . Lewis Southcombe in 1718 , who was appointed in 1675 . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in form at the Board school room , which was nicely decorated for the occasion . There was a choice lot of flowers and exotics in addition to some bunting and

appropriate Masonic mottoes and devices . The Lodge furniture was kindly lent by Lodge Fortescue , No . 9 , of South Molton , aud included a handsome oak W . M . ' s chair , which bore the following inscription : — "This chair was presented to the Loyal Lodge of Industry , No . 610 , by Bros . J . Tanner-Davey , of Rose Ash , on his

installation as W . M ., 5 th January , 1860 . " Bro . W . Cole P . M . Fortescue Lodge , assisted Bro . J . Gidley P . M . P . G . Tyler in decorating the temporary Lodge-room . The Worshipfnl the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . Charles Spence Bate , F . R . S ., P . M . 35 , sat on the throne . The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed ,

the P . G . Secretary read a letter from Mrs . Tanner-Davey , thanking the P . G . Lodge for its kind vote of sympathy and condolence on the irreparable loss she had sustained by the death of her husband . The P . G . Secretary reported that all the brethren appointed to office at the last Prov . Grand Lodge , with the exception of one who

died shortly after his appointment , had assumed their rank and paid their fees of honour . Dnring the past year there had been 44 advancements , and allowing for losses by death and otherwise there had been an increase of one subscribing member , the number in the Province being 455 as against 454 in 18 S 6 . In accordance with the

resolutions passed by the Prov . Grand Lodge at St . George s Hall on 15 th June 1887 , he forwarded a letter to the Grand Secretary intimating that the brethren present at the Lodge meeting unanimously resolved to recommend to the G . M . Master W . Bro . C . Spence Bate D . P . G . M . M . M . for tbe office of P . G . M . M . M . of Devonshire . A

reply was received on the following day , to the effect that the letter should receive attention . Iu reply to the P . G . S . W ., the P . G . Secretary said no further reply had been received . Bro . Stocker inquired if Bro . Bate had received any intimation . The D . G . M . replied in the negative . He received a circular a week or two since notifying

the fact that W . Bro . Ferneres would be installed at Cheltenham as P . G . M . of Gloucestershire . As that had occurred since he ( Bro . Spence Bate ) was nominated , he fult their Province must havo been slighted—and he should bo prepared to take some action in the course of a short time . He should call a meeting ot

the Provincial Grand Lodgo to consider the matter—as the premier Lodge of England ought not to bo without a Grand Master . The P . G . Secretary reported that since the last meeting of the

Provincial Grand Lodge two new Mark Lodges had been consecrated in that Province by W . Bro . the D . P . G . M ., viz ., St . George ' s , Stonehouse , No . 383 , on 6 th January , and De La Pole , No . 372 , at Seaton , on 7 th March . The Committee appointed to provide a suitable

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

memorial to the memory of tho late P . G . Master had decided that a mural tablet be erected in Rose Ash Church , bearing a proper inscription , and that an appeal be made to tho Mark Lodges and brethren in the province to snbsoribo funds for thia purpose . The

erection of the tablet had been delayed on account of the restoration of the church . The Secretary ' s report was adopted . The P . G . Treasurer reported that the year was commenced with a balance in hand of £ 21 Os 6 d , whioh with dues from Lodges , £ 25 3 a , and £ 8 8 s 8 d from Grand Lodge fees , brought the total up to £ 54 12 s .

After paying the expenses , and £ 5 5 s to the Mark Benevolent Fund , there waa a balance in hand of £ 42 19 s 8 d . The report wa 3 adopted . The Provincial Committee recommended that twenty guineas bo given to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and placed on Bro . Stooker ' s liafc , £ 10 10 s to Rose Ash Church Restoration Fund , and £ 5 5 s to the

Boys School , to be placed on Bro . Lemon a list . On the proposition of Bro . George R . Barrett , Bro . J . T . Bond J . W . 383 was unanimously elected P . G . Treasurer for the year ensuing . Tho brethren thon formed into procession and inarched to Rose Ash Church , where a short Divine service waa held , tho Rev . H . G . Southcombe , the

rector , officiating , Bro . the Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., reading the lesson . The service over the brethren proceeded outside the ohuroh . It had been raining hard for some time , but cleared juat about this time . Tho rector presented the D . P . G . M . with a silver trowel , and he laid the foundation stone , in the cavity of whioh were placed some

coins , after whioh ho proved it waa properly adjusted by the plumb , rule , level and square . Corn , wine , and oil were thrown over the stone with the accustomed coremony . The builder waa then presented with the several implements and also the plan and elevation of the building after they had been approved of . Tho inscription on

tho stone rau as follows : — " July 23 rd , 188 S . This stono was laid in open Lodge by the D . P . G . M . M . M . of Devon , in memory of Bro . John Tanner-Davey , Lieutenant Colonel and J . P ., the late G . M . of tho Premier P . G . Lodge of M . M . Masona of Devon , who died April 19 th , 1880 , and lies buried near thia apot . " The D . P . G . M ., addressing the

brothreu , said they met on that ocoasion for the first time in the annals of Mark Masonry to lay tho foundation-stone of a temple for tho worship of the Most High , whose name and all-seeing eye wero prominent objects in every Lodge of free and accepted Masons . After referring to the progress of Masonry and its far-reachiug effects , ho

said : Masonry appeared to him to be in a transitory stago , which arose from no variation in the inherent character of Masonry , but largely in consequence of the higher moral standard of modern civilization and the systematic efforts so largely in vogue for the amelioration of those who had received the less amount of social

advantages . Bro . Spence Bate then enlarged on the necessity of thrift among the industrial classes , and said the great object of Freemasonry was to encourage the combination of practical with symbolic Masonry . He explained that the key of the arch could not

be laid on account of the work of restoration not being sufficiently forward . The brethren returned in procession to the chnrch schools , when the D . P . G . M . appointed the following brethren as his Officers for the year ensuing—Bro . Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A . - Senior Warden Georgo R . Barrett 35 , 383 - Junior Warden

G . T . Strode Lowe 50 - - M . O . W . A . Staton 96 - - - S . O . A . W . White 35 - - . J . O . J . T . Bond 383 - - - Treasurer J . Dodge 319 - - Registrar H . Stocker 15 - - - Secretary G . Perkins 169 - - - Senior Deacou J . H . Kerstemau 316 - - Junior Deacon F . C . Frost 316 - - - Superintendent of Works J . Drew 23 Director of Ceremonies C . H . Fulford 15 - - - Asst . Director of Cers . C . Hunt 91 Sword Bearer H . Imbort-Terry 15 - - Standard Bearer G . Sellick 50 - - - Assistant Secretary J . H . Carty 383 ... Organist H . S . Best 64 - - - I . G . J . Bray 16 295 - - - " ) H . Mitchelmorel 5 - - ' „ . , Frank R . Thomas 35 - . ( Stewards W . M . Robins 35 - - - James Gidley 169 - - Tyler

The following gentlemen were appointed as a Provincial Committee : —Bros . S . Jones , Exeter , John Lane , Torquay , W . Vicary , Nowton , F . Crouch , G . R . Barrett , and E . Aitken Davies , Plymouth . The D . P . G . M . intimated he should call these gentlemen together shortly to consider the question of the absence of a P . G . M . The

Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . The brethren adjourned to the school-room , and sat down to a luncheon presided over by the rector , the company including the Rev . Prebendary Matthews , Knovvstone , the Rev . 11 . E . Trefusia , Vicar of Chittlehamnton , the

Rev . R . E . Lester , Bishopsnytnpstone , the Rev . II . G . Alexander , Creacombe , the Rev , R . W . Atkins , Romansleigh , Mrs . Tauuer-D / ivy , Mrs . Matthews , Miss Matthews , tho Mis 3 es King , Miss Merson , Mrs . Mayo , and Mrs . Williams , and Mr . Houry Ayre and Mr . T . Willicott , Churchwardens .

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