Consecration: Colne, No. 2477.

in the middle of last week he was summoned to Warwick to be with his fathei * , who , he was sorry to say , as age grew upon him , became more and more feeble . He ( Lord Brooke ) would have been wifch them earlier in the day had

he not been kept with his father up to the last moment . His Lordship also took this opportunity of thanking his good friend Brother Railing for so readily coming forward and efficiently carrying out the duty which he himself should have done .

Tbe names of Bros . J . J . C . Turner P . P . G . S . W . and J . H . Salter P . P . G . J . W . were associated with the toast of the Provincial Grand Officers . The latter brother said he never attended a Masonic meeting without learning something . To-day he had learned two , as ho considered ,

important lessons—devotion to duty and self-sacrifice . They had had a notable instance of devotion to duty in tho courageous manner in which Bro . Railing had stepped into the breach and undertaken a responsible and arduous duty afc a moment ' s notice , and as an instance of

selfsacrifice they had the fact that their Provincial Grand Master had left the sick room of his father—jourueyd from Warwick to London , delayed there with important business , and yet pushing on to Wyvenhoe at the earliest possible moment in order that he might fulfil tbe

responsibilities of his highoffice amongst them . Bro . Salter in conclusion , congratulated the Worshipful Master upon the manner in which he was conducting the proceedings of the meeting , and wished every success to the Colne Lodge .

Lord Brooke proposed the Worshipful Master , congratulating fche members of the Colne Lodge upon having such a brother to preside over the first year of their life , and expressing a hope that the Lodge would flourish and be a source of strength to the Province .

Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green , in responding , said he quite felt fche responsibility of being Masterof a Lodge , particularly of a new Lodge , bufc he trusted that with the help of the other Founders the affairs of" the Colne Lodge would bo so

conducted that their Provincial Grand Master would have no cause to be ashamed of his youngest child . He acknowledged the assistance he had received from the brethren wifch whom he he had been associated in the

launching of this new venture , particularly mentioning Bro . Capt . W . Ham , who really ought to be termed the father of the Lodge , for it was to his energy and perseverance

that their existence was due . The Worshipful Master also thanked Bro . Railing for the kind advice he had always given , and the great assistance he had been to them in arranging the preliminaries . The toasfc of fcho visitors was associated wifch fche names

of Bro . F . H . Meggy P . M . 27 G P . P . G . A . D . C , Bro . Joseph Bowdell W . M . 433 , Colonel Costabadie , R . A ., and Bro . John Carter . The last named Brother , who was referred to by the W . M . as the splendid skipper Of the Prince of Wales ' s yatch , the Brittania , responded in a true sailorly fashion . Ho said when he was selected to take that

responsible position he felfc a bit nervous , but after fche first I day spent with his Royal Master all that was over , for the Prince he found to be a thorough English gentleman , who treated his crew with the greatest consideration . When

H . R . H . left them the other day he had all hands before him , and thanking them said he was perfectly satisfied with all they had done . They had succeeded in winning over 30 ¦ prizes , H . R . H . on some occasions being on board .

The Masonic Charities having been honoured , the W . M . proposed what he remarked was an important toast to the Lodge just starting , viz ., the Wardens and other Officers . He went throngh the Officers seriatim , causing some merriment by mentioning their personal characteristics . He

said the principle he had adopted in choosing his Officers had been to alternate them between the two places divided by the Colne , or he would rather say united by thafc river . He himself was considered to represent Wyvenhoe . Bro . Pratt as representing both sides , while Bro . Ennew , the

J . W ., represented Rowhedge , and so on . There had in late years been a considerable rivalry between the two places , and that nofc always of a healthy character . This had ,

however , all been altered ; they had now a united regatta , in which their contests were quite of a friendly character , and he felt sure that this Freemason ' s Lodgo would still further cement the good fellowship .

Bros . Pratt , Ennew , and W . H . Ham responded , all promising to give their hearty support to the W . M . The Tyler ' s toast brought a most successful function to a close . The musical portion of the consecration ceremony was

Consecration: Colne, No. 2477.

under the conduct of Bro . Henry Prenton ( basso ) , late of St . Paul's Cathedral ; who was assisted by Bros . George May ( alto ) , of St . Paul ' s Cathedral ; Herbert Clinch ( tenor ) , of tho Temple ; and Lovett King , buffo-pianist and

organist . Bro . Prouton and Lovett lung contributed much to the entertainment of the brethren between the toasts . Tho clever whistling solos ot the former were greatly admired , whilst the comical sketches of the latter produced roars of laughter .

Lord Brooke was the guest of Bro . and Mrs . Egerton-Green , at Wyvenhoe Hall , on Tuesday night . It should be mentioned thafc Miss Philbrick , sister of the D . P . G . M ., kindly sent a supply of button-hole bouquets , which were much appreciated .

Sussex.

SUSSEX .

fPHE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of JL Sussex was held ou Thursday of last week in tho Music Room , Royal Pavilion , Brighton . In tho unavoidable absence of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , Provincial Grand Master , and of the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q C , M . P ., P . G . S ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the

chair was taken by the Hev . E . R . Curne , Dean of Battle , P . P . G . Chaplain , who was supported by several of the Grand Officers of England , by a large gathering of the present and past Provincial Grand Officers , and also by many of the brethren of the Lodges in the Province .

Previous to the formal business of the afternoon the acting Deputy Provincial Graud Secretary read the following address , which had been received from the Provincial Grand Master : —

To the Members of the Provincial Qrand Lodge of Sussex . I regrtt exceedingly that I am unable to be present on Thursday afc the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , mere especially as I have just received information that my Deputy Provincial Grand Master , tbe Right Hou . Sir W . T . Marriott , is detained in Egypt by

a professional engagement , and oannot possibly return in time . I bave therefore deputed the Very Rev . E . R . Carrie , Dean of Battle , and Past Grand Chaplain , to preside in my place and invest the Officers whom I have appointed . I assure you it is only my paramount desire to properly fulfil the duties I have undertaken iu

assuming the command at Aldershot whioh prevents me from attending . In response to an urgent invitation from the Worthing Lodge of Friendship , I did propose to hold the annual meeting this year afc Worthing , bufc in consequence of fche distressing epidemio from whioh the inhabitants are still suffering , although I am glad to hear the

illness is subsiding , I did not think it wise or prudent thafc the meeting shonld take place there this ye » r , but hope thafc it may be held there on a future occasion . I am glad to find from the returns that there has beeu a fair nnmber of initiates during the year , and , in consequence of the establishment of the two new Lodges , a large

number of joining members , bnfc this does not represent a similar increase in the actual numbers of individual brethren , as many are still subscribers to ether Lodges . The increase on paper is from 1 , 313 to 1 , 382 , but as many are duplicates the number of subscribing members at June last was only about 1 , 270 . When we met last I told you I

thought the two new Lodges whioh I had recommended would supply all the requirements of the Province for some time , but the energy and perseverance displayed by a few brethren who wished to start a Lodge afc Pevensey was such thafc after a largo amount of consideration and consultation with my Deputy Provinoial Grand Master , I felt

I could not refuse to recommend the petition , so tbe warrant was granted , and the Lodge duly consecrated last , mouth . I fiod thafc the scheme proposed for the establishmant of a Masonic Hall and Glob at Brighton did nofc commend itself to a majority of the brethren , so could not be carried out , and althongh , no donbfc , many regret it , and

would like to see a special home lor Freemasonry in the Province , there is such ample and extraordinary accommodation in the Royal Pavilion at Brighton , that I do not wonder brethren are loth to leave it . The increase in the number of Lodges to thirty enables me to appoint three additional Prov . G . Officers , but even now I find myself

nnable to promote all the brethren whose names are submitted to me , or give one appointment to each Lodge . I have , however , endeavoured fco select those brethren I consider most entitled to office , and

postponed the consideration of other claims fc > a futnre occasion . I am glad to preside over a prosperous and united Province . I wish tbe brethren every happiness and am exceedingly sorry I am obliged to refuse so many invitations I receive from the various Lodges . ARTHUR , P . G . M . 21 sfc October 1893 .

The minutes of the last annual meeting having been read and confirmed , the Prov . G . Secretary called the roll of the Lodges in the Province , after which tho Reports of the Board of Finance and Charities Committee wero received and adopted .

| Bro . J . P . Slingsby Roberts Prov . G . S . Warden proposed that Law 5 of Provincial Grand Lodge be erased , and a new bye-law made relating to thc Board of Finance .