Freemasonry In The West.

FREEMASONRY IN THE WEST .

THE year 1894 has been remarkable for Masonic activity generally , and particularly in relation to the local charities . Associations have been formed in connection with individual or groups of Lodges , so as to secure an increase of interest amongst the ordinary members , promote a more systematic canvass for

subscriptions , and so to provide for the utilisation of votes that even small Lodges may in time secure the election of their candidates . The Cornwall Masonic Charity Association has been , and still is , an immense success , and raises annually several hundreds of pounds , which without such means would mostly

have been lost to the Fraternity , or frittered away in annual subscriptions , instead of becoming life donations . In Devon several Lodges have adopted a similar plan , and tbe formation of the Western District Charities' Association at the Masonic Temple , Plymouth , is another and most hopeful step in the same direction .

Some twenty children are now being educated by the Devon Educational Fund , and several annuities are being paid by the Fortescue Memorial Fund . In Cornwall the educational and annuity funds combined are the means of dispensing most helpful sums annually , either for the education and clothing of

children , or in annuities for aged Freemasons or Widows . In all these societies the money is raised ancl spent in the same neighbourhoods , and the expenses are practically nil ; the whole of the subscriptions going direct to such beneficent objects . Bro . Willonghby's concert was again most successful ou behalf of the Devon Educational Fund .

The three Institutions in London representing the central Masonic Charities have received dnring the year a total of some £ 50 , 000 by their three festivals . The Benevolent realised over £ 12 , 000 , but there was no Stewards from either Devon or Cornwall . The Girls obtained nearly £ 18 , 000 ; Bros . Sborto ( of

Exeter ) and John Taylor , J . P . ( of Torquay ) had £ 110 on their two lists , and Bro . William Lake P . M . 131 for Cornwall had £ 131 ; Lord Skelmersdale was the chairman . The Boys secured £ 18 , 500 ; Bro . E . D . Anderton for Cornwall having £ 110 5 s on

his list , and Bro . F . B . Westlake for Devon having 25 guineas . The Mark Benevolent Festival resulted in £ 1 , 900 , Bro . Lane of Torquay returning £ 33 12 s for Devon . The total for 1894 , of all the charity disbursements , have averaged about £ 250 per day , in England .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon assembled at Teignmouth , and was a successful meeting . The Centenary Warrant of No . 303 was duly banded to the W . M ., the celebration of the event being delayed . Bro . Lord Ebrington has been elected one of fche honorary members of this Lodge , and also of the

senior Lodge in the West of England , No . 39 , Exeter . The Masonic Hall at Newton has been handsomely decorated and inaugurated , another handsome new Masonic Hall and Club at Exmouth , to cost about £ 2 , 000 should also be voted as a sign of

activity and prosperity of the old Lodge ( No . 106 ) in that town . The Mark Provincial was held at Plymouth , Sir Stafford Northcote , Bart ., C . B ., M . P ., the Prov . Grand Master , and the Eoyal Arch Provincial Grand Chapter was convened at Totnes . There are over 3 , 000 subscribing members to the Lodges in

Devon . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall was postponed owing to the decease of the lamented Prov . Grand Secretary , Brother Thomas Chirgwin , J . P . ( Mayor of Truro ) , but was eventually held at Eedruth . There are thirty Lodges on the roll , with 1 , 700

members , the largest total yet reached . The Mark Prov . Grand Lodge met at Falmouth and was successful as usual , and is still numerically and generally in a most healthy state . Brother C . Truseott was presented with a purse of money in appreciation of his services as manager for several years of the charity votes in

the county . The initiation , quite recently , in the Cornish Lodge , London , of Bro . Passmore Edwards has been the subject of sincere congratulation amongst the Craft in Cornwall , bis sympathies being so active in all benevolent objects generally .

Devon has borne its fair share in the various literary effort ' s in connection with the Fraternity , and the condition of Devonshire and Cornish Freemasonry is most satisfactory . — " Western Morning News . "

Welsh Freemasonry.

WELSH FREEMASONRY .

IT is encouraging , says the " Craftsman , " to know that Welsh Freemasonry during the year just ended has made rapid progress , and the Order is stionger in tl e Principality to-day than it ever was . On the whole , while the Brotherhood in the

Welsh Counties have become more numerous , " the quality of the Lodges , " if we may so teim it , has also not deteriorated . This is an encouraging fact , and we hope that the Brethren will always exercise the utmost caie in the selection of candidatesfor the stability and prestige of the Order depends upon the

Welsh Freemasonry.

uprightness and allegiance of its supporters . Below will be found references to some of the more important occurrences in Welsh Freemasonry during the year : — Towards the close of the year 1893 a gloom was cast over the Brotherhood in the Eastern Division of South Wales by the

lamented death of their Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Sir George Elliot , who for so long a period had taken a prominent and active interest in the affairs of the Craft . In January a new Masonic Hall was opened at Tredegar ,

and on the 26 th of the same month the Freemasons of Cardiff were much interested in the visit of Bro . Lord Eoberts , who was feted and lionised by the townspeople in a manner that must have been most gratifying , not only to the object of the demonstration , but also to every Freemason in South Wales .

In February , the M . W . the Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales attended the North Wales National Eisteddfod , and was received with enthusiastic loyalty wherever he went . The death of Bro . S . G . Homfray D . P . G . M . for Monmouthshire , in March , was a sad blow for the Brethren of that division

and the loss of so staunch and lovable a Brother will belong felt . On lGth March the venerable Dr . William Eeynold Salmon , M . E . C . S ., of Penllyn Court , Cowbridge , completed his 104 th year , and received many Masonic greetings . The Doctor occupies the unique position of being the oldest Freemason in the world .

In April , Cardiff had another distinguished Masonic Visitor in the person of Sir John Gorst . Sir John was the guest of Bro . Sir Edward Stock Hill , K . C . B ., of Eookwood , Llandaff , who also acted as the host of Bro . Lord Eoberts . On the 31 st of May one of the most successful Royal Arch

meetings ever held in Cardiff , or in the Province of fche Eastern Division , took place at the Masonic Hall , Working Street , when tbe Marmaduke Tennant Chapter was consecrated . In July , the

Merlin Lodge , Pontypridd , set a noble example , which was followed by a number of other Welsh Lodges , by devoting a portion of its funds for the relief of the widows and orphans of the terrible colliery explosion at Cilfynydd .

On 12 th July , Bro . Col . Lyne was re-installed as P . G . M .. for Monmouthshire , in the Provincial Grand Lodge held at Ehymney , and on 27 th September , the notable event of the installation of Bro . Lord Llaugattock as P . G . M . for the Eastern Division of South Wales took place at Cardiff , and was one of the most

magnificent spectacles ever witnessed by Welsh Freemasons . On 18 th October , Bro . C . E . Lyne , the respected son of Brother Colonel Lyne , of Newport , was installed as Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Monmouthshire , and has since amply justified his appointment .

Death has been busy among the Brethren during the past year , and among the demises chronicled in the columns of the " Craftsman " during the twelve months just ended were those of

Bro . Capt . Homfray , Newport ; Bro . John May , Tenby ; Bros . L . Mcintosh and E . Davies , of Merthyr ; Bros . John Nol ' cini and Sir Morgan Morgan , of Cardiff ; and Bro . Thomas Hall , of Porthcawl .

In concluding this brief retrospect we hope the coming year will be freer from sorrow for Welsh Freemasons than the past year , and that it will bring with it prosperity and happiness all round . — " South Wales Daily News . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

'A SPRIG OF ACACIA .

IT is with extreme regret we chronicle the death of the i Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire Sir Edmund A . I H . Lechmere , Bart ., F . S . A ., M . P ., who died very suddenly at Pershore , on the 18 th ult . Sir Edmund was about to address a large meeting of his constituents in the Music Hall , and was

apparently in the best of health before entering the hall . He was conversing with one of his supporters , when he fell against the side of the table , and to an inquiry he replied , " I am all right . " These were the last words he uttered , death ensuing I almost immediately . The Earl of Coventry , who was to have

presided , announced the sad news with much emotion , and the 1 meeting quietly dispersed . The news of Sir Edmund ' s sudden j demise reached the Masonic Hall , Birmingham , where the Charity Lodge was holding its usual meeting , and , after suspending the proceedings of the Lodge , the Worshipful Master , I

Sir James Sawyer Prov . G . S . W . made a sympathetic reference to the excellent qualities of the deceased Brother , whom he described as a typical Englishman , and a man beloved in Masonic circles . His loss was alike great to the country and

Freemasonry . Other Masonic friends also briefly testified to tbe loss the Craft had sustained by his sudden removal . Sir Edmund ' s appointment as Provincial Grand Master dated back to 1878 .

BRO . Thomas wall , for many years town crier of Neath , died on Tuesday , 18 th ult . The deceased held the position of T y ler of the Cambrian Lodge of Freemasons .