Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex was held on Saturday , 29 th ult ., at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court . The minutes having been confirmed , the reports of the Audit Committee and the Charity Committee were read and confirmed . The Secretary then called over the roll of Lodges in the Province . The present position of this Province can best be judged from the following , which was sent out with the summonses : —

It has been deemed desirable , by the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , that a brief review of the progress of Freemasonry in Middlesex , since its formation as a Masonic Province , should bo submitted to this Provincial Grand Lodge . On the 1 st of December 1869 , the late Earl of Zetland , then Most Wor . Grand Master , was pleased to appoint Bro . Lient .-Colonel Francis Burdett , P . S . G . W . of England and

Representative of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , to the high and dignified post of Provincial Grand 'Master of Middlesex , and farther to direct that the Province should be constituted at as early a date as possible . It may be well to recall the fact that Colonel Burdett ' s nomination was the result of the unanimous votes of tho delegates of every Lodge in tbe Province at a meeting specially con .

vened , and that thoir recommendation was subsequently graciously approved by the then Grand Master . In 1869 , there were but 8 Lodges in Middlesex outside tho radius of ten miles from Freemasons' Hall—¦ viz ., 382 at Uxbridge , 708 at Hampton Court , 788 at Twickenham , 865 at Hounslow , 946 at Strawberry Hill , 1194 at Isleworth , 1237 at Enfield , and 1238 at Southall . The inaugural meeting of tho

Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Teddington , on the 22 nd January 1870 , on which day the " Bnrdett" Lodge , No . 1293 , was also conaecrated , Colonel Bnrdett being the first Master . In the course of the same year , three new Lodges were added to the Provincial roll—viz ., "Acacia , " 1309 , at Potters' Bar ( since removed to Southall ); "Harrow , " 1310 , at Harrow ; and "Lebanon , " 1326 , at Hampton .

In 1871 tho number of Lodges received no addition ; but in 1872 two new Lodges , the "Campbell , " 1415 , and "Era , " 1423 , both at Hampton Court , were established , and the " Bard of Avon " Lodge , No . 778 , was transferred from Stratford-on-Avon , War . wickshire , to a locale in Middlesex . In 1873 , the " Thames Valley Lodge , " No . 1460 , received a warrant for Halliford , Shepperton ;

and in 1874 no less than three new Lodges were formed—viz ., the "Felix , " 1494 , at Teddington ; the "Francis Burdett , " 1503 , at Hampton Hill ; and the " Hemming , " 1512 , at Hampton . And the list of accessions to our strength closes with the " Abercorn " Lodge , 1549 , which was consecrated at Great Stanmore only a few weeks ago . The number of Lodges has thus increased in five

years and a half from 8 to 20 , and the membership from between 200 and 300 to nearly 1000 . Bnt the most gratifying result to the R . W . Provincial Grand Master is the fact that , with comparativel y few exceptions , this extraordinary increase in numbers has been attained by the introduction of members who are prepared to fulfil their responsibilities as Freemasons . If it were not so , such a rapid

extension in mere numerical strength would become a subject for deprecation and reproof , rather than for congratulatiun and rejoicing . There are , nevertheless , one or two Lodges in which a greater discrimination in the acceptance of candidates and joining members should be exercised and enforced ; and the Provincial Grand Master will hold the Masters of any such Lodges strictly

responsible , in future , that the laws of the Craft ace obeyed in their entirety , with reference to the status and character of all persons proposed for admission , either as joining members or initiates . It is , however , very satisfactory to know that tho Lodges generall y are well and ably worked , that harmony and goodwill prevail amongst the brethren , Masonic complaints being almost unknown in tho

Province , aud , above all , that a steady and liberal support is being extended to the Masonic Charities . Five years ago hardly a Lodge had a vote in its corporate capacity , now , more than half of the existing Lodges are Life Governors of the several Masonic Institutions . At the last three Festivals the Province was thus represented : — In January 1875 , at the " Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , "

by five Stewards , producing lists amounting to £ 186 ; at the " Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , " in May , by fourteen Stewards , with £ 582 ; and at the July Festival of the " Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " by ten Stewards , with a total of £ 400 , making in the aggregate tho handsome sum of £ 1 , 168 as the united donations of the Freemasons associated with the Province , irrespective of large

amounts contributed by some of its members , who subscribed tbrocgh various Metropolitan Lodges , to which they also belong . The Provincial Grand Master especially desires to thank those Stewards , and the brethren who havo thus materially assisted them in maintaining so well the prestige of the Province , and he is confident that , as years roll on , the good example which they have set will bu followed by their successors iu the various Lodges . By a steady

adherence to the princip les of tho Cratt , aud the laws ia ,,..-down in the " Constitutions" of the Order , the happiness an . prosperity of the brethren will be permanently cemented , ami from the experience of tho past , which has been so fruitful it . true Masonic feeling and good fellowship , the Provincial Grand Master expresses his heartfelt conviction that the Province of Miudlesex will ever bo conspicuous for the practice of those exalte ?' virtues which at once characterise and adoin our Masonic profession .

An alteration in one of the Bye-laws , referring to the election o ; Treasurer , having been made , Bro . F . Keily was proposed for that office by Bro . Dubois , and unanimously elected . The Provindbi . Grand Master then appointed the following brethren as his officer for the ensuing year : —

Deputy P . G . M . - . Sir Geo . Elliott , Bart ., M . P . S . G . Warden L \ B . Grabham . J . G . Warden . . . Henry G . Buss . G . Chaplain . . . Rev . P . M . Holden . ft , Chaplain ••« ReTi W , F , Reynold * ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

G . Treasurer - - - Frederick Keily . G . Registrar . - . David W . Peavso . G . Secretary . . . R . Wentworth Little P . P . S . G . W . S . G . Deacon - - > H . A . Dubois . J . G . Deacon ... Frederick Walters .

G . Supt . Works . - - Col . Wigginton . G . Dir . Cer . - - - Capt . A . Smith . Asst . G . D . C . T . Nash . G . Sword Bearer - . E . H . Thiellay . G . Organist . - •Reginald W . Williams . G . Pursuivant ...

Asst . G . Pursuivant - - Robert Helsdon . G . Tyler .... J . Gilbert . It was then proposed by the Provincial Grand Master that the snma of £ 10 to the Benevolent Institution , and £ 10 10 s to each of tho Schools be voted from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge , all of which amounts were voted unanimously . Bro . Little proposed

" That a committee be formed for the purpose of commemoratinsr , in an appropriate manner , the completion by tho R . W . Bro . Col . Bnrdett of seven years in his office as Provincial Grand Master , and of testifying to the great advantage which the Province , has received from bis rule , " and that the committee should consist of all Past and Present P . G . Officers , the W . M ., Wardens , Secretary and Past

Masters of tbe various Lodges in the Province , with power to add to their number . Both of these propositions were well received and unani . mously carried . Letters of regret from various brethren at facing unable t' attend the P . G . L . were read , and a petition fora Lodge to be held at West Drayton , nnder the title of the Unity Lodge , was presented . P . G . L . was then closed .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham will be held at South Shields , in the Free Library Buildings , under the banner of St . Hilda ' s Lodge , No . 240 , on Tuesday , 24 th October 1876 .

Always Too Late.

ALWAYS TOO LATE .

By B . P . KETNOLDS , M . D . From the " VOICE OF MASONRY . "

HOW many men there are in the world who are always too late , and therefore all through life accomplish nothing worth naming ? They are never a success , just because they are always late . If they promise to meet you at such an hour , they are never present until half an hour after . No matter how important the business is , either to yourself or to them , they are just as tardy . If they take passage iu a steamboat they arrive just as the boat has left

the wharf ; if they have to meet the cars , they have started a few minutes before they have arrived . Their dinner has been waiting so long that the cook is out of patience , and half the time is obliged to set the table again . This trait of character we havo described they always pursue . They are never in season at church , tho Lodge , at a place of business

at meals , or in bed . Persons of such loose habits wo cannot but despise . Much rather would we have a man too early to see us , always ready , even if he should carry out his principle to the extent of the good deacon , who , in following to the tomb the remains of a husband and father , hinted to the bereaved widow that , at the proper time , he should bo happy to marry her . Tho deacon was just in

season ; for scarcely had the relatives and friends returned to the house , before the minster , who had called to console the widow , made the same proposition to her . " You ai'e too late , " said tbe widow , " the deacon spoke to me at the grave . " Scores have lost opportunities of making fortunes , receiving favours and obtaining even husbands and wires by being a few minutes too

' ate . Always speak and act in season , and be ready at the appointed our . We would not give a fig for a man who is not punctual to hia E ngagements , and who never makes up his mind to a certain course till the time is lost . Those who bang back , hesitate and tremblewho are never on hand for a journey , a meeting , a trade , a lover , or anything else—are poor sloths , and aro ill calculated to get a living in

this stirring world of ours . Our advice is : be in time j be punctual and methodical in business j be always on hand at the right time ; be punctual in your engage ments ; if you make one , keep it . " Punctuality is the soul of bustuess . " Never procrastinate ; numberless aro tho evils which proceed from delays in not doing things at tho proper time . —from the habit . f not being punctual , and of putting off for to-morrow what might be

¦ 'one to-day . Thi ; y really prevent the accomplishment of ha . f the jjarposes of life . Just look at tlie evils ! Tttey begat , first , tardiness negligence , by familiarizing with omissions of duty ; secondly , falsehood , iu order to conceal faults ; thirdly , dishonesty , with a view to tmeud it ; unci lastly , open crime , as the resuit of a gradual inducing p -rhaps begun with being a little tardy . Oue of the first lessons im . pressed ou our mind at school was , "Procrastination is the thieE of dine . " Let us always remember it .

PROSPERITY or THE " SPECULITE SHERRY . " — The unbounded uccess of this wine may be ju / Jged of by the public through the ut'dium of tho following facts : —When Messrs . Feltoe aud Sous first announced the " Sjit't-iulite Sherry , " ii - > v '•' ¦ ¦ back , they were doing , fair business upon the old lasliio .-c , ! , Aoui of long credits and

i ; irge profits , assisted by four clerks ; they adopted the popular cash ¦ aytuent system , and have now nearly 30 clerks , aud the magnitude . if their business has necessitated removal to their present extensive ml commodious premises in Aluetnan ^ -street . ( Their large expo business is conducted in the London Docks , )