Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

THE Freemasons of the Province of Essex may be congratulated on the success which attended their Annual Meeting . This took p lace ou Thursday , the 3 rd instant . The place selected for the gathering was the Forest Hotel , Chingford , on the borders of Epping Forest , and the arrangements mado by the members of tho Chigwoll Lod"P , to whom had been conceded tlio honour of entertaining Prov .

Grand Lodge , were of tho most complete and satisfactory character The weather was all that could be desired , and many of the guests availed themselves of the opportunity of driving to their destination through the beautiful scenery which surrounds this charming spot . The Prov . Grand Master , tho Right Honourable the Lord Tenterden , K . C . B ., opened bis Grand Lodge shortly after tbe hour appointed , he

having been detained some little time in consequence of missing , a train . He was supported by the Rt . Hon . Lord Waveney , Provincial Grand Master Snffolk ; the Rt . Wor . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., Prov . G . Master Middlesex j R . W . Bro . Sir John Whittaker Ellis , Barfc ., Grand Junior Warden ; Sir Charles Bright D . P . G . M . Middlesex ; Matthew Clark P . P . D . G . M . Essex ; Lieut .-Col . Creaton Grand Treasnrer , Col . Shadwell H . Gierke G . Secretary , Rev . T . Cochrane

G . Chaplain , and a very large number of Present and Pasfc G . Officers of Essex and other Provinces . After the Provincial Grand Master had been sainted , tbe distinguished guests entered the Lodge room , and were received with the honours due to their rank . The minutes of fche last Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Southend , on Tuesday , the 9 th of August 1881 . were read and unanimously confirmed .

Several letters were read , expressing regret at inability to be present , from , amongst others , the R . W . Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov . G . Master Hertfordshire , fche R . W . Viscount Holmesdale Provincial Grand Master Kent , the Rev . C . J . Martyn P . G . C . D . P . G . M . Suffolk , Sir J . B . Monckton , Sheriff Hanson , Justice Cave , F . Wilson Ilea D . P . G . M . Herts , Rev . F . B . Shepherd , & c . The roll

was next called , and the representatives were in attendance from each of fche nineteen Lodges which constitute the Province . The numerical strength of the members showed a slight falling off during the year as compared with 1880 and 1881 , but the Financial

Statement showed the condition of the Province was in every way satisfactory . On motion made and duly seconded , the Auditors ' Report was unanimously adopted . In the course of his address Lord Tenterden remarked that the brethren of the Province might congra ' ulate themselves on what had occurred during fche pasfc year . He commented on the vast increase thafc had taken place both in Lodges

and in membership since H . R . H . tbe Pnnce of Wales had filled the office of Grand Master of the English Craft . He stated , on the authority of the Grand Secretary , that , though there was no official census , the number of subscribing members to Grand Lodge might be taken afc 100 , 000 , and when to this was added the list of honorary members , and Craftsmen who did not subscribe to any Lodge , some

idea might be arrived afc as to the magnitude of our organisation . With respect to their own Province , ifc was true they wero nofc quite io strong this time as they were in the two latter years , but their , number was still in excess of what ifc was in 1879 . Moreover , this de . \ crease conld be accounted for , •the Province embraced an agricultural district , and it was fully recognised thafc matters were nofc so pros- !

parous as they could wish . Dnring the year he had received proposals ' for two new Lodges , bufc in one case he had felfc ifc incumbent on him fco refuse the request . However , a third proposal had just beeu ' brought under his notice , and this he felt justified in encouraging . ' HR impressed on fche members of Provincial Grand Lodge the necessity of discountenancing any fictitious or rickotty bantlings . Tho

Prov . Grand Master next referred to the lato visit of the Duko of Connaught in attendance ou Her most Gracious Majesty . On that occasion the brethren of the Chigwell Lodge had asked him to present an address fco the Queen , and this he had much pleasure in for . warding through the prescribed channel , and to which a mosfc gracious reply had been received from fcho Duke of Connaught .

Reference was then made to the zeal displayed by the Dnke of Connaught in all Masouic matters . He ( Lord Tenterden ) had had fche honour of installing him as Master of a Lodge ; he was a good Mason , and a good soldier , and would doubtless render a good account of himself in the duties he had just undertaken . Speaking of the Charity Organisation , just adopted in the Province , ifc was

satisfactory to know that at the last "Elections they had secured the return of one boy , one girl , and one old lady candidate . The Charit y Committee were to be congratulated on this result . However , still more had to be done ; it was requisite thafc there should be united action , and that there should be a good pall , a strong pull , and a pull altogether . In speaking of those who were

nnable to be present , Lord Tenterden remarked that all would regret the absence of Bro . Philbrick , the D . P . G . M ., who had been compelled to go to Bury St . Edmunds on some urgent , though disagreeable , business . He trusted , however , they might see him later in the day . He intimated that ifc was his intention of continuing the services of Bro . Philbrick as Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and paid thafc worthy brother a well-mnrifced cnmnlimfini-, for fcha zeal he disnlaved in tbe

conduct of the business , and heartily thanked him for the assistance he rendered him personally . He congratulated the members of Prov . wand Lod ge on the honour conferred on them by the visit of two 1 rov . Grand Masters , and threw ont a hint that some nnited action •night be initiated for mutual assistance in securing the return of

their respective candidates . Bearing all these matters in mind , it "ould scarcel y be asserted their history was a stagnant one . With respect to the proposed amendment in the Constitutions of the Order , ° n the princi ple that two many cooks would spoil the broth , he had Br , ggested to Bro . Philbrick that he shonld prepare a rSsumi of fche iggested alterations . This request had been complied with , and the following circular i = < the result of Bro . Philbrick ' s laboavs .

The revisions made in the Book of Constitutions may be thus generall y summarised : — ( 1 ) The whole pf fche Laws have been collated and re-arranged ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

grouping fcho Rules under their proper heads , and in con . j secutivo order . ( 2 ) The discropancins in the wording of Laws dealing with tho samo snbject have been altered , so as to make ono uniform language rnn through the whole Book .

1 he alterations , other than those merely verbal or necessary for the sake of clearness , have beeu studiously kept to tho smallest number , and may be classified as under : —

( 3 ) Expansions of the existing Laws where the present wording wanted explanation to make tho meaning clearer—or ( 4 ) The statement of the Laws , which have long obtained practice and are universnlly acted on , ifc being deemed desirable to express plainly on the face of the Book of Constitutions the construction and interpretation which have been accepted for years .

N . B . —It will be noted that no new Law , or Rule , and no alteration of substance is involved under any of fcho foregoing heads . ( 5 ) "NEW RULES—The introduction of which has been avoided ns far as could be . Tho principal new matter will be found in fche regulations as to the official conduct of fche records of private Lodges and their returns to Grand Lodge ; in

the increased fees for warrants for new Lodges , which the present position of the Craffc , as contrasted with 1813 , when fche table now in force was adopted , ia thought to justify ; in bettering the status of serving brethren in certain cases ; in extending the powers of the appeal to all oases ; and in making due provision for the bnsiness to be brought before the Grand Lodge .

It is believed that the Rules as now framed are of a clear nature , explaining themselves , nnd such as the Craft is fnlly enabled to form its judgment npon , when attention has been directed to them . Great pains have been taken to adhere to the frame and substance of Masonry as contained in the ancient landmarks of the Order .

Lord Tenterden , in concluding , referrpd to onr Charities ns the golden columns and bright jewels of the Order . He impressed on all the necessity of a solemn and efficient working of the Craft . There was a vitality in Freemasonry ; it was a true system of morality ; and i *> s teachings were something real and tangible ; not to be cast aside as dreams Freemasonry afforded a common ground , for all

who belong to it , to advance the best interests of humanity , and ho urged one nnd all fco sustain it in its integrity . The W . Bro . Andrew Dnrrant P . M . 276 was re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , and special recognition of the value of his previous services was made . The investment of Prov . Grand Officers for the ; next twelve months resulted as follows : —

W . Bro . Alfred Buck W . M 153 P . G . Senior Warden „ E . B . Florence I . P . M . 214 ... P . G . Junior Warden Bro . Rev . . 1 . H . Rowley 1343 P . G . Chaplain W . Bro . A . Dnrrant ( ro-elecred ) ... P . G . Treasurer „ J . F . Barrett W . M . 1000 ... P . G . Registrar „ T . J . Railing P . M . 51 P . G . Secretary

,, H . E . Dehane W . M . 1543 ... P . G . Senior Deacon „ A . J . Manning P . M . 1437 ... P . G . Junior Deacon „ F . C . Smith W . M . 1457 ... P . G . Supt . of Works „ A . Lucking P . M . 160 P . G . D . ofC . „ C . Hompson W . M . 1799 ... P . G . Assist . D . of C . Bro . H . Bowles 276 P . G . Organist W . Bro . J . M . Fair W . M . 1817 P . G . Sword Bearer

., D . J . Wright I . P . M . 1024 ... P . G . Pursuivant Bro . T . S . Sorrell 276 P . G . Tylor W . Bro . Win . Sowmau W . M . 51 „ E . Shedd W . M . 276 / „ T : G . Mills W . M . 1697 [ P . G . Stewards ,. A . Mead J . W . 276 \ Bro . R . Clowos S . W . 650 J

After the new Prov . Graud Officers had been saluted , Bro . Andrew Dnrrant brought forward the motion which stood in his namo : — " Tha' every Lodge in the Province add to the present payment to Provincial Grand Lodge a contribution of sixpence for each Subscribing Member per annum ; tho amount to bo forwarded

with tho Annual Return , and to be applied towards making as many Lodges , in the name of tho Worshipful Mnstnr for the time being , Life Subscribers of fcho Masonic Charities as the Funds will admit , not loss than £ 10 10 s boing subscribed to each Charity , aud the Lodges to havo precedence according to seniority . "

This elicited a considerable amount of discussion , several changes being suggested , bufc all—fco our mind—loading to fche same end . Eventually the motion was carried in the terms expressed above . W . Bro . E . H . Dehane proposed tho following : — " That four Provincial Grand Ollicers be now added to the Masouic

Charity Committee , three Past and oue Present ; and that one of the Pasfc Provincial Grand Officers retire by rotation at fche yearly meeting of Provincial Graud Lodge , when a Present Grani Officer shall be elected to fill the vacancy , " and after ample consideration this also was assented to , and the

additional members of Committee were nominated and appointed . The other bnsiness comprised the consideration of Bro . Clabon ' s proposed addition to the amount payable to the Fund of Benevolence , bnt this mot with no support , and consequently was negatived . Shortly after this Provincial Grand Lodge was closed .

A capital banquet was supplied by Messrs . Alex . Gordon and Co ., the Proprietors of tbe Forest Hotel , who mast be complimented on bhe success nf their efforts to make tho proceedings pass off agree .. * ablv .