Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essex.
The Earl of Warwick said when his late excellent Deputy intimated that he could not continue in office he naturally looked around to see who would be a fitting successor , and came to the conclusion that there was no one he should be more pleased to see in the office or who he
thought would be more acceptable to the Province generally , than his friend Col . Lockwood . Col . Lockwood was an earnest Mason ; was very thorough in all he undertook , and he was quite sure the Brethren would find that the more they saw of Colonel Lockwood as Deputy the better they would like him .
Col . Lockwood said he accepted the post with very great pleasure . He hoped the Brethren would not think that because he was a " new broom" he was going to make a clean sweep of everything—because to his mind there was very little " dust " on the Masonry of the Province of Essex . He
took a great interest in the . work of the Craft , and trusted that he might be of some service to the good cause in Essex . The new Deputy was then inducted with the usual ceremonies , and on taking his seat at the right of the Prov . G . M . Col . Lockwood was heartily cheered .
The Earl of Warwick then proceeded to invest his Officers for the ensuing year . Having placed the collar upon the neck of the Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . Thomas J . Railing , Lord Warwick said he had to perform a very pleasant duty , and they should all take much pleasure in the
surprise that would fall upon one member of their Lodge , Bro . Railing . They were all in the secret except himself . He was asking Bro . Railing , for the 22 nd year , to accept the office of Secretary . That was a very long measure of service , and he could say , on behalf of them all , that those duties
had been performed with the greatest assiduity . He had given his time ungrudgingly . He did not believe Brother Railing had an enemy in the Province , and it was quite certain that he might count all present at this unusually large meeting as his friends . It was now his duty to inform Bro .
Railing that he had been requested to hand him a little token of regard'from the Province , in the shape of a cheque for £ 250 . I have it here , said his Lordship , producing it from his breast pocket , nearest my heart , and nothing that I have had to perform as Provincial Grand Master has given me greater
pleasure than to hand this to you . His Lordship added that he was also pleased to hand to Bro . Railing an album with an address , setting forth the strong feelings of regard they all entertained towards him . His Lordship then handed to Bro . Railing the testimonials , amidst a warm demonstration from the Brethren .
Bro . Railing said this kind and generous action on the part of the Brethren had come as a very great surprise . They had kept their secret well , and so had shown a true Masonic spirit . He could only thank them for their great kindness , and for the trouble which must have been taken by
some Brethren in organising this splendid testimonial . He had always received the greatest kindness from every Lodge and from every Brother in the Province , and should always
value most highly the evidences of their regard he had now received . He trusted the Brethren would , under the embarrassing circumstances in which he suddenly found himself , excuse him saying more .
The following is the text of the address , which was contained , together with a complete list of subscribers , some 400 in number , in a magnificently engrossed album :
To W . Bro . Thomas John Railing P . M . and P . Z . 51 P . A . G . D . C . England Provincial Grand Secretary Essex . We are desired by the subscribers , whose names are appended , to convey to you our sincere appreciation of the many kind and thoughtful services you have rendered to the Province and the Brethren generally during the
twentyone years that you have occupied the position of Provincial Grand Secretary . We feel that such ungrudging devotion to duty merits some special recognition , and we beg your acceptance of the accompanying cheque for £ 250 , representing subscriptions from every Lodge in the Province , as a mark of our esteem and regard .
We trust that the Province may continue for many years to have the benefit of your valued assistance . ( Signed ) Warwick Provincial Grand Master . Fred A . Philbriek Deputy Prov . Grand Master . Wm . Shurmur Treasurer .
John J . 0 . Turner I TT „ , . R . Haward Ives f Honorary Secretaries . July 1898 . On the motion of Brother William Shurmur P . M . 2374
P . G . Std . Br ., seconded by Bro . W . D . Merritt P . M . 1000 P . P . S . G . W ., the Brethren unanimously elected Bro . E . J . Bowmaker P . M . 1000 as Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year ' .
Essex.
The other Officers for the year are as follow : Bro . Robert Woodhouse - - - Senior Warden Col . Landon - - - Junior Warden 5 ° - ^ w ° -r v , " „ ' " " ^ Chaplains Rev . W . H . Langhorno - - ) * John Ramsey ... - Registrar
Thos . J . Railing ( 22 nd year ) - - Secretary W . E . Facey - - - - I Sonior DeacoriS i ' M . P . Freelove - - - 'I H-E- Hormon - - - - I Junior Deacons F . W . Felling - - - - J
F . England- ... - Superintendent of Works A .. Lucking ( 25 th year ) - - - Director of Ceremonies Joseph Cohen .... Deputy Dir . of Cers . Alfred Miller ... - Assistant Dir . of Cers . J . W . Armour .... Sword Bearer ? : McD " heUey " - " - ' " - " - [ Standard Bearers
C . H . Kempling ... - Organist G . Gardiner ... . Assistant Secretary Q . M .-Sergt . Leaney - - - Pursuivant 0 . E . Skinner . - - - - Assistant Pursuivant John Spencer - - - - \ 0 . G . Cutchey ... - EEEve -----
.. ~ , * r"r £ r ' rrT J v Stewards F . B . Townend - f A . S . Gardiner ... - A . T . Gunnell Woods
A . W . Martin ... - Tyler . Five Brethren had been nominated for the four elective seats on the Board of General Purposes , and a ballot took place , which resulted as follows : Votes .
Bro . J . J . C . Turner P . M . 51 P . P . S . G . W . - - 128 J . H . Salter P . M . 234 P . P . J . G . W . 115 W . D . Merritt P . M . 1000 P . P . S . G . W . - 109 W . Ernest Dring P . M . 2318 P . P . S . G . W . - 95 Rev . Thos . Lloyd P . M . 2561 P . P . G . Chap . - 90
One Brother was to be elected on the Charity Committee in place of the member retiring by rotation , and Bro . Robert Woodhouse Prov . S . G . W . was unanimously chosen . The Earl of Warwick having announced that the
meeting for next year would be held at Tilbury , a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Hope and Unity Lodge for the excellent arrangements made for the reception of Prov . Grand Lodge , and the proceedings , which had been characterised throughout by great heartiness , closed .
Lord Warwick presided over a very large number of Brethren at the banquet which followed , and which took place in the commodious Drill Hall , which by mean ' s of drapery of Masonic blue had been transformed into an elegant banqueting hall .
After dinner , a commendably short toast list was gone through , the Provincial Grand Master ' s hope that their drinking of the Prince of Wales ' s health might do him a great deal of good being heartily cheered . At the suggestion of several Brethren His Lordship sent a sympathetic telegram to His Royal Highness , and subsequently received the following reply :
" Grand Master much touched by sympathy expressed by Brethren of Province of Essex , and sends them a friendly greeting through you . —Albert Edward . " His Honour Judge Philbriek , E . Letchworth Grand Secretary , and the Archdeacon of Essex Bro . T . Stevens
P . G . C , responded for the Grand Officers . Judge Philbriek referred to his severance , officially , from the Province . Consciously he had wronged no Brother ,, and he parted from them all with deepest regret . If it ever lay in his power to be of service , the Brethren would command his best efforts .
Bro . Letchworth mentioned that Essex had been remarkably prolific in Grand Officers , as the county held as many as any county in England . Archdeacon Stevens said he was an Essex man , and when the- Grand Master called him to the post of Grand
Chaplain he felt the honour done to the county quite as much as his own personal exaltation . He was Provincial Grand Chaplain of Essex before he was Grand Chaplain of England . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master gave the toast of the Provincial Grand Master , who was received with enthusiasm .
In response , his Lordship said he felt quite unworthy of the cordiality with which they had received his name . For sixteen years or so he had been a scourge to them , and though he felt Colonel Lockwood's flattering reference to his occupying for long years his present position , he felt that the time was coming when he must give place to a better man .
Pie had been at any rate very earnest in his desire to do all he possibly could for Masonry in the Province . With all deference to their ecclesiastical Brethren he would in all humility recommend them to the example of Freemasons in their bearing one towards another in these somewhat critical times . They were all servants of the Great Architect of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essex.
The Earl of Warwick said when his late excellent Deputy intimated that he could not continue in office he naturally looked around to see who would be a fitting successor , and came to the conclusion that there was no one he should be more pleased to see in the office or who he
thought would be more acceptable to the Province generally , than his friend Col . Lockwood . Col . Lockwood was an earnest Mason ; was very thorough in all he undertook , and he was quite sure the Brethren would find that the more they saw of Colonel Lockwood as Deputy the better they would like him .
Col . Lockwood said he accepted the post with very great pleasure . He hoped the Brethren would not think that because he was a " new broom" he was going to make a clean sweep of everything—because to his mind there was very little " dust " on the Masonry of the Province of Essex . He
took a great interest in the . work of the Craft , and trusted that he might be of some service to the good cause in Essex . The new Deputy was then inducted with the usual ceremonies , and on taking his seat at the right of the Prov . G . M . Col . Lockwood was heartily cheered .
The Earl of Warwick then proceeded to invest his Officers for the ensuing year . Having placed the collar upon the neck of the Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . Thomas J . Railing , Lord Warwick said he had to perform a very pleasant duty , and they should all take much pleasure in the
surprise that would fall upon one member of their Lodge , Bro . Railing . They were all in the secret except himself . He was asking Bro . Railing , for the 22 nd year , to accept the office of Secretary . That was a very long measure of service , and he could say , on behalf of them all , that those duties
had been performed with the greatest assiduity . He had given his time ungrudgingly . He did not believe Brother Railing had an enemy in the Province , and it was quite certain that he might count all present at this unusually large meeting as his friends . It was now his duty to inform Bro .
Railing that he had been requested to hand him a little token of regard'from the Province , in the shape of a cheque for £ 250 . I have it here , said his Lordship , producing it from his breast pocket , nearest my heart , and nothing that I have had to perform as Provincial Grand Master has given me greater
pleasure than to hand this to you . His Lordship added that he was also pleased to hand to Bro . Railing an album with an address , setting forth the strong feelings of regard they all entertained towards him . His Lordship then handed to Bro . Railing the testimonials , amidst a warm demonstration from the Brethren .
Bro . Railing said this kind and generous action on the part of the Brethren had come as a very great surprise . They had kept their secret well , and so had shown a true Masonic spirit . He could only thank them for their great kindness , and for the trouble which must have been taken by
some Brethren in organising this splendid testimonial . He had always received the greatest kindness from every Lodge and from every Brother in the Province , and should always
value most highly the evidences of their regard he had now received . He trusted the Brethren would , under the embarrassing circumstances in which he suddenly found himself , excuse him saying more .
The following is the text of the address , which was contained , together with a complete list of subscribers , some 400 in number , in a magnificently engrossed album :
To W . Bro . Thomas John Railing P . M . and P . Z . 51 P . A . G . D . C . England Provincial Grand Secretary Essex . We are desired by the subscribers , whose names are appended , to convey to you our sincere appreciation of the many kind and thoughtful services you have rendered to the Province and the Brethren generally during the
twentyone years that you have occupied the position of Provincial Grand Secretary . We feel that such ungrudging devotion to duty merits some special recognition , and we beg your acceptance of the accompanying cheque for £ 250 , representing subscriptions from every Lodge in the Province , as a mark of our esteem and regard .
We trust that the Province may continue for many years to have the benefit of your valued assistance . ( Signed ) Warwick Provincial Grand Master . Fred A . Philbriek Deputy Prov . Grand Master . Wm . Shurmur Treasurer .
John J . 0 . Turner I TT „ , . R . Haward Ives f Honorary Secretaries . July 1898 . On the motion of Brother William Shurmur P . M . 2374
P . G . Std . Br ., seconded by Bro . W . D . Merritt P . M . 1000 P . P . S . G . W ., the Brethren unanimously elected Bro . E . J . Bowmaker P . M . 1000 as Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year ' .
Essex.
The other Officers for the year are as follow : Bro . Robert Woodhouse - - - Senior Warden Col . Landon - - - Junior Warden 5 ° - ^ w ° -r v , " „ ' " " ^ Chaplains Rev . W . H . Langhorno - - ) * John Ramsey ... - Registrar
Thos . J . Railing ( 22 nd year ) - - Secretary W . E . Facey - - - - I Sonior DeacoriS i ' M . P . Freelove - - - 'I H-E- Hormon - - - - I Junior Deacons F . W . Felling - - - - J
F . England- ... - Superintendent of Works A .. Lucking ( 25 th year ) - - - Director of Ceremonies Joseph Cohen .... Deputy Dir . of Cers . Alfred Miller ... - Assistant Dir . of Cers . J . W . Armour .... Sword Bearer ? : McD " heUey " - " - ' " - " - [ Standard Bearers
C . H . Kempling ... - Organist G . Gardiner ... . Assistant Secretary Q . M .-Sergt . Leaney - - - Pursuivant 0 . E . Skinner . - - - - Assistant Pursuivant John Spencer - - - - \ 0 . G . Cutchey ... - EEEve -----
.. ~ , * r"r £ r ' rrT J v Stewards F . B . Townend - f A . S . Gardiner ... - A . T . Gunnell Woods
A . W . Martin ... - Tyler . Five Brethren had been nominated for the four elective seats on the Board of General Purposes , and a ballot took place , which resulted as follows : Votes .
Bro . J . J . C . Turner P . M . 51 P . P . S . G . W . - - 128 J . H . Salter P . M . 234 P . P . J . G . W . 115 W . D . Merritt P . M . 1000 P . P . S . G . W . - 109 W . Ernest Dring P . M . 2318 P . P . S . G . W . - 95 Rev . Thos . Lloyd P . M . 2561 P . P . G . Chap . - 90
One Brother was to be elected on the Charity Committee in place of the member retiring by rotation , and Bro . Robert Woodhouse Prov . S . G . W . was unanimously chosen . The Earl of Warwick having announced that the
meeting for next year would be held at Tilbury , a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Hope and Unity Lodge for the excellent arrangements made for the reception of Prov . Grand Lodge , and the proceedings , which had been characterised throughout by great heartiness , closed .
Lord Warwick presided over a very large number of Brethren at the banquet which followed , and which took place in the commodious Drill Hall , which by mean ' s of drapery of Masonic blue had been transformed into an elegant banqueting hall .
After dinner , a commendably short toast list was gone through , the Provincial Grand Master ' s hope that their drinking of the Prince of Wales ' s health might do him a great deal of good being heartily cheered . At the suggestion of several Brethren His Lordship sent a sympathetic telegram to His Royal Highness , and subsequently received the following reply :
" Grand Master much touched by sympathy expressed by Brethren of Province of Essex , and sends them a friendly greeting through you . —Albert Edward . " His Honour Judge Philbriek , E . Letchworth Grand Secretary , and the Archdeacon of Essex Bro . T . Stevens
P . G . C , responded for the Grand Officers . Judge Philbriek referred to his severance , officially , from the Province . Consciously he had wronged no Brother ,, and he parted from them all with deepest regret . If it ever lay in his power to be of service , the Brethren would command his best efforts .
Bro . Letchworth mentioned that Essex had been remarkably prolific in Grand Officers , as the county held as many as any county in England . Archdeacon Stevens said he was an Essex man , and when the- Grand Master called him to the post of Grand
Chaplain he felt the honour done to the county quite as much as his own personal exaltation . He was Provincial Grand Chaplain of Essex before he was Grand Chaplain of England . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master gave the toast of the Provincial Grand Master , who was received with enthusiasm .
In response , his Lordship said he felt quite unworthy of the cordiality with which they had received his name . For sixteen years or so he had been a scourge to them , and though he felt Colonel Lockwood's flattering reference to his occupying for long years his present position , he felt that the time was coming when he must give place to a better man .
Pie had been at any rate very earnest in his desire to do all he possibly could for Masonry in the Province . With all deference to their ecclesiastical Brethren he would in all humility recommend them to the example of Freemasons in their bearing one towards another in these somewhat critical times . They were all servants of the Great Architect of the