Durham.

contributed . During the year the Committee had invested the sum of £ 805 os iod , and there was a sum of £ 228 16 s 6 d in hand . There were twenty-eight oh the Education and Maintenance Fund , and one male and two widows on the

Hudson Benevolent Fund . The total of the invested funds was ^" 6 , 188 7 s iod . The whole of the report was adopted . The Acting Provincial Grand Master addressed the Lodge . Canon Tristram referred to the lamented circumstances which compelled him to occupy the chair that

afternoon and to the grievous loss which Masonry generally in that Province had suffered by the removal of their much lamented Sir Hedworth Williamson . They knew Sir Hedworth ' s devotion to Masonry , his general warmth , and his charming , frank , though it might sometimes be thought ,

brusque manner . But in every position in life , Sir Hedworth was a true , typical English gentleman of the highest stamp , and was intensely devoted to everything in which he took an interest . But most of all they knew how thoroughly he entered into the spirit of Masonry , and how anxious he was

that Masonry in that Province should flourish on a true arid right basis . Sir Hedworth began his Offices amongst them in 1867 , when he was appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master on the death of the father of English Masonry , the late Bro . John Fawcett , who was the senior Provincial Grand

Master of England . Appointed Provincial Grand Master in 1885 , on the decease of the late Marquis of Londonderry , his memory would live long amongst them . During his fifteen years connection with them Sir Hedworth saw many changes . During that time nearly fifty per cent , had been added to the membership of the Province , and seven new

Lodges had been created . In 1885 the number of Lodges was thirty-one , with a membership of 2 , 311 , and in 1896 they had thirty-eight Lodges , with a membership of 3 , 350 . It was satisfactory to know that the Lodges generally were doing a good work to promote the tenets and principles of good fellowship in Freemasonry . Canon Tristram mentioned that the latest returns showed an increase in

members since 1898 after all deductions owing to deaths and removals , of 130 , and this increase of 130 was distributed over thirty-five Lodges . This showed that Masonry was growing in proportion to the population . Canon Tristram proceeded to review the various functions of the year , and touchingly referred to the number of deaths which had

occurred . He moved that a vote of condolence expressive of their affection and esteem and sympathy with the family of the late Provincial Grand Master , and of the deep loss they had sustained , be sent to Lady Elizabeth Williamson . Lord Barnard seconded the proposition , which was sympathetically carried .

Bro . William Brown P . M . 48 was , by a large majority , elected Provincial Grand Treasurer .

The appointment and investiture of Provincial Granc Officers for the ensuing year was as follows : — - BRO . N . W . Apperley ... Senior Warden W . N . Cochrane ... Junior Warden Rev . H . C . Windley ... Senior Chaplain

Rev . H . Ellershaw ... Junior Chaplain William Brown ... Treasurer W . J . Anderson ... Registrar R . Hudson ... Secretary E . Seaton-Cockell ... Senior Deacon

Thos . Harrison ... Ditto W . E . Brown ... Junior Deacon Richard Tinkler ... Ditto L . M . Snovvdon ... Supt . of Works C . T . Johnson ... Dir . of Ceremonies

John Bennison ... Dep . Dir . of Cers . T . Y . Tuck ... Asst . Dir . of Cers . , Isaac Burrell ... Sword Bearer Joseph Rigby ... Standard Bearer John Coulthard ... Ditto

Thomas Laidler ... Organist John Joel . ... Assistant Secretary John C . Bage ... Pursuivant Nicholas Lee ... Assistant Pursuivant W . F . Oldfield ... Steward

Julius Jacobs ... Ditto Joseph Pringle ... Ditto J . O . Rawson ... Ditto J . R . Mabane ... Ditto Bernard Biggs ... Ditto Thomas Grieve ... Tvler

After the Provincial Grand Lodge a banquet was held in the Castle Hall , the catering being of a very satisfactory character . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and a very successful gathering was brought to a conclusion shortly after seven o ' clock . The arrangements of the local Committee were in every way satisfactory .

Eastern Division South Wales.

EASTERN DIVISION SOUTH WALES .

ON Thursday afternoon of last week the annual meeting of the Provincial ' Grand Lodge of the Eastern Division of South Wales was held at the Masonic Hall , Neath , when there was a very large gathering of Brethren from various parts of the county . Lord Llangattock presided , and was supported by his Deputy Bro . Marmaduke Tennant and a number of present and past Provincial Grand Officers .

The Lodge , being opened , Lord Llangattock thanked the Brethren for their kind attendance , 'and the Officers for their support . The various reports were adopted , and a very gratifying account was given of the large sum raised by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the Masonic Educational and Widows' Fund this year .

The Provincial Grand Master appointed his Officers , as follow ••' ' ¦

BRO . H . P . Charles ... Senior Warden W . B . Ferrier ... Junior Warden Rev . W . Lewis ... Senior Chaplain Rev . J . G . Pagden ... Junior Chaplain Chris . Rowland ... Treasurer W . J . Jenkins ... Registrar

Walter Whittington ... Secretary I . J . Shilton ... Senior Deacon Henry AJdridge ... Junior Deacon John Corker •••Supt . of Works Charles Downing ... Dir . of Ceremonies A . Maurice Bailey . ... Asst . Dir . of Cers .

William Rees ... Sword Bearer W . S . Williams ... Standard Bearer Rees Jones ... Ditto J . P . M . Gaul ... Organist A . Steel ... Pursuivant . . W . Phillips ... Assistant Secretary

A . H . Parker ... Assistant Pursuivant Hilton Yates ' ... Steward ' R . Edwards ... Ditto . J . W . Chambers ... Ditto Michael Davies ... Ditto C . A . Careless ... Ditto

North Devon Union Lodge.

NORTH DEVON UNION LODGE .

rip HIS new Mark Lodge , No . 540 , was consecrated at JL Iifracombe , on the 26 th ult , by Bro . G . S . Strode Deputy Prov . G . M . acting- in the absence of Lord Norrhmtp .

who is in India discharging official duties there . The founders of the * Lodge are Bros . G . C . Davie W . M .-Des ., Rev . R . W . J . Smart S . W ., W . Drew J . W ., Rev . H . G . Morse , Rev . Thos . Russell , and H . R . Grover .

A luncheon was held at the Iifracombe Hotel , and in the afternoon the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held in the Masonic Temple .

Masonic Rifle Match.

MASONIC RIFLE MATCH .

THE two Gavels given by Bro . Major G . Lambert Past Grand Sword Bearer of England , late Queen's Westminster R . V ., were shot for at Ilford , on the 20 th ult . The conditions provide that ten men shall shoot , eight to count ; seven shots at 200 , 500 and 600 yards . The teams to consist of past and present members of Volunteer regiments being now members of the Lodge . The following were the results :

FIRST GAVEL . QUEEN ' S WESTMINSTER . LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE .

BRO . Vicars S . W . 95 BRO . Tayton IQO Surrey 95 Wright 92 Hollis 92 Walker go Gering 88 Ward 86 Kingdon P . M . 84 Latham 69 Birks 82 Lintott 68 Stanley 76 Potter 77 Dumeril 72 Morris 45

684 627 Counted out Bro . Collins 44 , and Bro . Bernan 41 . SECOND GAVEL . BLOOMSBURY . VICTORIAS . BRO . Marshall 97 BRO . Kingdon 99 Barter 94 Billinghurst 83 '

Cowtan 85 S . Wilkinson 82 James 8 3 W . E . Wilkinson 80 Healy 80 Robinson 75 Hardcastle 79 Ansell 67 Fowler J - Keison 58 Tellis 6 5 * Belsham 49

660 593