Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devon

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DEVON

TI lHE annual meeting of the Committee of Petitions was -L held on the 29 th nit ., at Exeter , and was numerously attended . The Secretary reported that since the last meeting there had been two elections at the London Institutions , one for boys , the other for girls . The girl candidate of the Province was elected . Of the number of

votes received from the Province in October last there were 570 for boys , 329 for girls , against the previous votes of 594 for boys , 347 for girls . The London representative , Rev . W . Whittley , 156 , reported that he did not see how

he conld take np the case of the Brother of Lodge 202 , Devonport , a candidate for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution next May , unless it was the pleasure of the committee that he sbonld incur a very great debt in votes . In October last ho received from the Province 594

boys' votes and 346 girls' votes ; total 940 . The girl candidate adopted by Devon was the last of the successful candidates , and she was elected with 3 , 563 votes . Towards that number he polled 2 , 531 . Prom those take the 940 received from the Province , and there was a debt

of 1 , 591 . Those he had borrowed . Supposing the Province should send him in April next 594 boys' and 346 girls' votes , and in May next , as in last May , 559 men ' s and 697 women ' s votes , those would make 2 , 196 . After repaying the debt of 1 , 591 he wonld have but 605 votes

left for their brother of Devonport . Last May the lowest successful brother polled 2 , 315 votes , ancl he was afraid that it would take quite 3 , 000 votes to carry a man next May . If so , and they elected their candidate , it would leave the Province in debt 2 , 394 votes . If that was

accomplished , and suppose the Province sent votes in October 1891 , and May and October 1892 , at the same rate it had been sending , that would make 4 , 081 votes . When from these he had paid the debt incurred on the election of their present candidate , there would only remain 1 , 687

votes in hand , so they would not be ablo to appoint another candidate until October 1893 . Bro . Gover said this statement was worth tbe attention of the committee , but Bro . Wbittley was evidently taking a pessimist view . At least 800 to 900 votes would bo coming in from outside

thoir Province in tho interim . It was the duty of tho Province to endeavour to carry their Devonport brother at tho election in May , whatever number of votes they might havo to run in debt . It was ultimately resolved that the

representative shonld be instructed to successfully return the candidate by all possible means , however much it Ettjghb iavolve the Province , the members in the Province at tho samo time to be earnestly desired to co-operate , as no doubt there would be keen competition .

Pour petitions for relief were considered , all from widows , one each from Lodges St . John the Baptist , 39 , Exeter , Loyal , 251 , Barnstaple , St . George , 112 , Exeter , and one

from Harmony , 156 , Plymouth , in which Dundas , 1255 , of Plymouth , and Bedford , 282 , of Tavistock , joined . Five pounds each were voted to the petitioners , and the two last mentioned to be further considered at the next

meeting . Bros . W . G . Rogers , Rev . W . Whittley , and J . B . Gover were re-elected the Chairman , London Representative , and Secretary of the Committee respectively .

Devon And Cornwall Freemasons' Club.

DEVON AND CORNWALL FREEMASONS' CLUB .

THE third annual meeting of the shareholders was held on the 30 th ult ., at tho Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth . Bro . F . B . Westluke P . P . G . S . D . in the chair . The directors reported a net profit ou the year ' s working of over £ 300 . They wero most anxious that the share capital should be placod so that the finances of the company might be put on a sound and satisfactory basis . When , taking into

account tho routs from Lodges , and hire of premises for various purposes , a permanent income was guaranteed , sufficient to pay a dividend of not less than 3 por cout ., and if tbo success of tbe past year was maintained , 5 per cunt , at least could be paid , as shown iu tho ruvenuo account . Something must be done at ouce , us thoir bankets required to have the overdraft reduced . 'Iho directors

recommended the raising of Jb' 1000 Proforootiii Shares carrying a dividend of 3 per cout . per annum , u > bo ottered first to existing shareholders ; and a mortgage on tho promise ** of £ 3000 , whioh ctuld probably bo obtained n ** about ** i pur eeufc . If that could be accomplished , a saving of one n « : r cout . could bu effected , - . vhich

¦ would bo avaii'iblo for dividend , and vritb increased prosparify , the company should TO well , and pay tho shuroholdurs o good parcenta ^ o . Tho directors liuJ . ovory reason to bo satisfied with tho management , uuder the care of Hro . and . Mrs . Harvey , aud tho stall" generally . Thu directors who retired by rotation woro liroa . J . Wnlli » , J 11 . Lord . S . K . Littleton , aud II . Rogers . Tho first threo oflcrci

Devon And Cornwall Freemasons' Club.

themselves for re-election . Tho auditor , Bro . T . Gibbons , retired , and being eligible , offered himself for re-election . The Chairman complained that the Freemasons of the local Lodgea had not come forward aa readily as had been promised at first . The capital account fhowed that only 2 , 559 shares had been taken up , and that had beon done by nnder 300 members . With all the advantages offered to the

brethren by the undertaking , it deserved greater Masonio support , nnd it waa important that this should bo considered by the brethren who had not yet joined . The total expenditure waa £ 6435 . The report and statement waa adopted . Bros . Lord , Littleton and Wallis were unanimously re-elected aa directors , and Bro . Roberta , of

Prudence Lodge , 1550 , waa elected to fill tho vacancy caused by the resignation of Bro . H . Rogers . Bro . Gibbons was re-elected auditor . Thanka wero voted to the chairman , directors , auditors , secretary , find steward for their services , and the financial arrangements recommended by the directors were left in their hands .

Dorset Masonic Charity.

DORSET MASONIC CHARITY .

rnHE 21 st half-yearly meeting of the General Committee of thia - * - Charity waa held at the Masonio Hall , Doroheater , on Saturday , tho 31 st nit . Bro . W . D . Dugdale , the Chairman , presided , and waa supported by Bros . W . E . Brymer D . P . G . M ., R . Case P . G . Seo . Treasurer , S . R . Baskett Hon . Sec , D . Hitching W . M . 137 , J . Painter 137 , J . A . Sherren 170 , J . W . Tribbett 386 , G . J . G . Gregory 417 , E . Newman W . M . 417 , J . A . Atkina 622 , W . J . Fletoher 622 , T . Gilea

707 , W . James 707 , L . H . Ruegg 1168 , W . W . Strickland 1266 , A . C . Todd 1266 , and J . Baker 1037 . Lettera expressing inability to attend were received from Bros . Zillwood Milledge , the Vice . Chairman , C . J . Hambro , M . P ., P . D . P . G . M ., J . W . Luff , and F . Budden . On the recommendation of the Relief and Assistance Subcommittee two grants , of £ 20 and £ 12 reapeotivoly , were made to

two petitioners . Tbe accounts for 1890 were presented , showing that the capital account now stood at £ 253115 s , and that there waa a balance to tho credit of the Relief account of £ 144 4 a 4 d . It waa resolved that as soon aa sufficient funds had come in £ 16612 a 6 d should be transferred from Relief to Capital Account to enable a

sum of £ 200 to be invested . It waa agreed that the next annual meeting of the Committee should be held at Weymouth . The meeting concluded with votes of thanka to the Chairman ( Bro . Dogdale ) , and to Bro . E . Newman the W . M . of 417 , for hia hospitality in providing refreshment for the Committee .

A ball in aid of the Devon Masonic Charities took place at the Bath Saloons , Torquay , on the 28 th nit . The ball was held nnder the banners of the two Torquay Lodges , St . John ' s , No . 328 , and the Jordan , 1402 . Much praise is due to the zeal and energy displayed by Bro . John Chapman P . M . P . Z . P . P . G . D . Devon , who acted " aa Chairman of the Committee , the Vice-Chairman of which was Bro . R . D . Renwick W . M . of St . John ' s , the dutiea of Hon . Secretary being ably discharged by Bro . G . West I . G . of 1402 .

"A Stock" Operations; Or, "The Universal Stock Exchange."

"A STOCK" OPERATIONS : On , " THE UNIVERSAL STOCK EXCHANGE .

DO rapid has boon tho growth of Stock Exchange dealings that O little surprise will bo felt upon learning the business of the Universal Stock Exchange has occasionally reached the enormous total of two millions iu a single day . The company haa been established several years , and their method of dealing involves many features of a novel character .

After inspecting the commodious office *? , at No . 1 Cockapnr Street , London , we obtained a copy of their pamphlet , entitled " How to operate successfully in Stocks , " in which is set forth the manner in whioh this extensive business is carried on . The principal feature in connection with the Company , and whioh has cansed tbe rapid extension of this business haa been , tbo inauguration of the "A Stock" system , the modus operandi of which is as follows : —

The managers , wbo are men of extensive experience , institute a careful inquiry iuto the history and prospects of a certain stock . A selection being made , tbey invite their customers to join in subscribing an amount sufficiently large to enable them to control the particular stock , aud causo the requisite movement . For the sake of policy , subscriptions tire invited for a stock known only by a number , suoh aa

" A Stock No . 27 , the reason for which is that tho company desiro to reap tho benefit of th-riir capital and experience before the outside public have tbe cnn : ice of profiting by tho company ' s operations . With one smull exception , tbis system of A Stocks haa been uniformly successful throughout about thirty-one operations , tho largest and mostiprofi'able of winch has been tho Hull and Barosloy deal , which

took place iu Dacembor 1 S 87 . Large purchases of this stock wore mado » t about 30 , which shortly afterwards roso to 42 J , but this ia only one of the many suocesaes which have crowned the efforts of tho far-sighted aud energetic managers . Thu thrco-rnouchly settlement system , involving several advantages to tho opor « tt . r , and the uniform charge for contangoes at tho rate of

4 pur cent , ptr uuuutn , us explained on pago 51 of tho pamphlet referred to , are also innovations introduced by this Compauy , whioh has a paid-up capital of £ 90 , 000 , with a reserve fund of over £ 25 , 000 invesLod iu choice securities . Ic is understood tho Company Oat * in view an operation on tho "A Stock" system , tho particulars of which should bc immediately obtained by operators desiring to co-operato iu this movement .