Masonic Portraits. (No. 40.)

portrait . They fully corroborate our own views , as well as those which prevail generally , and are valuable testimony to onr brother's worth . Moreover , it is less than two years since a very * handsome testimonial was presented to him by his Mother Lodge , " in recognition of the valuable

Kervices rendered to the Lodge , and especially in acknowledgment of the zeal and efficiency with which he has , for a number of years , carried out the arduous and important duties of Secretary , and also as a mark of personal esteem

and friendship for the truly Masonic spirit always manifested by him towards his brethren of the Lodge . " This testimonial consisted of a handsome gold watch and chain , and was accompanied by an address , —of which what we

have quoted forms a part , —beautifully illustrated on vellum . As regards the great Masonic Charitable Institutions ,

the Scholar is a Life Governor of each of them , but , in his efforts to promote the cause of charity , he has rendered infinitely more valuable service than by the mere payment of money . Onr readers are well aware that , of late years , several Masoniii associations have been started , with a view to enable brethren to obtain , without stress upon their

purses , one or more Life Governorships to this or that

Charity . It is with these associations that tbe Scholar's name will he principally identified . He was the Treasurer of the second which was started . He occupied the same position in connection with another which was established immediately after the first one was closed , and he is now

Secretary to the City Masonic Benevolent Association . These may seem , at first sight , to be comparatively un . important matters , but the good they effect is incalculable , and hundreds and hundreds of pounds have been raised for our different Charities through the instrumentality of these

associations . Thus , the brethren who conduct , or are responsible for the conduct of such ephemeral societies , are worthy of more than a passing expression of thanks . The work is conducted very silently—indeed , but few outside

the category of members are aware of their existence ; but large sums are obtained , by weekly or monthly payments , and all who contribute have the opportunity of enrolling themselves as Life Governors to one or other of onr

Institutions . We affirm that a brother who labours hard to promote the success of these associations , who may say , without exaggeration , of three of them that he has played a principal part in their conduct , and that to him , in a gre ^ t measure , their success is due , we say that such a brother

is worthy the respect of his fellow Craftsmen . And we firmly believe the Scholar enjoys this respect , not only on account of these special labours , but for the uniform devotion he exhibits towards whatever relates to , or may promote the cause of Freemasonry . So far as is governed by the

just demands of his calling , there is yet no time or labour too exacting but he willingly bestows it in the advancement of the Craft . He is strict in his attendance at Lodge and Chapter , a friendly adviser to the young aspirant to office , and a sage and trusty counsellor in more important

business . He may , indeed , be said to have inherited his love of Masonry , for his father was a member of our Society , and , besides having been a Craft and Royal Arch

Mason , had taken likewise the Knight Templar and other degrees . The certificates of these different grades are carefully preserved , and serve , no doubt , as an additional incentive to onr friend to the honourable fulfilment of his

duty . However , we have , we think , described his career m sufficient detail . It may be we have omitted something , hut what we have written is derived from authentic sources .

It ip certainly a fair picture to look at , and those who stand at the threshold of their Masonic career will rarely find a better example to follow than the subject of thia portrait . He , in fact , may proudly claim to say , in the words of our greatest

poet"Hitherto , in all the progress Both of my life and office , I have labour'd , And with no little study , that my teaching , And the strong oonrse of my authority , Might go one way , and safely ; and the end Was ever , to do well . "

We trust he may be spared yet many years to adorn both the profession he has chosen and the Craft he loves so well . We do not seek to know if he aspires to yet higher distinction , but though in the fulness of time he may attain to higher rank , though he may multiply his honours still further , we do not believe it is possible for him to increase his devotion either to business or Freemasonry .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire And Buckinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BERKSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

THE meeting of thia Provincial Grand Lodge , which took place at the Town Hall , High Wycombe , on Monday , the 25 th ult ., pissed offmost satisfactorily . The arrangements made by the Great Western Railway Company—whose directors always render every assistance they can to make onr Masonic gatherings successful—indnoed tho brethren , not only of the Province , hot also from the adjacent districts , to assemble in strong force , while the weather was evervthing that

could be wished for . The honr fixed for the opening of Provincial Grand Lodge was 1 . 30 , bnt it had been arranged that a meeting of the Finance Committee shonld be held , and the Treasurer ' s accounts audited , half an hour earlier . This arrangement , having been carried ont , the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , under the presidency of its Grand Master , the 'Right , Worthipfnl Pro . Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart ,,

M . P . The first bnsiness wan to call over the roll of Lodges in the Province , viz : —Etonian 209 , Union 414 , Hope 574 , Buckingham 591 , Methven fi 31 , Windsor Castle 771 , St . John ' s 795 , Scientific « 40 , Abbey 945 . St . Bamabns 94 S , Grev Friars 1101 , 8 S . Peter and Panl 1410 , Alma Mater 1492 , Wycombe 1501 . Ellington 15 R 6 * . Watlinsf Street 1639 . From returns sent in , it appears these Lodges have

an aggregate of fi 92 members , of whom the large proportion of 150 , or thereabouts , have passed the chair . The minntes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Reading , in Mar 1876 , were next read , and received confirmation . The Grand Treasurer ' s finan . cial statement was then read ; it showed an eminently satisfactory state of affairs . There was a considerable balance on the general

account , an equally satisfactory balance on the Charity Fnnd , while the balances in hand of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and its subordinate Lodges , fell little short of £ 1 , 000 . The re-election of Provincial Grand Treasurer next took place , and Bro . George Chancellor P . M . 1101 acknowledged the compliment , thanking the brethren for the confidence they continued to place in

him . The Provincial Charily j * we ! was then presented to the fnl . lowing , brethren : — John Bance and William Knight , both of 574 , W . S . Cantrell P . M . 771 , and H » her Clark 945 . _ Bro . Bradley's mot on , that the Secretaries , in addition to the Wnrphipfnl Masters of each of the Lodges , attend the Charity Committee's meetings was then brought forward ; it was seconded by Bro . Cantrell , and dnlv assented

to . The Provincial Grand Officers were then appointed and invested as follows : —Bros . John Palmer P . M . 1501 S . G . W ., W . H . Cutler P . M . 771 J . G . W ., Rev . A . Robins 771 Grand Chaplain , Rev . C . R . Honey 1101 Assistant Grand Chaplain , George Chancellor P . M . 1101 G . Treasurer , Heber Clarke P . M . 945 G . Registrar , R . Bradley P . M . 414 G . Secretary , W . H . Herbert P . M . 674 S . G . Deacon , W . Fitch

P . M . 1410 J . G . Deacon . L . Bryett P . M . 209 G . Snperintendent . of Works , J . Fuller P . M . 156 fi G . Director of Ceremonies , A . M . Yetta P . M . 414 Asst . G . D . C , J . T . Freeman P . M . 1101 G . Sword Bearer , A . B . Weston 1501 G . Organist , G . de Fraine W . M . 591 G . Pnrsuivanfc ., C . Nowell 771 Asst . G . Pursuivant , W . H . Bingham P . M . 771 Senior G . Steward , H . D . Hume W . M . 209 , M . Rest W . M . 948 , S . A

Pocock W . M . 414 , R . Roberts S . W . - . 09 , and F . Mauley S . D . 77 . Grand Stewards , W . Hemnvngs 1101 and 414 G . Tyler . The Provin . cial Grand Master then referred w ' th regret to the retirement , of Bro , Biggs from the office of Provincial Grand Secretary . Bro . Biggs had well fulfilled his duties during the nine years he had so ably conducted the affairs of the Province ; no doubt his successor . Bro . Brad *

ley , would continue the admirable srstem of his predecessor , which had been found to work so well . However , he would now ask the brethren to do something more than pass a mere compliment , and to offer Bro . Biggs a substantial recognition of his great services . Sir Daniel Gooch then proposed that a sum of twenty-five guineas be voted from the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge , —which

he knew would be supplemented by the brethren and Lodges through , out the Province , —for the purpose of making a presentation to Bro . Biggs that would be worthy both of his acceptance and of such an important Province as that of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire . He then proposed that a committee be formed , such committee to be composed of the Worshipful Masters of the various Lodges , to carry

out this object ; and concluded his remarks by requ --sting all who joined in the undertaking to do so heartily . On this motion being seconded by Bro . Dixon , it received the unqualified assent of the brethren . The thanks of Provincial Grand Lodge were then presented to their late Secretary , for the valuable services rendered by him ; and also the regret felt bv the brethren at his resignation . After a few

congratulatory remarks from the Provincial G . M ,, on the prosperous state of the affairs of the Province , the announcement was made that tbe next meeting would be held afc Winds r , and Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in dne form . An adjournment then took place to the Red Lion Hotel , where if . had been arranged thafc the onsto . mary banqnefc should be provided . The chair was taken by Sir Daniel

Gooch , and justice was done to the good things of this life . On the removal of the cloth , the Queen and the Craft was given , and the National Anthem was sung . In speaking to the toast of the M . W . the G . M ., the Prov . Grand Master referred to the portrait of His Royal Highness , which had just been presented to the town of High Wycombe by Lord Carington , in commemoration of the Prince ' s visit

to India j all who had seen that portrait conld nofc but admire it The next toast on the list was the M . W . the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , the R . W . the D . G . M . the Lord Skelmersdale , and the Grand Officers of England past and present , after which Bro . Biges P . P . G . Secretary proposed the R . W . the Prov . Grand Master , Sir Daniel Gooch Bart ., M . P . In the course of his remarks , Bro . BwB »

regretted the absence of the late Deputy Prov . G . M ., to whom , had he been present , this toast would have been allotted . He ^ ave a retrospect of the past , and contracted thi-ir gathering of that , day with one held years ago at Maidenhead , when but twenty-three Masons were present . Sir Daniel Go'ich had come out of Wiltshire to preside over thia Province , and its affairs had progressed successfully un >! er hia direction , Many GiroumatanQea had militated against the gathering