Special Grand Lodge, Eastern Division, South Wales.

and of long standing in tho Provinco being very marked . Lodge having be « m dnlv opened by Bro . D . Watson W . M . of tho Glamorgan Lodge , the Provincial Grand Master , attended by his Depntv . Bro . Marmadnko Tennant , and tho present and the past Prov . Grand officers , entered Lodge . Having taken the chair , the Prov . G . M . opened Grand Lodge in nncient form , after which , in introducing the

subject for which the special Grand Lodge had been convened , Bro . Sir George Elliot spoko in feeling terms of his predeoesgor , whom he had not seen much of iu Masonio life , but whose high worth and amiable charaoter ho had had some opportunity of learning in private life . That a man of such high promise ,

whoso loss they all so deeply deplored , should havo been cnt off in the prime of life was ono of those events which the wisdom of tho Great Arohitecfc of the Universe only could explain . Passing on to the mbject of the other resolution , ho wished the members of Grand Lodge to know that when ho received hia

appointment as Prov . G . M ., ho had offered tho post of Deputy to Bro . Morris , who so long had filled tho office with profit to the Province , and in snch a way as to gain the respect and esteem of all Masons , and who , to his great regret , had not seen his way to accepting the appointment . Ho was sorry that he had not the pleasure of a personal acauaintance with a brother who was on all sides so well and

highly spoken of . Although he shonld have liked to propose the resolutions himself , yet he thonght that they wonld come hotter from somo bvother who had long and intimate knowledge of both brethren . Tho Prov . G . M . then explained that the Grand Lodge had been oalled as soon as possible , that his own absence abroad , and his Deputy ' s from home , with other matters , had prevented its being held sooner ,

that the delay had in no way been caused by want of sympathy with the object of the meeting , which , on the contrary , had his most hearty concurrence and sympathy . Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel Edward S . Hill , J . P ., of Rockwood , Llandaff , Past Provincial G . S . W . rose to propose the first resolution , and before doing so explained that , bv Masonic cnstom , a Pro .

vincial Grand Lodge died with its Mnster , so that until a new Prov . G . M . was appointed the province remained without a head and withont a Grand Lodge . It was , therefore , not possible at snch a time to give expressions to those feelings which the untimely death of their Prov . G . M . Bro . Talbot naturally called forth . On tho appointment of a new Prov . G . M ., and the revival of Prov . Grand Lodge , every

body expected that the first act of tho newly constituted body would be to place upon the minutes of Grand Lodge a formal record of the feelings to which he had alluded . At tho ceremony of installation of the Prov . G . M . at the last Provincial Grand Lodge , and dnring the subsequent proceedings , he did not know what the order of the day was to be , and he , and no doubt others , anxiously waited for some

motion from tho chair respecting their late lamented Prov . G . M . This , however , was not done , and it seemed to some of the brethren ( including himself ) that it was impossible to let matters remain where they wero ; that to allow a brother , who had governed them for over eleven years , so just , and kind , and excellent a chief , to go to his last home without one word of rogret or

one syllable of gratitude appearing in the archives of the Province he had ruled so well , would be out of harmony with the feelings of its members , a lasting discredit to the Provincial Grand Lodge , and but poor eneonragemont to thoso who might come after . The result was a numerous and very influentially signed requisition to tho Prov .

G . M ., asking him to call a Provincial Grand Lodge of Emergency , so as to afford an opportunity of repairing this very grave omission . The Prov . G . M . was good enough to accede to this request , and the desired opportunity was that dav afforded of making reparation , of which he was sure all gladly availed themselves . Bro . Hill then read the following resolution : —

" That the brethren of the Province of South Wales , Eastern Division , ¦ with grateful recollection of the very eminent services rendered to Masonry by the late E . W . Bro . Theodore Mansel Talbot , during the eleven years he held the distinguished office of Provincial

Grand Master—an office , the dnties of which he performed with untiring zeal , with dignity worthy of the Craft , and with urbanity endearing him to tho brethren—desire formally to record their high appreciation of his services , and their profound regret at the irreparable loss they have sustained by his early death . "

Bro . Hill felt sure that all who had known their late chief would cordially support the resolution , for they knew well his generous nature , his kindly spirit , rare Masonic knowledge , and his love of Masonry in all its branches , especially thoso represented by the chnritahle Institutions of the Order . After a brief account of the Masonic career of the late Bro . Talbot , he concluded with a very

graceful enlogy npon the late Prov . G . M . Bro . T . G . Hall J . P ., of Swansea , P . Prov . S . G . W ., said he had very much pleasure in rising to second tho resolution , so ably proposed by Bro . Hill . Having the honour of being the W . M . of the Lodgo named after their late Prov . G . M ,, and in which he took a deep interest , it misht naturally be expected that be shonld do so . He

( tho speaker ) had been for many year 3 intimately associated with Bro . Morris , their late D . P . G . M ., and had often accompanied him and their late Prov . G . M . in their frequent visits to the several Lodges in the Province ; he had , therefore , ample opportunity of becoming personally acquainted with their late Prov . G . M . Prom his high social position , his kind and courteous manner to all who sought his

acquaintance , he was destined , had he lived , to become one of the most popular and influential men in the county , and he possessed in an eminent degree all the characteristics of a true English gentlemen . ( Cheers ) . As a Freemason he was ono of tho most able and accomplished members of the Craft in the Principality ; he was

perfectly conversant with all the rites and ceremonies connected with every degree in Masonry , and conld as readily and ably perform the ceremony of consecrating a Lodge or a Chapter , or exalt a brother to tho high and important office of a Provincial Grand Master , as ho could any of the ordinary rites in Craft Masonry . He took a deep interest in all the charities connected

Special Grand Lodge, Eastern Division, South Wales.

with tho Order , and under his rule and government , ably assisted and supported as he was by his excellent D . P . G . M ., Bro . Morris , he had raised the Province to such a position that it had never before attained . ( Cheers ) . He was just in all his relations to the brethren , and fully recognised merit , and always properly rewarded it , and by his kindness and consideration he had so endeared himself to

all the members of the Craft , not only in this but in the neighbouring Provinces , that each one deplored his death as a personal cala * raity . ( Cheers ) . The Provincial Grand Master thonght thai , after the remarks of the proposer and seconder , nothing more conld be said without

detracting from the force of what had been said , he should therefore ask tho brethren to affirm the resolution in the usual manner . This the brethren did , very touohingly , all rising and standing in solemn silence , with the sign of affirmation . Bro . Charles Bath J . P ., of Fynone , Swansea , P . Prov . G . S . W ., rose to propose tho following resolution : —

" That this Provincial Grand Lodge desiros to record its grateful acknowledgments of the eminent services rendered to the Province by tho W . Bro . Edward James Morris , Junior Grand Deacon of England , during the long period for -which he filled the office of Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and to which the present high position held by the Provinco is due , and its regret at the loss which the Province has sustained through his withdrawal from aotive Maso » io life . "

Bro . Bath said that Bro . Morris had been made a Mason about 22 years ago , in the Indefatigable Lodge , Swansea , where his devo . tion to Masonry soon drew the attention of his brethren , and he waa made Secretary , and in successive yeara he filled the office of Junior Warden , Senior Warden , and W . Master , in suoh a way as to attract the attention of the ohiefs of the Province , for

within two or three years he was made a Grand Deacon of the Provinco ; his assiduity and devotion to Masonry became so widely known , that , on the appointment of their late Prov . G . M ., Bro . Talbot at once selected Bro . Morris to fill the responsible office of Deputy , and it was somo testimony to Bro . Morris ' s ability that his appointment was received throughout the Province with satisfaction . Hia career

since was known to all , and it was not necessary to give any details of it ; he would , however , remind thoso who were Masons twenty years ago of the state of Masonry in the Province at that time . He did not know how many Lodges there were in tho Province in those days j but he knew that they were very thinly attended . Lodges were held at uncertain times , and the Order generally was in a very backward

state . During the time that Bro . Talbot , assisted by his Deputy , ruled the Provinco , they had seen Lodges in the large towns divide into two and even more , not only without detriment , but with profit to each . New Lodges had been started where there had been none . Attendances had grown more regular with increase of numbers , and the work , instead of being done in a slipshod way , was now

admirably performed in every Lodge in the Province . In the matter of the Charities , this Province twelve years ago was at a comparatively low point ; but nnder tho fostering care of Bro . Talbot , and the judioious management of his Deputy , Bro . Morris , who had instituted a sort of banking account of votes , the Province had become one of the most liberal contributors to the Charities , and one of the most

successful in its endeavours to obtain admission to the Schools for the children of those members of the Province who had fallen into misfortune . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Bath also spoke in very warm terms of Bro . Morris's excellent qualities as a man , who carried the principles of Masonry into all the relations of life . Upon resuming his seat , Bro . Bath was very warmly cheered for the testimony he had borne

to Bro . Morris s worth . Bro . Alexander Bassetfc , C . E ., Llandaff , the Senior S . G . W . of the Province , seconded Bro . Bath ' s resolution in a few well chosen words , in which he confirmed all that Bro . Bath had said of the immense influence for good which the late chief , assisted by his Deputy , had exercised in the Province , attributing in great measure the improve .

ment in Masonic working to the very frequent visits of the Deputy to the various Lodges . ( Cheers . ) Bro . W . Whittington , Neath , P . Prov . G . S . W ., conld not permit the present occasion to pas 3 without bearing his testimony to the zeal and untiring energy of the late Deputy in promoting the interests of Masonry in the Province , nor withont publicly acknowledging his deep

debt of gratitude to Bro . Morris for his invaluable aid while he had been Prov . G . S . During the eight or nine years he ( Bro . Whittington ) held the office of Prov . G . S . he had no hesitation in avowing that his success was attributable to Bro . MorriB , who was always ready with advice and assistance . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Sir George Elliot Prov . G . M ., in putting the resolution to the

Lodge , again expressed his regret that he had not the pleasure of a personal knowledge of Bro . Morris , whose Masonic worth all were so eager to acknowledge . The resolution was carried nnanimously , amidst repeated rounds of applause . The business of Grand Lodge being ooncluded , the Bight Worshipful Prov . G . Master closed tho Lodgo in the usual form .

Celtic Lodge , No . 477 S . C—At a late meeting Bro . Hislop P . W . P . G . M ., on behalf of the brethren of the Celtio Lodge , presented Bro . S . G . H . Smith with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel and gold locket bearing a suitable inscription . Bro . Hislop , in making the presentation , referred in eulogistic terms to the services rendered by Bro . Smith to the Celtic Lodge dnring a long career in office , and to the able manner in which he had for three terms held the office of

R . W . M ., and expressed a hope that Bro . Smith would not rest on hia laurels , but uphold the oredit which he had gained . Bro . Smith acknowledged with thanks the gift and honour conferred upon him , and promised to do his utmost for the welfare of the Celtio Lodge . The jewel , which is of chaste workmanship , was made by Bro . P . Adair ,- — Qtago Times .