Prov. G. Lodge Of Staffordshire.

election for another year . These propositions were seconded by the acting Deputy Provincial Grand Master and carried with unanimity . The acting Provincial Grand Master next addressed the Lodge , and in the course of a few happily chosen remarks

referred to the very excellent muster of the brethren , which he said was an incontestable proof of the healthiness of Freemasonry in the Province . He spoke in touching terms of the irreparable loss they had sustained in the death of their late Provincial Grand Master , and to the efforts he

had made during his chieftainship to assimilate the ritual observed in the Province . The acting Provincial Grand Master concluded his remarks by proposing a resolution recording the sentiment of the brethren of the Province

toward their late chief , copies of which wera ordered to be sent to Colonel Foster Gough ' s friends . The resolution was seconded and passed in solemn silence , the brethren rising as a sign of their approval .

The acting Provincial Grand Master next proceeded fco invest the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge for the ensuing year , Prior to calling the brethren out for investiture he said thafc he wished it to be understood none

of the appointments had that year been made on his own initiative , but from notes which the late Provincial Grand Master had left behind him . The following are the appointments : —

Bro . W . J . Whittall 482 Senior Warden R . Dain 98 ... ... ... Jnnior Warden Rev . V . Litchfield 1914 ... *> -. , . Rev . S . W . Jones 726 j Chaplams Dr . 0 . A . Newnham 526 ... Treasurer

E . Corke 419 ... ... ... Registrar E . H . Thorne 1838 ... ... Secretary G . W . Walker 1838 ... ... Assistant Secretary S . Hyslop 460 ... ... Senior Deacon H . Windlo 418 ... ... Junior Deacon

A . MoBeanl 838 ... ... Snpt . of Works J . Woolridge 726 ... ... Dir . of Cers . F . G . Lidington 526 ... ... Asst . Dir . of Cers . J . Charlesworth 2149 ... ... Sword Bearer W . H . Henson 2064 ... ... *) a , , , „ E . J . Moasley 726 j Standard Bearers

F . Taylor 726 ... ... Orgauist J . A . Cooper 1587 ... Pursuivant F . Frobisher 1792 ... ... Assistant Pnrsnivant W . G . Taylor 726 *} C . J . Novitfc 726 /„ , , W . H . Smith 347 ^ Steward s J . T . Hovvson 451 ... ... )

Auditors having been appointed for the ensuing year , Provincial Grand Lodge was called off , and the brethren formed into procession , in which formation they marched to Sfc . Mary ' s Collegiate Church , where Divine service was held . Evensong was sung by the Provincial Grand

Chaplain , assisted by the Assistant Provincial Chaplain . The lessons were read by Bro . the Rev . W . F . Bradley P . P . G . C , and the sermon was preached by the Provincial

Grand Chaplain . The brethren having re-formed in procession in reverse order to that in which they marched to church , they returned to the Borough Hall , where tho business of Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed .

Bro . J . Bodenham P . P . G . S . W ., P . G . A . D . of C . of England , presented the report of the committee appointed afc the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Stafford , on 12 th May 1891 , for the purpose of framing regulations for the establishment ancf administration of a fund for fche

relief of local cases of distress within tho Province , ancl moved fche following resolutions thereon , viz . : —( a ) " That thc resolution of the Provincial Grand Lodge , passed on the 29 th May 1888 , with regard to the disposal of thc ' Carfcwright Fund , ' be and fche same is hereby rescinded . "

( b ) " That a sum of £ 364 3 s 6 d be paid from the funds of Provincial Grand Lod ^ re , together with 36135 16 a 6 d , the amount of the ' Cartwright Fund , ' making together the sum of £ 500 , to the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association , to be invested by the Association , ancl the

annual income thereof paid to its 'B ' Fund . " ( c ) "Thafc one half of fche annual working expenses of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association be for the future defrayed by the Provincial Grand Lodge , and that all other payments or subscriptions to the Association out of the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge be discontinued . "

The whole of the resolutions wero carried , aud after some further business of a formal nature Provincial Graud Lodge was closed . The annual banquet afterwards took place afc tho Shire Hall , under fche presidency of the Acting Deputy Provincial Grand Master , when there was-, a numerous attendance .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the namo and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . Wo cannot undertake to return rejected communications . — : o : —

No . 7 . —HENRY REEVES HARRIS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Allow me to draw the attention of onr brethren to tho above case ; it is a last case , and you know the interest I take in last cases , where deserving . That Harris ' s case is deserving is proved by the interest taken in it by tho Mayor of

Abingdon , ho having secured 1147 votes already . The boy ' s father , who was a manufacturer , died suddenly ( leaving six children entirely dependent on the mother ); he was a subscriber t > the Royal Masonio Institution for Girls , althongh only a yoong Mason . I shall be glad to receive any votes for the case .

Tonrs fraternally , WM . H . SAUNDERS , P . P . G . S . D . Middx . Princess Lonise House , 32 Sackville Street , W .

Masonic Lecture At Barnstaple.

MASONIC LECTURE AT BARNSTAPLE .

THE spacious and handsome Masonic Temple at Barnstaple , North Devon , was well filled on the 3 rd instant * on the occasion of a second visit from Brother James Stevens for the purpose of lecturing on the Ritual and Symbolism of Freemasonry . The " good report" which had attended his earlier visit in the spring of last year had supplied an incentive to brethren of the Loyal Lodge , No . 251 , and of neighbouring Lodge ? , to attend in force on this

occasion , and the gathering was highly creditable in point of numbers . The Lodge was opened at 7 p . m ., and Bro . Stevens immediate commenced his discourse , skilfully taking np the thread of his former address , and continuing his instructive remarks into the second and third degrees . In these , as he pointed oat , the work of the innovator is as fully apparent as in the initiation , and the perfect

meaning of their allegory and symbols even less understood . He was listened to with an attention which was enthusiastic in ita silence , and two full honrs had passed by before his audience marked the lapse of time . Unbounded satisfaction with tho instrnction afforded was expressed when he resumed his seat , and the thanks of the meeting were , on the proposition of Bro . the Rev . Thomas Russell

P . P . G . W . and Chaplain , voted with acclamation in his favour . Amongst the many brethren present in Lodge were P . J . Codd I . P . M . ( who occupied the chair in the unavoidable absence of the W . M ., Bro . Sir W . R . Williams , Bart . ) , AV . G . Crang J . W ., John Brewer P . P . G . J . W . Treasurer , H . C . Gnppy P . P . G . S . D . Secretary , Robert Harper S . D ., H . Brookes J . D ., M . Squires Steward , G . C .

Davey Prov . G . Secretary of Devon , W . Drewett P . M . 889 P . P . G . Standard Bearer Middlesex , J . S . Catford P . M . 1135 , J . A . Carter W . M . 382 , II . A . G . Barnott Secretiry 1135 , numerous other members of Lodge No . 251 , and representatives of the Concord Lodge at Ilfracombe , and of Lodges 1593 , 257 , 1563 , 1833 , 1638 , & o .

After thc Lodge was closed supper was served at tho Royal and Foi tescue Hotol , and the remainder of a very pleasant and generally satisfactory evening was spent in harmony and good fellowship . An early visit of Bro . i * . tovens to tho Concord Lodge , at Ilfracombe , was portly arranged , ancl the brethren of North Devon will certainly welcome his re-appe . irance amongst them .

The Freemasons in Suffolk and the people of Long Mclford in particular will mi . ss tho genial face and neighbourly conrtesy of the Rev . C . J . Martyn , who , after twenty-three years' rcrvice as Rector of Melford , on Sunday preached his farewell sermon , and said good bye to tho church in which he has so long loved to minister , and to a

people between whom and himself tho tenderest sympathy has been cultivated . Bro . Martyn is ono of those men who attach to themselves tho homage of friends . As tho Rev . George Hodgson , preaching in Melford Church remarked , a relationship of unusually deep affection between pastor and people was coming to a close . Bro . Martyn s

name has been so long aud so conspicuously identified with tbe parish that it is hard to realise tho fact that a severance is about to take p ' ace . These changes are sometimes painful and always suggestive , lira . Hodgson bade tho Melford people to be of good cheer and to ht faith come into play : —

" So long thy power hath blessed me , sure it still Will load me on , O'er moor and fen , o'er crag and torrent , till The night is gone . " —Suffolk Qhronich :

L . T . Meade's new novel , " The Medicine Lady , " will be published in a few days by Messrs . Casaell and Company . A second edition of the '' Reminiscences of Lord Augustus Loftus haa already been called for , aud will be ready this week .

Ad00603

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended , in London and Country , by Bro . Q- . A . HTJTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations mads .