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Prov. Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

rpHE Annual Meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at - * - Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Wednesday , the 28 th ult ., under the auspices of the Commercial Lodge , No . 1391 . In the absence of the E . W . Provincial Grand Master the Ri <* ht Hon . the Earl Ferrers , tne R . W . Past Prov . Grand Master Brother

William Kelly , F . S . A ., F . R . Hist . Soc , occupied the chair , and was supported by W . Bro . George Toller jnn ., P . G . S . B . England , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and n ? arge number of Provincial Grand Officers , amongst -whom were W . Bros . C . E Stretton P . S . G . W ., M . J . Walker P . P . J . W ., Revs . J . Bird and A . P . Dawson P . G . Chaplains , R . Waite P . G . Treasurer , S . S . Partridge P . G . Seo , J . Halford and J . O . Law P . G . D . ' s , R . Bradshaw Smith P . G . Sunt ' of Works , J . Young P . G . D . C , E . Taylor P . G . A . D . C , G . Oliver and J . Hassall P . G . Pursuivants , C . Oliver , E . Jeeves , B . A . Smith , R . R . Cole , and R . Miohie , P . G . Stewards , and Bros . Dunn and Tariser P . G . Tylers , also W . Bros . Rev . W . Langley and W . B . Smith P . P . G . S . W . s , J . T . Thorp P . P . J . G . W ., Revs . F . H . Richardson and C . Henton Wood P . P . G . Chaplains , W . S . Allen and F . J . Baines

P . P . G . D . ' s , S . Clever P . P . G . A . D . C ., Captain J . G . F . Richardson P . P . G . S . B ., H . Nicholson and W . Vial P . P . G . Organists , M . H . Lewin and C . J . Wilkinson P . P . G . P . 's , C . Gurdon P P . G . S B . E . Watson W . M . 1391 , D . Challis W . M . 523 , F . Griffith W . M . 1265 ' J . Wiggins W . M . 1330 , A . H . Bnrgoss I . P . M . 1560 , R . S . Toller W . M . 1560 , and many others . Amongst the visitors were W . Brothers

J . Terry Secretary R . M . B . I ., J . S . Cumberland P . P . J . G . W . N . and E , Yorkshire , and John Featherston W . M . 1656 . The Rolls of Lodges and of Provincial Grand Officers having beon called and duly responded to , the minntes of the previous annual meeting of P . G . Lodge , which had been previously printed and circulated amongst the members , were taken as read , and were confirmed .

The Prov . Grand Secretary read the Report of the Provincial Committee of General Purposes , which presented a very satisfactory account of the condition of Masonry in the Province , and alluded particularly to the great interest shown in Masonic matters in the county town , to the rapid increase in the number of members during the past few years , and to the consequent want of additional Lodges

m order to satisfy the claims of the many competent deserving brethren aspiring to take office . At the present time Leicester , having a population of somewhere about 130 , 000 , only numbers four Lodges . The Report after dealing witb some other local matters , referred specially to the Revision of the Book of Constitutions and to the desirable alterations and additions which have been made in tha

interests of the Provinces , and urged upon the brethren to support to the utmost those alterations and additions when they came before Grand Lodge at the December Quarterly Communication . An exception , however , was made in reference to the revised clause ( No . 186 ) , relating to the status ; of joining P . M . ' s of Craft Lodges , the Committee , so far as their knowledge and experience in this Province

extends , failing to perceive the existence of any hardship in the present position of such P . M . 's , and it was therefore considered that failing any reasonable compromise the present amendment ought not to be confirmed . The Report was , on the motion of Bro . Langley , seconded by Bro . C . E . Stretton , duly adopted .

The following Report of the Provincial Charity Committee was read by Brother the Rev . W . Langley . The Charity CDmmittee are again glad , in presenting their Annual Report , to register the fact that their candidate , at the April election of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , Caroline Louisa Weare , was elected eighteenth on the successful list of 22 . The number of

votes polled by the Leicestershire Province was 1275 , which may be thought by some to be largely in excess of the requirements of the case , seeing that one of those elected only polled 878 ; but npon examining the list it will be found that the lowest of the first 21 out of 22 polled 1208 , and that No . 22 must consider herself exceptionally fortunate in securing election at a figure so very much lower than

those well versed in tbe matter predicted it safe to stand at . The large nnmber of 1275 polled by this Province was made np as follows , votes in hand 458 , votes borrowed 748 , votes given to the Secretary by W . Bro . Captain Homfray D . P . G . M . of Monmouthshire 65 , and 4 polled by unknown subscribers . The debts of the Province at the present time are as follows : —Boys : To Derbyshire , 485 ; less owing

to ns , 70—total 415 . Girls : To North Wales , 50 : Derby , 108 ; Monmouth , 265—total , 423 . The thanks of the Committee are due to Worshipful Brother Captain Homfray D . P . G . M . of Monmouthshire , and to Worshipful Brother William Nott , of Wilts , for kindly cooperating with their Secretary in securing the election of Bro . Weare ' s child . No brother having offered his services as Steward at the ensuing Festival for the Girls' School , the Committee propose

that Bro . S . S . Partridge P . P . S . G . W . and Prov . Grand Secretary be nominated as Steward to represent this Province at the forthcoming Festival of the Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows , and the Committee have voted the sum of £ 21 to be placed on his list for the Widows' Fund . The Committee have great pleasure in commending tbe Charity Association to . the brethren of the Province , and point to the large

increase of voting power as the fruit of its successful working . They cannot close their Report without rendering their hearty thanks to Worshipful Bro . Captain Richardson , who so successfully represented the Province at tho last Festival of tho Boys , when tho magnificent sum of £ 405 was given in as his list . Tho acconnts have beeu examined aud duly audited , showing a sum of £ 53 15 s 4 d to tho credit of the Committee .

( Signed ) G . TOILER j nn ., D . P . G . M . Chairman . Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , 6 th November 1883 . Tho D . P . G . M ., in moving the adoption of the Report , ancl of a vote of thanks to Bro . Langley referred , in eulogistic terms , to the

services of that brother as Secretary to the Charity Committee , the skill with which he discharged the duties of the office , and the great amount of thonght and labour which he brought to bear in carrying out the arrangements for , and bringing the election of the local candidate to , a successful issue . The motion and vote of thanks were seconded by Bro . Thorp , supported by Bro . Capt . Richardson , and carried

unanimously , the latter taking the opportunity at the same time of referring to the grand result of his Stewardship for tho Boys , and pointing out the absolute necessity for continued exertions in face of the increas . ing number of applicants year by year for admission to tho various Masonio Charities . Bro . Richardson hoped that the brethren would not stem the tide of their benevolence in coming years , but would

cheer the efforts of future Stewards by according to them at least an equal measure of support to that which , it had been his goad fortune and privilege to receive . It shonld be observed that Bro . Richardson ' s list for the Boys ' , which amounted to about £ 405 , averaged , as nearly as possible , £ 1 per head on the total number of members in the Province , such number being 406 , as shown by the last annual

returns to P . G . Lodge . Bro . S . S . Partridge P . G . Sec . was unanimously elected to represent Provincial Grand Lodge as Steward at the ensuing Festival for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The P . G . Registrar ' s report was submitted , showing tbe number of members returned as 451 , but which , after making allowances for

members subscribing to more than one Lodge , was reduced to an actual membership of 406 . The Provincial Grand Treasurer's account , an abstract of which had been printed with the summons for P . G . Lodge , was submitted . The acconnt showed a balance in hand on the General Fund of £ 92 4 s 3 d ,

and on the Charity Fund , £ 2315 s 4 d . It was nnanimously resolved that the account be passed , and the best thanks of the P . G . Lodge be given to Bro . R . Waite P . G . Treasurer for his services . Bro . R . Waite was thon re-elected P . G . Treasurer . Tbe P . G . Officers for the ensuing year were appointed and invested as follows : —

Bro . J . T . Thorp P . M . 523 P . S . G . W . W . S . Allen P . M . 779 P . J . G . W . Rev . A . P . Dawson 1560 P . G . Chaplain Robert Waite P . M P . G . Registrar A . H . Burgess I . P . M . l 560 P . G . Treasurer S . S . Partridge P . M . 523 P . G . Secetary S . Cleaver P . M . 279 P . S . G . D . E . Watson W . M . 1391 P . J . G . D .

F . Griffith W . M . 1265 P . G . S . of Works J . Young P . M . 523 P . G . D . C . C . Gurdon W . M . 279 P . G . A . D . C . J . Wiggins W . M . 1330 P . G . Sword Bearer T . B . Laxton 1391 P . G . Organist B . Wood P . M . 1007 P . G . Pursuivant R . R . Cole 50 P . G . A . Pursuivant

D . Challis W . M . 523 P . G . S . B . R . R . Bellamy 779 , R . S . Clifford 1007 , " ) , : ™ £ 00 ? a ^ 30 ' ^ i ' , m T £ ? <*• Rewards lain 1265 , J . E . Beazeley 1391 , J . B . C Fowler 1560 ) T . Dunn 523 } G Tvler J . Tanser 279 ] G . lyler

A Report of the Leicester Freemasons' Hall Committee , on the sobject of certain proposed additions to the Hall , was then brought up , and after a very long discussion was referred back to the Committee for reconsideration , with a recommendation that an alternative scheme for an entire reconstruction of the Hall premises or the erection of a new building on another site shonld be submitted for

the approval of Provincial Grand Lodge . The valuable services of Bro . C . 0 . Stretton P . P . S . G . W ., as Honorary Secretary to the Leicester Freemasons' Hall Committee , were duly recognised by a cordial and unanimous vote of thanks to him , which was proposed by the Right Worshipful Grand Master , and seconded by Bro . M . J . Walker P . P . G . J . W .

Sovornl communications were road , including letters from Bro . H . Smith Prov . Grand Secretary West Yorkshire , on tho subject oE Resolutions passed by the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire with reference to the proposed re-building or reinstating of the old Masonic Temple at Grand Lodge , and from Bro . T , B . Whytehead Prov . S . G . W . N . and E . Yorkshire , on the subject of the proposed testimonial to Bro . W . J . Hughan P . G . D .

On the proposition of Bro . S . S . Partridge , . seconded by Bro . W . Kelly , it was resolved that Provincial Grand Lodge should contribute to the proposed testimonial to Bro . Hughan . Letters of apology for absence having been read from Bros . W . J . Hughan P . G . D ., W . Nott Secretary Wilts Charity Committee , Fred . Walters P . P . G . D . Middlesex , J . M . Moore P . P . G . Reg . Derby , and others , Provincial Grand Lodgo was closed in form .

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i'U'NEBA'LS . —Bros . W . K . L . & G-. A . HUTTON , Coffin Makers and Undertakers , 17 "Newcastle Street , Strand , W . O . and 30 "Forest Hill Boad , Peckham Bye , S . E .