Devon.

DEVON .

THE Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , Bart ., C . B ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , has ordered a special Provincial Grand Lodge to be held at the Assembly Booms , Buckfastleigh , on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., at a quarter to three p . m ., for the constitution and consecration of the Trinity Lodge , No . 2595 , the

Warrant of which was granted several months ago . This will raise the number of Lodges in Devon to fifty-three , the oldest of which was chartered so far back as the year 1732 , says the " Western Morning News . "

Durham.

DURHAM .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday , 30 th ult ., ait the Temperance Hall , Hartlepool , when there assembled a very large number of Provincial Officers , arid the Masters , Officers , and Brethren of Lodges . The Provincial Grand Master Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., presided , arid was supported by the Bev . Canon Tristram , DM ) ., Deputy .

The financial report for the year was presented by the P . G . Tre ' asurer Bro . B . S . Benson , showing a balance of £ 341 8 s in the' batik , a , rid was duly adopted . The Bev . Cahoh Tristram , D . D ., chairman of the Charity Committee of the Province , presented the report of the Committee ,

vJhkSh refcotrimerided that a humber of grants be made to several necessitous Brethren and widows of deceased Brethren . The Committee also recomitiended that 70 guineas be donated to the

Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , 60 guineas to the Boyal M & soiiic Institution for Boys , and 60 guineas to the Boyal Masonic Institution for Girls , a tdtal sum of £ 199 10 s . The report was unanimously adopted .

The Provincial Grand Master addressed the Lodge . He mentioned , amid loud applause , the proposal which had been made b ^ a number of the leading Masons of the Province , for some substantial and suitable recognition of the long and most able services of the Provincial Grand Secretary Brother Eobert

Hudson , and it had been suggested that this would be appropriate by the establishment of a special grant to the Durham Masonic Education Fund , which would be suitably named in due course . This should have his best help . He also wished every success to the Durham Masonic Benevolent Fund , which it had been agreed to establish . Brd . Jamea Sedcole P . M . 1119 , Jarrow , was elected as Pfdvihcial Grand Treasurer , on the motion of Bro . T . G . Mabane

P . P . G . J . W . The Provincial Grand Lodge was afterwards closed in due form , the Officers having been invested . — " Newcastle Journal . "

Warwickshire.

WARWICKSHIRE .

ON Thursday , 1 st inst ., by direction of Lord Leigh Provincial Grand Master and Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Warwick , the Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Corn Exchange , Atherstone , under the banner of the Athelstan Lodge . In the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand Master Bro . J . T . Collins Deputy occupied the chair .

The Worshipful Master of the Athelstan Lodge having opened the Craft Lodge in the three degrees , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master and other Officers were received with the usual honours , after which the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened . The Deputy Grand Master announced that he had received a

letter from the Provincial Grand Master regretting his inability to be present , owing to the death of a relative , and also because his medical adviser had recommended him not to run too much risk in going out after the operation he had recently undergone ; he was glad to state that he was now recovering from his recent illness .

The Deputy said all of them rejoiced that Lord Leigh was now recovering from his recent illness , and he proposed that the Provincial Grand Secretary be requested to send a letter to his lordship , sympathising with him in his recent affliction , and congratulating him upon his recovery . The Provincial Grand Senior Warden seconded the resolution , which was carried .

Apologies were received from about fifty other Brethren . It was reported that the number of members in the Province was 1 , 516 , being an increase of 52 as compared with the previous year . Eeports dealing with financial matters were submitted , all of which were considered highly satisfactory .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was adjourned , and the Brethren went | in procession to St . Mary ' s Church , where a special servicejwas held . Notwithstanding the very inclement weather there was a crowded congregation . A very appropriate sermon was preached by the Provincial Grand Chaplain the Eev . Thomas Dorming , his subject being the Brotherhood of Man .

Warwickshire.

The collection , which was in aid of the Warwickshire Masonic Benevolent and . Pupils' Aid Fund , amounted to £ 16 18 s 6 d . The Brethren afterwards returned to the Corn Exchange , where the business of Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master proposed a vote of thanks to the Eev . W . Northcote , vicar of Atherstone , for allowing the service t 6 be held in the Parish Church . The Worshipful Master of the Athelstan Lodge then seconded the

resolution , which was carried . It was resolved to contribute £ 5 5 s to the Church charities of Atherstone . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master afterwards appointed and invested the Provincial Officers for the ensuing twelve

months . Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , the Brethren adjourned to the Town HaU , where a banquet was provided . The usual toasts were honoured . —" Birmingham Gazette . "

West Lancashire Charity.

WEST LANCASHIRE CHARITY .

THE annual court of Governors of the West Lancashire Maaonic Institution was held on Friday , 2 nd inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , under the chairmanship of Bro . T . B . Newton P . M . the newly-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , one of the Vice-Presidents of the Institution . The

principal business comprised the election of 15 children on to the foundation of the Institution ( recommended by the General Committee)—nine on the Educational Fund , three on the Combined Fund , and three on the Advancement Fund , all the cases being unanimously approved and adopted .

In accordance with notice of motion , Bro . E . H . Leake P . M . submitted a motion suggesting an extended investment of the funds of the charity beyond those which were at present in force . After considerable discussion , it was unanimously

resolved that the matter should be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration , a report of their recommendations on the subject to be afterwards submitted to a meeting of the court of Governors .

Bros . G . Broadbridge P . P . G . D . C . and J . N . Tyson P . M . 241 were re-elected Honorary Secretaries of the Institution , and Bro . J . T . Callow P . P . G . Treasurer was once more appointed the Honorary Treasurer . Thirty annual governors to constitute the General Committee were next appointed , there being about half

a dozen changes in its constitution , and the Auditors , members of the Finance and Schools Committees , Honorary Medical Officers , Honorary Solicitor , Trustees , and Bankers were

subsequently re-elected . Thanks for valuable services were cordially given to the executive Officers of the Institution , and the proceedings closed with a similar compliment to the Chairman . — " Liverpool Mercury . "

Bro . W . S . Hooper was duly installed as Worshipful Master of the Strand Lodge , No . 1987 , at the Masonic Temple , Begent Circus , W ., on Thursday . A report is held over .

The annual festival of the All Saints Lodge , No . 1716 , will be held next Thursday , at Poplar , when Bro . John Charles Carpenter W . M .-elect will be installed into the chair by his predecessor Bro . Charles Allen .

The installation meeting of the Eothesay Lodge , No . 1687 was held on Wednesday , at the Frascati , Oxford Street , when Bro . T . J . Bolton was installed into the chair by his predecessor Bro . A . E . Clements . In addition to other business the

members gave further evidence of the splendid way in which they support the Charities , voting forty guineas from their funds , on behalf of the two funds of the Benevolent Institution and the two Schools , each of which will receive ten guineas , and

presenting a Charity jewel to the retiring Master , by virtue of a recently passed by-law of the Lodge , to make such a gift to the Master if he serves two Stewardships during his year of o & ice We hope to give fuller details in our next issue .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

LOED Kensington , who was appointed to the position of Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales in 1884 , died with painful suddenness on Wednesday , in Scotland , where he was on a visit to Floors Castle , Boxburghshire . Our distinguished Brother was out shooting , and after

crossing a fence suddenly dropped down , and expired almost before any of his companions could reach him . As may be imagined the event has caused considerable regret , as Lord Kensington was most popular in the many positions he filled .