Buckinghamshire.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Thursday , the 25 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Buckingham , when Lord Addington Provincial Grand Master presided . There was a large attendance of Brethren , many of whom went by special train which left London ( Baker Street ) at 12-8 , arriving at 2 * 15 , and leaving again at 6 - 20 .

This is the first time that Prov . Grand Lodge has been held at Buckingham , and the members of the Grenville Lodge attended in good numbers , with many other representatives of the various Lodges in the Province .

Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at 2-30 , and the minutes of the last meeting , held at Aylesbury in 1895 , were read and confirmed . After other business had been transacted , the Provincial Grand Master proceeded to appoint and invest the Officers for the year :

Bro ; H . P . Harris - Senior Warden J . Stephens ----- Junior Warden Bev . F . G . Kiddle - - - - ) „ , , . Eev . V . P . Wyatt ... - [ Cfoaplams F . W . Taylor .... Treasurer H . Bullock - Registrar

J . E . Bowen .... Secretary A . Mitchell ----- Senior Deacon Sampson ----- Junior Deacon E . J . Hubbard - Superintendent of Works E . Edgington - - - - Director of Ceremonies Lewcock ----- Assistant Dir . of Cers .

Maclean - - - - - Sword Bearer Gibbs - - - - - f standard Bearers Whitlock ----- Assistant Secretary H . Young - - - - - Organist

Crowhurst - - - - - Pursuivant G-. E . Eeynolds .... Assistant Pursuivant Hambling - - - - - Hobson - Milne .....

„ , , Hobbs h Stewards . Pulman - -

Berry ..... The health of the Prov . G . M . was submitted by the Eev . J . S . Brownrigg , who said they now had a Provincial Grand Master whose whole heart and soul was in the Province , a distinguished Mason and citizen , the Lord High Steward of the Borough . Whether as Lord High Steward or as Provincial Grand Master he would always receive an enthusiastic welcome .

Lord Addington , m reply to the toast of his health , said he regarded the quartet they had just heard , " Come live with me , " as a sonnet dedicated to him by the Province . He referred to the appeal of the Charity Secretary for Bucks and asked the Brethren to send their votes to support the cases arising from Bucks at the Masonic Institutions . He also referred to the recent meeting when the Prince of Wales presided for Guy ' s Hospital , when £ 500 was contributed by Masons .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

BERKS AND 0 X 0 N .

THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Masons was held on Monday , 29 th ult ., in the Town Hall , Maidenhead , under the banner of the Jersey Lodge . The Provincial Grand Master Viscount Valentia , M . P ., presided , and others present were the Deputy P . G . Master Bro . John Tomkins , formerly of Abingdon , but now residing at Hastings , Bro . J . T . Morland acting P . G . Master for the Craft Province of Berkshire , & c .

At half-past twelve the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge entered the hall in procession , headed by the handsome new banner , borne by Bro . Stapley immediately in front of the P . G . Master , who occupied the throne ; and the customary business proceeded .

The P . G . Secretary presented a satisfactory report on the state of the respective Lodges , and the same was adopted . Bro . Margrett presented the report of the Committee of General Purposes , which referred to the purchase of a banner , and stated

that the furniture of the P . G . Lodge was now perfect . The report was passed . Bro . Margrett submitted the Finance and Charity accounts , which were of a satisfactory character , and were adopted . Bro . Margrett was re-elected P . G . Treasurer .

The P . G . Master proposed a vote of thanks to the W . M . and Brethren of the Jersey Lodge for their cordial reception of the P . G . Lodge . Bro . Gardner having responded , Bro . Keyser invited the P . G . Lodge to meet under the banner of the Porchester

Lodge , at Newbury , next year , when in all probability Bro . Hill would be W . M . ¦ He ( Brother Keyser ) would be pleased if , after the business , the Brethren would drive over to Aldermaston Park , and dine there .

Mark Masonry.

The P . G . Master said he felt sure the Brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge would be only too glad to accept the invitation of the Porchester Lodge , and act upon the kind suggestion of Bro . Keyser to visit his picturesque estate at Aldermaston . The Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were then appointed and invested .

The P . G . Senior Warden then volunteered to represent the Province at next year ' s festival on behalf of the Mark Benevolent Fund , and the sum of £ 5 5 s , to be added to his list , was unanimously voted from the funds of the P . G . Lodge .

This concluded the business , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . Light refreshments were then partaken of , after which the Brethren , joined by some Craft Masons and several ladies , drove to Boulter ' s Lock , and proceeded from thence in a

steam launch to Marlow , where they landed , and partook of a cold collation at the Anglers' Hotel , the P . G . Master presiding . The party returned by water to Maidenhead in the evening , and he Mark Provincial gathering of 1896 came to " - a successful termination . — " Eeading Mercury . "

BOSCAWEN LODGE , No . 101 . THE installation meeting was held on Monday , 29 th ult ., at Ghacewater , when Bro . John Eitton P . G . D . O . was installed as W . M . by Bro . E . F . E . Prizell P . G . S . W ., assisted by Bro . W . L . Chegwidden P . P . G . J . O . The Eoyal Ark Mariners Lodge held its annual meeting the same day , when Bro . J . G . Shanks was ably installed into the chair by Bro . W . L . Chegwidden W . C . N .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

KENT .

WE were compelled a few weeks back to considerably curtail some of the speeches following the consecration of the Sympathy Chapter , at Gravesend , notably the comments of the heads of the county in regard to the past working , and the future prospects of the degree in that part of the country .

In this connection we may particularly , refer to the remarks of the late Companion T . S . Warne Scribe E . of the Province , whose death since the meeting has been so much deplored ' . Companion Warne said he felt it a privilege to take part in the consecration of another new Chapter for Kent . When he looked

back to the last twenty years , and remembered that holding the position he did the first Chapter he assisted in consecrating stood No . 11 on their roll , and now that the Sympathy was the twentysixth Chapter in Kent , he believed that much of the eclat and prestige acquired had occurred through the happy circumstance

of having Lord Amherst as their head . Without betraying confidence he could inform the Companions that a petition was about to be presented for another Chapter in the Province , so that shortly they might hope to see a roll of thirty Chapters in Kent . He would impress upon Masons wherever he went that

it was all very well to attend the consecration of Lodges'and Chapters , to extend the borders of Masonry , but what did it all mean and what should it mean ? That they were endeavouring to carry out the three great principles of the Order , Brotherly Love , Eelief and Truth . If these were the watchwords they

could view with calm equanimity the extension of their borders because they knew wherever a Chapter was , there was a centre of usefulness , the Charities were fostered , and the principles of Masonry were increased . He hoped'there was a fine future for this Chapter .

SYMPATHY CHAPTER , No . 483 . THE first convocation of this Chapter after its recent consecration took place at the Eoyal Clarendon Hotel , Gravesend , on Wednesday , 1 st inst . Comp . Henry Eorss P . Z . presided , assisted by Comp . J . P . White P . Z . as H ., A . Eonaldson as J ., E . J . Beamish S . N ., Orlton Cooper P . S ., Frank Hitchens 1 st A . S ., W . Hawker 2 nd A . S ., Ernest Ingman , J . A . Gillett , W . Spencer Bowen , J . Eitch , & c .

The ballot was taken and proved unanimous in favour of nine Brethren for exaltation , but only three were able to attend , viz ., Bros . C . P . Bowen , T . A . Mummery , and Geo . D . Braine . They were examined and being properly prepared were admitted as Companions of the Order . The Lectures were admirably rendered by the acting Z . and H .

A vote of sympathy and condolence from the Chapter was directed ' to be sent to the family of the late esteemed Companion T . S . Warne Prov . G . S . E . whose last Masonic function was the installation of the Principals of this Chapter .

Comp . Eorss having expressed his willingness to act as Preceptor , it was resolved to found a Chapter of Improvement , and it was expected and hoped that all the Companions of the district would join it . This concluding the business of the evening , the Chapter was duly closed , and the Companions adjourned to supper .

FURNITURE wanted ( second-hand ) for Eoyal Arch Chapter . —Address ; " Furniture , " care of " Freemason ' s Chroniole , " New Barnet .