Essex.

murderer , and thus a sincere and earnest worker , a man of large sympathy and great mental attainments was removed from them . Then there was Comp . Geo . Cook , who distinguished himself in many walks of Freemasonry , and was deservedly respected by all who knew him .

Having touched on that inevitable topic , it was much more pleasant to congratulate the Province upon the position it had attained ; It was quite true they had not during the past year seen any addition to the number of Chapters . They started and closed with eleven on

their roll . He heard some reports , which if coming from the quarter he thought , would probably lead to Grand Chapter being asked to grant another Chapter , which

would be the twelfth . He was happy to think they had maintained their numbers , and not only that , but after making deductions they had a net increase of nine—a number which would evoke the comment that it was a

thoroughly Boyal Arch number . No questions or differences had arisen rendering it necessary to refer to Grand Chapter for advice , the good sense and good Masonic feeling preventing any trouble arising . There \ vas one matter which affected their Order in general .

In former Constitutions twelve months probation was necessary for a Master Mason before he could be exalted in the Boyal Arch , but that had been reduced by the

express command of Grand Chapter , to one month . The Boyal Arch was the legitimate crown of a Master Mason ' s degree , and no doubt the members were the elite of the Craft . He trusted that those who saw

candidates raised who were likely to be an honour to the Boyal Arch , if they thought it right might inform them of the facility with which they could now pursue their Masonic course and receive the light in which

they as Boyal Arch Masons rejoiced . Comps . A . C . Durrant M . E . Z . 276 ( son of the

distinguished Provincial Grand Treasurer ) , and John Glass M . E . Z . 453 , were appointed and obligated respectively as Prov . G . H . and Prov . G . J . Comp . Andrew Durrant P . Z . was unanimously re-elected Provincial G . Treas . for the twelfth year va succession .

The following Officers were then invested Comp T . J . Railing P . G . S . B . P . Z . - c ., „ ( 12 th year ) Scribe E . A . S . B . Sparling P . Z . 51 - - Scribe N . Andrew Durrant P . Z . - - - Treasurer

H . C . Jones H . 214 ... Registrar W . T . Warner M . E . Z . 2005 - - Principal Sojouinei F . H . Meggy H . 276 - - - 1 st Assistant Jaines Speller H . 2256 - - . - 2 nd Assistant G . J . Glasscock H . 10 C 0 - - Swoid Bearer

M . T . Tuck J . 1437 - - - Standard Bearer A . Lucking P . A . G . D . C . - - Director of Ceremonies J . Sadler J . 1024 - - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers . C . H . Spurgeon Org . 453 - - Organist G . W . Knight M . E . Z . 2256 - - Assistant Scribe E . A . W . Martin .... Janitor .

A vote of thanks was accorded the Essex Chapter for the admirable arrangements made , and the Provincial Grand Chapter was formally closed . A banquet was afterwards held in the White Hart

Hotel , at which the customary toasts were honoured . The Queen and Eoyal Arch Masonry , and H . B . H . the Prince of Wales M . E . Grand Z . having been given , the Grand Superintendent proposed the Grand Officers , and expressed his regret that some of their friends , whom they would have been glad to see present , had excused

themselves . In their absence they would adopt that thoroughly English practical way , and meet the situation by drinking their health .

Comp . T . J . Balling P . G . S . B ., in retpome , said that while they had such Comps . to rule the Order , there was no wonder it prospered as it did . With regaid to tbe Province Bio . Lucking and himself weie twins ,

having but one desire , to do all they could for Boyal Ar 6 h Masonry in Essex . The M . E . the Grand Superintendent of Essex was proposed by Comp . A . C . Durrant Piov . G . H ., who said they could boast that Comp . Philbrick took more interest in Masonry than any man in the world . It was all very well for men of high degree to occupy proud position , to

have their names figuring on paper , but they had not the woik to do like the Giand Superintendent of Essex—for it was to him they owed the position they held as one of the fiifct Provinces in the countiy . In their chief they

Essex.

felt they had some safe-guard to carry them through any dangers . Comp . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Superintendent returned thanks and said he only wished all the remarks of the Prov . G . H . could be justified . Wherever one

wandered there was no place like Essex , there were no people better than Essex people , of whom the"best were in the Craft , and the cream of the Craft was in the Boyal Arch . He could not forgeft that it was 12 years ago in that same room that he first presided over the

Provincial Grand Chapter of Essex . On that occasion there sat on his right the Consecrating Officer the Earl of Lathom , whom thoy had honoured as second Grand Principal that evening . Since lie had been their head he had seen Arch Masonry correspondingly increase

with the Craft . A member of the House of Commons being playfully reproached with the fact that the House sat day after day without passing anything replied , that the House of Commons was the nursery of the House of Lords . The Craft was the nursery of the Boyal Arch .

It had been a matter of supreme satisfaction to him that the past year had gone so successfully . They were practically where they were , if anything a little on the right side , the demand having been steady , and the expense adequate . He should be wantingin the common

gratitude of mankind if he were not to acknowledge the kind help he had received from every Companion of the Order , and the earnest desire which everybody showed in all cases of question or difficulty to assist and help the cause of the Order . He could assure them that while he

had the honour to hold his present position as far as any effort of his would go to promote their legitimate aspirations , they could command him and ask him to help them . There was nothing he could do that he would not cheerfully and readily do in order to assist the cause they had so much at heart .

Comp . A . C . Durrant Prov . G . H . responded for the Principals of the Chapters in the Province , and Comps . J . Glass Prov . G . J ., and A . Durrant Prov . G . Treas ., acted in a similar capacity for the Provincial Grand Officers , the latter expressing his gratification at seeing his son hold high office in the Province .

The Janitor ' s toast then closed the proceedings , during which Comp . H . Schartau ancl Bro . Albert James contributed several well rendered songs . The Companions present included :

F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Supt ., W . T . Dring Prov . G . H ., T . Railing P . G . S . B . Prov . G . S . E ., R . H . Ives Prov . G . S . N ., F . Suthery Prov . G . P . S ., W . Darnell Prov . G . A S ., A . Durrant Prov . G . Treas ., T . Scoresby Jackson Prov . G . Swd . B ., A . Lucking P . A . G . D . C . Prov . G . D . C , A . W . Martin Prov . G . Jan ., G . W . Pascali 276 , D .

Gotto 1024 , H . J . Skingley 51 . G . Gravelcy P . P . G . A . S ., W . H . Handen 1024 , H . C . Jones 214 , R . T . Gushing 214 , W . Shurmur P . G . T ., W . Gayton P . G . S . W ., A . S . B . Sparling P . P . G . S . B ., V . W . Taylor P . Z . 276 P . P . G . H ., G . F . Smith P . P . G . O ., J . J . Briginshaw J . 2256 , W . T . Warner M . E . Z . 2005 , J . P . Green 276 , R . Martin H .

453 , E . R . Evans 453 , J . Glass M . E . Z . 453 , T . G . Green 1024 , R . Jennings P . P . G . A . S ., F . W . Meggy P . P . G . S . B ., G . H . Finch P . Z . 2005 P . P . G . J ., J . C . Turner P . P . G . J ., M . Jutson P . P . G . H ., A . C . Durrant M . E . Z . 276 , J . Hutley P . P . G . D . C , J . P . Lewin P . P . S . W .,

R . G . Kellett P . P . G . P . Soj ., G . Copus M . E . Z . 2154 , H . Dehane P . Z ., M . T . Tuck J . 1437 , G . W . Knight Z . 2156 , J . Speller H . 2256 , W . M . Butcher P . S . 453 , G . J . Glasscock 1000 , C . W . Barnard 1000 . Visitors :-G . Gregory P . Z . 2048 , T . P . Peeliey 9 S 6 , W . W . Lee H . 1524 .

Devonshire.

DEVONSHIRE .

THE Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Teignmouth , on Wednesday of last week . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . W . G . Eogers presided , and was well supported by a

numerous attendance of Provincial Officers and Brethren . The Lodge was held at the East Devon and Teignmouth Club , and there were nearly 400 Brethren present .

The Prov . G . Secretary Bro . Major G . Christopher Davie presented his report , which , he said , was one of a satisfactory character , for although there were 114 less members in the Province , this was owing to the

Lodges having adopted the wise course of striking off the names of Brethren who were many years in arrears . The decrease was really a matter of congratulation instead of regret . The report was adopted . The Prov . G . Treas . Bro . W . A . Gregory 1254 , in his report , stated that after paying all accounts and sums