Surrey.

SURREY .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey—to which we briefly referred last week—was held at the Public Hall , Croydon , oh Thursday , 26 th ult , under the presidency of the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow , G . C . M . G ., Prov . G . Master , who was supported by Bros .

Fred .. West P . G . D . Deputy Prov . G . Master , Sir W . Marriott , Q . C ., M . P ., Deputy Prov . G . Master Sussex , V . P . Freeman P . G . D . Prov . G . Secretary Sussex , and a large assembly of other Brethren .

Prov . G . Lodge was opened , and the minutes confirmed . The roll of Lodges was called , and all were represented , with one exception . A sum of ten guineas was voted to each of the

following Chanties : —The Roval Masonic Benevolent Institution ( Male and Female ) , the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and the Croydon Hospital , and two guineas to the Home for the Dying . A very satisfactory year ' s work by the Charity

Committee was reported by Bro . J . D . Langtoh P . D . G . D . C .

Secretary . On the proposition of Bro . J . H . Hawkins Prov . G . D . C , Bro . Walter Dennis P . M . Molesey Lodge was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer . The following Officers were then appointed and invested :

Bro . W . Soper 2095 .... Senior Warden 0 . de Bertodano 1616 ... Junior Warden Rev . W . Horan 452 - - - . \ ¦ „ , , . Eev . A . C . Aoworth 870 - - - J P lalns Walter Dennis - Treasurer J . M . Newnham , LL . D ., 1556 - - Begistrar

C . T . Tyler 1395 .... Secretary T . Cookes 1347 .... . 1 .-... , _ ... J . W . Palmer 1149 - - - - f Senlor -De *"" 5118 Dr . Twort 1714 - - - . | T . _ W . G . Goods 2096 .... Kumor Deacons

G . H . Fellows Prynne 1826 - - - Superintendent of Works J . H . Hawkins 410 - Director of Ceremonies A . W . Smith 463 - - - - Deputy Dir ; of Cers . C . J . Slade 1046 - - - I H . S . Folker 2234 - - - - V Assistant Dirs . of Cera . J . J . Lamigeon 1929 - - - - )

B . Mossop 1395 .... Sword Bearer J . M . Parsons 1564 - - - - I A , , , „ John Ellinger 2222 .... | Standard Bearers A . Toop 1929 ..... Organist W . A . Latham 410 - - - - Assistant Secretary H . G . Herbert 2101 .... Pursuivant

O . E . Oldridge 1638 .... Assistant Pursuivant F . Holme Sumner 2756 - - - \ J . S . Poinfcon 1861 .... C . H . Piesse 410 - - - . „ , C . J . Parke 1982 - . Y Stewards S . T . Baker 1892

-G . W . Saul 1851 - - - . ) E . P . Potter --- .. Tyler . The Provincial Grand Master , addressing the Brethren , then made an important announcement . He said that for the last few years he had felt that the very many calls upon his time had prevented him devoting the time and attention

which he felt the Provincial Grand Master of Surrey ought to do to the duties of that important Office . He had felt that to such an extent that he had thought it his duty to petition H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . to relieve him of the duties of Provincial Grand Master . H . R . H . had been pleased to accept his resignation , and had nominated Brigadier-Gen .

Davis to succeed him . General Davis resided at Farnham , and was a distinguished soldier , being A . D . C . to Her Majesty , and was now at Gosport holding a very important command of Militia . As General Davis ' s time was now fully occupied , FI . R . H . had requested him ( Lord Onslow ) to occupy the chair until such time as General Davis should

be able to take over the duty . Having said that they " would understand that in making the appointments of Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Prov . Grand Secretary they would only be for the rest of his tenure of Office , as he wished to leave his successor free to make any appointments he wished .

Bro . Rev . E . R . Parr P . P . G . Chaplain , in moving that a suitable record be placed upon the minutes expressing the deep regret of Provincial Grand Lodre at Lord Onslow ' s resignation , said that when Lord Onslow was appointed it

was generally felt that he would prove a worthy Prov . G . M . They had seen how well that had been carried out , for the duties had been performed with courtesy and efficiency . The more they had known of the Provincial Grand Master the more they had liked him , Their best wishes went with

Surrey.

him , and they hoped that in the far future not the lease of the honours that would give Lord Onslow satisfaction would be that of filling for five years the position of Provincial Grand Master ot Surrey .

Bro . J . H . Hawkins Prov . Grand D . C . seconded the proposition , remarking that Lord Onslow had been an eminent successor to two distinguished Masons , and now left with the good wishes and love and affection of every member of the Province .

Bro . Fred . West Deputy Prov . G . M ., before putting the resolution to the vote , re-echoed what had been so well said by the two Brethren . He sincerely regretted they were to lose the services of their Provincial Grand Master , but , as Lord Onslow had made up his mind , all they could do on the present occasion was to carry this proposition .

The Provincial Grand Master said he felt deeply the manner in which they had been pleased to record on the minutes their appreciation of his humble services . Pie could assure them he had felt very keenly the fact that he followed in the footsteps of two eminent Masons who were

thoroughly conversant with the work of the Craft , and whose time was entirely their own to devote to the interests of Freemasonry . It was for those reasons he thought FuR . H . had exercised a wise discretion in selecting as his successor a distinguished Brother who had . ample time and

leisure , and who would , he was satisfied , devote himself to Surrey with the success which had characterised the two Provincial Grand Masters who had preceded him . He severed his connection with the deepest regret , but he was far from severing his connection with Freemasonry . He

hoped in a less conspicuous capacity to render some service to the : Province and county to which he belonged . He could only assure them that if at any time they called upon him those services would be rendered with pleasure .

Bro . J . D . Langton was ire-appointed Charity Secretary , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . The Earl of Onslow presided at the banquet which was subsequently held , and at which the usual Loyal toasts received hearty recognition .

In giving the Grand Officers , the Prov . G . Master said H . R . H . was fortunate in being able to call upon the services of the very best men in the country to undertake the duties of Pro G . M . and Deputy G . M . In that respect he was exceedingly fortunate , because , as they were aware ,

Freemasonry held a position which it held in no other country in the world—Frenchmen , Italians , or Spaniards were disposed to wonder that so responsible a person as FI . R . H . should belong to so discredited an Institution . In England Freemasonry was the highest and most-sought-after of all

the Societies . No man could say they had not at the head of Freemasonry all that was best and the most leading among Englishmen in all parts . They were fortunate that evening in having present the Grand Chaplain of the year Bro . Rev . H . W . Turner . Fie knew something of that Rev

Brother ' s work as a Freemason ; and on his own behalf and on behalf of the Freemasons of Surrey he would say they were honoured by the selection made in Bro . Turner for Grand Office . There was also present one who had done

yeoman service in a distinguished position in the adjoining county of Sussex . As Provincial Grand Master of Sussex they had another son of Her Majesty , and that son was worthily and well represented by Sir William Marriott , his Deputy Provincial Grand Master .

Bro . Rev . H . W . Turner Grand Chaplain said he responded with much gratification at heart , but no little sense of difficulty and embarrassment . He then referred to

the services rendered by Earl Amherst and the Earl d'f Warwick , the latter of whom had kindly consented to preside at the Old People ' s Festival next year . They in Croydon had a territorial attachment to that Institution .

Bro . Sir William Marriott , Q . C ., M . P ., Deputy Prov . Grand Master Sussex also replied , and said the Provincial Grand Master had struck the right chord when he suggested the difference between Freemasonry in this country and abroad . Abroad it was looked upon as a secret society ,

always plotting against the Monarch on the throne or the government . In this country it was the chief bond between the country and the throne . The reason why Englishmen

were so disliked was jealousy , because there was no country where the Government worked so easily and where all were on such good terms , and Freemasonry was no small factor in bringing that about . The Grand Officers always tried

to keep up that good feeling which ought to exist between