Our Banquet.

intentioned ; and the Visitors resume their seats , smiling and bowing graciously , as if they had delivered themselves of a tnsk which , though to some people irksome , had been of extreme gratification and credit to themselves . More singing follows , and the lateness of the hour is a

sufficient apology for the Officers of the Lodge ior compressing their thankful replies into the smallest compass , suddenly awaking to the fact—as had been hinted at earlier in the evening—thafc " brevity is the soul of wit . " However , each and all pledge fidelity to the W . Master , through

whose kindness they have been raised to positions of eminence in the Lodge , and to whose interests they will devote their assiduous attention during his year of office . After more music , the official programme is closed , with the melancholy and pathetic toast by the Tyler , in behalf

of " all poor and distressed Masons , " wherever they may happen to be , on land or sea , and a speedy and safe return to their native shores should thoy desire to do so . At this period the more staid and sedate of the brethren

retire , setting an example which might be profitably followed by others . However , those who remain now draw their chairs nearer together , and indulge in friendly chata vast relief from the cut and dried utterances which , as I

have said , form the staple of nearly all the festive gatherings of the Craft . My object in presenting this sketch is , not so much to throw a slur upon the formalities and the ordinary procedure by etiquette in which our banquets are conducted , or to question the intelligence of the

brethren , bufc to endeavour to elicit if some freshness and more entertaining pabulum cannot be made to be forthcoming at gatherings at which friends in jolliest friendship meet , and which may be made of real service and benefit to the brethren who listen to after-dinner speeches .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Friday , 4 th instant , at the Town Hall , Bradford-on-Avon , the receiving Lodge being the Lodge of Friendship and Unity , No . 1271 . In the absence , throngh temporary illness , of tbe Prov . Grand Master Lord Methuen , the meeting was presided over by the Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart ., M . P ., who was supported by a numerous gathering of present and past Provincial Grand Officers .

Amongst whom were C . F . Marshall P . G . S . W ., Alfred Plnmmer P . G . J . W ., Rev . J . A . Lloyd P . G . Chaplain , F . H . Goldney P . P . G . S . W . and P . G . Treasurer , William Nott P . P . G . J . W . and P . G . Eegistrar , Henry 0 . Tombs P . G . D . P . G . Secretary , T . S . Futcher P . G . J . D ., E . B . Merriman P . G . S . of Works , John Chandler P . P . G . S . W . P . G . D . C , W . S . Bambridge P . G . O ., Robert Stokes P . P . G . S . W ., T . H . Chandler P . P . G . S . W ., E . Turner Payne P . G . D . P . P . G . J . W ., T . Graham

P . P . G . J . W ., John V . Toone P . P . G . S . D ., T . P . Saunders P . P . G . J . D ., S . Ganntlett P . P . G . J . D ., J . J . New P . P . G . A . D . C , J . C Collie P . P . G . O ., Jas . Sparks P . P . G . O ., W . H . Brinkworth P . P . G . O ., H . E . Bishop P . P . G . P ., W . G . Stodatt P . P . G . P ., and others ; whilst amongst the Visitors were Bros . R . M . Worlock P . P . G . S . W . Bristol , T . Ringer P . M . 1308 , J . Robinson P . M . 411 , & c . The roll of the various Lodges was called , and all being found to be properly represented , tho Provincial Grand Lodge was opened .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master having expressed his own regret , which he was sure they would all feel , and which he knew personally was deeply felt by their Prov . Grand Master Lord Methuen , that the latter was unable to preside over them to-day , on account of a severe neuralgic affection , called npon the P . G . Secretary , Bro . Tombs , to read the minutes of the last meeting . These having been

read , were duly confirmed . The Provincial Grand Treasurer then read his accounts , which showed a good balance in hand on the general account , the general charity account , and the benevolent fund account . These accounts having been duly audited by Bros . E . Turner , Payne , and Merriman , the former moved that the Treasurer ' s accounts should be passed ,

especially approving the inclusion therein of a small sum being the balance of the cost of printing the Wiltshire Masonic Calendar for 1881 , after crediting the amounts received for sale of copies thereof . This was seconded by Bro . Stokes , and carried unanimously . The Provincial Grand Secretary then read tbe minntes of a meeting of the Provincial Charity Committee , held that same morning ,

when , after having had the general charity account , as well as the benevolent fund account , before ifc , the Committee had resolved to recommend the Provincial Grand Lodge to direct the investment in government stock on the former account of the sum of £ 100 , in the names of the P . G . M ., D . P . G . M ., and the P . G . Treas ., and to suggest that a like sum oi £ 100 should also bo invested in the benevolent

fund account in a different government stock , in the names of the same trustees . The report of the Charity Committee and its recommendation wero unanimously approved and confirmed . The Provincial Grand Registrar Bro . W . Nott then read his report , from which it appeared

that the number of subscribing members in the Province was 449 , being practically unaltered since the preceding year . The General Working Expenses averaged 14 s 9 d per member , whilst the expenditure devoted to Charity stood at 4 s 5 d per member . The Report called attention to the gratifying fact that the amount

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.

of subscriptions in arreav from members of tbe various Lodges had very largely decreased . The Report also brought to notice the fact that in some cases the names of members had not been included in the Fee and other returns from private Lodges to the Proviucial Grand Lodge simply on account of non-payment of their subscriptions , and without such members having either resigned , died , or been

excluded . The Prov . G . Registrar ' s opinion was that the Lodge was , according to the Provincial Bye-laws , bound , in the absence of any one of these causes , to include the names of all members iu the Provincial returns and pay dues for them , whether they had or had not paid their subscriptions . He suggested the desirability of tho Provincial Grand Lodge expressing an opinion on the subject in order to

remove the misapprehension on the point which existed in some quarters . Some discussion took place upon the point raised , the Prov . Grand Secretary reading a letter from the Grand Secretary in reply to a question as to payment of Grand Lodge dues under similar circumstances , which payment it was Col . Shadwell Gierke ' s opinion should not be made . The Provincial Grand Secretary

Bro . Tombs stated that this opinion had been obtained iu consequence of some little difference whioh had arisen between him and the Secretaries of some of the Lodges last year , and he trusted that , now the question had been raised by tho P . G . Reg ., some steps would be taken to make the position and duties of the Provincial Grand Officers clear in the matter . Bro . Nott

pointed out the difference between Grand Lodge payments , which were in fact payments from the individual member , and entitled him to participation in the benefits of the Fund of Benevolence , and the payments under the Provincial Bye-laws , which were payments from the Lodge itself , calculated according to the number of members composing the Lodge . In support of this view he read the

Provincial Bye-laws bearing upon the subject , and suggested that if it were the opinion of the Provincial Grand Lodge that the payments in question should not be made , then that the Bye-laws should be altered . Eventually the Registrar's report was approved , with the exception of the last mentioned portion thereof , the subject referred to in which was referred to the Committee which had to consider the

alteration of the Bye-laws . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then called upon Bro . W . Nott , as Chaiity Secretary , who read the report of the Charity Organization and Benevolent' Fund Committee . First , as regards the Charity Organization ; tho report recapitulated the work done by the Committee during the past year . It stated that almost without exception all the Wiltshire votes had been placed

at the disposal of the Committee which had thereby been enabled to very greatly reduce the liability of Wiltshire to other Provinces , although there was still , owing to the exceptional circumstances of the previous year , a very considerable amount of indebtedness remaining . The number of votes the Committee had received for the various Institutions during the year numbered 1176 . The report

stated that Wiltshire was now on terms of close union with some eight or ten other Provinces , principally in the West of England and Wales , mentioning , as showing the strength engendered by such union , that at the elections for the Boys' and Girls' Schools at the beginning of last month , this confederation was instrumental in carrying two out of the fifteen successful candidates for the Girls' School , and

three out of the twelve who were elected for the Boys School . Secondly , that as regards the Provincial Benevolent Fund , the report stated , the contributions from the various Lodges in the Province and their members during the past year , the first of its existence—after meeting all working expenses—had amounted to £ 105 , and that there was good reason to believe that the receipts would be considerably

increased next year by contributions from Lodges which had not yet seen their way to make any vote , and by increased contributions from others . No claim on behalf of any applicant for assistance had yet been brought before the Committee . Tbe report further stated that the Committee had found in practice that certain slight additions to the Benevolent Fund Rules were desirable , and had

therefore given notice thereof , as would be seen in the Agenda for the Provincial Grand Lodge . The report was unanimously approved and confirmed . The alterations of the Benevolent Fund Rules alluded to , were first to give to R . A . Chapters or Masonic bodies of any other degree

( as well as to Crcft Lodges , who alone had the right under the present rule ) the right of constituting any of their officers Life Governors on payment of £ 50 . And secondly , that all investments should be made in the names of three trustees to be appointed by the Provincial Grand Lodge , such appointment to be made from time to time as may

appear necessary . These additions were proposed by Bro . Nott , and seconded by Bro . R . Stokes , and were carried unanimously . It was further unanimously resolved , on the proposition of Bro . Stokes , seconded by Bro . J . Sparks , that the trustees of this fund be the same as those before appointed for the General Charity Fund of

the Province , viz ., the P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., and the P . G . Treasurer for the time being . The Provincial Grand Secretary , on behalf of the Committee , appointed at the last Provincial Grand Lodge , to consider the revision of the Bye-laws , stated , that through an accidental circumstance , this Committee was not in a position to report , and asked that the

period for exercising their powers might be extended to the next meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge . This was agreed to , the Committee being enlarged so as to make it more generally representative , and for that purpose to consist of the whole of the members of the Charity Organization Committee . To this committee was more especially referred a question , brought forward by Bro . E . Turner Payne , as to the desirability of raising the fees of honour on

appointment of Provincial Grand Officers ; and another brought forward by Bro . the Rev . John A . Lloyd , P . G . Chap ., for the issue of certificates of appointment to office in Provincial Grand Lodge , on payment of a small fee . The D . P . G . M . Bro . Kir Gabriel Goldney then stated that he had a pleasing duty to perform . He was glad to find the work of the Province so well and so happily carried out , and he was glad to invest