Essex.

ESSEX .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at the Public Hall , Loughton , on Thursday next , 18 th lnst ., at 3 . 30 p . m ., and will be followed by a banquet , at 5 . 45 . The business is of the usual character .

Mark Benevolent Fund.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

THE thirty-third Anniversary Festival was held on Wednesday night at the Freemasons' Tavern , London , under the presidency of Lieut-Col . Clifford Probyn Past Grand

Mark Treasurer . Among those present were Bros , the Earl of Euston ^ Sir Thomas Roe , M . P ., Col . Mark Lockwood , M . P ., C . Letch Mason , Baron de P ' errieres , Dr . Clement Godson , W . J . Fisher , and Charles Belton . The Chairman made a strong appeal on behalf of the Fund , and subscriptions were announced amounting to ^ 2 , 022 12 s .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

MONMOUTHSHIRE has sustained a great loss in the death of Bro . Col . Charles Lyne , who had held the position of Provincial Grand Master since 1870 . Our distinguished Brother died at his residence , at Newport , , on Wednesday

afternoon , 3 rd mst . On the Wednesday before his death Col . Lyne visited Colonel Ivor Herbert , C . B ., at Llanarth Court , on business connected with the Llanarth estate , to which he acted as agent , and on the following day was taken ill and had to leave his office at Newport and go home . Pie

was at his office for a short time the following Saturday , but again fell ill and was obliged to leave early , and since then had been confined to the house suffering from pneumonia , to which he succumbed , as stated , in the 81 st year of his age . In early life deceased was connected with the Royal

Navy , and subsequently became assistant in the Llanarth Estate Office , succeeding to the chief position on the death of his principal . He closely identified himself with the public life of Newport , entered the Town Council , and was twice Mayor , in 1856 and 1884 . He also served as Harbour

Commissioner for a period of upwards of half a century , and lately was the recipient of an . address from his brother Commissioners which commemorated that long period of service . Deceased was also a Pilotage Commissioner for many years , and was a Dock Director for a long period ,

being mainly instrumental in bringing to pass the amalgamation of the Old Dock Company with the Alexandra Dock Company early in the eighties . Pie also closely identified himself with the administration of the Poor Law , and was Chairman of the Newport Board of Guardians at the time of

his death . He was for many years a Volunteer officer , and obtained his colonelcy in connection with the local artillery force , which is known as the Monmouthshire Field Artillery . He was a J . P . for Newport and Monmouthshire , besides being D . L . for the latter . During last autumn he was appointed a

member of the Royal Commission on Fisheries , and as a member of the Usk and Ebbw Board of Conservators , and for some time its Chairman , he sought to improve the conditions of those rivers . Dteceased leaves a widow and a grown-up family of several sons and daughters .

NEWS of the death of Bro . William Pludson P . M . 1035 , which took place on the 3 rd inst , in the 46 th year of his age , will be received with sincere regret by numerous representatives of our Order-and the musical profession , as well as by a wider circle of friends who also valued his genial

friendship and admired his abilities as a pianist , organist , and vocalist . The deceased had been ill for some time , and the fatal termination does not come altogether as a surprise . The chief Craft position held by Bro . Hudson was the Mastership of the Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 1035 , and

in the fulfilment of the duties of that prominent position he secured the admiration and esteem of all within its borders . His musical ability was cordially recognised by the general Masonic body , in illustration of which it may be stated that up to the time of his death he held the position of Organist

m no fewer than nine of the principal Lodges in Liverpool and surrounding district . His services were always at the command of those who arranged charitable concerts , and accordingly his loss in this direction will be keenly felt . The deceased was for some time the Organist of West Derb y Parish Church

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writers , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

— : o : — THE CAMBRIAN LODGE OF AUSTRALIA

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DKAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Our many friends all over the world , will , I think , be pleased to see the result of the long and tedious litigation , which I extract from the " Sydney Morning Herald , " of 9 th May last . Yours fraternally ,

S . R . BASKETT 65 6 ( E . C . ) . Evershot , Dorchester , 6 th July 1901 . "AWARD IN A MASONIC DISPUTE . —On August 30 , 1896 , an action was commenced—Podmore and others v . Bugler and othersin which the Master and Wardens of the Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No . 6 56 , English Constitution , sued the Master and

[ Wardens of Lodge Cambrian , No . 10 , of New South Wales , for the detention of certain Masonic chattels , including books , balance sheets , minutes , and certain articles used in connection with the observance and business of . Freemasonrv . The dispute was referred by the Court to Mr . R . E . O'Connor , K . C ., as Arbitrator , who , however , being busily engaged , in the M'Sharry case at the time ,

was unable to take the matter in hand . Later on other professional and political engagements claimed his close attention , and it was only recently that he could enter upon the reference . On Saturday last he gave his award adjudeing that defendants had illegally detained certain property of the plaintiffs , and finding in favour of

the latter for the value thereof , with 40 s damages , together with the costs of the reference , arbitration , and award . Mr . J . L . Campbell and Mr . Windeyer , instructed by Messrs . Stephens , Jaques and Stephens , appeared for the plaintiffs on the arbitration ; and Mr . Scholes . instructed by Messrs . Fisher and Macaush for the defendants . The inquiry extended over 11 days . "

Holiday Arrangements.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS .

— : o : — THE London and North Western Railway Co . announce that cheap excursions will be run from Euston , Broad Street , Kensington ( Addison Road ) , Willesdcn Junction , Woolwich , and other London stations , as follows : —Even Wednesday , until 2 = ; th September , to

Aberdovey , Abergavenny , Abergele , Aberystwyth , Amlwch , Bangor , Barmouth , Bettws-y-Coed , Borth , Builth Wells , Carmarthen , Carnarvon , Church Stretton , Colwyn Bay , Conway , Corwen , Craven Arms , Criccicth , Dolgelly , Ellesmere , Harlech , Hereford , Holyhead , Holywell , Llanberis , Llandrindod Wells , Llandudno , Llanfairfechan , Llangammaich Wells , Llanidloes , Llannvst , Llanwrtyd Wells ,

Merthyr , Newtown , Oswestry , l ' enmaenmawr , Portmadoc , Pwllheli , Rhayader , Rhyl , Ruthin , Shrewsbury , Swansea , Towyn , Wellington , Welshpool , Wrexham , & c , for 6 , S , 13 , or 15 days . Every Thursday until 26 th September , to Birkenhead , Blackpool , Carnforth , Chester , Cockermouth , the English Lake District , Fleetwood , Furncss Line Stations , Lancaster , Liverpool , Lytham , Marvport , Miorecambe ,

Penrith , St . Annes , Southport , Whitehaven , and Workington , for 5 , 8 , 12 , or 15 days . Every Friday midnight , until 27 th September , to Douglas ( Isle of Man ) via Liverpool , for 3 , S , 10 , 15 , or 17 days . Every Saturday morning , until 28 th September , to Douglas ( Isle of Man ) via Fleetwood ( from Euston only ) , for 3 , 8 , 10 , 15 , or 17 days . On Thursdays , 18 th Julv , 1 st , 15 th , 20 th August , 12 th and

26 th September , to Dublin , Greenorc , Belfast , Achill , Ardglass , Armagh , Ballina , Bray , Bundoran , Cork , Downpatrick , Dundalk , Enniskillen , Galway , Greystones , Kcnmare , Kilkee , Killaloe , Killarney , Limerick , Lis . towel , Londonderry , Navan , Newcastle ( Co . Down ) , Newry , Ovoca , I ' ortrush , Rathdrum , Roscommon , Sligo , Thurles , Warrenpoint , Westpont , Wexford , AVicklow , and other

places in Ireland , returning within 16 days . On Friday night , 19 th July , to Carlisle , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Aberdeen , Arbroath , Ayr , Balloch , Ballatcr , Banff , Brechin , Buckie , Callander , Castle Douglas , Crieff , Cruden Bay , Dufftown , Dumbarton , Dumfries , Dundee , Dunkeld , Elgin , Forfar , Forres , Fort William , Gourock ,

Grantown , Greenock , Huntly , Inverness ' , Keith , Kirkcudbright , Loch Awe , Moffat , Montrose , Nairn , Newton Stewart , Oban , Peebles , Perth , Stirling , Stonehaven , Stranraer , Strathpeffer , Whithorn , Wigtown , and other places in Scotland , for 4 , 10 , and 16 days . Full particulars can be obtained at the Company's Stations acid Town Offices .

The Company also announce that on every Wednesday , until further notice ( 31 st July and 7 th August excepted ) , cheap day excursions will leave London ( Euston Station ) at 9 . 15 a . m . for Kenilwoith , Warwick , and Stratford-on-Avon . The train will arrive at Kenilworth at 11 . 35 a . m ., where coaches will be in readiness to drive to Kenilworth Castle , Warwick Castle , and

Stratford-on-Avon , allowing time for luncheon at Warwick ; or passengers may travel on their own cycles between Kenilworth and Stratford-on-Avon . The return train will leave Stratford-on-Avon ( E . & W . Jun . Ry . ) at 6 . 55 p . m ., arriving at Euston at 10 . 25 P- - Fares , 3 rd class rail and coach drive , 16 s yd ; or 3 rd class rail onl y , including conveyance of one bicycle at owner's risk , 15 s id .