Notes For Masonic Students.

gifts of tea and sugar to the " Old Folks " at Croydon , on the 28 th ult ., and to the Savage Club for tho attendance and assistance of somo of its members on the occasion of the Summer Entertainment . The usual resolution as to the Chairman signing cheques having been voted , the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE .

THE Annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday , the 2 nd instant , at Exeter . The business commenced with a meeting of the Committee of Petitions at the Freemasons' Hall , Gandy-street , at noon . Bro .

W . G . Rogers D . P . G . M ., Chairman of the Committee , presided . There were also present Bros , the Rev . W . Whittley P . G . D . of England and P . P . S . G . W ., the London Representative of the Committee ; J . Brewer Provincial

Grand Secretary , J . B . Gover P . P . A . G . D . C , the Honorary Secretary of the Committee ; D . Cross Provincial Grand Treasurer , and the following representatives of the Lodges : —

Bros . John Stocker P . P . G . T . 39 , R . Pengelley P . P . A . G . D . C . 70 , M Emdon Prov . G . J . D . 105 , W . L . Cocks 106 , S . Jones P . P . GJ . W . 112 H . J . Tretheway 159 , Rev . T . W . Lemon P . P . G . Chaplain 189 , H Welch P . P . G . P . 202 , W . Browning P . P . G . D . C . 223 , R . Cawse ^

P . P . G . J D . 230 , T . W . Atherton 248 , Major G . C . Davie P . P . G . J . W , 251 , G . Merrifield P . P . G . Snpt . of Works 282 , J . S . Kerstoman P . P . G . R . 303 , W . Taylor 328 , Rev . F . King P . P . G . Chaplain 421 , H . D . Thomas P . P . G . S . D . 444 , II . F . Ascott 489 , A . P . Reece 494 ,

G . Alexander 666 , G . C . Searle 710 , J . S . Swarm P . P . G . S . B . 647 , C Watson 954 , H . Cole P . P . G . S . D . 1091 , E . Aitken . Davies P . P . G . Snpt of Works 1099 , T . Ford P . G . Secretary 1125 , W . Vicary P . P . G . R 1138 , G . Evans P . P . G . S . D . 1181 , W . Powell P . G . Steward 1205 , A . J

Watts 1212 , J . R . Lord P . P . G . S . B . 1247 , E . T . Fnlford P . P . G . T . 1251 , S . B . Harvey 1255 , W . E . Warren P . P . G . O . 1358 , John Lane 1402 , G . B . Avant 14 13 , J . G . Kevern 1550 , R . Hambly 1885 , and James Griffin P . P . G . J . D . 2025 .

The Secretary reported that the number of votes received from the Province had been 817 boys ' , 230 girls ' , 566 men ' s , and 600 widows' votes , an increase over last year of 39 boys' votes and 56 widows' votes , and a decrease

of 208 g irls' and 22 mens' votes . The total number of votes was 2213 , a decrease of 135 votes ; bnt there was a loss of about 230 girls' votes from there having been no election in April , all the candidates being entered . The

real voting power of tho Province was 3 , 100 votes ; of these the committee got about 2 , 400 . The balance ( say 700 ) wore lost in various ways , many brethren disposing of their own votes outside the county , whilst many

other votes were lost through the want of interest or attention . Five Lodges—328 Torquay , 494 Axminster , 1138 Newton Abbot , 1332 Crediton , and 148 G Kingsbridgeand ono Chanter—444 Starcross—had not sent in their

votes . The London representative , the Rev . William Whittley , reported that when he entered on tho work tlie Provide owed 4435 votes . In October 1886 there were

649 votes repaid . In February last the claim of Bro . Matier was met by the payment of £ 21 to the . Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in lieu of 3 ( 35 votes . In

April last , owing to the Committee of the Girls Institution making as many vacancies as there were candidates , no girls' votes were issued . This was a great loss to Devon , inasmnch as there were no votes to help to liquidate the

debt . For the election of boys in the same month , 400 votes were received from the Provinco and 70 from other sources , so that 470 votes were then repaid . At the election for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in

May Inst there were received from the Province 1161 votes , viz ., 562 men ' s arid 597 widows ' . From other sources 45 votes , so that 1206 votes were repaid , making a total of 2690 votes repaid , leaving a balance against Devon of 1745 .

The thanks of the Committee wero due to the Lodces , Chapters and Subscribers for their ready response to the appeal made for their votes by the London representative in March Inst , when a circular letter was sent to every

known subscriber in the Province . Ihe nnmber of votes received in April and May last was exceedingly gratifying and if that concentration in strength in behalf of the Province were continued , Devon would be greatly

benefitted I heir representative took that opportunity of finnon : cing his intention fo act as Steward on behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at the next Annual Festival , in 18 i 8 , on which occasion the Ri ght Worshipful the Provincial Grand Mastor , Lord Viscount

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

Ebrington , had kindly consented to preside . Their representative ventured to believe that the Provincial Grand Lodge , the Lodges , and the brethren of the Province would entrust him with a list worthy of Devon

and of the year of the Provincial Grand Master ' s pre - sidency , and thus secure to the Province greatly increased voting power . There were four petitions for relief . The first three petitioners were , a brother from Lod ge 489

residing at Appledore , aged 49 , who had beeu four years a Mason ; a widow aged 38 , who resided at Newton Abbot , and whose husband was a member of Lodge 1443 , and had

been twelve years a Mason ; a widow aged 45 , who resided at Devonport , and whoso husband was a member of Lodge 1212 , and had been a Mason eighteen years . In each of

these cases £ 5 was voted to the applicant , and a further sum of £ 5 each recommended to be given by the Provincial Grand Lodge . The fourth case was that of a brother acred

57 , a member of Lodge 39 , who had been ten years a Mason , and resided at Exeter . Ten pounds was recommended to be granted to him . After deducting these grants about £ 110 balance remained . Of this it was

recommended that 100 guineas should be given to the Boys' School , as shown in the Committee ' s report , and it was suggested to recommend that five guineas should be

given to Bro . Blanchard , Provincial Grand T yler , to enable him , by a change of scene , to recruit his health . This closed the business of the Committee , and the brethren adjourned to the Rougeruont Hotel .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at 1 * 30 by Bro . W . C . Rogers D . P . G . M . The attendance was very large , not fewer than 600 brethren being present . Bro .

Yiscount Ebrington P . G . M . arrived about two p . m ., coming straight from his Parliamentary duties , to which he was obliged to return directly the Lodge business was over , and thus could not attend the banquet .

The Committees report included also the recommendations which it had resolved upon at its previous meeting , and which were unanimously adopted by Provincial Grand Lodge . The Secretary reported that there were 2638

members in the Province against 2604 the previous year , au increase of 3 k The Treasurer ' s report was very satisfactory , and gave the balance as previously stated to the Committee of Petitions . The Committee of Petitions

reported that the number of votes received this year had been satisfactory , although five Lodges and one Chapter had not sent in their votes . The Committee called attention to the fact that many Lodges in the Province forgot the

existence of the great Charities . The disproportion between the annual amount drawn from them ( nearly £ 1200 ) and the amount subscribed to them ( less thau £ 400 ) was notcreditable to Devon . In accordance with the bye-laws of the

Provincial Grand Lodge , the Committee recommended that one hundred guineas , the balance of the funds available , should bo given to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Bro Henry Stocker was unanimously elected

Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . Bros . Gregory 1254 ancl Fnlford were elected Auditors . The brethren then adjourned , and proceeded in procession , in full regalia , with band and banners , to attend Divine

service at tho Cathedral . About 600 members took part in the procession , which was the largest ever seen in the Province , with the exception of the one on the occasion of the Prince of Wales ' s opening of the Plymouth Guildhall .

The nave of the Cathedral was crowded . The preacher was Bro . the Rev . T . King , vicar of Southmolton . Mr . Wood played the National Anthem on the organ at the close of th" service , and an inspiriting voluntary while the

brethren marched out of the Cathedral . The band headed the procession back to the Rougemont Hotel , tho route being lined with the spectators . At the hotol the motion by Bro . Lynn

230—That at every annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge the W . M . of each Lodge shall report to the Provincial Grand Lodgo thi ' nnmber of members iu liis Lodge , the number initiated dnring the

year , the number of votes to Masonic Charities held by the Lodge nnd its members , and the amount voted from the Lodge funds to the different Charities during the year ,

was negatived . Bro . John Stocker pointed out that at present there were only four annuitants on the Fortescue Fund , whilst its annual income was sufficient to maintain six , if not sloven . He gave notice that if there was not an

increase of annuitants during the year he should move at the next , annual meeting that the mailer be inquired into . The Provincial Grand Master invested the following Officers : —