Cumberland And Westmorland.

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge will be held this year at Cockermouth , under the banner of the Skiddaw Lodge , No . 1002 .

STAFFORDSHIRE .

ON the occasion of the annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge , reported in our last issue , the Earl of Dartmouth Provincial Grand Master , addressing the members of the Province , said : At the annual gathering they had opportunities of considering what events of interest had taken place in the Province during the past year , and of

forming opinions as to the future . One great cause of regret was that owing to the state of his health the Deputy Provincial Grand Master had found it necessary to resign the post which he had held with so much acceptance during the last nine years . He felt that he was voicing the feeling of

every Brother in the Province when he said that it was a matter of extreme regret that Col . Bindley felt called upon to resign the position which he held in the Provincial Grand Lodge . In a great Province like theirs there were matters continually arising which required both ability and tact in

dealing with them , and in such matters the services of Col . Bindley had been invaluable . They would all join in the hope that , though he was severing his official connection

with the Provincial Grand Lodge , he had still many years of life before him . There was no one to whom he owed more than to Bro . Bindley for advice' and guidance , and the word in season which was off imes so valuable . He wished

to express his sincere thanks for the great assistance which he had given to him . He hoped that for many years they would be able to welcome Bro . Bindley either at Provincial Grand Lodge or in any Lodge of the Province which hemight attend . Wherever he went he would have a most

hearty and fraternal greeting . After congratulating " the Province on the new Masonic calendar which had "been issued for its special behoof , Lord Dartmouth urged trie great importance of a liberal contribution from the Lodges to the Boys School Centenary Festival . Thev had had a

visit from the Grand Master the Prince of Wales '' in the Province , and ought to show that they appreciated his kindness in coming among them , by doing what they could to ensure him a bumper reception at the Festival at whichi his Royal Highness was to preside . He mentioned ' that oh

account of the Centenary subscribers of ten guineas would have five life votes instead of three as oh other occasions . " That would increase their voting power if it was taken full advantage of , but if other Provinces were more generous in their response they might find themselves out-voted ' ih ' the

future . Referring to the recent consecration" of th ' e Poster Gough Lodge , he said the Grand Officers of England who were present were highly pleased with the whole proceedings , and with the arrangements made for the occasion . He would ask that it might be recorded on the minutes that the

Provincial Grand Lodge recognised most" cordially " \ he efficiency of the arrangements which were made for the consecration , so that those who were responsible for the arrangements might feel that their efforts were appreciated to an extent that would be some compensation for the "

trouble they had undergone . He congratulated the Province upon the continued increase in the number of Brethren , and expressed his acknowledgments for the hearty greetings accorded to him whenever he was able to visit the different Lodges . He moved a vote of thanks to Col . Bindley for the

great services which he had rendered to the Province during the last nine years . The vote was carried by acclamation . Col . Bindley , in a few remarks , expressed his thanks for the kindly recognition which had at all times been given to his endeavours to further the interests of Masonry in the

Province . He though that Staffordshire might be proud of being really to the fore in Masonic work , and of the genuine unanimity and Brotherly love which characterised" all their proceedings . If he could be of any use to them in the future his services would be most willingly and most cordially at

their disposal . He congratulated the Province on " the " good fortune of having Lieut .-Col . Walker for his successor . His duties of Provincial Grand Secretary had been admirably performed , and he moved that a vote of thanks be accorded to him and entered upon the minutes .

Bro . Bodenham seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously , and Colonel Walker briefly replied . Bro . Dunbar Steen read the patent of Col . Walker ' s

Cumberland And Westmorland.

appointment as Deputy Provincial Grand Master , in reference to which Lord Dartmouth remarked that he thought they would not be surprised that he had appointed Col . Walker to the office . They could not but feel sure , from the experience they had had of him in Masonic work , that there was no one who would better carry out their requirements .

Bro . Bodenham proposed that the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys be requested to register the life presentation belonging to this Province in their books as "The Earl of Shrewsbury Memorial , " the title under which it was subscribed and by which it is known

in the Province , instead of '' The Duke of Connaught , " the designation which has been given in their reports through a misunderstanding . He explained that 500 guineas was subscribed as a memorial to the late Lord Shrewsbury . The

mistake had arisen from the fact that the presentation was made on the life of the Duke of Connaught , and this vote was necessary to have the error rectified , in the reports of the Boys School . The motion was carried unanimously .

On the motion of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , the payment of a sum of £ 21 to the fund raised in the county in commemoration of her Majesty ' s Jubilee , instead of £ 10 10 s . voted at the last meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , was sanctioned and confirmed .

Lord Dartmouth proposed that the sum of £ 105 be voted from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge to the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Bro . Taylor President of the Masonic Charitable Association seconded the motion . He mentioned that there

were about 120 Brethren who had been fortunate in the ballot , with others who had paid up their five guineas , and these Brethren b y adding five guineas to the amount already subscribed might become Stewards , as it was not yet too late to pay the other half of the required ten guineas , for a

Stewardship at the Centenary Festival next month . It was most desirable that the Province should send as many Stewards as possible . It might be well for the Brethren generally to know that in the last twenty-five years , reckoning the number of boys they had succeeded in electing

to the Institution and the expense of their education , they had had more money out of the School than they had paid in . Therefore , as a financial speculation , the Boys and Girls Schools were a very good thing for Staffordshire . He urged that it was the dutv of all Masons in the Province to

support the Festival as far as they could , not only for the part which was being taken by his Royal Highness the Grand Master , but having regard also to the fact that their Prov . Grand Master was the chairman of the Board of Stewards in that Province .

Bro . Newnham proposed that a small Committee be formed for the purpose of giving substantial recognition to the services of Col ., Bindley , for whom all Stafforshire Masons had the very warmest regard .

Brother H . Paytdti P . P . G . R . seconded the motion , remarking that anything they could do would but very inadequately represent the feeling with which the Masons of the Province regarded Col . Bindley , who had found a place in all their hearts .

The Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bros . Newnham , Pepper , and Dunbar Steen were appointed a Committee , with power to add to their number . The P . G . Lodge was resumed after service , and , on the

motion of the Provincial Grand Master , votes of thanks were passed to the Mayor and Corporation of Stafford for the use of the Borough Hall , to the County Council for the use of the Shire Hall , to the Rector of Stafford , and to the Prov . Grand Chaplain for his excellent discourse .

After the closing of the Lodge , a banquet was held at the Shire Hall , and was attended by nearly 100 members . The Earl of Dartmouth presided , supported by his principal Officers . The dinner , provided from the Swan Hotel , and the arrangements of the Prov . Grand Stewards , gave every

satisfaction . The usual Loyal and . Masonic toasts were honoured . Lord Dartmouth ' s health was drunk with musical honours , and the new D . P . G . M . and the Officers of P . G . Lodge were toasted with the greatest cordiality .

A feature in the post prandial proceedings was the engagement of the Lichfield Masonic Glee Party , whose contributions to the enjoyment of the evening were warmly appreciated . A clever recitation was given by Bro . Dunbar Steen the new Provincial Grand Secretary . — " Staffordshire Advertiser . "