Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

rnHE anuual meeting of Free and Accepted Masons of X the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumbo : lnnd was held on tho 9 th inst ., at tho Corn Exchange , Hexham . Many of tho brethren left the Central Station ,

Newcastle , by special train , and on arrival proceeded to tho Corn Exchange . Amongst those present wore the Prov . Grand Master Sir Matthew White Ridloy , Bart ,,

M . P ., Bros . Richard Henry Holmes Past G . D . Deputy Prov . G . M ., B . J . Thompson Prov . Grand Secretary , Addison Potter P . P . S . W . ; and amongst other Provincial Officors present were Bros . James Deighton Dixon

P . G . S . W ., J . H . Beckingham P . G . J . W ., Rev . H . Bott P . G . Chaplain , John Strachan P . G . Registrar , W . T . Wilson P . G . D ., R . H . Dickenson P . G . Supt . of Works , Adam Robertson P . G . D . C , Henry Spittle P . G . A . D . C , J . B . Garland P . G . S . B ., J . W . Lambton and James

Carmichael P . G . St . B ., R . F . W . Liddle P . G . O ., William Reed P . G . P ., John Barbour P . G . A . P ., H . S . BirdP . P . G . R ., and Joshua Curry P . G . Tyler . There were also present Bros . Bradley P . G . S . B . England , Matthewman Assistant P . G . Sec . West Yorkshire , John Page P . P . J . G . W ., John Dtickett P . P . G . J . D ., John Wood P . P . G . J . W . Durham ,

R . Hudson P . G . Sword B . Eng . P . G . Secretary Durham , John Spearman P . P . G . J . W ., G . F . Charlton P . P . G . J . W ., W . F . Carmon P . P . G . SiB ., Charles Roope P . P . G . O ., J . Calvert P . P . G . S . of W ., John Grey P . P . G . A . P ., Thomas Douglas P . P . G . S ., R . G . Salmon P . P . G . Assist .

Dir . of Cers ., Thomas Dinning P . P . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers ., Wm . Percy P . P . G . A . P ., G . Robinson P . P . G . C , Jos . Hogg P . P . G . S . B ., P . H . Gibson P . P . G . A . P ., Thos . Ellis P . P . J . D ., John Purvis P . P . G . S . B ., J . W . Gibson P . P . G . S . D ., William Cooper P . P . G . J . D .. Robert Jackson

P . P . G . P ., Thos . Gillespie P . P . G . Rog ., W . Davidson P . G . S . W ., Rev . John Walker P . P . G . C , G . Spain P . P . G . D ., W . M . Bell P . P . G . A . D . C , J . H . Benson P . P . G . S . W ., G . E . McCarthy M . C . P . G . R , W . J . Ward

P . G . J . W ., J . Straker Wilson P . P . G . W ., J . Barker P . P . G . O . Durham , J . C . Moor P . P . G . D . Previous to transacting the business of the Provincial Graud Lodge , the brethren formed iu procession and marched to the

Abbey Church , whero thoy attended Divine Service . The sermon was preached by tho Rov . H . Bott , M . A ., P . G . C ., from Genesis , 1 st chaptor , and 3 rd and 4 th verses , " Ami

God said let thero be light , and there was light . And God saw tho light that it was good , and God elivided tho light from tho darkness . " Bro . John Nicholson P . P . G . O .

officiated as choir master , whilst Bro . Seatou presided at the organ . Bros . J . Walker , D . Whitehead , J . Nuttoti , and Leatbam of Durham Cathedral , along with tho choir boys , sang tho anthem , " Behold how good and

joyful it is for brethren to elwell together in unity , " by Brother Baker , from the Masouic service . At the close of the service a collection was taken , amounting to J 610 17 S . Tho brethren then proceeded to tho Corn

Exchange , whore tho Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in duo form by tho Right Worshipful Grand Master Sir M . W . Ridloy . After tho transaction of business , tho R . W . Grand Master stated that the Provincial Grand

Lodgo meotiug that day had been specially marked by tho attendance of members at tho old church of Hexham . It was one of the most interesting specimens of mceliamil church architecture that existeel in Northumberland , and

possibly in tho United Kingdom . Ho thought the visit to the church must bo a matter of satisfaction and gratification , not only to thoso members who were able to bo present , but to many who were not so fortunate . The

basis of their constitution and their teaching was from tho volume of tho sacred law , as they had heard in tho excellent and oloepient sermon that day . Their object was to seck tho glory of God and tho good of mankind . Therefore , it

could but be a matter of satisfaction to them , as Masons that in Hexham they had the opportunity of attending in a numerous body divine service in tho old Abbey Church . And it gave him great

pleasure on their behalf to show how ranch they fippreoiateel the good services and good will of Canon Barker and his Churchwardens , who had placed the Abbey

at their elisposai , and assisted the Officers ot tho Lodge thero at Hexham in making adequate and careful provision for the service which had just been held . They were altio inelebted to their brethren for tho arrange-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

raonts which had been made , as they had been carried out in a most satisfactory manner . Ho then referred to the affairs of tho Province , and said he was happy to see that the Lodges wore in such a good state , numerically

aud financially . A charter had been grantcel for the consecration of another Lodge at North Shields . Boforo sitting down , ho must , on behalf of the Provincial Graud Lodge , thank the P . G . Chaplain for preaching the sermon

just referred to , and , in conclusion , to announce that tho next meeting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge would bo held at Blyth , under the Blagdon Lodgo . The Provincial

Grand Lodge was then closed according to antient form . In the evening tho brethren partook of dinner , at tho Town Hall .

Prov. G. Lodge Worcestershire.

PROV . G . LODGE WORCESTERSHIRE .

fTHHE annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire JL was held on the 11 th instant , at Stourport , when the Assembly Room of the Town Hall was converted into a temple for the occasion . A Craft Lodge was opened by the W . M . and the Officers of the Vernon Lodge , No . 56 ( 5 , shortly after noon . The Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . Sir Edmnnd A . H . Lechmere . Bart .. M . P . L together with j j

, - , - o the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , past and present , shortly afterwards entered the Lodge , and were received by the assembled brethren with the accustomed honours . The Provincial Grand Master was supported by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P . ) , and there were also present the Provincial Grand Master

of Staffordshire ( Bro . Colonel Foster Gough ) , Bro . Rowland G . Venables ( the Deputy Grand Master of Shropshire ) , and Bro . George Taylor ( Past Grand Standard Bearer of England ) , who is also Secretary to the Province . These brethren were saluted according to their office . P . G . Lodge was opened by the P . G . Master at one o ' clock , when the muster roll of the twelve Lodges which comprise tho Province was called over , and it was then seen that there

were 128 brethren present , as well as several visitors from other Provinces . Tho Worshipful Masters of the various Lodges maele statements concerning the work of their Lodges during the last twelve months , from which it was gathered that Masonry is in a very flourishing

condition in Worcestershire . Tho reports of tho various benevolent and charitable funds were received and adopted , and various sums of money wcro voted to tho several purposes of Masonry . Tho Provincial Grand Master appointed the

City of Worcestor as the locale of next year ' s Provincial Grand Lodgo . Tho following brethren were appointed to tho Grand Offices of tho Province for the next year , and duly iuvesteel and installed .

Bro . Abraham Grceu ... ... Senior Warden T . Lamb Smith ... ... Junior Warden Rov . W . J . Down ... ... Chaplain W . S . Davies ... ... Registrar

J . Joseland ... ... Tretisurer Geo . Tsiylor P . G . St . B . England ... Secretary W . Thomas ... ... Senior Deacon G . F . Grovo ... ... Junior Deacon

P . Frederick Hoult ... ... Superintendent of Works John Mosaop ... ... D . C . Georgo Houldswortb ... .., A . DC . George Kodgkiss ... ... Sword Bearer

William Merrick Ward ... Standard Bearer If . M . Jackson ... ... Organist W . U . Talbot ... .,, Pursuivant SeptimusBagott ... ... Assistant Pursuivant

Tho Grand Lodgo was afterwards " called off , " and a procession was formed , tho Junior Lodges leading , and all marched to the Stourport parish church . Tho brethren wore their Masonic clothing , and the Provincial Grauel Master was accompanied by his Grand Officers . As tho

brethren assembled in tho church Bro . H . M . Jackson Provincial Grand Organist playeel a voluntary on the organ . There was afterwards a processional hymn , during the singing of which tho clergy and clerks , preceded by a cross bearer and a banner , marched up the centre aisle and

took their places in tho stalls anel within the sanctuary . The prayers were read by the Rov . Bro . J . W . Down ( Provincial Grand Chaplain ) and tho Vicar of Stourport ( the Rov . B . Gibbon ) . Tho first lesson was read by tho

Lev . Bro . J . Knight-Law P . P . Gr . G ., aud the second by tho Rev . F . 0 . Gascoigne . The anthem was Sullivan ' s " I will siug of Thy jiowcr , " iu which the tenor solo was excellently sung by Bro . Lay . The organ was presided over by Bro . F . J . Griffith * . Tho Rov . Bro . J , W . Wflahaw P . P . G . C .