Berkshire.

BERKSHIRE .

nnHE annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Saturday JL afternoon , ist inst , in-the Gymnasium of the Royal Military College , Sandhurst , which had been placed at the disposal of the Wellesley Lodge by Lieut .-General Sir Edwin

Markham , K . C . B . The Right Hon . Lord Wantage , V . C ., K . C . B ., P . G . Warden of England Provincial Grand Master presided , supported by many of the Prov . Grand Officers of the year .

The Provincial Grand Secretary read letters of apology for non eittendance received from Brothers the Earl of Jersey , Lord Onslow , Viscount Valentia , W . W . Beach , M . P ., the

Grand Secretary ( Bro . Letchworth ) , Lieut .-Colonel Clark , Lieut .-Colonel Talbot , the Provincial Grand Secretaries of Hampshire , Bucks , Surrey , Sussex , and Oxon , and other distinguished Brethren .

The Prov . G . Lodge having been opened in due form , the minutes of the previous Lodge , having been printed and circulated , were taken as read . The Prov . G . Secretary called over the roll of Lodges in

the Province , when it appeared that all of them were represented . The names of the Provincial Grand Officers for the year were also called , and most of these were present . The P . G . Secretary reported the particulars of the recent consecration of the Aldermaston Lodge .

The financial statement of the Province for the past year was read , showing a satisfactory balance . The P . G . Secretary regretted to say there had been a slight deficiency on the publication of the " Masonic Register and Calendar , " which

was a most excellent and useful work , and it was hoped that all possibility of a loss on this item in future years would be removed by the Lodges subscribing more liberally for copies of the book .

On the motion of the Prov . G . Senior Warden , seconded by the Prov . G . Junior Warden , the report was unanimously adopted . The Prov . G . Secretary gave an interesting report upon

the condition of the various Lodges in the Province , showing that Masonry continues to make good progress in Berkshire . The total membership numbered at the present time 757 , and during the past twelve months there had been 52 initiations .

The report of the Provincial Charity Committee , which had met prior to the Lodge , was read by Bro . E . Margrett , the indefatigable Secretary , showing the good work effected by this organisation ; and its adoption was moved b y Bro . Keyser , who said he felt quite sure the whole of the Brethren

must have felt extremely pleased with the information afforded as regarded the elections to the several Charitable Institutions of the Order . As most of the Brethren were probably aware , it was a great undertaking to carry a case , upwards of 5 , votes being required for the purpose . There could be no

doubt that the charity organisation in this Province was very good indeed , and that they had a first rate Secretary in Bro . Margrett , to whom they were all much indebted for the able and painstaking manner in which'the work was carried out . It was gratifying to know that the Province had maintained

an excellent position among the numerous Masonic Provinces in the kingdom as regarded the support accorded to the three great Institutions , and that at the Festival held on behalf of the Boys School , at Brighton , when he had the honour of presiding , the Province came second in the list of contributors , being only beaten by his old Province of Herts .

Bro . Stephen Knight seconded the resolution , which was agreed to nem . con . The S . G . Warden proposed that Brother Charles Stephens , who had performed the duties of Provincial Grand Treasurer so satisfactorily for many years past , be re-elected to that office .

The J . G . Warden seconded the nomination , and , on behalf of the Brethren of the Province generally , congratulated Bro . Stephens upon the improved state of his health . They sincerely hoped he would be spared many years still to occupy the position of Provincial Grand Treasurer .

The proposal was unanimously passed , and Brother Stephens , in acknowledging the compliment , mentioned that this was the twenty-first occasion upon which the Brethren had honoured him by election . The following were then presented with Charity jewels ,

bars , etc ., in acknowledgment of the services they had rendered as Stewards at the Festivals of the different Masonic Institutions : —Bros . A . J . Lawrence , Colonel Ricardo , W . G . Crombie , W . Parton , C . E . Keyser , Captain Tupman , W . Bonny , S . G . Kirchhoffer , A . A . Hardy , J . J . Simcox , Wi H . Reed , Sydney Smith , and W . A . Hardy .

Berkshire.

The Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were appointed and invested as follow : — Bro . Lieut .-Col . J . Otway 1899 - Senior Warden Lieut .-Col . G . C . Eicardo 574 - - Junior Warden Rev . F . F . Penruddock 771 - - - Chaplain Charles Stephens 414 - Treasurer

G . J . Phillips 945 - - - - Registrar J . W . Martin 414 - Secretary F . J . C . Forss 1566 - Senior Deacon A . J . Lawrence 414 - - - - Junior Deacon W . A . Hart 2228 - - - - Superintendent of Works Sydney Smith 209 ... - Director of Ceremonies

G . W . Fortescue 2437 ... Assistant Dir . of Cers . A . C . Layton 771 - - - - Sword Bearer Thomas Pettitt 1887 - - - Utanclard Bearers B . J . Lewis 1101 - - - J A . W . Hall 2671 .... Organist E . Lloyd 795 - Assistant Secretary W . R . Cook 1770 - Pursuivant

John Baynes 2671 - Assistant Pursuivant C . Weeden 795 - - - - i J . B . Evans 2460 - . - - - / Capt . A . Lynden-Bell 1899 - - - > Stewards A . W . Gundry 1899 - - - - E . A . Stickland 574 - - - - ) W . Hemmings 1101 ... - Tyler J . F . Stevens 2043 ' - - ' - - Assistant Tyler .

On the proposal of Bro . Kirchhoffer , a vote of thanks was accorded to General Sir Edwin Markham , Captain Bunting , and Qr .-Mr .-Sergt . Blyth , for the facilities and assistance they had given in connection with the holding of the Lodge and dinner in the College buildings .

The business of the Proy . G . Lodge shortly afterwards terminated , and the Brethren adjourned to an adjoining building and partook of a cold collation provided by Bro . James , of the Wellington College Hotel . The musical programme was carried out by the Band and Pipers of the 2 nd Black Watch . The Pipers on their arrival marched

round the room once or twice , and then took up their stand in rear of the head table , playing favourite airs . The Provincial Grand Master gave the first toast , that of the Queen and the Craft , followed by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ; and the Grand Officers present and past ; both of which were enthusiastically honoured .

In responding to the latter , Bro . Eve remarked that both Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Officers were selected with much care , and were appointed from the ranks of Brethren who had in one way or another distinguished themselves in life—gallant Officers who , like their Prov . G . Master , had served their country ; statemen , judges , and others .

The health of the Provincial Grand Master was suitablyproposed by Bro . Keyser , who , while acknowledging the able manner in which the Province had been governed by Bro . Morland during the interregnum following the decease of their first Prov . G . Master , the lamented Duke of Clarence , and the

appointment of a successor , said the Brethren generally were much pleased when they learned of the appointment of Lord Wantage . It would be the pleasure of each member to serve under the rule of his Lordship , and render him every assistance .

The Prov . G . Master , in the course of his reply , said that he hoped shortly to improve his acquaintance with the Brethren of the Province . Since he had been appointed to the office he had received every assistance from the Brethren , and particularly from the Deputy Prov . G . Master Bro . Morland . His Lordship concluded by proposing the health of the Deputy , and the Provincial Grand Officers present and past .

Bro . Morland , who responded , said that he was amply repaid if during the time he had charge of the Province he had given satisfaction to the Brethren , and handed over the Province in an efficient state . His labour for the Province had been a work of love .

The remaining toasts were the Visitors , and the W . M . and Officers of the Wellesley Lodge , No . 18 99 , to each of which suitable response was made . — " Reading Mercury . "

The Masonic Brethren have not neglected the Bournemouth district , as the recent examples of the help given by them to St . John ' s Church and the Boscombe Hospital , and the gift of the Poole lifeboat show . It is an Order not much understood by the masses , but actions speak louder , and it

has recently come to our knowledge that the Masons behaved splendidly also in the case of the fatherless children of the late Captain Wayman , who lost his life in the ill-fated Drummond Castle liner . — "Bournemouth Guardian . "