Devonshire.

DEVONSHIRE .

EXCEPTIONAL interest was manifested in the proceedings of this Provincial Grand Lodge , held on Wednesday , at Exeter , from the fact that in addition fco conducting the ordinary business , Sir Stafford'Northcote , Bart ., C . B ., M . P ., who has been appointed Provincial Grand Master by H . E . H . the Prince

of Wales was to be installed into that high office in succession to Lord Ebrington , who retires after ruling over the Province for seventeen "' years . About 500 Brethren from all parts of the county assembled , amongst whom were a large number of Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge Officers .

Bro . Sir Stafford Northcote was escorted into the Lodge by the Masters of the seven senior Lodges in the Province , and the ceremony of installation was carried out by the retiring Provincial Master . An address signed by all fche Masters presiding over Devonshire Lodges was presented to the newly-installed Provincial

Grand Master by Bro . Davie D . P . G . M ., who offered his lordship a hearty welcome in the names of all Devonshire Masons . Sir Stafford's name , Bro . Davie remarked , was a household word in the West of England . In the ruling of the Province he felt sure thafc the new Provincial Grand Master would follow in the

traditions of his prececessors , and that the high position the Province had always occupied in Masonry would be retained . For the last seventeen years they had been ruled by one who had won the love and respect of all Masons in the county . He hoped thafc at a future date they would experience the pleasure of again having Lord Ebrington at fcheir head .

Sir Stafford Northcote , in reply , said it was with feelings of deep thankfulness that he rose to address them as their Master , and to express his gratitude for the kindness they had thafc day shown to him . He should deeply value the address which they had presented to him . He felt in taking up fche position of Provincial Grand Master , that his only hope in being able to

carry out the duties satisfactorily lay in the expectation that all Devon Masons would extend to him feelings of indulgence and co-operation . It gave him great pleasure to hear the words which Bro . Davie had uttered concerning their old friend Lord Ebrington . Sir Stafford remarked that the retiring P . G . M . had many advantages which he could not claim to possess . One

was that he was habitually a resident in the neighbourhood , which , unfortunately , he was not . However , he hoped that his close proximity with the headquarters of Freemasonry in England would enable him to serve the interests of Devonshire members in a manner that would prove satisfactory to all . The Brethren might rely thafc his efforts in that direction would be put forward to the fullest extent .

An address from the Exeter Lodges was also presented to Sir Stafford Northcote by Bro . Davie , thanking him for his past services to the Order . A presentation , taking the form of a suitably inscribed silver salver , was made to Bro . the Eev . W . Whittley , by Bro . Davie on behalf of the Brethren , in recognition of the valuable assistance he had rendered in connection with the charities , which was suitably acknowledged by Bro . Whittley .

After confirming fche bye-laws , the Secretary ' s report , the Treasurer ' s report , the report of the Fortescue Annuity Fund Committee , and that of the Committee on Petitions were adopted . Bro . E . G . Bird proposed , and Bro . Stanbury seconded , Bro . E . Eoseveare for the position of Treasurer . This proposition was supported by Bro . Fulford , and carried unanimously and with acclamation .

Bros . J . E . Lord and J . Cornish were elected Auditors for the year ensuing , and Bro . W . Whittley was appointed Eepresentative on the Board of Management of the Eoyal Masonic Institntion for Boys . The following were invested as the Officers for 1896 : —

Bro . G . C . Davie 251 - - - - Deputy M . Fortescue 494 - Senior Warden F . B . Westlake 70 - - - - Junior Warden Rev . F . C . Lewis 1486 - - - | ., . . Rev . E . Sullivan , R . N ., 1099 - - J ^ aplaras E . Roseveare 1099 - Treasurer

J . Taylor 1402 ... . Registrar J . Stocker 36 Secretary Dr . R . H . Grumbly 1158 - - - ) - . _ , W . Luxmore Jones 112 - - ,- | Senior Deacons J . F . Elburton 1125 - - - i T . _ 0 . G . Withell 2026 - - - - j Julll ° r Deacons

H . Jerman 39 Superintendent of Works J . R . Lord 1247 .... Director of Ceremonies A . W . Spiney 105 - - - - Deputy Dir . of Cers . E . Chappie 797 - - - - Assist . Dir . of Cers . C . H . Fulford 1254 - - - - 2 nd Assist . Dir of Cers . Capt . Lindsay Lloyd 2258 - . - - Sword Bearer

T . iterslake 282 - - - . ) _ ,. , , _ , J . Wallis 1255 - - - - / Standard Bearers E . Luget 39 .... Organist J . F . Allingham 954 - - - Assistant Secretary W . Brutton 372 - - - . Pursuivant W . T . Walters 1099 - - - Assist . Pursuivant

Devonshire.

W . J . Hannaford 223 - F . S . Sprague 1332 ... - W . Mountioy 421 - - - - I „ . , W . H . Perry 106 .... \ Stewards G . W . Folley 1855 - A . H . Whiddon 1212 - - - / H . Shooter 112 - - - Tyler .

Past Provincial Grand rank was conferred as follows : — Bro . F . Day 421 - - - - - Junior Warden J . H . Warren 1254 - - - ¦]„ . ,, G . Whittley 156 - - - - j Senior Dea °° BS R . Harper 251 .... Junior Deacon R . P . Culley 1247 - - - - Director of Ceremonies .

Before dispersing , the P . G . M . expressed the regret that all the Brethren felt at losing the services of Lord Ebrington as their Master . The retiring P . G . M . ( Lord Ebrington ) thanked the assembly mosfc heartily for their kindly references to his past services , and also tendered his thanks to the Provincial Grand Officers for their valuable assistance .

The singing of the National Anthem concluded the proceedings . Bro . Vinnicombe ably presiding at the organ . The Brethren then adjourned for the banquet , over which Sir Stafford Northcote presided . — " Western Mercury . "

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — SURREY .

A PEOVINCIAL Grand Lodge was held at the County and Borough Halls , Guildford , on Wednesday , 5 th inst . The Earl of Onslow presided , supported by the Deputy Prov . G . M . M . Bro . Frederick West . The following Officers were appointed and invested for the ensuing year * .

Bro . Frederick West .... Deputy Raymond H . Thrupp ... Senior Warden Charles T . Tyler .... Junior Warden Alfred Lambert .... Master Overseer Henry S . Wellcome ... Senior Overseer Charles Cheel .... Junior Overseer

Rev . J . H . Robson - - - -1 m .,-Rev . E . L . G . Houndle - - - } Chaplains Lieut .-Col . A . H . Bircbam - - Treasurer Arthur H . Bowles - - - - Secretary C . W . J . Bird .... Senior Deacon William Featherstonehaugh - - Junior Deacon W . P . Fuller - - - - Inspector of Works

Major G . H . Newington Bridges - - Director of Ceremonies J . D . Phillips .... Sword Bearer C . W . Davis - - - - Standard Bearer Charles F . Passmore ... Organist A . W . R . Sowman ... - Assistant Secretary Charles H . Piesse - Inner Guard Burcham Cooper - Steward Robert Potter .... T yler .

After fche Lodge , a banquet was held in the Borough Hall , under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master , who had on his right the Depufcy Provincial Grand Master , and on his left the Provincial Grand Treasurer Lieut-Colonel Bircham , and the Secretary Bro . Arthur H . Bowles .

The Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master was proposed by Bro . Frederick West , and the Earl of Onslow , in reply , said it was his intention to discharge faithfully the duties which his Eoyal Highness had cast upon him . He would not show favour to any individual or Lodge , and all honours would be dealt out impartially , and according to merit . He concluded by proposing the Provincial Grand Officers , and coupled with it the name of Bro . C . T . Tyler , who replied in suitable terms .

DERWENT LODGE , No . 282 . ON Wednesday , 5 th inst ., the installation was held at the Masonic Hall , Portland Square , Workington , when Bro . J . Meneely was installed as W . M . by Bro . I . Paterson P . M . P . P . G . S . W . After hearty good wishes , the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren were entertained by Bro . Meneely W . M ., the usual loyal and patriotic toasts being honoured .

We have reason to believe that Bro . H . J . Tibbatts , of the " Three Compasses , " 66 Cow Cross Street , E . G ., contemplates retiring from business . We trust report this time is at fault , as the genial and hospitable host will be greatly missed by his numerous customers and friends should he carry out this idea , although the way in which he has worked in the past fully entitles him to a season of rest and recreation .

THE PROBLEM ART , a Treatise on how to Solve and how to compose Chess Problems . By T . B . Rowland and F . S . Rowland . Second edition , price 2 s Gd , post free from W . W . Morgan , New Barnet .