Staffordshire.

enthusiasm culminating in the immense gathering of last week , which abundantly proved the esteem in which the new Provincial Grand Master is held . It will be remembered reference was recently made in our pages to a custom that has prevailed for many

years past in this Province—of always holding the meetings of its Provincial Grand Lodge at Stafford , and we are pleased to see the ne v chief has at once broken through a rule that we consider most undesirable , and ,

by holding his first assembly at Wolverhampton , has shown to the members of his Province that he regards other Masonic centres of the district as equally deserving with the county town ; but we believe another

consideration that had equal weight in favour of Wolverhampton was the fact that its Drill Hall , where the meeting was held , is the most suitable public building in the county , and one of the few at which so large a number of Brethren as intimated their desire to be present could be accommodated ; while Lord Dartmouth

himself , who is but a young Mason , is a member of the Tudor Eifle Volunteer Lodge , No . 1838 , the regular meetings of which are held in the Drill Hall , and it is but natural he should desire to be installed as ruler of the district amid the familiar surroundings of his Masonic home .

Additional interest was lent to the occasion by the fact that the Earl of Lathom had consented to perform the Installation ceremony , and the reception accorded the Pro Grand Master fully demonstrated that he is as popular in the Province of Staffordshire as in every other

part of the world where the English Grand Lodge holds sway . It is understood Lord Lathom was immensely pleased with the arrangements made for the ceremony , and was most favourably impressed with the position of Freemasonry in the Province of Staffordshire .

The P . G . Lodge was opened by Bro . Lieut .-Colonel Bindley Grand Deacon of England who , as Deputy Prov . Grand Master , has been in charge of the district since the death of Colonel Gough , and had carried out hi 3 onerous duties to the general satisfaction of the Brethren .

Previous to the arrival of the Earl of Lathom he remarked that that would be a record day in the annals of Masonry in Staffordshire , the Brethren of which could but feel honoured by the presence of the Pro Grand Master , while they must look upon the occasion as one of great importance in the history of their Provincial Grand

Lodge . The Earl of Lathom was received with due honours , and was regularly saluted , as were the following other Officers of Grand Lodge , who were also present : Alderman and Sheriff Dimsdale G . Tr . E . Letchworth G . Sec . ——

—, ^ _ , „„ ., James Salmon Assist . G . D . C ., Captain Walls G . Stan . B ., Frank Richardson P . G . D ., J . H . Matthews P . D . G . D . C , Abraham Green G . Purs ., J . T . Collins D . G . M . of

Warwickshire , S . S . Partridge P . D . G . M . of Leicestershire , G . Beech P . G . S . B ., Colonel Tudor P . P . G . M . of Staffordshire , & c . Prior to vacating the chair for the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master thanked the

Brethren of the Province for the loyalty they had displayed during the three years the Province had been under his direction . He was sure the same loyalty would be shown to the Provincial Grand Master

Designate , Lord Dartmouth . The roll of Lodges in the Province was called over , when it was found all were represented , while , in addition , there was a very large assemblage of visitors , notably Brethren from the adjoining Province of Worcestershire .

The Earl of Lathom then addressed the Brethren , expressing the pleasure it afforded him to pay a second visit to Staffordshire for the purpose of installing a Master into the chair of the Provincial Grand Lodge . He felt certain the new Master would prove a worthy

and capable man in the office he was about to undertake . He then proceeded with the ceremony of the day . On assuming command the Earl of Dartmouth said the Brethren would understand that in addressing them for the first time as Provincial Grand Master he did so with

no ordinary feeling of diffidence and with no ordinary sense of responsibility . Iu accepting the position of head of that important Province , with its teeming population ; with thirty-one Lodges having a membership of nearly 1 , 600 , he felt he was undertaking a task any man

Staffordshire.

might well hesitate to accept . He had the admirable example of the high-minded English gentleman who had preceded him in that position to guide him , and , although he could not hope to attain such a high position , he

hoped the service he was willing to render would entitle him to the kindly support of those around him . He would always be prompted by an earnest desire to fulfil the _ obligations and carry out the duties of the high position he occupied .

Lieut .-Col . Bindley was re-appointed to the dignity of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the other collars being conferred as follows :

W . H . Bailey 624 - - Senior Warden Major J . Gilbert 1039 - - Junior Warden Rev . C . L . A . Edgeworth 460 - ) „ , . . Rev . W . McGregor 1060 -J ^ aP 1 ^*

C . A . Newnham 419 and 526 - Treasurer Henry Paton 482 - - Registrar Maj . G . W . Walker 526 and 1838 Secretary H . Percy Smith 526 and 1838 -1 ,, . ~ F . Dally 526 - - -j ^ nior Deacons

W . Hampton 418 - - ) , . ~ C . J . Nevitt 726 - - / Junior Deacons J . Hackett 1941 - - Supt . of Works J . Wooldridge 726 - - Director of Ceremonies James Stone 1060 - - Deputy Dir . of Cers .

W . Burton 966 - - - Assist . Dir . of Cers S . B . Wheway 539 - - Sword Bearer D . H . Dunning 637 - -1 a . , , _ E . Welsh 1587- - - / standard Bearers

I . Roper 526 and 1838 - - Organist J . Dunbar Steen 526 - - Assistant Secretary W . H . Smith 347 - - Pursuivant F . G . Warburton 1914 - - Assistant Purs . F . T . Bech 419

-Christopher Taylor 2474 ¦ E . Martin Scott 696 - - f Awards . John Moseley 539 - - •' A cordial vote of . thanks was passed to the Pro Grand Master for his attendance , and the proceedings shortly afterwards terminated .

A luncheon was subsequently held in the Exchange Hall , under the presidency of the newly-installed Provincial Master . We offer our congratulations to the Brethren of the Province on the success of the event here recorded .

Lincolnshire.

LINCOLNSHIRE .

THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge reported last week was attended by about 250 Brethren , every Lodge in the Province being represented . The returns showed a membership of 1128 , an increase of 18 on the year .

The Masonic Institution for Boys was adopted for the support of the Province next year , and Bro . Beeson , Sutton Bridge , and Bro . Barratt , Grimsby , were appointed Charity Stewards . The P . G . M . appointed and invested the following Officers :

H . Bott ( Bourn ) - - Senior Warden W . G . Loveridgc ( Barton ) - Junior Warden Rev . J . Graham ( Astorby ) - Chaplain C . M . Nesbitt ( Louth ) - - Treasurer H . Watson ( Lincoln ) - - Registrar

B . Vickers ( Lincoln ) - - Secretary W . Shepherd ( Louth ) - - Senior Deacon G . Clarke ( Boston ) - - Junior Deacon A . F . James ( Grimsby ) - Supt . of Works G . F . Barrell ( Spalding ) - Director of Cers .

W . H . Gane ( Boston ) - - Assist . Dir . of Cers . F . Baines ( Gainsborough ) - Sword Bearer J . E . Townsend ( Long Sutton ) - ) c , -, , „ W . Hurst ( Grimsby ) - -j Standard Bearers W . Dawson ( Lincoln ) - - Organist

F . Barratt ( Grimsby ) - - Assist . Secretary J . D . Goy ( Lincoln ) - - Pursuivant J . Smith ( Bourn ) - - Assist . Purs . A . J . Eve ( Spilsby ) - - \

B . Coulbeck ( Grimsby ) M . R . J . Behrandt ( Crowle ) •0 , , F . A . Aldridge ( Sleaford ) -Y Stcwa " * s G . Spilman ( Scunthorpe ) -1 G . Kingston ( Spalding ) - j

W . Wonner ( Barton ) - - Tyler . The P . G . M . announced that the P . G . Lodge would next year be held at Lincoln . At the close of the Lodge a banquet was provided in a large marquee by Bro . H . Bott , of the Angel Hotel , at which about 200 Brethren were present . The usual Masonic toasts were honoured .