Ar00902

23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

Provincial Grand Lodge Norfolk.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE NORFOLK .

AT 12 . 30 p . m . Thursday , 8 th inst ., by command of tho R . W . P . G . M . the Craft Masons of this Province met in Grand Lodge at the rooms in St . Giles ' , but somehow there was not snch a crowd of the mystic brethren as might have been expected to support his Lordship . The following woro the Officers of tho Prov . Grand Lodgo present : —Lord Snffield P . G . M ., Major J . Penrico D . P . G . M ., Georgo W . Brittain P . G . O ., Cecil M . Montgomery J . W ., Charles Cubitt R ., H . G .

Barwell Secretary , Leonard Spenco S . of W ., Thomas Isley D . of C , Joseph Stanley A . D . of C , A . Berry G . S . B ., Dr . Gladstone 0 ., W , Provart P ., Robert Gunn T . ; W . Walter Lake , II . A . W . Reeves and Dr . Drury Stewards , George Brittain P . P . G . O ., F . Baillie Quinton P . P . A . G . D . C ., Edward Orams P . P . G . J . W ., C . P . Browne P . G . P ., Jas .

Dnnsford P . P . G . P ., Rev . Charles J . Martyn D . P . G . M . Suffolk . The local Lodges were represented as follows : Faithful 85—Frank A . Crisp S . W ., George Harper T ., Charles Hill Drury . Sincerity 71—Henry J . Martin , George W . Barnard , Thomas W . Muskett , Edwin Baldwin , H . C . Riches , J . C . Chittock . Union 52—Col . Boilean , Col . Bignold P . M . P . G . R . P . G . H ., J . B . Pitt , F . G . Gladstone Mug . Doc ,

A . H , Santy , Courtney Boyle , Sir Francis G . M . Boilean , Rev . C . R . Ferguson Davie , Hammon le Strange . Snffield 1808—George T . Plumbley W . M ., Edward Pugh , James Lovelace , George Sharley . Friendship 100—David R . Fowler , John Etheridge , Charles J . Bnllen , E . J . Bonfellow . Cabbell 807—John W . Browne , George Tbirkettle , Arthur Berry , James J . Hunt , S . N . Berry , G . Green , T . Winks , W . E .

Provart , G . J . Berry , A . Barnes . Walpole 1500—J . Weyer , Thomas Lord , William Armes , A . Bollard , Dr . Mannings , T . II . H . Cooper , G . B . Jay , Thomas J . Mackley , M . J . Bailey , B . S . Breese , — Cheyne , S . J . Carman ( 2 ) , Robert H . Gissing , W . Snolling , James J . Hosken R . W . McKelvie . Joppa 1114—John W . Smith W . M ., G . Riches , P . M ., W . G . Sherringham . Doric 1193—James Parker W . M ., William Elliot , Thomas J . Column , C . E . Cowell . Unity—J . C . Firman P . M .

Unanimity 102—Sydney A . Selwyn . Social 93—J . B . Bridgman W . M ., Hngh Fox , J . -Moore , W . Holloway , J . IT . Brockbank , Wm . Waters , W . H . Smith , Robert Henry Fox , George Jewson J . W ., G . J . G . Robertson , H . A . Popper , James B . Coleby . Perseverance 213—W . J . Bntler , R . J . Silburn , A . E . Lo Good , James E . H . Watson , H . Blake , Georgo Kersey , T . C . R . King , O . D . Ray , P . Soman , and Cabbell . Philanthropic J 107—G . S . Woodwark , W . H . B . Ffolkes . Tylers Joshua Morso and William Mnrrell .

P . G . Lodge having been opened by tho P . G . M . in ancient and solemn form , the P . G . Secretary called over the roll of the P . G . brethren and of the Lodges in the Province , and it appeared that all the Lodges were represented except Sondes . The minutes of the previous P . G . Lodge having been read and confirmed , the P . G . M . said a few words on tho progress of Masonry in Norfolk , cheerinn- tho

brethren with the information that all was satisfactory , but that he should like to see the great Charities better understood in the Province . His Lordship also paid a slight tribute to the memory of the late Col . H . P . L'Estrange , and then appointed in his office , as Grand Treasurer , Bro . Hamon Le Strange . The Treasurer ' s statement was passed unanimously . The reports of the Finance and Charities

Cornmittees have been received , £ 50 was voted to the Girls' Institution , and the P . G . M . then invested the following brethren as his Officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . Major Penrice rc-appoinfed D . G . M ., Sir F . G . M . Boilean , Bart ., M . P ., G . J . W ., Rev . Ferguson Davie Grand Chaplain , Hamon Le Strange G . Treasurer , F . B . St . Quinton G . Reg ., H . G . Barwell re-appointed G . Sec , John Moore G . S . D ., D . R . Fowler

G . J . D ., S . N . Berry G . S . of W ., T . Isley G . D . C ., J . E . H . Watson G . A . D . C , D . Mannings G . S . B ., Dr . Gladstone G . Org ., James Parker G . Pursuivant , R . Gunn reappointed G . Tyler , H . J . Martin , George Jewson , Captain Blake , J . Weyer , A . Lo Good , J . Etheridge Grand Stewards . It having been resolved to print a second calendar for the Province , with a general hope that it would bo better patronised than

the last , tho Lodge was closed in solemn form . In tbe afternoon a choral service wns held at the Cathedral and there was a goodly congregation , tho noble pile when the brethren assembled presenting a truly grand appearance , and such as was "worthy the occasion of a special worship of T . G . A . O . T . U . The brethren robed in the school-room half an-honr before tho service

commenced , and marched in accordance with their respective degrees in solemn procession . Most of the Officers and brethren who took part in the preliminary proceedings of the day were present , and the sight in the Cathedral was most imposing ; the insi gnia sacred to the Order and worn by each member , contributing altogether to a grand tout ensemble .

Tho lessons were read by the Rev . Canon Nesbit , aud the Magnificat ancl Nunc Dimiltis ( Smart in F ) were well rendered , although we missed several well-known voices . Tho anthem was " God who eommauded the light" ( Hopkins ) with bass solo by Mr . Brockbank , choral response , chorus , and quartet ; and tho hymn before sermon " O Lord

how joyful 'tis to see" ( C'h . Hymns 453 ) was sung to the "Old Hundredth , " so that the congregation had au opportunity of participating in the harmony . The sermon was preached by tho Rev . C . J . Martyn P . G . C . of England and D . P . G . M . of SufTolk , who selected as his text Luke viii . 17-18— "For nothing is secret , that shall not be manifest : neither

Provincial Grand Lodge Norfolk.

nny thing hid that shall not bo made known arid como abroad . Take hood therefore how ye h' \ ir . " Tho preacher observed that many might think that this was an extraordinary text for a Masonic sermon , and perhaps at first sight ; it was . Freemasonry had always boon considered to bo a secret society , and a society , moreover , whose secrets that in all nations had boon implicitly kept since

if , had existed , and his object was to show how great aud good and noble a thins : Freemasonry was if properly and truly learned and carried out . The offertor y , ho said , would be devoted to tho restoration fund of that glorious Cathedral in which at tho hands of tho Priest-Bishop he had tho honour twenty years ago of being ordained Priest and Deacon , and ono of the objects of his ambition

had been fulfilled that day , namely , to officiate in it . It was a question earnestly and sincerely asked for by some , and sneoringly by others , who sought perhaps to bring tho Craft into discredit , " What is Freemasonry ? what aro its objects ? what good effect can bo effected by all the mysteries with which it is connected ? " Ho would reply that tho general principles npon which Freemasonry was

founded wero brotherly love , relief , and truth , and its objects wero to render its members better servants of God , better members of society , and generally better men . He showed how Freemasonry behoved the members to speak well of a brother as well absent as present , and if that could not be done with honour and propriety , to adopt that excellent aud truly Masonic virtue , silence . Freemasonry , too , taught

loyalty to tho throne , and to follow out the golden rule of Christianity — " Do unto others as yon wonld others do unto yon . " It might bo asked , does not Christianity tench yon to do all this and much more ? and he wonld reply , "Most certainly , " but ho maintained that any * thing that conld be provided in the shape of help to live np to thoir obligations was commendable ; and knowing that Freemasonry was

such a help mado him a devoted lover of it , not that by any means ho wonld raise it into a religion , but he looked npon it as an excellent helpmate to religion , and moral and religious practices , and that was why ho loved Freemasonry so much . They must legislate for people as they were , and not as they ought to bo ; for if people were as they ought to be no legislation would bo needed at all . Persons of all

religions and political opinions might , he showed , meet on one neutral ground in Freemasonry . Atheists only wero excluded , because they had no religion at all . Some people objected to their clothing and jewels , and said they were vain and foolish , bnt he pointed out to the fact that other bodies ( army , navy , clergy , law , and diplomatic service ) had their special distinctions , so that Freemasonry was not

singular in this respect , and therefore no fault on this ground ought to be found with it . Then thoir dinners and banquets wero by some objected to , but it must be remembered that such gatherings were proverbially characteristic of Englishmen , but in Freemasonry members were counselled and encouraged to guard against intemperance and excess in most measured terms . Speaking of the beneficial work

effected by Freemasonry , tho Rev . Brother pointed to the fact that they had a Boys' School at Wood Green , and a Girls' School at Battersea , for tho children of decayed and unfortunate Freemasons , and which Institutions cost £ 14 , 000 and £ 12 , 000 a-year or more respectively ; thon they maintained an Asylum for Freemasons and Freemasons ' widows at Croydon , besides which they had a largo number of

annuitants who received each from £ 30 to £ 40 per annum , so that thoy had to subscribe £ 12 , 000 to £ 14 , 000 annually in addition to tho School Fund ; and , moreover , £ 9 , 000 or £ 10 , 000 per annum was spent in grants , varying from £ 10 to £ 200 , according to the necessity of the person distressed . The signs , & c , were , he maintained , useful for tho purpose of enabling tho members of this great Order to know each

other , and recognise tho mystic tie that bound them together ; aud , in conclusion , he urged upon the brethren present to remain strictly true to their principles , as they wore ably set forth by their Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , when laying the foundationstones of the Truro Cathedral . After the sermon the hymn , " Fountain of good , to own Thy love , " was snng , and the offertory was , as

we have intimated , in aid of the Cathedral Restoration Fund . The proceedings at the Royal Hotel banquet were of a very genial character , under the gavel of R . W . P . G . M . Lord Snffield . His Lordship was supported by the D . P . G . M . of Suffolk Bro . Rev . 0 . J . Martyn and tho Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge . The toasts wore , of course , of the usual Masonic character . A great feature in the

procedings was the hoped-for transference of the shares in tho old Masonic Company to the new Association at 23 St . Giles ' -street , and which was promoted by Colonel Bignold , with soun fair prospect of success , inasmuch as Bro . Kennett was able to state that , notwithstanding the unfortunate litigation that had arisen respecting the

Kett site , those brethren who had paid their £ 1 shares in full would be credited with 18 s 2 d , and those half paid with 8 s 2 d . The Wardens' chairs were occupied by Bros . Sir F . G . M . Boileau and Sir W . II . Ffolkes , M . P . So far as regards oue of these chairs , it would havo been far better had there been more of Masonry and less of politics discussed .

Bro . T . W . Ockenden will be installed as W . M . of the Hemming Lodge 1512 , Hampton , on Thursday next , 21 st inst . The ceremony will be performed by Bro . John Hammond P . G . D . Middlesex .

The ceremony of installation will be rehearsed by Bro . Joseph Wright P . M ., at tho Royal Arthur Lodge of Instruction , No . 1360 , Prince's Head , York-road , Battersea , on Tuesday next , 19 th October , at eight o'clock .

Tho annual banquet of the Constitutional Lod ge of Instruction , No . 55 , will take place at the Bedford Hotel , Southampton-buildings , Holborn , on Tuesday next , 19 th October , at 7 p . m ., on which occasion . Bro . •? . Cooper S . W . 55 will preside . Tho list of Stewards contains

the names of several well-known members of the Lodge , and endorsed as it is by that of Bro . John Soper , the Hon . Sec , should be sufficient to ensure a pleasant evening ' s entertainment . The tickets are 5 s each , and it is hoped that the brethren will muster strongly to do honour to the occasion .