Berkshire.

good work now being done in this direction was largely due to the wonderful way in which the arrangements were organised and carried out by the Provincial Charity Committee . Brother Greenaway seconded the motion , which was unanimously adopted .

The D . P . G . M . said he specially desired to impress on the younger Brethren the advantage derived by sending their votes to the Charity Committee , who during the past year had taken np three cases , each of which they bad carried on the first attempt . If , on the other hand , the Brethren had gone to work in behalf of different cases , separately and independently , their votes would have been more or less wasted , and they might not have carried a single case .

Bro . Creed then referred in eulogistic terms to the valuable services rendered by Bro . Margrett , and proposed his nomination for re-election as the representative of the Province on the Board of the Boys School . Bro . G . H . Morland Senior Grand Warden fully endorsed all that Bro . Creed had said , and seconded the proposal , which was unanimously agreed to .

Bro . Charles Stephens Prov . Grand Treasurer proposed the appointment of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master as Steward for the Centenary Festival of the Boys School , and that the sum of twenty-five guineas be voted for the Institution . Bro . Stephen Knight seconded the motion . Bro . Keyser , who is Treasurer of the School , submitted an amendment to the effect that the sum

should be fifty guineas , and the amendment having been accepted by Bros . Stephens and Knight , the larger amount was voted . The Deputy P . G . M . thanked the Brethren for the honour they had done him , and assured them it would give him great pleasure to represent the Province on the interesting occasion in question . Bro . Keyser said he regarded it as a privilege and honour to

be asked to propose the re-election of Bro . Charles Stephens as Provincial Grand Treasurer . It was a matter of great satisfaction to all the Brethren to know that Bro . Stephens ' s health had iinproved , and that he had been able to join them at this gathering . Bro . Stephens has served the Province as Treasurer

for many years , and was held in high esteem . Bro . Mount seconded the proposal , which was unanimously adopted , and Bro . Stephens suitably acknowledged the compliment , expressing his hope that inasmuch as he was enjoying improved health , he would be able to do something more for the good of Masonry .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year , and took the opportunity of publicly congratulating the Provincial Grand Secretary upon the honour recently conferred upon him by the Prince of Wales , at the Albert Hall , Bro . Morland ' s remarks being endorsed by the hearty applause of the Brethren . The Provincial appointments were as follow :

Bro . 0 . E . Keyser 414 and 574 - - - Senior Warden 0 . Slaughter 1101 - Junior Warden Bev . P . H . Ditchfield 2437 - - ) „ , , . Bev . J . L . Turbutt 574 - - - / U > aplau _ Chas . Stephens 414 - - - Treasurer _ . E . Hedges 1887 - Eegistrar J . W . Martin 414 - Secretary

_ . Purkiss 209 720 and 742 - - Senior Deacon H . G . Powell 2437 .... Junior Deacon _ . W . Buxton 2460 and 1891 - - Superintendent of Works T . Page 771 .... Director of Ceremonies J . _ . Simpson 1566 - . - Assist . Dir . of Cers . Captain E . S . Herd 1899 - - - Sword Bearer J . B . P . Hutson 1770 - - - ) _ . , , _ A . G . Boucher 2228 - . . Standard Bearers

G . T . Phillips 2437 - - - Organist H . D'O . W . Astley 574 . . Assistant Secretary W . Tucker 795 - - - _ Pursuivant T . B . Barnby 945 - - - - Assistant Pursuivant W . Bonny 414 - - . . i F . King 209 - - . _ . N . Heron 2437 and 1101 - - I _ . W . B . BeedllOl - f Stewards .

E . H . Simmons 2043 - - - ' The Deputy Prov . G . M . then invested Bros . C . Spackman P . M . 1770 , Joseph Howard 574 , and G . F . Slade P . M . 1887 with the Provineial Charity Jewel ; C . E . Keyser W . M . 414 and I . P . M . 574 , Capt . A . Tupman P . M . 414 , E . Margrett W . M . 1101 , and E . W . Buxton P . M . 2460 with the Charity Bar ; and E Margrett W . M . 1101 , H . Creed P . M . 2437 , and Eev . John Stewart P . M . 414 with the Tri-coloured Eibbon .

The Lodge business having terminated , the brethren walked to the commodious Drill Hall , where a banquet was admirably served by Mr . and Mrs . W . Chambers , the wines being supplied by Bro . Heron . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . Percy Coward , assisted by Bros . Kearton , Wilfrid Kearton , and J . B . Mills . Bro . C . E . Willing Past Grand

Organist favoured the brethren with a pianoforte solo , which was performed in a masterly manner , and elicited immense applause . Grace was sung by the musical brethren , members of the choir of St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor . The D . P . G . M . presided , and in submitting the toast of the Grand Master of England observed that , next to the Sovereign , no personage in the land was more respected by the members of

Berkshire.

the Craft than their noble and worthy ruler tbe Prince of Wales . He was struck with the very hearty manner in which his Eoyal Highness was received by the great assemblage of Masons at the Albert Hall a week or two since . Canon Garry then proposed the health of the Pro Grand Master and the Grand Officers present and past . He referred to the honour which the Grand Master had bestowed upon Bro .

Martin , in recognition of the signal services he had rendered to the Province for many years past . He had the pleasure of associating with the toast the name of a distinguished Mason , who had done excellent work in the Province of Hertfordshire and elsewhere , and who was now promoting , to the utmost of his power , the interests of Freemasonry in Berkshire—he referred to the newly-appointed Senior Grand Warden Bro . Keyser .

Bro . Keyser , in reply , said he regarded it as a great honour to respond to such a comprehensive toast . He alluded in complimentary terms to the Grand Lodge honours conferred upon Bro . Morland , Bro . Martin , and Bro . Bowen . The health of the Deputy Prov . G . M . in charge , and the Grand Officers of the Province present and past , was proposed by

Bro . Bowen , who expressed the great pleasure he felt in again meeting his old friends , the Berkshire brethren . He remarked that the division of Berks and Bucks into two Provinces had proved in every way successful . He congratulated the Berkshire Masons upon having such a worthy Mason as Bro . Morland at their head , and said he hoped that ere long Bro . Morland would

cease to be designated as Deputy Prov . G . M ., and would receive the appointment he so well deserved of Provincial Grand Master . After a complimentary reference to Bro . Martin , the speaker said it was the unanimous wish of the Buckinghamshire brethren that Berkshire might long remain as happy and harmonious a Masonic Province as at present .

In reply , the Deputy Prov . G . M . assured the brethren that it gave him pleasure to preside over such a harmonious and prosperous Province . What he had been able to do had been a labour of love . He felt that gatherings of the Provincial Grand Lodge , such as the present , brought the Lodges into close touch

with each other , and did much towards promoting the great objects they had in view . He hoped before long to have the honour of consecrating a new Lodge in the Province , to be designated the Victoria Lodge , and he hoped to see a large gathering of the brethren on that occasion .

Bro . Keyser , on behalf of the newly-appointed P . G . Officers , thanked the D . P . G . M . for the honour conferred upon them , and assured him that they would perform the duties required of them during the coming year to the best of their skill and ability . The Dep . Prov . G . M . proposed the health of the Visitors , associating with the toast the name of the Mayor of Beading Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden , who was greeted with much applause .

The Mayor said that his lot had been cast of late in various places , but he felt very happy that day in returning to the Brotherhood , and in thanking the Provincial Grand Lodge for the princely hospitality they had extended to the visitors . He had had within the last few days the great honour and privilege

to be in the presence of our gracious Sovereign the Queen , at Windsor Castle , but he also regarded it as a great honour to be called upon in Wokingham , his native town , to returu thanks for the Freemasons of the Province who had visited it under such circumstances for the first time on this auspicious occasion .

Bro . Margrett proposed the Masonic Charities , reminding tbe brethen that this had been a record year in the history of the Province , so far as the work of charity was concerned . The toast was replied to by Bros . Terry and McLeod . — " Beading Mercury . "

Commemoration At Durham.

COMMEMORATION AT DURHAM .

NOT since January 1884 , when His Eoyal Highness the late Duke of Albany visited the city , has there been witnessed such a great assembly of members of the " most ancient and honourable Craft" as that which took place in Durham on Wednesday , 30 th ult . Circulars had been sent out to all Lodges

in the Province inviting Brethren to meet at the Castle , Durham , in the afternoon , and after hearing addresses to go in procession to the Cathedral , where a special service of thanksgiving was to be held in commemoration of the completion of the 60 th year of Her Majesty ' s reign .

The response was remarkably good , and there were nearly 700 Brethren gathered to take part in the proceedings . 125 Past Provincial Grand Officers signed the attendance lists , and 450 Brethren , whilst there were a great many more to be reckoned who did not register .

The general assembly was already seated when the Prov . Officers , crossing the quadrangle from tbe entrance to the Black staircase , entered the Castle Hall by the main door , and proceeded to the dais at the upper end of the hall , with the Prov . G . Master