Essex.

ESSEX .

ON Wednesday of last week the twelfth annual meeting ofthe Provincial Grand Chapter of Essex was held at Maldon , the Grand Superintendent Comp . Frederick A . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Eegistrar , Eecorder of Colchester presiding . The meeting was held in the Masonic Hall , which is in the tower of Old St . Peter ' s Church .

The minutes of the last annual meeting ( held at Chelmsford ) having been read ancl confirmed , letters , regretting their inability to attend , were read from several distinguished Companions ,

including Comps . E . Letchworth G . S . E ., E . Clowes P . G . Std . B ., Andrew C . Durrant Prov . G . H ., W . Ernest Dring P . P . G . H ., J , J . C . Turner P . P . G . J ., H . C . Jones Prov . G . Eeg ., W . T . Warner Prov . G . Soj ., & c .

The roll was next called , and the twelve Chapters comprising the Province were all found to be represented . The report of fche Board of General Purposes , which had been previously printed and circulated , was taken as read , and ordered to be received , adopted , and entered on the minutes .

The Board reported that by the consecration of the Ixion Chapter the Eoll of Chapters had been increased to twelve , with membership of 304 , as against 289 last year . There had been twenty-nine exaltations , twenty-three joining members , twenty-live resignations , six deaths , and four exclusions during the year . The

Board recommended a grant of £ 2 2 s to the fund now being raised to found a scholarship in connection with the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys . The statement of accounts appended to fche report showed that there was a balance in hand , after paying all expenses , of £ 18 5 s 5 d .

The nexfc business was the election of three members of the Provincial Board of General Purposes , in accordance with Bye-Law V ., and only the requisite number having been nominated ,

they were declared elected as follows : —Comps . G . H . Finch P . Z . 2005 P . P . G . J . ; John J . C . Turner P . Z . 51 P . P . G . J . ; and Francis A . White P . Z . 1437 P . P . G . J .

The Grand Superintendent then addressed the Companions . He said that it gave him great pleasure to be amongst them again . He took a keen interest in Eoyal Arch Masonry , and it was most gratifying to find himself surrounded by the kind faces of those with whom he had been associated ever since the formation of

the Province . This was fche thirteenth time he had had the privilege of presiding over the Grand Chapter of the Province of Essex . On the first occasion , when he was installed at Chelmsford , the Province consisted of but four Chapters , now , with the newly consecrated Ixion Chapter , there were twelve , which was

a large increase . There were thirty-eight Craft Lodges , and , with twelve of them holding charters for Eoyal Arch Chapters , he found that looking to the proportion of Chapters and Lodges on the roll of the Grand Chapter of England , the degree in Essex was maintaining and more than maintaining its way , both on the

number of Chapters and of Companions . He thought , therefore , they had reason to thank the M . H . for favours already received , and to take courage for the future . For that future there were good signs . At the meeting of the Grand Chapter which was being held that afternoon , a petition vvas to come up for a Chapter

to be attached to the Eoyal Victorian Jubilee Lodge , which , if granted , would bring up their numbers to thirteen—those fond of coincidences would notice that this was the thirteenth year of Provincial Grand Chapter—and he trusted he vvas violating no confidence , when he mentioned that a movement was on foot for

the establishment of a Chapter at the north-east corner of the Province , at Harwich , which would probably before long take definite shape . But whatever was in store for them , one thing was quite clear , that all who belonged highly valued the privileges of this degree as a fuller development of those secrets which are

not expounded to the Master Mason , secrets , which while they had a mystical meaning , had a very real meaning to all their hearts . No one could have seen , as he had done , the ceremonies of the Order worked in one or two of the Chapters of the Province , without feeling that the degree was held in high estimation

amongst the Companions , and while desiring to keep up their numerical strength he might say that they wanted the thoughtful , consistent Mason to join their ranks—it was not for the frivolous unthinking one , but to the earnest zealous Mason , the Eoyal Arch was the legitimate crown . Eeferring to thepresent strength of

the Province , the Grand Superintendent said , of the twenty-three new members , the great bulk , as might be expected , came with the new Chapter , but though their actual increase seemed small , he thought in these days of depression in trade and agriculture not to go back was a substantial increase . After remarking that the

effect of the alteration in the Constitutions by which a Master-Mason could now receive the privileges of the Eoyal Arch sooner than formerly had hardly yet been felt , the Grand Superintendent concluded by congratulating the Companions on the happy and united condition of the Province—there was no element of discord

amongst them , the Province vvas never worked better , ancl for himself he felt that he had the loyal support of them all . Comp . x \ ndrew Dunanfc P . Z . 27 ( 3 was , on the motion ol

Essex.

Comp . George Corbie H . 453 P . P . A . G . S . E ., seconded by Comp . H . E . Dehane J . 276 , elected , for the thirteenth time , as Prov . Grand Treasm * er . The Officers of the Provincial Grand Chapter for the year were then appointed and invested as follow : —

Comp . Robert Martin 453 H . A . G . Hayman 2005 - - - J . Thos . J . Railing 51 Scribe E . Edmund Gowers 1024 - - - Scribo N . J . M . Knight 2154 - Registrar

H . E . Dehane 276 - Principal Sojourner James Pinder 2374 - - - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner R . S . Gushing 214 .... 2 nd Assistant Sojourner J . G . Reushaw 51 - - - - Sword Bearer P . Geo . Green 1024 - - - Standard Bearer

A . Lucking 1000 ... - Director of Ceremonies A . Vandervord 1000 - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers . C . P . Rush 1024 - Organist F . S . Guy 1437 .. .. Assistant Scribe E . A . W . Martin .... Dauitoi \

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the members of the Plume Chapter for the excellent arrangements they had made for the reception of Provincial Grand Chapter , and the Grand Superintendent announced that he proposed to hold the next meeting at Buckhurst Hill .

Provincial Grand Chapter was then closed , and between thirty and forty Companions adjourned to the Blue Boar Hotel , and partook of an excellent dinner , well served by the hostess , Mrs . Hickford , and her nephew , Bro . Eve , the members of the Plume Chapter doing their best to contribute to the comfort of the Companions . The Grand Superintendent was the guest for the night of Comp . F . H . Bright , at Cromwell House .

Hampshire And Isle Of Wight.

HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

rriHE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held I at the Guildhall , Winchester , on Friday , 9 th inst ., when there was a very large attendance from all parts of the county , over 200 Brethren assembling , including many present and Past Provincial Officers , under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., with Bros . Bramsdon and Bernard Harfield in the Wardens' chairs .

The report of the Treasurer Bro . Gieve having been submitted , the D . P . G . M . Bro . Le Feuvre moved its reception and adoption , congratulating the Brethren that the year had ended with the satisfactory balance of £ 228 in hand , after making the

ordinary payments to the Central Charities , and the Provincial Charity , and paying £ 66 in grants to distressed Brethren or widows . Bro . Eve seconded the motion , remarking that the accounts showed assets of £ 1 , 443 , whilst the liabilities were nil .

The motion was carried . Bro . Mortimer proposed , and Bro . Miller seconded , the re-election of Bro . Gieve as Provincial Grand Treasurer , and the

motion was supported by the Prov . Grand Master , who paid a high compliment to Bro . Gieve for the services he had rendered to the office for many years . The proposition was agreed to with acclamation , and Bro . Gieve returned thanks .

The Audit Committee having been appointed , the report of thc Provisional Grand Lodge Committee was read , which stated that three girls and one boy had beeu elected to the schools , and

one Brother and one widow to the Benevolent Institution . During the year 275 Brethren hacl been initiated , fche total number of subscribing members being 3 , 503 , or a nett increase ou the year of 135 . The report was agreed to .

A letter from Bro . Speth Secretary of the Quatuor Goronati Lodge thanked Provincial Grand Lodge for the fraternal reception given to the members of the Lodge on their recent visit to Winchester . The visit to the Province and the evening spent at the Guildhall at Winchester vvas not likely to be soon

forgotten . On the motion of the D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . Bramsdon , Provincial Grand Lodge decided to support the candidature of Brother Gieve for the Grand Treasurership next year

-The Provincial Grand Master , prior to investing the Officers for the year , congratulated Provincial Grand Lodge on the large attendance , showing as it did the active interest taken by the Brethren in all parts of the county in the progress of Freemasonry . He also congratulated the Lodges generally on the

way in which the minute books were kept , at the same uime making one or two suggestions to Secretaries , which be hoped would not be lost sight of . He spoke in terms of satisfaction of the reception by the Province of the distinguished body known as the Quatuor Goronati , a Lods'e , he said , which performed

great services to Freemasonry by elucidating antiquity , and showing how it bore upon the history of their great Order . The Lodge had an outing once a year , and came recently to Winchester , and he vvas glad to know by the letter read that the members were pleased with their reception . He was sure