Durham.

DURHAM .

ON Saturday afternoon , ioth inst ., the annual Provincial Grand Chapter was held in the Masonic Hall , Ingram Street , South Shields , when there was a numerous attendance . The Provincial Grand Superintendent Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., was unavoidably absent , being confined to his residence at Whitburn . A letter regretting his inability to be present was read from Sir Hedworth by the Provincial Scribe E . Comp . R . Hudson .

The Chapter was opened by Comps . J . D . Todd acting First Principal , T . Coulson as Second Principal , and J . C . Moor Third Principal . The roll of Chapters was called and responded to by the respective Principals , after which Comp . R . Hudson and the acting First Principal briefly addressed the Chapter . The former reported an increase of sixty members in the whole of the Chapters for the past year .

A vote of sympathy was expressed by the Provincial Grand Chapter with the P . G . Superintendent , on the motion of Comp . J . D . Todd , seconded by Comp . George Harland . The Treasurer ' s financial statement was read , and sums were voted to the Hudson Benevolent Fund Festival and to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on the motion of Comp . F . H . Bennett .

The Acting First Principal afterwards invested the following Officers for the ensuing year : — Comp . Geo . Harland - - - - H . T . Atkinson - - - - J . Robert Hudson ( re-appointed ) - - Scribe E . W . Biggam ----- Scribe N .

John Readhead .... Treasurer J . J . Wilkes .... Registrar W . J . Jobson .... Principal Sojourner R . Hauxwell - - - - ) ,.,., „ . A . Grundy - - - . . j Assistant Sojourners W . Watson ..... Sword Bearer

W . Hodgson .... Standard Bearer E . Lautebach .... Director of Ceremonies R . Madgshon .... Assist . Dir . of Cers . J . M . Moore .... Organist C . T . Johnson .... Assist . Scribe E . T . Grieve ( re-appointed ) - - - Janitor .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

WE regret to announce the death of Bro . John Ashley Randell P . M . of the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 663 , which took place on the 8 th inst ., at Devizes , at the age of 75 . Bro . Randell was a P . P . G . S . of Works in the Province of Wilts , and had held the office of Director of

Ceremonies in Lodge No . 663 for some years . In Arch Masonry he was Prov . G . H . in the Grand Chapter of Wilts , and a P . Z . in the Chapter of Harmony , No . . 663 . He was a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . In Mark Masonry he was Past Grand Senior Warden

in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Wilts , and P . M . of the Wiltshire Keystone Mark Lodge , No . 178 . He was also a P . W . C . N , of the Anchor Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners , No . 178 . Bro . Randell was an Alderman of the Borough , and served the office of Mayor in 1891 . He was connected with

the Volunteers for many years , retiring with the rank of Major in 18 90 , in consequence of having reached the age limit . He was a J . P . and a member of the Board of Guardians , and for many years Joint Secretary of the Cottage Hospital and the Soup Charity . Our lamented

Brother was connected with many other public bodies and Institutions in the town and neighbourhood , and his loss will be severely felt , not only by his Masonic friends , but by everyone with whom he came in contact . Much sympathy is felt for his widow and family in their bereavement . The

funeral took place at the Devizes Cemetery , on the 12 th inst ., and was attended by a large number of Masons , the Mayor and Corporation , representatives of the different bodies

( military and otherwise ) with which the late Bro . Randell was connected , and numbers of private friends . Several handsome wreaths were sent , including one from the members of the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 663 .

THE funeral of Bro . Edmund Herring , late of Sillaton , Pillaton , took place on the 8 th inst . The deceased was an old Freemason , Past Master of Zetland Lodge , No . 1071 P . Prov . G . S . D . of Cornwall . The coffin was borne from the hearse to the church and thence to the graveside by

eight of the Past Masters of Zetland Lodge : Bros . J . T . Brooking , R . Pearce , 1 . Pearce , T . Deeble , W . R . Doney , W . R . Rawling , W . T . Nancarrow , and J . Brooking . The W . M . Bro . J . Braund and a large number of members of the Lodge also attended .

Provincial Charities.

PROVINCIAL CHARITIES .

THE Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution will hold a Festival in Southampton , on Friday , 21 st October , following the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons to be held on the same date . The Festival was originally fixed for the spring of the year , but was postponed

in order to avoid clashing with the Festivals of the Royal Masonic Institutions for Girls and Boys in London , the desire having always been to prevent the operations of the Provincial Institutions hindering the regular flow of contributions to the great Central Charities of the Craft . The

Institution commenced its operations in 188 9 , and thirty orphan children of deceased Brethren have received , or are receiving its benefits . Every eligible candidate who has been recommended by a subscribing Lodge has been placed

on the funds without a contest . There are at present seventeen children on the books , and there are now 40 Lodges , and 153 individual subscribers , who hold permanent votes in the Institution . The Provincial Grand Master Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., has promised to preside at the Festival .

AT a meeting of the joint Committees of the Devon Masonic Educational and Aged Widows' Annuity Funds , held on the gth inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , it was announced that the Guildhall had been definitely engaged for Wednesday , 23 rd November , for the

next concert , to be given on behalf of the two Institutions . It was unanimously decided that Bro . Binding , who gave such a brilliantly successful concert last year , when the profits reached £ 112 , should be again invited to undertake the musical arrangements , and the members present pledged

themselves to make the forthcoming concert a financial success . It has been decided to elect another candidate on the Educational Fund , at a meeting to be held in October , and applications from intending candidates must be sent in to the Secretary Bro . Gover , not later than the end of this month .

rTpHE Benevolence and Chanty Committee of the _ L Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , embracing representatives of all the Lodges in the Province , recently met , under the presidency ot Bro . Robert Wylie P . G . D . D . Prov . G . M ., and in the course of the proceedings the members voted substantial sums from the fund for the relief

of a deserving Widow and a distressed Brother . After careful consideration , it was resolved to appropriate the votes of the Province for the purpose of securing the election of two meritorious candidates next month in connection with the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

Jubilee Of St. George Lodge, Bombay.

JUBILEE OF ST . GEORGE LODGE , BOMBAY .

npHE members of St . George Lodge , No . 549 , the JL premier Masonic Lodge of the city of Bombay , celebrated its Jubilee last month at the Masonic Hail , Byculla , in the presence of a large and influential gathering ot members of the Craft .

The refreshment room on the ground floor was transformed for the occasion into a fashionable reception hall , which was decorated with flags and bunting , and embellished with flowers and evergreens , which were skilfully worked in elegant Masonic symbols and designs .

On the staircase leading up to the first floor was surmounted a transparency with the words " Welcome to the Jubilee of Lodge St . George" inscribed on it . Representatives of about a dozen Lodges working in Bombay under the English

as well as Scotch Constitutions were invited , and they mustered in full force to do honour to the occasion . It was a cosmopolitan gathering of Europeans , Parsees , Hindoos , and Mahomedans .

The Lodge was opened at 6 . 30 p . m . for the transaction of business laid down in the summons convening the meeting , which was presided over by Bro . F . C . Allen Worshipful Master . At the termination of the ordinary business Bro . R . S .

Brown , a Past Master of the Lodge , in addressing the Brethren , said that on an occasion like the present , when the Lodge was celebrating its Jubilee—hfty years of existence—he would make a tew observations previous to his

moving a short resolution congratulating the Lodge and the Worshipful Master on the auspicious event . It did not fall to everyone ' s lot to be present , and still less to be present in his own Lodge , on the occasion of the accomplishment of