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Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northamptonshire And Huntingdonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AND HUNTINGDONSHIRE .

fpUE Annual Meeting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Norths J- and limits was hold on Thursday , 10 th instant , at tho Masonic Hall , Abington-street , Northampton . Tho Provincial Grand Master the Dnke of Manchester was prevented by ill health from attending , and therefore Bro . Butler Wilkins , the Deputy G . M . of the Province , assumed the presidency of Provincial Grand Lodge . He ( irst

announced that ho had received a letter from the Prov . Grand Master explaining his absence , but inasmuch as tlio letter contained other matters which would be brought forward at a later hour , ho did not think it necessary to read it then . Ho next proceeded to open tho Provincial Grand Lodge , when the Prov . Grand Secretary read the minntes of the meeting held last year at Wollingboroii'jh , which , after

au explanation from tho chair as to tho alteration made in the localit y of holding this year ' s meeting , wero confirmed . Tbo roll of Lodges was then called over , and the various representatives having reported themselves , the minute books wero examined and signed . The Acting Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to nominate and instal tho Officers for the ensuing year , tho following brethren being selected :

—Bros . T . R . Wood Pomfret 360 S . W .. W . J . Pilcher St . Peters 442 J . W . ( in the case of this brother a dispensation had been obtained from Grand Lodge , in consequence of his being a non-resident of the Province ) , Rev . S . AV . Wigg Eleanor Cross 1761 Chaplain , Rev . VV . E . Hall Wentworth 737 Asst . Chap ., li . C . Parr G 07 Reg ., F . G . Buckle St . Peters 412 Sec , H . Standley Perseverance 455 S . D ., H . J . Atkins

Eleanor Cross 1794 J . D ., W . Wade Socrates 373 S . of Works ( Bro . Marsou invested in hia absence ) , R . H . Griffin St . Peters 412 D . C , G . Ellard Pomfret 360 Assist . D . C , Hewens Wentworth 737 Sword Bearer , S . Slinn Wentworth 737 Standard Bearer , A . J . Evans Fidelity 445 Purs . ( Bro . Greville invested in his absence ) , W . Acroyd Wentworth 737 Org ., Richard Howes Fidelity 445 ( re-elected )

Treas ., Ayres Pomfret , Harrison St . Peters , Linnel Fidelity , Roycc Merit , Park Perseverance , Matthews Wentworth , Stewards In proposing tho re-election of Bro . Richard Howes to tho office ol Treasurer , tho acting Deputy Prov . G . Master said it had been his great pleasure to propose the election of Bro . Howes on many previous occasions , and ho was extremely gratified to do so again . U <

had always performed his duties most efficiently , and he felt il impossible that Prov . G . Lodgo could elect a brother moro suited tf tho office , or who would more faithfull y discharge tho duties appertaining thereto . The proposition waa seconded , and carried unani measly amid acclamation . The Secretary then read the repori prepared by tho Board of Bonevolonco and Charity or- 'anizatior

committee of tho province , which had met previously at the Peacock Hotel . At that meeting Bro . Butler Wilkins presided , nnd the following among other business was transacted : — The accounts foi the year , which comprised grants of twenty guineas each to tho Malt and Female Funds of tho Benevolent Institution , £ 20 to tho widow of a deceased brother , £ 15 to a brother whose present condition

entitled him to the sympathy of tlio members , and the usual expenses of tbo year , were passed , and ou the grants being put to the vote in Prov . Grand Lodge thoy wero confirmed , and the Treasurer ' s statement was signed . The amounts standing to tho credit of Prov . Grand Lodge areas follow : —Owing on mortage of Masonic buildings , Northampton , £ 700 , balance in hand £ 76 19 s Cd . A discussion then

ensued as to the desirability of issuing a Provincial Calendar , it was suggested , on the ono hand , that Grand Lodge should simply endorse the publication with its sanction and authority , and on tho other that tho funds of tho Province should bo held liable for the difference between selling and cost prico ( if any ) , thereby making tho issue of the Calendar a part of tho work undertaken

by the Grand Lodge ; but this latter was , after considerable comment pro and con , rejected , and tho former proposition carried , Grand Lodgo recommending to its daughter Lodges to support the Calendar it was proposed to issue . Bro . Wilkins then read the letter from tho Duke of Manchester , which , ;\ s wo have already stated , expressed the inability of his Grace to attend , and also

iniorme . l the brethren that , it , was his dr .-irc to resign his appointment as I ' rov . Grand Master . This let tor it was decided should be entered on tho minutes , and as tho Prov . Grand Master had expressed a desire lor the Deputy lo tnko steps to mako the proper representations to Grand Lodge , it was decided that such should" bo carried out . This completing the business of the day , the brethren adjourned to the

banquet , which was hold at the Peacock Hotel . Hero also Bro . Butler Wilkins presided , and in dun course ho proposed the nsu . il loyal tonsts . Bro . Bocmo P . M . 360 proposed that of tho Prov . Grind Master , the Dnke of Manchester . Tho privilege of proposing the toast having devolved on him , he could hut express the pleasure he felt in offering it for the acceptance of the brethren . They must all

regret , as he did , the cause which , on the present occasion , prevented the attendance of their chief , and he felt sure that all present would Join in tho wish that the Dnke would soon he restored to health . The toast wns honoured , and then Bro . E . J . Orford P . M . til ) proccedod to give , that of the Deputy Prov . G . Master Bro . Butler Wilkins . He felt thai anything he could say would ill represent

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northamptonshire And Huntingdonshire.

the tcdings of tno brethren as regarded the Deputy . Most would eudn . 'se Hie rpini-m entertained by himself and tho lireihn-a generally that in l ! n > . Wilkins thoy hail a Mason who faithfully , and to lhe best nf his ability , performed the various duties which devolved on him . Tho toa-it met a most hearty reception , lire . Knler Wilkins thanked those present for tho way in which

they had responded to the toast . IIo took the opportunity of reminding thorn that it was live years since ho was appointed to tako the prominent position in Freemasonry he occupied . He remembered tlio ( irst time ho addressed a Provincial me 'ting , when ho must say the collar of office sat more heavily ou his shoulders than it did on the present occasion . It was true that at tho commencement

ot tho term to which ho had just referred thoy had clouds and mists hovering over them , but ho was pleased to say thoy had all beeu dispersed . He ventured to say that at the present day there was no better worked Province than that of Norths and Hunts , and ho hoped they would long maintain tho reputation of being in tho foremost rank . If he had failed to carry out tho promises ho had made from

timo to tim »\ it was from inability of head rather than of heart ; he had endeavoured as far as he could to fulfil thoso promises , and he hoped tho brethren wero satisfied with what ho had done . During the five years in which he had been so promincntlyassociated with the Province there had been added to tho roll ono Lodge aud two Chapters , all of which wero prosperous and working in good order . By this ho did

not mean to express an empty phrase , for every Principal and every Master of the district was doing his work , and in all cases would scorn tie idea of incompetency . Thoy had now tho permission of H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales to establish a Grand Chapter for the Province ; tl-is ho hoped would soon be formed , and prove as great a success as ho wished it might bo . Ho next , proceeded to review the

support which the Province had given to the central Charities during the term ; ho found that no less a sum than £ 553 had been contributed during the five years by the Lodges and Chapters themselves ; while if ho took into account the personal donations added to the lists of the various Stewards , he found Norths and Hunts figuring with a total of something over £ 740 . This he thought was a sura

of which a Province like theirs might justly bo proud ; still thoy must uot forget that if they had freely given , they had also freely received . Ho next touched on the position in which the Province was placed by tho retirement of the Provincial Graud Master . It was not for the brethren to say who should or who should uot succeed to tho government of the district , but ho felt convinced that

if tha brethren could point to any brother whom they felt wonld discharge tho duties with satisfaction it would have great weight with the Princo of Wales when he made tho appointment . Bro . W . Kingston P . M . 360 gavo the health of the Prov . Grand Treasurer , Prov . Graud Secretary , and the Grand Officers of the Province present and past . Bro . Kingston would have been pleased if tho proposal

of this toast had been in other hands , but he felt that no brother conld havo better proposed it . than himself if tho desire for the welfare of those comprised in the toast was to ba a gauge of his desire to do tho toast , justice . IIo should havo felt his shortcomings much more had ho been entrusted with a toast requiring batter advocacy than tho one under notice , which he might say only needed to bo

mentioned to secure a hearty welcome from tho company . Bro . J . T . Greene proposed the toast of the Masonic Institutions . Ho considered tho toast of Charity was the best on the list . Freemasonry itself was Charity , and it comprehended , a vast amount of Charity Bro . Terry replied in a most forcible manner , acknowledging the support given to the Benevolent Institution in Provincial Grand

Lodge , and also the hearty co-operation of the brethren in tho past . He announced that Bro . Stanton P . M . of the Pomfret Lodge and Bro . Hall of Wellingborough , had each consented to act next year as Stewards for the " Old People . " Bro . T . It . Wood W . M . 360 proposed " The Visitors , " to which Bro . Agnew , of New South Wales , replied . The remainder of tlio cveuiug was spent in a most enjoyable

manner , the brethren each doing his best to keep up the harmony of tho meeting by songs and recitations . In this , as well as in tho intervals between the speeches , thoy were most ably assisted by Bro . Seymour Smith , whose journey from London was amply rewarded by the hearty reception ho received , aud tho apparent enjoyment he

afforded by his songs ancl humourous sketches . Wo understand that tho plants aud decorations for tho Lodge and banquet table were supplied by Messrs . J . Perkins and Sons , and Bro . A . Cockerel ! , of 360 , and that the decoration of tho banquet room was the work of Bro . J . Jeffrey 176 : 1 . The brethren are to be complimented on tho result of their efforts .

Prov. G. Lodge Berks And Bucks.

PROV . G . LODGE BERKS AND BUCKS .

r jj TIE Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Berks and * - Bucks wns held in tno Wesleyan Scliool Rooms , Maidenhead , on Monday , it having been found necessary to secure these rooms owing to the incomplete slate of the Town Hall , which , but , for unforeseen circumstances , would have been rebuilt by the 1 st May . A better placo for such a gathering could not have been selected , at least at

this time of tho ye : ir , though wo admit that a Masonic Province which can beast of au historic Newbury , a . comity town such as Reading , Royal Windsor , and Aylesbury , fa-nous throughout England for its ¦ lairy produce and breed of ducks , has rich embarrassment rather than a poverty of choice . Hut Maidenhead , ou the silvery Thamesand lhe river hero deserves the epithet—the favoured haunt of

excursionists who delight in tlie study of to kalmi , as well as of boating 'lien and anglers , with its beautiful surrounding scenery , is a perfect Paradise in the leafy month of June , when the feathered songsters are warbling their praise to the Great , Architect , and the insect world is burring and humming in unison . It must be a rjlacid life which the good people of Maidenhead live from year to year , and it is gratifying to kuow that in such a place our much-loved