Prov. Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX .

rTYHE annual meeting of the Brethren of the Provincial JL Grand Lodge of Sussex was held on Thursday afternoon , the 11 th iust ., in the Music Room , Royal Pavilion . Bro . Gerard Ford P . G . D . Deputy Provincial Grand Master

presided , the Wardens' chairs being occupied by Bro . C . F . Lewis Prov . S . G . W ., and Bro . H . E . Price Prov . J . G . W ., while Iho Provincial Grand Officers present included Bros . Rev . F . F . J . Greenfield Chaplain , R . Pidcock Registrar

C . Bampfylde Warro S . D ., S . H . Soper J . D ., T . C . Woodman D . of C , H . Kent and B . Lomax Standard Bearers , F . H . Hallett Organist , B . Burfield Secretary , Thomas Hardy Pursuivant , W . H . Barrett Steward , J . Adames , J . Dennant , H . H . Jordan , G . Lockwood L . Hawken , Col

Mortimer Hancock Stewards , and H . H . Hughes Prov

G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been formally opened , the Prov . Grand . Secretary read the minutes of the last annual meeting . These were confirmed . The

roll of the Lodges in the Province was called , and it was found that every Lodge was represented . The report of the Board of Finance and the Treasurer ' s accounts were

next submitted and adopted . The report of the Provincial Charities' Committee was read and adopted . The Prov . Grand Secretary read a report relativo to the presentation of two pictures to the Provincial Grand Lodge , in commemoration of the installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as R . W . Provincial Grand Master , and on the motion of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , seconded

by Bro . W . Smith P . P . G . Sword Bearer , a vote of thanks

was accorded to the brethren of tho Lodges for the generous efforts they had made in the purchase of the pictures , and to Bro . W . Marchant P . P . S . G . W ., for his exertions as Honorary Secretary to the Committee . The Provincial

Grand Secretary read statistics giving the numerical and financial strength of each Lodge , and showing the present number of brethren to have reached 1179 , an increase of 38 on the year . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master ,

Bro . Gerard Ford P . G . D . then addressed the brethren , as follows : —

Brethren , —The Masonic year , with its many engagements and interests , goes by so rapidly from month to month that the annual Provincial meeting takes us somewhat by surprise when it comes round . This has been an eventful year for Sussex Masons . Though we have not had the pleasure of seeing onr Prov . G . Master since July

1887 , we have the satisfaction of knowing that , while he is in India , attending to his very important military duties , His Eoyal Highness takes the greatest interest in affairs relating to the Province he rales in England , and he has accepted a high post in the Graft in India , where he keeps up the active performance of Masonic duties .

It seems hardly probable that the year we begin to-day will be gladdened by his presence here , but we have his good wishes and kind remembrance , and look forward with keen pleasure to the time which will bring him back to Sussex , for however brief a visit . We cannot , of course , expect at any period , even when His Royal

Highness s vocations permit of his residence m England , that we could have extensive claims upon his time , but how gladly he comes when he can , and how well he performs the office of Provincial Grand Master we had ample and gratifying proof when , during a very short stay in England for tho Jubilee festivities , he gave a day to us here

in Brighton , and , by the questions the Duke asked and the remarks he made , showed plainly that he is not Prov . Grand Master only in name . Before entering on a new period of our existence in Sussex , it would be well to look back and note the various events , which , like milestones , have marked our journey ' throngh the last twelvemonths .

Retrospect can never be without its shadows , and , casting our thoughts back upon the past year , we find , alas ! that may good men and true have been taken from our ranks—men whom we could ill spare , and whom to-day we deeply mourn . Old Past Master's like Brothers Payne , Willard , and Jletcher , Major Sergison , D'Albiac .

Taaffe , Lnttruan , Johnson , Bennett , and others , to the number of more than a score , are no longer inscribed on our roll of brethren on earth . We must fill up the vacant places and stand again shoulder to Bhoulder , still cherishing in our hearts the memory of those brethren who have been summoned by the Great Architect of the

Universe to the Grand Lodge above . Sickness , too , has visited many of UB heavily . Brother Crosskey , our respected and well-beloved Treasurer , is obliged to seek health in a warmer climate during our tarbulent English winter . Brother Trollope , one of our pillars of Sussex Masonry , has been dangerously ill , but I am glad to hear of

his partial recovery . Many other names might be added to the list , my own among them . For three months I was compelled to take complete rest , so complete that even writing was forbidden me , but I am rejoiced to be able to meet you all again to-day in good , though Bomewhat weakened , health . It is satisfactory to reflect that ,

notwithstanding an unusually high death rate and Bome withdrawals , we number more than we did at this time last year . The retrospect , however , is not all dark and sorrowful . Laughter and tears ,

sighing and singing , clouds and sunshine are mingled together iu the Masonio record as in the domestic . It is one of the highest privileges of a Mason that he gives his sympathy not only to those in tribulation , but to those who are happy . Two great occasions of

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

universal rejoicing have arisen since I last addressed yon . The golden light of the Jubilee of our most gracious Queen , the Patroness of our Order , had hardly set in England before there dawned the softer radiance of the Silver Wedding of the Most Worshipful Grand Master . It was our happy lot to greet him and the gentle lady who has been his helpmeet for a quarter of century , with our very warm congratulations . The brightness of the occasion was somewhat

clouded by the news which arrived of the death of the Emperor William , but that event had been so long expected , and the Kaiser ' s ' years had lengthened themselves out so much beyond the usual span of human life , that his death , though it tempered the brilliancy of the festivity , did not darken it altogether . We kept it here in a good old English fashion , with music and dancing . The . old Pavilion was

made gay by Masons in their insignia , wno brougnt witn tnem tneir wives and daughters , not to mention " their sisters , and their cousins , and their aunts . " I do not think that anywhere in England was " God bless the Prince of Wales " sung more sweetly or more heartily than it was here on that Maroh evening . The second joyful event was the Centenary of the Girls' School , whioh was kept , with literally

Royal honours , for almost a whole week . Day after day the huge space of the Albert Hall was filled with brethren , and on some days with ( may I be allowed to say ) sisters , to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the foundation of this great charity . One day the ohildren themselves were brought from their Institution to receive from the Princess the prizes they had gained . It was such a sight as can scarcely be witnessed again by those of our generation , a sight whioh

could not have been given by any other body of men than Masons . Between two and three hundred bright , happy , healthy children were gathered together in that huge building , that the many men and women who have their interest at heart , and have helped to make them healthy and happy , might have the unalloyed pleasure of seeing their pleasant young faces and witnessing their wonderful evolutions in their graceful ftvpr /> iaoa T l-nnor nrk ain . V » f { if nnna an Tlroff . Tr cind an fnnnriinr * « a fViof IVT

these fatherless children , rosy cheeked aud smiling , dressed in their dainty costume of dark blue and white , moving like fairy soldiers in exact time to the word of command , and every time I see it I am astonished afresh at the skill of the teachers and the beautiful discipline of the children . King Oscar , of Sweden , in whose kingdom the Prince of Wales was made a Mason , was present , and expressed ,

as indeed every one did , the greatest admiration of the scene . It will ever be a matter of deep regret to me that owing to severe illness I could not be present , though I was , as I have often been before , a Steward , and , by the kindness of my brethren , was enabled to take up a not inconsiderable sum . The Centenary Festival will ever stand out in the history of Masonry as a period as yet unsurpassed in brilliancy and pleasant sensations . It is cheering to refleofc that one ' s guineas are spent to such good purpose , that we

can see the actual and most delightful result of our gifts , and I trust that the Centenaries of the other two Masonio Charities may prove equally successful when their turns come . Reviewing the work of the year and the various questions which have been raised in the course of it , and have received special attention , there is one I feel compelled to touch upon particularly , namely , the initiation of minors into our Brotherhood . It is a Question upon which I have not

myself the shadow of a doubt . I most unhesitatingly give my opinion against it . In this I am glad to find myself following in the footsteps of our Most Worshipful Grand Master , whose eldest son , His Highness Prince Albert Victor , was not initiated until he was twenty-one years of age . His Royal Highness ' s younger son has not yet entered the Craft . An exception is made at the Universities for

very special and well considered reasons , but it should be afc the Universities alone . Por my own part I do not think that the solemn obligations of our Craft should be lightly and thoughtlessly taken . A youth who has not reached the age of twenty-one has seen too little of life to realise or appreciate either the duties or the privileges of our Order . It is only after a young man has for a term "felt his feet , " as it were , in the nath of life that he is able

to understand what is meant by " the right hand of fellowship , " and to grasp it with heartiness and lasting sincerity . It is after one or two disappointments among so-called friends that he begins to feel that it is well to build up friendship . on a substratum of something les 3 frothy than mere words . It must

also be borne in mind that not only does a man on entering Masonry receive the cheering assurance of help in difficulty , sympathy in distress , and encouragement in labour , but he is also called upon to give this support to his brethren . I need hardly remind you that Masonry is not all receiving ; in fact reciprocity is one of the chief .

features of our Order . It may be that I have old-fashioned notions about the sanctity of a promise and the obligations incumbent upon every man to carry out his engagements , not only in the letter , but in the spirit . It may be , as I say , that I am old-fashioned in this , . but my feeling on this point is very strong , and I do not think any mere minor should undertake such responsibilities , the meaning of which he cannot quite

understand , until his experience is more extended . There is another point to which I wish to call your special attention . It seems that some Masons in the Province do not appreciate that most useful of little volumes , the Almanac , and that they would rather it were not published at all . I can only say that the small book is my constant companion , goes where I go , and is consulted almost every dav .

Certainly no engagement is ever made by me , social or official , without a reference to the Almanac . It has become as necessary to me as a crutoh to a lame man , and I should very much regret its annihilation . I cannot but envy those young and merry Masons whose Herculean brains can carry without effort all the data and statistics of my inseparable friend , the Masonic Almanac . I flatter myself that there

are in this assembly some other grey-headed brethren whose minds are at times fretted and harassed with the burden of professional life , and who are , like myself , gratefal to our worthy and energetic Provincial Grand Secretary for the accurate information contained in his invaluable little book . Moreover , the publication is no burden on the Province ; it pays , or very nearly pays , its own expenses . It may be ,