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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE, GLOUCESTER. Page 1 of 2 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE, GLOUCESTER. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge, Gloucester.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE , GLOUCESTER .
INSTALLATION oi' SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH , BART ., M . P . THURSDAY waa a " red letter day " in tho annals of Freemasonry in Gloucestershire , and , indeed , in this part of the country . Ifc is rarely that the installation of a Provincial Grand Master is witnessed , the appointment being permanent . So far as Gloucestershire is concerned , no such event has been witnessed during the
past quarter of a century , or , indeed , since the charter for the county •was issued . In 1856 , in tho month of May , if we mistake not , Gloucestershire became aMasonic Province nnder tho Eight Worshipfnl Brother tho Eight Hon . Lord Sherborne , who appointed Bro . George Frederick Newmavch hia Very Worshipful Deputy , and under his guidance the Province has flourished until tho present time . We
announced somo few months since thnfc Lord Sherborne , from increasing age , and a desire for rest , had announced his intention of resigning his high office , and his determination was speedily followed by the resignation of his Depnty , Bro . Newmarch . On Thursday the Brethren assembled in great force afc tho Shirehall to witness the installation of , and to do honour to , their new chief , tho Eight Hon .
Sir Michael E . Hicks . Beaoh , M . P . The assembly was a most brilliant one , and numbered from 600 to 700 brethren . They all wore the various insignia of tho Craft . The installing Master , E . W . Brother tbe Earl of Lathom , Depnty Grand Master , was unable to attend in consequence of family bereavement , and his place was taken by the
E . W . G . M . for Hants and the Isle of Wight , Brother W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., who initiated Sir Michael 25 years ago , and who , attended by the Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers , entered the hall in procession and opened the Provincial Grand Lodge , tho Installing Master being saluted according to ancient form . The following was the order of procession : —
The Provincial Grand Lodgo of Bristol . ¦ The Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire . The Provincial Graud Lodge of Monmouthshire . Tho Provincial Grand Lodgo of Wiltshire . The Provincial Grand Lodgo of Worcestershire .
Provincial Grand Lodgo Officers of other Provinces . Officers of Grand Lodge , and of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Gloucestershire : — Past Provincial Grand Pnrsuivants , Organists , Sword Bearers , Directors of Ceremonies , Superintendents of Works , Grand Deacons , Secretary , Treasnrer , Eegistrars , Chaplains , Wardens .
Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Grand Sword Bearer . The Depnty Grand Master . The Installing Master . Grand Deacon . The Grand Lodge was constituted as follows : —Bros . W . H . Gwinnetfc P . M . P . P . S . G . W . S . W ., T . Nelson Foster P . M . P . P . S . G . W . J . W .,
H . Godfrey P . M . P . P . S . G . W . S . D ., W . P . Want P . M . P . P . J . G . W . J . D ., H . Kynaston P . P . G . C . Chaplain , Eussell J . Kerr P . M . P . P . S . G . W . Director of Ceremonies , B . H . Edgell P . M . P . P . G . J . D . Assist . Director of Ceremonies , John Bryan P . M . P . P . G . J . D ., E . D . Worsley P . M , P . P . G . Super , of W ., 0 . Tudway P . M . P . P . G . D . C , J . S . Olver P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., C . Harford Lloyd P . P . G . O . Organist , T . Cadle P . M . P . P . G . P . Pursuivant . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand
Lodge were read and confirmed , and the Installing Master addressed the Lodge , stating the object of the meeting . The Provincial Grand Pursuivant ( Bro . T . Cadle ) then announced the arrival of the E . W . the Provincial Grand Master Designate ( Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , M . P . ) . The Eight Hon . Baronet was introduced by a deputation of Masters and Past Masters . The P . G . Sec . ( Bro . E . Trinder ) read the
Patent , and the Acting Provincial Grand Chaplain ( Bro . tho Eev . H . Kynaston ) offered prayer . The E . W . Provincial Grand Master was then installed in due form , and proclaimed by the Director of Ceremonies . The W . Bro . J . Brook-Smith was appointed D . P . G . M . The other Officers of the Lodge were then appointed , and the bnsiness of the Grand Lodge was transacted . A
banquet was subsequently held at the Corn Exchange , and was attended by between three and four hundred of the brethren . The repast was provided by Mr . and Mrs . Allen , of the Bell Hotel , and the catering gave general satisfaction . Tbe E . W . the Prov . Grand Master , the Eigkfc Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., presided , and he was supported on his right by Bros . J . Brook-Smith , G . F .
Newmarch , J . Walker , Baron de Ferrieres , M . P ., Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , Colonel Basevi , W . H . Gwinnett , S . G . Homfray , T . Nelson Foster , H . C . Tombs , and L . White ; and on his left by Bros . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Canon Millar , Lord Henry Thynne , M . P ., J . E . Dorington , C . Eaikes Davy , W . Godfrey , Eev . 0 . J . Martyn , Eev . W . E . Haddow , Eev . H . Kynaston , Eev .
II . G . Layton , Eev . A . Williams , & o . The E . W . Provincial Grand Master said the first toast in all assemblies of Englishmen was that of The Queen . As loyal subjects they would always drink tho health of her Majesty with great pleasure , bnt as Masons they were doubly glad to do so , and to couple with the toast that of the Craft . They remembered thafc in her Majesty they had not only a Constitutional
Sovereign—one of the best , if not the best , that had ever occupied the Throne of these realms—but ; also a bright example of those virtues and sympathy for charity which as Masons they professed to admire . The Prov . Grand Master next proposed The Health of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Most Worshipfnl Grand Master . He said it was a bright day for the Craft when his Eoyal Highness consented to add to his other numerous avocations the duty
of the office of Grand Master of the Freemasons of England . And worthily he filled that high and important office , and he was confident thafc the great interest he felt in the Craft was by no means diminished by lapse of time . He was sure thafc under his rule the Craft would be as prosperous in the future as it had been in the past . The Prov . Grand Master then proposed the Eight Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon Pro Grand Master , the Right Hon , the Earl of Lathom Deputy Grand Master , and the
Provincial Grand Lodge, Gloucester.
Oiheers of Grand Lodge Past and Present . Lord Carnarvon , he said was an old and valned friond of his , and he believed ho was known to them all as a Prov . Grand Master , as a man of genius , of great elo . quence , and <> f singular tact in the management of the difficult busi . noss which often camo before Grand Lodge . He had hoped that Lord Lathom might have been amongst them that day , and nothing but
recent ; domestic affliction kept him away . He was sure they all re . cognised in him a man whose geniality and amiable character made him tho typo of ono who should occupy n distinguished place amon » st Freemasons . Ho was glad to find that there wero no less than eleven Past Officers of the Grand Lodge of England present , and he was sure thoy would give them a real Gloucestershire welcome , so that they
might carry away agreeable recollections of their visit . Bro . C . E , Davy was not only au old Officer , but ho was one of themselves ; he was a resident amongst them , and was a constant . attendant at Graud Lodgo . Bro . Shadwell Gierke was also a most able and efficient Officer , and discharged his high and important office admirably . Bro . Eev . C . E . Davy , whose name was coupled with the toast , responded
and said the Grand Lodgo had never dono its duty better than by ap . pointing Sir Michael Hicks-Beach as Eight Worshipful Prov . Grand Master . Bro . Colonel Shadwell Gierke also responded , and said they could not have entrusted the Mastership to more genial or abler hands , Bro . G . F . Newmarch said of coarse they would anticipate the next toast , which was that of the Eight Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks-Beach ,
Barfc ., M . P ., the Eight Worshipfnl the Provincial Grand Master , their friend and neighbour . No words of his were required to recommend him to them , and he would nofc attempt any eulogy . When Lord Sherborne intimated his intention to retire from the duties of his high office , tho eyes of all of them , without exception , turned to one man , and that man was Sir Michael Hicks-Beach . Ho might frankl y
say that , as a Gloucestershire man , thoy wero prond of him . He was one of them ; ho was essentially a Gloucestershire man , as was Lord Sherborne before him ; ho was not only respected in his own county , but he had made a namo in tho country of which they were all proud . Ho was glad that ho had selected a man to assist him iu the office , than whom a more zealous Mason could not bo found , namely , Bro .
Brooke-Smith . He was sure that , whatever success Masonry might havo had in Gloucestershire in the past , it would continue to flourish under the guidance of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach . The Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , on rising to respond , was received with enthusiastic cheering . He said ifc was impossible for him to thank them too warmly for their reception of him on this the first
occasion of his appearing amongst them as Provincial Grand Master . He thanked Bro . Newmarch for the kind way in which he had spoken of him , and the brethren for the applause wifch whioh they had greeted what he had been pleased to say about him ; but , in addition , he desired to thank them all for the numbers in whioh they had attended that day—numbers that he believed he was justified in saying far
exceeded those of any previous Masonic gathering at Gloucester . He would frankly tell them , what was already known to some in that room . When Lord Sherborne intimated his desire to retire from tho office which he so well filled for so many years , some brethren , friends of his ( Sir Michael ' s ) , were good enough to suggest to him that he might hope to be his successor . He confessed he shrank from it ,
and did not consider himself likely to be appointed to the office . He felt that he had other public avocations , to which he ought not there further to allude , which would take np much of his timetime which a Provincial Grand Master ought to devote to the interests of his Province . He felt also , what he did not say , that for some years he had been amongst them as an active member of a political party ,
that he had been accustomed to speak his mind , and that possibly under these circumstances he might not be acceptable to all . He felt that possibly it might nofc tend ' to the harmony and progress of Freemasonry if a person actively engaged in that kind of warfare were chosen as the head of this Province . Thoso were his feelings , and he stated them frankly now . Bufc when he told them that from
all quarters and from all persons—from those he could not have suspected of entertaining friendly feelings towards him , from those to whom he was opposed in political and private opinion—there came to him kindly , friendly , and fraternal welcome , if it should please the Grand Lodge to appoint him , he felt no hesitation , when he told them that , he perhaps need hardly add that he felt when the office was
offered to him , that it was his bounden duty to accept it , and so far as his poor abilities enabled him , to perform the duties . He felt sure that he conld rely on the aid of the brethren to promote the interests of Freemasonry in the Province . He had his part to do , and that part had been ably put before him by his friend and relative on his right hand . He did not want to promise what ho would not perform . Ho
hoped during this and the following year to be able to visit every Lodge in the Province , and tho first would bo Dursley , tho Eoyal Lebanon , and the Chipping Sodbury Lodges . He hoped thafc they would all work in harmony , and that , knowing one another better , they would respect each other more . At all events , he hoped that his appointment would not tend to lessen their interest in Freemasonry ,
and if he was as successful as Lord Sherborne had been , he should he able to look back npon his term of office with satisfaction . Tlie other toasts included the Installing Master Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Eight Worshipful Prov . G . Master of Hants , the Eight Hon . Lord Sherborne Eight Worshipfnl Past Provincial Grand Master , tho W . Bro . J . Brooke-Smith Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and the
Officers of tho Provincial Grand Lodge Past and Present , the Visitors , and the Lodges of the Provinces . Before the Lodge was closed a formal presentation of an original copy of the Book of Constitutions , re-bound in morocco , garter blue and gold , and enclosed in a case of walnut wood , lined with purple velvet , was made by Bro .
Honry Jeff's to the Provincial Grand Master , which Sir Michael flicks-Beach was pleased to accept . The Book is scarce , and to bibliop bilists valuable , being Anderson's and Desagulier ' s edition of 1723 , and of the first official issue sanctioned by warrant of Grand Lodge . There was in 1722 an informal issue of the Old llegulations in a copy of a MS . Constitution . The book presented to the Provincial G- Master contained the following , printed in Old English on a fly-leaf : — " I " ' 6 '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge, Gloucester.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE , GLOUCESTER .
INSTALLATION oi' SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH , BART ., M . P . THURSDAY waa a " red letter day " in tho annals of Freemasonry in Gloucestershire , and , indeed , in this part of the country . Ifc is rarely that the installation of a Provincial Grand Master is witnessed , the appointment being permanent . So far as Gloucestershire is concerned , no such event has been witnessed during the
past quarter of a century , or , indeed , since the charter for the county •was issued . In 1856 , in tho month of May , if we mistake not , Gloucestershire became aMasonic Province nnder tho Eight Worshipfnl Brother tho Eight Hon . Lord Sherborne , who appointed Bro . George Frederick Newmavch hia Very Worshipful Deputy , and under his guidance the Province has flourished until tho present time . We
announced somo few months since thnfc Lord Sherborne , from increasing age , and a desire for rest , had announced his intention of resigning his high office , and his determination was speedily followed by the resignation of his Depnty , Bro . Newmarch . On Thursday the Brethren assembled in great force afc tho Shirehall to witness the installation of , and to do honour to , their new chief , tho Eight Hon .
Sir Michael E . Hicks . Beaoh , M . P . The assembly was a most brilliant one , and numbered from 600 to 700 brethren . They all wore the various insignia of tho Craft . The installing Master , E . W . Brother tbe Earl of Lathom , Depnty Grand Master , was unable to attend in consequence of family bereavement , and his place was taken by the
E . W . G . M . for Hants and the Isle of Wight , Brother W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., who initiated Sir Michael 25 years ago , and who , attended by the Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers , entered the hall in procession and opened the Provincial Grand Lodge , tho Installing Master being saluted according to ancient form . The following was the order of procession : —
The Provincial Grand Lodgo of Bristol . ¦ The Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire . The Provincial Graud Lodge of Monmouthshire . Tho Provincial Grand Lodgo of Wiltshire . The Provincial Grand Lodgo of Worcestershire .
Provincial Grand Lodgo Officers of other Provinces . Officers of Grand Lodge , and of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Gloucestershire : — Past Provincial Grand Pnrsuivants , Organists , Sword Bearers , Directors of Ceremonies , Superintendents of Works , Grand Deacons , Secretary , Treasnrer , Eegistrars , Chaplains , Wardens .
Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Grand Sword Bearer . The Depnty Grand Master . The Installing Master . Grand Deacon . The Grand Lodge was constituted as follows : —Bros . W . H . Gwinnetfc P . M . P . P . S . G . W . S . W ., T . Nelson Foster P . M . P . P . S . G . W . J . W .,
H . Godfrey P . M . P . P . S . G . W . S . D ., W . P . Want P . M . P . P . J . G . W . J . D ., H . Kynaston P . P . G . C . Chaplain , Eussell J . Kerr P . M . P . P . S . G . W . Director of Ceremonies , B . H . Edgell P . M . P . P . G . J . D . Assist . Director of Ceremonies , John Bryan P . M . P . P . G . J . D ., E . D . Worsley P . M , P . P . G . Super , of W ., 0 . Tudway P . M . P . P . G . D . C , J . S . Olver P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., C . Harford Lloyd P . P . G . O . Organist , T . Cadle P . M . P . P . G . P . Pursuivant . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand
Lodge were read and confirmed , and the Installing Master addressed the Lodge , stating the object of the meeting . The Provincial Grand Pursuivant ( Bro . T . Cadle ) then announced the arrival of the E . W . the Provincial Grand Master Designate ( Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , M . P . ) . The Eight Hon . Baronet was introduced by a deputation of Masters and Past Masters . The P . G . Sec . ( Bro . E . Trinder ) read the
Patent , and the Acting Provincial Grand Chaplain ( Bro . tho Eev . H . Kynaston ) offered prayer . The E . W . Provincial Grand Master was then installed in due form , and proclaimed by the Director of Ceremonies . The W . Bro . J . Brook-Smith was appointed D . P . G . M . The other Officers of the Lodge were then appointed , and the bnsiness of the Grand Lodge was transacted . A
banquet was subsequently held at the Corn Exchange , and was attended by between three and four hundred of the brethren . The repast was provided by Mr . and Mrs . Allen , of the Bell Hotel , and the catering gave general satisfaction . Tbe E . W . the Prov . Grand Master , the Eigkfc Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., presided , and he was supported on his right by Bros . J . Brook-Smith , G . F .
Newmarch , J . Walker , Baron de Ferrieres , M . P ., Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , Colonel Basevi , W . H . Gwinnett , S . G . Homfray , T . Nelson Foster , H . C . Tombs , and L . White ; and on his left by Bros . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Canon Millar , Lord Henry Thynne , M . P ., J . E . Dorington , C . Eaikes Davy , W . Godfrey , Eev . 0 . J . Martyn , Eev . W . E . Haddow , Eev . H . Kynaston , Eev .
II . G . Layton , Eev . A . Williams , & o . The E . W . Provincial Grand Master said the first toast in all assemblies of Englishmen was that of The Queen . As loyal subjects they would always drink tho health of her Majesty with great pleasure , bnt as Masons they were doubly glad to do so , and to couple with the toast that of the Craft . They remembered thafc in her Majesty they had not only a Constitutional
Sovereign—one of the best , if not the best , that had ever occupied the Throne of these realms—but ; also a bright example of those virtues and sympathy for charity which as Masons they professed to admire . The Prov . Grand Master next proposed The Health of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Most Worshipfnl Grand Master . He said it was a bright day for the Craft when his Eoyal Highness consented to add to his other numerous avocations the duty
of the office of Grand Master of the Freemasons of England . And worthily he filled that high and important office , and he was confident thafc the great interest he felt in the Craft was by no means diminished by lapse of time . He was sure thafc under his rule the Craft would be as prosperous in the future as it had been in the past . The Prov . Grand Master then proposed the Eight Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon Pro Grand Master , the Right Hon , the Earl of Lathom Deputy Grand Master , and the
Provincial Grand Lodge, Gloucester.
Oiheers of Grand Lodge Past and Present . Lord Carnarvon , he said was an old and valned friond of his , and he believed ho was known to them all as a Prov . Grand Master , as a man of genius , of great elo . quence , and <> f singular tact in the management of the difficult busi . noss which often camo before Grand Lodge . He had hoped that Lord Lathom might have been amongst them that day , and nothing but
recent ; domestic affliction kept him away . He was sure they all re . cognised in him a man whose geniality and amiable character made him tho typo of ono who should occupy n distinguished place amon » st Freemasons . Ho was glad to find that there wero no less than eleven Past Officers of the Grand Lodge of England present , and he was sure thoy would give them a real Gloucestershire welcome , so that they
might carry away agreeable recollections of their visit . Bro . C . E , Davy was not only au old Officer , but ho was one of themselves ; he was a resident amongst them , and was a constant . attendant at Graud Lodgo . Bro . Shadwell Gierke was also a most able and efficient Officer , and discharged his high and important office admirably . Bro . Eev . C . E . Davy , whose name was coupled with the toast , responded
and said the Grand Lodgo had never dono its duty better than by ap . pointing Sir Michael Hicks-Beach as Eight Worshipful Prov . Grand Master . Bro . Colonel Shadwell Gierke also responded , and said they could not have entrusted the Mastership to more genial or abler hands , Bro . G . F . Newmarch said of coarse they would anticipate the next toast , which was that of the Eight Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks-Beach ,
Barfc ., M . P ., the Eight Worshipfnl the Provincial Grand Master , their friend and neighbour . No words of his were required to recommend him to them , and he would nofc attempt any eulogy . When Lord Sherborne intimated his intention to retire from the duties of his high office , tho eyes of all of them , without exception , turned to one man , and that man was Sir Michael Hicks-Beach . Ho might frankl y
say that , as a Gloucestershire man , thoy wero prond of him . He was one of them ; ho was essentially a Gloucestershire man , as was Lord Sherborne before him ; ho was not only respected in his own county , but he had made a namo in tho country of which they were all proud . Ho was glad that ho had selected a man to assist him iu the office , than whom a more zealous Mason could not bo found , namely , Bro .
Brooke-Smith . He was sure that , whatever success Masonry might havo had in Gloucestershire in the past , it would continue to flourish under the guidance of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach . The Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , on rising to respond , was received with enthusiastic cheering . He said ifc was impossible for him to thank them too warmly for their reception of him on this the first
occasion of his appearing amongst them as Provincial Grand Master . He thanked Bro . Newmarch for the kind way in which he had spoken of him , and the brethren for the applause wifch whioh they had greeted what he had been pleased to say about him ; but , in addition , he desired to thank them all for the numbers in whioh they had attended that day—numbers that he believed he was justified in saying far
exceeded those of any previous Masonic gathering at Gloucester . He would frankly tell them , what was already known to some in that room . When Lord Sherborne intimated his desire to retire from tho office which he so well filled for so many years , some brethren , friends of his ( Sir Michael ' s ) , were good enough to suggest to him that he might hope to be his successor . He confessed he shrank from it ,
and did not consider himself likely to be appointed to the office . He felt that he had other public avocations , to which he ought not there further to allude , which would take np much of his timetime which a Provincial Grand Master ought to devote to the interests of his Province . He felt also , what he did not say , that for some years he had been amongst them as an active member of a political party ,
that he had been accustomed to speak his mind , and that possibly under these circumstances he might not be acceptable to all . He felt that possibly it might nofc tend ' to the harmony and progress of Freemasonry if a person actively engaged in that kind of warfare were chosen as the head of this Province . Thoso were his feelings , and he stated them frankly now . Bufc when he told them that from
all quarters and from all persons—from those he could not have suspected of entertaining friendly feelings towards him , from those to whom he was opposed in political and private opinion—there came to him kindly , friendly , and fraternal welcome , if it should please the Grand Lodge to appoint him , he felt no hesitation , when he told them that , he perhaps need hardly add that he felt when the office was
offered to him , that it was his bounden duty to accept it , and so far as his poor abilities enabled him , to perform the duties . He felt sure that he conld rely on the aid of the brethren to promote the interests of Freemasonry in the Province . He had his part to do , and that part had been ably put before him by his friend and relative on his right hand . He did not want to promise what ho would not perform . Ho
hoped during this and the following year to be able to visit every Lodge in the Province , and tho first would bo Dursley , tho Eoyal Lebanon , and the Chipping Sodbury Lodges . He hoped thafc they would all work in harmony , and that , knowing one another better , they would respect each other more . At all events , he hoped that his appointment would not tend to lessen their interest in Freemasonry ,
and if he was as successful as Lord Sherborne had been , he should he able to look back npon his term of office with satisfaction . Tlie other toasts included the Installing Master Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Eight Worshipful Prov . G . Master of Hants , the Eight Hon . Lord Sherborne Eight Worshipfnl Past Provincial Grand Master , tho W . Bro . J . Brooke-Smith Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and the
Officers of tho Provincial Grand Lodge Past and Present , the Visitors , and the Lodges of the Provinces . Before the Lodge was closed a formal presentation of an original copy of the Book of Constitutions , re-bound in morocco , garter blue and gold , and enclosed in a case of walnut wood , lined with purple velvet , was made by Bro .
Honry Jeff's to the Provincial Grand Master , which Sir Michael flicks-Beach was pleased to accept . The Book is scarce , and to bibliop bilists valuable , being Anderson's and Desagulier ' s edition of 1723 , and of the first official issue sanctioned by warrant of Grand Lodge . There was in 1722 an informal issue of the Old llegulations in a copy of a MS . Constitution . The book presented to the Provincial G- Master contained the following , printed in Old English on a fly-leaf : — " I " ' 6 '