North And East Yorkshire.

respectable amount . Still , although many of fche Lodges and Brethren had been most liberal in the promotion of the Fund , ifc must be acknowledged , with regret , that some Lodges and Brethren had shown themselves somewhat indifferent to the claims which charity had put

upon them , although they had not scrupled to avail themselves of the benefits of the fund which they had left others fco support . It must never be forgotten that Freemasonry was a luxury , nofc a necessity of life , and

no Brethren should expect to enjoy the privileges aud honours of the Craft unless they were able and willing to contribute to the support of those charitable Institutions which were its brightest ornaments .

Essex.

ESSEX .

npHE Annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held on 1 ' Wednesday , under the banner of the Easterford Lodge , No . 2342 , at the School Eoom , High Street , Kelvedon , whither a large number of Brethren journeyed from various parts of the Province to take part iu the celebration . The Earl of Warwick and Brooke Prov .

Grand Master presided , and was supported by Bro . F . A . Philbriek Deputy Grand Master , and many other leading Masons of the district , while several letters of

apology were received , including Lord Henniker P . G . M . Suffolk , Lord George Hamilton P . G . M . Middlesex , who was holding his own Provincial Lodge at Teddington , and many Grand Officers .

The proceedings commenced soon after two o clock , when the Grand Muster entered the Lodge and duly declared it open . After having been saluted , together with the Deputy , the minutes of the last Annual meeting were read and confirmed . The Eoll of the Provincial

Lodges was then called over , and all were found to be represented . The Eeport of the Board of General Purposes was presented and taken as read ; and upon the proposition of Bro . Philbriek , seconded by Bro . W . J . Crump , it was received , adopted and entered on the Minutes .

The Eeport of the Charity Committee was also presented , and on the proposition of Bro . Hoddinot , seconded by Bro . Bailing , it was likewise accepted and ordered to be entered in the Minute Book .

The Deputy Grand Master then addressed the Brethren with reference to the Eeports . He commenced by referring to the succession of the Provincial Grand Master to the historic Earldom of Warwick , and offered his lordship the hearty congratulations of the Brethren

on this accession of rank and dignity . He trusted that his reign over the Freemasons of Essex would be long continued , and be marked by further prosperity of the Craft . The accounts for the year ended 30 th June 1894 were now submitted , and after payment of all outstanding claims showed a balance in hand of £ 192 8 s 8 d . Two

Lodges had not sent in their returns within the time required by the regulations , and the Board of General Purposes recommended the fine of £ 2 be enforced in both cases . The Province continues to make satisfactory growth , no fewer than four hew Lodges , with an

aggregate of 139 members , having been added to the roll during the past year , the present strength being 1862 members as against 1725 last year . The Board considered that the grant annually made towards the expenses of receiving the Provincial Grand Lodge might

fairly be increased , and recommended that it should in future be £ 25 . A sum of £ 10 was voted to the Grand Secretary for office fittings . The grants included £ 21 to the Eoyal Benevolent Institution , £ 10 10 s each to the Boys and Girls Schools , a like sum to the

" George Cooper Memorial Fund , " and £ 5 5 s to the funds of Kelvedon Schools . Finally , the Board regretted the recent death of two worthy and distinguished members of fche Provincial Grand Lodge , viz : —John H . Vaux P . P . S . G . W ., and Jas . M . Scarlett P . P . J . G . W .

The oration delivered by the Eev . H . T . Armfield Prov . Grand Chaplain , at the Consecration of the Earl of Warwick Lodge , No . 2504 , at Buckhurst Hill , on 11 th of April lasfc , had been printed , by general desire , and copies could now be obtained from the Secretary . Bro . Salmon of the Epping Lodge ( one of fche two Lodges mentioned above as having been fined ) explained

Essex.

fche circumstances under which the returns of the Lodge were omitted to be forwarded to the Grancl Secretary . He promised that fche omission should never occur again , and prayed the Grand Master to remit tha penalty ,

which the members considered as a blot upon their banner . On the proposition of Bro . Philbriek , seconded by Bro . Turner , it was resolved that , having heard Bro . Salmon ' s statement , the penalty be not enforced .

Tne Provincial Grrand Master then addressed the Brethren and thanked them for their warm reception aud the kind sentiments expressed towards him . He considered it a great honour to belong to our old peerage

and especially fortunate in bearing his present distinguished title . He hoped that he might be connected with the Province for many years to come , and under his new name be more useful to the Craft . There was

a young man who now bore the name of Brooke , who he hoped one day would come among them . He considered that Grand Lodge had come to a wise decision to remit the fine in the case of the Epping Lodge , but of course the regulations musfc be obeyed . With regard to the

question of finance he thought they were in a satisfactory condition , as they were not a wealthy Province , and never forgot their duty to the Masonic Charities . He was glad to notice the increase in the number of members , and though he did nofc approve of largely extending

fche number of Lodges ho had felt himself justified in permitting , four to be established during the year . '" He was glad to hear they were making good progress , the Colne Lodge now mustering upwards of seventy members . He was sorry that his visit to New York had prevented

him from being present at the Consecration of the last two , but he hoped to pay them a visit soon . The Grand Lodge was very grateful to the Easterford Lodge for

their kind reception , and congratulated them upon having such a generous W . M . as Sir William Abdy , who had presented them with a Masonic Temple now building .

The election of four members of the Board of General Purposes was then proceeded with , Bros . Corbie , Salmon , Hayman and Wood having been appointed scrutineers .

The result of the poll was as follows : —J . J . C . Turner 90 , Thomas Lloyd 84 , Alfred Buck 75 , W . D . Merritt 66 , J . T . Bailey 57 , F . A . White 33 , H . F . Bromhead 30 . The four first were therefore declared elected .

Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green W . M . 2477 was unanimously elected as Provincial Grand Treasurer , as Brother J . T . Bailey retired in his favour after nomination .

The Grand Master then invested the followin " Brethren as his Officers for the ensuing year ;—Bro . Fred . A . Philbriek , Q . C , G . R . - Deputy Sir W . N . Abdy , Bart . 2342 - Senior Warden

E . C . Wills 214 - - - Junior Warden Rev . W . Linton Wilson 1457 - Chaplain 0 . E . Egerton-Green 2477 - - Treasurer I ? . C . H . Jones 51 - - - Registrar Thos . J . Railing 51 - - Secretary

( Eighteenth year ) A . Vandervord 1000 - - ) t . . r , J . W . Tyler 2077 - - - ) " benlor Deac ° ns F . A . Rcnshawe 453 - - I T . T , W . Adams 1280 - - - j Jun , ° 1 ' -Deacons W . Maxwell Butcher 2318 - Supt . of Works A . Lucking 1000 - - - Director of Ceremonies ( Twenty-first year ) G . W . lung 1437 - - - Deputy Dir . of Cers . J . T . Bailey 697 2477 - - Assist . Dir . of Cers . Goo . Brown 1977 - - - Sword Bearer

C . R . Finch 1024 - - - ) < ,. n , _ H . C . Borradaile 1343 - - j btanclard Bearers P . C . Beaveu 2503 - - - Organist J . M . Welch 1543 - - - Assist . Secretary J . L . Ogier 2342 - - - Pursuivant G . F . Golding 160 - - - Assist . Pursuivant J . G . Hammond jun . 2184 - \ G . J . Booth 697

-Wm . Rudrum 1977 - - c , , S . S . Parsons 2339- - . r Rewards CT . Thorn 2342 - R . Galpin 2342 - - - , A . W . Martin - - - Tyler . The new Officers were saluted by the Brethren

According to custom the Senior Grand Warden was elected on the Charity Committee , iu place of the member retiring by rotation . The Earl of Warwick stated he had sent congratulations in the name of the Brethren to H . E . H . the Grand Master upon the birth of fche son of H . E . H . fche Duke of