Northumberland And Durham M. M.

NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM M . M .

nnHE Annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge JL of Mark Master Masons was held on the 9 th inst ., at the Grand Assembly Booms , Barras Bridge , Newcastle , under the united banners of the Northumberland and Berwick-upon-Tweed Lodge , T . I ., aud the Tristram

Lodge , No . 846 . The chair was occupied by the Eev . H . B . Tristram , D . D ., F . E . S ., Canon of Durham , Provincial Grand Mark Master , etc . There was a large assemblage . After the Lodge had been opened , the report of the

Committee of General Purposes , presented by the Prov . G . Secretary ( Bro . B . Ford ) , showed the Order to bein a flourishing condition , and that there was a large increase of members during the year . The Committee

intimated that to prevent any possible misapprehension they desired to say that no Lodge , as a Lodge , had been permitted to subscribe to the cost of the presentation to be made that day to the Provincial Grand Master . The

funds of a Mark Lodge should always be reserved to discharge its legitimate outgoings , and for expenditure relating to the sacred purposes of charity . The cost of

the presentation fco the Provincial Grand Master had been entirely met by voluntary subscriptions from the Brethren of the Province .

Bro . E . B . Eeed D . Prov . G . M . M ., amid the applause of the Brethren , presented an address to the Provincial Grand Mark Master , congratulating him on his having completed twenty-one years of rule in the chair , and expressing the hope of the Brethren that he might long be spared to discharge the duties of his high position .

Bro . Eeed also in suitable terms presented to the Prov . Grand Mark Master the fine portrait painted by Mr . C . Kay Eobertson , also an illuminated address and , besides these , a handsome case of Apostle spoons , of fine workmanship , for Mrs . Tristram , with the respectful regards to her of the Mark Brethren of the Province .

On the frame of the portrait is a plate bearing the following inscription : —

Presented to the REV . HENRY BAKER TRISTRAM , LL . D ., D . D ., F . R . S ., by his Brother Mark Master Masons of tho Province of North umberland and Durham , on the completion of his Twenty-first year of rulb as Provincial Grand Mark Master .

July 1894 . The Provincial Grand Mark Master on rising was very warmly received by the Brethren . In the course of his speech he said he never in his life felt so intensely the truth of the saying that one ' s feelings were too deep

lor utterance . He had therefore very great difficulty in finding words by which to return his thanks . In the progress made by the Order in the Province he was exceedingly glad to state that he had had thc assistance of two most successful Deputy Provincial Masters , Bros .

T . Y . Strachan and E . B . Eeed . They had been kind counsellors , begrudging no trouble , sparing no pains , and were only anxious for his credit and reputation in justly directing the affairs of the Province . They were indeed true Prime Ministers . He had been a Mason for

fiftythree years , and he believed that he was the oldest Mark Mason in the Province , having been advanced to thafc degree in 1846 , in Bermuda . In 1861 or 1862 he joined the Eclectic Lodge afc West Hartlepool , and at that time there were only three Provinces in England . After

passing the chair of the Eclectic , Lord Percy did him the honour of submitting his name to the Prince of Wales , and thus in time he became the Provincial Grand Mark Master of Northumberland and Durham . The Brethren of the Province had done him the seven-fold

honour of seven times returning his name , and asking for his re-appointment . In 1873 , when he was appointed Master of the Province , there were seven Lodges , and now there were twelve . He then proceeded to refer to the good accomplished by the Order , and in conclusion

remarked that he was now past three score years and ten , and therefore his rule over them could not be very long . But as long as he was able fco be wifch them , he would gladly be present , and sincerely trusted the love

and harmony that had always cbatacterised their gatherings would ever continue . On behalf of himself , and his wife , who had been his partner in life for nearly iifty years , lie sincerely returned his thanks for fche tokens of their esteem .

Northumberland And Durham M. M.

The following were appointed Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . Lieut .-Col . H . Bentham 346 - Senior Warden Henry Lamb 39 - - Junior Warden S . M . Harris T . I . - - - Master Overseer

T . Moffett 362 - - - Senior Overseer E . Dunford T . I . - - - Junior Overseer llev . Golightly - - - Chaplain Thos . Purvis 346 - - - Treasurer T . Wilkes 250 - - - Registrar of Marks

G . B . Ford T . I . - - - Secretary Palmer 356 - - - Senior Deacon Holt 135 ... . Junior Deacon Alex . Darling 192 - - - Inspector of Works T . R . Short 293 - - - Director of Ceremonies

Henry Barlow 39 - - - Assist . Dir . of Cers Jas . Sedcole 362 - - - Sword Bearer Xavier 39 ... Standard Bearer R . Ferry 293 Organist J . Harrison 122 - - - Inner Guard J . Appleyard 293 - - - Tyler .

The P . G . M . M . announced that the next meeting would be afc South Shields , under the banner of fche Wouldhave Lodge . The Provincial Grand Lodge was

then closed . The Brethren afterwards dined together afc the Grand Hotel , presided over by the Eev . Canon Tristram . The usual toasts were given .

Durham.

DURHAM .

THE Annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Durham was held at the Freemasons ' Hall , Old Elvet , Durham , on Tuesday , 10 th inst . The Provincial Grand Superintendent ( Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart . ) presided , and there was a large attendance .

After the formal business , the Provincial Grand Superintendent appointed the following Officers for the

year : — Comp . F . H . Bennett 531 - - H . C . H . Backhouse 111 - - J . "R . Hudson 80 - - - Scribe E

F . S . Cowper 97 - - - Scribe N . T . Watson 111 - - - Treasurer R . Todd 80- - - - Registrar W . Thorman 509 - - - Principal Sojourner H . Palmer 124 - - - ) . . , , „ . W . Richardson 48 - - - j Assistant Sojourners

J . Robinson 1119 - - - 1 < - >¦¦ i -i o J . W . Chater 1119 - - - j ^ audard Bearers Thos . Dunn 124 - - - Director of Ceremonies G . B . Hall 949 - - - Assistant Dir . of Cirs . W . Vincent 94 - - Organist J . R . Pattison 97 - - - Assistant Scribe E . T . Grieve .... Janitor .

Freemasons are sworn loyal , and so are their wives . On Monday last , when His Eoyal Highness was at Greenwich , Mrs . Darley , the wife of an old Past Master now engaged copying the ceiling of the Painted Hall , with two other ladies , the wives of Masons and Naval

Officers , as they stood in the crowd were intruded upon by a fellow with a foreign accent , who freely spoke in disparagement of the Prince of Wales . The ladies denounced and condemned his conduct , and so did all

within hearing , and strongly urged that he be turned out . He further expressed surprise to one of the police that the Prince was not afraid to move about without a guard . The officer sharply retorted that it was because he was a trueborn Englishman , and ordered thc man to

move on and clear out . — " South Eastern Herald , " 13 th July 1894 .

0 0 0 The annual assembly of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent caused considerable trouble to the Maidstone Board of Health , if we are to accept the statement of one of its members , who objected to an adjournment

which he said had been arranged to suit the convenience of those members who desired to attend Canterbury on the occasion of the recent Masonic meeting there . The Mayor , without explaining or defending the Masonic

points of the case , said he had adjourned fche meeting because he felfc there would not have been a quorum of members present if ifc had been held afc thc ordinary date .