Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

THE annual gathering of members of the Masonic Craffc for this Province was hold on list inst ., at Rngeloy , in conjunction with the consecration of a Lodgo in that town , to be known as St . Augnstine ' s Lodgo . Upwards of 200 brethren assembled , and tho day being exceedingly line their appearance in the street , as they walked io and from the parish church attired in full Masonic clothing , induced

a largo number of spectators to witness tho procession . The Provincial Grand Lodgo was opened in the Assembly Room of the Town Hall shortly after noon , tho Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Major George Singleton Tudor , who was accompanied by his Officers , being saluted Masouically iu a style becoming his high official position , on taking his seat in the chair of King Solomon .

The first business was the reading of the minutes of late Provincial Grand Lodges held at Stafford , Kidsgrove , and Fenton , by the P . G . Secretary , Brother W . Cartwright P . P . G S . W ., tho whole of which were confirmed in the usual way amongst Masons . The next business was the confirmation of the Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s account , from whioh it appeared that there was a balance of £ 71 9 s 6 d to be

carried to the credit of Provincial Grand Lodge . Before appointing the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge for the ensuing year , tho Provincial Grand Master referred to the increasing difficulty attendant ou snch appointments because of the increased number of Lodges and the consequent large number of brethren who were anxious to obtain honours conferred ou them by the privilege of

wearing " the purple . " He had frequently noticed the absence of Provincial Officers from their gatherings after they had passed through their official year , and he thought that it might arise from the supposition that having received some minor appointment thejimagined that they would not get anything higher , and as the honour of wearing the purple had been accomplished there was no necessity

for further effort . This might or might not be the reason for their absence ; he thought it was , and , as he had previously intimated , he should , as a rule , give to Provincial Officers who had held inferior offices those of a higher position . He had conferred with some of the oldest Officers of the Province upon the subject , and whilst some were unfavourable to such a plan , there were others who looked on it with favour . He should act in accordance with his own views on

this subject , aud he had offered to Bro . Spilsbnry , who some years ago had he'd tho office of Prov . G . J . W ., that of Prov . Grand Senior Warden . The Prov . G . S . W . having received from the Prov . Grand Master the jewel designating his office subsequently took the Senior Warden ' s chair . The other appointments were then proceeded with , the brethren being severally conducted to the P . G . M . by Brother T . E . Fowke P . G . D . C . The appointments

were—Bro . Alfred E . Fowko - Prov . Grand Jnnior Warden W . Cartwright - - „ Secretary R . M . Grier - - „ Chaplain John Fowler - . „ Senior Deacon Charles Bunting - „ Junior Deacon Henry Langman . „ Eegistrar W . J . Boys - . „ Supt . of Works

T . E . Fowke - „ D . of Ceremonies C . Walsh Graham - „ Acting D . C . T . H . Eabone - „ Standard Bearer E . Piddock - . „ Sword Bearer J . W . H . Mackenzie - „ Pursuivant .

Brothers Boys and Eabone were unable to be present , and Brother Mackenzie was detained at home through indisposition . The Prov Grand Treasurer , Brother John Bodenham , was unanimously reelected by the brethren present , and so was also tho Prov . Grand Tyler , Brother Baggaley , who has discharged the duties of that ofiice for a period of nearly forty years .

Immediately after the appointment of Provincial Grand Officers , the consecration of St . Augustine's Lodge was proceeded with by the Provincial Grand Master , who called on the Provincial Grand Secretary to read tho petition and warrant , which was dated 25 th October 1881 , and which directs that the Lodge shall be known as tho St . Augustine ' s Lodge , to be held on the second Thursday in every

month , at the Shrewsbury Arms Hotel , Eugeley , and to be numbered 1 , 9-1 on the Grand roll of England . The usual formula was gone through by tho consecrating Officer , the Provincial Grand Master , assisted by his Wardens , who afterwards dedicated the Lodge to the purposes of Freemasonry , and to the cultivation of every moral and social virtue . At the close of this ceremony , the Provincial Grand

Lodge was adjourned for the purpose of affording the brethren an opportunity of attending Divine service at St . Augustine ' s Church , where a very excellent , practical , aud forcible sermon was preached by the Prov . Grand Chaplain , Brother E . M . Grier . A collection was made at the church , of which , on the re-assembling of the Provincial Grand Lodge , £ 5 was voted to the funds of the district hospital , and

the remainder to the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge , it having been stated that the schools connected with the church ( to which object a portion of the collection is usually voted ) did not need any such amount . After the consideration of several notices of motion , and decisions in connection therewith , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed .

At the request of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . F . James Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master , then proceeded with the ceremony of installing the W . M . Designate of the new Lodge , Brother the Eev . T . B . Mundy W . M . and Past Provincial Grand Chaplain , dnring which ceremony the whole of the brethren who had not passed the chair withdrew . On the completion of the ceremonial , the W . M . of

the new Lodge appointed his Officers as follow , and invested each with his distinguishing collar of office : —James Clarke , M . D ., S . W . 1039 S . W ., George Buttery J . W . 1039 Prov . G . S . J . W ., the Eev . R . M . Grier Prov . Grand Chaplain Chaplain , Thomas James Treas ., Edwin Marshall Prov . Grand Secretary Secretary , H . F . Newton 726 Provincial Grand Steward Steward , Thomas Greensmith Steward ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

Edward Johns 1039 S . D ., J . B . Burns J . D ., George Brown 1039 Prov . G . S . I . G ., John Barkley Prov . G . S . Tyler . The banquet , of which upwards of 100 brethren partook , was served in the Assembly Boom of the Shrewsbury Arms Hotel , under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master , who was , however , obliged to leave , in company with Brother Colonel Foster Gough

Deputy Prov . Grand Master of the Province , and several other Officers and brethren , before the repast , which waa very good , although indifferently served , was finished . The duties of chairman was subsequently effectively discharged by Brother Frank James Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master . Aftor having proposed the health of Her Majesty the Queen , referring to her as the mother of the

Grand Master of England , and the toast having been most loyally received and drunk , the Chairman proposed the health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , most Worshipful Grand Master of England , observing that he need not remind them of the advantages the Craft possessed in having His Eoyal Highness as their Grand Master . Freemasonry had made great strides since His Royal

Highness had presided over th . Craft , and he was sure that ifc would be pleasurable to him to know that the principles of Masonry were spreading amongst them in the Province . The President next proposed the toast of " The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon Provincial Grand Master ; the Right Hon . Earl of Lathom Deputy Grand Master , and Officers of Grand Lodge , present and past . " They were

brethren of whom they might well be proud . They would recollect that some few years ago the Great Orient of France determined on having an alteration of the ritual of Freemasonry . A committee of Grand Lodge was appointed , and he hail th © pleasure ot being present on that occasion , when Lord Carnarvon presided , who , in speaking upon the suggested alteration of omitting the name of God from

the ritual , contended that whatever might be thought of infidelity in the outside world it should have no favour in a Freemason ' s Lodge , and the result was that no alteration took p lace in their ritual . The Rev . J . H . lies , Past Prov . Grand Chaplain , next gave " Tbe health of the Grand Master of the Province , " observing that he did ifc with much pleasure aud much feeling . He had stood side by side with

him in the Volunteer movement , in which he had worked most heartily ; but whatever he took up was done with his whole soul , and that was his history in Freemasonry . The toast was drunk with great heartiness . "The health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Brother Colonel Foster Gough , aud the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , present and past , " was proposed by Brother Buttery ,

and , in the absence of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , was briefly acknowledged by Brother Spilsbnry Provincial Grand Senior Warden . The President next gave " The health of Brother the Rev . T . B . Mundy W . M . of St . Augustine's Lodge , " remarking that the installation which had taken place thafc day was a good augury for the prosperity of the Lodge . Tbe only word of advice whioh he

would give was , not to be disheartened if the number of members did not come up to those of other Lodges in the Province , but to select true and upright men only whom they would not object to shake by the hand as brethren , and who would reflect honour on the Lodge which had that day been consecrated . He understood that four initiations were to take place on their first Lodge meeting , and

he felt quite sure that Brother Mundy would have the same pleasure in doing his utmost for the well-being of the Ledge as he had done in the St . John ' s Lodge at Lichfield . Brother Mundy briefly acknowledged the toast . He observed that it was a very difficult thing to speak about self , as there were a great number of things the speaker knew which were unknown to any one besides himself . He shonld ,

however , do his utmost for the prosperity of the Lodge ; and if he had learnt things which others knew not , he should be happy to help them . He believed that a number of Lodges had done great injury to themselves by introducing individuals who never ought to have been Freemasons ; he hoped that such would not be the case with them , but that every one would do all he could to promote the

prosperity of tbe Lodge . He was glad thafc they should have the advice of the rev . gentleman who had that day been appointed Prov . Grand Chaplain , and he hoped that every member would so act t . afc the Lodge would not only be a credit to the town of Rugeley but a credit also to Freemasonry . The Rev . R . M . Grier , the newly appointed Prov . Grand Chaplain , in proposing the health of the

Installing Master , Brother Frank James Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master , remarked that ifc was under circumstances of considerable difficulty—difficulty only because ho did not propose or drink toasts —that ho had to bring before them the name of Brother James . He thanked him , however , very heartily for his presence amongst ^ them that day . Every one who had been present at the installation of

their W . M . must have been pleased with the manner iu which the Pasfc Deputy Provincial Grand Master had gone through tbe ceremony . When ifc was intended to have a Lodge in Rugeley , it was also the wish of every member that Brother James should be the installing Master , and they had not been disappointed . ( In giving the toast , the rev . brother humorously expressed a hope that they would not drink it ) . Brother James acknowledged the toast and referred

to several incidents connected with his 30 years of Masonic life in the Province . This was followed by the toasfc of the " Masonic Charities , " proposed by Brother J . Bodenham Prov . Grand Treasurer , who referred to the advisableness of giving every vote to the brother representing the Province when they wished to succeed in obtaining the admission into the Schools of any particular candidate . A few other toasts followed , and subsequently that of the Ty ler broug ht the proceedings to a close .

On Saturday last , Bro . Henry E . Tucker , Treasurer of the West Middlesex Benevolent Association , and S . W . of the West Middlesex Lodge , No . 1612 , was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensom „ twelve months . Brother Tucker is the Preceptor and Treasurer oi the West Middlesex Lodge of Instruction , and Treasurer of tne Royal Alfred Lodge of Instruction .