Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

, . CRAFT. — : o : — PROV.GRANDLODGEOFESSEX

FORTUNATELY favoured by fine weather , and being held at the pleasant watering place of Southend , the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex took place last Tuesday under the most auspicious circumstances . A large number

of brethren came from all parts of the Province , every Lodge being well represented , journeying by rail or wafer , the rendezvous being tho Clarence Hotel , in Clarence Street . Lord Brooke the Provincial Grand Master and

Bro . F . A . Philbrick Deputy Provincial Grand Master were met at the Railway Station upon arrival by a deputation of the reception committee , and wero drawn in a handsomi ly appointed pair horse carriago to the Hall . The Prov . Grand Lodge was called for half past two o ' clock , by which time

upwards of 160 brethren had assembled . The company included Bros . Sir W . Abdey , Lieut .-Col . G . Lambert P . G . S . B ., W . Shurmur P . G . T ., Rev . H . T . Armfield , Thos . J . Railing P . A . G . D . C ., George Everett P . G . T ., J . H . Salter P . G . J . W ., Thos . Lloyd P . M ., A Lucking P . G . P .,

J . J . C . Turner P . G . S . W ., George Cooper P . G . D ., R . Clowes P . G . S . B ., H . Le Strange P . G . D ., Dr . Lonnox Browne P . P . G . S . W ., George Corbie P . P . G . J . W ., W . Buck P . P . G . S . W ., E . H . Bailey P . P . J . D ., Frederick Wood P . P . G . S . W ., J . Morrison McLeod Secretary Masonic Boys '

School , Col . J . S . Tichenor , Rev . J . Lloyd P . P . G . C , Elliott Fletcher P . M ., G . J . Glasscock P . P . G . S . B , , T . Hood P . G . R ., E . J . Bowmaker , W . E . Bridgland P . P . G . S . B ., H . Doughty P . P . G . S . B . Letters of apology for absence

were received from Lord Amherst P . G . M . Kent , Lord Henniker P . G . M . Suffolk , Col . Noel Money P . G . M . Surrey , Lord George Hamilton , the Earl of Onslow , Major R » sch , M . P ., and a large number of Grand Officers .

The Provincial Grand Lodj * e having been duly opened , the Provincial Grand Master and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master were sainted by the brethren according to ancient custom . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The roll of the Lodges of the

Province was then called , to which every one responded , some little amusement being caused by Brother Railing ' s omission to mention the William Shurmur Lodge , which , as far as numbers go , is the largest in tho Province . Lord Brooke , who on rising to address the brethren met with an

enthusiastic reception , expressed the great pleasure he felt at meeting them , especially Bro . Philbrick , who from such sad circumstances was compelled to be absent last year . He was also pleased to record the great success that attended the Festival of the Boys' School , at Brighton ,

when one of the largest amounts ever contributed to- that Institution was received . He thanked them for supporting him in so noble a manner , for despite the fact that they lived in a Province not altogether favoured by prosperity , they had sent up the sum of £ 2 , 235 . He was glad to

report that the Province was in a most satisfactory condition Masonically , its finances were flourishing , and perfect harmony and brotherly goodwill prevailed throufhout . The Board of General Purposes would present their report , in which they might observe that it was proposed

to charge the Province with the expenses of the brethren attending the elections of the various Charitiep , and he thought that was the least they could do to recompense those who , year after year , so unselfishl y devoted a large amount of time and labour to the cause . He would also

have the honour later on of presenting a testimonial to Bro . A . Lucking in recognition of the eminent services rendered to Provincial Grand Lodge for nearly twenty years , and trusted what they had contributed would be accepted by that true and faithful servant . The Lodges

in the Province were increasing in numbers , but he never gave his sanction to the creation of a new Lodge unless he was perfectly satisfied that it was necessary . Another Lodge would shortly be consecrated at Wivenhoe , where a large number of Masons resided , and the first Master

would be his friend , Bro . C . E . Green . He hoped that the brethren would always entertain the same kindly feelings towards him , and do their best to help him in the discharge of his onerous yet pleasant duties . Bro . Philbrick D . P . G . M . then presented the report , and

Notices Of Meetings.

moved that it be received , adopted and entered on the minutes . He said that the roll continued to increase and there were now 1725 subscribing members in the Province . The Board recommended grants from the General Fund of twenty guineas each to the Boys' and GirW School , and a

similar sum from the Charity Fund to the Masonic Benevolent Institution . It was also proposed to give five guineas to the Victoria Hospital , at Southend , in celebration of their visit ; and that £ 12 should be expended on a set of consecrating vessels , the want of which had long

been felt . There would be a small profit on the Provincial Grand Lodge Calendar , and it was decided that the portrait of Bro . Lucking should appear in next year ' s

book . In conclusion , ho thanked the brethren for their heartfelt sympathy during his time of deep distress , and assured them that his grateful sense of their unbounded kindness would never be effaced from bis word .

The following four brethren were elected as members of the Board of General Purposes in accordance with the byelaws : —Alfred Buck P . M . 453 P . P . G . S . W ., Thos . Lloyd P . M . 2342 P . P . G . Chaplain , W . D . Merritt P . M . 1000 P . P . G . S . W . and John J . C . Turner P . M . 51 P . P . G . S . W .

Bro . James Pinder P . M . 15 1662 1997 and P . Z . 141 being the only brother nominated as Provincial Grand Treasurer was declared elected to that position . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested the following Officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . B . Hoddinott 2005 •. Senior Warden

Harris Hills 2155 - - •Junior Warden Rev . H . T . Armfield 650 - - •) „ . . . Rev . Thomas Varney 1817 - ] P 1 a , us James Pinder 15 1662 1997 - Treasurer A . R . Chamberlayne 2255 - Registrar

T . J . Railing 51 ( seventeenth year ) Secretary B . Thomas 1000 - - - ) „ . „ James Boulton 2442 - - 5 SeD , 0 r DeaC 0 " J . H . Lan ^ don 1457 - . - » - . _ . T „ m „ , c „ ,. ii . oo'p : Junior Deacons Jiimea bppllrr 22 on - - )

G . R . Cobhmn 1343 - •Supt . of Works A . Lucking 1000 ( twentieth year ) Director of Coronionies W . E . Snttou 1799 - - Deputy Dir . of Oers . J . R . Bntler 2339 - - - Assist . Dir . of Cere .

Joseph Wilson 2374 - - Swjrd Buarer Jnniis Bradbury 1312 - - ) a , , , „ Walter Smith 1817 - - j StanJard Bearerfl G . F . Rush 102 < l - •- Orstanisfc

Thom . 'is itirii-rose 218-1 - - Assist-. Secretary W . F . Read 20 G 3 - - . Pursuivant E . Moat 173-4 - - - Assitt . Pnrsnivanfc A . W . Man in . . . Tyler A . VaddervoidlOOO - - ^

Harold Francis 51 - . ¦ F . A . Reushawo 453 - . „ , , 0 . W . B . rnord 1000 - - \ Stewards J . W . Tyler 2077 - - - } J . L . Ogier 2342 - - -J

The newly-appointed Officers were duly saluted by tho brethren . Bro . B . Hoddinott P . G . S . W . was elected on the Charity Committee , in place of a member retiring by rotation . Lord Brooke said that the next business was the

presentation of the testimonial to Bro . Lucking , in recognition of his valuable services to the Craft in general and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex in particular . It gave him great pleasure to present the testimonial , which he trusted would be accepted as a slight token of the great regard in

which he was held by the brethren . They all valued his services most deeply , and he hoped Bro . Lucking might long be spared to render assistance to them . It was peculiarly gratifying to him to be the means through whom the presentation was made , and he might mention to the

brethren that when Bro . Lucking found what a large sum of money had been collected , like a true Mason he decided that the greater part of it should be devoted to charity . Ho had therefore apportioned £ 100 to enable him to become a Vice-Patron of the Royal Masonic Institution for

Boys , and the remainder had been appropriated to the purchase of a silver tea and coffee service , and a handsome cabinet of plate and cutlery . On the lid of the latter was

a plate recording the circumstances under which the presentation was made , and he handed it to Bro . Lucking in the name of the Provincial Graud Lodge , with the heartiest good wishes of the brethren .

When . Brother Lucking rose to return thanks he was greeted with long continued applause which prevented him beiug heard , especially as he was suffering from deep emotion . He said that he was quite incapable of giving full expression of his thanks in words . It was J the happiest moment of his life to feel that he had done