Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

W . M ., R . H . Watson , G . Heath , and W . B . Mayo P . M . ' s 710 , T . G . Sutton P . M ., J . T . Ackland S . W ., and W . Ward J . W . 847 , J . R . Dugdale W . M ., C . Watson , and J . R . W . Qninn P . M . 's , J . Osborne , S . W ., and J . Crossley J . W . 954 , J . P . Sawyer W . M ., W . H . Ley and J . H . Dobbs P . M . ' s , and W . H . Mackay S . W . 1091 , J . E . Nicholls W . M ., H . Conquer S . W ., and S . Panter J . W . 1099 , J . P . Crabb P . M . 115 , H . Melhuish W . M ., T . Parkhonso P . M . 1125 , W . Harris , J . Foot ,

J . S . Saunders , G . Stockman , and J . Olver P . M . ' s , H . Martin S . W ., and Elliott J . W . 1138 , H . Ford S . W . 1181 , T . Gibbons W . M ., S . Hyne P . M ., and T . E . Peek J . W . 1205 , T . S . Jackson W . M ., J . Bassett S . W ., and G . T . Davy J . W . 1212 , G . J . Fitks W . M ., J . R . Lord P . M ., B . Elliott S . W ., aud P . G . L . Pearso J . W . 1247 , F . Horspool and J . H . Warren P . M . ' s , E . T . Fulford S . W ., and C C . Keudrick J . W . 1254 , H . Willey W . M ., T . Lascelles and H . J . Yelland P . M . 's , H .

Eland S . W ., and F . Sanders J . W . 1284 , J . Thorn W . M ., J . Templeton P . M ., J . Rowe J . W . 1332 , A . W . Palk J . W . 1358 , W . T . Bracewell

W . M ., W . Lumble P . M ., J . Chappie S . W ., and G . L . Pollard J . W . 1396 , J . Dodge W . M ., W . Bradnee and J . Murray P . M . 's , aud W . A . Goss S . W . 1402 , H . L . Friend W . M ., and J . S . Whidborne P . M . 1143 , J . H . Square W . M ., and H . E . Lamble P . M . 14 S 3 , R . G . Tippett W . M ., R . J . Bird P . M ., L . J . Webber S . W ., and M . C . Lakoman J . W . 1550 , C . D . H . Holley , and G . W . Gould 1753 .

R . W . Bro . the Eev . John Huyshe was the first of the Prov . G . Masters to enter the room , and was very warmly received . R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach was entrusted with the duty of installing the new Prov . G . M ., and he opened the Lodge with tho assistance of W . Bros , the Hon . W . Hylton-Jolliffe P . G . S . W ., and S . Jones P . G . J . W . The patent was read by which Viscount Ebrington was appointed the

P . G . M ., and the W . Master's of the seven oldest Lodges ( 39 , 70 , 105 , 106 , 112 , 156 , 159 ) wero then sent out to fetch and to introduce tho P . G . M . designate . On his lordship reaching the dais Bro . Beach delivered the usual address , coupled with some additional remarks of his own . He congratulated the new P . G . M . on his appointment to rule over the large and important Province of Devon , and pointed

out the responsibilties of his office , and the important line of conduct he was expected to follow . He would have the valuable assistance of many old Masons , whose opinions and suggestions would be met with the respect due to them ; but at same time he was to be careful to exert his own judgment , and to take care that he governed with the utmost impartiality In reprehension of what he might

disapprove , he was also to be gvuded by mercy . He had something like an hereditary claim to tho office , and it was hoped that he ¦ would add to the lustre that had been acquired by a previous member of his family , his respected grandfather . The installing D . G . M . concluded with passing a high euloginm upon tho official career of the last P . G . M .

His lordship was then installed in ancient form . Cn arriving at the robing , W . Bro . Rogers stated that the Past P . G . M . had asked him to read the following paper , being himself too feeble to address them , and his sight too imperfect to read it himself . It was as follows : — " I am most anxious that tho beautiful and costly chain which was affectionately presented to me on my installation as P . G . M . of

Devon , on 24 th May 1868 , by the Masonic brethren , should become an heirloom in the Province to descend from each rcthing P . G . M . to his successor . I havo great satisfaction in knowing that the first of theso is the grandson of my old and venerable chief and predecessor Earl Fortescue . To Viscount Ebrington ' s charge I commit this splendid Badge of Office , to bo by him worn as P . G . M . of the Freemasons of Devon when and wherever bo thinks lit . Mav the Groat

Architect of the Universe give him grace , health , ami strength to preside over this largo Province with beueiit to the Craft and satisfaction to himself , winning the esteem and affection of every worthy brother throngh a long series of years . This is the earnest and heartfelt prayer of , my dear brethren , your aged and affectionate Past P . G . M ., "JOHN HUVSIIE . "

At the completion of the installation the new P . G . M . was sainted and assumed the jurisdiction of tho Lodgo . An anthem , Psalm exxxiii ., by Dr . Clarke Whitlield , was snug by the choir . The P . G . Reg . read a patent appointing R . W . Bro . W . G . Eogers the D . P . G . M . R . W . Bro . Metham then read the following address : —

" To tho Right Worshipful Hugh Fortescue , Lord Viscount Ebring . ton , Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons for Devonshire . " We , the Freemasons of the Province of Devon of every rank and degree , desire to convey to you our most sincere congratulations on your elevation to the august office of Provincial Grand Master . Under any circumstances an address presented to the

eminent brother who has been selected to preside over the Province would faithfully reflect the spirit of loyalty and affection which always characterises the tone of Freemasons towards their chief ; but in your ease these feelings are greatly enhanced for the Province preserves a grateful recollection of the kind aud honourable rnlo of your noble grandfather . Wo entertain the hope that

the Masonic virtues which so distiugtr ' hed him are inherited by yon , and that you may be enabled to maintain for the Province of Devon that prominent position which has been achieved by our two last excellent and beloved Provincial Grand Masters . We shall at all times deem it our duty to co-operate loyally and cheerfully in

furthering your efforts to maintain and extend the grand principles of the Craft , and we sincerely trust that , the Great Architect of the Universe will be pleased in His infinite wisdom and goodness to grant you a long and prosperous Masonic career to rule and guide with pleasure and profit the brethren of this Province . "

The address was signed on behalf of the forty-seven Lodges by the W . Masters of the year in nearly every case . Where the W . M . was not at hand P . Masters of the Lodges signed on behalf of the brethren . At the close of the reading of the address R . W . Bro . Metham said : — " There is not , I am confident , a Freemason present who will not re-echo with acclamation the good wishes this address expresses—that health , happiness , and a prosperous reign may wait

upon onr nowly appointed Grand Master . Thero is not , I trust , a brother in this room who will not agree that he ought , and that ho will , as far as his own conduct goes , and as far as his influence extends among his fellow Masons , resolve that our Grand Master shall never have cause to regret that ho has taken on himself tho important and onerous office . With tho moral and well-regulated efforts

of tho Craft to sustain him , his onward progress will be smooth and successful . The road he will havo to travel has already been distinctly marked out by his illustrious predecessors , and ho will havo but to tread in their footsteps , keeping his eye steadily fixed on tho landmarks of the Order , which they , by their lives and conduct , have so fully and brightly illustrated , to render his rule light and

pleasaut to himself and advantageous to thoso over whom ho is placed . For myself , Right Worshipful Sir , I am grateful to tho Great Architect of tho Universe that I , who , moro than a generation ago , received my first Provincial honours from your noble grandfather , am permitted to stand here to-day to take part in this ceremony , and to bo the mouthpiece of my brethren of this large Province in

welcoming as the successor of my beloved and revered friend a scion of the house of Fortescue . The young , who livo for what tho years to come may bring , and who find their greatest delight in devising ambitions schemes , which they sanguinely believe will crown their future with success , think that the old have no pleasures that can equal theirs . But that is a great mistake , as to-day can testify ,

for if the past carries in its bosom no sting born of an illspent or useless life , but if on the contrary there aro abiding green spots in by-gone memories on which the mind can dwell with satisfaction when life ' s busy scenes have been well played , and the shades of evening are tranquilly but surely closing round , advanced life must possess many pleasures unknown to those who have as yet realised

no expectations , and who are still straggling toward the goal which the old have reached and passed . You will all understand to what and to whom these remarks apply . We have to-day prayed the Great Architect of tho Universe to speed on his noble mission our newly-installed Master , and with one mind aud ono voice cordially welcomed him to that chair to which he has so strong an ancestral

claim . Bnt wo have ono other duty to perform , without which I am quite sure yon , Right Worshipful Sir , would be the first to declare that the ceremony of to-day was incomplete . We have to bid farewell to him—happily only in his official capacity—who , for so many years , has not only been our genial Master , but tho steadfast counsellor , sincere friend , and affectionate brother of us all . At

his installation , now many years ago , it was my pleasing privilege to present to him an address of welcome such as I have been honoured in presenting to you , his successor , to-day . Then I dwelt , as I truthfully could , without flattery ov exaggeration , npon his private virtues and excellent public qualities , as well as upon tho services ho had rendered , not only to tho Craft in particular , but to

humanity at large , all welded together into one harmonions whole , by tho daily practice of " Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , " in their best and widest sense . I prophesied then that when the day came which should close his rule over us , the Freemasons who should live to sec that clay would be able to say , as we said so long ago , with fervent , sincere , and grateful feelings for all he has done for us aud

the Graft— " Ho fed ns with a true and faithful heart , and ruled ns prudently with all his power . " Said I not well then , brethren ? Say I not well now ? Dear Brother Hnyshe , as sincerely as wo havo to-day welcomed our coming ruler with loyal acclamation , do we , iu the lacy of this great gathering , and in the face of the Masonic world , pray the Great Architect of tho Universe to speed you , our

parting Ruler , and bless you with mental and bodily health to look back , as I know yon will , with kindly feeling and affectionate regard to ns , your brethren , who , on our part , shall continue to love and respect , as we have always loved and respected , you . R . W . Bro . tho Earl of Mount Edgcumbe expressed his gratification at being present at tho ceremony that had just taken place . From

intimate relationship that existed between the Provinces of Devon and Cornwall , the mutual interest they took in each other ' s welfare , combined with tho circumstance of his having taken his earlier offices in tho Province of Devon , ho should havo felt regret at being absent on such an important occasion . He hoped that their new P . G . M . would bo privileged to enjoy a long , happy , and useful career , and

might be able to look back at its close with the same satisfaction , and enjoy the same respect as his predecessor . The P . G . M . thanked the brethren for tho address presented to them , and the congratulations that had been expressed . It was unusual for so young a man to receive the important appointment ho had just entered upon . He could not expect to equal his predesessors ,

but he should bo guided by tho staudard that they had set before him , aud should do his best to walk in their footsteps . The P . G . M . confirmed the existing bye-laws of the Province . The Secretary ' s report shewed a satisfactory condition of the Province . The Treasurer ' s report stated the receipts of the year to have been £ 543 14 s 2 d ; balance left in hand £ 228 3 s . The report

of tho Fortescue Annuity Fund shewed a satisfactory progress . The whole of theso , together with the report of the Committee of Petitions , were unanimously received and adopted . A Committee , to consist of R . W . Bro . Rogers D . P . G . M ., Bro . Pope the Secretary of the Fund j the Provincial G . Secretary and two Auditors , and W . Bro . Twose

, with power to add to their number , was appointed to examine tho securities of tho I ' ortescuo Fund , and consider what new arrangements were desirable . W . Bro . H . G . Beaehy was elected Treasurer of the Province ; and W . Bros . J . E . Curteis 189 and W . S . Pasmoro 444 , were appointed tho Auditors .

The following brethren wero then invested as the Officers : —H . Walrond G . S . W . 303 , W . Hine Haycock G . J . W . 104 , Rev . R . Swausborough G . Chap . 1181 , Rev . C W . H . Holly G . Chap . 1753 , H . G . Beacbey G . Treas . 1138 , George Hurtzel G . Sec . 251 , John Brewer G . Reg . 112 , H . D . Thomas G . S . D . 444 , A . Latimer G . J . D . 189 , T . B . Patterson G . S . Works 1125 , A . Bodley G . D . C . 39 , B . Barber A . D . C . 1254 , Major Swan S . B . 847 , E . M . Vinnecombe G . O . 39 , D . Box G . Pnrs . 156 , W . Pollard 1281 , J . German 39 , W . Padlcy