Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK .

rp . 'IE Annual Meeting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge of this Pro . I view ; was held on Wednesday , at tho Town Hall , Sudbury , nnder the Presidency of the Right Worshipfnl Provincial Gram ! Master the Right Hon . Lord Wnveney , who was supported by th » Very Worshipful the Rev . C . J . Martvn P . G . Chaplain of England D . Prov . G . M ., and the following brethren : —W . EI . Lucia P . G . S . B .

England Prov . G . Soc , N . Garrett Prov . G S . W ., A . C . Caslev Prov . G . J . W ., T . J . Went worth Prov . G . S . I ) ., R . W . Flick Prov . G . J . D ., Rev . J . W . Collins Prov . G . Chap :, F . Grimwood Prov . G . Reg ., W . B . Jeffries Prov . G . S . Wks ., W . Clarke Prov . G . D . C , A . Cracknell Prov . G . S . R ., J . M . Harvey Prov . G . Pursu i vant ; W . Hart P . M . 332 P . P . G . J . D ., H . Garrett P . P . S . W . 936 , J . Miller 388 , VV . J . Girling Eboracnm 1611 ,

A . W . Cook 2 i 5 . F . Whigstoek W . M . 81 , E . Dorling P . P . G . Secretary W . M . 17 !> 9 , T . Hooper 376 , W . Eaves 225 , W . Wilmshurst P . P . G . S . B . P . M . 81 , R . Bukor W . M . 388 , H . Harcourt 74 , J . Taylor W . M . 936 , H . E . Roe J . W . 555 , J . Margoram P . M . 555 , S . R . Anness W . M . 376 , A . Cowlan J . W . 376 , F . W . Tewson P . M . 929 , Charles Kent I . G . 959 , C . D . Girling S . W . 81 , E . Smith J . W . 81 ,

G . Hall 81 , W . Ray 1823 , B . Gall P . M . 81 , A . Boggis , W . Mackney W . M . 332 , S . Cooper S . W . 332 , A . Lord 225 , W . Lothers 225 , E . M . Beveridgo W . M . 516 , R . J . Gedney 1063 , P . R . Crawler 225 , G . E . Jeau ' roscm , P . M . 555 , R . Gar-od P . M . 555 , J . Martin 1224 , D . Glazin 1823 , A . J . Collins 1823 , H . Welham P . M . 1224 , J . Jordan 1224 , C . E . Maulrlon 1221 , W . T . Westgate P . M . P . P . G . D . C . 225 ,

A . A . Bennett P . M . 959 , C . A . Vincent I . G . 1823 , L . Klambrowski J . W . 1224 , W . Dodds 1631 , F . W . Gee J . D 1224 , G . Thompson P . M . 1008 , G . Twain 1224 , J . E . Barnes 1823 , C . Cooke W . M . 1823 , A . Barber P . M . and Sec . 225 , C . F . Browne P . G . Steward 81 , J . King J . D . 332 , T . Cook 332 , W . Buckingham 225 , J . Wright 1552 , C . Emmerson P . M . 1254 , H . Gonlden 1224 , J . Sheppard S . W . 1008 , E . Buckham J . D . 376 , J . G . Oliver S . W . 1008 , J . H . Chambers P . S . W . 1224 , E . H . Inman

P . J . W . 1312 , G . Murrells J . D . 1224 , T . Stokoe Sec . 1823 , G . J . Paine J . D . 1008 , H . S . Oliver 1224 , C . J . Rowe 1224 , W . L . Lewis 1224 , F . E . Dunn 1224 , T . E . Morris 697 , R . E . Jones W . M . 1224 , S . Spurgin J . W . 1224 , James Terry Secretary Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution P . P . G . J . W . Herts , G . Gould 114 , G . H . Grimwood 1224 , W . Boby P . P . G . J . W . P . M . 114 , Garrod Bennett 14 , W . W . Morgan Sec . 211 , J . W . B . Johnson W . M . 305 , D . W . Bellamy S . W . 305 , H . C . Canham

S . W . 1224 , W . G . Cunnold W . M . 225 , A . Webb J . W . 1592 , F . A . Mann

W . M . 1452 , E . R . Boulter S . D . 1224 , F . Wheeler P . M . and Sec . 1224 P . P . G . R ., W . L . Fenner 1823 , G . F . Crane W . M . 1631 , G . Fish 1823 , S . G . Casley W . M . 555 , W . P . T . Phillips P . M . 81 , C . Oakes P . M . 1008 , J . F . Hills P . P . G . J . W ., A . Tyler Gregory P . P . G . Chaplain 81 , T . 13 . Ardley I . G . 1224 , D . Alston 1224 , C . C . Tumour 1224 , A . Langhton W . M . 1592 , C . J . Wilson 1224 , W . Nunn I . P . M . 1592 , W . H .

Smith D . C . 1224 , W . Daking P . M . 225 , T . F . Lucia I . P . M . 1008 , T . J . Railing P . M . 51 P . G . Sec . Essex , T . Rix P . P . G . S . B . Essex , J . H . Johnson 697 , H . M . Sholl 1224 , J . B . King I . G . 27 , G . Spalding 225 , & c . There was a very large attendance of the brethren from the Lodges of the Province , and altogether the day's proceedings were of an eminently satisfactory character . Provincial Grand Lodge was

opened soon after two o ' clock , in due form . The first business of the day was the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the last Grand Lodge , held at Halesworth , on the 7 th Jnly 1879 . Theso minutes had been printed and extensively circulated amongst the brethren oi the Province , and consequently it was suggested by the Prov . Grand Master thafc thoy bo taken as read . This was agreed to , and the

minutes were unanimously confirmed . The several representatives of the Lodges then made their reports on the condition of Freemasonry in the Province . These reports were satisfactory , and the Prov . Grand Master may be congratulated on the zeal displayed by the Officers and brethren of the Province in the cause of charity . In this they are ably led by the highly esteemed Depnty Prov . Grand

Master , the Rev . Charles J . Martyn , Rector of Loug Melford , and Rural Dean . The minntes of the Board of General Purposes had likewise heen pat into print and extensively circulated , consequently the time of the Grand Lodge was not taken up by their being read . As , however , they contain a succinct account of the progress of Freemasonry during the year in this compact and well-ordered Province ,

we feel it our duty to mark the most salient features that are mentioned . The first point that was considered at the meeting held on 28 th June was the audit of the Prov . Grand Treasurer's account , bnt in the unavoidable absence of that Officer , through ill health , it was impossible to deal with it finally . The Prov . Grand Secretary gave all the really needfnl information , and this , we are glad to say , was of

a most satisfactory kind . Thus the balance of last year amounted to £ 57 16 s 8 d , and tha receipts for the year then about to close were £ 134 12 s 6 d , making a total of £ 192 9 s 2 d . The expenditure was £ 102 15 s lOd , so that there was left in the P . G . Treasurer ' s hands a snm of nearly £ 90 , or more than half as much again as remained at the year ' s end in 1879 . On inquiry , the P . G . Secretary explained

that , the above £ 102 15 s lOd was laid out m printing , advertising , postages , & c , and other minor items , the P . G . Secretary's honorarium being twenty guineas . Forty guineas—namely , ten each to the Boys ' and Girls' Schools , and twenty to the Benevolent—were bestowed in aid of our Central Institutions , while the expenses of the meeting at Halesworth , which was a very numerous one , were

£ 13 15 s . The lasfc item gave rise to some discussion , owing to the Secretary having stated thafc it was paid for wines , & c , which had been supplied over and above the price fixed for the dinner tickets . Some brethren objected tosuch a payment being made ont of P . G . Lodge funds , whilst others argued tnat as the P . G . Master coutributud £ 10 towards the wine that was consumed , it wonld

be ungenerous on the P . G . Lodge to hesitate abont rueeiing whatever expense was incurred beyond his Lordship ' s contribution . Somo taoMght that a very slight increase in the price of the dinner tickets would meet the n . cessities o' the case , while others again suggested thp . t the brethren who attended the meeting and consumed the wine shonld ( , ay for it out of their own pockets . Indeed the discussion may be said to have been of au amusing character . The Secretary ex-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

ilaiucd that tho price of a dinner-ticket covered what , in our opinion as tho very liberal allowance of a pint of Champagne and a pint of ¦ berry , and he added that ho mado a point of providing Moot ' s Jhampagne , as he found people drank " more by tho brand than tnythiug else , " and were dissatisfied with " wine at 3 s or 3 s 6 d . " He dso mentioned incidentally , that before the present practice was

adopted , wine was put on the table ad libitum ; some drank three bottles and others half-a-pint , " Bro . Westgate supplemented this information with tho remark that , " if you went ronnd you would , in somo places , find two full bottles under the chairs . " From which it is evident that our worthy brethren of Suffolk are sensible people . . They hold that the cost of an entertainment is not above tho notice

of a Craftsman , and likewise that while yon are abont it , it is jnst as well to havo to have a good class of wine placed on tho table . Wo admiro both their taste and common sense , and we trust thoy will always take tho same reasonable views . The next matter considered was tho support accorded by the Province to our Central Institutions , and the Secretary stated that , at the present time , the voting power

of P . G . Lodge of Suffolk was represented by 16 votes to the Girls ' School , 14 to the Boys' School , and 36 to the Benevolent Fund . He further mentioned that the total paid to the Institutions amounted to £ 326 , of which no less than £ 249 had been paid during his Prov . G . Secretaryship . A proposition was then made , seconded , and carried that a sum of Ton Guineas be paid to each of our Central Institutions .

and a farther Ten Guineas to tho Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund ; and ifc was likewise determined to convert , in accordance with the tenour of a letter tho Secretary had received from Bro . Terry , of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution , the terminable votes they held to that Institution into permanent ones . In the case of the widow of a deceased brother it was agreed to grant her £ 10 , and

Bro . Newson Garrett very handsomely offered , if the P . G . Lodge would permit him to do so , to add Five Guineas to that sum . Some other oases of distress were also submitted , bub ib turned out that there were obstacles in the way of dealing with them , and therefore they fell through . As regards the important question of the day on whieh the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge should bo held , it was

pointed ont that Tuesday and Wednesday were both of them inoonvenient days , as Ipswich market was held on the former , and Bury market on the latter , and it will be found later on in thia notice that Lord Waveney , with his usual kind regard for the wishes of the brethren , has fixed the second Friday in July as the day for holding the Provincial Grand Lodge .

The lasfc matter of any importance waa as to the payment by Lodges of the fees due by brethren iu arrear , but it was pointed out thafc this was a question which properly belonged to the Lodges themselves , and was one with which they alone were competent to deal . We may as well mention here before preceding further that the returns of the different Lodges are satisfactory , and show a slight increase on the

previous year , the baby Lodge of the Province—the Royal Clarence of Clare , No . 1823—havingby the initiation of ten new members , raised its strength to thirty , a highly satisfactory result , when we bear in mind that it has only just completed the first year of its existence . The Right Worshipful the Prov . Grand Master directed fche attention of the members of the Province to the two or three items we havo noted .

He expressed himself as highly pleased at the resolution the Prov . Board had adopted with regard to the conversion of their terminable into permanent votes for tho Benevolent Institution , while with regard to the day of meeting in future years , he proposed thafc their annual gatherings should take place on the second Friday in July . On his patting the minntes for confirmation they were unanimously

adopted . The appointment and investiture of Officers then took place , as follows : —R . D . Jones W . M . Sadbury 1224 P . G . S . W ., T . F . Lucia P . M . Royal St . Edmunds P . G . J . W ., W . J . Nunn P . G . S . D ., George Jeffreson P . G . J . D ., Rev . J . J . Burton P . G . Chaplain , A . A . Bennett P . G . Registrar , W . G . Cunnold P . G . Supt . of Works , F . W . Tewson P . G . Assist . D . C , C F . Brown P . G . Sword Bearer , G . F .

Crane P . G . Pursuivant , F . M . Mann P . G . Org . ; H . Welham P . M . Sudbnry , B . Gall , and C . Cooke W . M . Clare P . G . Stewards . The vote for Provincial Grand Treasurer resulted in the re-election of the Worshipful Brother T . J . Haddleston , while Bro . William H . Lucia was re-appointed Provincial Grand Secretary . The choice of the bre . thren for a Grand Tyler was declared favourable to the re-appointment of Bro . Syer , of Lodge Adair 936 . The Provincial Grand Lodge

was then adjourned , in order thafc the brethren mi ght attend divine service afc the church of St . Peter , Sudbury . The brethren left the Town Hall in procession , wearing their Masonic clothing and jewels , and opening ont at the chnrch doors to permit the Provincial Grand Officers to pass throngh the ranks . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master the Rev . C . J . Martyn officiated , and impressively intoned the service ; the lessons being read by the Rev . J . W . Collina of Clare . The opening hymn was

" When the Almighty Architect Had planned the heavens and earth . " The proper psalms—the 15 th , 19 th , and 133 rd—were sung to tunes by Rumbault and Barnby , the " Magnificat" to Dapuis , and " Nunc Dimittis" to Jones . The anthem was the collect for , Quinquagesima Sunday to J . Marsh ' s music , while the sermon was preached by the

Rev . J . J . Bnrton , of Bridge Green , Tnubridge We Is , P . G . Chap lain . The teaching inculcated is , from our rev . brother ' s view , essentially Masonic , and we have great pleasure in publishing it in full . The text was— " Our help is in the name of the Lord , who made heaven and earth , " —Psalm exxiv . 8 , —and the preacher spoke as follows ¦ ¦ — We are met together here to-day in the House of God . We have been invited to join in this service as part of the ritual connected with

the Annual Meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons . I trust , however , that to many of us it has been no irksome part ot to-day's celebrations , but that we havo been glad to have the opportunity for praise and prayer , and that we do desire to learn somo lesson , out of the volume of the Sacred Law , wbich may be profitable to our sonls . As Freemasons we all acknowledge " The Great Architect of the Universe "—He who is called by the Psalmist in our text ;