Somersetshire.

The Provincial Officers for the year were then appointed and invested , as follow : — Bro . J . Tomsett 814 - Senior Warden T . L . Bennett 926 - - - - Junior Warden "Box , -R Wkiin QTQ \

Rev : E . ' A . Sandford 291 - - - / Chaplains 0 . L . Fry Edwards 1199 - - - Treasurer J . Bowyer 1966 - Kegistrar J . C . Hunt 135 - - - Secretary J . T . Dunsford 291 - - - - Assistant Secretary

J . C . Baldwin 41 - - - - Senior Deacon W . L . Dames 53 - - - Junior Deacon W . E . J . York 285 - - - - Superintendent of Works J . R . Gill 906 .... Director of Ceremonies _ E . A . Burnett 291 - - - . Assistant Dir . of Cers .

I * . Bl & ckmore 1222 - - - - Sword Bearer w ' . ^ sS ^ : : : { st- ****™ - B . W . Buffett 135 .... Organist F . J . Dimmery 1755 - - - Pursuivant H . Cox 1199 .... Assistant Pursuivant

W . T . Baker 135 .... A . Hamnett 261 - - - - ] H . Amos 1750 - - - - . Stewards J . B . Toms 1953 .... W . Ludlow 2390 - - - - ' A . J . Salter 53 - ) - , S . Bigwood 41 - - - - f J--yleK "

The P . G . Secretary next read a satisfactory report from the Charity Organisation Committee , which was unanimously adopted . The P . G . M . said he wished to take that opportunity of evincing his thorough appreciation of the efforts which the Brethren throughout the Province had made to support him on

the occasion of the recent Festival of fche Benevolent Institution , and he should be glad to have it noted on the minutes . He had pleasure therefore in proposing " That the best thanks of this P . G . Lodge be given to those Brethren who supported him as Stewards at fche 1895 Benevolent Festival , as also fche Brethren aud Lodges whose generous donations to the Stewards' lists enabled them to take up the grand total of £ 1 , 653 14 s 6 d . "

Brother Ashley ( Bath ) seconded the motion , and bore his testimony to the great amount of benefit conferred by the Masonic Charities . Brother Terry said it afforded him very great pleasure to have the privilege of attending on behalf of the Committee of the

Benevolent Insfcifcution to tender their sincere and grateful thanks to his lordship for honouring the Institution by presiding at the Festival gathering , and the Stewards ( twenty-six in number ) who attended it as representing every Lodge in the Province , to contribute the immense sum that was raised in

Somerset . He had been specially requested by the Committee to attend Prov . Grand Lodge that day , to ask his lordship ' s acceptance of a copy of their resolution of thanks , engrossed on vellum , recording fche fact that Somerset had this year surpassed itself in its contribution to the Masonic Charities .

The P . G . M . thankfully acknowledged the presentation , and said it was very gratifying to feel that their efforts in Somerset had been so much appreciated . Brother E . A . Burnett P . M . 291 proposed that fche sum of £ 20 be paid as a gratuity to the widow of the late Bro . Woodward P . P . G . Tyler .

This was seconded by Bro . Sfcrawbridge ( Taunton ) , but after a statement by the P . G . Treasurer , Bro . J . T . Dunsford P . M . 291 proposed , as an amendment , that the sum of £ 5 be paid . This was seconded by Bro . B . Watts , and on a division the amendment was agreed to by a large majority .

The alms collected amounted to £ 4 15 s , and were voted to the Crewkerne Hospital . Dinner was afterwards partaken of at the George Hotel , under the presidency of fche Prov . G . M . — "Bristol Times . "

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

THE annual Convocation of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Hull , on Friday , the 17 th inst ., by invitation of the Humber Chapter , No . 57 .

There was a number of distinguished Companions present . The Marquess of Zetland Prov . G . Superintendent presided , and was supported by the Grand Superintendent of Lincolnshire Comp . Dr . W . Hasling Sissons , and others .

The Chapter having been opened , the Grand Superintendent and Grand Officers were saluted with the regulation honours . The Treasurer Comp . Joseph Todd P . P . G . T . submitted the

annual balance sheet , which was confirmed and adopted . The Marquess of Zetland subsequently appointed his Officers for the ensuing year , the following Companions receiving Provincial honours ;

Royal Arch.

Comp . Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett 236 - - H . Rev . E . A . Pitman 660 - - - J . M . C . Peck 250 - - - - Scribe E . A . E . Kessen 57 - - - - Scribe N , H . Woodhouse , LL . D ., 1010 - - Registrar

L . P . Brekke 250 - - - Principal Sojourner Dr . John Glew 602 - - - lst Assistant Sojourner J . G . Wallis 1511 - - - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner C . Gray 734 - - - Sword Bearer B . Newba ? d 312 ' . - - ' . } Standard Bearers

A . H . Foster 236 - - - Director of Ceremonies E . Ryley 1605 .... Assistant Dir . of Cers . H . J . Oldroyd 57 ... Organist T . B . Redfearn 250 - - - Assistant Scribe E . F . J . Lambert 1010 - - - Janitor .

The Marquess of Zetland next delivered his annual address to Provincial Grand Chapter , and in doing so said : Excellent Companions , again we meet upon the tesseleted floor of this large Chapter , which numbers I believe 200 members . These may indeed be congratulated that their lives have fallen in such

pleasant places , since they possess a fine home , ample funds , and such a plethora of Masonic work , in this great centre of the Craft , as to offer inducement for the study of Freemasonry under the most favourable circumstances . Since our last meeting at York the affairs of the sixteen Chapters of which this Province

is composed have been carried on with regularity and success , although in some we regret to notice the attendance has not been what it ought to be . However , with the shortened period of

membership in Craft necessary prior to admission to the Chapter , and the general spread of Masonic knowledge , we may confidently look forward to increased activity amongst Eoyal Arch Masons .

I must refer with much regret to the recent decease of my friend and colleague , the late most excellent Companion Thomas Wm . Tew Grand Superintendent of our sister Province of West Yorkshire . He was not only a most distinguished Freemason in every respect , but from his natural goodness of heart , boundless

charity , courtesy , geniality , and erudition ,- was universally beloved . The loss to West Yorkshire we feel is almost irreparable , and our sincere condolence to the family of our deceased friend and Companion must be united with the sympathy we feel for our sister Province upon the heavy calamity which she has

sustained . The Grand Superintendent then thanked the Humber Chapter for their hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the reception of the Provincial Grand Chapter .

The annual banquet was held at the Eoyal Station Hotel , at which the usual Loyal and Arch toasts were honoured , interspersed with harmony . Comp . Dr . Foster , of York , efficiently discharged the duties of Director of Ceremonies .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o . : - OORSETSHIRE .

T HEEE was a large gathering at Puddletown , Dorchester , on the occasion of the annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge , when Colonel Brymer , M . P ., was installed Prov . G . M . M ., by the Earl of Euston Pro Grand Master of the Degree , who was supported by Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Past Grand Master Prov . G . M . M . Hants and Isle of Wight , Bro . C . F . Matier Grand Secretary , and others .

The following were appointed as the assistant Officers of the Province for the year :

Bro . H . T . George , Weymouth - - - Deputy C . G . Nantes , Bridport - - - Senior Warden Z . Milledge , Weymouth - - - Junior Warden J . Board , Portland - - - Master Overseer T . H . Ensor , Wimborne - - - Senior Overseer R . Tucker , Bridport - - - Junior Overseer

W . Habgood , Wimborne - - - - Treasurer R . Patey , Wimborne - - - Secretary W . H . Hibberd .... Registrar of Marks B . Browning , Weymouth - - - Chaplain R . Toleman , Bridport - - - Senior Deacon

W . Jackson , Portland - - - Junior Deacon C . Wilson , Bridport - - - Inspector of Works N . Plumtrc .... Director of Ceremonies F . Crickmay .... Sword Bearer F . Oakley - - - - - Standard Bearer S . Milledge ----- Inner Guard .

North And East Yorkshire.

NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 22 nd , at the Freemasons' Hall , Malton , on the invitation of the Fitzwilliam Lodge , No . 277 . various

There was a good attendance of Brethren from pa" - ? of the Province , under the presidency of the Provincial Grana Mark Master the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , who was supported