Suffolk.

SUFFOLK .

THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge was this year held at Lowestoft , on the 20 th inst ., under the banners of the Unity Lodge , No . 71 , and St . Margaret ' s Lodge , No . 1452 , when there was a greater assembly than has ever been known on the occasion . Freemasonry in Suffolk , whilst not making the great strides of some other Provinces , holds its own and waxes greater , says the " Norfolk Standard . "

The Grand Lodge was held at the Eoyal Hotel , Lord Henniker presiding . There was a full muster under the banners of the respective Lodges , although there were some notable absentees . Bro . N . Tracy the Provincial Grand Secretary was detained at home by affliction , but his place was ably taken by Bro . Alfred Spalding Assistant Grand Secretary .

The various reports having been read and declared satisfactory , the Provincial Grand Master bestowed the special honours in commemoration of H . E . H . the Prince of Wales ' s 21 st year of office on Bro . W . J . Wilton Secretary and P . M . of the Unity Lodge , Lowestoft , and Bro . J . George P . M . of the Sudbury Lodge , the collar of P . P . S . G . W . being bestowed in the one case , and that of P . P . S . G . D . in the other .

The Board of General Purposes reported continued progress of the Order in the Province , as with the exception of two Lodges there had been additions by initiations or joining . There had been 52 initiations , 23 joinings , against losses by resignations 34 , deaths 9 , exclusions 13 , making a gain of 19 . The number of arrears was 81 . The financial state was not quite so favourable ,

there having been a payment of 20 guineas for grants in aid , but there was a balance , after payment of liabilities , of £ 66 5 s 5 d , and as the fees of honour would be shortly placed to the credit of the Province , the Board recommended £ 10 10 s to be paid for Bro . Samuel Forsdike , and the usual grants of £ 21 to the Benevolent Institution , and £ 10 10 s each to the Boys and Girls Schools .

In submitting the fifteenth annual report the Suffolk Masonic Charity Association desired again to thank those Brethren most heartily who had assisted the Masonic Institutions during the year by acting as Stewards , the total contributions to the three Institutions during the period being £ 647 Is . The Provincial Grand Master appointed and invested the Officers as follow :

Bro . W . G . Everett 71 - - - - Senior Warden J . P . Smith 1452 - - - - Junior Warden fc ^ GiiXTils ! : : : } c ^ la-Elmy 1983 ----- Treasurer R . C . Mayhew 936 - Registrar

N . Tracy 376 Secretary J . King 322 ----- Senior Deacon W . H . Mann 929 ... - Junior Deacon T . A . Woodroffe 305 - - - Superintendent of Works J . Maurice Franks 376 - - - Director of Ceremonies A . F . Penraven 114 - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers .

G . J . B . Winder 1008 - - - Sword Bearer W-Catterrnole 516- - - - } standard Bearers W . M . Cuckow 2371 - - -. I R . J . Pitcher 1452 - - - - Organist Alfred Spalding 376 - - - Assistant Secretary

W . Balls 555 Pursuivant W . Kemp 959 .... Assistant Pursuivant Fred . Spashett 71 - - - - \ T . W . Ward 1452 - - - - \ Stewards . J . H . Blackburn 71 - - - J

The Provincial Grand Master observed that it was always very satisfactory when the members increased in a Province , and although there was only a small increase in the Province of Suffolk , it was a steady one . He preferred a small increase of earnest workers in Masonry rather than a large increase of men who took very little interest in it . His lordship referred in very

feeling and fraternal terms to the loss the Province had sustained by the deaths of Bros . Boby , Eev . E . N . Sanderson , and Eev . H . S . Hume . They would all remember the sermon the latter preached as Chaplain . With regard to Bro . Boby , he reminded them that the deceased Brother originated the Charity scheme

which had been of the greatest possible benefit , while Bro . Sanderson had been a very distinguished member , not only in Craft Masonry , but also in higher degrees , and he was sure that Provincial Grand Lodge felt every sympathy with the bereaved families .

At the conclusion of the Lodge the Brethren marched in procession to St . John ' s Church , where a special service was held . The service was intoned by Bro . the Eev . L . G . Pollard P . P . G . Chap ., and the musical portion was under the direction of Bro . E . J . Pitcher P . P . G . O . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Eev . E . A . Bosanquet Prov . G . Chap ., who took for his text

I Kings , v , 12 , and discoursed most eloquently on Masonry . In the course of the remarks he adverted to the loss of one whose pulpit he then occupied , and who had preceded him in the office of Prov . Chap . The collection was in aid of Lowestoft Hospital . The banquet followed , in a marquee in the grounds of the Eoyal Hotel , the Provincial Grand Master presiding . The usual Masonic toasts were submitted .

Staffordshire Charity.

STAFFORDSHIRE CHARITY .

THE twenty-fifth anniversary of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association was celebrated on Wednesday , 15 th inst ., by permission of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland in the gardens of Trentham Hall , this locality being chosen as the birth-place of the Association , the supporters of which have happily succeeded , by this special effort , in adding £ 1 , 050

to its funds . The occasion was regarded as one of the most important in the history of Masonry in the county , and the arrangements were made on a grand scale , indeed nothing so extensive in connection with Freemasonry has before been attempted in Staffordshire in the interests of charity . The Duke

and Duchess had not only granted the use of the private gardens and grounds , but with characteristic kindness had set apart a suite of rooms in the Hall for the purposes of the gathering . The weather being very favourable there was a large assemblage of Brethren and friends , the attendance being upwards of one thousand two hundred . The arrangements were carrried out

under the superintendence of an executive committee , of which Bro . E . V . Greatbach P . P . G . S . W ., of Stoke , was chairman , and J . B . Ashwell P . P . G . S . D . Hon . Secretary . Luncheon was served in a huge double marquee at 2 o ' clock , all the seats , some 1 , 100 , being occupied . The catering was

entrusted to the Midland Co ., of Birmingham and Walsall , The chair was occupied by the President the Eight Hon . the Earl of Dartmouth Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire , who was supported by . Bro . Col . J . A . Bindley P . G . D . D . P . G . M ., Col . G . S . Tudor P . P . G . M ., Frank James P . D . P . G . M ., and many other Vice-Presidents .

After luncheon Lord Dartmouth submitted the toasts of the Queen and H . E . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . Grand Master of England , remarking , in connection with the latter , that it was hardly necessary to remind them that His Eoyal Highness was the head of their Craft .

Bro . J . Bodenham P . A . G . D . CEng . proposed the President the E . W . Prov . G . M ., and having briefly sketched the history of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association , expressed the confidence of the Province in Lord Dartmouth as Grand Master . The toast was received with musical honours , and the Prov . G . M . was heartily cheered on rising .

Lord Dartmouth , in reply , said they had three great elements in their favour—viz ., the place in which they met to celebrate their half-jubilee , the weather , and the cause which had brought them together . Those of them who had experience of the management required for such a festival would know the difficulty

they had had to deal with , and would bear testimony to the success with which those difficulties were met . On behalf of the Province he offered their congratulations . He should also like to offer his most hearty thanks to the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland for the courtesy with which they had allowed them

to hold their celebration at Trentham . There were many present who were not versed in their secrets , and they did not know whether any of those bad come with the intention of finding out something about them ; he could assure them that he should be the last to divulge any of those secrets . But he could tell

them that they now saw the Brethren at their best , and engaged in what was really the foundation of their Craft—charitable undertakings . His lordship read a letter received from Colonel Vernon P . P . G . M . Staffordshire , apologising for his absence , and enclosing a contribution of £ 50 towards the Fund . The Province

of Staffordshire , his lordship said , was always breaking records . On the occasion of his installation there was a record gathering , and he believed there was a record assembly at their last Provincial Grand Lodge , and he was not quite sure whether

their present gathering was not also a record . He hoped that the term of his office as P . G . M . might also be a record , and that he might be able to feel sure that during the time he had had the honour to occupy the position he had possessed the confidence of the Brethren of the Province .

The Hon . Secretary Bro . Henry Percy Smith announced the results of the Stewards' lists of subscriptions , amounting to 1 , 000 guineas . Bro . F . James P . D . P . G . M . proposed the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association , remarking that although their

Order might be said to be a peculiar species of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , the great secret of the Order was brotherly love , relief and truth—the brotherly love which should help a Brother in distress , not permitting the right hand to know what the left hand did , endeavouring to hide the failings

and follies of his Brother , and endeavouring to lead him into the right path ; relief which should be of that charity—he was going to say almsgiving , but charity was not almsgiving , the two were very distinct things—for the purpose of assisting the necessities

of the Brethren ; truth in all their observations and undertakings . But if they were not satisfied with that he would lead them to the apostolic injunction which every Freemason might adopt for himself . Their principles were : Fear of God , love of the brotherhood , and loyalty to the throne . It became no man to boast of