The Provinces Of Norfolk And Wilts.

and past , of the Craft in Wilts , Dorset , Somerset , & c , & c . and other brethren . Occasion was taken at this meeting to present to Lord Methuen a handsome banner , emblazoned with his Lordship ' s arms , and bearing the date . 1853 , of his appointment to the P . G . Mastership , as a

slight token of the gratitude felt for his Lordship ' s services during his long period of office . Bro . Goldney made the presentation and Lord Methuen briefly expressed his sense of the honour shown him . The P . G . Lodge was then clossd , and the brethren , to tho nnmber of

about one hundred , sat down to banquet , under his lordship ' s able presidency . Among the toasts of the evening was that of the health of Prince Leopold P . G . M . Oxon , which his Royal Highness acknowledged , proposing in return , in highly eulogistic terms , the health

of the Prov . G . M . of Wilts . When tho other toasts had been disposed of , the brethren separated , after a most enjoyable evening . Doubtless , the day will be long remembered as among the reddest of red-letter days in the

annals of Wilts Freemasonry . Especially will it be remembered with feelings of pride by our brethren of the Longleat Lodge , No . 1478 , Warminster , which enjoyed the great honour of receiving Provincial Grand Lodge and its distinguished guests .

Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts

GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS

THE regular Qnarterly Communication of this Grand Lodge was held on the 13 th September last . From the Proceedings , copy of which has reached us , we gather that the Grand Lodge opened in ample form at two o ' clock p . m ., M . W . G . M . Bro . Percival Lowell Everett presiding ,

supported by the Deputy G . M ., the Grand Wardens , Grand Treasurer , the Recording and Corresponding Grand Secretaries , a majority of the D . D . G . M . ' s , the Grand Chaplain , and other Grand Officers , present and past . The record of the Quarterly Communication on 14 th June

was taken as read , and was confirmed . That of the special Communication held on the 21 st of the same month for the purpose of constituting Satuit Lodge was read and confirmed . Bye Laws and amendments to Bye Laws on the case of sundry Lodges were referred to the usual Committee

which , in the course of the Session , delivered their report , recommending , with an amendmentproposedin one instance , their approval , and they were approved accordingly . Two petitions for Charters were likewise submitted , one from the members of Alpha Lodge , South Framingham , ancl the

other from Fraternity Lodge , Newtownville . Dispensations for both these Lodges were issued in September 1875 , and the Committee , to which the petitions were referred , having examined the records of their proceedings U . D ., and having satisfied themselves that the proper dues had beeu paid to

Grand Treasurer , recommended that Charters be issued accordingly . Petitions for formal healing were also referred to a Committee , and in the case of Thomas H . Johnson the Committee , while declaring him to have been made a Mason clandestinely , recommended that his prayer be

granted , and that the said Johnson be formally healed . The roll of Lodges having been called , Past . G . Master John T . Heard proposed a resolution congratulating R . W . Rev . Lucius R . Paige D . D . on the fiftieth anniversary of his election as W . M . of Mount Zion Lodge , Barre . Bro .

Paige had likewise held the offices of Grand Steward in 1849 and 1850 , of Grand Deacon in 1851 , and Deputy Grand Master in 1852 , 1853 and 1854 . He had also served as member of the Committee on the Library during 1850-54 , both years inclusive , as well as on other

important Committees of Grand Lodge , ancl was , moreover , one of the Trustees of the Masonic Temple . The resolution was unanimously adopted , and was very feelingly acknowledged by Bro . Paige . A question of jurisdiction between the Orient Lodge , South Dedham , and

Constellation Lodge , Dedham , was next determined , the extent of the former being defined as embracing the territorial limits of the newly-incorporated town of Norwood and ordered , to be so endorsed on its Charter . On the motion of R . W . John McClellan , a sum of five hundred dollars was

ordered to be appropriated for charitable purposes . Bro . Woodbury then submitted the report of the Committee appointed to consider the application of a Lodge at Palermo , to become subordinate to the Massachusetts Grand Lodge . This Lodge , it appears , had seceded from

Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts

the Grand Orient of Italy , and the Committee , having carefully considered its wish , recommended that tho petition should bo dismissed . Onr readers need not go far a-field for tho reason which influenced the Committee in making such report . The question of Masonic jurisdiction is

one in which the American Grand Lodges take a very keen interest , ancl which they are determined—to judge from this and other cases—to observe most scrupulously . Nor are we surprised tho same Committee should have offered some very pertinent observations on what , for want of a

better description , Ave must designate as the great African question . The proposition recently before the Ohiau Grand Lodge is naturally referred to , and the line of action

which that Grand body proposed to adopt , very seriously , and , as we hold , very properly condemned . Not , perhaps , in so many words , but there cannot be the slightest shadow of a doubt that the tone of the Committee ' s

remarks , ancl the great stress it lays on arguments , many of which agree with thoso we have ourselves employed , indicate the complete condemnation of Avhat , happily , is no longer the Ohian policy . In addition , wo have a most exhaustive sketch of tho African Lodge , chartered by

Grand Lodge , Moderns , of England . This is the Lodge started by Prince Hall , from which the different African Coloured Masonic organisations trace their descent . We advise any of our readers who take an interest in this question , to study carefully that portion of these

Proceedings which treats of the Coloured Lodge question . They will find much in it that is well worth noting . On the motion of Past Grand Master Sereno D . Nickerson , it was voted that five hundred extra copies of so much of the report as

relates " to the proposed action of the Grand Lodge of Ohio , and the status of the so-called African Grand Lodge , bo printed for distribution . " The Lodge was then closed , as it had been opened , in ample form , with prayer by Bro . the Rev . Alonzo 11 . Quint , D . D ., Grand Chaplain .

Obituary.

Obituary .

WE regret to have to record , in our obituary to-day , tho demise of Bro . John Wright Carr , Grand Secretary of tho Province of Essex , which took place at his residence , Newland Hall , Roxwell , near Chelmsford , on Sunday night last . The deceased—initiated in the Angel Lodge , Colchester , in December 1846—has always been an

active Mason , he was appointed to the Grand Secretaryshi p in the year 1868 , by tho present Grand Master , the R . W . Bro . R . J . Bagshawe , and ever since has devoted himself earnestly to the duties of that responsible and somewhat laborious task . The continued indisposition of the

R . W . Prov . G . M . during the last year or two , ancl the interregnum which elapsed between the death of Bro . Andrew Meggy , the D . P . G . M ., early in 1873 , and the appointment of a successor , in 1875 , have rendered the duties of P . G . Sec . peculiarly difficult , more especially

at the times of the meeting of Grand Lodge ; but Bro . Carr has always assisted the G . M . in the delicate task of selecting his officers , using great tact and judgment , and if at all times the appointments have not given entire satisfaction to brethren who consider themselves peculiarly

entitled to consideration , they had the approval of the Province generally . He was a P . M . of Lodge 160 , and was exalted into Royal Arch Masonry last year . As a citizen of the world Bro . Carr was widel y respected , and few men could boast of so large an

experience of men and things . He had visited nearly every country in Europe ; travelled through tho heart of the United States and Canada , and early in the present year was in mid Africa . Altogether , his life has been a most active one , and whether as a Freemason or as a

citizen , he will be greatly missed in his native country . The deceased was interred on Thursday afternoon , in the churchyard of the Parish Church of Roxwell . At his

express desire , the funeral arrangements were of the simplest character , but a few brethren attended on behalf of the P . G . Lodge , to pay their last tribute of respect to departed merit .

Another painful duty devolves upon us , —to announce the death of Bro . David Dfivis , late High Sheriff and J . P . of Southampton , which event occurred on the 21 st instant , after a short illness . His loss will be deeply deplored by his sorrowing widow .