Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY .

THE members of tho Province of Surrey assembled , under the banner of the Royal Albert Edward Lodgo , at Redhill , on Tnesday , when the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master General Stndholme Brownrigg , C . B ., was snpported by his Deputy , the V . W . Brother the Rev . C . W . Arnold , M . A ., Past G . Chap ., and a large number of past and present Grand Officers and brethren of tho Province , with a distinguished band of Visitors . Amongst thoso

who signed the attendance book wore : —Bros . Lieut .- Col . Shadwell II . Clerko P . G . D ., R . W . H . Giddy D . G . M . Griqnaland , South Africa , Dr . Brnshfield P . S . G . W ., J . Beveridge Spence P . J . G . W ., George Price P . G . Tr ., Edwd . Milner P . G . Reg ., C . Greenwood P . G . Seo ., Edwin Wells P . J . G . D ., C . T . Speight G . Tyler , C . H . Woodward P . P . G . J . W . II . J . Strong P . P . G . J . W ., H . S . Brownrigg P . P . G . S . B ., II . E . Frances ,

P . P . G . S . D ., C . J . Smith P . P . S . G . W ., Godson Godson P . M . 69 , John Rhodes P . P . G . O ., Jas . Boor P . M . 370 , G . E . Pym P . P . G . D . C , C . Veal P . P . G . S . D ., Henry J . Dumas P . P . G . J . W ., D . G . Drakeford P . P . G . Ch ., J . S . Streoter , F . Buckland , C . Edmands I . P . M . 452 , John Bond , J . B . Bouchor , Horatio T . Taylor , R . H . Groombridge , S . J . Turquand , T . Wood , W . Ledger , J . Mount , J . Wobstor , R . II . Evans , W . H . Saunders , G . B . Brodic , J . L . Sim , W . Male , W . D . May , W . W . Eller , James

Amos , Stanislaus Makooski , H . Simmons , Alfred Larty , C . Pawley , II . Browse , W . J . Kemp , Henry Brass , W . W . Morgan , W . 0 . Laker , W . Rock , F . A . Manning , E . Marsh , Chas . Moody , G . Benson , J . H . Parker Wilson , T . Blacks ton , J . Officor , TJ . Bach , C . Greenwood jun ., & o . On the assembling nnd opening of Grand Lodge , the first business transacted was the calling over the Lodges in the Provinco . The roll now includes nineteen , viz .:

—St . George ' s 370 Royal Albert Edward 1362 Grove 410 Woy Side 1395 Snrrey 416 Addiscombe 155 G Frederick of Unity 452 St . John ' s 1504 East Snrrey Lodgo of Concord 463 Stndholme 1591

Royal Alfred 777 Friendship and Ilarmony 1616 Dobie 8 S 9 Brownrigg 1638 St . Andrews's 10-16 Albert Edward 1714 Dorking 1149 Parthenon 1826 Lome 1347

Of these all , with the exception of Nos . 777 and 1591 , were represented , a most satisfactory resnlt . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge meeting hold at Dorking , in July last , were read and confirmed . The report of the Finance and Audit Committee showed the monetary condition of tho Provinco was most satisfactory . Tho Committee recommended that

grants of fifteen guineas be made to each of tho Charitable Institntions belonging to the Craft—the Girls' School , tho Boys ' School , aad tho Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons . It was also recommended that a sum of five guineas be voted to the Redhill and Reigate Cottage Hospital . The brethren were unanimous in their vote for the re-election of Bro . Price as Prov . Grand Treasurer , and the Prov . Grand Master reinvested that worth y

brother . The recommendations for the several grants enumerated above were then confirmed by Prov . Grand Lodge , and the R . W Grand Master reappointed V . W . Bro . Arnold P . G . C . as his Deputy for the ensuing twelve months , gracefully expressing his indebtedness to Bro . Arnold for his services , and his appreciation of the way in which the duties were carried out . Tho following is a list of thoso who received the several collars for the year : —

Dr . Brodie S . G . W . Major Gant J . G . W . Rev . Jamos Amos G . Chap . Aldridge G . Reg . C . Greenwood G . Sec . Taylor S . G . D . Browse J . G . D .

May G . S . Works S . J . Turquand G . D . C . Buckland A . G . D . C . Viscount Mandeville G . Sword Bearer Wilson G . Organist . Moody G . P . Mount A . G . P .

Speight G . Tyler ( reappointed ) GRAND STEWARDS . —Bros . Yaxley 463 , Saunders 889 , Officer 1362 , Trower 1395 , Mullott 1556 , Youlder 1638 . After the appointments , Gen . Brownrigg addressed the members of his Province . He commenced by remarking that he had not much to communicate to them , but he conld not omit to tender his thanks

for the way in which they had responded to his summons . He was pleased to state that since last thoy met one new child had been added to their family , and that applications had been made for two other warrants ; in one of theso cases , however , he had thought it advisable to discountenance the application , on the principle that it might trench somewhat on the grennd comprised in the area of a

Lodge already working . He professed his regret that other engagements had not left him so much time for visiting the Lodges ns ho might have desired , but his Deputy in this respect had rendered him invaluable service . He directed the attention of tho members of certain Lodges to the irregularity they exhibited in not sending both Bro . Arnold and himself notice when they were about to meet ; he

desired this might invariably bo done . lie mnch preferred dropping in at a Lodge qnietly , when they wero about to transact their ordinary business , to attending on installation ni ghts or special occasions . Gen . Brownrigg then made passing allusion to some dissensions that had occurred in days gone by , and how gratified he was that on the occasion he referred to his suggestion that he might bo allowed to arbitrate on the question at issue had been entertained . He

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

nrged on the brethren that when disagreeable matters arose , that they shonld avoid paying attention to reports , which were often greatly exaggerated , and had a tendency to foster rather than to suppress strife . He announced that he had received letters of regret from Masters of adjoining Provinces—Sir Daniel Gooch , Col . Burdett , Sir W . W . Burrell—at their inability to bo present on this

occasion , and closed his remarks by again thanking tho brethren for their attendance . The goneral business matters of the Provinco wero then considered , and a notice of motion that had beon given by V . W . Bro . the Rev . C . W . Arnold , M . A ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master , " That tho Charity Jewel shall bo given by Provincial Grand Lodge to Masons of tho Provinco who havo served as Stewards of tho

threo Charities , " was discussed . Somo diversity of opinion seemed to arise as to how far this rule , if adopted , should be extended , and Bro . Dr . Strong moved an amendment . Bro . H . E . Frances P . P . G . S . D . also seemed to think that sufficient time had not been allowed for the consideration of the proposal , whereupon he moved that the question stand over till the next meeting of Provincial Grand

Lodge . This amendment was put to the meeting and carried , thus disposing of the question at issue for twelve months , by which timo , donbtless , the brethren will have considered tho proposal in its various bearings , and a unanimity of feeling will be arrived at . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed . Bro . Henry Brass , M . A ., F . G . S ., Incumbent

of St . Matthias , Red Hill , had , with characteristic courtesy placed his church at tho disposal of Prov . Grand Lodge , and personally conducted a short service The sermon was preached by tho Prov . Grand Chaplain tho Rov . James Amos , from Jude 20 . Wo have great pleasure in reproducing the discourse of our Rev . Brother .

"But ye , beloved , building up yourselves on yonr most holy faith . " To be happy is a general design . To communicate happiness is a design good and great The pursuit of happiness is not universally successful . Nothing is more sednlonsly sought for , bnt nothing is more constantly eluding the grasp . A form , we fancy to be hers , attracts tho step in every period of life ; but the ardent follower finds

too often , that he has beon chasing a cold , lifeless , cheating , unsatisfy . ing vision . Man is ever seeking some refuge from the cares , the anxieties , the sorrows of life ; bnt it is a constant experience to find all chance of escape , apparently , cut off at every point ; blow after blow falling upon a crushed nnd wounded spirit ; and so , faint and bleeding , as it were , he staggers on , to receive the last sad stroke ,

that lays him lifeless in the tomb . Happiness is so rarely attained to , because it is sought for in a wrong direction . Tho idea is too fondly cherished , that pleasure , honour , influence , ease and wealth , which seems to command them all , aro the accompaniments of happiness : are the potent charms , that summon her to our presence , and compel her to bring her sweetness to our hearts . Tho

qualifications of rank and fortune aro but external . And those , trnly , are wisely taught , who aro instructed to prize them very lightly , in comparison with more solid , moro precious , moro gratify , ing acquisitions of honour and virtue . Tho secret of happiness is found in what we are ; not in what we have . In following the straight and undeviating line of conduct , marked out for our pur .

suits in the volume of the sacred writings , wo aro ever accompanied by a stream from those rivers of pleasuro which are at God ' s right hand for evermore . Thero is such an adaptation to onr nature and condition , in living according to the unerring standard of truth and justice , which God , in His wisdom , has afforded us ; and there is , besides , so great a blessing which God , iu His approval , makes to

attend npon the steps of that man , whoso simple aim is , that his words and actions may ascend , pure and unpolluted , to the throno of grace ; that such a course is ever marked , by a serenity unknown to others . That blessed book , which is given as the rule and guide of our faith , is full of illustrations , to win us on to lead this holy , this happy life . Sometimes it is suggested to our mind , as the growth

of some beautiful tree , whose verdure betrays that her branches aro full of sap ; or again , as in the passage before ns , it is very freqnently likened to the erection of some stately and superb edifice . Dwelling on this latter view , I conceive that each man shonld be building np himself according to the draft or plan delineated by God . His eye should ever be upon the pattern which

has been laid down in direct commands ; upon the models exhibited in the recorded lives of the good and great . And , above all , npon the perfect example of Him , in whom dwelt all the fullness of the God - head bodily . In building np a character approved by God , a great advance has been made , when you have attained to some meekness , and lowliness of heart . When , guided into that most interesting of

human studies , the knowledge of yourself , you are affected with such a sense of your own imperfections , that you aro ready to believe that others are better than what you are . Yon will have reached no small eminence in good things , if you are tanght to bend , with humility , and resignation , to the will of your Heavenly Father . If you learn to repose with confidence npon the wisdom of the

dispensations of divine providence ; in the comforting assurance that all things work together for good to those who lovo God . Yon have added an imposing height to tho structure of your mind , ¦ when Charity , when heavenly love , becomes , in very truth , tho predominant characteristic of yonr heart . When you have attained to this virtue , in its fullest sense , yon may justly realise that you are

planting a summit to the whole edifice . This is that virtue which , enjoying tho approbation of heaven as well as earth , enables the possessor to jndge with candour , to admonish with friendship , and to reprehend with mercy : which moves him to drop a tear of sympathy on the failings of a brother , and to pour the healing balm of consolation into the bosom of the afflicted . In the estimation of God , ho

who has this virtue has his grasp upon a most excellent gift ; and he who has it not , is poor indeed , is absolutely nothing . As you have it , you already hold communion with the sties ; as you fail of it , you are of the earth , and earthy . But when character is regarded as a building , it is not so much this virtue , and that , which you are to introduce , but it is a certain symmetry , an harmonious uniou of them all , which is looked for . Benevolence , and charity , will shine out