Prov. Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .

A SPECIAL Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday afternoon , the 15 th inst ., in the Town-hall , at Highbridge , under the banner of tho Rural Philanthropic Lodgo , No . 291 ( of which Bro . Dr . Peskett is the W . M . ) , "to propose a resolution of regret at the death of the R W . Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . the

ISarl of Carnarvon , and sympathy with the Hon . the Countess of Carnarvon and family , in their affliction . The Town-hall was suitably fitted up as a Lodge-room , the platform and the principal chairs , & o ., being draped in black . The D . P . G . M ., Bro . R . C . Else , P . G . D . of England

( as Acting Provincial Grand Master ) , presided over the Lodge , and waa supported on tho platform by a good , muster of Provincial Grand Lodge Officers Present and Past , and a fair representation of Brethren from the various Lodges throughout the Province . The Senior

Warden ' s chair was occupied by Bro . F . T . Elworthy and Bro . A . Ducketfc , the Provincial Grand Junior Warden , was in hia place , as were most of the other Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge . Tho Lodge was opened in due form , the " Dead March " in " Saul" being played

as the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge entered tho room . The Provincial Grand Secretary ( Bro . J . C . Hunt ) was first called upon to call the roll of the Lodges in the Province , and all were found to be represented , with the exception of Benevolent Lodge , No . 446 . The Deputy

Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Else , then rose and addressed the Lodge , as follows : —Brethren , we are met together to-day upon a sad and solemn occasion—the most solemn , in fact , for which any Provincial Grand Lodge could be convened , viz ., to deplore and record the great loss

we have sustained by the death of our illustrious Prov . Grand Master the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon—a severe blow indeed , not only to our Province , but also to the Grand Lodge of Englandand the Craffc universally , for in him Masonry loses one of its highest and brightest ornaments . Let us for a moment consider what manner of man this is

whoso departure from the world has caused such widespread sorrow . Ifc is nofc for me afc such a timo to exalfc his graces or praise his virtues , but I feel I am using no words of exaggeration when I say our lamented Brother was a true type of a courteous English gentleman , an amiable and

accomplished nobleman , an eloquent statesman , a refined man of letters , and a true and zealous Freemason . It is in the latter capacity more especially thafc we have to consider our late Prov . Grand Master . Bear with me , therefore , whilst I briefly sketch his Masonic career . We find

that his lordship was initiated in the Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 , in the year 1856 , and installed in the chair of King Solomon in 1857 , and so zealous and distinguished a Mason did he become that in 1870 he was appointed by the then M . W . G . M ., the Marquis of Ripon ,

to the high and important office of Deputy Grand Master , and at the ever memorable meeting in the Royal Albert Hall , in 1875 , had the honour of installing H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M ., and was immediately afterwards appointed Pro Grand Master , a selection which was

received with pleasure throughout the whole English Craffc . Thafc no better could have been made must be patent to all who have witnessed the manner in which his lordship from time to time presided over the meetings of Grand Lodge .

Coming nearer home , we . find thafc his lordship was appointed Provincial Grand Master for Somerset in 1869 , and was thus our honoured ruler for 21 years , during the whole of which period ifc has been my privilege to serve under him as an executive Officer of Provincial Grand

Lodge—six years as Provincial Grand Secretary , and fifteen as Deputy , and for the remainder of my days—be they many or be they few—I shall retain with lively satisfaction the recollection of his lordship ' s invariable courtesy and kindness , and the remarkable fact thafc on no occasion

did any difference of opinion arise between us . Now although , perhaps , we did not see so much of our late Provincial Grand Master as many could have desired , there can be no doubt ifc was caused more by the delicate state of his health than from any lack of interest—indeed his

lordship always expressed himself as being very proud of his Province , and I think it only due to the Freemasons of Somerset to say well might he be so , for throughout his genial rule so well did the brethren maintain and uphold the grand principles of our noble Craft , and do their level beat to carry oufc its tenets , that six new Lodges were

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

added to the roll of the Province , its finances maintained in a flourishing condition , our great Masonic Charities supported in an exemplary manner , fche voting power of the Province largely increased , a most efficient Charity Organisation established and successfully maintained , and

though last , nob least , so loyally did they at all times support the Deputy , that it has not at any time been necessary to refer any case of difference or dispute to the Provincial Grand Master . I need hardly remind you , brethren , that this is not tho only severe blow our Province

has sustained in a comparatively short time , for almost the last official act of our departed Master in Provincial Grand Lodge was to perform a like sad duty to that in which

I am now engaged , to our beloved P . P . G . M ., Brigadier . General Adair . Brethren , we shall see no more in tin ' s world the beloved faces of these illustrious brethren , but the honoured names of Adair and Carnarvon will remain

fresh and green in the memory of all English Masons , so long as truth , honour and virtue , devotion to duty , and an ardent love of our noble Craft , are estimated at their true value . Let us then , my brethren , strive to walk in their footsteps , emulate their bright example , and regulate our

lives and actions by the sublime precepts of Freemasonry , so that when we are summoned from this sublunary abode wo may he found worthy to join our Masters in the Grand Lodge above , where the world ' s Great Architect lives and

rules for ever . Brethren , I will now , if you will allow me , submit the following resolution : — " That this Provincial Grand Lodge , in special Lodge assembled , desire to express and place on record the profound regret felt by the Freemasons of Somerset at the lamented death of their beloved

Provincial Grand Master , fche Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon ; their sincere sympathy with the Hon . the Countess of Carnarvon and family ; and their earnest prayer thafc the Great Architect of the Universe may be graciously pleased to console and support them in their

deep affliction . " Bro . Else added : I may mention that our worthy and distinguished brother who sits on my right ( Bro . Stotherfc ) is anxious to second this resolution , but unfortunately his voice is not very strong afc the present moment , and he has asked the Provincial Grand Chaplain

kindly to read his remarks for him . The Provincial Grand Chaplain ( Bro . F . L . Bryde ) then read tbe observations of Bro . J . L . Stothert , as follows - . —Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Officers and Brethren . After the eloquent and

touching tribute that has just been paid by our worthy Deputy Provincial Grand Master to the memory of Lord Carnarvon , who has for so many years occupied the position of Provincial Grand Master in this Province of

Somerset , it would seem quite unnecessary , except aa a matter of form , that any brother should second the motion now before Provincial Grand Lodge . But the Deputy has thought otherwise , and has asked me , as nearly the oldest Senior Grand Warden in the Province , to undertake

the task . In many ways I am unsuitable for this duty , and among the most prominent of my failings is the fact that I am unable to address the Lodge by word of mouth , the privilege of speech having been denied me for more than twelve months . Hence I am compelled to enlist the

good offices of a brother to read this for me , bufc I can with very much sincerity concur in all that has been said in favour of the departed Earl , and can recall with p leasure the long period I have known him in connection with this Province , and I may perhaps be permitted to remind the

brethren here assembled that I waa the first Provincial Grand Officer appointed after his , installation as Provincial Grand Master at Bath . A pleasing remembrance of tho occasion still lingers in my memory . Twenty-one years have passed since then , and we have all had many

opportunities of admiring the grace with which he filled the chair of Provincial Grand Master , and of appreciating the tact he displayed in settling difficult and trying questions . But it was in Grand Lodge that his abilities were more especially marked , and during my year of office there , and tne

on many other occasions , I have been greatly struck by fairness and consideration with which he treated all matters brought before him . His judgment and tact in ruling Grand Lodge was universally admired and respected . No whisper or murmur of disapproval ever greeted his decision ? -

To his private life , I am , of course , a stranger , bufc enj oying fche friendship of a gentleman now at the head of one ol our large public departments , who was formerly hh private secretary , I have frequently heard my friend speak in unmeasured terms of the Earl's unvarying kindness and consideration , and it was with extreme regret that fche offio ia