Prov. Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

for the high position he held as head of the Province . The D . P . G . M . next proposed The Masonic Charities . Charity , he said , was the distinguishing mark and characteristic of Freemasonry . They had present with them that

evening representatives of two of the great Masonic Institutions in the persons of Bro . Terry and Bro . Binckes , men who had devoted their lives to this great cause . Referring to the recent Centennial of the Girls' School ,

he said the collection which was made on that occasion , amounting to £ 50 , 000 , was a thing altogether without precedent in the history of Charitable Institutions . Bro . Terry , whose nam : ) was coupled with fche toasfc , responded

in an excellent practical speech , in which he congratulated the Province upon the fact that during the past 12 months it had tent up as much as £ 1 , 100 towards the Masonic Charities . He replied at some length to some

anonymous charges which hacl recently been made with reference to the administration of the Charities , and contended that the more closely their affairs were scrutinised , the more thoroughlv convinced fche whole Craffc would be

that the funds afc the disposal of tbe Charities were wisely and economically administered . Bro . Binckes , responding on behalf of the visitors , whose health was proposed by the D . P . G . M ., congratulated the Province on

its continued ancl increasing prosperity , and referring to the recent Festival of the Boys' School , complimented the Stour Valley Lodge upon the large muster by which it was

on that occasion represented , and upon the handsome pecuniary support which the W . M . Dr . Mason was able to give towards the Funds of the Institution . He characterised the attacks which had been made on the

administration of the Charity as altogether unwarranted , unwarrantable , unjustifiable , injudicious , ancl mendacious , and said they were in all probability started by some envious , ungracious spirits , who wished to see the

Institution reduced to the level of a pauper school . Other toasts followed . The musical part of the evening ' s proceedings was under the superintendence of Bro . George

Abbott , who was assisted by Bro . Brockbank , of Norwich Cathedral , whese contributions to the programme were very much enjoyed , Bro . Thos . Grayston , Bro . G . E . Barwell , and others .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

NELSON OF THE NILE LODGE , No . 2 G 4 . ON tbe evening of Thursday , the 5 th inst ., the brethren of this Lodgo ( which was formed in 1788 ) and a nnmber of visiting brethren met at the Freemasons' Hall , Park-road , Batley , to celebrate fcho centennial of its existence , when about forty brethren sat down to a banquet . Bro . Walter Brearey W . M . presided , and was supported

b y his Worship the Mayor ( Bro . Joseph Jubb Parker P . M . ) , Bros . John H . Senior , B . P . Parker , aud other brethren of rank . During the evening a very interesting paper , by Bro . J . W ., Bailey P . M ., was

read , giving an historical account of the Lodge from its foundation at Coekermoutb , a hundred years ago . A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Bailey for his very valuable and interesting paper .

RURAL PHILANTHROPIC LODGE , No . 291 . THERE was a large and influential gathering of brethren , including several P . M . ' s of other Lodges as visitors , and not a few P . G . Lodge Officers , at the Railway EFotel , Highbridge , on the occasion of the installation of Bro . T . Floyd Norris , tho retiring S . W , as W . M . The ceremony of installation was ably performed

by the V . W . D . P . M . Bro . R . C . Else P . G . Deacon of England . On the proposition of tho I . P . M . ( Bro . Dunsford ) it vvas mwriirnousl y resolved that a vote of condolence be forwarded by the Secretary to the widow of the late Bro . E . L . Collins , Surgeon , of Bridge water , on her sudden bereavement . The W . M . appointed and invested

his Officers , as follow : —Bros . J . T . Dunsford I . P . M ., Rail ton S . W ., Dr . Peckett J . W ., Rev . E . A . Sandford Chaplain , j . Burnett P . M . Treasurer , E . Fry Wade Secretary , Dr . H . M . Kern mis D . C , J . 33 ain Sincock S . D ., J . W . Stilling J . D ., Tyler I . G ., H . M . Marsh

Organist , VV . Woodward Tyler , Bros . T . M . Reed and C . J . Lott Stewards . The customary banquet took place under Ihe presidency of the W . M . The dinner served up by Bro . Kolluway was of a recherche description .

BENEVOLENCE LODGE , No . GGG . r I'BE annual meeting was held on the 11 th inst ., at Princetowu , for - * - the installation of the W . M . for the ensuing year . There was a large attendance of brethren , including several provincial officers from Plymouth and other towns , and the proceedings woro more than usually interesting . The W . M . elect wan Bro . ^ W . H . Johns , and the ceremony of installation wad performed by lire . VV . Holdstock P . P . G . P ., in a manner which secured ' for him tho warm commendations of the brethren proaeut . The r . ovvlv-elected W . M .

Notices Of Meetings.

appointed his Officers , aa follow : —Bros . W . H . Gray I . P . M ., E . M . Ellis S . W ., J . Goake J . W ., G . E . Alexander Trea ., W . Holdstock Sec , C . Whiter S . D ., J . Weeks J . D ., R . Baker I . G ., W . Shopland Tyler . At the close of tho business tho brethren adjourned t' > tlio Duchy Flotel , where tho annual banquet waa held . Au excellent dinner

was provided by Bro . Rowe , who was personally thanked and comp limented on the admirable manner in whioh he catered for the brethren . Bro . Johns presided , and there was a largo attendance . The usual Masonic toasts were proposed , and Bro . Major Tracy P . G . S . W ., responding to fche toast of the Provincial Grand Ma ^ tT ,

Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., and Provincial Officers of Devon , spoke of tho P . G . M . as a good aud trusty Mason , and ono who always Iiid the real interests of Freemasonry afc heart .. His lordship never lost an opportunity of doing what , he could to promote tho welfare and prosperity of the Masonic Charities , and his desire to do trood iu that ,

as well as in other directions , permeated , he believed , tho whole of the provincial officers and Masons generally in the province . Masonry and Masons always aimed at doing good , and iu this respect

they hacl an excellent example in a Provincial Grand Master who vvas second fco none in England . Bro . Kinton Bond P . P . G . D . C . also returned thanks , remarking that ic said a great deal for Freemasonry that even on the wilds of Dartmoor the desire to do useful Masonic

work was as strong and earnest as in the great centres of industry where the need of such work was far more strongly felt . Responding to the toast of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and our Sister Province , Bro . Roseveare P . P . G . S . Works , said the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe enjoyed the confidence , esteem , and affection , uot only of Freemasons ,

bufc of all who knew him . He was a nobleman in the very best sense of fche term , and as a man and a Mason there was nobody who excelled him in popularity . The toast of tho Worshipfnl Master was drunk with great cordiality , and Bvo . Johns in acknowledging ifc said he recognised how greafc vvas the responsibility of the work that

he had undertaken , and he hoped to so discharge his duties as to justify the honour the brethren had conferred upon him . Several other toasts were given and responded to , and the remainder of the evening vvas devoted to mnsic and recitations , to which Bros . Tracy , Bond , Roseveare , Lavers , Mutten , Whiter , Robinson , Orchard , and other brethren contributed .

EYERTON LODGE , No . 823 . THE annual installation festival in connection with fche abovenamed Lodge is ever regarded as an important fixture in fche local annals of the Craffc . Founded in 1860 , No . 823 holds a deservedly high reputation in the Freemasonry of South-west Lancashire , a Province second to none in the entire Kingdom . With a membership close upon a quarter of a thousand , the Everton is

enabled during the course of a year to give vent to its benevolent aspirations in no uncertain manner , and as may be supposed the amounts given to Masonic Charities are liberal . A large number of well-known citizens have successively filled the Worshipful Master ' s Chair during tho last 28 years , and there is every indie ition that the

Lodge will continue to uphold , for some years afc least , its popularity as one of the most successful branches of Masonry in this part of the country . The year just closed has boon eminently satisfactory from a financial point of view , for alter dispensing in charity a sum closely verging upon three figure- * , the Treasurer has

a substantial balance in hand aud at tho buik . I ho Benevolent Fund iu connection with tho Lodge also shows than the balance in the bank has , under tho careful Stewardship of Bro . J . M . King P . M ., increased from £ 119 to £ 175 , and that the amount invested is about £ 150 . The investiture never fails to attract a greafc number of

members and visiting brethren , and the attendance ou tho 17 th innt .. in the Masonic Temple , was fully equal to that of former years . Bro . It . VV . Gow , the retiring W . M ., wa-i well supported afc tho opening of the Lodge . After ordinary business had been transacted , Councillors W . J . Lnnt aud John Holding presented the W . M .-elect ,

Bvo . Maddox , for installation , th < 3 ceremony being very capably performed by Bro . Gow W . M ., assisted by Bro . Holding . Tho now VV . M . sabseqaenfcly invested hia Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —Bros . Gow I . P . M ., Milne S . W ., Britten J . W ., Councillor VV . J . Lunfc Treasurer ( re-elected for the 22 nd time ) , Mantle Sec ,

Kite S . D ., Guilberfc J . D ., King I . G . , Jones S . S ., Spencer J . S ., Turner A . S ., Millington A . S ., Ewart Organist , Councillor J . Houlding D . C . W . H . Ball was elected and invested as Tyler , for the 23 rd time . After the Lodge had been duly closed fche members and their invited guests dined iu the largo banqueting-hall ,

Bro . J . Casey , the House Steward , proving an excellent caterer to the-requirements of thn "inner man . " During the after proceedings Bro . Maddox W . M . presented Bro . G nv I . P . M . with a Past Master ' s jewel , on behalf of tho Lodge , and Br .. . . J . M . King P . M . later on handed to the same recipient , a P . M . ' s apron aul case , as

well as a beautiful album , containing an illuminated address aud photographs of many of thoso connected with tho f /' . lge . These presents , subscribed for by the officers aud mem ior- . were suitably acknowledged by Bro . Gow . The annual pica c in ( i . nuectiou with 823 , will tako place at Chirk , in North Wales .

EMULATION LODGE , No . 150-5 . rip FIE members of the above Lodge , ou Wednesday , the Ld h in .,:.. JL held their annual picnic in very fine weather . At the tune nf starting tbe clouds looked threatening , ; nd no od ubt , this prevnt .-d several friends being present to enjoy tho beauties of IFawk tone

Park , Shropshire , the seat of Lord Hill . Tho Park is well knmvi for its beauty of situation and extent , and the visitors thorou jhlv enjoyed the rambles through tho demesne . 'The iioccs .-eiry relV .-. sli . nients wore supplied by the proprietor of the Ft ivvkstone Mitel , in

such a way aa to leave pleasant memories of his catering , T tie return drive of five miles to Worn Station for home was a gu-at treat , as the freshness of fcho country throngh tho late rain- ivn- a conspicuous feature . Upwardd of s-ixty povdons enjoyed tho oa ; . _ -, f ; . nl tho arrangements , iu the hand" of n . committee , conns . lin ; uf