Our Rulers—Useful Or Ornamental ?

men solely because they are placed in a position above us , nor can we be accused of cringing to those high in office merely with the object of keeping on good terms with them ; still we have no hesitation in taking tho opportunity of saying a word on behalf of our Masonic Rulers , not perhaps that they require defending at our hands so much as

because we think it unfair to allow comments such as we have referred to to pass unchallenged . As we said at the outset , the writer in our contemporary is probably unacquainted with the way in which Masonic affairs are managed , and , being so , has fallen into error in supposing the Craft has at its head a number of ornamental rather than useful members of the Brotherhood .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cambridgeshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE .

SPECIAL importance was attached to tho animal meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cambridgeshire , on the 20 fch inst ., by reason of tho installation of the new Provincial Grand Master , and Bro . Lieut .-Col . Robert Townley Caldwell has every reason to be pleased with the auspicious inauguration of his rule . His appointment to

the highest rank in the Province , upon the resignation of Bro . the Right Hon . tho Earl of Hardwicke , was hailed with the liveliest satisfaction by the brethren , and they testified to their interest by assembling in large numbers

on Friday , the 20 fch inst ., to witness the ceremony of installation , whioh was most effectively carried out by Bro . Lord Henniker P . G . M . Suffolk , assisted by Bro . Thomas Penn , President of the Board of General Purposes , as G . Director of Ceremonies , and other Grand Officers .

The Lodge met at the Guildhall , where , in addition to the Prov . Grand Master designate there were present Bros . Col . G . Noel Money P . G . M . Surrey , Capt . N . G . Philips P . G . S . D . England , Chas . E , Keyser P . P . G . W . Herts , G . Everett G . Treasurer , James Terry P . G . S . B ., Sec . Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institution , Jas . M . McLeod P . G . S . W . Derby , Sec . Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , Rev . C . J . Martyn D . P . G . M . Suffolk , C . P . Matier P . G . Standard Bearer , Hamon Le Strange G . J . D . Eng . D . P . G . M . Norfolk , Rev . H . Hebb , and Charles E . Ward 985 P . P . G . S . W . Lincolnshire .

The following Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge took their respective chairs , viz . : Bros . A . H . Moyes P . G . Stand . Bearer Eng . Deputy Prov . Grand Master , B . Anningson P . G . S . W ., J . Stacey Youngman P . G . J . W ., Rev . R . Jackson

Prov . G . Chaplain , Colonel B . W . Beales P . G . Treasurer , Oliver Papworth acting Prov . G . Secretary , J . R . Green P . G . S . D ., W . H . Francis P . G . J . D ., George Tindel P . G . Supt . of Works , F . Dewberry P . G . D . C , J . Royston

P . G . A . D . C ., A . E . Chaplain P . G . S . B ., F . 0 . Carr P . G

Organist and A . Hill P . G . Pursuivant . The brethren of the Province were ranged nnder their respective banners . The banner from Wisbech , presented by the wife of Brq . Robinson Smith W . M ., made

its first appearance in Prov . Grand Lodge , and was much admired . The Lodge of tht Three Grand Principles , No . 441 , had also been at the pains of providing a new banner .

The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened by Bro . A . H . Moyes D . P . G . M ., the minntes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , and the Masters of the

respective Lodges made their returns . After some communications had been read , the Installing Master , Bro . Lord Henniker , accompanied by the Grand Officers , entered the Lodge , and was saluted .

The Installing Master then addressed the brethren on the subject of the installation . Bro . Lord Henniker said it gave him great pleasure to come there for this ceremony , not only because he was the Grand Master of a neighbouring Province , and also of

another branch of Masonry , but it always gave him the greatest possible pleasure to come to his old University town , where he spent many happy days of his life . It was

also a great personal pleasure to be able to instal Bro . Lieut .-Col . Caldwell , and he was glad that worthy brother had found favonr with His Royal Highness the Grand Master . They wonld , he was sure , agree with him that no

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cambridgeshire.

better appointment could have been made . He could not mention the name of his Royal Highness without saying a word—in which they would join—a word of sympath y with him in the great trouble he was now passing through , and expressing their fervent hope that Prince George would

soon be restored to health . The Province of Cambrid geshire was not a large one , having only six Lodges , and moat of thera were in Cambridge ; of these the Scientific Lodge was established in 1754 . There was once an older Lodge , established in 1749 , but that had ceased to exist .

But though not a large Province it was a very important one . There were four Lodges in Cambridge , whioh meant that Freemasonry had not merely a local interest , but there were many young men initiated into Masonry thera who wonld go all over the world . The teaching of these

Lodges , therefore , had an important bearing on the good of Freemasonry in general . The Province was formed about a hundred years ago ( 1796 ) , and Bro . Lord Eardley was its first G . Master . In 1832 he was succeeded by Bro . Rev . G . Adam Browne ; in 1844 Bro . Thos . Henry Hall came in

and presided until 1870 ; and in 1873 Bro . the Earl of Hardwicke was appointed . His lordship had held the office until the present year , bat had resigned because he was no longer going to reside in the county . He had long known Lord Hardwicke , who was deservedly popular with

all who knew him . Since his lordship ' s resignation the Province had been in the capable hands of the D . P . G . M . Bro . A . H . Moyes . And now they had met to instal Bro . Lieut .-Col . Caldwell , who had for many years been a Prov . Grand Officer , and for some time Superintendent of Royal

Arch Masonry in the Province . He felt perfectly confident that Bro . Caldwell wonld rule the Province satisfactorily , and he wished the new Prov . Grand Master and the Province all success and prosperity for many years to come . The arrival of the Provincial Grand Master designate *

was then announced , and he was requested to send in his patent . This having been done , a deputation , consisting of W . M . ' s Bros . Piggott , Dewberry , Robinson Smith ,

Rogers , Courtney , Tindal , and Hnnnybun P . M ., retired with Bro . Fenn D . C , and introduced the Provincial Grand Master designate , the two former bearing the insignia of office .

The patent having been read by the Acting Provincial Grand Secretary , the installation by Bro . Lord Henniker was afterwards proceeded with , and Bro . Caldwell was

duly invested , proclaimed , and sainted . The Provincial Grand Treasnrer then appointed Bro . Moyes as his Deputy , and he was duly invested , proclaimed , and saluted .

The Provincial Grand Treasnrer , Bro . Colonel Beales , next presented his accounts , which were passed . Bro . Papworth thereupon read the eighth annual report of the Cambridgeshire Masonic Charity Association , of which he is the indefatigable Hon . Secretary . The

Province was represented at the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institntion for Boys by Bro . Garrick W . M . 809 , who took up with him £ 103 19 s , and Bro . Francis W . M . 859 , who took up £ 37 5 s ; and at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls by

Bro . Sharman P . M . 441 , who took up £ 85 16 s . The Committee owed 60 boys' and 80 girls' votes , but they have now owing to them 1099 boys' votes , 1308 girls ' votes , 296 men ' s votes , and 246 women ' s votes . The votes in the Province are now about 230 boys , and 280

girls , half-yearly , and 170 men's and 160 women s , yearly . The contributions through Stewards from the Province since the year 1883 to the three Masonic Charities amounted to £ 2706 . Bro . Papworth , on the

nomination of the Province , had served on the Board of Management for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys since April last . The report was regarded as very satisfactory , and was passed .

Upon the motion of Bro . Jennings , seconded by Bro . Piggott , Bro . Colonel Beales was re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer by an unanimous vote . The Provincial Grand Master then invested his Officers for the year , as follows : —

Oliver Papworth Senior Warden Q . F . Rogers Junior Warden Rer . R . Jackson ~ i , ¦ ,.,,, •„ Rer . L . R . Tuttiett j Ch » P , ainB B . W . Beales Treasurer R . Smith Registrar J . Bonnett Secretary F . Piggott Senior Deacon J . F . Symonds Junior Deacon