Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

This , tny brethren , wo all believe , but do we realise the blessed truth that God careth for His people , and that His ears are always open unto their prayers . Onr Faith is not tried , mark yon , in times of prosperity ; when the ami is shining brightly nnd life is full of hope , and the voice of health is heard in our dwellings , bnfc in tho days of sorrow and

adversity , when tho sky is black with clouds , and the rain descends , and tho winds blow , and the floods como and beat npon our house . It may bo easy for some of ns now to talk of the love of God , and of Christ . When life is hopeful and nnrnffled by care to believe in it , or think that wo believe m it . Bnt should wo have boldness in tho day of judgment ? Shonld wo beliero it wero God to visit and

to judge ns by some new and greater calamity than any-which we haTO experienced heretofore ? For example , suppose He were suddenly to take away one who was most near ancl dear to onr heart ? , leaving us desolate and alone , and bowed down under the burden of an intolerable angnish ; or if some grievous bodily infirmity or some cruel dishonour were to visit us—what should we do then ?

Should we , after the first throes of grief , relapse into a dull despairing bitter submission to our hard fato ? or should we bo able to plant our feet npon the everlasting rock , which is Christ , nnd say : We know and believe tho love that God hath to n * . " I will cast all my care upon Him , for He careth for me . Though He slay me , yet will I put my trust in Him . "

Ifc may appear strange , and yet it is most true , that men are tanght chiefly by adversity the love which God hath toward them . The history of tbe Saints of God afford us abundant proof of this . David , who was sorely tried , confessed that ifc was good for him to have been in trouble . Hezekiah , likewise , when he was sick unto death , fonnd ont the truth about these dark hours of trial , and

confessed it , saying : " 0 Lord , by these things men live , and in them is the life of the Spirit . Behold , for psace I had great bitterness , but Thon hast iu lovo to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption , for Thon hasfc cast all my sins behind Thy back . " This , too , was Jacob ' s experience on that most fearful nig ht , of his whole life , when he waited by the ford of Jabbok , expecting that ; with the morning

light the punishment of his past sins would como upon him , and not on him only , bnfc on all his family , and his innocent children . When he stood there alone by the dark river , not knowing whether Esau and his wild followers would not sweep off the earth all he had and all he loved , and knowing too , ah ! most bitter thonght , that he had brought it all upon them by his own deceit and treachery . Then ,

when his sins stared him in the face , and God rose up in judgment against him , he learned to cast his care upon God , and to pray , as he had never prayed before—a prayer too deep for words . And Jacob was left alone , and there wrestled a man with him till the breaking of the day , and when he saw thafc he prevailed not against him , he touched the hollow of Jacob ' s thigh , and the hollow

of his thigh was out of joint , as he wrestled with him . And he said : Let me go , for tho day breaketh , and ho said , I will not let thee go till thou bless me , and he blessed him thon , and Jacob called the name of thafc place Peniel , for I have seen God face to face , and my life is preserved . " So let it bo with ns , my brethren , when we are sorely tried , and

find it hard to realise the care which God hath for us . Like Jacob , let us plead His gracious promises , and acknowledge the good gifts and blessings which we have already received , saying : I am not worthy of the least of all Thy mercies which Thou hasfc shewn to Thy servant . Ask for His help and plead His promises , even as Jacob did , according to his light , saying : Thon . saidsfc I will surely do

thee good , and you shall find , with him , that , as a Prince , yon have power with God and man , and havo prevailed . You will know and believe in the love of Him who careth for us , and perfect love will dri ' . 'O out all partial fear . The lovo of God shed abroad in your hearts will sustain yon under the sorrows and anxieties of this mortal life , and enable you to look

forward and hasten to the coming of the day of God and tho glorious appearing of tho bright morning star , whose rising will bring peaco and salvation to the faithful and obedient . May ifc be so with us , dear brethren , thafc when this life comes to an end we may , by God ' s iufinite love and mercy , be admitted into those immortal mansions whence all good emanates . So mote

it be . The arrangements for tho banquet—in fact for tho day ' s proceedings—reflected the greatest credit on the entertaining Lodge , Friendship and Harmony , No . 1616 . A most bountiful repast was provided , and it is scarcely necessary to say justice was done to ifc . The room where the banquet was served was most suitable for the purpose , and

the scenery around added a oharm to the meeting . The Prov . Grand Master presided , and briefly introdnced tho customary toasts j in speaking to that of the Queen and the Craft , General Brownrigg called attention to the fact that this was the 45 th anniversary of Her Majesty ' s Coronation . In introducing the second—the health of the M . W . tho Grand Master , the R . W . tho Pro Grand Master , the Depnty

Grand Master , and the Grand Officers Present and Past , General Brownrigg said he approached this toast with some amount of diffidence . Ho had always conceived the duties of the Past Grand Officers to be to watch over the best interests of the Craft , and to uphold and give the Grand Master strength . He was , however , somewhat afraid thero was a probability of the good feeling that had hitherto existed

being disturbed . In the few hurried remarks he had addressed to the members of tho Province in tho Lodge-room , he had called their attention to the necessity of attending the approaching Cotmnucation of Grand Lodge , which was to be held on the day following their present meeting . Matters that demanded the gravest consideration would be discussed at thia gathering . He would venture to

remind the brethren that at the meeting in April last , when the Grand Officers for the year were appointed , the table of precedence had been materially altered , without notice , and without any explanation being vouchsafed . It had since been urged , that tho Grand Master , being the Fountain of all Masonic honour , was acting within his prerogative when he took upon himself the responsibility of

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

altering tho table of precedence which had hitherto been carefully adhered to . For himself , he ( General Brownrigg ) conld not think the Mos t Worshipful Grand Master was acting entirely on his own behalf iu this regard . The Princo of Wales , though giving every attention to tho bnsiness of tho Craft , relied on his advisers for matters of detail , and in this respect he ventured to assert that the

Grand Master had been badly advised . However , shonld the pro . jected change bo persisted in , he would suggest that the brethren respectfully and humbly mako their protest , when doubtless their complaints would receive attention . By the projected changes , Grand Chaplains wero removed to a position below Grand Secretary , Grand Registrar , and Grand Director of Ceremonies ; consequentl y

were much lowered in tho scalo of precedence that had hitherto prevailed . Now , taking into consideration tho position of Grand Chaplains , as scholars , to say nothing of their sacred calling , he could see no reason for these alterations . He had spoken somewhat at length on this matter because he felt strongly on it . After refer , ence to other changes that were projected , the Prov . Grand Master

urged on all of those present who could make it convenient to attend Grand Lodge , and take part in the consideration of the several questions affected by the projected revision of the Constitutions . He thon formally offered the toast for tho acceptance of the brethren , and called on the Rev . Ambrose Hall Past Grand Chaplain to respond . Brother Hall in reply said that to all Grand Officers ,

whether present or past , it was ever a pleasing duty to acknowledge this toast . He could endorse the opinions expressed by the Prov . Grand Master , but ho . trusted the cloud which seemed to be at the present time overshading them would pass away , and that they should be , as hitherto , ono body , one phalanx , united indissolubly together . When he looked around he say many who had onr good cause so

much at heart , that ho felt assured wiser counsels would prevail . Brother Hall concluded by returning his sincere thanks for tha reception given to the toast . The Rev . C .. W . Arnold proposed the health of Brother General Brownrigg . The Provincial Grand Master , it might well bo said , lived in the hearts of the members of his Province . This was exemplified in an eminent degree in February last ,

when he presided at the Festival of the R . M . B . I ., on which occasion tho members of tho Province most loyally supported their chief . In acknowledging the compliment , the Prov . G . Master said he had only the sa-ne old , old story to recount . Ho never experienced any . thing but kindness and consideration at the hands of tho members of the Province ; while as to the zeal of his Deputy he felt unequal

to tho task of expressing his recognition of it . It was an astonishing thing to him to note how well the Lodges of Surrey got on together . Whenever a dark cloud arose , a little calm reflection soon dispelled it ; and he ventured to assert there was not a happier or moro united Province in the kingdom than the ono ho had the honour to preside

over . For the toast of the Prov . Grand Officers Bro . Rev . C . W . Arnold replied . Several other toasts were given , and tho enjoyment of the day wns well sustained . In the conrse of the proceedings ifc was announced that tho offertory at chnrch , together with the amount voted by Prov . Grand Lodge for the Oatlands Working Men ' s Church Building Fund , realised £ 9 3 s .

During the evening , a capital selection of music , under the direction of Bro . Edwin M . Lott P . P . G . O . Surrey , was performed by the following members of the Mozart Lodge , who kindly gave their services : —Bros . E . Moss W . M . 1929 , H . Ashton , J . Kift , and T . Tremere J . W . 1929 . Tho following is tho programme : —Grace , " Denm

Laudate , " Dr . J . Smith ; National Anthem ; Madrigal , " This pleasant month of May , " Beale ; Song , " I seek for theo , " Ganz—Bro . E . Moss ; Part Song , " Summer Eve , " Hatton ; Song , ' ¦ True to the last , " Adams—Bro . T . Tremere ; Ballad , "Far on the deep blue sea , " Thomas—Bro . Henry Ashton .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — LEBANON CHAPTER , 1326 . A REGULAR convocation of this Capter was held at the Lion Hotel , Hampton , Middlesex , on Thursday , 21 st June . Ex-Comp . J . Stevens P . Z ., 720 , 771 , acting M . E . Z ., iu the absence of the M . E . Comp . John Carther Woodrow . There were also present Ex-Comps . C . W . Fox H ., John Hammond P . Z . J ., W . Himtnond P . Z . P . Prov . lst A . S . Middlesex S . E ., Edward Hopwood P . Z . acting S . N ., H . J . Lardner M . E . Z . 1823 acting P . S ., Comps . W . C . Davey and Thomas

Errington Assistant Sojourners , Ex-Comp . J . W . Gasson H . 16 lo acting Organist , Ex-Comp . J . T . Biiggs P . Z . 177 , and others , Comp . Gilbert attending as Janitor . Tlio Chapter having been opened , and tho minutes of previous convocation confirmed , Ex-Oomp . Briggs was elected a joining member , and ballots were taken for three candidates for exaltation , which were found clear . Bro . AVilliam

Francis Webb , being in attendance , was duly exalted , with full musical ceremony , and the explanations from tho principals were ably delivered by Ex-Co : nps . Gasson as J ., Biiggs as H ., and James Stevens as M . E . Z , At the conclusion of tho ceremony tho thanks of the Chapter were accorded to Comps . Stevens , Lardner , and ,

Casson for attendance and assist nice , and after some other routine business the Chapter was closed . Subsequently tho members of tho Chapter and their visitors partook of an excellent cold collation , and under the presidency of Comp . Steven ^ , enjoyed a social hour or two before separation .

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