Durham.

of Gateshead , who had personally met those who had in hand the making of the necessary arrangements for their gathering . In calling attention to the losses the Craft had sustained during the year by death , he particularly mentioned his old friends , Lord Lathom , Lord Herschel , and Bro .

Scarth ( Agent at Raby ) . Masonry had been going on satisfactorily , not by leaps or bounds , but by steady increases . The year 18 9 8 closed with 2 , 032 members in the Province , which gave an average of eighty-five per Lodge . There had been an increase during the year of 453 members , from

which they had to take a loss of 325 Brethren by death , and other causes , leaving a net increase for the year of 128 . He then proceeded to give a review of Masonry in the Durham Province since he became its Grand Master in 1885 , when there were thirty-one Lodges and a total membership of

2 , 258 . The membership now showed an increase of thirtythree per cent ., while the Lodge dues had increased from £ 254 in 1885 , to £ 411 during the past year . He also alluded to the most satisfactory Festival which had been held at Durham in the spring of the year , which had resulted in such

a satisfactory advantage to the Hudson Benevolent Fund and the Durham Masonic Education Fund , and went on to refer to the gratifying conduct of the Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . R . Hudson , for whom they had raised a testimonial , but who was content to receive a slight recognition

of his services , and devoted the whole of the proceeds , amounting to nearly 2 , 000 guineas , to the formation of the Hudson Benevolent Fund and the placing of the Durham Masonic Education Fund upon a permanent foundation with a trust fund of £ 3 , 000 .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was afterwards closed in due form .

Subsequently the Brethren partook of luncheon in the Assembly Room , the purveyors being Messrs . Swinburne and Co ., of the Royal Hotel , Bro . Charles Turnbull , manager , superintending . The Loyal and Masonic toasts were afterwards honoured .

Worcestershire.

WORCESTERSHIRE .

nnHE Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire was held JL on Tuesday , at Stourbridge , and , concurrently , the jubilee of Stability Lodge , No . 564 , Stourbridge , was commemorated . The occasion drew a large number of Brethren together—one of the largest assemblages there has been in the

Province of Worcestershire . Lodge was held at the Town Hall , which had been specially arranged and decorated for the ceremony . The attendance included Bro . Sir Frederick Godson , M . P ., P . G . D . Eng . Provincial Grand Master , his Deputy Bro . William T . Page , and many others .

A Craft Lodge was opened by the W . M . of Stability Lodge , No . 564 , and afterwards the Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Officers entered the Lodge , and were received with the customary honours . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened , and the business on the agenda was proceeded with . Apologies for absence were received from the Prov . Grand Masters of adjoining Provinces .

A report was presented on the state of Masonry in the Province , and was of a satisfactory nature . The total number of the Brethren was given as 6 94 , being a considerable increase compared with the previous year . The W . M . of

each Lodge in the Province gave a brief statement of the work of his Lodge in the past year . The Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts were received and audited , and Brother Walter Somers ( Halesowen ) was elected Provincial Grand Treasurer .

The Chanty Committee presented a report showing that the amount subscribed- for Charities in the past year was upwards of £ 250 . Bro . W . T . Page was elected Secretary to the Charity Committee , regret being expressed that Bro . Matthew Smith ( Dudley ) should have found it necessary to retire from the office .

The Provincial Grand Master afterwards obligated and invested the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . W . T . Page , and presented him with his Warrant of appointment , and next proceeded to appoint and invest his Officers , of whom the following is a list : .

Bio . A . B . "Rovro 0 , 80 - - - - Senior Warden J . B . Bottornley 5 G 4 - - - Junior Warden Rev . E . E . Lea 377 - - - - Chaplain Rev . J . C . Hill 573 - - - - Assistant Chaplain

W . Somers 573 ... . - Treasurer C . D . Martin COO - Registrar E . Collins 5 GU .... Secretary A . Biorton 252 .... Senior Deacon J . A . Steward 2 S 0 - Junior Deacon

Worcestershire.

Bro . R . Underwood 573 - - - Superintendent of Works J . M . Harlow 529 ... - Director of Ceremonies T . W . Tanfield 498 - - - - Assist . Dir . of Ceremonies J . C . Ash ton 1874 2724 - - - Sword Bearer H . Richardson 2 _ 385 - - - l standard Bearers ¦ *¦ " ¦»»¦»

R . W . Haines 2654 - - - - | " """"'"" " 3 . M . Clement 252 .... Organist A . C . Baker 1204 .... Pursuivaut G . Ballard 1097 .... Assistant l'ursuivant J . H . Trenchard 564 - - - - \ W . Griffin 564 - - HHGuest 564

. . - - - B . ' Richardson 564 - - " - ^ Stewards W . J . Hinitt 564 - C . Trenchard 564 - F . W . Knott 280 .... 1 J . Dugard 337 - - - xyl 0 XS

After other business Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , and , the Craft Lodge also being closed , the Brethren attended Divine service at St . Thomas' Church . The service was intoned by Bro . the Rev . J . C . Hill Assistant Provincial Grand Chaplain , the lessons were read by the Rev . Hugh Sherrard , and the sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . E . E . Lea Provincial Grand Chaplain . The musical arrangements at the service were under the direction of Bro . G . W . Bates .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : [ o : — BUCKINGHAMSHIRE . SUBSEQUENT to the meeting of the Mark Grand Lodge , reported elsewhere , the Prov . Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was held at Wolverton , on the 14 th , presided over by Comp . Rev . Canon Brownrigg Grand Superintendent . The minutes of Prov . Grand Chapter were read by Comp . G . H . Charsley P . Z . S . E . The financial statement placed in the hands of the Companions proved most satisfactory .

The election of Prov . Grand Treasurer and the appointment of Prov . Grand Officers was proceeded with , and the Grand Chapter closed in the usual manner . The Company afterwards repaired to the Victoria Hotel , where Bro . Tarry provided an excellent banquet .

Gloucestershire.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Superintendent Sir Michael Hicks Beach , Bart ., has fixed Thursday , 7 th December , for the holding of the annual Grand Chapter of this Province . The meeting will take place at Gloucester .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE . ON Thursday , the 14 th inst ., the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held in the Wolverton Institute , under the presidency of Bro . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , M . A ., Prov . G . M ., assisted by Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . T . Taylor . There was a good attendance of Brethren , which would have been larger but for the Buckingham members being engaged in a special Lodge of their

own . The business included the roll call of the Lodges , reading of the minutes , receiving of accounts , re-election of Prov . G . Tyler Bro . Bonser ; and the appointment of Prov . Grand Officers as follow :

Bro . Rev . F . R . Harnett - Senior Warden R . H . Major ----- Junior Warden J . D . Carter ----- Master Overseer H . J . Hippsley ... - Senior Overseer C . J . Le Gros - Junior Overseer Rev . V . P . Wyatt - - - - ) ,,,, „ . „ Rev . F . F . Penniddock - - - J Chaplains

W . D . Sherard - - - Registrar of Marks J . Williams - Treasurer - J . R . Wilmer .... Secretary J . Simcoe ---- - Senior Deacon H . Hambling .... Junior Deacon L . Cooper ----- Director of Ceremonies

W . J . Levi - - - . - - Organist A . Simson ----- Assistant Secretary H . T . Wickham ... - Standard Bearer G . Uthwatt ----- Inner Guard Tarry ..... Steward J . Bonser ..... T yler .