Sussex.

SUSSEX .

A LOYAL and hearty welcome was given by the people of Eastbourne on Wednesday of last week , to his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , who visited the town for the purpose of attending the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex , which was held at the Queen ' s Hotel . Admirable arrangements had been made at the railway station ,

under the direction of the Station Superintendent , Mr . T . W . Dean . The arrival platform for a distance of about thirty yards was carpeted with red baize , and the columns supporting the roof t were trimmed with evergreens and surrounded with chrysanthemum plants in flower . Shortly after half-past two a

hundred men of the 2 nd Sussex Artillery Volunteers , under the command of Captain Kelsey , and accompanied by the band of the corps , arrived and were drawn up two deep in the roadway facing the arrival platform . In a row behind the Volunteers were stationed 18 of the West Kent ( Queen ' s Own ) Yeomanry ,

under the command of the Marquis of Camden , Captain and Adjutant Landale being also on parade . The Eoyal train , which was in the charge of Mr . Bichardson , Traffic Superintendent , and was drawn by the engine " Albany , " was timed to arrive from

Victoria at three o ' clock . As a matter of fact it ran alongside the platform a minute in advance of time . As the Duke stepped from his saloon , the guard of honour presented arms and the band played the National Anthem .

The Mayor was introduced to his Eoyal Highness by Sir William Marriott , and his Eoyal Highness having intimated his compliance with the Mayor ' s request to hear the Address , the Town Clerk read it .

The Mayor having duly presented the Address , his Eoyal Highness replied in the following terms : Mr . Mayor and Gentlemen , —I am very sensible of the very kind remarks in the address you have just presented . It is now , I am sorry to say , eighteen years ago since I was last in this town . I carried away with

me the most pleasant recollections . It was on a rather sad occasion when I was here . I came to see my dear sister , who was already then in very bad health , and who , as you remember , died a few months afterwards . But we

all in my family remember with gratitude the kind reception you gave her at all times , and I am sure her family still remember with pleasure their stay here at Eastbourne . May I ask you to express to the inhabitants my gratitude for the words you have expressed to me ?

A move was then made for the carriages in waiting , and a procession was formed , members of the Masonic body , the Councillors and Aldermen occupying a dozen carriages , preceding the Mayor ' s carriage , which contained the Duke , the Mayor , Sir William Marriott , and Colonel Egerton ( the Duke ' s equerry ) .

The Gildredge Hotel was tastefully adorned , the sentiment " Welcome to our Prov . G . M . " being writ large on the balcony facing the station . At four o ' clock the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at

the Queen ' s Hotel , under the presidency of the Duke of Connaught Provincial Grand Master , who was supported by Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C ., S . G . D . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and many other distinguished Craftsmen .

The minutes having been confirmed , highly satisfactory reports of the Board of Finance and the Charities Committee were adopted . The Provincial Grand Secretary read statistics showing the present strength of each Lodge , the entire Province numbering 1 , 389 members .

The Provincial Grand Master next addressed the Brethren as follows : — " Once more Brethren I am pleased to greet you all after another year of quiet progress and steady prosperity . I find the number of initiations is up to a fair average , but there are a great many resignations , leaving the'actual increase in numbers only five ; as far as I known nothing has occurred to

interrupt the harmony of our Masonic proceedings . I have much pleasure in holding the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in this beautiful town of Eastbourne—a town in whose progress and rapid growth I take a sincere interest . My desire is that the annual meeting of our Provincial Grand Lodge should

be held at different times in the different towns of importance in the Province , and I intend that next year it shall be held at the ancient and historic Borough of Hastings , the Brethren of whose Lodges , I have been informed , are anxious to receive Provincial Grand Lodge . I have received a petition for a new Lodge at

Shoreham , and considering the circumstances under which the Burrell Lodge was removed to Brighton , I certainly did not , at first sight , think it either desirable or expedient to recommend the petition . I found , however , upon enquiry that the removal was purely a local matter , and , when the first Master , who is an

old and respected member of the Provincial Grand Lodge , gave his assurance that there were several persons in the town of Shoreham who were willing to become Masons , that the Town Hall was available for the meetings , with every prospect of a

permanency , that the necessary funds had been provided , and that there was no doubt of a successful future , I could not refuse to recommend the petition , and have this day signed it , and hope the result will prove that I have done right , and that the Lodge

Sussex.

will progress without drawing members from neighbouring towns in which there are other Lodges . I understand also that another petition will shortly be presented to me for a Lodge at Bexhill ; when I receive it I shall certainly severely scrutinise the signatures , as although a rising town like Bexhill may fairly be

expected to provide a Lodge , I should be very sorry to see one established if likely to do harm to any of the existing Lodges in the neighbourhood . I regret very much the serious indisposition of my Provincial Senior Grand Warden Bro . Morrison ; he is so universally esteemed , and his services to Masonry have been so

great , that I trust the Great Architect of the Universe will spare him to us for some time longer . I should like the Secretary to write to him and say how much we mi 3 sed him , aud how sincerely we sympathise with him in his affliction , and look forward to his further presence amongst us . You are kind enough to send me

many invitations to attend your installation meetings , but you will quite understand that my time is so taken up by my profession and other engagements I can seldom spare a day to attend a meeting in Sussex , but whenever it is possible I will come and visit you , and even to-day I was forced to interfere

with one of four Lodge meetings , but I could not help it . Best assured I take the deepest interest in all that concerns Masonry in the Province , but am obliged to leave the greater part of the business in the hands of my Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who I am glad to find restored to health after his recent

indisposition , aud I congratulate him on his appointment as Senior Grand Deacon of England . I am pleased to hear that the Masonic Club established at Brighton has proved a success , and that many Brethren from London have joined it , thus giving an opportunity of exchanging Masonic votes and receiving and giving

information without bringing Masonry to the front in presence of those who do not belong to the Craft . I cannot conclude without expressing extreme satisfaction at the numerous attendance to-day , and with the cordial reception I have received both from

my Brethren in the Craft and the local authorities . I can only repeat that my services are , so far as lies in my power , at the disposition of Masonry , and rest assured that if I do not visit you as often as I should wish , your affairs have my earnest attention .

Bro . J . M . Eeed was re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , and was warmly congratulated by the Provincial Grand Master upon the honourable and successful manner in which he carried

out his duties . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed his Officers for the ensuing year , and invested those present with the insignia of their respective offices , as follow : —

Bros . E . W . Stillwell 2483 - . - Senior Warden B . Burfield 1821 - - - Junior Warden Rev . Canon Cooper 1619 - - } pu ftn 1 „ inc . Rev . T . H . Langford Sainsbury 1726 - I una P lams

J . M . Reed 732 ... Treasurer R . P . Clowes 2201 - - - Registrar V . P . Freoman 315 732 - - Secretary J^wSE*™:::}***»*»» T&X3!*:::}^»~

J . W . Broad 311 - - - Superintendent of Works H . E . Breach 38 Director of Ceremonies G . Randell 40 - - - - Assist . Director of Cers . J . Howe 1465 - Sword Bearer Harry Kent 816 - - - 1 standard Bearers Vi . D . Sanev 1141 - - - f

J . Pulman 56 - - - - Organist A . J . Carpenter 1829 - Assistant Secretary G . Fowler 1110 - « - Pursuivant T . Wickham 2187 •> - Assistant Pursuivant F . C Parsons 271 - •- \ S . Denman - - - - I J . Turtoti 811 - - - - L steward 3 . H . L . Staffurth 1726 - - -

H . VV . G . Abell 1797 - B . F . Meadows 1842 - - - / The Provincial Grand Lodge having closed , the Brethren sat down to a banquet , under the presidency of the Duke of Connaught , who opened the toast list by briefly proposing the Queen and the Craft .

In submitting the M . W . Grand Master His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Duke said he was sure the toast would be received with greater cordiality than usual , for all would heartily congratulate the Prince upon the recent engagement of his daughter .

The Provincial Grand Master next proposed the Officers of Grand Lodge Present and Past . His Eoyal Highness said it was highly satisfactory to see the great interest taken in the welfare of the various Provinces by the Officers of Grand Lodge ,

and it gave him great pleasure to see Bro . Sir W . T . Marriott , Bro . Col . Egerton , Bro . the Very Eev . E . E . Currie , and other Grand Officers present . On the other hand the Officers of Grand Lodge fully appreciated the manner in which they were supported by the Provinces . The Very Eev . Bro . E . E . Currie ( Dean of Battle ) P . G . Chaplain , in acknowledging the toast , said the Provinces owed