Sussex.

much to Grand Lodge , and the latter were indebted to the Provinces , inasmuch as it was made up of Masons from the various Provinces . Sussex , he said , was the only Province presided over by a Eoyal Duke , and so long as the Province had such a Grand Master the Brethren need have no fear of Freemasonry in the county .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master next proposed the M . W . Provincial Grand Master H . E . H . the Duke of Connaught . The Brethren in Sussex were always delighted , he said , to have their Provincial Grand Master with them . They all knew the many duties his Eoyal Highness had to perform , and they were

therefore the more grateful to him for visiting them that day . In many countries Freemasons , he said , were suspected by those in power , but here there was no more loyal body of men than Freemasons , who were united by a bond of Brotherly love . Masonry united all classes , and at their head was the Eoyal Family .

The Provincial Grand Master , on rising to respond , was received with enthusiasm . He said he was extremely grateful for the kind reception given to the toast , and he felt happy in being able to be with them . In the Lodge he had spoken , he said , of his many engagements of a military and social character ,

and though those duties prevented him from being a frequent visitor amongst them he could assure them that he took the deepest interest in the welfare of the Province . The resume given in the Lodge of the work of the past year he regarded as satisfactory . He was pleased to see so large an attendance of

the Brethren , and thanked Bro . Alderman Skinner ( Mayor of Eastbourne ) , and those who had assisted his Worship in giving him such a hearty welcome to the town . Alluding to the bond of Brotherly love uniting all classes , he said his relative , Prince

Leopold of Prussia , had been much struck by the loyalty and union which characterised English Freemasons , and wished to see the English and German Freemasons in closer union . The Prince of Wales had conferred upon Prince Leopold the honour of Past Grand Master .

Before sitting down the Duke wished to propose the Deputy Prov . Grand Master Bro . the Eight Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C ., Senior Grand Deacon , and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge Present and Past . His excellent friend Sir William

Marriott had worthily occupied his place during his absence on many occasions , and had ably carried out the great work imposed upon him . He was sure Sir William took great interest in the Province , and warmly congratulated him upon his appointment in Grand Lodge as Senior Grand Deacon .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who was warmly received , said he could not plead one-tenth of the engagements of H . E . H . the Duke of Connaught as an excuse for his absence from the Province , but he regretted that recently he had been in the hands of that despot , the doctor , who , at one time , had

absolutely forbidden him from attending to his Masonic duties . Loyalty had , however , characterised the Brethren of Sussex , and , in the hands of Bro . Freeman , the Province had been perfectly safe . Indeed , no Province , he said , had a better Secretary than Sussex had in Bro . Freeman . He hoped , with renewed health ,

to be able to attend the various Lodges as usual . He then submitted the Visitors , to which Bro . Col . Fitzgerald responded . In proposing the Eoyal Masonic Institutions , Bro . Joseph Farncombe embraced the opportunity of making sympathetic allusion to the severe illness of Bro . Morrison—a Brother who

was beloved throughout the Province . Sussex , he said , had done well in the past in the support of the Masonic Institutions , and he hoped the Brethren would rally round the Duke of Devonshire , who intended acting as the President of one of the Masonic festivals next year .

Bro . J . Terry , in responding , said Sussex had done nobly in the past with regard to the Masonic Charities , and had a splendid representative in Bro . J . M . Eeed . During the past year the Province had subscribed nearly £ 1 , 300 , and he hoped the Sussex Brethren , whom he heartily thanked , would continue their excellent support of the Benevolent Institutions .

At this stage of the proceedings the Provincial Grand Master left to catch his train , and the vacated chair was taken by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who proposed the Masters of

the Lodges in the Province , to whicn Bro . Lloyd responded . Bro . E . E . Currie gave the Stewards , eulogising them for the admirable arrangements they had made for the meeting aud banquet .

Bros . J . H . Whatford and W . A . Eaper acknowledged the toast , and the Tyler ' s toast brought the gathering to a close . An especial word of praise is due to the Stewards , Bros . J . W . Masters , J . H . Whatford , W . A . Eaper , J . Wood and E . P . Clowes , who did all that was possible to ensure the comfort of

those present . During the evening a pleasing programme of vocal music was sustained by the Lewes Orpheus Glee Union , who rendered several glees in good style , while Messrs . W . N . Barnard , and E . T . Hall also contributed songs . The duties of director and accompanist were in the able hands of Mr . Percy Starnes .

Sussex.

The Duke left the Queen ' s Hotel at a quarter to nine , and reached the station five minutes later . Several thousand people had assembled to witness His Eoyal Highness ' s departure , and , on the arrival of the carriage , in which were also seated the Mayor and Colonel Egerton , hearty cheers were given . As the

Duke alighted from the carriage the band of the 2 nd Sussex Artillery Volunteers played the National Authem , and , when the train steamed oat of the station , they struck up " Auld Lang Syne . " Tho train left at five minutes to nine o ' clock . — " Sussex Daily News . "

East Lancashire.

EAST LANCASHIRE

r | iHE half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of J _ the Eastern Division of Lancashire was held in the Hulme Town Hall , on Friday of last week , Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie Provincial Grand Master occupying the chair , supported by many P . G . Officers . The roll of Lodges of the Province was called , all but three being represented .

The minutes of the annual meeting held at Denton , in May , were taken as read and discussed . On the subject of a resolution affecting the procedure of the Finance Committee , Brother Heelis moved the appointment of a Committee to examine the

books and accounts , and consider the most convenient day for the annual closing up of the receipts and expenditure of P . G . L ., and report thereon to the May meeting , it being explained that the Committee was not to be permanent .

The motion was seconded , and a number of names submitted for election . Ultimately , however , it was decided that the selection should be left in the hands of the P . G . M ., who submitted the following , which were accepted , viz .: —Bros . J . H . Sillitoe P . G . St . B ., E . T . Sutcliffe P . G . D . Eeg ., S . F . Butcher

P . G . S ., J . B . Goulbourne P . J . G . D ., and W . Allitt P . G

Pursuivant . Three Auditors having been elected , the report of the proceedings of the Charity Committee was read and adopted , and a vote of thanks passed to the Committee for their services .

Bro . Heelis moved , and Bro . J . Andrew seconded , and it was unanimously resolved , " That 50 guineas be given to the Fund for Aged Freemasons , 50 guineas to the Widows' Fund , 50 guineas to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , and 50 guineas to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls .

Bro . F . E . W . Hedges , the Secretary of the last-named Institution , thanked P . G . L . for its generous gifts . Invitations were received from Brethren at Darwen and

Eawtenstall to hold the next annual meeting of P . G . L . at those places . It will be 21 years in 1896 since P . G . L . held its annual meeting at Darwen . There was no other business of importance . — " Manchester Courier . "

Masonic Homes In Victoria.

MASONIC HOMES IN VICTORIA .

A COUPLE of cottage homes , recently added to those already established by the Freemasons on their ground bordering Punt Eoad , Prahran , for the purpose of sheltering and maintaining aged members of the Craft unable to provide for themselves , were formally opened by Sir W . J . Clarke M . W . G . M ., on Saturday , 12 th October , in the presence of a large gathering

of Masons . The cottages , now six in number , stand on five acres of land adjacent to the Alfred Hospital . Mr . B . D . Smith , on behalf of the Committee , tendered a hearty welcome to Sir William and Lady Clarke , and stated that the foundation stone of the first cottage was laid on 7 th March 1867 . There was

room on the ground for twenty-eight cottages . At present it cost between £ 150 and £ 200 per annum to maintain the inmates . Sir William Clarke said he considered it a great honour to have been asked to declare the cottages open , more especially as Lady Clarke ' s name was associated with his in the ceremony .

Lady Clarke had been delighted to devote the afternoon for the purpose . No other pleasure could tempt her away , not even the races , although she had a horse running and expected to win . Sir William then unveiled a tablet on the wall , to commemorate the connection of the United Grand Lodge of

Euglaud with Freemasonry in Victoria ; also two others in memory of the late John T . Smith Provincial Grand Master , and James Moray Henry P . M . After a vote of thauks to Sir William and Lady Clarke , Visitors were invited to partake of refreshments before finally separating . — " Melbourne Age . "

We mentioned last week that petitions for the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls , with a view to the April election of 1896 , should be sent in not later thau 5 th December next . It is hardly necessary to say that such petitions should be forwarded to the office ) of the Institution , at Freemasons' Hall , and not " this" office , as erroneously stated in our paragraph .