Berks And Oxon.

his duties most satisfactorily , and they all felt glad to be honoured with his presence on that occasion . Lord Valentia , in responding , expressed his gratitude for the kind reception accorded him . He regretted that his numerous engagements had prevented him visiting the various Lodges in the Province as often as he could have wished , and he assured them it was through no lack of interest that he had not

been amongst them more frequently . If , however , he gave them satisfaction , it would give him great pleasure to continue to hold the high office , to which some years ago the Grand Master did him the honour of appointing him . His lordship proceeded to propose the health of the Deputy P . G . M . Bro . Tomkins , and the rest of the Provincial Officers present and past . Bro . Tomkins made a suitable response .

Lord Valentia proposed the health of the host and hostess , Bro . and Mrs . Keyser , observing that Bro . Keyser had not only shown himself to be an expert and indefatigable Mason , by the excellent work he had done in this Province , but he had also been most kind and hospitable , and they all thoroughly appreciated the generous entertainment of that day , and the privilege of enjoying a visit to that beautiful spot . Bro . Keyser ' s lines had evidently

fallen in pleasant places , and they all hoped that he and Mrs . Keyser and family would long be spared in health and happiness . Bro . Keyser , in reply , said that Mrs . Keyser and himself were only too delighted to receive and entertain their Masonic and lady friends , and they hoped the visitors had enjoyed their short stay at what he believed was one of the prettiest places in this part of England . He hoped they would all return home with p leasant recollections of their visit to Aldermaston .

The toast of the Mark Benevolent Fund was then honoured , and a sum of upwards of £ 8 was collected at the tables for the

same . The health of the Worshipful Master and Brethren of the Porchester Lodge was also drunk , thanks being tendered to them for their admirable arrangements for the reception of the Prov . Grand Lodge .

The Tyler ' s toast was given , after which the company rose . The repast was served in a manner which reflected much credit upon the butler and domestic staff of Aldermaston Court . After a short interval the brakes were drawn up in the courtyard , and the visitors took leave of the host and hostess , who were vociferously cheered . — " Beading Mercury . "

Norfolk.

NORFOLK .

r T ^ HE Prov . G . Lodge was held on the 22 nd inst ., at the Town I Hall , Great Yarmouth . It is four years since a similar meeting took place in the favourite seaside town , and the gathering on the present occasion was , perhaps , even larger than that held in 1893 .

At 2 o ' clock the brethren began to assemble under their respective banners , and at 2 30 the procession of present and past Officers filed into the room . Uufortunately Lord Suffield Provincial Grand Master could not be present , owing to a family bereavement . However , his place was ably filled by Deputy P . G . M . Bro . Hamon le Strange .

On the roll of the Lodges being called , each proved to be represented , and the minutes of the previous meeting were then confirmed . The Grand Eegistrar read his return of the Lodges for the past year , from which it appeared that there had been 55 initiations in the Province during the twelve months , and that the subscribing members now reach the total of 801 .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer presented the balance-sheet , which was adopted , and the various recommendations of the Board of General Purposes were agreed to . The Charities Committee presented a report , which enumerated the local cases dealt with , and further referred to the large sums that had been

subscribed to the three great Masonic Institutions . With regret it was announced that after many years' valuable work as Secretary Bro . H . G . Barwellfelt compelled to resign his position . The kind offer of Bro . Captain Mills to fill the vacancy was hailed with great satisfaction .

Bro . B . B . Morgan , who was the only brother nominated , was elected P . G . Treasurer . Bros . A . N . Mann and G . A . Fuller were re-appointed Auditors . Each of the Lodges meeting elsewhere than at Norwich was presented with a framed photograph of the bust of Lord Suffield , which was unveiled by H . B . H . the Prince of Wales in October

last . Before asking the Worshipful Masters of the twelve country Lodges to accept these gifts , which had been subscribed for by the members of the city Lodges , Bro . Hamon le Strange exp lained the circumstances which brought about this graceful act . After the transaction of some general business the Grand Lodge was closed in due form . At the commencement of the proceedings , a vote of

Norfolk.

condolence was passed to Lord Suffield , on the bereavement •which caused his involuntary absence . The Deputy Prov . G . M ., on behalf of Lord Suffield , invested the following as the Officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . E . Reeve 52 - Senior Warden G . H . L . Blake 313 - - - Junior Warden

Rev . L . G . Pollard 313 - - - \ pi ,,,, , .,-,,,, Rev . A . J . Groom 107 - - - } P lalns B . B . Morgan 213 - - ¦ - - Treasurer C . B . Cross 943 - - - - Registrar G . W . G . Barnard 943 - - - Secretary J . Francis 1808 ... - Senior Deacon

C . L . Page 93 Junior Deacon C . Hall 100 - - - - - Superintendent of Works G . C . Maynard 1193 - - - Director of Ceremonies W . Welsford 1500 - Assistant Dir . of Cers . E . Smith 1114 ... - Sword Bearer E . Austin 807 - I Standard Bearers Vincent 996 —""""

F . - - - - | < A . A . Bobby 1741 ... - Organist W . Oliver 943 .... Assistant Secretary T . Peake 107 .... Pursuivant A . H . Beesley 2237 - - - - Assistant Pursuivant C . J . Muriel 52 - . - - \ W . T . Dawson 93 - F . W . Jennings 1741 - - - a + „ . W . H . Jones 1808 - - - - V Stewards W . H . Simms Reeves 2237 - E . F . Jarvis 2602 - - - - ; Ephraim Hollidge - - - - Tyler .

At 4-30 members assembled at the Priory Hall , where they formed in procession and went from thence to the parish church , where Divine service was held . The special Psalms used were 122 and 133 , and the lesson was read by Bro . the Eev . L . G . Pollard Provincial Grand Chaplain . The choir sang Garrett ' s

grand and most appropriate anthem , " The Lord is loving unto every man , " and the hymns used were , " Fight the good fight , " and " Through the night of doubt and sorrow , " the latter being s ' ung during the offertory . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Eev . Charles John Martyn , M . A ., Past Grand Chaplain Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk .

The Eev . Brother took for his text Proverbs xi ., 24— " There is that scattereth , and yet increaseth . " He said that if they would only give themselves the trouble to look upon the facts concerning their daily lives , they would come to _ the conclusion that according as they sowed so would they reap . This was fully proved on all sides ; love begat love , and the reverse was

also true , and if they thought of only their own selfish pleasures they could not be surprised if they did not get all those things they might imagine were due to them . It was the same physically and morally , and if men tried to live righteous , sober , and godly lives , putting their trust in their Saviour , and doing their duty towards God and man , they could look forward to the

glorious prospect open to all who have lived righteous lives . One of the greatest and noblest characteristics of their Order was that of sympathy ; not only in financial matters , but in sympathising with the sorrows and trials of their fellow men . When they were asked what was that great Order to which they belonged there were many answers that might be given . They

could say in words familar to the most junior Mason of the Order that Freemasonry was a great society veiled in allegory and illustrated in symbol- ; and if asked what they wanted with allegory and symbol they could give a satisfactory answer and relate the charitable work done by the Order . It might be objected that Christianity was sufficient for all this , but they

knew as well as he did that in dealing with the world they had to deal with people as they were , and not as they would have them be ; and it was because people set up a standard for themselves of right and wrong that there were so many bickerings in the world . If everyone lived up to the principles of Christianity there would be no necessity for Freemasonry , but it

was just because human nature was very weak that they would be foolish to neglect any agency that would help their fellow men . It was the same with the temperance pledge , which was found to be a great help to many . Christians would tell them what they ought to do , but men wanted the help of such orders as theirs . Founded as it was upon the purest principles of piety

and virtue , Freemasonry extended a hand to relieve the distressed and to speak a kindly word of sympathy that was often so needful . People would again say that Christianity taught all this , but he would repeat that if they could get anything to help them on their way through life they would be foolish not to adopt it . In comparing the Order with what it was when their royal Grand Master first became connected , he referred them to the vast sums

of money spent in the cause of charity since that time . During the past twenty years a thousand new Lodges had been founded , and it was not too much to say that this was due to the way in which the Order had striven to put before its members their duty in supporting and aiding those who most needed it . Daring the present year £ 50 , 000 had been devoted to the Boys and Girls Schools and to the Aged Benevolent Institution ; £ 15 , 000 had also been contributed by the Order as a public offering of