Shropshire.

witneesed in the resources of their charitable institutions , and , alas , the need for that development had been proved by the large increase in the number of deserving applications . Would that all such could be promptly relieved . £ 50 , 000 was now annually raised for that purpose . The total sum was constantly increasing , but the number of applications increased very rapidly . As their

alms that day would therefore be devoted to the special fund raised in that memorable year to strengthen and supplement their Provincial Charitable Association , as they thought of the general needs of their institutions and the desirableness of securing provision through them for any of the poor and distressed of their Province , they would , he was sure , not turn a deaf ear to the appeal .

After the luncheon , also referred to in our last week's report , the customary toasts were honoured . The Provincial Grand Master began the toast list by proposing the health of her most Gracious Majesty the Queen . He said most of them were aware that in recent years he generally made no lengthy speech in introducing the subject which always headed

their toast list , but he was sure they would forgive him if he made an exception on that occasion , and referred shortly to the recent celebration of the longest reign in English history . They were all conscious of the fact that the private character of Her Majesty , as sovereign and woman , had done much to intensify the loyalty and enthusiasm of all her subjects . The celebrations in London not

only brought out manifestations of the people ' s loyalty , but also their appreciation of the present happy position of the British Empire . Happily , this subject had gone out of the unfruitful domain of party politics . There had been other empires in the history of the world as powerful and quite as pronounced as our own , but we were proud in the knowledge that the motto of our empire had been to combinerthe two great principles : of dominion

and freedom , both of which no . doubt did appeal to Brethren of the Craft . They were accustomed , not only to universal brotherhood , but . to a , large , amount of local freedom also . Further , they had a centre of unity as the landmark to which ail availed . In these circumstances let them hope that « the Queen and- the Craft would always enjoy mutual prosperity , so that Masons might , ever be found prepared to give a-hearty response to-the toast .

The Provincial Grand Master , again rising , asked the Brethren to drink to the health of H . E . H . the Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master . He said many of'them were glad to be present a few weeks ago at the great Masonic meeting at the

Albert Hall , London , oyer which the Prince presided with his usual dignity and affability . Let them hope His Eoyal Highness would live for many years to come , so that the Craft might enjoy his sympathy and patronage , and a continuance of that prosperity which had been so remarkable under his rule .

Bro . E . G . Venables Deputy Prov . Grand Master was heartily received on rising to propose the Prov . Grand Master Bro . Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart , He said that those unconnected with the Province must have been struck with the admirable way in which Sir Offley conducted the business of the Provincial Grand Lodge . They , as members of the Province , appreciated his services most highly , and hoped he would live long to reign over them .

The Prov . Grand Master , who was enthusiastically cheered , said he had nothing to add to what he had been , saying for the past twelve years . It was a great satisfaction to him , . as well as a comfort , to know that he had more than three hundred friends in that Province upon whose cordiality and sympathy he could always rely . Though not a very large Province it was one of which any Provincial Grand Master might well be proud of having to preside over .

Before sitting down , Sir Offley wished to give the toast of the Visitors , some of whose names he mentioned . He wished to associate with the toast more particularly the name of his old friend , Bro . the Bev . Cooper-Smith Past Grand Chaplain , with whom he spent his days of Masonic infancy at Oxford . Knowing

his great zeal for the Craft , and his good nature , he was anxious that the sermon should be preached by him , which he had done at great inconvenience to himself . He thanked him very heartily for doing so , and for his fraternal kindness , which , he was sure , all present appreciated .

The Eev . Cooper-Smith suitably replied , . and said he was much struck with the manner in which the business of the Provincial Grand Lodge was conducted that morning . Brother J . W . Bromley Prov . G . S . W . Staffordshire also responded , and said he would return home with pleasant recollections of his visit to that Province .

The Prov . Grand Master then gave the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . E . G . Venables and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge present and past . He said that since they had last met Bro . Venables had taken to himself some heavy additional labour , principally in connection with the county . He had taken the great responsibility , among others , of looking after the county roads . He rather fancied that Bro . Venables contemplated imitating their more ancient Brethren , who re-built Jerusalem ,

Shropshire.

and that he would some day meet him with a trowel in one hand , and a steam roller in the other . They heartily wished him much power to be able to do the work . The Prov . Grand Master also referred in high terms to other Officers of the Lodge .

Bro . Venables returned most sincere thanks . He could hardly thank the Prov . Grand Master sufficiently for keeping him in his post as Deputy for the past twelve years without re-electing him . However , he was still a deputy , ' and he thanked him for the honour .

His Worship the Mayor ( Bro . E . Cresswell Peele ) also replied . He felt a considerable amount of embarrassment in responding to the toast . During the past few months it had been his task to inflict many speeches upon many a patient audience , and his experience had been that the less one knew about the subject on which he was speaking the more one could say about it . But , unfortunately , he knew so very much about the toast

with which his name had been associated that , as he saidbefore , he felt a certain amount of embarrassment in replying . He had had the honour of serving the office of Provincial Grand Deacon under a former Provincial Grand Master , but he was inclined about thirteen years ago to take some relief from the duties of a Mason , and therefore he little thought he should be called upon to say something that day .

Bro . W . Adams P . P . J . W . gave the Masonic Charities ,-and Bro . J . Bodenham Past A . G . D . of C . responded . The Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to an end . The arrangements were in the hands of a committee , consisting of Bros . Captain Williams-Freeman , W . H . Spaull , W . Baxter and V . C . L . Crump , and the satisfactory way in

which everything passed off is evidence of the efforts they must have put forth in order to make this meeting one of , if not the most successful in the history of the Provincial Grand Lodge . The brethren who took part in the day ' s proceedings were presented with interesting souvenirs of the meeting in the shape of two programmes , one giving the orders of procession to and

services in St . Chad ' s Church , and the other a menu card and toast list , giving the names of the Provincial Grand Officers . The programmes contained the arms of the Province and those of Sir Offley-Wakeman emblazoned in colours , and formed an attractive memento of the occasion . They were printed at the offices of Messrs Woodall , Minshall and Co ., Oswestry . — " Oswestry Advertiser . "

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