Grand Officers.

DEPUTY GRAND REGISTRAR . Bro . R . HORTON SMITH , Q . C , who was appointed to this office at the Grand Festival of last year , has had the honour of being re-appointed for the ensuing year . It will , doubtless , therefore , suffice if we reproduce on this occasion the leading facts in a career which dates from the I ith November , 1856 , when he was initiated in the Scientific Lodge , No . SS—then No . 105—Cambridge , and in which

he has won distinction in those branches of Masonry with which he has been connected . In 1861 he assisted in founding Isaac Newton University Lodge , No . 859 , and was rewarded for his services in this and other respects with the collar of Prov . Grand Registrar Cambridgeshire . He is a P . M . of Ihe Carnarvon Lodge , No . 70 S , and P . Prov . Grand Registrar of Middlesex , and in 1 S 95 ; was installed

the second W . M . of the Chancery Bar Lodge , No . 2456 , of which he was a founder and first S . W . In Royal Arch Masonry , he is a P . '/ .. of the Watford Chapter , No . 404 , and P . Prov . Grand P . Sojourner Hertfordshire , and in the Order of the Temple , a P . E . P . of the Stuart Encampment . He has served on the Board of General Purposes and the Colonial Board , and is a Life Goven . or of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

SENIOR GRAND DEACONS . Bro . Sir AUGUSTUS F . W . E . WKHSTER , Bart ., lately Captain of the Grenadier Guards , was initiated in United Lodge , No . 1629 , in June , 1890 , but though he has been a member of our Order for so short a period , he has done a considerable amount of service . He was installed W . M . of his mother lodge in July , 1 S 95 , and was re-elected and re-installed in the chair in July of last year . In 18 95 he joined

St . Hubert Lodge , No . 1373 , Andover , and had the honourof being appointed Prov . S . G . Warden of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on nth August last . He was also , in 1896 , one of the founders of the Household Brigade Lodge , No . 2614 , and was designated in the warrant and invested—alter the lodge had been constituted by his Royal Highness , the M . W . G . Master , its permanent Master—as its

first Senior Warden . He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in United Chapter , No . 1629 , and at the present time occupies the chair of Third Principal . Be it added that he is a member of the Studholme Chapter of Rose Croix , 18 " , No . 6 7 , and a Life Governor of the Male Fund of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

Bro . Sir FRANCIS G . M . BOII . RAIJ , Bart ., J . P . and D . L . of the County of Norfolk and Major of the 3 rd Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment , is one of the most prominent Masons in Norfolk . He was initiated in Union Lodge , No , 52 , Norwich , on the 23 rd May , 1 S 71 , and installed W . M . in 18 S 0 , being appointed the same year Prov . S . G . Warden . He was exalted in the Royal George Chapter , No . $ 2 , Norwich , on the 20 th lune , 1870 , and installed in the chair of

M . E . Z . in 1884 . In the following year he was appointed to the chair of Second Principal in the Prov . Grand Chapter . He is also a Mark Mason , having filled the chair of A . in the Walpole Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 92 , Norwich , in 1 S 92 ; a Knight Templar and Past E . P . of the Cabbell Preceplory of that Orde- and a Past M . W . S . of the Albert Edward Chapter , No . S 7 , King ' s

Lynn , which was founded in 1 SS 0 , and for the warrant of which H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was , according to a statement in Bro . Hamon le Strange ' s " History of Freemasonry in Norfolk , " one of the petitioners . He has also taken the 31 " in the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and is a Life Subscriber of our three Masonic Institutions .

Bro . Squire R . BANCROFT , one of the ablest and most popular members of the dramatic profession , was initiated in the Drury Lane Lodge , No . 3127 , on the 6 th April , 1886 , and having held various minor offices , was installed VV . M . in 1892 . He is also a member and P . M . of the Universal Lodge , No . 181 , having joined it in the year 1 S 90 , and been installed in the chair three years later . He is a Life Governor of both our Scholastic Institutions , and , as we have noticed that Bro . Bancroft has latteriy devoted sundry of his admirable readings to Charitable

purposes , it is by no means unlikely that he may some day render a like service to one of our Masonic Institutions . Other members of the same profession have held office in Grand Lodge , notably , the late Brn . Sir Augustus Harris , to whom we are chiefly indebted for the establishment of Drury Lane Lodge , and Bro . E . Terry , who were elected Grand Treasurer in 1 SS 9 and 1 S 90 respectively , but the last appointed Grand Officer was the late Bro . Benjamin Webster , upon whom was conferred in I 8 <; I the collar of l . G . D .

JUNIOR GRAND DEACONS . Bro . MALCOLM MORRIS , F . R . C . S . Edin ., a distinguished member of the medical profession , on whom the mantle of our late Bro . Sir Erasmus Wilson may be said to have fallen , was initiated in the Aire and Calder Lodge , No . 4158 Goole , in the Province of West Yorkshire , in April , 1 S 72 , and in three short years had the honour of being installed its W . M . lie joined the Castle Loch'e of

Harmony , No . 2 ( 1 , on the 23 rd January , 1 S 82 , was installed W . M . in 1 . S 90 , anil represented it on the Board of Grand Stewards during the year 1890-1 . He was exalted as a Royal Arch Mason in one of the Wakefield Chapters , in July , 1873 , and having subsequently joined the Castle Chapter of Harmony ' . No . 26 , was installed in the chair of First Principal ' / .. in 1890 . He is a Life Governor of all three Masonic Institutions and has served once as Festival Steward in behalf of each of them .

Bro . RICHARD WILSON , of an important banking firm in Leeds , was initiated in the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 2 S 9 , on 6 th November , 1 S 73 , and has been twice installed as its W . M . —for the first time on the 4 th December , 1 S 79 , and again on the 3 rd December , 1891—thus having the honour of presiding over his mother lodge during the year in which it celebrated the centenary of its constitution . He has twice held office in the Prov . Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , firstly in 1 SS 3

when the brethren elected him Prov . Grand Treasurer , and , secondly , in 181 / 1 when he was appointed Prov . S . G . W . He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason on the 13 th April , 1875 , in the Chapter of Fidelity , No . 28 9 , Leeds , and in February 1883 , was installed its M . E . Z ., while the year following he ] was elected Prov . G . ' Treasurer of the Prov . Grand Chapter . He is also a member of the Ancient and

Accepted Rite , having taken the 30 , and being a P . M . W . S . of | Lcodiensi < Chapter , Rose ( Croix , iS , No . 77 , Leeds . As regards our Institutions , he has rendered valuable service to all three , being a Life Governor of each , and having served three Stewardships for the Boys' School , two for the Girls ' School anil two for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Instilulion .

Bro . J . T . FiKiiftNK , M . P ., J . P ., D . L . High Sheriff of Monmouthshire , was initiated in the I sea Lodge , No . 683 , Newport , Monmouthshire , 011 the 30 th July 1872 , and since then has at different times been elected a joining member of the Lodge of Light , No . 4 68 , Birmingham , the Lodge of Antiquity , No . ? ., and Ihe Lodge of Friendship and Harmony , No . 1616 , Weybridge , Surrey . In ifirii

fitwas installed W . Master of the last named lodge , and the year following was appointed Prov . S . G . Warden , Surrey . He is a Royal Arch Mason , having ' been exalted in the St . Woolo's Chapter , No . 613 , Newport , and has rendered servicj to the Benevolent Institution as a Life Governor and Steward , besides being a member of the Bpard of Stewards for the approaching Festival of the Girls' Schcol

Grand Officers.

GRAND SUPERINTENDENT OF WORKS . Bro . ALEXANHKK ROSE STUNNING , who succeeds Bro . Rowland Plumbe as Grand Superintendent of Works , was initiated in St , Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 222 , on the 27 th June , 18 S 4 , and installed W . M . on the 24 th November , 1 S 90 . He is also a joining member of Jerusalem Lodge , No . 197 , and a Royal Arch Mason , having been exalted in the Orpheus Chapter , No . 170 G , on the 21 st May , 18 S 7 . He is a Life Subscriber , and has twice served as Steward for the Girls' School ,

DEPUTY GRAND DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES . Bro . J AMKS STKPUKNS , who has been honoured with the appointment of Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , has rendered so many and such varied and important services to Freemasonry and its Institutions , that we are confident there is none who will grudge him the distinction . He has been a member of the Craft for nearly 20 years , having been initiated in the Hyde Park Lodge , No . 1425 , on the 10 th January , 187 S , and , having filled the minor offices , was installed

W . M . in May , 1885 . In 1 SS 6 he began to look about him for new worlds to conquer , and joined the Phn > nix Lodge , No . 173 , and the Domatic Lodge , No . 177 , which celebrated its centenary in that year , had a hand in founding thc Tivoli Lodge , No . 2120 , of which he became Master in 18 S 9 , and was elected a member of the Prince Frederick William Lodge , No . 753 , of which he was Master in 1 S 91 . He joined the Kilburn Lodge , No . iCoS , in 1 S 8 S , and was installed in the chair on the 26 th January , 18 93 , and in 1 SS 9 became a founder , and in July , 1 S 94 , the

W . i \( . of the Viator Lodge , No . 230 S . In 1 S 90 he was one of the founders , and in October , 1 S 95 , was installed as W . M . of the Cricklewood Lodge , No . 2361 , while in 1892 he took a leading part in establishing a couple of lodges in the Province of Buckinghamshire , namely , the Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge , No . 2420 , Waddesdon , of which he was installed the first Master , and the Carrington Lodge , No . 2421 , Amersham . But perhaps his most successful achievement has been the founding , in concert wilh his friend , Bro . W . H . Bailey , who has just vacated

the office of Grand Treasurer , of the Lodge of Fellowship , No . 2535 , in 1 S 94 , of which Bro . Bailey was installed Worshipful Master , while Bro . Stephens has rendered it invaluable services in the very onerous and responsible office of Secretary . For his services to Masonry in Buckinghamshire he has been thrice appointed to office in its Prov . Grand Lodge , firstly in 1 S 92 as Prov . G . Steward ; then the year following as Prov . S . G . Deacon ; and lastly in 18 96 as Prov . S . G . Warden . Add to this that he has been several times elected to serve

as a member of the Board of General Purposes and wc have before us a career in Craft Masonry , which has doubtless been equalled , but cannot easily be surpassed . In Royal Arch Masonry , to which he was exalted in the Prince Frederick William Chapter , No . 753 , on the 2 SU 1 October , 18 S 5 , he has laboured with equal diligence and success . He was installed M . E . Z . of the Belgrave Chapter , No . 749 , in June , 1 S 91 ; of the Hornsey Chapter , No . 890 , in April , 1 S 92 ; and of his mother chapter ( No . 753 ) in April , 1893 ; while last year he took a

leading part in founding two chapters—the Fellowship , No . 2535 , and the Studholme Brownrigg , No . 2421—in both of which he holds the office of Treasurer . He was a member of the Grand Chapter Committee in 1895-6 , and was last year appointed Prov . Grand Registrar of Buckinghamshire , and a Past Grand Standard Bearer of Supreme Grand Chapter . He is also a P . M . of the Prince Frederick William Mark Lodge , No . 45 S , and has doubtless had , or in the future will have , distinctions awaiting him in other Degrees . But his other

important work has had relation to our Charitable Institutions , of all of which he has constituted himself a Vice Patron and Mrs . Stephens a Patron , in addition to which he has served seven Stewardships for the Girls' School , eight for thc Boys'School , of whose Board of Management he is one of tlie London members , and eight for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and Mrs . Stephens at some 10 or a dozen festivals in a like

capacity . Lastly both he and his wife are Life Governors and past Festival Stewards of the Mark Benevolent Fund , while as regards energetic action in respect of any movement which is calculated to strengthen or promote the interests of the Craft , it may be said of Bro . Stephens without flattery that he has but few equals and no superiors . In short , as we suggested at the outset of this record , there is none to grudge him an honour which has been so well and so worthily earned .

ASSISTANT GRAND DIRECTORS OK CEREMONIES . Bro . ARTHUR W . ORWIN , M . D ., was initiated in April , 1 SS 1 , in the Athen . i'iim Lodge , No . 1491 , and ten years later was installed as W . Master . He his also at different times been elected a joining member of the St . Albans Lodge , No . 29 , the Bushey Hall Lodge , No . 2323 , Uushey , near Watford , Herts , and the Guildhall School of Music Lodge , No . 2451 ,. He was exalted in the Orpheus Chapter , No . 1706 , in which he is the present occupant of the chair of H ., and is also a member of the Prince of Wales Chapter , No . 259 , and the Studholme , No .

1591 . He is a Mark Mason , being P . M . of Florence Nightingale Lodge , No . 44 , Woolwich , ami Past Prov . J . G . D . Kent , and has been perfected Rose Croix , being a member of the Studholme Chapter , No . 6 7 , of that Degree under the Suprem ; Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite . Lastly , he has shown himself a generous supporter of both our Scholastic and the Benevolent Institutions , as well as of the Mark Benevolent Fund , being a Vicu-I ' atron and once Steward of the Girls' School , and Vice-President of the Boys' School and Benevolent Institution , having served three Stewardships for the former and two for the latter , bes ides being a Vice-Patron and twice Steward for the Mark Benevolent Fund .

Bro . WILLIAM RUSSRLL , J . P ., is a very tower of strength in Kentish Freemasonry , with whose fortunes he has been closely associated for the last 30 years . He * was initiated in a London lodge—the Lodge of Friendship , No . 206—on the 8 th November , 1 S 6 C , but the year following he joined the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , Gravesend , of which he is still a member , and over which he presided as W . M . in the year 1877 . He was lor two years a member of the Union Lodge , No . 7 67 , Karachi , and of the Lome Lodge , No . 1347 , Sutton , in the Province of Surrey ,

having joined the former in 1 S 67 and the latter in 1871 . In 1875 he joined the Lodge of Sympathy , No , 483 , Gravesend , and the same year became founder and was the first W . M , of the Erasmus Wilson Lodge , No . 1464 , meeting in the same town . On the 23 rd May , 1 S 95 , he was , for thc second time , placed in the Master's chair , and had the pleasure of appointing and investing as S . W . the son of a brother Past Master rejoicing in the surname of Russell . in 1877—the year of his Mastership of Lodge No . 1877—he was honoured with the appointment of

Prov . S . G . D . of Kent , while in the year of the Queen ' s Jubliee the Prov . Grand Master conferred upon him the brevet rank of Past Prov . Senior Grand Warden . Since 1881 ) he has held the responsible post of Prov . Grand Treasurer . He was exalted in Ihe High Cross Chapter , No . S 29 , Darlford—formerly No . 754—on the 4 th March , 1868 , and was installed in the chair of First Principal '/ .. on the 16 th October , 1877 . In 1882 he was appoinled Prov . G . Registrar and in i 8 S 5 Prov . Grand J . Last year he became founder and was installed first M . E . Z . of the

Chapter of Sympathy , No . 483 , Gravesend , in addition t . i which he has held concurrently with the sime o / lice in Provincial Grand Lodge , the Prov . Grand Treasurership of the Provincial Grand Chapter since 1889 . As for the Charities he is personally a Life Governor of all Hirer-, and has served two Stewardships for the Girls' School and one for each of the olher two , while in 18 S 8 his elder son served as Steward and became Patron of the Girls' School , and in 1892 his younger son and daughter served as Stewards at the Jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and became Vice-Patrons ,