Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

The Prov . Grand Lodge was first formally opened , the Grand Master in the chair . Col . Calthorpe , S . W . ; Bro . Caute , J . W . ; the Rev- E . Y . Nepean , G . C . ; Bro . Frost , G . Treasurer ; Bro . li . L . Loveland , G . Reg . ; Bro . Plickman , Grand Sec . ; Bro . J . E . L . Feuvre , Assist . G . S . ;

Bro . Wallingford , G . S . D . ; and Bro . Dew , G . J . D . After the opening the P . G . M . and Wardens were saluted , and Bro . Le Feuvre read the minutes of former Grand Lodge and especial Grand Lodge . The minutes of the last Grand Lodge having been put and confirmed ,

the Prov . Grand Master before putting the minutes of the special Grand Lodge , said , " I •may be permitted perhaps to allude to a circumstance which took place at the last meeting of Grand Lodge . On that occasion the members present felt that they had sustained a severe loss in the death of our late lamented Deputy Prov .

Grand Master , Bro . Stebbing , and in paying a tribute of affection to his memory a wide-spread feeling was manifested that it should be ascertained \\ hether some more enduring memorial of the feeling that existed among us should not be erected to him . That wide-spread feeling took effect in the appointment of a Committee in order to ascertain what would be the

most convenient mode of giving expression to the feeling which so extensively existed among the Masons of the province . It was difficult to say till the Committee had been appointed what would be the best course to pursue . That Committee , however , fortified with the instructions

of the Grand Lodge , have since that period met , and I would now allude to the result of their deliberations . I would at the present moment make no substantive proposals , and I would invite no discussion on the subject , because I believe at a later period of lli . i meeting a

substantive proposal will be made . But I think , having been made President of that Committee , I should be discharging my duty by seizing the first opportunity of acquainting the brethren with what has transpired . The Committee , on entering on their proceedings , regretted to find that

the circumstances of our late lamented brother were not quite such as they might have hoped , and consequently that it was desirable that the form which the memorial should take would be some assistance to the widow of him who is gone . The Committee resolved " That the

Lodges and Chapters of the Province and Freemasons generally be solicited to subscribe to a fund , to be appropriated as the Committee shall determine , for the benefit of the Widow of ovulate lamented Bro . J- R-. Stebbing , whose circumstances at the time of his decease render this

appeal absolutely necessary . I need not on the presentoccasion allude further to the talents of our late lamented brother , or to the respect in which he was held ; it is sufficient to say that we are all sensible of the loss we have sustained and we all wish to do something in respect to his

memory . Some no doubt may be greatly disappointed thatthe circumstances of our late brother were not such as they would have anticipated ; but , brethren , it is not always in the power of man to control the substance which he possesses , and at all events wc must regret that Bro .

Stebbing gave more consideration for the affairs of others than for his own . We must highly appreciate the sentiments which dictated his exertions on behalf of every charitable institution and every charitable cause that was submitted to him , for he exerted himself on behalf of all of

them , we well know , and that may possibly , in some manner have interfered with the attention he gave to his own individual affairs . Other cases have been known where illustrious men have given up more of their time to the affairs of others than they have bestowed on their own .

I need only allude to one of the most illustrious men that ever guided the affairs of this nation ; I mean William Pitt . I believe that every section of the people of England , of whatever parties they were composed , did justice to his disinterested conduct on every occasion , and it

was well known that it was simply from the care and attention he devoted to the affairs ofthe nation that his own affairs were comparatively neglected . I only allude to that casually to show that sometimes it is the case that those who give up a great deal of their time and attention to the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

affairs of others do not bestow that time and attention to their own affairs which otherwise they mig ht have done . But however that may be , such is the case , that some exertions are urgently required for the assistance of the widow of Bro . Stebbing . What form that may take is

another question- I would not enter into that at the present moment more than to say that any mode which one individual lodge may wish to g ive effect to their feelings will be gratefully received . I think that the most convenient mode for the Provincial Grand Lodge would be

rather to give an annuity than a donation , but that we will discuss more fully upon the motion which is to be made ; but I would at the present moment content myself with saying that the committee having considered that state of affairs , having ascertained that the case is really urgent ,

earnestly commend it to the consideration of any lodge in the province and all individual Masons who naturally feel an interest in paying a tribute of affection to one they loved so well , I beg to move " That the minutes of the last especial [ Grand Lodge be confirmed . " Carried

nem . con . The report of the Committee for auditing the Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts was then received . Bro . Hickman brought up the report of the Committee for managing the Provincial Grand

Lodge Funds . Bro . Hickman proposed , and Bro . Frost seconded a grant of £ 20 to a brother , as recommended by the report , but Bro . Wallingford moved , and Bro . Nash seconded an amendment to the effect that the grant be made £ 30 .

Bro . Hickman said he had no objection to the amendment , which was then put and carried , after being supported by Captain Moore . Bro . Hickman proposed , and Bro . Wallingford seconded a grant of £ _ to another case , which grant was made .

Another grant was also carried of i £ i ~ to an old and respected brother , on the motion of Bro . Hickman , seconded by Bro . Nash . The sum of £ 288 annuities standing to the credit ofthe Provincial Grand Lodge with the Plampshire Banking Company was ordered to be

invested in New Zealand Consolidated 5 per cent . Stock . The Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts next presented showed a balance of ^ 194 ios . in hand , and Bro . Frost , Prov . G . Treasurer stated that since that account had been made up and printed , £$ 8 2 s . more had been received .

The accounts were then received and adopted . On the motion of Bro . Eve , seconded by Bro . Loveland , Bro . Frost was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer . Bro . Frost in acknowledging his obligations

to the brethren for his election , said it was a great honour they had done him , and he begged to assure them that any efforts of his would not be wanting to carry out the duties of his office in as efficient a manner as he possibly could . Pie hoped those efforts would give the same satisfaction as hitherto .

The Committee for auditing thc Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts was then appointed . The brethren selected were the Masters , Wardens , and Secretaries of thc fourth four lodges on the Provincial roll . Bros . Wallingford , Furber , Le Feuvre , and Hare , were appointed the

Committee for managing the Provincial Grand Lodge Funds . Bro . Hacker , W . M . 723 , then introduced his motion , " That the sum of £ 100 be voted to the fund being raised by the Provincial Grand Lodge Committee for the benefit ofthe widow

ofthe late Brother J . li . Stebbing . " He said that after what the li . W . Prov . G . M ., had said it would be unnecessary for him to say much . All the brethren knew the excellent character of their late Bro . Stebbing , and how he carried out

his Masonic duties , although he had left his family so badly off . Whatever the Grand Lodge would choose to give as a memorial he thought should be given to a fund for the support of Bro . Stebbing ' s widow . Pie concluded by moviag the resolution of which he had given notice . The motion having been seconded , Bro . Hick-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

men said that with the view of increasing the fund to be appropriated for the assistance of their worthy brother ' s widow it had been suggested , and for the purpose of eliciting the opinion ofthe Grand Lodge upon the subject , he would conclude the motion proposed in these

words , "That a sum of money should be appropriated annually from the Prov . G . Lodge Funds for that purpose , " rather than that a capital sum should be taken from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and placed in the hands of a Committee or Trustees . The

Provincial Grand Lodge seemed to him to be in a different position to other lodges ; they had a Committee every year appointed , and therefore as a large sum of money would be diverted from the capital sum from the control ofthe Provincial Grand Lodge , and at the same , time not yield

so large a sum as he himself felt j that Prov . Grand Lodge could afford out of its income , would rather mar the scheme . He begged to move " That ^' 20 annually be appropriated from Grand Lodge funds for the benefit of the widow of Bro . Stebbing . "

Bro . Hacker said that in that case he begged to withdraw his motion . Bro . Furber thought that if ^ t ; 2 o a year was given to Mrs . Stebbing , and that was moved for in Provincial Grand Lodge every year it would keep the brethren in affectionate remembrance of

Bro . Stebbing . They would year by year have his name mentioned , and would be reminded of the good Mason they had lost . He had great pleasure in seconding Bro . Hickman ' s motion . He believed it would be more beneficial to the widow , than voting a single sum of money . They

who knew Bro . Stebbing in Southampton , knew him better than most others . He had the pleasure of passing the last evening in Masonry with Bro . Stebbing , who was then in his most happy and genial spirit . It was a pleasure to see him go out of lodge that evening full of life and

spirit and never happier or in better health . The next morning he went on his fatal journey and came back to die . Pie thought of Bro . Stebbing with a great deal of affection and respect . He was always among Masons . When an object of charity was brought

before him he always forgot himself at once and threw himself into the business of carrying out the object of assisting it . That he always undertook to do , and he ( Bro . Furber ) thought they would all feel they were doing something towards following in Bro . Stebbing ' s

footsteps when they were supporting , and adding to the comforts of one whom that brother dearly loved and left behind him , by giving her an annuity of , f £ 2 o ( applause ) . The Prov . G . M . said they were all much indebted to Bro . Hacker for bringing forward

his motion , and also for so cheerfully and readily agreeing to the amendment and withdrawing { his own resolution . Anything which was like permanent assistance was no doubt more valuable than a single sum , which if invested was not

capable of affording lengthened assistance . He thought it would be a very grateful tribute of their affection for the memory of him who had gone if the Grand Lodge assented to the proposition of Brother Hickman .

Bro . Hickman informed Grand Lodge that the £ 20 would be added to the fund which was being raised for Bro . Stebbing ' s widow . Bro . Eve would bear his testimony to the character of Bro . Stebbing , and thought that all which had been said of him was not too much ;

for a more excellent Mason it would not be possible to find ; anything he could say of him would not add one tittle to his worth . But with reference to the two questions submitted to the brethren he thought they ought not to come to a conclusion at once . He did not know exactly

the position in which the widow was left ; he did not exactly know her age ; and those facts ought to be considered by Grand Lodge . He did not think they could do too much for Bro . Stebbing , but it ought to be considered by

Grand Lodge whether it had the power of voting an annuity for any purpose . They might vote the whole of their present funds if they liked ; but there was a question in his mind whether they had the power to charge future Grand Lodges with an annuity or payment of any kind .