Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.
Let them not suppose that he wanted to stop their bounty or interfere in any way with what Grand Lodge was disposed to do , bnt he did not think they had the power to bind Grand Lodge to do it in future . Their present Grand Master might die , and another would be placed
in the chair who mig ht not know so much as he of Bro . Stebbing , and mig ht not feel disposed to continue the annuity . A sum total might now be given to mark their appreciation ofthe deceased brother , and if on a future occasion thev wanted to do it again , then
they mig ht make a further vote , but they had no rig ht to charge the future funds of the Grand Lodge with an annual payment . He would suggest that they should reconsider Bro . Hacker ' s motion . A brother suggested that the annuity shonld
cease if the widow should marry again . What was her age ' Bro . Le Feuvre agreed with Bro . Eve in what he had said with regard to Bro . Stebbing , that too much could not be thought of him , but he must support the amendment . The age of
the widow was about 52 . The Prov . Grand Master said that no doubt this Grand Lodge had no power to grant an annuity for the future , but he thought that future Grand Lodges would make an annual grant in accordance with the views of the present Grand
Lodge . It had been said that time would weaken the recollection of Bro . Stebbing . But no doubt a long time would elapse before there was a prospect of this grant being discontinued . Time did pass very quickly , and this grant would soon exceed the capital of 1 U 100 , proposed by
Bro . Hacker . Although it was veiy valuable to have suggestions on either side , he thought on the whole the proposition was the best that £ 20 be granted , with a prospect of it being continued from year to year . He would , therefore ,
as this was the only proposition at present before the Grand Lodge , put it , "That , £ 20 be paid to the Committee appointed at the meeting of the especial Lodge . " The motion was cat-ried unanimously .
The Prov . Grand Master then called upon the Secretary to read any communications that bad been received , bnt said that before doing so he must inform their , that H . R . H . the buke of
Connaught , being a Mason , it was thought he might be in Aldershot or the neighbourhood , and would like to honour them with a visit , and therefore he had bven invited . He was not able to come , but it would have been very gratifying to them all if he had found it convenient to
come . Bro . Hickman then read the following letter " Buckingham Palace , " ] v \ y 15 , 1 S 74 " Dear Sir ,
' ' ! he Duke of Connaug ' -t desires me to say that he regrets he will not be able to be at Aldershot on the 24 th . His Royal Highness will be somewhere in the neighbourhood , but is not able to say where he will be . " Yours fraternally , " V . FlTZGKRALI ) . "
The next business was thc appointment of Grand Ofliceis for the year . The Prov . G . M . said he was not going to appoint a Deputy Grand Master while Grand Lodge was in mourning for their late Deputy Grand Master .
The following brethren were ( hen invested : — Best , 1373 Prov . G . S . W . G . S . Lancaster 487 Prov . G . f . W . Rev . Basil Wilberforce Prov . G . Chaplain Rev . Churchill ... Prov . G . Chaplain Capt . Moore I ' rov . G . Reg .
Mark F ,. Frost Prov . G . Treas . Hickman Prov . G . Sec . Capt . Richardson , 133 1 Prov . G . S . D . Hacker , 72 , 3 Prov . J * G . D . Trigg , 804 Prov . G . S . of W J . Mc Williiun , 195 Prov . G . D . C .
H . J . Guy , 1069 Prov . G . A . D . C Craven , 342 Prov . G . S . B . J . Mc Kenzie , 1 . 331 Prov . G . Purs . Sharpe Prov . G . Org . Miles , 130 „ , Prov . G . Stwd . C . W . Jellicoe , 1 . 3 c Prov . G . Stwd G . Bond , 487 „ ,......, I ' rov . G . Stwd
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.
II . D . Cecill , 487 Prov . G . Stwd . Dalton , 1331 Prov . G . Stwd . G . Andrews , 723 Prov . G . Stwd . Brigg Prov . G . Tyler . ( A second Grand Secretary being against the
rules of United Grand Lodge , the Prov . G . M . requested Bro . Le Feuvre to assist as a friend in the performance of the work of Prov . G . Sec . without actually holding the office , as that was not " constitutional . " )
Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided with admirable skill by Mr . Marsh , confectioner , High-street , Aldershot , under the superintendence of Bro . Hacker , W . M . 723 , and Bro . McKenzie , W . M . 1381 , by which two
lodges the Provincial Grand Lodge was entertained . After the banquet the toasts were proposed . " The Queen and the Craft " having been duly honoured , " The Marquess of Ripon " was next proposed by the Prov . Grand Master . The
Right W . Brother , he said , had shown great zeal in Masonry , and also in the cause of its charities . When he paid a visit to Southampton some short time ago he had an opportunity of proving the loyalty of this province . This toast having bt en also most cordially received ,
The Deputy Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers , past and present , ' was proposed . The Prov . Grand Master said no Grand Master or W . Master could perform his duties properly without able coadjutors to assist him , and "in the Earl of Carnarvon they had a nobleman who was both able and willing to discharge the
duties of the Deputy Grand Master . They must not forget that his lordship was connected with the province of Hampshire , but he had no leisure moaients at present , or he would most likely have been among the brethren on this occasion . He at all times took a warm interest in Freemasonry .
Bro . Hickman , Past G . D . C , responded . The name of the Earl of Carnarvon was a household word in Hampshire , and one they held in high esteem , not only in his lordship ' s capacity as a legislator , but as a brother Mason . They had
the honour of his presence at Southampton when the Prov . Grand Master was installed . The Grand Lodge Officers did their best to perform their duties properly , faithfully , and zealously , and whatever was entrusted to them was carried
out to the best of their ability . The duties were certainly very slight , but they made those who performed them legislatorsjin Masonry for the rest of their lives . It was a great pleasure to all of them to uphold the dignity and usefulness ofthe
Craft , and to assist those Masonic charities with which it was so intimately connected . He thanked them for the great compliment they had paid the Deputy Grand Master and the Officers of the Grand Lodge .
Bro . Eve said , in [ imposing " The Health of the Prov . Grand Master , " that he knew it would be most warmly received . They had the pleasure of being presided over by a gentleman who had always endeayoured to promote the interests of the Order . There was no Prov . G . Master who devoted more time and attention to the' duties of his office than he . Neither time
nor occasion was lost by him in forwarding the interests of the Craft among the brethren over whom he reigned . It was due to him that a great many brethren had been enrolled in the Order in Hampshire and the Isle of Wi ght During his reign several lodges had been
added to the list , and he had been untiring in his endeavours to confirm the good order and regulation which were so well known in his province , fie had succeeded a very old and tried Mason , Sir Lucius Curtis , one of those so well remembered by the brethren in Aldershot , as he had been
there on more than one occasion * Bro . Beach had ably filled his post . He was at all times ready to come to their small town of Aldershot , not only on Masonic but on other occasions , when the good of liis fellow creatures required that he
should advocate their cause . It was a great satisfaction to know that he was ever ready to do good to the Craft , and that he was also foremost in assisting every charitable object ( great cheers , amidst which '' The Prov . G . Master ' s Health , " was enthusiastically drank ) .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.
The Prov . G . M . said that the marked manner in which they had drank his health was very pleasing to him , as he could sincerely say that if he was greatly flattered at receiving such a warm testimony at the hands of his brethren that they appreciated his humble endeavours to reign
properly over their province . It was an exceedingly difficult task for any one to rule an important province . It was astonishing how many things turned up which no one had any suspicion of , and which were continually being bi ought before the notice ofthe Prov . G .
Master . He had to adjudicate upon them to the best of his ability , he had to try in some cases to smooth over some little unpleasantnesses and acerbities which arose , and to exercise his tact in reconciling conflicting opinions . It was a difficult thins * to know how to act to the best
possible advantage . But it was his earnest wish to promote , as Bro . Eve had said , the best interests of Freemasonry in the province . If he could only succeed in doing so , he should be most heartily and sincerely pleased , They were reminded of many things when they met together
on these annual occasions , and certainly first and foremost on this occasion they were reminded of the uncertainty of human existence . He could not help alluding to it , when he remembered that last year he had one of the ablest assistants by his side , who was ready and willing to aid him in
the work of Freemasonry , with his eloquent voice and cordial help . They had lost in Bro . Stebbing one of the ablest assistants that ever Provincial Grand Master had . They could not help reflecting , that any one of them , who was
in health and spirits that day might be struck down the next , which was a fact that ought to impress upon them the duties of Freemasonry , that they ought so to act up to the lessons they received that they might the better be prepared to meet their fate when it arrived . When a
brother was struck down in the prime of health it must be some satisfaction to know that he had exerted himself to a great extent for the benefit of his fellowmen . Any one who had lived for himself alone , and done little or nothing for others , could not be said to have lived his term
of existence with the same profit as another who had devoted himself as far as he possibly could to relieve the wants of his neighbours . In their late brother they had an example of a man who was ready on every occasion warmly to advocate the cause
and to assist the wants of others . They had many other lessons inculcated by Masonry . They knew very well that they belonged to a vast system which permeated through every part of the world ; and when he saw the military brethren present on this occasion ( great applause )
he could not but be reminded that they might be called before long , some of them , to go into parts of the world where they would meet others whom they had never sc :-. * - ' . before 5 but they might be sure that if among those strangers there were Masons they would meet
with friends . ( Cheers . ) They would enter into no new phase of existence , they would only enter into another part of that grand Masonic system which existed and was spread over the whole habitable world . It had existed from time immemorial 5 its branches were spread
over , its roots had taken firm hold in the earth . Every part of the world saw its branches 5 wherever a Mason went he was sure to find a friend to assist him , and lo hold out the hand of fellowship to him . It was a gratifying reflection to know that they belonged to a great
brotherhoood not restricted to their own pare of the world , but which spread over the whole . He had himself had an opportunity of testing this . He had travelled over other countries from one end to another , and he had never failed to meet Masonic hearts ready to render him any kind
assistance in their power , and he had always felt that he had in them a friend . ( Cheers . ) But though Masonry existed in every part of the world , yet , as Englishmen , they felt it incumbent on them to show , by tlieir conduct and
practice , that they were capable of setting an example to Masons in other parts . ( Hear , hear . ) It might be a friendly rivalry ; it might be a rivalry in a good cause ; but still English Masonry had attained such a high and noble position that we should feel it incumbent on us to show that we ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.
Let them not suppose that he wanted to stop their bounty or interfere in any way with what Grand Lodge was disposed to do , bnt he did not think they had the power to bind Grand Lodge to do it in future . Their present Grand Master might die , and another would be placed
in the chair who mig ht not know so much as he of Bro . Stebbing , and mig ht not feel disposed to continue the annuity . A sum total might now be given to mark their appreciation ofthe deceased brother , and if on a future occasion thev wanted to do it again , then
they mig ht make a further vote , but they had no rig ht to charge the future funds of the Grand Lodge with an annual payment . He would suggest that they should reconsider Bro . Hacker ' s motion . A brother suggested that the annuity shonld
cease if the widow should marry again . What was her age ' Bro . Le Feuvre agreed with Bro . Eve in what he had said with regard to Bro . Stebbing , that too much could not be thought of him , but he must support the amendment . The age of
the widow was about 52 . The Prov . Grand Master said that no doubt this Grand Lodge had no power to grant an annuity for the future , but he thought that future Grand Lodges would make an annual grant in accordance with the views of the present Grand
Lodge . It had been said that time would weaken the recollection of Bro . Stebbing . But no doubt a long time would elapse before there was a prospect of this grant being discontinued . Time did pass very quickly , and this grant would soon exceed the capital of 1 U 100 , proposed by
Bro . Hacker . Although it was veiy valuable to have suggestions on either side , he thought on the whole the proposition was the best that £ 20 be granted , with a prospect of it being continued from year to year . He would , therefore ,
as this was the only proposition at present before the Grand Lodge , put it , "That , £ 20 be paid to the Committee appointed at the meeting of the especial Lodge . " The motion was cat-ried unanimously .
The Prov . Grand Master then called upon the Secretary to read any communications that bad been received , bnt said that before doing so he must inform their , that H . R . H . the buke of
Connaught , being a Mason , it was thought he might be in Aldershot or the neighbourhood , and would like to honour them with a visit , and therefore he had bven invited . He was not able to come , but it would have been very gratifying to them all if he had found it convenient to
come . Bro . Hickman then read the following letter " Buckingham Palace , " ] v \ y 15 , 1 S 74 " Dear Sir ,
' ' ! he Duke of Connaug ' -t desires me to say that he regrets he will not be able to be at Aldershot on the 24 th . His Royal Highness will be somewhere in the neighbourhood , but is not able to say where he will be . " Yours fraternally , " V . FlTZGKRALI ) . "
The next business was thc appointment of Grand Ofliceis for the year . The Prov . G . M . said he was not going to appoint a Deputy Grand Master while Grand Lodge was in mourning for their late Deputy Grand Master .
The following brethren were ( hen invested : — Best , 1373 Prov . G . S . W . G . S . Lancaster 487 Prov . G . f . W . Rev . Basil Wilberforce Prov . G . Chaplain Rev . Churchill ... Prov . G . Chaplain Capt . Moore I ' rov . G . Reg .
Mark F ,. Frost Prov . G . Treas . Hickman Prov . G . Sec . Capt . Richardson , 133 1 Prov . G . S . D . Hacker , 72 , 3 Prov . J * G . D . Trigg , 804 Prov . G . S . of W J . Mc Williiun , 195 Prov . G . D . C .
H . J . Guy , 1069 Prov . G . A . D . C Craven , 342 Prov . G . S . B . J . Mc Kenzie , 1 . 331 Prov . G . Purs . Sharpe Prov . G . Org . Miles , 130 „ , Prov . G . Stwd . C . W . Jellicoe , 1 . 3 c Prov . G . Stwd G . Bond , 487 „ ,......, I ' rov . G . Stwd
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.
II . D . Cecill , 487 Prov . G . Stwd . Dalton , 1331 Prov . G . Stwd . G . Andrews , 723 Prov . G . Stwd . Brigg Prov . G . Tyler . ( A second Grand Secretary being against the
rules of United Grand Lodge , the Prov . G . M . requested Bro . Le Feuvre to assist as a friend in the performance of the work of Prov . G . Sec . without actually holding the office , as that was not " constitutional . " )
Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided with admirable skill by Mr . Marsh , confectioner , High-street , Aldershot , under the superintendence of Bro . Hacker , W . M . 723 , and Bro . McKenzie , W . M . 1381 , by which two
lodges the Provincial Grand Lodge was entertained . After the banquet the toasts were proposed . " The Queen and the Craft " having been duly honoured , " The Marquess of Ripon " was next proposed by the Prov . Grand Master . The
Right W . Brother , he said , had shown great zeal in Masonry , and also in the cause of its charities . When he paid a visit to Southampton some short time ago he had an opportunity of proving the loyalty of this province . This toast having bt en also most cordially received ,
The Deputy Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers , past and present , ' was proposed . The Prov . Grand Master said no Grand Master or W . Master could perform his duties properly without able coadjutors to assist him , and "in the Earl of Carnarvon they had a nobleman who was both able and willing to discharge the
duties of the Deputy Grand Master . They must not forget that his lordship was connected with the province of Hampshire , but he had no leisure moaients at present , or he would most likely have been among the brethren on this occasion . He at all times took a warm interest in Freemasonry .
Bro . Hickman , Past G . D . C , responded . The name of the Earl of Carnarvon was a household word in Hampshire , and one they held in high esteem , not only in his lordship ' s capacity as a legislator , but as a brother Mason . They had
the honour of his presence at Southampton when the Prov . Grand Master was installed . The Grand Lodge Officers did their best to perform their duties properly , faithfully , and zealously , and whatever was entrusted to them was carried
out to the best of their ability . The duties were certainly very slight , but they made those who performed them legislatorsjin Masonry for the rest of their lives . It was a great pleasure to all of them to uphold the dignity and usefulness ofthe
Craft , and to assist those Masonic charities with which it was so intimately connected . He thanked them for the great compliment they had paid the Deputy Grand Master and the Officers of the Grand Lodge .
Bro . Eve said , in [ imposing " The Health of the Prov . Grand Master , " that he knew it would be most warmly received . They had the pleasure of being presided over by a gentleman who had always endeayoured to promote the interests of the Order . There was no Prov . G . Master who devoted more time and attention to the' duties of his office than he . Neither time
nor occasion was lost by him in forwarding the interests of the Craft among the brethren over whom he reigned . It was due to him that a great many brethren had been enrolled in the Order in Hampshire and the Isle of Wi ght During his reign several lodges had been
added to the list , and he had been untiring in his endeavours to confirm the good order and regulation which were so well known in his province , fie had succeeded a very old and tried Mason , Sir Lucius Curtis , one of those so well remembered by the brethren in Aldershot , as he had been
there on more than one occasion * Bro . Beach had ably filled his post . He was at all times ready to come to their small town of Aldershot , not only on Masonic but on other occasions , when the good of liis fellow creatures required that he
should advocate their cause . It was a great satisfaction to know that he was ever ready to do good to the Craft , and that he was also foremost in assisting every charitable object ( great cheers , amidst which '' The Prov . G . Master ' s Health , " was enthusiastically drank ) .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.
The Prov . G . M . said that the marked manner in which they had drank his health was very pleasing to him , as he could sincerely say that if he was greatly flattered at receiving such a warm testimony at the hands of his brethren that they appreciated his humble endeavours to reign
properly over their province . It was an exceedingly difficult task for any one to rule an important province . It was astonishing how many things turned up which no one had any suspicion of , and which were continually being bi ought before the notice ofthe Prov . G .
Master . He had to adjudicate upon them to the best of his ability , he had to try in some cases to smooth over some little unpleasantnesses and acerbities which arose , and to exercise his tact in reconciling conflicting opinions . It was a difficult thins * to know how to act to the best
possible advantage . But it was his earnest wish to promote , as Bro . Eve had said , the best interests of Freemasonry in the province . If he could only succeed in doing so , he should be most heartily and sincerely pleased , They were reminded of many things when they met together
on these annual occasions , and certainly first and foremost on this occasion they were reminded of the uncertainty of human existence . He could not help alluding to it , when he remembered that last year he had one of the ablest assistants by his side , who was ready and willing to aid him in
the work of Freemasonry , with his eloquent voice and cordial help . They had lost in Bro . Stebbing one of the ablest assistants that ever Provincial Grand Master had . They could not help reflecting , that any one of them , who was
in health and spirits that day might be struck down the next , which was a fact that ought to impress upon them the duties of Freemasonry , that they ought so to act up to the lessons they received that they might the better be prepared to meet their fate when it arrived . When a
brother was struck down in the prime of health it must be some satisfaction to know that he had exerted himself to a great extent for the benefit of his fellowmen . Any one who had lived for himself alone , and done little or nothing for others , could not be said to have lived his term
of existence with the same profit as another who had devoted himself as far as he possibly could to relieve the wants of his neighbours . In their late brother they had an example of a man who was ready on every occasion warmly to advocate the cause
and to assist the wants of others . They had many other lessons inculcated by Masonry . They knew very well that they belonged to a vast system which permeated through every part of the world ; and when he saw the military brethren present on this occasion ( great applause )
he could not but be reminded that they might be called before long , some of them , to go into parts of the world where they would meet others whom they had never sc :-. * - ' . before 5 but they might be sure that if among those strangers there were Masons they would meet
with friends . ( Cheers . ) They would enter into no new phase of existence , they would only enter into another part of that grand Masonic system which existed and was spread over the whole habitable world . It had existed from time immemorial 5 its branches were spread
over , its roots had taken firm hold in the earth . Every part of the world saw its branches 5 wherever a Mason went he was sure to find a friend to assist him , and lo hold out the hand of fellowship to him . It was a gratifying reflection to know that they belonged to a great
brotherhoood not restricted to their own pare of the world , but which spread over the whole . He had himself had an opportunity of testing this . He had travelled over other countries from one end to another , and he had never failed to meet Masonic hearts ready to render him any kind
assistance in their power , and he had always felt that he had in them a friend . ( Cheers . ) But though Masonry existed in every part of the world , yet , as Englishmen , they felt it incumbent on them to show , by tlieir conduct and
practice , that they were capable of setting an example to Masons in other parts . ( Hear , hear . ) It might be a friendly rivalry ; it might be a rivalry in a good cause ; but still English Masonry had attained such a high and noble position that we should feel it incumbent on us to show that we ,