Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

The Audit Committee's report , showing a balance in hand of £ 304 is . 3 d ., was adopted , and the following recommendations were approved : ^ 31 ios . tothe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( Widows' Fund ) and £$ 7 15 s . to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( Male Fund ) , making the province Patron of the Institution , and ^ 21 each to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls and the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . The banquet was presided over by the Provincial Grand Master , and the usual toasts were subsequently honoured . "The Queen and the Craft" and "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ^ , " having been first heartily received , the PROV . GRAND MASTER gave "The Pro G . M ., Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers ,

Present ancl Past , " and expressed his regret that the Pro Grand Master was not able to remain . They were all extremely obliged to the Earl of Lathom for coming down , and would drink his health in his absence with as much enthusiasm as if he were present . He would mention two Grand Officers who had assisted so ably that day—Bros . Col . Clerke and Frank Richardson —ancl thank them very much for their kind labours .

Bro . Col . J . ELLIOTT , D . G . M . Barbados , in reply , said that although he thought he should have been relieved from this great responsibility by some of his seniors present , he had a duty to perform , and from his earliest infancy he had been taught to perform any duty when called upon . Gratitude held a high rank among the virtues inherent in the Institution , and if he could be certain of anything it was that he was exceedingly grateful , personally

for the opportunity afforded him to be present at the very beautiful and instructive ceremony they had witnessed that day , that ceremony being beautified by their Pro Grand Master and by their Grand Secretary , his old friend . He must confess he had never before during his Masonic career enjoyed himself more thorough ! )' . He had come into the province and been amazed at the numbers represented in the Prov . Grand Lodge , and they

might be sure that those very distinguished brethren who had been placed into offices and had accepted them felt thoroughly well they had undertaken no trifling duties , and although their offices were those of honour , their obligations were those of great responsibility and importance to the Craft . It was by such brethren in thc province that the Grand Lodge derived its benefit , and the support given by the numerical strength of the

province could not fail to be of the greatest possible value He had heard that day from the Mayor of the town , who gave him a perfect lecture on Freemasonry without professing to know anything about it , that the name of the lodge from which the Prov . Grand Master came was Friendship and Harmony . He ventured to say there was nothing nearer to his heart and commanded his best wishes than to promote brotherly love and harmony throughout the whole body of the Fraternity . He as an

individual was unable to understand how angry jealousy and rivalry could exist among Masons . To worship the Great Architect , love all His creatures , magnify and raise to its highest credit the honour and dignity of their Order , support a brother by every means in their power and succour his widow and his orphans—those were the great principles and thc great aim of their lives . In conclusion , he thanked them very cordially on behalf of Grand Lodge for the honour done them .

Ihe GRAND SECRETARY then said : There is an old saying that some people have greatness thrust upon them , and this is the case with me at the present moment . I am somewhat in the same position as the distinguished brother who has just preceded me . I had no idea I was to be called upon to make a very important speech and propose a very important toast , but it is my privilege to do it owing to thc unexpected absence of the Pro Grand

Master , who , as you all know , has been summoned by Royal command to Marlborough House , ancl possibly by the fact that it fell to my lot to perform the first ceremony of to-day that I am allowed the extreme pleasure of proposing the very important toast I am now about to give you . I need scarcely say I do it with a great deal of pleasure , because the recipient of that toast is an old personal friend and brother officer of my

own . In Provincial Grand Lodge this afternoon we all heard the charming and sympathetic words in which our Pro Grand Master referred to the loss this province sustained two years ago . AH of us remember our beloved late Prov . Grand Master . We all knew his many virtues , ancl I say without fear of contradiction that no more gallant soldier , no better gentleman , and no more accomplished Mason has ever existed than

your late Prov . Grand Master , Bro . General Studholme Brownrigg . Therefore , brethren , at our meeting to-day wc have a wave of sorrow passing over us for we cannot forget thc beloved brother who has passed away . The past is with the past and vve as Masons arc in the present of to-day . We know and we realise that after the long and considerable period which has passed of consideration on thc part of the M . W . G . M . he has given the Province of

Surrey another excellent officer . Again the Province of Surrey have a gallant soldier and an accomplished Mason to preside over them . Brethren , the P . G . M . the M . W . G . M . has given you is a brotherwho not only has done gallant and distinguished service as a soldier of her Majesty in India , but during his period of service he has identified himself in an honourable manner with the Masonic Order . Had he not unfortunately been compelled to leave

that country owing to ill-health , he would have attained to a similar position there , but having come home he was not content to rest on his laurels , but at once placed himself in active life in England . I had thc pleasure of installing him some two years ago as Master in a lodge in England . He joined a lodge in this province , in which he is a resident , and from his first entry into Masonry until now he has taken the greatest possible interest in the affairs

of the Craft . When you have a distinguished brother such as I have described placed over you , I think you are to be congratulated , and I also olfer my congratulations—if I may be permitted to do so—to our illustrious R . W . brother on the hi gh and double position he has attained today . We all join in wishing him a long , happy , ancl prosperous career in those two offices in which he has been installed . I know he will devote honourably and fairly the whole of his time to the interests of the Order ,

and to carry out those high duties with which the M . W . G . M . has entrusted him . It is an important occasion for you . You luive again received a new chief . May I ask on his behalf that you will give " him that support he deserves , and there can be no doubt between his exertions and your support that the Province of Surrey will continue to maintain that magnificent position it has'Jield for so many years past . I will ask you to Join with the greatest enthusiasm in drinking " The Health of your new Prov . Grand Master , Col . Money . "

The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , in response , said the worthy Grand Secretary had alluded in feeling terms to their late distinguished Provincial Grand AIaster , whom he had the privilege of knowing very well , ancl he could not allow that occasion to pass without bearing his own tribute to the truth

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

of what the Grand Secretary had said . He felt that in following in General Brownrigg ' s footsteps he was undertaking a great responsibility , and he could but say that to the utmost of his power and to the full extent of his will he would do all he could to follow in those footsteps . There was a word in the English language that existed in no other language , and that was "home , " and every Mason must feel that the word "home" expressed

his feelings when he was among Masons as . well as in the bosom of his own family . He did not think he should have been able to have done what had been referred to had it not been for that feeling , which he felt so strongly , that he was at home . If one felt at home in a lodge how much more should he feel in the lodges contained in the whole province ? Although the outside world laughed at the word " brother , " they little knew

the full significance of thc word . He hoped that during the years that were coming he should be able to enjoy the same feelings , ancl that they would regard him as an elder brother who would look after their interests to thc best of his power and ability . He would not detain them longer , but thanked them one ancl all most heartily for the very cordial welcome he had received and the extremely kind way in which they had received the toast .

In giving "The Deputy Prov . Grand Master and the Prov . Grand Officers , " the PROV . GRAND MASTER said the brethren all knew Bro . West , ancl had known him so much longer than . he had that he could say but little . He had heard a great deal of Bro . West , and felt himself extremel y fortunate in securing his services as Deputy Prov . Grand Master .

Bro . West had held a most important position for the last three years , during the failing health and after the death of their late Prov . Grand Master , and the province had flourished under his charge . There were few Prov . Grand Masters so fortunate on first coming to a province as to obtain the services of so distinguished a Mason and so universal a favourite as Bro . West .

Bro . FREDERICK WEST , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , said that was the first opportunity on which he as a Prov . Grand Officer of the Province of Surrey had been able to respond to that toast with Colonel Money as the Prov . Grand Master , and he was sure he was echoing the sentiments of that very large gathering of Provincial Grand Officers when he said they one and all thanked him most cordially for the kind way in which he had

presented that toast to the distinguished company . Individually he thanked the Prov . Grand Master for selecting him from among the very numerous Prov . Grand Officers to reply tothe toast . In doingso one could not help looking back over the three and half years since he first had the opportunity of beingconnected with them as the ruler of the Province of Surrey . He had a magnificent example set him—an example spoken to by Col . Clerke , who

had not in the sli ghtest degree overstated the excellent work done by their late Prov . Grand Master . When he was asked to follow in the footsteps which he had trod for so many years , he knew the great difficulty before him , but he was glad to find in that large gathering of the members of the province that they had been able to appreciate what he had endeavoured to do during the past three and half years . If the new Prov . Grand Master had extended to him one half of the consideration and kindness he Iiarl

received , he had a happy career in front of him , and if the officers of the province could in any way contribute to that enjoyment , he ventured to say they would do the best they could . It was a greater pleasure to him , and he was sure it was to the province , to know their Prov . Grand Master had been selected from one of themselves , being a resident in the province , belonged to a distinguished lodge , and , furthermore , 12 months ago he ( Bro .

West ) vvas able to place round his neck the highest collar the province could givc . _ It vvas gratifying to find the M . W . G . M . had extended that small appointment , and that they were present to see Col . Money installed in the chair as ruler of the province . On behalf of the Prov . Grand Officers he sincerely congratulated the Prov * . Grand Master on his magnificent appointment , and assured him they would endeavour to give him cordial

support to the best of their ability , and in doing so they were sure thc Provincial Grand Master would , on his part , do his utmost to promote those good feelings which had existed m the province for so many years . He hoped the Great Architect would spare the Provincial Grand Master for many years to come to preside over a happy and contented province such as they had at the present moment .

Bro . Lieut .-General LAURIE , P . G . M . Nova Scotia , responding for " The Visitors , " said the regiment in which he served the earliest of his soldier ' s career was known as the Queen ' s Royal Surrey Regiment . That mig ht seem a small matter to those unconnected with the army , but to a soldier the regiment in which he served his baptism was the cradle to which he looked back and was in fact the regiment of his profession . The visitors had attended

from various reasons . Those from Suffolk , because they recognised one who was to them a good neighbour in a civil capacity . Others , like himself , to do honour to a good soldier who had served his Queen , and who had come home to enjoy his honours . Whatever cause brought them there they recognised the wise selection of the M . W . G . M . in his appointment of a Prov . Grand Master . It was to him a very wise selection . A soldier who

had held big command knew that it was not of his exertions alone the success of his command depended , and therefore a good soldier such as the Prov . Grand Master would take care in the choice of his officers to have none but men who could and who would do their work . The visitors had been amply rewarded by the exceedingly dignified manner in which the work was done in the lodge and the entertainment provided for them .

Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C , Grand Registrar , in giving " The Prov . Grand Treasurer and Prov . Grand Secretary , " said they had that nig ht , with a keen eye to business vvhich distinguished Masons generally , and the Province of Surrey in particular , put Money in the first place , ancl yet as

Sir Robert Walpole said of everybody in his time , they were not without their Price . Having referred to the services rendered b y Bro . Price as Prov . G . Treas ., he said he would recruit his energies as Robin Hood did under the Greenwood tree , and also couple the name of the Prov . Grand Secretary , who succeeded his honoured father in thc province .

Bro . GEO . PRICE , Prov . G . Treas ., thanked the Grand Registrar for the complimentary manner in which he had proposeel the toast . He was the senior Prov . Grand Officer in the province , having been appointed something like 50 years ago , and he had been nearly 40 years Prov . Grand Treasurer . When he was first appointed there were only six lodges in the province , and now they numbered 30 , with a balance in hand of more than £ 3 - , the

Bro . C . GREENWOOD , Prov . Grand Secretary , in response , said labours of the evening were over , and to him the labours of some two or three months were over , and he trusted , for a reason he would g ive , that they would not occur again for many years to come . The reason was not because a great deal of work had been caused , but because if they were to occur again in a short time they would know the Prov . Grand Maser had ceasec to live , and he trusted that would not occur for many years . He took this