Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

opportunity of thanking the Entertainment Committee ancl the Deputy prov . Grand Master for thc great assistance he had received , and particularly Bros . Woodward and Hobbs , who had lightened his labours . Bro . J . TERRY , Sec . R . M . B . I ., returned thanks for " Thc Masonic Charities , " which was given in sympathetic terms by Bro . Eve , P . G . Treas . He said he could show them records of men and women who had lived

blameless lives , but who through misfortune had been compelled to seek the aid of thc R . M . B . I ., which was a noble example of what could be done for those who had borne thc heat and burden of the clay . The brethren had it in their power to give the Institution such a meed of support that he was certain if they did it they would never have cause to regret it . He thanked the Prov . Grand Lodge for the generous support given that day , which p laced the Prov . Grand Master in the position of patron of both funds .

Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , Sec . R . M . I . B ., having also replied , the Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close . The musical arrangements were carried out under the direction of Bro . F . Cambridge , P . P . G . Org ., assisted by Bros . G . T . Miles , A . Laurence Fryer , and Lester . Bro . Morley acted as Toastmaster .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HERTFORDSHIRE .

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire was held at the Town Hall , Hertford , on Tuesday , the 21 st ult ., when , in addition to the ordinary business , the foundation-stone of the new Parish Hall of St . Andrew ' s was laid by the Provincial Grand Master with Masonic honours . Provincial Grand Lodge was opened by Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., supported by Bros . G . E . Lake , D . P . G . M . ; T . Graham Robinson ,

Prov . S . G . W . ; Rev . I . T . Blockley , Prov . G . Chap . ; F . Sumner Knyvett , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Treasurer ; E . P . Debenham , Prov . G . Registrar ; Chas . Bullock , Prov . G . Sec . ; W . T . Boydell , Prov . J . G . D . ; | ames Terry , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . D . C ; J . Petch , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; S . M . Banker , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; A . Prudames , Prov . Asst . G . Sec . ; and A . P . Hills , A . R . Hodson , and Geo . Austin , Prov . G . Stwds . ; and others .

A procession was formed , under the direction of the Prov . G . D . C , and the brethren proceeded to the site of the new hall—to be named the Hall of St . Nicholas in commemoration of the church and parish of St . Nicholas , both of which have disappeared—where they found awaiting them the clergy , the Mayor and Corporation , and a large number of visitors . The CHAPLAIN having offered prayer , the VICAR addressed the Prov . Grand Master and requested him to lay the foundation-stone .

Ihe P . G . M . then said it gave him great pleasure to be able to respond to the request made to him to attend to lay the foundation-stone of the building to be known as the Hall of St . Nicholas , which he hoped would be a centre of good work for the inhabitants . There was one feature in connection with the proceedings which he thought must give the inhabitants great pleasure and satisfaction , and that was that the fund for erecting that

building had been augmented by a subscription sent from the daughter city of Hartford in Cincinnatti , U . S . A . That town was founded about 250 years ago by certain emigrants from the ancient town in which they had that day met , and the subscription sent showed that , though absent in America , their brethren recognised the root from which they sprung , and were still proud of their old country and the old town . He understood •£ ' 100 had

been thus subscribed , and in addition to that a bazaar had been organised to assist the object . Under these circumstances it gave him great pleasure as Provincial Grand Master to attend with his brethren to lay the foundationstone and assist in this good work . He trusted that from the stone they were about to lay a superstructure would arise perfect in itself and honourable to the builder , calculated to promote good work , and tending to the lasting benefit of those for whom it was erected .

^ The P . G . SECRETARY read aloud the following inscription on the stone r "This stone was laid in due Alasonic form on the 21 st July , 1891 , by the R . W . Prov . G . Master of Hertfordshire , Thos . Fredk . Halsey , Esq ., M . P ., " and the Prov . Grand Treasurer deposited a phial containing coins in the cavity .

The foundation-stone was slowl y lowered , and the PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER having proved its position , declared it to be well and trul y laid . Corn , wine , and oil were then poured over the stone with the usual ceremonies , after which the Prov . Grand Master inspected the plan of the intended building . While the hymn " Now thank we all our God " was being sung , a collection was made towards the expenses . The procession then reformed and returned to the Town Hall .

I he minutes of the last Prov . Grand Lodge meeting were confirmed , and the roll of lodges called . On the proposition of Bro . T . S . CARTER , P . P . G . W ., seconded by Bro . C E . KEYSER , P . P . G . W ., Bro . F . SUMNER KNYVETT , P . G . D ., was reelected Prov . Grand Treasurer for the 13 th year , ancl suitably acknowledged the honour . The following Prov . Grand Officers were appointed and invested r

Bro . T . S . Carter , P . M . 403 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,. W . A . Stradling , I . P . M . 404 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . 1 , Rev . O . C . Cockrem , P . M . 404 ... ... )„ " , ., .. Rev . C . J . Langley , I . G . 504 ... ... j Prov - G * Cha P * 11 F-Sumner Knyvett , P . M . 404 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . .. I-H . Baxter , I . P . M . 13 S 5 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . .. Charles Bullock , P . M . 504 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . » L . D . Wigan , W . M . 409 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ Seymour P . Nash , I . P . M . 20 S 6 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . .. P . L . Blackmore , P . M . 1327 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

.. James Terry , P . M . 1580 ... ... Prov . G . D . C ,, A . Wakeford May , W . M . 2323 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . " A . P Hills , P . M . 2054 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . 'i C Hales , I . P . M . 440 ) » J * I- Campling , S . W . 403 " " j Prov- G * Std * Brs * " [* H . L . B . Beal , Org . 1479 ... ... Prov . G . Org . .. Al ^ ed Prudames , W . M . 504 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . » G . bturman , I . P . M . 1084 ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

» K- Brazier , I . P . M . 2136 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst » H . li . Fraser , I . P . M . 2331 ... 1 » W . Wilson , S . W . 1 tfo ? ... I " J-G . Cobb , W . M . 2278 I " Lieut-Col . H . L . Daniell , S . D . 403 ' '" \ Prov - G - Stewards . " . ] - D . S . Sim , S . D . 404 ... " J- A . Waddington , I . G . 403

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire.

Bro . CARTER , Prov . S . G . W ., moved that 50 guineas should be voted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , to be placed on the Prov . Grand Master's list for the Jubilee Festival of that Institution . Bro . DAWSON , P . G . S . B ., in seconding the motion , which was unanimously carried , said they were but paying * a well-deserved compliment to Bro . James Terry for his eminent services to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and to the Province of Herts .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in thanking the brethren for the vote , said he felt it his duty to rally to Bro . Terry ' s support by serving as Steward at the forthcoming Jubilee Festival , and hoped the province would send up such a list as would give substantial benefit to the Institution and show their gratitude to and their esteem for its Secretary .

On the proposition of Bro . C . E . KEYSER , P . P . G . W ., the sum of ^ 10 was voted to the Hertford Lodge , No . 403 , towards the expenses of entertaining Provincial Grand Lodge , and a similar sum was , on the motion of Bro . BAKER , W . M . 403 , voted to the Hertford General Infirmary . It was also resolved , on the proposition of the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , that so long as the Herts Charity Organisation expenses do not exceed ^ 5 they should be defrayed from thc funds of Provincial Grand Lodge .

Bro . KEYSER then thanked the brethren for the votes sent by them to this Association and detailed the work done during the past year . A boy who was unsuccessful in thc previous year was elected to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and two boys , both first time cases , were elected fourth and eighth respectively on the list , this very successful result being mainly due to the assistance of Bro . James Terry , who handed in 3300 votes , and to whom a hearty vote of thanks was accorded .

On the suggestion of the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY the publication of the Provincial Calendar was ordered to be continued . The PROV . GRAND MASTER said there was one point to which he would refer . Last year the Broxbourne Lodge was consecrated , meeting at the Crown Hotel , Broxbourne , and since that time the Kingswood Lodge obtained permission to move from Elstree to thc same place . He discovered

they had gone somewhat beyond their powers in establishing lodges at that place , and thinking the matter should not rest in doubt , with the assistance of Bro . Cooper he established the fact that the Crown Hotel , Broxbourne , was in Essex , and not in Hertfordshire . He consulted the Grand Secretary , and the matter was brought to the notice of Lord Brooke , Prov . G . M . of Essex . He had had no official communication yet , but the arrangement

made with Lord Brooke was that for the purposes of the two existing lodges meeting at the Crown Hotel , Broxbourne , they shall be considered as being in Hertfordshire , and would therefore continue to belong to that province . Lord Brooke made the reasonable stipulation , and one there could be no difficulty in agreeing to—that they would in future remember that the house in question was in Essex , and not in Herts . It was an agreeable solution , and he thought it right to mention it on the first occasion he had met them sincr * it occurred .

The P . G . SECRETARY called the attention of the brethren to the fact that Bro . Abbott , of the Gladsmuir Lodge , had , after considerable labour and trouble , compiled a History of Freemasonry in Hertfordshire , which would prove a most interesting work , and which would be published if a sufficient number of subscribers were forthcoming . Subsequently many brethren handed in their names to the Provincial Grand Secretary , who has kindly undertaken to receive the names of subscribers .

Provincial Grand Lodge was formally closed , and a banquet , well served by Bro . Campling , of the Dimsdale Arms Hotel , was afterwards enjoyed , at which the P . G . M . presideid . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were interspersed with an excellent selection of music rendered b y Bros . Franklin Clive , May , and H . Guy .

Bro . F . SUMNER KNYVETT , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Treas ., replied for " The Grand Officers , " and said he was always proud to respond to the toast , especially in Hertfordshire , and to acknowledge the kindly reception it invariably received . " TheProvincial Grand Master" was next given by Bro . LAKE , D . P . G . M ., who said he was glad to think the toast did not require the eloquence of

Demosthenes or Cicero to commend it to the notice of the brethren . It was unnecessary to refer to the Provincial Grand Master ' s acts since he had presided to ensure a hearty reception for the toast . They had heard it was better to testify their esteem for a brother in acts rather than words , and following that he would call upon the brethren to remember that thc

Provincial Grand Master would serve as Steward forthe Benevolent Institution , and he hoped the province would rally round him ancl show what a comparitively small province could do for the Masonic Charities . He was only stating the views of Provincial Grand Lodge when he said that a good list would prove conclusively how hig h the Provincial Grand Master was esteemed and respected by those over whom he presided .

Bro . T . F . HALSEY , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., returned thanks , and said that having regard to the events of the day , he was reminded of that clay 17 years ago when he was installed in that very building as the Provincial Grand Master of that province , and walking along in procession that day to discharge the function of laying the stone , he could not but be reminded of the circumstances of his first appearance in the streets of Hertford , and also

of the increased prosperity in the province since that time . He should be pardoned if he felt pride that the province had prospered to the extent it had . He did not take credit to himself , for he knew the root Masonry had taken in Herts and in the country generally , but however little it might have fallen to his lot to assist , he could not but feel satisfed that he had been at thc head of the province during that progress . They had 21 good lodges , and

not one interfered in any way with another , but each had its own sphere of usefulness . He would endorse what the Deputy Provincial Grand Master had said , that if they felt ,. as he did , gratified at the progress of Masonry in the province , their best way to show it would be to rally to the support of Bro . Terry at the Jubilee Festival of thc Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution next year . In acting as Steward he felt sure the province would support him in his endeavour , ancl that Herts , although small , would have nothing * to be ashamed of when the lists were read out . He again thanked them for their kind reception , and trusted that Masonry would flourish in thc province for years to come .

In giving "The Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Officers" the PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER said thc Deputy Provincial Grand Master was almost better known than he vvas . He could testify how admirably Bro . Lake assisted him in conducting the province . Bro . G . E . LAKE , D . P . G . M ., on behalf of the distinguished body of Masons standing round him , thanked them for having received the toast so cordially . He could only assure them it would always be their endeavour to fulfil their duties and merit approbation in promoting the welfare of