Cumberland And Westmorland.

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

There was no great amount of business to be transacted at the recent annual meeting at Penrith' of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmorland . Nevertheless , there was an excellent attendance of brethren , and what was appointed to be done vvas done satisfactorily to all present . The reports ,

especially that of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , were favourable , the only shortcoming which provoked anything in the nature of a complaint from the authorities being the lack of promptitude on the part of Secretaries of lodges in forwarding the necessary returns to the Provincial Grand Secretary . We

notice , however , with pleasure that the Province unanimously decided upon establishing an Educational Fund , and that " a Committee of 13 , with a Secretary , vvas appointed to carry out the work without prejudice to the other Charitable Institutions in Masonry , and at all times to be under the government and

control of the Provincial Grand Lodge . " 'Ihe establishment of such a Fund will undoubtedly prove a benefit to the Province , while the reservation so judiciously made in favour of the great central Masonic Charities , shows that our Cumberland and Westmorland

friends are fully alive to the claims which these have upon their support . This , indeed , was practically demonstrated before the close of the meeting by the success which attended Bro . MCLEOD'S efforts to obtain the services of brethren to act as

Stewards , at next-year's Festival of the Boys' School . The Province is not invariably represented at these anniversary gatherings , but when it does enter an appearance , it generally shows to great advantage . We congratulate our Cumberland and Westmorland brethren on the satisfactory results of their

past year ' s labours and the Provincial authorities , but especially Bro . L . F . B . DYKES , P . G . D . of England , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who has so often presided of late years at these meetings , and Bro . G . J . MCKAY , who , during his long tenure of office , has proved himself so able and indefatigable a Provincial Grand Secretary .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday next : — THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of

England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 16 th July to the 14 th October , 1800 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : —

To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 455 16 9 By Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropriated Quarter ... ... £ 307 iS 1 Account 183 47 „ Balance . ... 3 88 9 3 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 237 01 „ „ Unappropriated ::. Account ... ... 179 14 1 - / CS 76 1 S £ S 7 < 5 1 5

which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have also to report that they have received the following petitions : — 1 st . From Comps . Vero William Taylor , as Z . ; Millner Jutsum , as H . ; Robert Guy Kellett , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Joshua Nunn Lodge , No . 2154 , Halstead , to be called the Colne Valley Chapter , and to meet at the George Hotel , Halstead . in the county of Essex .

2 nd . From Comps . Captain William Home Chisholme St . Clair , R . N ., as Z . ; John Brickwood , as H . ; William Dart , as J , ; and 19 others for a chapter to be attached to the St . Clair Lodge , No . 2074 , Landport , to be called the St . Clair Chapter , and to meet at the Freemasons' Hall , Commercial-road , Landport , Hampshire .

3 rd . From Comps . John George Dimock , as Z . ; the Rev . Oliver Carter Cockrem , as H . ; John Walker , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Vernon Lodge , No . 1802 , East Retford , to be called the St . Stephen ' s Chapter , and to meet at the Criterion , Carolgate , East Retford , Nottinghamshire .

4 th . From Comps . Joseph Henry Price , as Z . ; William Barnes Fendick , as H . ; Henry Esling , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Emblematic Lodge , No . 1321 , Southwark , to be called the Emblematic Chapter , and to meet at the Criterion , Piccadilly .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

The foregoing petitions being in every respect regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectivel y granted . The Committee have likewise received memorials , with copies of minutes , for permission to remove the following chapters : —•

The West Kent Chapter , No . 1297 , from the Thicket Hotel , Anerley , to the Crystal Palace , Sydenham . The Welchpool Chapter , No . 998 , from the Railway Station , Welchpool , to the Masonic Temple , Newtown , North Wales . The Committee recommend that the removal of these chapters be sanctioned .

The Committee have further to report that , in consequence of the formation and recognition of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania , there are no longer English Craft lodges in that colony to which the chapters meeting in Tasmania can be attached , as required by Article 45 , Koyal Arch Regulations .

The Committee , therefore , recommend that the charters of the Chapters Nos . 53 6 and 618 be withdrawn and cancelled , ancl that the chapters be erased from the register of the Grand Chapter .

( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , President , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 15 th October , 1890 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF OXFORDSHIRE .

The annual Provincial Grand Lodge of this province was held in the Apollo University Lodge , Masonic Hall , Frewin-court , on Monday , the . 20 th ult ., and afforded an opportunity for the brethren to meet their esteemed Provincial Grand Master once more previously to his departure from the shores of England to assume his Viceregal functions in the distant colony of New South Wales , and to bid him " God-speed " in and through all his patriotic work . Provincial Grand

Lodge was called for five o ' clock , and soon afterwards his lordship entered in procession , preceded by the Provincial Grand Officers for the year escorting him to the throne , Bro . the Rev . H . Sayers taking his position as S . W ., and Bro . W . A . Simmons as J . W ., Bro . W . R . Bowden acting for the P . G . Organist . After prayer , offered by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . A . R . Pritchard , the business of the province was commenced , which consisted of the receiving of the

reports ofthe Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Reginald Bird , and of the Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . W . G . Emberlin , who recommended the usual grants to the Masonic Benevolent Institution and to the Radcliffe Infirmary , Medical Dispensary , Sarah Acland Home , Blue Coat Girls' School , and Oxford Benevolent Institution ; these grants svere adopted . The report of the Provincial Charity

Committee was read by the Secretary of the Charity Committee , Bro . F . W . Ansell , and adopted . After the Charity jewels were presented , the PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER moved that a vote of sympathy and condolence should be given expressing the grief and loss the province had sustained through the death of the Pro Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon .

The Earl of J ERSEY spoke of the Masonic zeal and sterling character and ability of the deceased nobleman , expressing his personal sorrow on his removal . The motion was seconded by Bro . Rev . H . ADAIR PICKARD , P . G . C . England , G . Supt ., in the following words : In seconding this resolution , I would ask to be allowed to advert for a fesv minutes to the high character of the noble brother whose loss we deeply deplore . A great Statesman a courteous gentleman , and a

devout churchman , he filled with much distinction the high offices of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1885 , of Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1866 and in 1874 , and of High Steward of this University since 1859 , in addition to many other minor offices . But we especially deplore his loss as a Freemason ! Initiated in the Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 , then recently resuscitated under the care of Bros . Beach , Portal , and others , to be the foster mother of brethren of

the Apollo , who resided , at all events during part of the year , in London ; Lord Carnarvon joined the Apollo University Lodge in 1857 , when I was W . M . Those were stirring times in Grand Lodge , and the Oxford Masons attended regularly , and fought shoulder to shoulder in defence of the Canadian brothers whose ri ghts and privileges had not been recognised at that time by the permanent officials of Grand Lodge . The eminent ability of our lamented brother brought him

prominently before the notice of the rulers of the Craft , and he was appointed Prov . G . M . of Somersetshire in 1868 , and Deputy G . M . in 1870 . Then in 1874 he had the great honour of installing H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , an event that can never be forgotten by those vvho witnessed the installation ; he vvas at once appointed to the Pro Grand Mastership , an office which can only be held when a Prince of the Royal blood is Grand Master . In that capacity many of us have seen Lord Carnarvon presiding in Grand Lodge . Indeed , on all occasions

when matters of great importance were brought before us , we were quite sure to be favoured by his presence . We noted his wise advice , his just ruling combined with inflexible firmness when any principle was involved . His portrait adorns the walls of our Masonic Temple in London , and I venture to assert that it will be long before the services which he rendered to the Craft will fade from our memory . Bro . Emberlin was re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer by acclamation . The Prov . G . Tyler was also re-elected . The Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to appoint and invest his officers for the year as follows .: