Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE .

Bro . Sir H . Stafford Northcote , Bart ., C . B , M . P ., Prov . Grand Mister , presided at thc annual Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , which was held on the 22 nd ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth . Bro . Fortescue , P . S . G . W ., occupied the Prov . S . G . W . ' s chair , and Bro . F . M . Westlake , P . J . G . W ., the Prov . J . G . W . ' s chair , and there were quite 400 brethren present from all parts of the province , the lodge room being crowded to such excess that many brethren could only find standing room . Alter the Provincial Grand Lodge had been duly opened ,

The PROV . GRAND MASTER said he had a duty to perform , which he did with the greatest possible pleasure , because he was sure that every brother present would cordially endorse the resolution he was about to propose . It was— "That this Provincial Grand Lodge desires to place on record its thankfulness to the Great Architect of the Universe for the Go years' reign of her Most Gracious Majesty Oueen Victoria as Sovereign over these realms ,

and / or the blessings of prosperity which the nation has enjoyed during the whole of that period . " ( Cheers . ) It was , he said , known to them all that her Majesty was unable personally lo be a member of the mystic Brotherhood , but he was perfectl y certain that from the close interest her son , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Prince of Wales , had taken in Freemasonry , and the very high position to which other members of the Royal

Family had attained in the mysteries of the Craft , her Majesty would well be satisfied , without seeking to pry into those mysteries to which ladies were not admitted , that she possessed no more loyal a body of subjects than the Freemasons of the country over which she was called upon to rule . ( Cheers . ) The resolution spoke , with great truth , of the blessings of prosperity which the nation had enjoyed during Ihe whole period of her Mu ' esty ' s reign , and

he ventured to say that the principles which hid giuded her Maj " . sty on the throne , viz ., the desire , above all , to ameliorate the condition of her suffering subjects , were those very principles of Charity and mercy which were at the bottom of the principles of Freemasonry . ( Cheers . ) Her Majesty possessed no more loyal subjects and no more distinguished subjects than many who were prominent in Freemasonry , and he was glad to think that when the

nation was called upon to make any effort towards the relief of suffering people , thc Freemasons had always been prominent in giving help . ( Hear , hear . ) He need hardly remind them of the respanse made by the Province of Devonshire to the last appeal on behalf of our distressed fellow subjects in India . A very generous and substantial contribu . ion was madi by the province , and he happened to know that it was received with very greit satisfaction at the head-quarters in London . ( Cheers )

Bro . G . C . DAVIE , D . P . G . M ., seconded the resolution , which was carried with acclamation , and a verse of the National Anthem was heartily sung , the whole of the brethren upstanding . Bro . J . STOCKER , Prov . G . Sec , reported that five new lodges had been opened in the province during thc past year , and that the number of members in the province was 3-1-5 . Of this number no fewer than 4- ) = ; were in

arrear , 213 being for one year only , and the remainder for periods varying from two to nine years . Some lodges were able to show a clean sheet , but 15 lodges were responsible for three-fourths of the entire amount that was in atrear . He hoped that a serious effort would be made to wipe out this deficiency at the earliest possible moment . ( Hear , hear . )

1 he PKOV . G . M ., m moving the adoption ol the report , expressed his gratification at seeing so large an attendance , and his thanks to the brethren at Plymouth for the admirable arrangements that had been made for the reception of the Provincial Grand Lodge . The report just read was , on the whole , a very satisfactory one , showing as it did a steady , though not very large , increase in the total number of Freemasons in the province . He was

glad also to know that several new lodges had beeu opened in the province during the past year . He confessed that he hailed the opening of new lodges with very great pleasure , always , of course , on the condition that they did not interfere with old and established lodges . Devonshire was a large province , and the distances to be covered were considerable , while the railway and other facilities were not at all what they as Freemasons could wish .

lherefore he thought it was a good thing that whenever there was room for a lodge a new one should be encouraged and opened , and he wished them a long and prosperous career . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought their thanks were due to the Prov . Grand Secretary , whose labours during his first year of office must have given the greatest possible satisfaction to all the brethren . ( Cheers . ) The report he had made as to some of the lodges was by no

means satisfactory , and he ( the Prov . G . M . ) would urge upon the authorities cf those lodges to which reference had been made to take immediate steps to wipe oil the arrears , because it was obvious that no brother could be of any value to Freemasonry who placed himself in a position which prevented him from attending Masonic meetings and taking counsel from and giving advice lo his brother Freemasons . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . G . C . DAVIE seconded , and the motion was carried .

Bro . ROSEVEARE , P . G . Treas ., presented the Treasurer ' s report , which showed a balance at the bank of £ 2 ( 1119 ; . iod . Bro . Ci . Ai'i' read the report of the Fortescue Annuity Fund , and Bro . GOVER that of the Committee of Petitions . Bro . COVER stated that the Committee had made several grants that day , and Ihev appealed to the lodges for a larger support to the Central Charities .

Devon annuitants and children were receiving . £ 1150 a year from those Charities , whereas the contributions to those Institutions from Devonshire last year , from the Prov . Grand Lodge , Prov . Grand Chapter , 5 ; lodges , and 2 . S chapters , wcre less than £ rjo The Committee appealed to the lodge-sand chapters to make a big effort on behalf of the Charities from which they received so much . After having voted several sums at their

meeting that day , the Committee recommended that the balance ot du guineas which remained .-jhould be sent tu the Koyal Masonic Institution for Boys , the amount to be placed on the list of the Prov . Grand Master . ( Applause . ) The report was adopted , and it was unanimously resolved , on thc motion of Bio . SHUKTU , seconded by Bro . LORD , P . P ., and supported by Bros . C . WAI ' and G . C I ) A \ IE , lo supplement the 60 guineas by a sum of . ) o guineas fro m the funds of the Prov . Grand Lodge .

On the motion of Bro . J . S . J UNKS , seconded by Bro . F . B . WESTLAKE , Bro . F . Sanders , 1284 , was unanimously elected as Prov . G . Treas . for the ensuing year .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

The Prov . Grand Master then conferred past rank collari on the following brethren : Past Prov . Senior Grand Djacons— B-os . F . A lam 1 Divson 2641 ; F . G . Knight , 156 ; and C . F . D ansterv . lle , 151 ) . Past Prov . Junior Grand Deacon : B * "o . C . Pops , 113 S . Past Prov . G . Director ; of Ceremonies : Bros . G . B . Stevens , 494 ; \ V . G . VVitson , 1 * 154 ; and H . T . I ' lilt , 164 . The Prov . Grand Oflicers for the ensuine * vear were invested as folliws : .

Bro . G . C . Davie , 2 51 ... ... ... D . Prov . G . M . „ Lord Churston , 24 S ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ E . H . Shorto , 2651 ) ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . W . Smart , 4 S 9 ... ... ¦•. )¦ , c- ru „ Rev . W . E . Windle , 7 > o ... j Prov . G . Chaps . „ F . Sanders , 1284 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ T . Parker , 15 6 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ J . Stocker , 39 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . ,, A . F . Seldon , 251 ... ... --7 ) n c r- r > „ F . S . Sprague , 1352 j Prov . S . G . Ds . ,, F . Crouch , 202 5 ... ... ... In x < -. . 0 . „ A . Goodman , 1550 ; } Prov . J . G . Ds . „ E . Richards , 32 S ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ J . R . Lord , 1247 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, W . H . Perry , iofi ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C .

„ W . Mountjoy , 42 ... ... ... Prov . D . A . G . D . C „ C . H . Whiddon , 1212 ... ... ... 7 „ . „ _ „ , ; R . E . Drew , 135 S < Prov . A . G . D . Cs . „ J . Davidson , 22 5 S ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . J . Hannaford , 22 3 ... ... ... ") „ „ _ , „ „ J . D . Folley , 1 S 55 j rov G Std Brs „ W . Willoughby , 1247 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . H . Dillon , iooij ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ W . T . Walters , 1099 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, W . King , 70 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ H . E . Sitters , 120 5 ... ... ... *" ] ,, W . Harris , 230 ... ... ... | „ D . C . Powell , 1 44 } ... ... ... D / - •c-. J „ C . Piper , 17 . 53 f Prov . G . Stwds .

„ J . G . Oldridge , 1 j Si ... ,, James Wilcocks , 2 595 ... ... ... J „ H . Shooter , 112 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . After Provincial Grand Lodge had been closed a large number of brethren dined together at the club . Bro . the R ' ght Hon . Sir Stafford H . Northcote , C . B ., M . P ., presided , and the usual toasts were proposed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales (Eastern Division).

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH WALES ( EASTERN DIVISION ) .

There was a large attendance of Masons at the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge , held at the Masonic Temple , Cardiff , on Thursday , the 23 rd ult . Bro . Lord Llangattock , Prov . G . M ister , presided , and was supported by Bros , llarmaduke Tennant , D . P . G . M ., P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ; C . R . Lyne , D . P . G . M . Mon . ; N . M . Grosse , P . M . 1573 , P . S . G . W . ; John T . Hogg , P . M . 1992 , and

R . S . Fisher , P . M . 3 6 , P . G . Wardens ; Rev . J . T . Wordsworth , P . M . 1754 , P . G . Chap . ; W . Whittington , P . M . 364 , I' . G . Sec ; G . H . Bedford , P . M . 9 60 , P . S . G . D . ; C . H . Priestley , P . M . 36 , P . J . G . D . ; George Palmer , P . M . 364 , P . G . Supt . of Works ; F . W . Goldsworlhy , P . M . 23 S 2 , P . G . D . C ; T . P . Kerman , P . M . 1992 , I' . G . Purst . ; Vaughan John , W . M . 833 , and I . Samuel , 2453 , P . G . Stwds . ; George Bullerwell , 237 , P . G . Tyler ; and many others .

Bro . Lord LiANGATTOCK , in opening the proceedings , referred with pleasure to the presence of Bro . Richard Eve , chairman of the Committee of the Royal Masonic Boys' School , and Bro . J . Morrison McLeod , Secretary of the same Institution , who both came down from London to attend the lodge and make an appeal . Reviewing the events of the past year , his lordship congratulated the brethren upon the success of the Jubilee service

at Llandaff Cathedral , and hc mentioned that next year the Centenary Festival of the Boys' School would be celebrated . His lordship then read a letter he had received from Mr . Montague Guest , son of the late Sir John Guest , who was once Prov . Grand Master for the Eastern Division of South Wales , and died in 1 N 52 . Mr . Montague Guest ottered the Masonic clothing worn by his father as a gift to Provincial Grand Lodge , as he desired that it should find a home in the temples of South Wales Masonry .

Bro . Lord LLANGATTOCK , upon receiving the sanction of the lodge to accept the gift , said he intended having a case made for it , and adding it to the nucleus of a Masonic Museum for South Wales . Letters of regret at unavoidable absence were read from Bros , the Right Hon . the Earl of Jersey , the Lord Bishop of Llandalf , the Fight Hou . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , aud the Right Hon . the Chancellor of the Exchequer .

On the motion of Bro . MARMADUKE TE ^ NANI- , seconded by Bro . R , S . FISHER , P . P . S . G . W ., the report and statement of accounts of Provincial Grand Lodge were adopted , and a vote of thanks was passed to the retiring P . G . Treaurer , Bro . l . iudley Smith . A collection in aid of the Cardiff Infirmary realised a sum of upwards of £ 6 .

On the motion of Bro . J . R . LEAVER , seconded by Bro . D . WILLIAMS , a sum of ion guineas was voted to ( he R . M . I . B . A pleasing feature of the proceedings was the conferment , in commemoration of the Queen ' s Jubilee , and by special dispensation of Grand Lodge , of the rank of P . P . b . G . W . upon Bros . Geo . ( larry , P . M . 36 , and J . K . Leaver , P . M . 1323 .

The P . G . M . explained that these were special honours , and as Bros . Clarry and Leaver came up to bc invested they were cordially applauded . The following were appointed as Prov . Grand Ollioers lor the ensuing year : Bro . I . II . Taylor , P . M . 1573 ... .., Prov . S . G . W .

„ | ames KiiUlcy , P . M . «><> i ) ... ... Prov . ] . G . W . ,, Rev . W . Lewis , W . M . 157 S ... ,.. * > ,, " ,.. ,. „ Rev . Joseph Barker , W . M . 36 ... ... \ ' rov G Chaplains . „ Owen Own , W . M . 15-5 ... ... Prov . G . Treasurer . „ A . G . P . Lewis , W . M . 2570 ... ... Prov . G . Reg .