Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks, At Aylesbury.

case of a Mason , that no brother should obtain the votes unless he has been a subscribing member for five years . " It was also decided to hold the meetings of Ihe Charity Committee in London at four o ' clock in future , for the convenience of brethren who have to return to the country . The Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were then appointed and invested as follows : — Bro . Stewart , 631 ... ... Prov . G . S . W .

„ H . Martin , 591 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . H . F . Oliver , 1899 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,. Rev . R . P . Harnett , 591 ... ... ... Prov . G , Chap . ,, C . Stephens ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Doran Webb , 1894 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

,, R . Bradley , 414 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Innes , 795 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ Blake , 945 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ Prickett , 1101 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ Blockwell , 414 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Arrowsmith , 1566 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . ,, Apted , 209 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ Hannis , 771 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br .

„ Major Craigie , 1899 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ F . Edginton , 591 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Webb , 20 43 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Sec . „ Plenty , 573 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Pocock , 1 770 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Purst .

„ Tottle ... ... ... ... " ) ,, Valentine ' Marshall ! Prov > G Stwds . „ laylor „ Frampton „ Perks ... ... ... ... j •„ VV . Hemmings ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

This closed the business on the agenda , and the officers and brethren having divested themselves of their handsome Masonic clothing and regalia , proceeded to the Corn Exchange , where Mr . Garner , confectioner , of the Market-square , had provided a banquet in a complete and satisfactory manner . Grace was said by the Rev . H . F . Oliver , and on the introduction of dessert , The P . G . MASTER , who presided , announced that the Prov . Grand

Lodge would be held next year at Windsor , and as they would then assemble under the walls , as it were , of Windsor Castle , and as it would be during the Jubilee year , he thought they would be sure to have a very successful gathering . ( Cheers . ) He then proposed the first toast— " The Queen and the Craft" —( Cheers . ) The next toast honoured was that of " The M . W . the Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " the P . G . MASTER expressing the pleasure which all Masons must feel that his Royal Highness had installed

his brother as Grand Master of Sussex . ( Hear . ) He had heard from the Grand Secretary and other Masons who were present , that his Royal Highness performed the installation ceremony most admirably . ( Cheers . ) " The Health of the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , the R . W . the D . G . M ., the Earl of Lathom , and the Grand Officers of England , Present and Past , " having been drunk , The P . G . TREASURER , in complimentary terms , gave "The health of the P . G . Master , " which was drank with much enthusiasm .

Sir DANIEL GOOCH briefly returned thanks , and proposed " The Health Dep . P . G . M . and the Past Grand Officers of the Province , " in the absence of the Deputy P . G . Master . Bro . the Rev . H . F . OLIVER responded . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then gave " The Health of the Visiting Brethren from the surrounding Provinces , " for whom Surgeon-General T . RINGER , late of the Bengal Army , returned thanks . To the toast of " The Masonic Charities " Bro . LAWSON replied .

The PROV . G . MASTER proposed " The Healths of the Prov . G . Trea surer and Prov . G . Secretary , " thanking them for their services , and spec ! ally remarking upon the assiduous labours of the Prov , Grand Secretary ( Cheers . ) Bros . STEPHENS and R . BRADLEY responded .

The remaining toasts included " The Healths of the Newly-appointed Provincial Grand Officers , " and "The W . M . and Officers of the Buckingham Lodge , " who were thanked by the Provincial Grand Master for the excellent arrangements made for the Prov . Grand Lodge , to which Bro . MARTIN replied .

"The Healths of the Provincial Grand Stewards" having been proposed and responded to , the Tyler ' s toast was given , and the brethren rose .

During the evening the company were entertained by the excellent vocal performances of Bros . Page , Payne , Bagshaw , Rapsey , Roberts , Sherman , Hales , and Tottle , who were ably accompanied on the pianoforte by Bro . Edginton , the P . G . Organist . The musical brethren were warmly thanked for their gratuitous services . The gathering passed off very successfully , the only drawback being the long journeys which many of the

brethren had to take , and the lime consumed by delays at the various railway junctions between Aylesbury and the places where the different lodges exist . In this particular next year ' s fixture at Windsor will be a much more convenient one for the bulk of the brethren , and under the circumstances mentioned by the Prov . Grand Master , the gathering in the royal borough will doubtless prove an unusually successful one . this

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Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY .

The annual gathering of the Mark Masons connected with the Province of Middlesex and Surrey took place on Monday last at the Masonic Hall , 8 a , Red Lion-square , under the presidency of the Right Hon . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , the Provincial Grand Master . Unfortunately ihe space at

our disposal this week , consequent on the several important Masonic matters which have engaged the attention of both Craft and Mark Masons , precludes the possibility of an extended report of the proceedings , and a brief resume of the meeting is all we can offer to our readers .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was extremely well attended , the Prov . G . Master being supported by his Grand Officers , almost without exception , and a more than usual interest in the proceedings was shown by the full attendance of Maslers and Wardens , as representatives of the several lodges attached to the province . These lodges are thirty-two in number , and the

roll caU was answered m every instance , the Grand Secretary ' s report stating that all dues were fully cleared , and that the increase in number of members during the year amounted to 13 S . A very satisfactory statement was presented by Bro . C . Hammerton , the Grand Treasurer , and favourable balances in each of the General Purposes and Benevolent Funds were declared .

the reappointment for three years of Bro . Sir Francis Burdett as Prov . G . Master was proclaimed by warrant from the M . W . G . Master , and the usual salutation was accorded to Sir Francis in a most enthusiastic manner . Having reappointed Bro . Frederick Davison as his Deputy Grand Master , the appointment and investiture of other Provincial Grand Officers followed .

We shall refer to this meeting again in our next issue , and announce on whom these distinctions have fallen . In the course of the day ' s proceedings a very pleasing episode was that of the presentation to the Provincial Grand Secretary of a very handsome testimonial to his great ability , courtesy , and general management of the

affairs of the province , in the form of an elaborate and artistic production . This comprised a massive salver and ewer , with separate stand , bearing the following inscription : "Presented to Bro . VV . G . Brighten , P . P . G . S . W ., by the Provincial Grand M . M . M . Lodge of Middlesex and Surrey , in recognition of ten years' service as Secretary . 188 5 . "

The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER made this presentation in terms of high eulogium and thanks to the recipient , who responded in well-chosen remarks for the honour conferred upon him . After the disposal of sundry matters of ordinary business in detail , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form .

At the banquet , which was subsequently given at the Holborn Restaurant , under the continued presidency of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and a most pleasant evening was spent by all present , and until the hour for separation arrived .

Past Masters (England).

PAST MASTERS ( ENGLAND ) .

Past Masters having the privilege to vote in Grand Lodge as members thereof , is an institution of this century , save with respect to the "Ancients . " In fact , originally , very few brethren indeed were permitted full voting powers in Grand Lodge , the premier " Constitutions " ( 1723 ) , only providing for the Grand Master , D . G . M ., Grand Wardens , and the Master and Wardens of lodges exercising that privilege . The Grand Treasurer and

Secretary , though then constituted members of the Grand Lodge by virtue of their office , not being entitled to vote in the " chusing a Grand Master or Wardens . " Past Rank then conferred no voting power . As the Grand Lodge increased in influence , the membership was placed on a broader basis ; until by the "Constitutions ,: of 1784 , all the Grand Officers , Past Grand Officers , with the Masters and Wardens of all lodges— " including

nine other assistants from the Stewards Lodge composed that Body . This description to be complete , must also include the deputies of lodges as subscribers to the " Hall Loan until repayment of their money ; together with such individual brethren , who by like subscription have obtained for themselves a personal right of becoming members of that assembly . ( Agreed to June 2 lst , 1779 , and January Sth , 1783 . )

The " Ancients , " who were " wise in their day and generation , " constituted Past Masters ( subscribing members of lodges ) members of Grand Lodge from Dec . 7 , 1765 , with-the privilege of voting on all questions , save as to new laws . No restriction appears to have been imposed farther on . On this point a capital article by Bro . R . F . Gould , in the Freemason , for Sept . 1883 , should be consulted . The " Articles of Union , " agreed to by the two rival Grand Lodges

Dec . 1 st , 1813 , provided that membership of the Grand Lodge should be secured to all subscribing Past Masters of both organizations ( prior to the day of Union ) for so long as they continued members of a regular lodge or lodges ; so that , as the new Regulations of 1815 enacted " after the decease of all the regular Past Masters of any lodge who had attained that distinction on the said 27 th of December , 1813 ( when the blessed Union was consummated ) the representation of such lodge shall b : by its Master , one Past Master , and its Wardens . "

It is not for me to say by what legal process this particular clause in the " Articles of Union " has virtually been set aside , as time rolled on , by conferring on all subscribing Past Masters the privilege or right of voting in Grand Lodge ; but taking it for granted that the members of Grand Lodge were justified in so acting , from motives of expediency or some other sufficient reasons , I venture to affirm ( hat other clauses may thus be considered and altered in like manner , and consequently the absolutely unalterable character of the "Articles of Union " is proved to be a matter of pure fancy . W . J . HUGHAN .