Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicester-. Shire And Rutland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTER-. SHIRE AND RUTLAND .

By command of the Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl Ferrers , the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Agricultural Hall , Oakham , on Wednesday , the 17 th ult ., under the auspices of the Vale of Catrnos Lodge , No . 1265 . In the absence of the P . G . M ., the P . G . Lodge vvas presided over by the Dep . Prov . G . M ., Bro . S . S . Partridge , P . A . G . D . C , Bro . Robert Berridge , Prov . J . G . D ., ably assisting as D . P . G . M .

There were also present the following officers and members of Prov . G . Lodge : —

Bros . W . S . Allen , as P . S . G . W . ; W . A . Musson , as P . J . G . W . ; the Rev . W . R . Hurd , P . G . Chap . ; W . Vial , P . G . Reg . ; Rev . C . Henton Wood , P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . Sec . ; E . Jeeves , P . G . S . ot W . ; M . J . Walker , P . G . D . C . ; J . Jessop , P . G . S . B . ; J . E . Beazeley and G . Newsome , P . G . Std . Brs . ; C . Lowenstein , P . G . Purst . ; T . Corcoran , R . B . Starkey , and E . ] . Thompson , P . G . Stwds . ; J . Tanser , P . G . Tyler ; T .

A . Wykes , P . P . G . Treas . ; C . J . Wilkinson , P . P . G . D . C ; J . H . Marshall , P . P . A . G . D . C ; C . J . Massie , P . P . G . P . ; T . G . Charlesworth , W . M . 523 ; F . G . Boden , P . M . 779 ; G . Austin , W . M . 1130 ; R . Symington , P . M . 1330 ; S . Knight , P . M . 1391 ; J . B . Fowler , W . M . 1560 ; J . G . Simpkin , W . M . 202 S ; J . L . West , W . M . 2081 ; and many officers and members of private lodges in the province . Visitor : Bro . F . Binckes , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due form , after which the rolls of lodges and Prov . Grand Officers were called , and the minutes of the preceding annual meeting and a special meeting held on the 9 th ult ., on the occasion of laying the memorial stone of the Children ' s Hospital in Leicester , were read and confirmed .

The reports of the Committee of General Purposes and the Provincial Charity Committee vvere read , submitted for approval , and adopted . The latter made special reference to the successful result of the efforts of the Charity Stewards on behalf of the Girls' School , the total contributions

from the province at the Centenary Festival of the Institution exceeding ^ 600 . The report concluded by recommending the Boys' School for the support of the province in the coming year , and at a subsequent period of the meeting Bro . J . H . Marshall , P . P . A . G . D . C , volunteered to represent Provincial Grand Lodge as Steward , and he was unanimously appointed .

The PROV . G . REGISTRAR submitted his report , showing a nett increase of 20 in the membership of the province , the total number of subscribing members on 24 th June last being 522 . A very satisfactory report on the Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s accounts having been received , it vvas duly adopted , and a vote of thanks accorded to Bro . R . Waite for his services .

Bro . Waite was immediately afterwards re-elected as Provincial Grand Treasurer . The Provincial Grand Officers for the coming year were then appointed and invested as follows :

Bro . T . A . Wykes , P . M . 523 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . A . Musson , P . M . 779 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . R . Colquhoun ... ... ... ~ ) „ Faithfull , 1560 ... ... ... > Prov . G . Chaps . „ Rev . C . J . B . Scriven , 1265 ... ... J „ R . Waite , 279 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ T . Coltman , W . M . 1265 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Rey . C . Henton Wood , P . M . 1560 ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ G . Newsome , P . M . 523 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ T . Corcoran , W . M . 1007 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ G . Austin , VV . M . 1130 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ M . J . Walker , P . M . 1265 ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ F . G . Boden , P . M . 779 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ R . Symington , P . M . 1330 ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

„ W . H . Goodwin , P . M . 1265 ... ... 7 D r- c J n ii J . G . Simpkin , W . M . 2028 j Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, C . E . Birch , 2 79 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . L , West , W . M . 2081 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ S . Knight , P . M . 1391 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ J . B . Waring , 523 ... ... ... ¦ ) „ T . G . Charlesworth , 523 ... „ J . L . Hassan , 1265 ... ... ... in r * c J „ W . B . Ray , 1330 ... ... i ;/ Prov . G . Stewards

, , T . Carter , 1560 ... ... ... I „ J . Kidney , 20 S 1 ... ... j „ James Tanser , 279 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The ACTING PROV , GRAND MASTER called the attention of the brethren to the closely approaching 50 th anniversary of the initiation into Freemasonry of Bro . W . Kelly , P . P . G . M ., and in his speech enlarged upon

that worthy and distinguished brother ' s great Masonic knowledge and experience , only equalled by his fraternal goodness and kindness of heart , his unwearying efforts for the advancement ofthe Order , and the exceeding prosperity of the province , consequent in great measure upon his labours . He further spoke of Bro . Kelly as being at the present time the father of Freemasonry in the province , and pointed to his long career as

an example the brethren might humbly endeavour to follow , though they might not attain its perfection . The speaker concluded by moving the following resolution : " In view of the fiftieth anniversary of the initiation of the R . W . Bro . William Kelly , P . P . G . M ., now closely approaching , and in grateful recognition of the zeal and enthusiasm ever displayed by him in all Masonic matters , and of his valued and successful labours on behalf of

Freemasonry generally , more especially for the permanent welfare of this province , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire and Rutland most heartily congratulate their illustrious brother on the interesting occasion , and offer their very sincere wishes that he may long be spared to enjoy the continued esteem and respect of his brethren whilst watching over the progress of the Craft he so loves and adorns . "

The resolution was duly seconded , and carried by acclamation . The invitation offered at the last annual meeting by the Howe and Charnwood Lodge , No . 1007 , to the Provincial Grand Master to hold the next general communication under the banner of that lodge was renewed on the present occasion . Several communications and letters of apology having been read , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . The proceedings terminated with an excellent banquet , provided by the worthy host of the George Hotel , Bro . J . Read , P . M .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday next ; The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for con firmation . 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 18 th July to the 16 th October , 188 S , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 31319 7 By Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropriated Quarter £ 210 12 5 Account ... 201 3 10 ,, Balance 255 n t , „ Subsequent Receipts ... 242 26 „ „ Unappropriated Account ... 191 1 7 T .-JK 7 = : n X ? 1 ;? ? tr

Which Balances are in the Bank of England ( Western Branch ) . The Committee have to report that they have received the following petition : —

From Comps . Henry Cook , as Z . ; John Murray , as H . ; Philip Lancashire Booth , as J . ; and thirteen others , for a chapter to be attached to the Hartington Lodge , No . 1021 , Barrow-in-Furness , to be called The Henry Cook Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Abbey-road , Barrow-in-Furness , Lancashire ( W . D . )

This petition being in all respects regular , the Committee recommen d that the prayer thereof be granted . The Committee have likewise to report tha : they have received a memorial

from the Grand Chapter of South Australia reporting that they had been regularly established in March , 1886 , and asking recognition by the Grand Chapter of England , and that fraternal relations and communication may be established between the two Grand Chapters .

The Committee recommend that inasmuch as the Grand Lodge of South Australia has been duly acknowledged by the Grand Lodge of England and Representatives exchanged , the Grand Chapter of South Australia be also recognised . The Committee have also received memorials , with extract of Minutes , for permission to remove the following chapters : —

Granite Chapter , No . 1328 , from Freemasons' Hall to the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn . The Pattison Chapter , No . 913 , from the High School , Brook-hill , to the Freemasons' Hall , Plumstead , Kent . The Andrew Chapter , No . 834 , from the Bell and Anchor Tavern to the Windsor Castle Hotel , Hammersmith .

The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of these requests , recommend that the removal of the above-named chapters be sanctioned . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , October 17 th , 1888 .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Somersetshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SOMERSETSHIRE .

The Prov . Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Somersetshire was held on the 19 th ult . at the Masonic Hall , Old Orchard-street , Bath , under the banner of the Royal Sussex Lodge , and vvas presided over by Bro . the Rev . R . C . Else , Prov . G . Master , who was supported by Bro . Col . William Long , D . P . G . M . '

The visitors included Bros . Baron De Ferrieres , P . G . M . of Gloucestershire , and H . P . Montague , P . G . Warden of England . The SECRETARY ( Bro . Elworthy ) having called the roll of lodges , it vvas found that all the working lodges in the province were represented .

The minutes of the lodge meeting at Yeovil last year having been confirmed , Bro . W . R ADWAY , the Treasurer , read the accounts , which showed a balance in hand of £ 63 ns . 3 d . The following officers were invested for the ensuing year : Bro . Colonel Long ... ... ... D . P . G . M .

„ S . Edwards , P . M . 119 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . B . Mercer ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ N . A . Duckett , W . M . 191 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ T . Holroyd ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . .. Shorland . W . M . no ... ... ... Prov . T . G . O .

„ Rev . F . W . McDonald ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ C . W . Radway ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, Surgeon-General Ringer ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M » „ T . F . Elworthy ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . Knight ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ G . W . Bewsey ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . .. .

„ J . Gill ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ Stranbridge ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of L . „ Captain Newell ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ J . T . Dunsford ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br-„ Nosworthy ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Peckett ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ Wilson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd .

KNIGHT OF THB CORK ( Chevalier due Bouchon ) . —Thory says t this order was founded in Italy , after the publication of the Papal Bu > but this is very doubtful . Clavel says that it was instituted in Germany the last century , and that its laws and secrets were printed in Frencn * . ^ octavo , without date ; but this statement is equally questionable , Japparently ( whatever it was really ) a French society , in all probability c vivial . —Kenning ' s Cyclopedia of Freemasonry .