Provincial Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

Thatthis Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight desires to convey to Mrs . Portal and the family of the late Prov . Grand Mark Master , the Rev . Canon G . R . Portal ( Most Worshipful Past Grand Mark Master ) , its deepest sympathies in the terribly sudden bereavement which has fallen upon them , and earnestly prays that the G . O . O . T . U . may send them strength and comfort in this their hour of affliction . The Prov . Grand Lodge also wishes to record its sense of the

incalculable value of the work , assistance , and advice which its late Prov . Grand Master was ever ready to bestow upon , and give to , the Province , and of the immeasurable loss it has sustained . and in the course of his remarks he said : I rise to propose a painful duty , but though painful , I should be sorry had it fallen into any hands but mine to propose , because though many of you have known our deceased brother

long , and as your D . P . G . M . has said , esteemed him highly , yet none of you can have known him so long as I have done . I vvas associated vvith him from earliest boyhood , and the friendship which existed between us , therefore , had been of no recent date . It was mainly owing to him that I was induced to become a Freemason . As an Undergraduate of Oxford I scarcely knew of the existence of such an Order as Freemasonry , but

hearing that he intended to become a Freemason I asked him about it . He said he had heard so much good about it that he meant to join , and I made up my mind to follow his example . This cemented the ties of friendship between us . From the moment he was initiated our late brother took the most active interest in the Order . In days when candidates for office in the Apollo Lodge were very numerous he vvas speedily

appointed to an office which led to his being elected as Master . During his year of office he not only promoted the prosperity of the lodge , but laid the foundation of that close union between the University and the City lodges which it vvas afterwards the endeavour of his successors to promote . In London he also took an active part in Freemasonry , and was one of those who re-established the

Westminster and Keystone Lodge . In Grand Lodge he never shrank from pointing out what he thought ought to be improved , and though at the time his ideas vvere not received with favour , yet they were afterwards generally adopted . You are all aware of the interest he took in Mark Masonry . When the Grand Lodge decided that the Mark Degree was not one of those over which it had jurisdiction , our late brother contributed much to

the establishment of the Grand Mark Lodge , so that this important Degree should not be without competent authority to rule over it . Amongst all the roll of Grand Masters who have filled the chair there has not been one who has taken an equal interest as our late Bro . Portal did , or who so identified himself withitsexistence as Presidentof the General Board ; heconsidered mostattentively every question brought before it . In private life he vvas

a great benefactor lo those around him , and only his immediate neighbourhood could judge of the keen interest he took in anyone who needed his counsel and advice , and also his desire to promote their advancement in life . I know that I have failed to do justice to the many excellent qualities which distinguished him . I can only say that amongst those who mourn his loss , there is no one who feels more deeply than I do , for I have lost my oldest and best of friends .

The D . P . G . M ., Bro . LOVELAND , seconded the resolution , which vvas carried unanimously , and ordered to be forwarded to Mrs . Portal . A letter vvas then read by the D . P . G . M . from Miss Portal , who , in the name of her mother and the family , expressed how deeply they were touched by the presence of so many Masonic friends at the funeral , and their sincere gratitude for the beautiful wreath which the province had sent as the last mark of respect to their departed P . G . M .

Bro . BEACH having retired from the lodge , the D . P . G . M . informed Prov . Grand Lodge that he had obtained the consent of a very high and distinguished Mark Mason to propose his name for recommendation to the M . W . G . M . assuccessor to the late Canon Portal , and that he thought the name of Bro . Beach , M . P ., would be acceptable to his Royal Highness the G . M ., as he felt sure it vvould be to every Mark Master Mason in the

province . Bro . G . F . LANCASTER , P . P . G . W ., seconded the resolution , and spoke in warm terms of the esteem in which Bro . Beach vvas held both in the Craft and in the Mark Degrees . No other name having been proposed , the resolution was put and carried unanimously . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed , and the Dead March in " Saul " impressively played by the Prov . G . Org ., Bro . Antill .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cornwall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF CORNWALL .

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Master Masons' Lodge of the Province of Cornwall vvas held on the 26 th ult ., in the Guildhall , Looe , under the banner of St . Anne ' s Lodge , No . 351 . The room was nicely prepared for the occasion . Carriages vvere provided at Liskeard to convey the P . G . M . to and from Moorswater , and also at Looe Station to the hotel . The arrangements were satisfactory , and the band of the Looe Detachment of the Cornwall Artillery Volunteers played the P . G . Lodge 0

through the town . Bro . Sir Charles Brune Graves Sawle , Bart ., 30 , P . G . M . M . of Cornwall , sat on the Throne , and vvas supported by Bro . Col . W . E . Michell , 32 , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., as D . P . G . M .., in the absence of Bro . Thomas Chirgwin , J . P ., iS " , P . M . 78 , D . P . G . M . ; Bros . Francis Crouch , P . M . 3 * 51 , P . P . A . G . Sec . Devon , P . G . D . England , P . S . G . W . ; J . VV . Higman , P . M . 27 * 5 , P . P . J . G . W ., as P . J . G . W . ( in the absence of Bro . T . A . Kistler , P . J . G . W . ); W . ) . Johns , P . M . 78 , P . G . Sec ; W . K . Baker , P . M . 87 , P . P . G . M . O ., in the absence of

as P . G . M . O . ( Bro . James Lovell ); R . Parsons , P . M . 275 , P . S . G . O . ; J . G . Henwood , P . M . 351 , P . P . J . G . O ., as P . J . G . O . ( in the absence of Bro . E . F . Whitley ); W . Nettle , I . P . M . 379 , as P . S . G . D . ( in the absence of Bro . J . M . Carne ); Joseph Sarah , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., as P . J . G . D . ( in the absence of Bro . VV . J . Trythall ); H . Shapcott , VV . M . elect 351 , P . G . D . of C ; T . R . Grylls , P . G . S . B . ; E . Venning , W . M . 379 , as P . G . Org . ( in the absence of Bro . W . E . Lukies ); A . P . Davies , P . G . I . G . ; and John Langdon , P . M ., P . G . Tyler ; F . W . Thomas , P . M . 87 , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . deC . Treffry , 275 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; F . B . Williams , P . M . 325 , P . P . G . S . 8 . ; J . Rosewarne , W . M . St . Michael ' s ; W . A . Bennett , P . M . and Treas . 101 ; W . J . Tredinnick , W . M . 275 ; H . Tucker , Sec . 94 ; John Hill , W . M . 351 ; R . Olver , Treas . 351 ; Edmund Venning , W . M . 379 , 351 ; James Venning , M . O . 379 ; Percy T . Chirgwin , Cornubian ; R . Pearce Couch , Cornubian ; P . Gill , Lebanon ; V . J . Maddock , J . O . St . Anne's ; J . Marshall , St . Anne ' s ; S . H . Hare , 18 , M . O . 206 ; Wm . Walters , St . Anne's ; R . H . Shapcott ; C . F . Zimber , O . 379 ; A . T . Hunter , M . O . 351 ; W . G . Hancock , S . O . 351 , 379 ; J . S . Dingle , J . D . 351 ; C . E . Sargent , R . M . 379 ; R . H . Lee , S . D . 379 ; W . R . Sobey , D . C . 379 ; S . Trehane , S . W . 379 , 351 ; S . Cook , I . G . 351 ; and W . Foddy , J . O . 379 .

The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened in due form , the P . S . G . W . reported that the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Devonshire vvas waiting to be received , and Bro . Crouch and others vvere deputed to wait on the Provincial Grand Lodge with a request that they vvould attend . This having been done , a procession was formed , consisting of Bros . Chas .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cornwall.

Spence-Bate , P . M . 35 , acting P . G . M . of Devon ; J . Olver , P . M . 215 , P . p . A . G . D . C , as P . S . G . W * G . R . Barrett , P . M . 35 , P . J . G . W . ; E . Aitken Davies , P . M . 9 6 , P . P . J . G . D ., as P . G . M . O . ; W . M . Robins , W . M . 35 , P . G . Stwd ., as P . S . G . O . ; G . Perkins , P . M . 169 , P . S . G . D . ; G . Hunt , W . M . 91 , P . G . S . B . ; F . R . Thomas , S . W . 35 , P . G . Stwd ., as P . G . Std . Br . ; and J . Gidley , P . M . 169 , P . G . Tyler .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire having been received in due form , The PROV . G . SECRETARY read the report of the P . G . Treasurer ( Bro . Miiford Cock ) , which stated that the year vvas commenced with a balance in hand of . £ 12 7 s . gd . There had been received from the brethren who had provincial honours conferred on them at the last meeting £ 19 18 s . 6 d ., making a total of ^ 32 6 s . 3 d . On the debit side ^ 15 15 s . vvas paid as

donations to the Girls' School and Mark Benevolent Fund , printing and other expenses amounted to £ 8 14 s . 3 d ., making together ^ 24 95 . 5 d ., and leaving a balance in hand of £ 7 16 s . iod . This vvas £ 4 ios . nd . less than they commenced the year vvith , and they could not , therefore , vote so large a sum to the Charities as they did at the previous meeting . It would be satisfactory to the brethren to know that all the officers had paid their fees of honour , and that the amount was the largest sum ever received for one year ' s contributions .

The P . G . SECRETARY reported that there were 11 lodges in the province , with a membership of 321 , which was about the same as last year . Bro . Col . W . E . MICHELL , in proposing the re-election of Sir Charles Sawle as P . G . M . for the eusuing three years , referred to his great popularity among the Fraternity , especially among Mark Masons .

Bro . J . VV . HIGMAN seconded , and said that Bro . Sir Charles Sawle retained the respect and esteem of the brethren of the province . The resolution vvas unanimously carried , and Sir CHARLES , in acknowledging the compliment , trusted that his health would permit him to be more attentive to the work of Provincial Grand Master .

The P . G . SECRETARY proposed the re-election of Bro . Miiford Cock as P . G . Treasurer , and Bro . J . THOMAS seconded . The resolution vvas agreed to " nem . con . " Bro . F . CROUCH , on behalf of St . Martin ' s Lodge , asked the acceptance of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall of a banner . The lodge vvas only consecrated four years ago , and , although not a big lodge in consesequence of being rather out of the way , had been most successful . They decided after some consideration to present the Provincial Grand Lodge vvith a banner , and Bro . Crouch , on behalf of the Master , Wardens , and brethren of St . Anne ' s Lodge , asked their acceptance of the same with the best fraternal love and respect . Bro . Crouch then unveiled the banner , which looked exceedingly handsome , and bore the inscription in gold letters : " Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Cornwall . 1889 . Presented by St . Anne ' s Lodge , No . 351 . " In the centre was the Mark Lodge crest , vvith the keystone bearing the Hebrew character and the motto " Lapis reprobatus caput anguli . " At the top corners vvere the mallet and chisel and the Prince of Wales ' s plume of feathers , and at the bottom the Cornish county coat of arms and motto , " One and All , " and the arms of Sir Chas , Sawle , the P . G . M ., with the motto " Per sinum codanum . "

The P . G . M . said the presentation was an unexpected pleasure to him to receive so handsome a gift from the youngest lodge but one in the province . The province vvas deeply indebted to St . Anne ' s Lodge , and they could not do better than unanimously thank the brethren of St . Anne ' s for their splendid gift .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER announced vvith regret the death of Bro . the Rev . Canon Portal , who , before Bros , the Earl of Lathom , the Earl of Kintore , and now the Prince of Wales , was Grand M . M . of England . Bro . Canon Portal revived Mark Masonry in England , and the Provincial Grand Lodge would be put in mourning for three months in memory of so distinguished a brother .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER thanked the acting P . G . M . and the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Devonshire for paying the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall a visit . Bro . C . SPENCE BATE , acting P . G . M . for Devon , in reply , explained that only short notice was given convening the meeting for that day , or there would undoubtedly have been a larger attendance of brethren from Devonshire .

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY reported that Bro . Langdon , the P . G . Tyler , had been awarded the substantial annuity of £ 30 per year from the Mark Benevolent Fund . After some discussion it was decided to present £ 5 5 s . to each of the following Institutions : The Cornwall Masonic Benevolent , the Boys , and the Mark Benevolent . The P . G . M . then appointed the following brethren as his officers for the year ensuing : —

Bro , T . Chirgwin , P . M . 78 ... ... ... D . P . G . M . „ J . G . Henwood , P . M . 351 , P . P . J . G . O . ... Prov . S . G . W . „ VV . Nettle , I . P . M . 379 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ John Rosewarne , W . M . 175 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ E . Venning , W . M . 379 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ W . J . Tredinnick , W . M . 275 ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Miiford Cock , P . M . ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . J . Johns , P . M . 78 ... ... - ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Rev . Muriey ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ J . C . de Treffry , 275 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Joseph Sarah , P . M . ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ A . P . Davis ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Henry Shapcott , 351 , P . P . G . D . C . ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . A . Bennett , P . M . 101 ... ... Prov . G . L of W » „ H . Searle , 101 ... ,., ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ P . T . Chirgwin , 87 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Sampson Trehane , 2 79 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br # „ J . Hill , W . M . 351 ... ... ... *) . „ H . P . Vivian ... ... ... ... C Prov . G . Stwds . ,, W . G . Hancock , 351 ... ... ,,. ) „ J . Langdon ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Bros . J . Thomas and H . P . Vivian vvere elected Auditors . Invitations were given to the Pr ov . Grand Lodge to visit HeIston > Hayle , and Chacewater next year , and the P . G . M . promised to consider the applications . The Prov . Grand Lodge was then c losed in due form , and the members of the two Prov . Grand Lodges marche d in procession to their respective hotels . They afterwards sat down to a joint banquet at the Ship Hotel ?* where the tables vvere splendidly laid out and a capital dinner served .