Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

The Prov . G . M . then proved the upper or corner-stone to be well and truly la'd , and of proper form , by the plumb rule handed to him bv the Prov . J . G . W .. Bro . T . Dinning , the level handed to him by the Prov . S . G . W ., Bro . j . Braithwaite , and the square handed to him by the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . Alderman R . H . Holmes . The architect handed to him the setting maul ; and three knocks on each of three sides of the stone were given , and Sir M . W . RIDLEY said : " I declare this stone to be well formed , properly laid , true and trusty . "

Public grand honours were given three times . The three brethren who carried the corn , wine , and oil took the vessels from the pedestal on which they had been previously placed , and presented the vessel containing the corn to the Deputy Prov . G . M ., the vessel containing the wine to the Prov . S . G . W ., and the vessel containing the oil to the Prov . J . G . W ., to be handed by them to the Prov . G . AL , who poured their contents on the stone ,

according to ancient custom , and returned them to the three brethren who carried them . The PROV . G . CHAPLAIN then said : " May the All Bounteous Great Architect of the Universe bless the Masons of this province . May He assist them in the erection and completion of this building ; may He protect the workmen against every accident , and may He long preserve this structure from decay . May He grant to us all the corn of nourishment , that our hearts

may be thankful for all His bounties ; the wine of refreshment , that our hearts may be gladdened with the overflowing of His Divine goodness ; and the oil of joy that we may heartily rejoice that there should be plenty of corn , wine , and oil in Israel . " —Omnes—So mote it be . Bro . Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY , Bart ., P . G . M ., addressing the brethren said they had that day laid the chief corner stone of what , he trusted , would in time be a splendid building , worthy of the city , and serviceable to

the brethren of the province . They prayed that the Great Architect of the Universe would bless and reward the labour of those brethren who had striven towards the accomplishment of the work they all had at heart . They prayed that He might so conduct the affairs that the workmen who should be labourers upon that building might accomplish their work without loss of life or limb , and that that edifice might stand for ever as a building worthy of that city , and of lasting advantage to Freemasonry , and might He so influence the life and conduct of those who should meet within the walls of

that building , that their high morality and lofty living , which were the main objects of their Order , might be conspicuous to all men among whom they dwelt . After the address of the Provincial Grand Master , the band struck up a voluntary , during which a collection was made by the Stewards for the workmen employed on . the building .

Bro . Schnitger also took part in the ceremony connected with the depositing of the large glass bottle in the cavity of the stone , which contained a number of lodge and provincial circulars and reports ; the local newspapers of that day , the Durham Alasonic Calendar for 1894 , a medal commemorative of the death of Queen Caroline , dug out of the ruins of the site of the building ; gold and silver current coins of the realm , & c .

A photograph of the ceremony was then taken by Mr . James Bacon , and the procession returned to Olympia . The consecration of two new lodges , the Carville Lodge , No . 2497 , and the Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 2520 , took place at the Special Grand Lodge , held at the Assembly Rooms , Barras Bridge , Bro . Sir M . W .

Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . M ., in the chair , supported by Bros . Aid . Richard Henry Holmes , J . P ., D . P . G . M . ; Canon Tristram , D . D ., D . P . G . M . Durham ; and others . The principal officers of the two new lodges were , of the Carville Lodge , Bros . R . Hudson , P . M . 2039 , P . G . S . Durham , P . G . S . B . Eng ., W . M . ; M . Murray , S . W . ; and Rev . W . M . O'Brady Jones , M . A ., J . W . ; ofthe Prince of Wales Lodge Lodge , Bros . Richard Hopper Holmes , W . AL ; W . Anderson Bell , S . W . ; and Joseph Donkin , P . J . G . W .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .

The summer meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Town Hall ,. Sutton-in-Ashfield , on Thursday , the 12 th ult . Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in form at 4 . 30 p . m ., when there were present Bros . Lieut .-Col . William Newton , Deputy Prov . G . M ., acting Prov . G . M . ; Henry George , P . P . S . G . W ., acting Deputy Prov . G . M ., and a large number of Provincial Grand Officers and brethren .

The roll of Provincial Grand Officers and lodges of the province having been called , the minutes of the annual meeting held at Nottingham , December 17 th , 1893 , were read and confirmed . A letter from the Provincial Grand Master thanking the brethren for the resolution passed at the last meeting was read , and ordered to be attached to the minute book .

A letter from the Provincial Grand Master , regretting his inability to be present , and expressing his good wishes for a successful meeting , was also read . The following resolution was moved by Bro . Lieut .-Col . W . M . NEWTON , acting Prov . G . AL , seconded by Bro . Sir SAMUEL GEORGE J OHNSON , Kt ., P . S . G . W ., and carried unanimously , and the P . G . Secretary was requested to have the same engrossed and forwarded to his Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master :

To his Royal Highness , Albert Edward Prince of Wales , K . G ., Most Worshipful Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . We , the Provincial Grand Master , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Provincial Grand Officers , and brethren present at the summer meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodof

ge Nottinghamshire , held at Sutton-in-Ashfield , on Thursday , July 12 th , 1894 , desire most respectfully to offer to your Royal Highness our hearty and sincere congratulations on the birth ot a son and heir to your Royal Highness ' s son , the Duke of York , and to express our unanimous concurrence with the resolution already passed by the Grand Lodge , and the loyalty and affection of the Freemasons of Nottinghamshire towards the throne and the Royal Family .

VVe earnestly pray that the Great Architect of the Universe may be pleased to [ - reserve and bless the Royal infant , and may he ever guard and protect your Royal Highness and the descendants of your illustrious house . Given in Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire at Sutton-in-Ashfield , on I hursday , July 12 th . 1894 . Signed ,

5 > T . A 1 . 1 iA . Ns , Prov . Grand Master . WM . NKWION , Dep . Prov . Grand Master . ARTHUR STUBBS , P . P . G . W ., I ' rov . Grand Sec .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

Bro . HY . GEORGE , P . P . G . W ., moved , and Bro . W . J . ROGERSON , P . P . G . D . of C , seconded , " That twenty-five pounds be voted from the Benevolent Fund of the Province to the Educational Fund of the Province . " Bro . ARTHUR STUBBS , P . P . G . W ., opposed the motion on the grounds that the Benevolent Fund was raised from a compulsory payment by each brother in the province for a specific object which was stated in the by-laws

to be " for granting temporary relief to aged , distressed , or necessitous brethren , or their widows and children , " whilst the Educational Fund , when established , was not intended to derive its resources from the Benevolent Fund , but was to be supported by voluntary contributions . The Benevolent Fund had now been reduced from a balance in hand of ^ 200 to one of about

£ 50 ( at the present time ) , which he considered a totally inadequate amount for a province like Nottinghamshire , during the past year ^ 40 had been spent for the regular objects of the Fund , and to reduce the small balance by £ 25 would not be wise , he thought they should strive always to have a balance of at least ; £ ioo in hand to meet any sudden emergency which might arise , and would like to see ^ 100 or . £ 200 invested as a source of permanent income .

Bro . Sir SAMUEL GEORGE J OHNSON , P . S . G . W ., said that both these funds being for such good objects , it was a great pity they should clash , and suggested that it might be advisable to make a rule that when the balance in hand of the Benevolent Fund reached a certain amount , a sum might be voted to the Educational Fund .

The D . P . G . AL having had the by-laws , stating the objects of the two Funds , read , said that it aid not seem to him advisable to further reduce the balance of the Benevolent Fund by voting money to the Educational Fund , having at the present time £ 60 in hand to meet the expenses of the _ year . The motion was then put to the meeting and lost , only three voting in favour of it .

A letter was read from Bro . E . M . Kidd , P . P . G . W ., withdrawing the following motion , of which he had given notice , on the grounds that the Prov . Grand Lodge Fund was not in a position to vote the amount : " That 20 pounds be voted from the Prov . Grand Lodge Fund to the Educational Fund of the Province . "

Bro . G . G . BONSER , P . P . G . Std . Br ., moved , and Bro . H . J . HOBSON , P . P . G . S . B ., seconded : " That By-law No . 20 of the Educational Fund be amended as follows : ' This fund shall be supported by voluntary contribution , and shall be administered under the management of the Prov . Grand Lodge Benevolent Committee . Each representative of the Committee shall have one vote in the election of a child , and an additional vote for each

10 guineas given to the fund b y the lodge he represents . ' " Bro . G . CHAPMAN , P . P . G . D ., thought the motion unfair , the tendency would be to place the members of the Committee on an unequal footing , and with a continuous increasing voting power , the Newstead Lodge , which had pledged itself to an annual subscription of ^ 10 ios ., would soon be in a position to carry any election , he , therefore , moved as an amendment * . " At

the election of any child , each member of the Committee shall have an additional vote for the current year for any donation or subscription from the lodge he represents of not less than five guineas , provided such donation or subscription be given within the year . " The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY , for the sake of further discussion , seconded , though he did not think the plurality of voting would work well on the Committee .

Bro . WM . BURROWS , P . P . G . Std . Br ., did not approve of the motion , he considered that each case came before the Committee on its merits and they decided upon what they thought each case deserved ; he thought that this rule would act unfairly towards the younger and smaller lodges , who might , perhaps , have a more deserving case than the older and more powerful lodges . Bro . HY . GEORGE , P . P . G . W ., said it seemed to him the object of the resolution was to raise more money for the Educational Fund . He moved

the following amendment , which was seconded by Bro . A . H . BONSER , P . P . G . W .: " That the Benevolent and Educational Committee be requested to draw up a scheme to obtain better support for the Educational Fund , and present the same to the annual meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge . " Bro . Chapman having withdrawn his amendment , Bro . G . G . BONSER was quite willing to withdraw his motion in favour of Bro . Hy . George ' s amendment , which was carried unanimously .

There being no further business , Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . The brethren adjourned to the Denman's Head Hotel , where a banquet was provided by the Ashfield Lodge , No . 2412 , and the usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England was held on Wednesday at Freemasons' Hall . Comps . Lieut .-Col . Townley Caldwell , M . A ., Grand Superintendent of Cambridge , acted as Al . E . Z . ; Col . G . Noel Aloney , C . B ., Grand Superintendent of Surrey , as G . H . ; Thomas Fenn , as G . J . ; E . Letchworth , G . S . E . j Sir G . D . Harris , G . S . N . ; W . B . Coltman , G . P . S . ; Sir Bruce Seton , as ist A . G . S . ; G . Prior Goldney , as 2 nd A . G . S . ; Major-General F . Gadsden , G . S . B . ; Robsrt Grey , Frank Richardson , R . Loveland Loveland , W . M . Stiles , G . Treas . ; Richard Eve , Peter de L . Long , J . E . Le Feuvre , L . G . Gordon Robbins , and many other Grand Officers were present .

After Grand Chapter had been opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , Comp . Robert Grey was re-invested as President of the Committee of General Purposes . The agenda paper as printed in these columns last week was gone through and adopted with the exception of the recommendation as to Chapter No . 454 , which was remitted back to the Committee .

Comp . C . N . M'INTYRE NORTH , Al . E . Z . 1275 , then roseand said : Mosl Excellent , —Since our last meeting the expectations of the nation have been gratified by an event which his Royal Highness the Duke of York has , with unaffected manly pride , described as " the birth of our little son . " It seems hut yesterday since the Princess May of Cambridge was a bonnie lass full ol fun and good humour ; and as a Volunteer who was paraded in Hyde Park

to receive the Princess Alexandra , I well remember the flash of pride and gratification which passed down the ranks when we saw our Prince ' s lovely m . itc , and we rightly regarded hsr smiling face as an omen of good for thc future . Some 30 years have passed , and the affectionate loyalty we felt for her Most Gracious Majesty has b- ; en strengthened by the vicissitudes of life

until the hopes and aspirations of the members of our Royal Family and of the peoples of our mighty Empire are like unto the strings of an / Eolian harp—vibrating in unison with every breath of heaven , sometimes vibrating with the breath of sympathy , sometimes responding to the wail of sorrow , sometimes re-echoing ( as on the present occasion ) to the sound of joy