The Prov. Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

THE PROV . GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

A fortnig ht since we alluded in a brief Note to the proceedings of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Cheshire , at its annual meeting at Stockport on the 17 th ult . We pointed out that considerable progress had been made during the past year , that there had been a substantial increase in the roll of subscribing members , and

that , while one new lodge had lately been consecrated , a second was at the present time awaiting consecration . There are , however , one or two points in the address delivered by the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Lord EGERTON OF TATTON which justify a further

and fuller reference to the circumstances attending the meeting . Thus , though his lordship was able to congratulate the brethren generally on the year's progress ancl the generally satisfactory condition of the province , he found himself under the necessity

of reminding Worship ful Masters of lodges that the law which requires that a brother who is about joining a lodge should produce his Grand Lodge certificate and clearance certificate from his last lodge cannot be too strictly observed . He mentioned that relaxations of this law had been found to have occurred in

some cases , and he suggested that the production of these certificates should be specially noted in lodge minute books . He also referred to our splendid Charitable Institutions , and took occasion to remark that it was imperatively necessary they

should have the support " not only of the brethren generally , but also of each province . " There was also a third but somewhat unpleasant subject to which Bro Lord EGERTON considered it his duty to refer . It seems that a brother had addressed

a letter to the Provincial Grand Master , in which he freely ancl at the same time adversely criticised the manner in which appointments to Provincial Grand Lodge were made . His

lordship very properly described this letter as un-Masonic , and in a few temperate remarks repelled the idea that it was competent for any brother to challenge the official acts of the Prov . Grand Master . What he had clone he hacl done advisedly ancl

on his own responsibility . " Suggestions , " said his lordship , " were properly made to the Prov . Grand Master , and the Prov . Grand Master might ask for the assistance of those whom he

knew to be able to help him in certain particulars , but when the appointments were made it was for Masons to respect the decision of the Prov . Grand Master . " It is , of course ,

impossible—or hardly possible—for a Prov . Grand Master to be thoroughly acquainted with the merits of every individual brother in his province , and this is one of the reasons why he has a Deputy , and a Secretary , and other officers

who are able to visit the different lodges , and obtain for their chief a full and particular knowledge of the manner in which the duties of Freemasonry are carried out , ancl inform him who , in their opinion , are the best qualified to receive provincial

honours . On the information thus received , coupled with his own official knowledge , a Prov . Grand Master makes such appointments as , in the exercise of his discretion and with a full sense of responsibility , he considers just and proper .

Therefore , to question his acts is to show disrespect not only towards him personally , but likewise to the high office he holds , and generally towards constituted authority of every kind and degree . It is , perhaps , in human nature that everybody should

consider himself better qualified to receive honour than everyone else , but he is a wise man who keeps this belief to himself . However , the writer of the objectionable letter has withdrawn

the imputations it contained , and there is , therefore nothing further to be said about this unpleasant incident at the recent meeting at Stockport ,

The Craft In Hertfordshire.

THE CRAFT IN HERTFORDSHIRE .

There is no doubt that the progress of Freemasonry in Hertfordshire during the last five years has been almost without precedent , at least among provinces of moderate dimensions . When the present Prov . Grand Master , Bro . T . F . HALSEY ,

M . P ., was installed in office in April , 18 74 , there were onl y eight lodges on the roll—the Hertford and Watford , dating from 1829 , the Stortford from 18 31 , the Cecil from 1838 , the

Berkhampstead from 18 45 , the Gresham from 1861 , and the King Harold and Gladsmuir from 18 70 and 18 71 respectively . Almost the first official act of Bro . HALSEY , after his installation , was the Consecration of the lode-e which bears his name and

meets in the City of St . Albans . Then followed the Cranbourne , at Hatfield , in 18 7 6 , and the King Henry VIII ., at Hemel Hempstead in 18 7 8 , and then after an interval of four years the junior lodge at Watford , which was consecrated , as the Earl of

Clarendon Lodge , in December , 1882 . We next have a group of four lodges constituted within short intervals of one another , namely , the Wilson lies in 188 4 , the Dacre in 1885 , the St . Michael ' s , at Bishop ' s Stortford , in 1886 , ancl the

Rickmansworth in 188 7 . Last year no less than three lodges were added to the roll—the Kingswood , at Elstree ; the Bushey Hall , at Bushey ; and the Ravenscroft , the junior Barnet lodge , at Barnet . In the spring of this year a 20 th lodge was constituted

at Broxbourne , while on Monday Bro . HALSEY had the satisfaction of consecrating the 13 th lodge which has been warranted during the term of his Prov . Grand Mastership , the James Terry Lodge , which ranks as No . 21 on the Provincial roll , and will

for some time at all events remain the junior lodge in Hertfordshire . There is no gainsaying that an addition of 13 lodges in the course of 16 years is an achievement of which even a larger province than Hertfordshire would have good reason to be

proud . It is certainly an emphatic-testimony to its zeal and energy , and equally , if not to a still greater degree , to the sterling qualities exhibited b y the distinguished brother under whose auspices they have been ushered into existence . What

is still more satisfactory , the returns show that the new lodges without exception are making fair progress , and give every promise of being able to maintain their ground . As regards the James Terry Lodge which , as we have said , was consecrated

on Monday at the Cheshunt Hall , Cheshunt , it is early yet to speak of the fortune that may be in store for it ; but considerin ° * the popularity of the brother whose name it bears , and who will preside as Master during its opening year , there is very little

doubt that it will succeed in carving out for itself a prosperous future . Bro . TERRY , though originally a London Mason , has been connected with Hertfordshire for about a quarter of a century—it is 21 years since he receiveel his first collar of

office as a Prov . Grand Officer . He has been intimately associated with the work of its Prov . Grand Lodge during the whole of Bro . HALSEY ' Prov . Grand Mastership ; he has been an active member of several of its lodges , and there is ,

therefore , no brother better qualified to guide a new lodge into a safe ancl sound position than Bro . TERRY . Several of his officers , too , such as Bros . P . L . BLACKMORE , G . HOLDSWORTH , and J . TYDEMAN , are brethren of experience , so that the future awaitino *

the James Ferry Lodge has every indication of being bright ancl promising . It only remains for us to add that we heartily congratulate the Prov . Grand Master , the Province generally , ancl Bro . TERRY on the success of Monday ' s proceedings , a full report of which will be found in another part of our columns .