Provincial Grand Lodge Of Dorsetshire.

be engaged to assist the Grand Secretary at Freemasons' Hall . It showed that the work was enormous , and that further efforts had to be made to combat it , and that the funds were in a position to pay for the extra work . The various topics discussed in Grand Lodge during the past year had not been of a startling nature . Amongst others—though not affecting their own province—there was a resolution to give extra collars to provinces with

more than 40 lodges . They had not 40 in Dorset , he was sorry to say , therefore it did not affect them . Theirs was a small province , but it had been thought advisable , and quite rightly , that larger provinces should have a greater number of collars . He was glad to see that the feeling of Charity in Grand Lodge was not restricted entirely to this country , for on the occasion of a great fire in Newfoundland a sum of £ 100 was voted

to the sufferers . Another case was the terrible earthquake at Zante , when £ 100 was voted for relief . They had another cause to thank the Grand Lodge of England , for the M . W . G . M . had not forgotten their province , and this year it was a source of great gratification to them that their Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Colonel W . E . Brymer , M . P ., had been elevated to rank in Grand Lodge . He was certain the M . W . G . M .

could not have made a better selection or appointed a more worthy Mason , or more popular man in the Province of Dorset , and they all hoped Col . Brymer might have many years before him to enjoy his honours . With regard to the province there was not much to record . The report they had in their hands showed there was no deficiency either in numbers , in the business , or in the work done . There was only one instance in which the

work had fallen off—Beaminster , and he believed there were reasons why this should be so and hoped to see them much more prosperous . In the lodges which he and his Deputy had attended they had always found the work exceedingly well done and everything in a prosperous and flourishing state . In the Masonic Charities they had been fortunate enough , mainly owing to the great assistance they had received , as in former years from Bro .

Dugdale , to secure the election of two candidates to the Institution in the sons of Bros . Marston and Tanner . They had to thank H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . and the Baroness Burdett Coutts for sending votes . There was another brother who had given them great assistance , a London member , Bro . G . Festa , who was the first W . M . and founder of the lodge named after him ( the Montague Guest Lodge ) who had sent them many votes

and who took a great interest in the Province . Theirs was a small province and needed what hel p it could get . It was a matter of importance to get their candidates elected , and they owed a debt of gratitude to those kind helpers who had enabled them to secure this result . In the Dorset Masonic Charity they had assisted many cases in the past year , and it had become a very useful Institution .

A meeting of this Charity had been held that day , when they considered the stateof the funds and their investment . They had come to thc conclusion to reinvest some—most likely the Norwegians and Italians—in Consols , as they thought it better to lose a little of their income and ensure thc safety of their investment . They had , alas , to look at the other side , and picture the serious loss they had suffered during the past year by the death of

brethren who had been frequently amongst them for many years . They had lost Bro . Yearsley , of Wareham , a very old member of the province , who was initiated in 1 853 , who was well known as a regular attendant at their meetings , and was ( respected and liked by all the brethren . Personally , Bro , Yearsley came much under his own notice , and he deeply regretted the Grand Architect had taken him from them . In Bro . Darrella Past Master

, of Swanage , they lost another valuable Mason , whose loss would be felt , particularly in his own district . They had also lost Bro . Luff , of Wimborne , whom he knew intimately as one always ready to help and assist . Another death was that of Bro . Turner , of Bridport , who was worthily esteemed . Although ^ these losses had occurred , it was satisfactory to see younger Masons rising up to take their place . It proved how fleeting were the affairs

of this life , and they could only hope thc younger Masons would fill worthily thc place of those gone before . Another cause of regret was that they were to lose Bro . Long , the Prov . Grand Tyler , who was about to be relieved from his office . He proposed to appoint Bro . Simmonds in his place . Bro . Long had served long and faithfully , and they owed him a debt of gratitude . In Bro . Simmonds they had a worthy follower , and although he was aware

that brother could not fill the office for long , yet he thought it but right to appoint him to mark their sense of the way he had performed his lodge duties . Hethought it would be a nice thing to send letters of condolence to the families of Bros . Yearsley and Luff . He had now only to say that the bretheren of Bridport having given them an invita'ion to hold the provincial meeting there next year , he proposd to accept the invitation , and

hoped it would not bc inconvenient for any of the brethren . On thc motion of the PROV . GRAND MASTER , a vote of congratulation was passed to H . R . H . thc Duke of York on his marriage . The Treasurer's accounts , showing a substantial balance , were confirmed , and , on the proposition of Bro . HEATH , P . G . Chap ., seconded by Bro . CRICKMAY , Bro . R . D . Thornton was unanimously re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer .

Ihcreport of the Charity Organisation Committee was received , showing that in October the election of the son of Bro . Tanner to thc R . M . B . I . for Boys was secured with 2203 votes , and a similar result attained in the case of the son of Bro . Marston in April , with 268 3 votes . The Committee were pledged to support the case of Mrs . Clifton forthe R . M . B . I , after which

they proposed to support Bro . Long , Bro . J . R . BASKETT presented thc report of thc Dorset Masonic Chari y , the income for which had been £ 1 . ( 1 , against ^ 198 the previous year . There had been six grants made during thc year amounting to £ \ -o . On the proposition of Bro . DUGDALE , . £ 50 was volcd from the Provincial Funds , to be placed to thc credit of the Dorset Masonic Charity .

Bro . ZILLWOOD MILLEDGE , P . P . J . G . W ., moved , and it was carried unanimously , that 10 guineas should bc granted to All Souls' Lodge towards Ihe sum necessary to qualify that lodge as V . P . of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

The Prov . Grand Master appointed and invested the following Prov . Grand Officers : Hro . H . J . Grooves , W . M . 170 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ H . A . Huxtable , W . M . 417 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . i , Rev . B . H . B . Hitchens , 170 ... ... Prov . G . Chap .

1 , R . D . Thornton ( rc-clecled ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . i , Russell Patey , P . M . 622 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ., Robert Case , P . M . 417 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ G . Hobbs , P . M . 386 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ G . Cross , P . M . 1168 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . 1 , J . Harrold , P . M . 622 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . Cherry , P . M . 1266 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Dorsetshire.

Bro . W . J . Tarrant , P . M . 137 ... ... p . A . G . D . C . „ T . Eveleigh , P . M . 103 7 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, E . Skivinglon , S . W . 1266 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . W . Board , P . M . 1037 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ XV . A . Ayliffe , S . W . 137 ... . 1

,, A . Rayner , S . W . 170 ... „ G . E . Paul , s . w . 386 ... ... :.: ! „ J . Blarney , S . W . 707 ... ... , r * Prov . G . Stwds . „ W . Frost , J . W . 707 „ O . M . Beament , S . W . 1367 ... ... J

„ R . Simmonds , 170 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . On the proposition of the PROV . GRAND MASTER a hearty vote of thanks was accorded thc Worshipful Master , Past Masters , and officers of thc All Souls Lodge for the satisfactory arrangements made for thc meeting that day and a similar vote was accorded to Bro . Festa for his kindness in forwarding votes for the Masonic Institutions .

T he annual summary of work done in the province during the past year showed that thc number of lodges was 13 , with a total membership of 6 74 , including 201 Past Masters . The number of ceremonies worked in the Three Degrees were 44 , 39 , and 28 respectively , which , with few exceptions have all been performed by the reigning Worshipful Masters . A noteworthy fact was that with one solitary exception , every retiring Master had installed Ins successor .

Ihe Provincial Grand Lodge was then declared duly closed . A banquet was afterwards held at thc Imperial Burdon Hotel , which was attended by about 150 brethren , and presided over by the Prov . Grand Master . The band of the Royal Artillery , under Bandmaster J . J . Craig , played a choice selection of music .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were subsequently heartily honoured . Bro . Rev . W . MORTIMER HEATH , P . G . Chap ., responding for " The Grand Officers , " said it was a source of great gratification to him to think that in their province they had an array of Grand Officers of which any province might be proud . The executive body of Grand Oflicers deserved all that could be said in their praise , for the good work of Freemasonry was due to their quiet , unobstrusive work . Bro . G . BIRT , P . A . G . D . C , also replied , after which

Bro . Col . W . E . BRYMER , M . P ., S . G . D ., D . P . G . M ., said that , having been appointed a Grand Officer , he expected to sec all play and no work , but it was exactly the reverse . There was only one complaint hc could make of Grand Lodge , and that was their time of meeting . He attended at a quarter

past six , and walked in with the other Grand Officers , expecting to be away again in an hour and half . Thc brethren , however , talked until half-past 10 , and then he found the Grand Officers had dined before the meeting . As he had had no dinner , he expostulated with the Deputy Grand Master , who was in the same fix , and they dined together a few minutes after 11 .

The DEI-UTY PROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed " The R . W . the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Montague J . Guest , " and said that in Dorset they had served under a Prov . Grand Master who for many , many years had bcen very mindful of everything Masonic . They owed him a great debt for what hc had done for Masonry in the province , for he had brought Freemasonry to a high state of perfection in all the lodges , and hc ( thc

D . P . G . M . ) did not believe that any province inthe southern district flourished better than Dorset . When they went further north , and one had acquaintance with brethren further afield , he was always asked one question—How do you carry on the Dorset Masonic Charity , and who first initiated it ? His answer was that the Prov . Grand Master initiated it many years ago , that since then it had flourished well , and he hoped would continue to do so for many vears .

Bro . MONTAGUE J . GUEST , P . G . M ., in response , said it had always bcen his great pride to be at the head of Dorset Masonry , and he was only too glad to see so many brethren around him to support him on that occasion . There was one thing he omitted to say in Prov . Grand Lodge , It was intended to ask the brethren if they would vote a sum towards a list for a Steward from the province on behalf of the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution . He had , however , taken upon himself to ask a worthy brother to undertake thc oflice of Steward , and when he alluded to the name of Bro . Dugdale he knew it would be well received , and hoped that at their next meeting a sum of 20 guineas would be voted . Bro . Long was coming forward as a candidate forthe Institution , and they were already pledged to support another , so Bro . Dugdale thought that a good sum should be sent up from the

province . He was aware of the active and earnest way that Bro . Dugdale took up these matters , and was convinced thc brethren would support him . For himself , he could only thank the brethren for their kindness to him . He asked them to join in drinking " Thc Health of his Assistant , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . " Bro . Brymer had already been upon his legs , and was in a better position than when in Grand Lodge , for he had

had his dinner . Hc could not possibly have a better Deputy Provincial Grand Master , for Bro . Brymer was active , energetic , business-like , and universally popular . From thc way in which the Deputy Provincial Grand Master was always received , it was a source of gratification that he was fortunate enough to obtain his admirable services . Bro . Col . W . Ii . BRYMER , M . P ., Dep . Prov . G . M ., returned thanks , and said he had a knowledge of his own shortcomings . His time was not

always his own , but hc had tried his utmost in the past year , and had succeeded in visiting all thc lodges in the province with the exception of three . He thought all thc lodges ought to be visited much more often than they were at the present time , and considered thc Provincial Grand Officers should take their share . These visits did good , for it made them do their work in good order , especially that individual , thc D . C . He should endeavour to visit all the lodges , and if he found a D . C . who did not do his duty he should " carpet him . "

Thc Charity Box having been handed round , realised 11 guineas by auction , thc purchaser , Bro . Zillwood Milledge , of the All Souls' Lodge , stating thc sum would go lo the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Bro . HERHERT C . GROVES , Prov . S . G . W ., acknowledged the toast of " The Prov . Graud Oflicers , Present and Past , " and having thanked the Prov . Grand Master for proposing it , said a great honour had been done the

All Souls' Lodge by making its W . M . thc Prov . S . G . W . He thanked the Prov . Grand Master personally for the honour conferred upon him in so great and influential a province . In his speech the Prov . Grand Master had spoken of the young Masons coming in , and he ( Bro . Groves ) thought the brethren had been encouraged who did their best to bring in men of good social and moral calibre . In this way a great thing had been done in promoting tlie success of Freemasonry in Dorset .