Provincial Grand Chapter Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF SURREY .

The Provincial Grand Chapter of Surrey was held at the Griffin Hotel , Kingston-on-Thames , on Saturday , the 27 th ult ., under the banner of the Dobie Chapter , No . 889 . Amongst the companions present were Comps . Gen . J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., H . C . L . Bennett , P . Z . 370 ; F . West , P . Z . 463 , P . G . S . N . ; Chas . Greenwood , M . E . Z . 410 , P . and acting P . G .

S . E . ; J . H . Owens , 463 , P . G . P . Soj . ; T . Wakley , jun ., 1395 , P . G . 1 st Asst . Soj . ; Wood , 1149 , P . G . 2 nd Asst . Soj . ; Arthur H . Bowles , 1395 , P . G . Reg . ; John Rhodes , P . G . Org . ; R . T . Elsam , A . E . Taylor , E . D . Frost , C . C . Tyler , L . G . Dundas , H . M . Hobbs , C . H . Woodward , Geo . Yaxley , H . S . Vickers , H . J . Strong , G . Dolister , and 15 others .

The chapter having been opened in ancient form , the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Chapter were read and confirmed . The roll of the chapters in the province was called over , and the Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts were duly presented , read , and approved , and ordered to be entered on the minutes .

Comp . George Price was unanimously re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , Comp . Gen . J . Studholme Brownrigg then appointed and invested the following companions :

Comp . F . West , P . Z . ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ R . T . Elsam , P . Z . ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ C . Greenwood , M . E . Z .... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ H . E . Francis , P . Z . ... ... ... Prov . G . A . S . E . . . C . E . Oldridoe . M . E . Z .... ... ... Prov . G . S . N .

„ Joseph Steele , M . E . Z . ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ S . VV . Lambert , P . Z . ... ... ... Prov . G . ist A . S . „ A . W . Wells ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . „ H . Saxleby ... ,,. ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ G . Yaxley , P . Z . ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br .

„ A . E . Taylor , P . Z . ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ W . Ackland ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ H . M . Hobbs ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ H . E . Vickers ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ R . Potter ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . „ Thos . Bowler .,. ... ... Prov . G . A . Janitor

The PROV . GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then referred in feeling terms to the great loss sustained by the province in the recent death of Comp . Chas . Greenwood , P . Z ., P . G . D . of C . England , P . P . G . H ., and Prov . G . Scribe E ., which , he said , was felt most keenly by all who knew their late companion , and especially by the Masons of Surrey . The PROV . GRAND SUPERINTENDENT further remarked that several

suggestions had been made by companions in the province to the effect that some tribute of respect to the memory of their late companion should be made . It was , however , a difficult matter to know what form this tribute should take so as to be not only acceptable to the companions at large , but to the members of their deceased companion ' s family , and also a permanent memorial of the high esteem and affection in which he was held .

The PROV . GRAND SUPERINTENDENT concluded by suggesting that the Charity Committee of the province should form themselves into a Special Committee for the purpose of considering the steps to be taken with a view to carrying out the proposal , and expressed a hope that the Principals and Past Principals of the province would attend at Golden-square on Thursday nex t for that purpose .

Comp . FRANCIS endorsed the remarks made by the Grand Superintendent , and referred to his personal acquaintance with their late companion , which had extended over a period of thirty years , and concluded by moving a vote of condolence to the family of their late companion . Comp . FREDERICK WEST , P . G . H ., requested permission to propose "The Health of the M . E . the First Principal of the Entertaining Chapter , "

as he ( Comp . West ) was compelled to leave before the conclusion of the entertainment . Comp . West commended highly the care and attention evinced by the M . E . Z . and companions of the Dobie Chapter in their reception of the Provincial Grand Chapter . Referring to his recent appointment as Deputy Prov . Grand Master he said he would endeavour to be

present at the meetings of lodges and chapters in the province as often as possible , and that he would take a deep interest in all affairs connected with the welfare of Masonry in Surrey . He intimated his desire that he should receive notice of the meetings of all lodges and chapters in the province , and in conclusion asked the companions to drink with enthusiasm the health of the M . E . Z . and the other members of the entertaining chapter .

After the M . E . Z . had fittingly responded to the toast proposed by Comp . West ( who , as before mentioned , was obliged to leave , and therefore had proposed the first toast out of its usual order ) , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to . Several songs were contributed by many of the companions present ;

the musical arrangements being carried out under the supervision of Comp . H . E . Vickers , P . G . Org ., who accompanied at the piano . The banquet was of an excellent character , and having commenced at four o'clock the companions were enabled to leave Kingston by an early train , after having spent a very enjoyable evening .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Masters.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS .

The Half-yearly Communication of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on Tuesday evening , at the Holborn Restaurant , when Lord Egerton of Tatton , Deputy Grand Master , in the absence of his Royal hi ghness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and . the Earl of Kintore ,

M . W . Pro Grand Master , presided . His lordship was supported by Bros . Right Hon . Lord Egerton of Tatton , P . G . M . Cheshire , D . G . M ., as G . M . ; Rev . Canon Portal , M . A ., P . G . M . Hantsand Isle of Wight , Pres . of General Board , P . G . M . ; £ » . W . Mortimer Heath , P . G . M . Dorsetshire , as D . G . M . ; Col . Lord John H . Taylour , P . G . W ., as G . S . W . ; Captain N . G . Philips , P . G . W ., as G . J . W . ; A . F . t-odson , P . G . M . Worcestershire ; Afajor J . W . Woodall , Prov . G . M . North and East

Grand Lodge Of Mark Masters.

Wits ; A . M . Broadley , P . Dist . G . M . Mediterranean ; R . C . Else , Prov . G . M . of SJ T ^ ' j £ , er , c Davison , Dep . P . G . M . Middle-ex and Surrey , P . G . W . ; Hon . r ?\ / , ° i c Powle " - D , ^ - - - - N - « d E . Yorks , P . G . W . ; C . P . Matier , P . G . W . ; Col . H . S . Somerville Burney , P . G . M . O ., G . M . O . ; J . S . Eastes , P . G . S . O , G . S . O . ; and George Kennmsr G . J O . P . G . Overseers : O . " H . Pearson , Walter Adlard , T . Cubitr , S . G . K . rchhofTer , J E Le Feuvre , J . S . Cumher ' and , Henry Venn , Baron de Femeres , Richard Eve , and W . Roebuck . Rev . Dr . CartwrightSmyth , G . Chap . ; T . W . Lemon , P . O . Chap . ; Havman Cummines . P . G . Chan .- , las . Monn . G . Trpas .- Fr ^ lr .

Binckes , P-G . W ., G Secretary ; John E . Dawson , Dep . P . G . M . of Hertfordshire ; H . Ward , G . J . D . ; and F . Crouch , G . ] . D . P . G . Deacons : C . S . Lane , W . Nichol , G . w r' £ r \ - " ^ Y , - 9 , ? , M ' ckIev , and T . J . Railing . R . W . Edis , G . I . of W . ; C . H . Driver , P . G . I , of VV . ; G . P . Festa , G . A . D . C . ; A . McDowell , GIA . D . C ; Henry George , G . Cooper , P . G . D ., as G . Swd . Br . ; T . C . Walls , P . G . Swd . Br W . I . Thomson , G . Std . Br . ; Thomas Taylor , G . Std . Br .: R . B . Reed . P . G . Sin' Rr .

Henry Rose , G . Organist ; S . J . Hoare , P . G . Organist ; W . Vincent , G . I . G . ;* G . Graveley , P . G . LG . ; T . P . nder , G . Asst . I . G . ; G . Stwds .: R . Glasspool , W . M . LowicU , E-n . ThorneJ . Church . J . Boulton , and J . Terry . P . G . Stwds .: D . P . Cama , C . I . Tilling , J . iTomkms , C . F . Hogard , H . Massey , and F . VV . Driver , ; A . Walkley , G . Tyler . Apologies were received from the following :

Bros . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , G . M . ; Right Hon . the Earl of Kintore , £ " ? w V Rlg £ - , H ° n- £ * £ h 0 ^ £ ennik er , P . G . M . ; Right Hon . Lord Saltoun , ? - ' 7 i , \ J ? J % 'S nope ' ^ -9 . - SuES 5 X ; W . Kelly , Prov . G . M . Leicestershire ; Lord A . VV . Hill , Prov . G . M . Sussex ; Col . Aubrey Saunders , P . P . G . M . Madras ; Capt . S . G . Homtray , Prov . G . M . Monmouthshire ; VV . J . Hughan , P . G . W . ; G . P . Brockbank , P . G . W . ; Col . Addison Potter , G . M . O . ; Geo . Galloway , G . S . O . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . G . Org-. ; Ralph Gooding M . D ., P . G . Org . ; Rev . E . H . Crate , P . G . Chap .,- Rev . F . C . de Crespigny , P . G . Chap . ; Col . F . K . Sewell . Deoutv P . G . M .

Cumberland and Westmoreland ; R . Kally Miller , G . S . D . ; N . Tracy G S D - C . T . Townsend , A . Spears , P . de E . Collin , C . W . Duke , and A . Williams , P . G . D . ' s ; ' Robt . Berridge , P . G . M . O ., G . A . D . of C . ; J . T . Thorpe , P . G . A . D . of C . ; VV . Watson , P . G . A . D . of C ; C . P . Evans , G . S . Br . ; Controller S . G . Bake , P . G . Swd . Br . ; I . D . Murray , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . T . Belcher , Mus . Doc , P . G . Org . ; W . Morris , P . G . I . G . ; H . C . Burt , R . Owen , and R . Filzhugh , G . Stwds . ; Herbert Ellis , W . T . Clarke , John Lane , T . VV . Ansell , P . A . Scratchley , E . C . Patchitt and Major Dunbar , P . G . Stwds . ; Maurice Wheeler , W . M . 225 ; H . J . Mount , VV . M . 257 ; Jas . Shilcock , Stephen Knight , and VV . Corder .

After the formal opening of Grand Lodge the Deputy Grand Master was saluted in ancient form , and the following minutes were read and confirmed : Of Half-yearly Communication of ist June , 1886 ; of Special Grand Lodge of ist July , 1 S 86 ; and of Moveable Grand Lodge held at Norwich , 14 th July , 1886 .

The following report of the General Board was taken as read , and after wards ordered to be received and entered on the minutes : —

REPORT OF THE GENERAL BOARD . During the six months ending 30 th September last , there have been issued : Marl certificates , 570 ; total number registered , 22 , 227 . Warrants for netf lodges , 3 , viz . :-No . 367 , Gladsmuir , Barnet , Herts . „ 36 S , Kingston Keystone , Jamaica . „ 3 C 9 , Rangoon , Rangoon , Burmah ,

Royal Ark Manner certificates , 118 ; total number registered , 2076 . Warrants for new lodges , 2 , viz .: Prince Leopold , attached to No . 230 , London ; Orchard , attached to No . 203 , Meerut , Bengal . The following changes have taken place in the British possessions ;—Auckland , New Zealand—R . W . Bro . Frederick William Dawson , as Provincial Grand Master , vice R . W . Bro . H . Greensmith Wade . Madras—R . W . Bro . Major George Montgomerie John Moore , R . A ., Military Secretary to H . E . The Governor of Madras , as Provincial Grand Master , vice Major-General R . A . Cunhffe . *

Serious irregularities in connection with the election and installation of W . Master , leading to complications and difficulties of various kinds , have occurred in the Brunswick Lodge , No . 48 . These have been dealt with by the Board at the request of the Pro ' vincial Grand Master of Devon , and the Board recommended that Bro . James Lose , irregularly installed in a lodg-e of emergency , be confi med in the rank of Pa ^ t Master on payment of a fine of one guinea , and baue fined the lodge the sum of two guineas . Enquiry into subjects of complaints between members of this lodge has revealed

the existence of irregularities in connection with the election of VV . Master which , it is feared , are not confined to any particular locality , and which , if not checked , cannot fail to be a source of dissension . The election of VV . Master is by ballot—as provided by the Book of Constitutions—and for the purpose of such ballot the names of those eligible—viz ., the W . Master , the Past Masters , and the two Wardens—should either be read out by the Secretary , or a list of the names given to each membsr . 1 he practice of nominating in open lodge by proposing and seconding must inevitably lead to

difficulty and probably to dissension . The Board have granted relief to Bro . A . D . K ., lodge No . 234 , to the extent of £ 20 ; and recommended for approval by Grand Lodge a grant of , £ 30 to Bro . C . l \ T ., Lodge No . 70 , and £ 20 to Mrs . B . J ., widow of Bro . B . J ., a memsber of a Marie Lodge in Bombay under the Scottish Constitution , now resident in England .

The Eighteenth Annual Festival in aid of the Mark Benevolent Fund was held at the Holborn Restaurant , on 28 th July , under thc presidency of R . W . Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire , supported by 113 brethren as Stewards , and a large number of ladies and brethren . The united efforts of the President and Stewards produced £ 1535 , the best thanks of the Order being due to all who laboured so successfully .

With a view to render the Annual Benevolent Fund Festival even more successful in the future , it has been referred to a Sub-Committee to consider and report as to improved management . A copy of their report is subjoined , as also a recommendation from the President of the Board of Stewards : — " We , the Sub-Committee appointed by the General Board to consider and advise upon the better management of the Mark Benevolent Festival , beg to report that , having carefully considered the working of the various Festivals from 1869 ( which had a total of six Stewards ) , up to the year tSS 6 ( which had 113 ) , and finding that at the last

Festival the sum subscribed amounted to £ 200 less than that of the year 1 SS 5 , we recommend that a brother should be appointed as Secretary of the Mark Benevolent Fund , having authority to attend the various Mark lodges with a view to securing Stewards and soliciting subscriptions , and generally advocating the cause of the Charity . " FREDERIC DAVISON . " GEO . COOPEK . " A . F . GODSON . " 15 th September , 1 S 8 C . "

" Sutton House , Hawley , Dartford , ' * 17 th September , iSSO . " To the President of the General Board . "M . W . Sir and Brother , " I have the honour to forward you a copy of a resolution unanimously adopted at the meeting of the Board of Stewards for the Mark Benevolent Festival , 1 SS 6 , held on Wednesday , the 15 th inst ., as

follows;" Bro . Ramsey proposed— ' That a recommendation be made to the General Board by the Board of Stewards for the Festival of 18 S 6—that it will conduce greatly to the prosperity of the Mark Benevolent Fund that a permanent Secretary be appointed . ' " This was seconded by Bro . Henry George , and carried unanimously . " I am , M . W . Sir and Brother , yours most faithfully and fraternally , * ' HAYMAN CUMMINGS .

" President Hoard of Stewards . " Acting on this report and recommendation , the Board , after full consideration , have appointed Bro . C . F . Matier as the Secretary of the Mark Benevolent Fund , with an annual remuneration of £ 20 . The Board recommend that a sum of £ 5 be annually paid on behalf uf each recipient of the benefit of the Educational Fund for the purpose oi clothing . The silver medal for proficiency has been this year awarded to H . W . Bale , pupil at Aske ' s Schools , Hatcham .