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Article The "GOOD OLD DAYS" of UNIVERSAL FREEMASONRY in ENGLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article The "GOOD OLD DAYS" of UNIVERSAL FREEMASONRY in ENGLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article THE SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The "Good Old Days" Of Universal Freemasonry In England.
"GOOD OLD DAYS" of UNIVERSAL FREEMASONRY in ENGLAND .
"This assembly was collected in E ? ceter , for the love of God and for onr soul ' s -need , both in repaid to onr health of life here , and lo the idler days . . . Now we have agreed that our meeting shall be thrice in the twelve months .... and let each gild-brother
have two seslers of malt . . . And il any one neglect his contribution at- the proper day let him pay twofold . And if any one of this brotherhood misgreet another let him make amends with thirty pence . Now we pray , lor Ihe loveofGo-. l , that every man hold this meeting rightly , as we have righlly agreed upon it . God help us thereunto . "— . ¦ Injpo-Sa . w .-i Agreement of the ( JilJ of Exeter .
Here we have proof as plain as need be of an assemblage , twelve hundred years ago , in the everfaiihful city on the Exe , of a Fraternity who met together for the promotion of their temporal and eternal welfare , but who did not forget the good cheer and the funds , who were not unmindful of
comfortable and brotherly words , and who ended thc declaration of their objects ( from which the above quotation is taken ) with a solemn prayer that " so mote it be . " Nor was this , by any means , the first of such assemblages in England . There is evidence of their existence in books which contain
the oldest relics of English laws , and some authorities contend that portions of the statutes of Alfred and Athelstan , which relate lo such concourses , are based on customs handed down from the sacrificial feasts of the ancient Teutonic nations , or on the whole Sabine curies . Certain , however , it is
that , at a very early period , these associations claimed a beginning "from time whereunto the memory of man runneth not , " and that their universal existence is treated as a matier of wellknown fact . Penzance , Cornwall , recently saw the gaihcring together of thc brethren who have best
and most completely preserved for us the spirit of the ancient English combinations . There were clays when the famous gilds were so prevalent that it was taken to be a matter of course that every Englishman and English woman belonged to tiiem . In ihe following paper 1 shall refer principallv to a
period of about live centuries ago ; and if it can be shewn that at the middle and end ofthe fourteenth century our ancestors and ancestresses were . almost all of them enrolled in societies having many points in common with modern Freemasonry , the heading of this article , startling as it may appear at first
sight , will be found to have a good foundation . Our materials are gathered from Turner and Kemble , as to Anglo-Saxon usages ; and from Herbert , as to some of the London companies . Should there be occasion or space to speak of places of
assemblage or of costume , Parker and I-airholt , on architecture and dress respectively , will befriend us . But principally is our debt due to that deeplyinteresting book— " English Gilds , " by the late M ' r . Toulmin Smith and Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith , his
daughter . Mutual self-help and manly independence led to those Saxon gilds . They were sworn brotherhoods between man and man either for religious , political , or social purposes ; but whatever the mam object sought , all had the same general ch ir . ieu-ris ' . ie of
fralcrnal ai . i . Religious observances , and a lea-it and morn-speech in a gild-ho-. i ; e , were common lo both social gilds and gilds of c . Ais . By litem no wrong was done to any one . and no public responsibilities oi individuals were interfered with , so the King ' s license was riot necessary for tho , c who
btndcd themselves for "brotherly air ! and mora ] comeliness . ' While the gilds were lav bu lies an . I existed for lay purposes , priests might belong to them and often did so . But ihe chaplain was occasionally not thought so much of as tiie poorer brethren . If the funds got too lo . v to m .-entaia
both the man who said prayers and Ihe itn .-u who wanted bread , bodies were first attended to and souls left to other means of help . If there were no chaplain , however , few of these widespread societies neglected some provision for services at church , for tiie decent burial of members , for fetching the iio-. lv
1 v thc brethren , for attcmiancc at the la it rile-. It v as usual for all the brethren and si .-iters to go 10 church on thc day of their general incelings . Dl live hundred of these gilds not live but \ v .: ; ,: formed equally of men and of ivorn .-u -w ives as well as single women . ( this last point i :, not inn .
as one of resemblance to modern Mis-wry ; Miss Si . 1-eger , Lord Doneraile ' s daughter , being an accident—as a Masoness—and not an nsrituiioiO Chaucer describes the brethren who joined in the pilgrimage to Canterbury . A hnberdnsae- , a carpenter , a webber , a dyer , & -.:., were all cio'h . M in a . ¦ verv ol a solemn and great frateiilily . I ' ic-di an I
i ex was their gear ; th ,-ir girdles and their pouches were wrought with silver ; each of them looked a burgess worthy to sit on ( he dais of a guildhall , ' , '< r-ioos of ail ran '; - ' , even of tic h ' ghest in the kingdom , became members of iboe ir . uunitics . The Corpus Chrisii Gild at York bad 14 , 850 Circled brethren , ana tlie Trinity Cihl at Covqndn
The "Good Old Days" Of Universal Freemasonry In England.
had Henry tlie Fourth and Henry the Sixth on its books—two facts which show the wide area covered by some of these institutions , and thc equality , blended with respect for those who could command it , enjoyed within the lodges of those days . Each member , on admittance , took an oath of obedience ,
and was received lovingly , with a kiss- of peace , by the brethren . "Ancl then drynke aboute ; and , alter that , departc for that nyghte . " There were Ices for admission ; payments "to the light" for a feast : contributions on the death of a brother or a sister ; levies when help was needed for a poor
brother in distress ; the regular payments were , generally , so much a year or so much a quarter ; and of the contents of the common pyx , or chest , the stewards gave a faithful account annually . Once a year , at the least , these societies met . The brethren and sisters were summoned bv an
oinccr—not by advertisement , as in these clays , we may easily suppose . Their meetings were called '' morn speeches , " and at them those who wished had the opportunity for " spekyngges tokedcre for here comunc profyte , " and much business was despatched in the choice of officers , admission of
new brethren , reading over the ordinances , & c . Then they worshipped together , gave their alms , nnd feasted one and all " for the nourishing of brotherly love . " The brethren and sistrcn , _ clad in their hoods or livery , assembled at the church , bearing the lights which formed a universal part of
their rites — in the sacred edifice lo make the prayers enjoined by their rulcsand to consecrate by acts , faith , and worthy deeds that brotherly love and peace which they were sworn to cherish . In some processions numerous lights , music , and sometimes ilowci-j and garlands of leaves , were used . ' ¦
Symbolic shows , " too , had a part in the pageant . The larger towns had spacious places to assemble in , but there was a hall of some kind in almost cverv parish and village . It was frequently a timber building near the church , sometimes over the lychgate , at the entrance lo the churchyard . Some of lhc more wealthy members doubtless occasionall y
invited the association to meet in the " great houseplace " of their mansions . With such facts as are before us it is not difficult to imagine some such scene as this—the streets and dresses alone are different to those we looked at the other week ; ' the essential characteristics are the same in the 141 I 1 and iyth centuries . WHACHU . M .
The Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.
THE SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND .
The usual Quarterly Convocation of the Grand Chapter was held on Wednesday , the 2 nd August . Thc attendance was very numerous , about sixty companions being present .
The minutes of the last convocation being confirmed , thc business of thc evening was proceeded with—which we published last week . Tlic charters were granted ,
except for chapters to lie held at Hampton and i \ t'r . irs liar , Grantl Chapter conlinning tiie views of the Committee expressed in the report .
Comp . . Matthew Cooke ' s motion was brought forward by himself , but be failed in di ) t . lining a seconder , and thus the . subject could nut be discussed .
l . i > . \ ii !) X l . s I ' I-: UN . \ I ' M . VU . E . ; : in'dTIOX . — The M .: ; -r . i : i of Iv ; " .: ! ii ' - - ' -iiied on We-. lrifsilay last at ihe I'rivy Council ( Ace . over a meeting of thc G-neial Purposes CummiHee appointed bv Her . ' . iajotv ' s C \» mmi > slo : ie ; s lor the Exhibition of 1 S 5 I ,
lo cany out ihe current scries ol Annual International Exhibitions . There were al .-. o present the Marquis of I . ansdowne , Sir Stafford Northcote . Sir Francis . Sandford . Mr . Edgar IJowring , Mr . Cole , Mr . Tlirin-. ; , and Col . Scott , M . E ., Secretarv .
1 ill-: closing of toe b . nks on ihe "iii m ^ t ., under Ihe Dank Holidays" Bill , will doubtless lead lo an alni'vd general holiday . The Stock Exchange will be shut , the committee having recently added the first . Monday in Aur . ust to the li : ; ed holidays of that establishment , as well as Lloyd's , the Jerusalem ,
the Corn and Mincing-lane markets , anil the offices < . f all the leading companies and private linns . In Liverpool ihere will be no pro . luce or cotton markets , and both the Underwriters' and tha Exchange Rooms will be closed . Strong efforts arc als > being
made to induce thc authorities to close the Customhouse . A strong hope is expressed that before the following bank holiday , on the 26 th of December , an arrangement will be come to in favour of closing all Government establishments , and thus make the holiday a thoroughl y complete on-::.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .
The annnal meeting of the Grand Lodge of Somerset was held at Crewkerne , and was a complete success . The Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , was expected to be present , but almost at the last moment a telegram was received
to the effect that his lordship was unable to come owing to the lateness ofthe debate in the House of Lords on the previous evening . Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Captain Bridges , of Bridgwaterupon whom devolved thc duty of conducting the
proceedings—presided . The lodge was held at the Town Hall , which was admirably arranged and decorated . About 120 attended . ' Only two lodges out of the whole province failed to answer the " roll-call . There were a few visitors from Dorset , Devon , and Wilts . The lodge room and its approaches were beautified with groups of very line plants in bloom , ferns , & c , lent
from Mr . Scott's nurseries . The Provincial Officers for thc ensuing year were invested as follows : — Bro . J . W . Shum , P . M . 53 ... P . G . S . W . „ H . Strawson , W . M . S 14 ... P . G . J . W . ljr-v in H ui ..-. d-vv i-v" ... ) .- ¦ „ „ ,
r > r ,, ; ,. i „„ . ' I . CJ . e-uapiains . „ Rev . E . \ V . Gordon 53 ... ) l „ E . Turner Payne , P . M . 53 ... P . G . Treasurer . „ Capt . R . P . Flovd , W . M . 41 P . G . Registrar . ., R . G . Else , P . M . 291 ... P . G . Secretary .
„ J . H . Farley , W . M . 329 ... P . G . S . D . ., W . Thompson , W . M . 976 ... P . G . J . D . ' ., J . II . Smith , W . M . 261 ... P . G . S . Works . ' „ Mitchell , P . M . 41 P . G . D . Cers . „ J . Hard , W . M . 1199 ... A . l' . G . D . Cers . „ Colonel Gwyon , 53 . . ... P . G . S . B .
„ Dr . Swede , 1222 P . G . Organist . „ J . B . Soper . W . M . 1 35 ... P . G-. P . „ E . L . Hill , W . M . 906 ... Assist . P . G . P . „ L . H . Ricketts , 1199 ... j „ Captain Phayre , S 3 - ( R . G . Stewards . „ S . Bragg , J . W . 1197
„ B . Cox , 1222 J A donation of five guineas was voted to the Crewkerne Hospital . Amongst thc brethren present in lodge , besides those who have been named as appointed to P . G . offices , were : Bros , the Rev . R . J . F . Thomas ,
P . M . 329 , P . G . Chaplain of England ; \ V . B . Butler , P . J . G . W . ; F . R . Prideaux , P . G . Secretarv ; F . Vizard , P . M . 1222 . P . G . S . W . ; W . . F . Galpin , P . G . D . C ; E . T . lnskip , P . G . S . B .: W . C . Brannan , P . G . O . ; J . Yincent , P . G . S . ; G . Parfit , P . M . 976 ; W . Thompson , W . M . Royal Clarence ; E . L . Hill , W . M . 906 ; J . H . Macfarlane , W . M . 1296 ; J .
Budge , P . M . 814 , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . R . Ford , W . M . S 3 , P . P . G . R . ; J . Knott , P . M . 1197 ; T . W . Molton , P . G . A . D . C ; W . D . Balfour , 49 Ancient Dundee , Scotland ; M .. C . J . Harris , P . M . Su ; J . B . Ireland , P . M . 814 ; J . Baker , P . M . 135 ; S . Jones , P . M . 112 , P . G S . Devon ; J . Murlis , P . GJ . W . ; \ V . Sharp , W . M . 1197 ; E \ White , P . P . G . S . W . ; Dr . F .
H . Woodforde , P . P . S . G . W . ; S . G . Mitchell , P . M . 335 , P . P . J . D . Wilts . ; Rev . George Thompson , W . M . 1168 , Sherborne ; W . Reed , P . M . 261 ; S . Toms , P . M . 706 ; C . Dvkc , W . M . 66 5 ; L . H . Ruegg , P . P . G . S . W . and P . G . S . D . Dorset ; W . S . Gillard , P . M . nor ! , P . P . G . D . Dorset ; JJ . Atwell ,
P . M . 97 6 ; E . W . Bridge , P . M . 814 , P . P . G . D . C ; C . Yescombe , P . G . S . Dorset ; F . Cox , P . P . G . S . W . ; C . F . Gibbs , P . M . 1197 ; J . II . Ryall , P . M . 329 ; S . Cross , P . M . 320 ; II . Ravmoad , P . M . 329 ; C . Blake ; W . Hewi ' sh ; G . Ji ' ugg . S . D . 814 ; J . W . Lye , J . D . 814 ; & c , & c .
A magnificent banquet was served in the George Hotel Assembly Room , and about a huiulie . l brethren sat down , under the presidency of thc Deputy Grand Master , tiie P . G . Wardens ( Uros . Shum awl Survwsim ) occupying the vice-chairs .
1 lie viands , fruits , and wines were the theme of general admiration . Thc banqueting-rooni was Handsomely decorated , and the guests warml y praised the Crewkerne brethren and Mrs . Marsh for the elegance and liberality of the provision made for their entertainment .
The following is the toast list : — "The Queen and the Craft" was proposed by lhc Chairman , who also gave "The M . W . G . M . ' of England , the Marquis of Ripon . " The Chairman also gave successively , "The Prince of Wales , IMAM , of Jhigland ; " "' The Earl of Carnarvon aud the rest of the Grand Ofiicers , Past and Present , " which
was responded to by Uro . R . G . F . Thomas ; and ' •The Earl of Carnarvon as R . W . P . G . Master of Somerset . "—Bro . Ruegg gave "The Health of Captain Bridges and tlie rest of the Prov . Grand Ofiicers , " which the Chairman acknowledged .- — Captain Bridges gave the health of the ' -Visiting
Brethren , " which was acknowledged by Bros . Jones and Dyke . — " Parrett and Axe Lodge . " proposed by the Chairman , was responded to by Bros . Strawson , W . M ., and Galpin , P . M . —Thc Chairman gave ' ¦ The Masonic Charities , " which was acknowledge j by Bio , Payne , j ' . G . T . The Pvlcr ' s toast ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The "Good Old Days" Of Universal Freemasonry In England.
"GOOD OLD DAYS" of UNIVERSAL FREEMASONRY in ENGLAND .
"This assembly was collected in E ? ceter , for the love of God and for onr soul ' s -need , both in repaid to onr health of life here , and lo the idler days . . . Now we have agreed that our meeting shall be thrice in the twelve months .... and let each gild-brother
have two seslers of malt . . . And il any one neglect his contribution at- the proper day let him pay twofold . And if any one of this brotherhood misgreet another let him make amends with thirty pence . Now we pray , lor Ihe loveofGo-. l , that every man hold this meeting rightly , as we have righlly agreed upon it . God help us thereunto . "— . ¦ Injpo-Sa . w .-i Agreement of the ( JilJ of Exeter .
Here we have proof as plain as need be of an assemblage , twelve hundred years ago , in the everfaiihful city on the Exe , of a Fraternity who met together for the promotion of their temporal and eternal welfare , but who did not forget the good cheer and the funds , who were not unmindful of
comfortable and brotherly words , and who ended thc declaration of their objects ( from which the above quotation is taken ) with a solemn prayer that " so mote it be . " Nor was this , by any means , the first of such assemblages in England . There is evidence of their existence in books which contain
the oldest relics of English laws , and some authorities contend that portions of the statutes of Alfred and Athelstan , which relate lo such concourses , are based on customs handed down from the sacrificial feasts of the ancient Teutonic nations , or on the whole Sabine curies . Certain , however , it is
that , at a very early period , these associations claimed a beginning "from time whereunto the memory of man runneth not , " and that their universal existence is treated as a matier of wellknown fact . Penzance , Cornwall , recently saw the gaihcring together of thc brethren who have best
and most completely preserved for us the spirit of the ancient English combinations . There were clays when the famous gilds were so prevalent that it was taken to be a matter of course that every Englishman and English woman belonged to tiiem . In ihe following paper 1 shall refer principallv to a
period of about live centuries ago ; and if it can be shewn that at the middle and end ofthe fourteenth century our ancestors and ancestresses were . almost all of them enrolled in societies having many points in common with modern Freemasonry , the heading of this article , startling as it may appear at first
sight , will be found to have a good foundation . Our materials are gathered from Turner and Kemble , as to Anglo-Saxon usages ; and from Herbert , as to some of the London companies . Should there be occasion or space to speak of places of
assemblage or of costume , Parker and I-airholt , on architecture and dress respectively , will befriend us . But principally is our debt due to that deeplyinteresting book— " English Gilds , " by the late M ' r . Toulmin Smith and Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith , his
daughter . Mutual self-help and manly independence led to those Saxon gilds . They were sworn brotherhoods between man and man either for religious , political , or social purposes ; but whatever the mam object sought , all had the same general ch ir . ieu-ris ' . ie of
fralcrnal ai . i . Religious observances , and a lea-it and morn-speech in a gild-ho-. i ; e , were common lo both social gilds and gilds of c . Ais . By litem no wrong was done to any one . and no public responsibilities oi individuals were interfered with , so the King ' s license was riot necessary for tho , c who
btndcd themselves for "brotherly air ! and mora ] comeliness . ' While the gilds were lav bu lies an . I existed for lay purposes , priests might belong to them and often did so . But ihe chaplain was occasionally not thought so much of as tiie poorer brethren . If the funds got too lo . v to m .-entaia
both the man who said prayers and Ihe itn .-u who wanted bread , bodies were first attended to and souls left to other means of help . If there were no chaplain , however , few of these widespread societies neglected some provision for services at church , for tiie decent burial of members , for fetching the iio-. lv
1 v thc brethren , for attcmiancc at the la it rile-. It v as usual for all the brethren and si .-iters to go 10 church on thc day of their general incelings . Dl live hundred of these gilds not live but \ v .: ; ,: formed equally of men and of ivorn .-u -w ives as well as single women . ( this last point i :, not inn .
as one of resemblance to modern Mis-wry ; Miss Si . 1-eger , Lord Doneraile ' s daughter , being an accident—as a Masoness—and not an nsrituiioiO Chaucer describes the brethren who joined in the pilgrimage to Canterbury . A hnberdnsae- , a carpenter , a webber , a dyer , & -.:., were all cio'h . M in a . ¦ verv ol a solemn and great frateiilily . I ' ic-di an I
i ex was their gear ; th ,-ir girdles and their pouches were wrought with silver ; each of them looked a burgess worthy to sit on ( he dais of a guildhall , ' , '< r-ioos of ail ran '; - ' , even of tic h ' ghest in the kingdom , became members of iboe ir . uunitics . The Corpus Chrisii Gild at York bad 14 , 850 Circled brethren , ana tlie Trinity Cihl at Covqndn
The "Good Old Days" Of Universal Freemasonry In England.
had Henry tlie Fourth and Henry the Sixth on its books—two facts which show the wide area covered by some of these institutions , and thc equality , blended with respect for those who could command it , enjoyed within the lodges of those days . Each member , on admittance , took an oath of obedience ,
and was received lovingly , with a kiss- of peace , by the brethren . "Ancl then drynke aboute ; and , alter that , departc for that nyghte . " There were Ices for admission ; payments "to the light" for a feast : contributions on the death of a brother or a sister ; levies when help was needed for a poor
brother in distress ; the regular payments were , generally , so much a year or so much a quarter ; and of the contents of the common pyx , or chest , the stewards gave a faithful account annually . Once a year , at the least , these societies met . The brethren and sisters were summoned bv an
oinccr—not by advertisement , as in these clays , we may easily suppose . Their meetings were called '' morn speeches , " and at them those who wished had the opportunity for " spekyngges tokedcre for here comunc profyte , " and much business was despatched in the choice of officers , admission of
new brethren , reading over the ordinances , & c . Then they worshipped together , gave their alms , nnd feasted one and all " for the nourishing of brotherly love . " The brethren and sistrcn , _ clad in their hoods or livery , assembled at the church , bearing the lights which formed a universal part of
their rites — in the sacred edifice lo make the prayers enjoined by their rulcsand to consecrate by acts , faith , and worthy deeds that brotherly love and peace which they were sworn to cherish . In some processions numerous lights , music , and sometimes ilowci-j and garlands of leaves , were used . ' ¦
Symbolic shows , " too , had a part in the pageant . The larger towns had spacious places to assemble in , but there was a hall of some kind in almost cverv parish and village . It was frequently a timber building near the church , sometimes over the lychgate , at the entrance lo the churchyard . Some of lhc more wealthy members doubtless occasionall y
invited the association to meet in the " great houseplace " of their mansions . With such facts as are before us it is not difficult to imagine some such scene as this—the streets and dresses alone are different to those we looked at the other week ; ' the essential characteristics are the same in the 141 I 1 and iyth centuries . WHACHU . M .
The Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.
THE SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND .
The usual Quarterly Convocation of the Grand Chapter was held on Wednesday , the 2 nd August . Thc attendance was very numerous , about sixty companions being present .
The minutes of the last convocation being confirmed , thc business of thc evening was proceeded with—which we published last week . Tlic charters were granted ,
except for chapters to lie held at Hampton and i \ t'r . irs liar , Grantl Chapter conlinning tiie views of the Committee expressed in the report .
Comp . . Matthew Cooke ' s motion was brought forward by himself , but be failed in di ) t . lining a seconder , and thus the . subject could nut be discussed .
l . i > . \ ii !) X l . s I ' I-: UN . \ I ' M . VU . E . ; : in'dTIOX . — The M .: ; -r . i : i of Iv ; " .: ! ii ' - - ' -iiied on We-. lrifsilay last at ihe I'rivy Council ( Ace . over a meeting of thc G-neial Purposes CummiHee appointed bv Her . ' . iajotv ' s C \» mmi > slo : ie ; s lor the Exhibition of 1 S 5 I ,
lo cany out ihe current scries ol Annual International Exhibitions . There were al .-. o present the Marquis of I . ansdowne , Sir Stafford Northcote . Sir Francis . Sandford . Mr . Edgar IJowring , Mr . Cole , Mr . Tlirin-. ; , and Col . Scott , M . E ., Secretarv .
1 ill-: closing of toe b . nks on ihe "iii m ^ t ., under Ihe Dank Holidays" Bill , will doubtless lead lo an alni'vd general holiday . The Stock Exchange will be shut , the committee having recently added the first . Monday in Aur . ust to the li : ; ed holidays of that establishment , as well as Lloyd's , the Jerusalem ,
the Corn and Mincing-lane markets , anil the offices < . f all the leading companies and private linns . In Liverpool ihere will be no pro . luce or cotton markets , and both the Underwriters' and tha Exchange Rooms will be closed . Strong efforts arc als > being
made to induce thc authorities to close the Customhouse . A strong hope is expressed that before the following bank holiday , on the 26 th of December , an arrangement will be come to in favour of closing all Government establishments , and thus make the holiday a thoroughl y complete on-::.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .
The annnal meeting of the Grand Lodge of Somerset was held at Crewkerne , and was a complete success . The Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , was expected to be present , but almost at the last moment a telegram was received
to the effect that his lordship was unable to come owing to the lateness ofthe debate in the House of Lords on the previous evening . Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Captain Bridges , of Bridgwaterupon whom devolved thc duty of conducting the
proceedings—presided . The lodge was held at the Town Hall , which was admirably arranged and decorated . About 120 attended . ' Only two lodges out of the whole province failed to answer the " roll-call . There were a few visitors from Dorset , Devon , and Wilts . The lodge room and its approaches were beautified with groups of very line plants in bloom , ferns , & c , lent
from Mr . Scott's nurseries . The Provincial Officers for thc ensuing year were invested as follows : — Bro . J . W . Shum , P . M . 53 ... P . G . S . W . „ H . Strawson , W . M . S 14 ... P . G . J . W . ljr-v in H ui ..-. d-vv i-v" ... ) .- ¦ „ „ ,
r > r ,, ; ,. i „„ . ' I . CJ . e-uapiains . „ Rev . E . \ V . Gordon 53 ... ) l „ E . Turner Payne , P . M . 53 ... P . G . Treasurer . „ Capt . R . P . Flovd , W . M . 41 P . G . Registrar . ., R . G . Else , P . M . 291 ... P . G . Secretary .
„ J . H . Farley , W . M . 329 ... P . G . S . D . ., W . Thompson , W . M . 976 ... P . G . J . D . ' ., J . II . Smith , W . M . 261 ... P . G . S . Works . ' „ Mitchell , P . M . 41 P . G . D . Cers . „ J . Hard , W . M . 1199 ... A . l' . G . D . Cers . „ Colonel Gwyon , 53 . . ... P . G . S . B .
„ Dr . Swede , 1222 P . G . Organist . „ J . B . Soper . W . M . 1 35 ... P . G-. P . „ E . L . Hill , W . M . 906 ... Assist . P . G . P . „ L . H . Ricketts , 1199 ... j „ Captain Phayre , S 3 - ( R . G . Stewards . „ S . Bragg , J . W . 1197
„ B . Cox , 1222 J A donation of five guineas was voted to the Crewkerne Hospital . Amongst thc brethren present in lodge , besides those who have been named as appointed to P . G . offices , were : Bros , the Rev . R . J . F . Thomas ,
P . M . 329 , P . G . Chaplain of England ; \ V . B . Butler , P . J . G . W . ; F . R . Prideaux , P . G . Secretarv ; F . Vizard , P . M . 1222 . P . G . S . W . ; W . . F . Galpin , P . G . D . C ; E . T . lnskip , P . G . S . B .: W . C . Brannan , P . G . O . ; J . Yincent , P . G . S . ; G . Parfit , P . M . 976 ; W . Thompson , W . M . Royal Clarence ; E . L . Hill , W . M . 906 ; J . H . Macfarlane , W . M . 1296 ; J .
Budge , P . M . 814 , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . R . Ford , W . M . S 3 , P . P . G . R . ; J . Knott , P . M . 1197 ; T . W . Molton , P . G . A . D . C ; W . D . Balfour , 49 Ancient Dundee , Scotland ; M .. C . J . Harris , P . M . Su ; J . B . Ireland , P . M . 814 ; J . Baker , P . M . 135 ; S . Jones , P . M . 112 , P . G S . Devon ; J . Murlis , P . GJ . W . ; \ V . Sharp , W . M . 1197 ; E \ White , P . P . G . S . W . ; Dr . F .
H . Woodforde , P . P . S . G . W . ; S . G . Mitchell , P . M . 335 , P . P . J . D . Wilts . ; Rev . George Thompson , W . M . 1168 , Sherborne ; W . Reed , P . M . 261 ; S . Toms , P . M . 706 ; C . Dvkc , W . M . 66 5 ; L . H . Ruegg , P . P . G . S . W . and P . G . S . D . Dorset ; W . S . Gillard , P . M . nor ! , P . P . G . D . Dorset ; JJ . Atwell ,
P . M . 97 6 ; E . W . Bridge , P . M . 814 , P . P . G . D . C ; C . Yescombe , P . G . S . Dorset ; F . Cox , P . P . G . S . W . ; C . F . Gibbs , P . M . 1197 ; J . II . Ryall , P . M . 329 ; S . Cross , P . M . 320 ; II . Ravmoad , P . M . 329 ; C . Blake ; W . Hewi ' sh ; G . Ji ' ugg . S . D . 814 ; J . W . Lye , J . D . 814 ; & c , & c .
A magnificent banquet was served in the George Hotel Assembly Room , and about a huiulie . l brethren sat down , under the presidency of thc Deputy Grand Master , tiie P . G . Wardens ( Uros . Shum awl Survwsim ) occupying the vice-chairs .
1 lie viands , fruits , and wines were the theme of general admiration . Thc banqueting-rooni was Handsomely decorated , and the guests warml y praised the Crewkerne brethren and Mrs . Marsh for the elegance and liberality of the provision made for their entertainment .
The following is the toast list : — "The Queen and the Craft" was proposed by lhc Chairman , who also gave "The M . W . G . M . ' of England , the Marquis of Ripon . " The Chairman also gave successively , "The Prince of Wales , IMAM , of Jhigland ; " "' The Earl of Carnarvon aud the rest of the Grand Ofiicers , Past and Present , " which
was responded to by Uro . R . G . F . Thomas ; and ' •The Earl of Carnarvon as R . W . P . G . Master of Somerset . "—Bro . Ruegg gave "The Health of Captain Bridges and tlie rest of the Prov . Grand Ofiicers , " which the Chairman acknowledged .- — Captain Bridges gave the health of the ' -Visiting
Brethren , " which was acknowledged by Bros . Jones and Dyke . — " Parrett and Axe Lodge . " proposed by the Chairman , was responded to by Bros . Strawson , W . M ., and Galpin , P . M . —Thc Chairman gave ' ¦ The Masonic Charities , " which was acknowledge j by Bio , Payne , j ' . G . T . The Pvlcr ' s toast ,