Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

A NCIENT FRATERNITY OF F REE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OE THE PROVINCE OF ESSEX . To the Right Hon . the Earl of Warwick and Brooke , Deputy Grand Master of England , Provincial Grand Master of Essex . The brethren of the Province of Essex , over whom you have ruled so wisely and well for the past 16 years , desire to take this , the first opportunity they have latelconferred

had of warmly congratulating your lordship upon the distinction y upon you by H . R . H . the Grand Master , in appointing you Deputy Grand Master of England . They feel sure that in this high position your lordship will bring to bear that strong sense of duty , perfect tact , and unfailing courtesy which have endeared you to the brethren of your province and has conduced to make it one of the Masonic strongholds of the country .

That T . G . A . O . T . U . may long bless and preserve your lordship is the earnest prayer of every brother of the Province of Essex . Signed on behalf of 2200 brethren of Essex , M . LOCKWOOD , Col . P . G . D ., D . Prov . G . M .

THOS . J . RALLING , P . A . G . D . C , Prov . G . Sec . Tilbury , July 26 , 1899 . The reading of the address was received with hearty applause , which was again renewed when

The Earl of WARWICK rose to acknowledge the presentation . His lordship assured the brethren that until the moment the address was read to him he had not the slightest idea that such a step was to be taken on that occasion . It , however , came with additional force from the fact that for some years they had treated his shortcomings with the greatest leniency , and he had always received the greatest kindness , cordiality , and loyalty

from all the brethren in his province . ( Loud applause . ) He had had no idea , either , previously , that the Grand Master was going to confer upon him the dignity he had in Masonry . He ( the Provincial Grand Master ) had realised very fully the onerous duties attached to the position , and he only hoped that he would be able to discharge those duties to the satisfaction of his Royal Highness and the brethren generally . He asked them

to rest assured that so long as he occupied the position of Provincial Grand Master he would have the interests of the Province of Essex most particularly at heart . He would value that address , so kindly worded , as a memento of one of the most pleasurable positions he could hold , and in the years to come those who succeeded him would value it as one of the most treasured heirlooms in his historic home . ( Loud applause . )

The Prov . G . Sec . then announced that communications of regret at their inability to a ' . lend had been receiued from Bros . Earl Amherst , Pro G . M .: the Earl of Onslow , P . G . M . Surrey ; Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., P . G . M . Middx . ; the Earl of Stradbroke , S . G . W . ; T . F . Halsey , M . P ., P . G . M . Herts : Hamon le Strange , P . G . M . Norfolk ; E .

Letchworth , G . Sec . j Sir Francis Boileau , D . P . G . M . Norfolk ; f . S . Eastes , D . P . G . M . Kent ; G . E . Lake , D . P . G . M . Herts ; his Honour Judge Philbrick , Q C , P . G . W . ; Matthew Clark , P . G . D . ; James M . Small , P . G . Sec . rvliddx . ; Chas . T . Tyler , P . G . Sec . Surrey ; Alfred Spencer , P . G . Sec . Kent ; G . W . G . Barnard , P . G . Sec . Norfolk ; E . C . Wills ,

P . P . G . W . ; Harris Hills , P . P . G . W . j A . J . H . Ward , P . P . G . W . ; Millner Jutsum , P . P . G . R . ; W . E . Facey , P . G . D . ; James Speller , P . P . G . D . ; C . Bullock , P . G . Sec . Herts ; A . G . Hayman , P . P . G . D . ; Mark Gentry , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; and others . The roll of lodges was then called by the Prov . G . Sec , and all the 44 comprising the province were found to be represented .

Bro . J J . C . TURNER , P . P . S . G . W ., moved the adoption of the report of the Board of General Purposes . This report , after alluding with satisfaction to the appointment of Lord Warwick to be Dep . Grand Master of England , proceeded as follows : " The growth of the province is exemplified by the fact that since the last meeting of Prov . G . Lodge no less than five lodges have been added to the roll , making the number 44 .

One of these lodges bears the name of our greatly loved brother , Albert Lucking , and the Board are sure the brethren will feel that the formation of this lodge is a fitting tribute to the 25 years' ungrudging work of Bro . Lucking as Prov . G . D . of C . During thc year there have been 178 initiations , compared with 155 last year ; and 134 joining members , compared with 64 last year . There have been 81 resignations , against 64 last year ;

the losses by death have been 36 ; whilst 19 brethren have been struck off the books of their respective lodges , leaving the present strength ol the province 2297 members , against 20 S 9 last year . The number of members returned as ' In arrear'is 160 , which is a slight increase over last year . The losses by death include the names of several brethren who have done good suit and service to the province , but the Board feel that special

mention should be made of the loss Freemasonry generally , and this province in particular , has sustained in the death of Bro . Francis A . White , P . M . 1437 , P . P . G . R ., who for many years has taken an active interest in the work of the province , particularly as regards the Chanties , and for some time has acted as one of the Representatives of the Charity Committee at the elections . The Board are gratified to report that another Essex boyviz ., Herbert Wallace Roberts—has shown such ability and good conduct

at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , that the Board of Management have resolved to retain him beyond his ordinary term for the purpose of higher education . It is interesting to note that the father of this boy was the Chaplain who officiated as one of the Consecrating Officers at the formation of the Tilbury Lodge . The Board recommend that the portrait in next year's Calendar should be that of Bro . George Corbie , P . M . and Sec . 1 S 3 , P . P . J . G . W . "

Amongst the grants recommended by the Board were , £ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , £ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , £ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and £ 5 5 s . to the Tilbury Cottage Hospital . The motion for the adoption of the report having been seconded by Bro . W . SHURMUR , P . G . Std . Br ., it was unanimously carried . The report of the Charity Committee was read by the PROV . G .

SECRETARY , who also proposed its adoption , as follows : The work of the Charity Committee during the year just closed has been very heavy , no less than 1 ' 1564 votes having passed through the hands of our representatives . There have been eight candidates—three girls , two boys , two widows , and one brother , of whom the Committee have secured the election of five , viz ., one girl , two boys , one widow , and one brother . The Committee desire to thank the brethren of the province for their loyal support during the past year , and would urge upon them the need of a continuance of that support . There are two girls and one widow still to be elected , and it will require

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

every vote to secure that end . The indebtedness of the province has been considerably reduced . The Committee have to deplore the loss' 6 f On 2 of their most active colleagues—Bro . Francis White—who , till his health gave way , rendered very valuable assistance at the elections . The support

given by the province to the three Charities has been again most liberal . Eight Stewards supported the Old People with a total of . £ 450 ; there were 14 at the Girls' Festival , who brought up between them ^ 660 ; whilst at the Boys' Festival there were seven Stewards , whose lists totalled to ^ 242—the total for the year having been £ 122 $ .

The motion for the adoption of the report having been seconded by Bro . H . E . DEHANE , P . P . G . D ., it was unanimously adopted . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren . Having referred with regret to the absence of Col . Lockwood , which was

occasioned by urgent public business , his lordship remarked that the past year had been one of great Masonic activity in the province , no less than five new lodges having been added to their roll . They might rest assured that he had not taken upon himself the responsibility of recommending these lodges to the favourable consideration of the Grand Master without

anxious consideration and a full conviction that those lodges would prove a source of strength to their province . ( Hear , hear . ) As regarded one of those lodges , he quite concurred in the report of the Board of General Purposes in the satisfaction they expressed that the services of their good friend , Bro . Lucking , had been so fitly recognised by the formation of a lodge bearing his name . ( Applause . ) He was gratified to find that ,

notwithstanding the great efforts made by the province to support the Boys ' School last year—when over £ 4000 was subscribed—the contributions this year to the three great Masonic Charities had amounted in the aggregate to £ 1225 —( applause)—and he must say he felt great pride when , on the occasion of the Girls' Festival , at which he was present , it was announced that Essex took the lead of the provincial lists . ( Applause . ) He thought all

good Masons would agree with him in the satisfaction he felt that the Grand Lodge had put its foot down so decidedly in reference to the growing desire of Masons to appear in public in their Masonic clothing . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) He felt quite sure that the more these occasions were limited the better it was for their Order . ( Hear , hear . ) Having

expressed regret that there was a contest that day for the election of P . G . Treasurer , and a hope that in future an endeavour would be made to agree upon a candidate beforehand , so that he could be elected by a unanimous vote , his lordship referred to one or two Masonic matters , and concluded by repeating the pride he felt in presiding over the Province oi Essex . ( Applause . )

The next business was the election of four members of the Board of General Purposes , but as only the requisite number had been proposed , his lordship declared them duly elected as follows : Bros . W . Ernest Drinrr , P . M . 2318 , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . D . Merritt , P . M . ioo > , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . H . Salter , P . M . 2442 , G . D ., P . P . J . G . W . ; and John J . C . Turner , P . M . Si , P . P . S . G . W . ° ' A ballot was taken for the election of Prov . G . Treasurer , the result of which was as follows : Bro . T . P . Trounce , I . P . M . 423 , 116 votes : and Bro . C . J . Smith , P . M . 2504 , 48 votes . The PROV . G . MASTER thereupon declared Bro . Trounce to be duly elected . Owing to a severe domestic bereavement Bro . Trounce was not present for investiture .

The Prov . G . Master then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bro . Plumer C . Walker , W . M . 2006 ... .,, Prov . S . G . W . „ Walter , S . Bunting , W . M . 2318 ... ... Prov . I . G . W * „ the Rev . A . R . T . Eales , M . A ., Chap . 1437 ... 7 „ „ _ . „ the Rev . W . H . Tozer , Chap . 2005 ... ] Prov - - P - „ Egerton J . Glyn , W . M . 2561 ... ... p . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 51 ( 23 rd year ) G

IWM P ^ P"g Prov . . Sec . „ J . W . Moss , I . P . M . 2342 ... ... , „ James Berry , I . P . M . 1817 ,.. I Prov . S . G . Ds .

„ G . H . Nichols , I . P . M . 276 ... ...< „ R . G . Hennings , P . M . 250 S ... ... j Prov « J-G . Ds . „ G . S . Daunton P . M . 2255 , - ' ..' . Prov . G . S . of Wks „ A . Lucking , P . M . 160 ( 26 th year ) , P . G . P . Eng . Prov . G . D . C . " ^' r \ x ^ 1 . V , 3 ^ 453 '" " - Prov . D . G . D . C . „ G . l < . Wright , P . M . 51 ... ... ...- *

" c ' r- ' , 'J r ; ' ' , ^ -. ( 5 so - ... [ Prov . A . G . Ds . ofC „ S . C . Kauffmann , I . P . M . 2374 ... ... ) " ™ , ? , l ' - & , lt '" " - Prov . CS . B . ,, W . J . Barnes , W . M . 2501 ... ) „ John Spencer , I . P . M . 1437 ... '" j ° v . G . Std . Brs .

„ C . E . Judd , P . M . 1734 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . " fo m «?*» ' ?' I , P , M * I 543 " — Prov . Asst . G . Sec . „ W . Elam , W . M . 1000 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst „ A . J . Bennett , WM 1977 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst „ A . J . Constable , P . M . 2006 ... " ^

„ E . Ayres , P . M . 1343 ... „ W . Leghorn , W . M . 2734 „ Frank Evans , W . M . 2749 ... "'}¦ Prov . G . Stwds ,, James Graham , S . W . 2750 „ J . T . Dormer , W . M . 2757 „ A . W . Martin ... " ; p . G . Tyler Walker

Bro . P . C . , Prov . S . G . W ., was elected a member of the Charity Committee in the place of the brother retiring by rotation Bro . RICHARD CLOWES acting Dep . Prov . G . M ., proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the members of the Tilbury Lodge for the excellent arrangements they had made for the meeting ; to the London and Tilburv and Southend Railway Company for the facilities they had given in the way of special trains ; and to the Dock Company for the use of their premises .

Ihe motion , having been duly seconded , was carried by acclamation , and suitably acknowledged by the W . M . of the Tilbury Lodge \ A u \^ 4 rwick havi "ff announced that the meeting for next year would be held at Clacton-on-Sea , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed Upwards of 200 brethren afterwards dined together at the Tilbur ' v Hotel , and in the course of the post prandial proceedings , Lord WARWICK expressed the hope that at no very distant time he mitrht welcomp hi * H ^ -v

brethren at Warwick Castle , and his lordship added that he felt sure if each brother brought a lady that Lady Warwick would be most pleased to see them . It is needless to say that the invitation was received with the heartiP <; t applause .