Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY .

The annual meeting was held nt the Greyhound Hotel , Croydon , on Saturday , the 291 I 1 Jure , and the attendance and proceedings wire of the most gratifying nature . At 2 o ' clock the Croydon Mark Lodge , No . 198 , was opined by the Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . W . G . Brighten , after which Bro . H . Lovegrove was balloted for , and was

duly advanced , the ceremony being alsto performed by the Provincial Grand Secretary , on account of the W . M ., Bro . Close , having the carrying out of the arrangements at the church . Shortly after 3 o ' clock the Provincial Giand Lodge was opened , when there were present : The R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Col . Francis Burdttt ; the V . W . F . Davison , Deputy Prov . Grand Master ; Sir Chas .

T . Bright , P . G . S . W . ; lhe Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , P . G . Chaplain ; C Hammerton , P . G . Treasurer ; J . M . Klertck , P . G . Registrar ; W . G . Brighten , P . G . Secretary ; J . Kirk , P . G . M . O . ; J . TomVnson , P . G . S . O . ; H . Court . P . G . J . O . ; W . Taylor , P . G . S . D . ; J . B . Shackliton , Director of Ceremonies ; R . Davies , Sword Bearer ; J . C Li-gg , Standard Bearer ; H . A . Pocock , P . G . I . G . ; and B . Meier , J . T .

Gibson , A . W . Hume , and A . Clark , Provincial Grand Stewards ; and the following Past Provincial Grand Officers , namely , W . Warrcll , E . Simpson Baikie , John Close , J . K . Pitt , and F . H . Cozens ; and among the numerous visiting brethren present were Bros . W . Foulsham , nf the Prov . Grand Mark Lodgeof Northumberland ; H . C . Levander , Grand Registrar ; F . Binckes , Past Grand Warden ,

and Grand Secretary ; C . F . Matier , Past Grand Warden ; A . G . Goodall , of New York City ; C . Coles , 1 O 9 ; C . A . Solle , Chaplain 286 ; T . R . Adams , 198 ; G . Kennedy , Secretary 226 ; S . Griffiths , 198 ; W . H . Goodall , 211 ; J B . Graham , 211 ; E . Palmer , 226 ; H . Shaw , 226 ; T . W . Simons , 101 ; E . Whittaker , 139 , and H . Massey ( Fra--mason ) .

I he minutes of the previous meeting held at the Town Hall , Twickenham , in July last , were then read and confirmed . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then called off to Divine service at the parish church , where the service ( full choral ) was kindly conducted by the Vicar , the Rev . Canon Hodgson . The sermon was preached bv the Prov . Grand

Chaplain , the Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , on the text , " I will give unto him that overcometh a white stone , " at the close of which the preacher brought to the notice of the hearers the Croydon Provident Clothing Fund , and the cffeitory realized the sum of £ 765 . 2 il . The service throughout was admirably conducted , and great credit is due to the W . M . of the Croydon Lodge , Bro . J . Close , to the

Secretary , Bro . H . A . Pocock , and other bnthren of the Croydon Loilge for the excellence of the day ' s arrangements . On the return from the church , Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed , and then the brethren saluted the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master indue form . An announcement was then received that Bro . A . G Goodall , the representative of the Mark Masons of the

United Slates , was without , and upon which a deputation of Grand Officers was sent to receive him , and on his entering the lodge he was saluted in due form . The Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . W . G . Bri ghten , then called over the roll of lodges , seventeen ih number , and reported that every lodge in the province had made its returns and paid its dues with the utmost punctuality ,

except the Temple Mark Lodge , No . 173 . 'I be report was received with great satisfaction , and then the Provincial Grand Master appointed Bro . F . Davison his Deputy P . G . M . M . for the ensuing year , and the brethren accordingly saluted Bro . Davison in due form , after which the Prov . G . M . M . appointed his dfficers as follows :

Alfred Clark Prov . G . S . W . Major Harding Prov . G . J . W . Rev . A . W . Hall IVov . G . Chap . Rev . W . S . Moses Prov . G . Chap . C Hammcitoii Prov . G . Treas . R . Davies Prov . G . Reg . W . G . Brighten Prov . G . Sec .

John Mason Prov . G . M . O . R . P . Tebb Prov . G . S . O . W . Poore Prov . G . J . O . A . J . Thomas Prov . G . S . D . Stampa W . Lambert Prov . G . J . D . J . T . Gibson Prov . G . S . ot W . J . B . Shackleton Prov . G . D . C . B . Meyer Prov . G . A . D . C .

J . B . Batten Prov . G . S . B . A . W . Hume Prov . G . Std . Br . H . Court , jun , Prov . G . Org . Passawcr ; .. .. Prov . G . I . G . C . Palmer Piov . G . Stwd . John Johnson Prov . G . Stwd . R . W . Brown Prov . G . Stwd . W . Nicholls Prov . G . Stwd . Edwin Gilbert Prov . G . Siwd .

Llaybon Palmer Prov . G , Stwd . John Gilbert Prov . G . T yler . The Provincial Grand Treasurer presented his arc unts , which , for the first time in the history of the province , shewed a balance in hand , and it was moved by the Deputy P . G . M . and seconded by Bro . H . C . Levander , that the thanks of Provincial Grand Lo Ige b ; presented to Bro .

Hammerton for the efficient manner in which he had performed the duties of Provincial Grand Treasurer . This proposition vvas carried unanimously . After some remarks upon the beautiful service of the afternoon and the excellent sermon preached by the

Provincial Grand Chaplain , it was moved by the R . W . P G . M ., and seconded by the Deputy P . G . M . that ( hethanks of Provincial Grand Lodge be presented to Prov . Grand Chaplain for his able and instructive sermon . It was then moved by the Ptbv . ' Grand S 6 c , seconded by Hro . I . M . Klenck , that Ihc thanks nf this PrnvincialGi'diiil

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

Lodge be presented to the vicar for his kindness 111 placing the parish chutch at the disposal of Provincial Grand Lodge , and for the beautiful service of the afternoon . Both these propositions were carried unanimously . Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was then closed , and the brethren . Vjourned to banquet , when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured .

In giving " I'he Health of Lord Skrlmcrstlale , M . W . G . M . M . M ., " the Prov . G . M . said , that though it was only a short while ago that the brethren had seen him installed as Grand Master they hat ! known him a long time , anil knew that he would perform his duties satis ' actorily . He followed a very excellent Grand Master , the Earl of Limerick , but ho doubt he would perform his duties as well as

his predecessor . Bro . Binckes , P . G . W ., and G . S ., replied to the toast of '' The D .-puiy Grand Master , and Grand Officer .-. " He said Mark Masonry had been very fortunate . It had made enormous progress , and had arrived at a position of unquestioned an « l undoubted success . Mark Masons did not now care to ask for that which tbey did some years

ago , absorption by Grand Lotlge cf England . It was then looked upon as a great boon . They were now quite able to take care of their own interests , and thiy knew themselves to he so strong as to be able to indulge in a boast—not a presumptuous boa ^ t—that if Grand Lodge Was in danger she would find her firmest ally in the Grand Maik Lodge . The principles if Grand Mark Lodge

were thoroughly identical , and their seiuiiuei _ ts as universal . ' 1 hey ran in parallel lines , and there ought not to be any rivalry between them except to promote the best interests of pure and ancient Freemasonry . The Grand Officers of this degree were as worthy to take honours as they were in any other degree . As regards the progress Mark MaSonry made in the province of Middlesex and Surrey ,

he knew how much Mark Masons were indebted to the genial and kind way in which Col . Burdett hal hild sway over tbe province for many years , and he had no hesitation in stating that Mark Masons owed a 'c . p debt oi gratitude to Col . Burdett for the progress of Mark JMisonry in Middlesex and Surrey . 'I his was a happy reflection for Col . Burdett and for the brethren . Bro .

Binckes concluded by saying that the brethren who had not bbtaincd office did not envy those who had , but he advis-. d them to imitate their example and to manifest an honest desire to do what they could to further the interests of Mark Masonry . Bro . Binckes , in giving " T . ie Health of Ci . l . Burdett , Prov . G . M . M . M . Said lli it Col . Burdett aho held in the

Craft a high position , as he was the representative at Grand Lodge ot England of the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Ireland . Grand Chapter of Ireland had recognised the Mark Degree , and this was mainly due to what Col . Burdett had done . The Grand Master , in acknowledging the toast , said it had always been a great gratification to him to find

hims ' elf among the Mark Masons of Middlesex and Surrey . Bro . Binckes had referred to the duties which he ( Colonel Burdett ) bad performed . Although the office was so Re - sponsible a one , lie hal been so much relieved and assisted by the other officers and the biethren of the province ' , that those responsibilities had been very much lightened . He vvas very much pleased to find the province in such a

prosperous state , but he could not say it was entirely due to him . He thought it was from the kind feeling of the brethren , and the support they had given him , that the province had progressed so much . For the last two years , although it had been a great anxiety to him , yet for the last year it had not been so great . He found himsc ' . f still the Provincial Grand Master , a position which any man

mig ht bc proud of , and he thanked the brethren very much for placing him in that position as well as for the surpeirt they had hitherto given him . It was eight years he had hell the office , and as long as the brethren chose to continue to have him as their head he . sh > uld be very happy to hold the office , aiid he hoped that as long as lie did jiold the office the province would stand iii as good a

position as now . Col . Burdett next gave "The Health of the Visitors , " and selected as a respondent Bro . Goodall , U . S . A . Hi said that while he had been Grand Master he had had the p leasure of miking the acquaintance of Bro . Goodall . That brother was in every w . iy calculated to promote the interests of Freemasonry and the good of his fellow

creatures . Bro . GouilaW would have gemc back to America before this , but he had stayed a day or two longer in order to be present at this meiling . He VVJS representative of Grand Mark Lodge in New York and iu the United States of America . The brethren knew what he had dotie out there , that Frcemasnrtry had received great advantages from his exertions . From what he had done , he ( Col . Burdett ) vvas sure the brethren would give him a hearty

reception . Bio . Goodall , in reply , said it was now over twelve years since he had first become known among the Fraternity in England , and during that period his visits to the tnglish Freemasons had enabled hirii to participate with them in their working on occasions similar to the present . Oil those occasions bc had been called upon to

reply to toasts . He h = d , therefore , already exhausted the subject of thanks for the hospitality bestowed upon him . Although the Grand Master had spoken of him as a stranger from a foreign jurisdiction , he really did not feel that he was a stranger . When he had visited England before , the Mark Grand Lodge was looked upon by Grand Loilge of England asausiuper . It was not considered

legitimate Masonry ; and the Three Degrees of Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason , together with the Royal Arch , were all that Were recognised . At one time that vvas the only Masomy that was known to America . Grand jilaik Lodge of England presumed lo say it liad a ph ' re and ancient iiefcrec of Masonry , and its claim was allowed by the Griilid Chapter of America . He was happy to say that on his armal in London , Bro .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

Binckes and Levander paid him the compliment to ask him to come to this Grand Loilge . It was not necessary for him to recapitulate the number of transactions they had been associated in for some time , but he might inform ths brethren that ihey would not let him go until he had visited here . The consequence was he had had to stay in England another week , and it was with feelings

of peculiar p leasure he was present at this meeting , because he felt he had accomplished something for the brethren which they had desired . Now that he had done it he was ready to resign his work to those who weic more youthful , and who , perhaps , mig ht serve the Order better . He could not hope to be remembered bettrr than he had been , and he was very

much flattered by being so remembered . He would mention a circumstance which occurred last year in America In Lotlge Holland , No . S , one of the oldest in Ne-w York , a brother presented to that lodge a lost treasure which he had found—a volume of thirty or forty pages of litter piper of lhe meetings of a Mark Lodge under the Grand Lod'Tc if Holland , when Ameiica vvas one of the colonies

ol Great Britain . He supposed this vvas the most ancient document yet he-aril of in the Maik Degree . If M .-i'k Grand Lodge of Euglar . d had not been already established he would have sent that document to it ; but it vvas not iiice-sssry . The records of Grand Mark Lodge of England was made , and it could stanil forth and say to those who had criticised it in the past , " the stone which the builders

rejected is become the corner stone of the jurisdiction in Great Britain . " Col . Burdett next gave " The Health of the Provincial Grand Officers of Middlesex and Surrey . " Bro . Davison , Grand Treasurer , and Deputv Grand

Master , replied , and assured the brethren that the province vvas in a very prosperous state . At one time there had been a deficit on taking the accounts of thi year , but now there vvas always a balance in hand . He was quite sure that under the Provincial Grand Master , and with the zealous assistance of the Grand Officers , the province would

continue Io prosper . Bro . Brighten , Prov . Giand Secretary , proposed " The W . M . of the Croydon Lidge , Bro . Close . " In giving the oast , Bro . Brig hten said that when the province was esablished eight years ago there were but five Mark lodges n it , whereas at the present time there were eighteen . The Croydon Lodge was the youngest of these .

Bro . Close , W . M . Croydon Lodge , rcsponriing , said that although the Croyd JII Lodge was a small lodge he thought it would soon get into note in Masonry . It vvas a great pride t . ) its members to find tnemselves supported by the Provincial Grand Lodge and so many Grand Officers . If there had been anything like laxity in the proceedings he must ask that it might be excused , as the loilge vvas but

young . He , however , had the good fortune to he surrounded by ; rood officers , and it was on this account that the lodge was in such a good position . Before sitting doivn he would ask the biethren to drink "The Health of the Officers , " coupling wilh the toast the name of the Secretary , Bro . Peicock . Bro . Pocock responded .

There were several other toasts on the list , but as the hour was getting late they were dispensed wilh , and the meeting broke up , to give the brethren time to catch the London trains . Under the direction of Iiro . I ' . II . Cozens a pleasing selection nf music was admirably given by himself , and Bros . T . 11 . Simons and A . Hubbard .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

MODERN AND ANCIENT LODGES , RECORDS , tec . Referring to Bro . Hughan ' s Very interesting article in this month's part of the Masonic Magazine on ' •Modern mil Ancient Lodges , " it is rather a coincidence : that I was copying one of the very charters mentioned on the day the magazine would be published . 1 allude to the Royal Cumberland Militia Lodge , the chartef of which was discovered some time since in an attic at the Freemasons '

Hall , belonging to Sun , Square , and Compasses Lodge , No . 119 , at Whitehaven . This warrant appirently had been framed , as the parchment had a cinvas back , g ' nc tbe particulars , premising that there appears no number , while 215 is the designation in Bro . Hughan ' s article , and . in addition , the locale 011 the parchment is Kingstonupor .-Hull , instead of 11-ilitax . Tlie warrant bears the

signature of the Dake of Atholl , Grand Master ; Thomas Harper , D . G . M . ; John B . Roach , S . G . W , ; Richard Humphreys , J . G . W . ; and Robt . Leslie , G . SEC . The first W . M . is Duncan McNichoU ; the S . W ., William Bowstcad and the J . W ., VVillum Nelson . The place , as I said before , is " Kiugston-upon-HuU , or elsewhere in His Majesty ' s Royal Regiment of Cumberland Militia , being duly

registered pursuant to the statute made , and with the copseiit of the commanding officer of the snid regiment . " The date is October 9 th , 1807 . I am glad to say the relic is to be framed , as it deserves to be . In Bro . Hughan ' s article on the Old Bristol Lodge , allusion is made to the phrase " I'ass'd Alasters . " In looking over the records of Lodge 129 , 1 find this phrase frequentl y

used , and as recently as 18 52 , where there- is an entry of four brethren being " Passed or Installed Masters in the chair , " the four last words being underlined in the MS . In 18 jo also 1 find a note that a well-known eminent brother "this evening became a joining member , received his G . L . certificate , and w ; is also raised to the decree cf P . M .

1 h . tie also a copy from the original MS . of the byelaws of tlie Sun and Sector Loilge , Workington , No . 47 R , A . D . 1114 , Which are a credit to the Masons of those days ; whilst a perusal of the minutes shows that they were ri gidly adhered to . W . F . LAMONBY .