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Article Correspondence. Page 1 of 1 Article Reviews. Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX. Page 1 of 2 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX. Page 1 of 2 →
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Correspondence.
Correspondence .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit ot fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitstree discussion .
"FREE" AND "FREEMASON . " To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In the " New English Dictionary on Historical Principles : Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society , " three new parts , embracing the letter F , have recently been published . It may interest those of your readers who have not seen this work to know that among the words of Teutonic origin under that letter , 32 definitions are given of the word
Free—The primary sense of the adjective is ' dear ; ' the Germanic and Celtic sense comes from its having been applied as the distinctive epithet of those members of the household who were connected by ties of kindred with the head , as opposed to the slaves . The converse process of sense-development appears in Latin liberi 'children , ' literally the 'free' members of the household . " The article on Freemason , is as follows :
" ' Free masons , ' in the fourteenth and following centuries , were a certain class of skilled workers in stone . . . often mentioned in contradistinction to ' rough masons , ' ' ligiers , ' & c . They travelled from place to place , finding employment wherever important buildings were being erected , and had a system of secret signs and passwords by which a craftsman who had been admitted on giving evidence of competent skill could be recognised . Early in the seventeenth
century the societies of freemasons ( in the above sense ) began to admit honorary members , not connected with the building trades , but supposed to be eminent for architectural or antiquarian learning . These were called accepted masons , though the term free masons was often applied to them ; and they were admitted to a knowledge of the secret signs , and instructed in the legendary history of the craft , which had already begun to be developed . The distinction of being an
' accepted' mason became a fashionable object of ambition , and before the end of the seventeenth century the object of the societies of free masons seems to have been chiefly social and convivial . In 1717 , under the guidance of the physicist , J . T . Desaguliers , four of these societies or ' lodges' in London united to form a ' grand lodge , ' with a new constitution and ritual , and a system of secret signs ;
the object of the society as reconstituted being mutual help and the promotionof brotherly feeling among its members . The London ' grand lodge'became the parent of other ' lodges ' in Great Britain and abroad , and there are now powerful bodies of ' freemasons , ' more or less recognising each other , in most countries of the world . "—Yours fraternally , E . FOX-THOMAS . Whitby , 29 th July .
Reviews.
Reviews .
"C ALENDAR OF MASONIC MEETINGS IN EAST LANCASHIRE , A . D . iSnS-g . "This able compilation , so carefully edited by the Prov . Grand Secretary of the Province ( Bro . James Newton ) , is now in the 4 Sth year of issue , and is probably the oldest publication of the kind extant , with a continuous existence for such a long period . Formerly it was published for the year from January to December , but now it is issued from July to June , by which plan it secures the new Grand Officers for April in each year , and the Prov . Grand Officers for the Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter , in May and March respectively . This is next to the largest province in England , and makes a very close
bid for the largest really , as there are now 113 lodges under the rule of the Prov . G . M . ( Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie ) , J 5 being situated in Manchester . There are 40 Royal Arch chapters in East Lancashire , but the whole of the county for the purposes cf Mark Masonry is combined as a province with 3 6 lodges , and so in Knight Templary with 22 preceptories , and the Rose Croix chapters numbering nine . Of all these bodies , the numbers , towns , names , places of meeting , times , and days of meeting are given . There is also a list of Provincial Grand Lodge meetings from 1814 to 189 S , and those of Provincial Grand Chapter from 1 SG 3 , besides other particulars .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .
The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Brentwood on the 26 th ult ., and the peculiarly interesting character of the proceedings drew one of the largest gatherings of the brethren of the " Mystic Tie , " ever remembered , there being some 300 Masons present from all parts of the county .
The local arrangements were in the charge of the members of the Hope and Unity Lodge , No . 214 , headed by the W . M ., Bro . Imbert-Terry , and the Secretary , Bro . Co \ Frank Landon , whilst the bulk of the clerical work was ably carried out by Bro . Joh'n Ramsey , one of the ^ Past Masters of the lodge .
The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Warwick , travelled direct from Warwick Castle , and on reaching Brentwood Station about 230 , was met by Bro . F . W . Imbert-Terry , W . M . 214 , and the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . Railing . Mr . Tower , of Weald Hall , had kindly
placed his carriage at the disposal of his lordship , and he drove at once to the headquarters of the lodge , the White Hart Hotel . Having transacted some Masonic business , his lordship , accompanied by Bro . Col . Lockwood , M . P ., made a call upon Bro . Col . and Mrs . Landon at Red House .
The Masonic proceedings took place at the Town Hall , which , under the able management of Mr . Wallis , of Brentwood , had been converted into a very handsome lodge room . The walls were adorned with the elegant banners of the various lodges , and when his lordship entered , accompanied by a very large number of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , resplendent in Masonic clothing and jewels , the spectacle was a most brilliant one .
The minutes of the last annual Provincial Grand Lodge ( at Colchester ) having been read and confirmed , The Pitov . G . S KCRKTARY said that letters , expressing their inability to attend , had been received
from—Bros . Earl Amherst , D . G . M . j Lord George Hamilton , P . G . M . Middlesex ; the Rev . C . J . Martyn , D . P . G . M . Suffolk ; Hamon Le Strange , D . P . G . M . Norfolk ; J . Eastcs , D . P . G . M . Kent ; Raymond H . Thrupp , D . P . G . M . Middlesex ; Major Le Feuvre , D . P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; N . Tracy , Prov . G . Sec . Suffolk-
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.
G . W . G . Barnard , Prov . G . Sec . Norfolk ; C . Bullock , Prov . G . Sec . Herts ; A . Spencer , Prov . G . Sec . Kent ; Col . Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; Sir Francis Boileau , Bart ., P . G . D . ; Sir Weetman Pearson , Bart ., M . P . for Colchester ; Jas . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . G . ; J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Vero W . Taylor , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Salter , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . Corbe , P . P . J . G . W . ; Andrew Durrant , P . P . G . Treas . ; Fras . A . White , P . P . G . R . ; W . J . Crump , P . A . G . D . C . ; and others .
The roll of lodges was then called over , and all but one were found to be represented . The report of the Board of General Purposes , a copy of which had been sent to every member of Provincial Grand Lodge—was taken as read ; and on the motion of Bro . J . J . C . TURNER , P . M . 51 , P . P . S . G . W ., seconded by Bro . R . CLOWES , P . M . 650 , P . G . Std . Br ., was received and adopted . The first paragraph of the report was as follows :
The Board are sure the brethren of the province will learn with much regret that his Honour Judge Philbrick , Q . C ., has intimated to the Right Worshipful Grand Master his desire , not to be re-appointed Deputy , the necessities of his official position , and his distance from the county , preventing his taking that active part in the business of the province which the post demands . In severing his official connection with the province , the Board trust that Bro . Philbrick will
always retain a pleasant recollection of the 17 years that he so ably acted as Deputy , and they earnestly hope that he may long be spared to take a friendly interest in its affairs , and to come amongst the brethren as often as he can . At the suggestion of Lord Warwick , an address to Bro . Philbrick has been drawn up , and the Board have ventured to anticipate the wishes of the brethren by giving directions that it be suitably prepared in time for presentation at the annual meeting .
The report proceeded to state that the accounts showed a balance in hand of £ 33 on the general account , and ^ 31 on the Charity account . No less than ^ , 203 had been spent in Charity , the grants including ico guineas to the Boys' School Centenary Fund , and 50 guineas to the Essex Hailstorm Relief Fund . The returns from the lodges showed that during the past year there had been 155 initiations , compared with 167 last year , and 64
joining members compared with 82 last year . Agajnst this there had been 64 resignations against 106 last year , the losses by death had been 32 , whilst 49 brethren had been struck off the books of their respective lodges , leaving the present strength of the province 20 S 9 members , against 2015 last year . The Board noted with satisfaction that the brethren returned as " in arrear" showed a further decrease , there being 142 this year , as
against 190 in 1 S 96 , and 169 in 18 97 . The Board recommended that in future their transactions be issued in printed form , as is done by Grand lodge . Grants -were recommended of £$ 5 s . to Brentwood Cottage Hospital , and £ 10 10 s . each to the Girls' School and the Benevolent Institution . The Board concluded their report by referring with satisfaction to the record sum of ^ 134 , 000 announced at the recent Centenary Festival of the
Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , of which amount the Province of Essex contributed the munificent sum of nearly ^ 4000 , the principal lists being Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 , £ 525 ; St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 1817 , £ 367 10 s . ; Priory Lodge , No . iooo , £ 3 6 9 12 s . ; St . Clement ' s Lodge , No . 2 442 | ^ 357 ; Angel Lodge , No . 51 , ^ 210 ; Brooke Lodge , No . 2005 , / 205 16 s . ; and Shurmur Chapter , No . 2374 , - £ 205 5 s .
In a supplementary report the Board stated : " It having come to the knowledge of the Board that Lord Warwick has invited W . Bro . Colonel Lockwood , M . P ., to be the new Deputy Prov . Grand Master , they heartily congratulate the province upon the'appointment of so popular and worthy a brother to be the successor of Bro . Philbrick , and they feel sure that it will be the wish of the brethren that the portrait in next year ' s Calendar should be that of the new Deputy . "
The report of the Charity Committee was unanimously adopted . It recorded with satisfaction that two boys ( Oldham and Pallot ) had been elected , whilst a third ( Hardy ) , though unsuccessful this time , would receive a grant of £ 20 per annum towards his education till elected or attained the age of 11 years , in accordance with a resolution passed by the subscribers to the Schools in commemoration of the Centenary Festival . One girl ( Sackett ) had also been elected ; whilst another ( Tremlett ) was considerably helped , leaving her 2439 to start with at the next election .
The Earl of WARWICK , who was received with hearty cheers , then addressed the brethren . His lordship congratulated the province upon the vitality which it exhibited in matters Masonic . He acknowledged gratefully the support which had ever been given him since he was first called to rule over the province , and expressed his great satisfaction at the splendid contribution sent by the province to the Boys' School Fund , and
said that Charity should always be the predominating factor in their work as Masons . ( Hear , hear . ) Lord Warwick referred sympathetically to the recent accident to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England . He thought they would allow him to express to the Prince , on their behalf and his own , their sympathy with his Royal Highness in his misfortune , ( Applause . ) Lord Warwick went on to express the deep regret they all
felt at the retirement of the V . W . Bro . Philbrick , whom he found in office when he was installed , and who had supported him with the greatest loyalty and kindness that it was possible for a Daputy to show . His lordship then moved a resolution embodying the feeling of the brethren , and begged Bro . Philbrick's acceptance of a beautifully engrossed album containing a copy
of the resolution , in which the brethren placed on record their deep sense of the obligation they were under to V . W . Bro . Philbrick for his devotion to the best interests of the Craft , and heartily congratulated him upon his recent elevation by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , theM . W . G . M , to the rank of Past Grand Warden , in recognition of his eminent services to the Craft as Grand Registrar from 18 S 6 to 1 S 98 .
Bro . PIIILURICK , on rising to acknowledge the compliment , received quite an ovation . Speaking with evident emotion , Bro . Philbrick said there was always a peculiar element of sadness in doing anything for the last time . He had only been appointed for a short time by the late lamented Lord Tenterden , when that nobleman ' s sudden death caused a vacancy and their present beloved Provincial Grand Master was called to preside over
them . His lordship did him the great honour to ask him ( Bro . Philbrick ) to remain in office , and had renewed that kindness year by year . Whatever service he had been ' able to render to Freemasonry in the province had been a labour of love . He could , without vanity , say that during the whole time of his connection with the province he had always endeavoured to interest
himself in the progress of the Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) That interest had been cordially reciprocated . When he was installed there were 19 lodges ; now there were more than double that number . The Masanic spirit was truly abroad amongst the lodges . During the whole of that timi there had never been an occasion to call into operation what he might call the coercive
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
Correspondence .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit ot fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitstree discussion .
"FREE" AND "FREEMASON . " To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In the " New English Dictionary on Historical Principles : Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society , " three new parts , embracing the letter F , have recently been published . It may interest those of your readers who have not seen this work to know that among the words of Teutonic origin under that letter , 32 definitions are given of the word
Free—The primary sense of the adjective is ' dear ; ' the Germanic and Celtic sense comes from its having been applied as the distinctive epithet of those members of the household who were connected by ties of kindred with the head , as opposed to the slaves . The converse process of sense-development appears in Latin liberi 'children , ' literally the 'free' members of the household . " The article on Freemason , is as follows :
" ' Free masons , ' in the fourteenth and following centuries , were a certain class of skilled workers in stone . . . often mentioned in contradistinction to ' rough masons , ' ' ligiers , ' & c . They travelled from place to place , finding employment wherever important buildings were being erected , and had a system of secret signs and passwords by which a craftsman who had been admitted on giving evidence of competent skill could be recognised . Early in the seventeenth
century the societies of freemasons ( in the above sense ) began to admit honorary members , not connected with the building trades , but supposed to be eminent for architectural or antiquarian learning . These were called accepted masons , though the term free masons was often applied to them ; and they were admitted to a knowledge of the secret signs , and instructed in the legendary history of the craft , which had already begun to be developed . The distinction of being an
' accepted' mason became a fashionable object of ambition , and before the end of the seventeenth century the object of the societies of free masons seems to have been chiefly social and convivial . In 1717 , under the guidance of the physicist , J . T . Desaguliers , four of these societies or ' lodges' in London united to form a ' grand lodge , ' with a new constitution and ritual , and a system of secret signs ;
the object of the society as reconstituted being mutual help and the promotionof brotherly feeling among its members . The London ' grand lodge'became the parent of other ' lodges ' in Great Britain and abroad , and there are now powerful bodies of ' freemasons , ' more or less recognising each other , in most countries of the world . "—Yours fraternally , E . FOX-THOMAS . Whitby , 29 th July .
Reviews.
Reviews .
"C ALENDAR OF MASONIC MEETINGS IN EAST LANCASHIRE , A . D . iSnS-g . "This able compilation , so carefully edited by the Prov . Grand Secretary of the Province ( Bro . James Newton ) , is now in the 4 Sth year of issue , and is probably the oldest publication of the kind extant , with a continuous existence for such a long period . Formerly it was published for the year from January to December , but now it is issued from July to June , by which plan it secures the new Grand Officers for April in each year , and the Prov . Grand Officers for the Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter , in May and March respectively . This is next to the largest province in England , and makes a very close
bid for the largest really , as there are now 113 lodges under the rule of the Prov . G . M . ( Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie ) , J 5 being situated in Manchester . There are 40 Royal Arch chapters in East Lancashire , but the whole of the county for the purposes cf Mark Masonry is combined as a province with 3 6 lodges , and so in Knight Templary with 22 preceptories , and the Rose Croix chapters numbering nine . Of all these bodies , the numbers , towns , names , places of meeting , times , and days of meeting are given . There is also a list of Provincial Grand Lodge meetings from 1814 to 189 S , and those of Provincial Grand Chapter from 1 SG 3 , besides other particulars .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .
The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Brentwood on the 26 th ult ., and the peculiarly interesting character of the proceedings drew one of the largest gatherings of the brethren of the " Mystic Tie , " ever remembered , there being some 300 Masons present from all parts of the county .
The local arrangements were in the charge of the members of the Hope and Unity Lodge , No . 214 , headed by the W . M ., Bro . Imbert-Terry , and the Secretary , Bro . Co \ Frank Landon , whilst the bulk of the clerical work was ably carried out by Bro . Joh'n Ramsey , one of the ^ Past Masters of the lodge .
The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Warwick , travelled direct from Warwick Castle , and on reaching Brentwood Station about 230 , was met by Bro . F . W . Imbert-Terry , W . M . 214 , and the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . Railing . Mr . Tower , of Weald Hall , had kindly
placed his carriage at the disposal of his lordship , and he drove at once to the headquarters of the lodge , the White Hart Hotel . Having transacted some Masonic business , his lordship , accompanied by Bro . Col . Lockwood , M . P ., made a call upon Bro . Col . and Mrs . Landon at Red House .
The Masonic proceedings took place at the Town Hall , which , under the able management of Mr . Wallis , of Brentwood , had been converted into a very handsome lodge room . The walls were adorned with the elegant banners of the various lodges , and when his lordship entered , accompanied by a very large number of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , resplendent in Masonic clothing and jewels , the spectacle was a most brilliant one .
The minutes of the last annual Provincial Grand Lodge ( at Colchester ) having been read and confirmed , The Pitov . G . S KCRKTARY said that letters , expressing their inability to attend , had been received
from—Bros . Earl Amherst , D . G . M . j Lord George Hamilton , P . G . M . Middlesex ; the Rev . C . J . Martyn , D . P . G . M . Suffolk ; Hamon Le Strange , D . P . G . M . Norfolk ; J . Eastcs , D . P . G . M . Kent ; Raymond H . Thrupp , D . P . G . M . Middlesex ; Major Le Feuvre , D . P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; N . Tracy , Prov . G . Sec . Suffolk-
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.
G . W . G . Barnard , Prov . G . Sec . Norfolk ; C . Bullock , Prov . G . Sec . Herts ; A . Spencer , Prov . G . Sec . Kent ; Col . Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; Sir Francis Boileau , Bart ., P . G . D . ; Sir Weetman Pearson , Bart ., M . P . for Colchester ; Jas . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . G . ; J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Vero W . Taylor , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Salter , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . Corbe , P . P . J . G . W . ; Andrew Durrant , P . P . G . Treas . ; Fras . A . White , P . P . G . R . ; W . J . Crump , P . A . G . D . C . ; and others .
The roll of lodges was then called over , and all but one were found to be represented . The report of the Board of General Purposes , a copy of which had been sent to every member of Provincial Grand Lodge—was taken as read ; and on the motion of Bro . J . J . C . TURNER , P . M . 51 , P . P . S . G . W ., seconded by Bro . R . CLOWES , P . M . 650 , P . G . Std . Br ., was received and adopted . The first paragraph of the report was as follows :
The Board are sure the brethren of the province will learn with much regret that his Honour Judge Philbrick , Q . C ., has intimated to the Right Worshipful Grand Master his desire , not to be re-appointed Deputy , the necessities of his official position , and his distance from the county , preventing his taking that active part in the business of the province which the post demands . In severing his official connection with the province , the Board trust that Bro . Philbrick will
always retain a pleasant recollection of the 17 years that he so ably acted as Deputy , and they earnestly hope that he may long be spared to take a friendly interest in its affairs , and to come amongst the brethren as often as he can . At the suggestion of Lord Warwick , an address to Bro . Philbrick has been drawn up , and the Board have ventured to anticipate the wishes of the brethren by giving directions that it be suitably prepared in time for presentation at the annual meeting .
The report proceeded to state that the accounts showed a balance in hand of £ 33 on the general account , and ^ 31 on the Charity account . No less than ^ , 203 had been spent in Charity , the grants including ico guineas to the Boys' School Centenary Fund , and 50 guineas to the Essex Hailstorm Relief Fund . The returns from the lodges showed that during the past year there had been 155 initiations , compared with 167 last year , and 64
joining members compared with 82 last year . Agajnst this there had been 64 resignations against 106 last year , the losses by death had been 32 , whilst 49 brethren had been struck off the books of their respective lodges , leaving the present strength of the province 20 S 9 members , against 2015 last year . The Board noted with satisfaction that the brethren returned as " in arrear" showed a further decrease , there being 142 this year , as
against 190 in 1 S 96 , and 169 in 18 97 . The Board recommended that in future their transactions be issued in printed form , as is done by Grand lodge . Grants -were recommended of £$ 5 s . to Brentwood Cottage Hospital , and £ 10 10 s . each to the Girls' School and the Benevolent Institution . The Board concluded their report by referring with satisfaction to the record sum of ^ 134 , 000 announced at the recent Centenary Festival of the
Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , of which amount the Province of Essex contributed the munificent sum of nearly ^ 4000 , the principal lists being Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 , £ 525 ; St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 1817 , £ 367 10 s . ; Priory Lodge , No . iooo , £ 3 6 9 12 s . ; St . Clement ' s Lodge , No . 2 442 | ^ 357 ; Angel Lodge , No . 51 , ^ 210 ; Brooke Lodge , No . 2005 , / 205 16 s . ; and Shurmur Chapter , No . 2374 , - £ 205 5 s .
In a supplementary report the Board stated : " It having come to the knowledge of the Board that Lord Warwick has invited W . Bro . Colonel Lockwood , M . P ., to be the new Deputy Prov . Grand Master , they heartily congratulate the province upon the'appointment of so popular and worthy a brother to be the successor of Bro . Philbrick , and they feel sure that it will be the wish of the brethren that the portrait in next year ' s Calendar should be that of the new Deputy . "
The report of the Charity Committee was unanimously adopted . It recorded with satisfaction that two boys ( Oldham and Pallot ) had been elected , whilst a third ( Hardy ) , though unsuccessful this time , would receive a grant of £ 20 per annum towards his education till elected or attained the age of 11 years , in accordance with a resolution passed by the subscribers to the Schools in commemoration of the Centenary Festival . One girl ( Sackett ) had also been elected ; whilst another ( Tremlett ) was considerably helped , leaving her 2439 to start with at the next election .
The Earl of WARWICK , who was received with hearty cheers , then addressed the brethren . His lordship congratulated the province upon the vitality which it exhibited in matters Masonic . He acknowledged gratefully the support which had ever been given him since he was first called to rule over the province , and expressed his great satisfaction at the splendid contribution sent by the province to the Boys' School Fund , and
said that Charity should always be the predominating factor in their work as Masons . ( Hear , hear . ) Lord Warwick referred sympathetically to the recent accident to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England . He thought they would allow him to express to the Prince , on their behalf and his own , their sympathy with his Royal Highness in his misfortune , ( Applause . ) Lord Warwick went on to express the deep regret they all
felt at the retirement of the V . W . Bro . Philbrick , whom he found in office when he was installed , and who had supported him with the greatest loyalty and kindness that it was possible for a Daputy to show . His lordship then moved a resolution embodying the feeling of the brethren , and begged Bro . Philbrick's acceptance of a beautifully engrossed album containing a copy
of the resolution , in which the brethren placed on record their deep sense of the obligation they were under to V . W . Bro . Philbrick for his devotion to the best interests of the Craft , and heartily congratulated him upon his recent elevation by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , theM . W . G . M , to the rank of Past Grand Warden , in recognition of his eminent services to the Craft as Grand Registrar from 18 S 6 to 1 S 98 .
Bro . PIIILURICK , on rising to acknowledge the compliment , received quite an ovation . Speaking with evident emotion , Bro . Philbrick said there was always a peculiar element of sadness in doing anything for the last time . He had only been appointed for a short time by the late lamented Lord Tenterden , when that nobleman ' s sudden death caused a vacancy and their present beloved Provincial Grand Master was called to preside over
them . His lordship did him the great honour to ask him ( Bro . Philbrick ) to remain in office , and had renewed that kindness year by year . Whatever service he had been ' able to render to Freemasonry in the province had been a labour of love . He could , without vanity , say that during the whole time of his connection with the province he had always endeavoured to interest
himself in the progress of the Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) That interest had been cordially reciprocated . When he was installed there were 19 lodges ; now there were more than double that number . The Masanic spirit was truly abroad amongst the lodges . During the whole of that timi there had never been an occasion to call into operation what he might call the coercive