Scotland.

¦ subscri ption . Amongst the visitors present were Bros . W . Bassett , 27 ; G . W . Wheeler , 73 ; and J » Johnston , 619 . After labour the lodge proceeded to refreshment , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were drunk ; Bro . Meriam responded to that of "The Initiates . "

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devon.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DEVON .

p . On Thursday , Aug . 28 , the annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon was held in the Town Hall , Dawlish , when there were about two hundred members present . Besides tlie transaction of the ordinary business ofthe year , Grand Lodge was held for the consecration of Salem Lodge , No . 1 443 . There being no Lodge of Freemasons

at Dawlish , Bro . J . Stroud Short , the W . M . designate , and his brethren , had made every preparation to give their brethren of the province and the visitors a cordial welcome . There was a large attendance of Past and Present Provincial Grand Officers and brethren from every lodge in the province .

Previous to the meeting of the Grand Lod ge the Committee uf Petitions met at Hatcher ' s Royal Hotel , and there considered several petitions from the widows of deceased brethren , and transacted other business .

On adjourning to the Town Hall , the Grand Lodge was opened in regular form by the Prov . Grand Master ; prayer being offered b y the Rev . John Matthews , P . G . C . Bro . W . G . Rogers , the Provincial Grand Secretary , read the minutes of the proceedings of

the Grand Lodge during the past twelve months . Bro . Dennis Moore suggested that the address of condolence to the Provincial Grand Lod ge of Cornwall on the death of Bro . Augustus Smith should be recorded in the minutes . Bro . Rogers said he had received a letter in reply from the Province of Cornwall , which he

was about to read , and it might be entered , with the address , in the minutes of the lodge , l'he following is a copy of the reply , together with a note added by the present Prov . G . M ., the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe . "To the Right Worshi pful the Prov . G . Master of Devon , and the brethren of the Province of Devon .

" We , the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , in Provincial Grand Lodge assembled , gratefully acknowledge the feeling expression of condolence of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon , conveyed to this province , on the death of our late beloved Prov . G . Master , Bro . Augustus

Smith , whose merits we so fully appreciate , and whose loss we so deeply regret . " We cordially thank the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon for . the handsome form in which this condolence lias been presented , and shall

always retain it amongst our archives as a token of the kind sympathy existing between the sister provinces . "Reginald Rogers , D . P . G . M . of Cornwall . " E . P . Carlyon , P . G . Secretary .

"Dated Masonic Hall , Truro , 13 th March , •873 . " To this reply was appended the following note : —

" Being unable to sign the above letter on behalf of my Prov . G . Lod ge ( as it was held under the presidency of the Dep . G . Master ) , I am anxious to express my own share in the general sorrow excited by the death of my lamented friend and predecessor throughout the

province over which he ruled so worthily , and my cordial sense of the truly fraternal feeling manifested in the message oi' sympathy , whicli has been so warmly appreciated b y the brethren of this province . " Mount Edgecumbe , Prov . G . M . of Cornwall . "

The Prov . G . Master thanked the membersof the Grand Lodge for the support they had given to him while acting as Grand Steward . The province was b y far the largest contributorlour times larger , in fact , than any other province

in the kingdom . The contribution was very much esteemed b y one ofthe greatest personages in the kingdom . Bro . Rae suggested that the address to the Prov . G . Lodge of Cornwall , and the repl y , should

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devon.

be printed and circulated m thc next report , which was agreed to . Bro . Rogers read a statement of receipts from the lodges of the province throughout the year . There was no lodge now which had not made its returns .

Bro . Bird , Prov . G . Treasurer , brought up his statement of accounts , which showed a balance in . hand of ; £ 117 13 s . ad , Bro . Rogers read the report of Bro . Pope , the Treasurer of the Fortescue Annuitant Fund ,

showing the receipts and expenditure of thatfund for the past year . The funds invested amount to £ 1 , 729 . Bro . Cover , Secretary of the Committee ot Petitions , next read the following report of the Committee : — " The Committee of Petitions have

much p leasure in presenting their annual report to thc Provincial Grand Lodge , demonstrating as it does most forcibly the great benefits which have been conferred on the aged and distressed members of the Order , their widow and orphans , by its continued exertions . Desultory effort has

given way to well organised action , whereby the influence of the province has been brought to bear , as will be seen , with much success , on the individual cases which have on enquiry been found to be the most deserving . But although very much of this is due to the improved

organisation of the province , your Committee feel they are bound to record the untiring efforts of their Bro . James Stevens , who , hailing from Devonshire , has undertaken the arduous and delicate task of conducting the elections on their behalf in the various Masonic charities . They do this

with tbe warmest feeling of gratitude , 1 ;; which they believe the Piovincial Grand Li : ge will sympathise . The Committee have still > regret that many votesare given to cases out < the province , but , happily , not in sufficient ivc hers to influence the general result . During tie 'st year

the have succeeded in the election ot one joy , one aged Freemason , and one widow , and except the October schools , are free to undertake new cases . The Committee have also to report that two brethren and one brother ' s child have been relieved in the Rovai Albert Hosp ital by means of

tickets subscribed for by lodges . During the past few days two children , daughters ol a deceased brother , have been admitted into the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum , one by election and the other by nomination of the Admiralty . One of the most impui . ant

questions ever raised in this or any other province was inaugurated at the meeting held at Exeter in January ofthe present year , end then referred to a meeting held in April . It related to the formation of an Educational Fund for the children of deceased or distressed brethren . It

is admitted that this province cannot expect to carry an election of either a boy or girl , except at long intervals , and at a considerable expenditure of votes , which mig ht be advantageously used in other directions , whilst at the same time there are now no less than seven boys and girls ,

two widows , and four aged brethren , asking for aid . Your committee are confident that the Prov . Grand Lt ' : y will agree with them that it is the sacred duty of every Mason to do what he can to relieve the distresses , and to avdanee the interests of those who have been reduced to

poverty by the death , sickness , or unmerited misfortune of their parents . They believe , too , that relief cannot be given in a better or more substantial form , than that of a good practical education , thereby enabling the recip ients to battle with the trials and competions of life . They

therefore most earnestly commend so good a cause to the cordial and liberal support of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and also of all Prov . G . oflicers , the lodges , and members of the Order . The rules unanimously adopted by the committee at their adjourned meeting have been sent to all

the lodges , and will be submitted for the approval of the Prov . Grand Lodge . At the meeting held in Execer , the Committee granted the sum of £ 5 to a member of lodge 719 , and they recommend that an additional sum of /"? , be granted by the

Prov . Grand Lodge . This brother had lost a sum of a £ 14 , 000 in his business as an hotel proprietor , and at the age of 68 is entirely destitute . They also granted the sum of £ 5 to the widow of a . brother of Lodge 1 59 , Stonehouse , to assist

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devon.

her in carrying on the business of alod ging-h 0 ll s keeper . At the meeting held this day at DawIi K the committee granted the sum of ¦ £$ to tk widow of a brother of Lodge 1212 , Davenport recently deceased . The Committee also record mend the Provincial Grand Lodg-e to rrr . ,, "

further sum of £ 5 to the widow of a deceased brother of Lodge 223 . " Bro . Dennis Moore proposed that that part of the report whicli related to the proposed Ed « . cational Scheme should be deferred for

twelvemonths . Bro . Brizzi seconded the motion . A long dis cussion took place upon the motion , and it was eventually agreed that time should be given to the lodges in the province to consider the whole question , and that the Grand Master be requested to convene a special Grand Lodge in about six months for the consideration of this subject .

Bro . Metham , D . Proy . G . M ., then moved that £$ be given to tlie sister of a deceased brother— most excellent Mason , a naval officer , who , in dying , had left her destitute . The case was well known to many of the brethren .

Bro . Dennis Moore moved that the amount should be 10 guineas , which was agreed to . In this case friends of the lady had already subscribed for her ^ ioo .

Bro . Capt . Tanner Davy then proposed , in accordance with notice , a donation of £ 10 to the North Devon Infirmary , Barnstaple , which was agreed to , having been seconded b y Bro . Metham .

1 he donation is to be conveyed to the infirnury through Bro . Davy . Bro . Jones proposed a similar gift to the Devon and Exeter Hospital . Seconded by Bro . Gover , and carried unanimously .

Lro . James Stevens , of London , the representatlve of the charities of the province , spoke in warm terms ofthe manner in which the province had during the last two or three years , subscribed to the great charities , and of the hi gh position which it now held . His labours would be very

m uch li ghtened in consequence of their generosity Tlie :. ; woidd be little chance for any election in October , but he hoped that at the next election he should be able to place a candidate in both the Boys' and Girls' schools . Brethren then gave notice of their intention

next year to apply for donations for the Torbay and Tiverton Infirmaries . Bro . Latimer , P . Prov . G . Sec , said they had voted their money freely to other charities , and he would now propose that £ 2 $ be voted to the Fortescue Annuity Fund . Bro . Rae seconded , the motion , which was carried unanimously .

The Grand Master then proceeded with the ceremony of the constitution and consecration of Salem Lodge , No . 1442 . The ceremony was beautifully carried out by the Grand Master , who always performs all his duti .-s in the most eftec live and eloquent manner .

The Prov . G , Secretary read the warrant of constitution , and after the brethren of the new lodge signified their assent to the officers named in the warrant .

Ihe D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . L . P . Metham , P . G . D . of England , then delivered an oration on the subject of Masonry . The Prov . G . Master added a few words in commendation of the principles so beautifully enunciated by Bro . Metham , after which he

pled ged the Master and members of the new lodge to obey the laws and constitutions of the Grand Lodge , and then declared Salem Lodge to be regularly and dul y constituted . The ceremony of consecration was next

proceeded with , the Grand Master , his Warden ? , and the Chaplain taking their part in the solemn service . Bro . Col . Elliot acted for the Deputy Prov . G . Master , who was suffering from indisposition , and left earl y .

The installation of the Master Designate was deferred , the Grand Master promising to pay ' •" early and special visit for the purpose . l'he following are the oflicers appointed tot Salem Lodge : —J . Stroud Short , W . M ., Sa "" " - '

Loram , S . W . ; William Ball , J . W . ; Georgt Bragg Avent , S . D . ; Charles W . W . Spencer , J . D . ; F . E . Temes , Secretary ; F . Haslett , I . G-S P . Haggerty , Tyler . The consecration having been concluded , the