Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

province was very cheering and satisfactory . With regard to the selection of Grand Officers he reminded them that there were not many offices at his disposal , and where there were so many aspirants it was difficult to make a selection . He desired always to be impartial . His deputy rendered him great service in the choice of officers , and they endeavoured between them to select the most deserving As regarded the question of precedence of officers in Grand

Lodge he would have something to say later on , and in the meantime he urged them to attend tlie special Grand Lodge to be held next day . Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed and the brethren visited St . Mary's Church , Oatlands , where a sermon appropriate to the occasion was preached by the PROV . GRAND CHAPLAIN , who took his text . froin I . Peter , v ., 7— "Casting all woes himfor he careth for you . "

your upon , After the banquet , which followed thc return of the brethren from church , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master proposed the customary loyal and Masonic toasts g iven on such occasions . In introducing thc first toast , The CHAIRMAN said it was an appeal not to their loyalty , because the loyalty of Freemasons was unquestioned , but the fact that that was the 45 th anniversary of the coronation of her Most Gracious Majesty would add a little zest—if and

anything could add zest-to the toast of " The Queen thc Craft . " , , lt . The CHAIRMAN said the next toast was that of their "Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He approached that toast with a little embarrassment . Thc duties of Grand Ollicers , certainly of Past Grand Officers , was not very clearly defined ; but their great and most important duty was to watch over the interests of

the Craft , to give their advice when needed , to support the Grand Master , and to preserve as much as possible that unanimity on the dais which gave the Grand Master strength . He was sorry to say that so far there was a threatening of that unanimity being disturbed . He was afraid it would be disturbed b y the alteration that had been made practically on the occasion of thc installation of the Grand Officers at the last Grand Festival . The Table of

Precedence was at that time altered . It was altered without any notice being given . The argument used by the advisers of the Grand Master was that the Grand Master being the fountain of honour had the right to change that Table of Precedence as much as he pleased , and whenever he pleased , and in whatever manner he pleased . That dictum , he understood , was laid down by the present Grand Registrar . They knewhoweverthere were great differences

, , among lawyers , and another Grand Registrar might laydown an entirely opposite rule . Most of them had been taught to consider that the Table of Precedence being in the same volume as the Book of Constitutions was a part of the Book of Constitutions , and therefore it was something like springing a mine upon the Craft when they found this table altered . He could not believe , without learning it from the Grand Master ' s lips , that the Grand Master did

this " propria motu ; " his position entailed upon him such labours that the Grand Master must refer matters of detail to those who were his advisers ; but he thought that on this occasion His Royal Highness had been badly advised . He thought it was a very general opinion that that was the case , and presuming that the law laid down by the Grand Registrar was right and that the Grand Master had the right to change

the Table of Precedence whenever he pleased , he ( the Chairman ) did most respectfully and humbly hope that if the rule was carried out they might be allowed to make their protest . What he took most to heart in this matter was the fact that the Grand Chaplains had been removed from the position they occupied , which was that immediately following Grand Wardens , to that below Grand Secretary , Grand Treasurer , Grand Director of Ceremonies , and the

President of the Board of General Purposes . Now , it was an odd coincidence that by the new rule those who filled those offices at present would take precedence of those who had been—he would not say degraded—but who had been lowered | n the scale of precedence ; when they thought of the stuff that Grand Chaplains were made of ; when they thought that these were men who had almost all taken their degrees in the different Universities . When they

remembered the social position they held , when they remembered their sacred calling , they were treading on sacred ground when they altered the position which for 40 years they had held in Grand Lodge . He saw no reason for it , and Vie could not help saying that it was not very good taste , seeing that they were put below the men who were put before the advising counsel of the Grand Master . He had good reason to believe that two of the number did not approve of

that circumstance , but it had come suddenly upon the Grand Officers like the bursting of a shell . The Chairman said he had spoken somewhat at length because he felt warmly ; he felt especially the want of judgment shown in lowering the position of the Grand Chaplains . With regard to the rest of the Precedence he did not care much . Still there was a notion that Provincial Grand Masters should have precedence over District Grand Masters ; he

did not see why it should be done , but he thought that was thc opinion . What he had said he said with the utmost deference to the Grand Master . If it turned out that the alteration of the Table of Precedence was his suggestion the Craft could but humbly bow to it , but he hoped that upon consideration it would be found that the Grand Master had been inconsiderately advised , and that he would see his way to change what had been done . With

this toast he would couple the name of the Past Grand Chaplain , thc Rev . Ambrose Hall . The Rev . AMBROSE HALL in reply said that to every officer of Grand Lodge , whether past or present , it was always an honour and a pleasure to return thanks for that toast . To him , as an old Surrey man and as a Mason of 50 years' standing , it was especially pleasant . And this pleasure was not decreased by the observations that had

fallen from the R . W . Prov . Grand Master respecting the little dark cloud that was at present overshadowing Grand Lodge . He endorsed all that the Prov . Grand Master had said ; although a Past Grand Chaplain he cared little himself whom he walked before and whom he walked behind , but he looked upon it as a blow in some respects at the

sacred calling which the Grand Chaplains held . He trusted that thc cloud would soon pass over , and that the incident might be even like the angel troubling the waters at the pool of Siloam , wherein they might , like them of old , dip and be clean ; that all these little differences might be fully looked into , and that the Grand Officers might arise put of the difficulty like the phcenix out of the fire , and be

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

again one body , one phalanx , welded together as Grand Officers of England for the welfare and the good of the "reat and noble body of which they had the honour of being thc heads . When he looked round upon the various Grand Officers , from the Prince cf Wales to the humblest olticer in Grand Lodge , there were so many of them that had their cause at heart that he did not fear but that this little difference would pass over , and that they would

be again as they were of old . For the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers he begged them to receive his thanks . The Rev . C . VV . A RNOLD , Past G . Chap ., D . P . G . M ., then rose and said that when the brethren saw the gavel in his hand they well knew that the toast about to be proposed was that of " The Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master , Bro . General Brownrigg . " He was quite certain , he said ,

that very few words of his were necessary on that occasion , because General Brownrigg dwelt in their hearts as their Prov . Grand Master , which was testified by the response which was made , when he presided over the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , to the appeal to the Masons of Surrey , on which .. occasion he believed about 20 lodges sent up Stewards to represent them , who raised a sum ' of £ 1000 from that small province . It was

difficult , he said , for him to speak of their Prov . Grand Master in his presence ; but he ( Bro . Arnold ) knew the qualities that were required in a Grand Master ; what they wanted was promptness in action and courtesy in manner , and Vie was quite sure they would agree with him that they had those qualities in him who presided oyer them . He could not speak of the other qualities which distinguished General Brownrigg among other Masters ;

he was sure however that the brethren would agree with him that they wished him long life and prosperity and that he min-ht preside over that province for many years and that he mig ht feel that he had the sympathy of the Masons of Surrey with him on all occasions . Thc R . W . PROV . G RAND MASTER said it was the same old story—it was always the same kind , fraternal , loving welcome that he got Irom them which , he assured

them , touched him deeply . He felt that he did not now visit all the lodges in his province as much as he should wish to . They must remember that be had been 51 years in the army , and a man could be no chicken to do that . However , he had a very able coadjutor in his Deputy , who relieved him of a great deal of that part of his duty . He had a note however from him the other day mentioning certain places which were rather out of the

Deputy ' s beat , and rather more readily approached from London . General Brownrigg said that he should take the hint in the coming year . It was an immense satisfaction the way they pulled together in Surrey ; he had no trouble ; there was scarcely a difficulty ever heard of , and when they did occur they were readily got over by a little conciliatory action , and he believed there was not a more happy or more prosperous province than he had the honour of

presiding over . He thanked them for this renewed proof of their kindness and confidence . Before he sat down he must propose "The Health of the Provincial Grand Officers . " He would only ask them to remember what he said in lodge—that if there were occasions for special Grand Lodge meetings , they would do their best to attend . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master had owned to a difficulty in speaking of him in his presence ; he had the same

difficulty with regard to Bro . Arnold—they did not like to butter a man up too much in his presence . They knew Bro . Arnold however sufficiently well to render that unnecessary . His Deputy , however , he might say was an immense assistance to him , especially in making a selection of Grand Officers . He asked them to drink this toast , with which he would couple Bro . Arnold's name . Bro . ARNOLDDep . Prov . G . M ., thanked the W . M . and

, brethren on his own behalf and for the other Prov . Grand Officers of Surrey . As thc Prov . Grand Master had said , these speeches came upon them year by year , and as they went from lodge to lodge until it became very difficult for them so to respond as to make a difference in the replies they had to make from time to time ; and at the same time they all felt very much indeed the kindness extended by Masons to those who held office among them . He himself

had felt it extremely at the visits he paid to different lodges ; wherever he went he was received with the greatest kindness . Whilst going to lodges to find out what was amiss and what was needed , he extended his circle of friends . In most places which he had visited from time to time he reckoned the Masters and Past Masters among his friends . It had given him the greatest satisfaction during the past year that he had never been called upon once to install the

W . M . ; but he recollected the time when it was very different . He believed that every lodge in the province was working upon thesame lines , so that an officer might go from one lodge to another and he would find no difference in the work , and all were in accord with the Book of Constitutions . He trusted it would always be so , and that they would never choose any one who at the end of the term of office which he has already filled cannot give a good account of what he

had done . He hoped , too , that they would be all knit together in the bonds of friendship and harmony ; they were one brotherhood united firmly together for the interests of Freemasonry and for love to each other , and he trusted it would always be so . The CHAIRMAN said the next toast was that of "The Visitors . " The hospitality of Surrey was proverbial ; he never attended a lodge at which there were not many

visitors . There was one body of visitors to whom they were particularly indebted , namely , the visitors from the Mozart Lodge . He might mention that these brethren , who were professional men , had come down to render assistance to them at their Provincial Grand Lodge with the exquisite melody they had given . He had to express his thanks also and propose the health of their rev . brother who had given them the use of his church on that occasion . All who

attended divine service must have been struck with its beauty , with the excellence of the choir , and he begged on behalf of the Province of Surrey to give him cordial thanks for the use of his church . With the toast of the visitors he would couple the name of Bro . Watson . Bro . the Rev . WATSON returned his heartfelt thanks on behalf of himself and the visitors , and he begged to thank

them all for the kind manner in which they had assisted an object which the parishioners had very much at heart—the fund for building a working men's club . The amount contributed by the lodge , added to the offertory collection , amounted to £ g 3 s . The CHAIRMAN said he was sure they would think it very unbecoming and ungrateful if they did not make their

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

acknowledgments to the Lodge of Friendshi p and Harmony for the hospitality which they had shown them . For his part he thought this elegant cold repast was exactly the thing suitable for the occasion . There were not the tremendous three courses and dessert ; everything was on the table , and everything that was upon the table was excellent . Provincial Grand Lodge therefore owed their thanks to the Lodge of Friendship and Harmony , and he would ask the brethren to honour this toast with which he would couple the name of the W . M . and Bro . Brodie .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER of the Lodge of Friendship and Harmony acknowledged the compliment . They had done their best , and were pleased to think they had given satisfaction . Bro . BRODIE also replied , and the Tyler ' s toast brought successful Masonic

a very meeting to a close . In the course of the evening a choice selection of music was performed by members of the Mozart Lodge under the direction of Bro . Edwin M . Lott , P . P . G . O ., Surrey , the brethren assisting him being E . Moss , W . M . ; H . Ashton , J . Kift , and T . fremere .

The Royal Leopold Lodge , No. 1669, Benevolent Association.

THE ROYAL LEOPOLD LODGE , No . 1669 , BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION .

, A final , meeting of the Committee of this association was held on Friday in last week , when the Hon . Secretary , Bro . Thomas Preston , read a statement of the accounts . It appeared that forty-one members of thc lodge and their friends had become life subscribers to one or other of the Masonic Charities through the agency of the Association .

and a net sum of £ 215 5 s . had been handed over by the Treasurer to the several Institutions since the formation of the society in June , 1 SS 1 . A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Hon . Secretary for his exertions durin" - the last two years , and a like compliment was paid to ° Bro . Thomas Edmondston , who presided . The brethren present then proceeded to inaugurate a new

association of similar character to that which had just been so successfully completed . With very few exceptions thc same list of office-bearers was elected , Bro . G . N . Bridges senior Past Master of the lodge , being appointed President ) Bro . P . H . Dakers , Treasurer , and a committee of seven members of the lodge . To the srreat reoret of thp hrpHir . n

Bro . Preston , announced that his personal engagements would prevent his accepting again the office of Secretary but a very efficient substitute was found in Bro . George Norrington , who was unanimousl y elected Hon . Secretary . The new association has alread y made an excellent beo-inning , and bids fair to prove at least as successful as its predecessor .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft fldasonrs . ASAPH LODGE ( No . 1319 ) . —Tho final meeting for the season of the above representative dramitic lod-re was held on Monday , thc 2 nd inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Quccn-strcet . Lodge was opened by Bro . John Maclean , VV . M ., who was , all circumstances considered , very well supported as follows : Bros . F . Delevanti , S . W C . E . Tinney , J . VV . ; C Wellard , P . M . ; E . Frewin '

P . M . ; G . Auckland , P . M . ; Jekyll , P . M ., P . G . Org . J . M . Chamberlin , P . M ., Sec ; H . J . Ashley , S . D . ; G . E . Fairchild , acting I . G . ; H . Tinney , Org . ; Gilbert . Tyler ; G . Powell , VV . L . Penley , A . Henson , C Bradberry , C . H . Stephenson , A . Bishop , T . de B . Holme , Wynn , Miller , J . Hamilton , J . G . Speaight , L . Silberberg , L . S . Dewar , G . VV . Browne , R . A . F . Rocheste JC .

, . Hamilton , Wallis McRay , G . C . Smith , and others . Thc visitors present were Bros . G . Duxfield , J . VV . 613 ; J . D Langton , I . P . M . No . 1 ; J . H . Garland , 16 73 ; and G . H . Stephens , J . VV . 1623 , 13 S 2 , and SoS ( Freemason ) . 1 he business disposed of was the conferring the Second Degree upon Bro . J . H . Hamilton and the Third Degree upon Bro . Wynn Miller . These ceremonies were

admirably rendered by liro . Maclean , whose working was well and adequately supported by the officers of the lod ge , thereby sustaining the reputation of this lodge for good working . This being also the election meeting , the brethren unanimously gave their suffrages in favour of Bro . Delevanti , the worthy S . VV ., to whom the VV . M . paid a high tribute of praise for the manner in which he had

fulnuea every omce tnac naa devolved upon him in the lodge , and auguring a prosperous and useful year under Bro . Delevanti's Mastership . Bro . Delevanti having gracefully replied , the election for Treasurer resulted in the re-electing of Bro . Coote , P . M ., to that honourable position , and Bro . Gilbert was also reelected Tyler . Officers were appointed for the Benevolent Fund , which we are glad to notice is in a very satisfactory

financial position . The Worshipful Master having retired from the lodge the very pleasing task of voting Bro . Maclean the Past Master ' s jewel of the lodge was proceeded with , Bro . Frewin , P . M ., claiming for Bro . Maclean that he had entirely upheld by his excellent working the dignity of the Asaph Lodge satisfactorily to its traditions , and to the

gratification of its members . On this pleasing fact being communicated to the VV . M ., Bro . Maclean said he bad often wondered how a brother had felt when receiving the pleasing intelligence he had just heard . It was most gratifying to him to find he had given satisfaction to the brethren . ^ He had really done his best during his year of office . Following so many brethren of great ability his

task had been a severe one to maintain the prestige the lodge had attained under previous rulers ; yet that also , inasmuch as those brethren had set him a worthy example , had been the means of making his duty more easy in following as closely as possible the good pattern they had set him . After exchange of " Hearty good wishes " lodge was closed in harmony .

ALEXANDRA-PALACE LODGE ( No . 1541 ) . —This lodge met on the 23 rd ult ., at its new home , the Imperial Hotel , Holborn Viaduct . The business of the evening was the installing of Bro . H . Gush into the Master ' s chair , and the ceremony was most ably performed by