Provincial Grand Chapter Of Lincolnshire.

shire to pass a resolution thanking the Past Grand Superintendent for his eminent services , for iS years in connection with Royal Arch Masonry . When Comp . Smyth took command of the province there were only three chapters and about 50 Royal Arch Masons . He hands over to his successor the care of seven chapters in a state of great efficiency , and the superintendence over more than 300 companions . But what will be in the future

to Comp . Smyth a far more precious memory is the knowledge that during those iS years never once did the slightest friction arise between him and any member of the province , but every year he grew more and more in the affectionate esteem and respect of all with whom he was associated . Passing on to a more personal question , let me thank you all for the kindness with which you received the intimation of my appointment , and the warmth

of the reception you have given me to-day . Believe me , the office was not sought , by me , it came to me , and was accepted with some reluctance from a sense of duty . It never would have been accepted had I not known that I could implicitly rely on the same hearty and loyal support from you that you have never withheld from my distinguished predecessor . I appeal with confidence to each and all of you collectively and individually to aid me in making Royal Arch Masonry in this province an influence for good . The

Grand Superintendent then showed how the teaching of Royal Arch Masonry fitly crowns and completes the lessons taught in the Three Degrees of Craft Masonry , and concluded by moving a resolution expressing the regret of the companions at the retirement of Comp . Smyth from the office of Grand Superintendent , and the earnest hope that he might be long spared to promote b y his wise counsels and great experience the interests of Royal Arch Masonry in Lincolnshire .

Comp . BARRELL seconded the resolution , which was carried with enthusiasm , and suitably acknowledged by the PAST G . SUPERINTENDENT . A very beautiful banner was then presented by Comp . R . G . Pearson , P . G . D . C , to the Prov . Grand Chapter . The centre was an admirable representation of Lincoln Minster .

In acknowled ging a vote of thanks for his beautiful gift , Comp . PEARSON said that , from unusual circumstances , nearly all the Prov . Grand Officers last year were members of his ( Comp . Pearson ' s ) chapter , namely , the All Saints' Chapter , and b y his gift he wished to commemorate that exceptional event .

Prov . Grand Chapter was then closed , and the companions , to thc number of 60 , dined together at the Saracen ' s Head , Lincoln . The Grand Superintendent presided , supported by Comps . Barrell , Prov . G . H . ; Russell , Prov . G . J . ; the Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborough , Prov . G . M . ( Mark ) ; Peck , P . A . G . D . C . England , * and other distinguished members of the Craft . The banner was designed and manufactured by Comp . George Kenning .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Devonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE .

I he above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 28 th ult ., at the Rougemont Assembl y Room , when there were present : Bros , the Hon . Sir H . Stafford Northcote , Bart ., C . B ., M . P ., P . G . M .,- G . S . S . Lowe , 50 , D . P . G . M . ; the Hon . Duncombe , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . T . C . Lewis , P . G . Chap . ; J . Taylor , 319 , P . G . Treas . ; A . W . King , P . M . 16 9 , P . G . L of XV . ; J . Gidley , P . M . 169 and 383 , P . G . Tyler ; G . Dunsterville , W . M . 35 P . G . Stwd . ;

, b . H . Shorto , 15 , P . G . Stwd . ; William James Hughan , 78 , P . G . W . England ; J . B . Gover , 50 , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . Taylor , 319 , P . P . G . R . ; H . Ford , P . M . 372 ; ] . Lane , 319 , P . P . G . M . O ., P . S . G . O . England ; J . Stocker , P . M . 15 , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . S . Swann , P . M . 372 , P . P . S . G . W . ; E . W . Locke , W . M . 215 ; W . E . Williams , W . M . 1 S 7 ; H . Grater , J . W . 187 ; W . Easton , 15 , P . P . G . M . O . ; J . Matthews , 23 , P . P . J . G . W . ; XV . F . Gill , W . M . 23 ; A . W . Searley , 319 P . G . Org . ; J .

, Olver , 215 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . H . Deacon , 9 6 : W . Wilcocks , J . D . 16 ; J . Endicott , W . M . 48 ; A . L . Honey , 15 ; J . W . Cornish , I . P . M . 76 ; J . Lark , 16 ; M . Fortescue , S . D . 2 iS ; J . P . EIIerton , I . P . M . i 87 , P . G . M . O . ; J . Dupre , 36 , P . G . S . ; H . Michelmore , IS , P . G . Stwd . ; J . Sampson , P . M . 15 , P . P . S . G . O . ; C . Hunt , P . M . 91 , P . P . G . S . ; J . Algar , P . M . and Treas . 15 , P . P . G . Reg . ; W . R . Lisle , P . M . 15 , P . P . G . Reg .

J . Gould , Sec . IS ; W . Sweet , S . W . 66 ; J . Jaminson , I . G . 16 ; W . H . Kelland , S . W . 15 , P . P . G . T . ; Andrew Hope , M . O . 15 ; W . French , Chap . 187 ; A . Oakly , P . M . 372 ; W . H . Jones , IS ; A . L . Honey , 15 ; W . H . Chesterman , 15 ; A . J . Truscott , J . O . 15 ; H . Reynolds , W . M . 383 ; A . Roberts , I . P . M . 66 ; W . Harris , P . M . 215 , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . F . Railing , 112 ; and W . S . Vickery , 15 .

The report of the Prov . Grand Secretary was received and adopted , as was that of the Prov . Grand Treasurer , which showed a favourable balance in hand of £ 34 . The report of the Committee of General Purposes , which was also received and adopted , recommended that 21 guineas should be given for Charities .

Thc Prov . G . M . proceeded to appoint and invest his officers for the ensuing year as follows : » ro . G . S . S . Lowe , 50 ... ... ... D . P . G . M . „ H . Ford , 372 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . H . Square , 43 S ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ H . Reynolds , 383 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O .

1 , D . Carwithen , 16 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ J . W . Cornish , 76 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . 1 , Rev . T . C . Lewis , 43 S ... ... ... Prov . G . Chaps . , 1 A . Hope , 15 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . » E . W . Lock , 215 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . n H . Stocker , 115 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

> i A . W . Serley , 319 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . n A . S . Coyte , 100 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . 11 G . Dunsterville , 35 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . n S . Harris , 91 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . 1 J . Endicott , 48 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . .. W . E . Williams , 180 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

i > W . T . Gill , 23 ... .. ... Prov . A . G . Sec . > i John Lark , 16 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ii J .-Gidley , 169 Prov . G . Tyler . .. J . K . Bond , 50 ... ... ... ] > . E . Aslett , 66 ... ... ... }•Prov . G . Stwds . > , A . E . Maddock , 6 7 ... ... ... J

. fhe PROV . GRAND MASTER offered his congratulations to Bro . Lowe , y-P . G . M ., on his appointment to the office of P . G . W . of the Craft , and a vote of congratulation was subsequently adopted , to which Bro . LOWE suitabl y responded .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Devonshire.

Bros . Lowe , Stocker , Grover , and Crouch were appointed to serve on the General Purposes Committee . Bro . HUGHAN , P . G . W . England , spoke in complimentary terms of the recently drafted by-laws of the province which had been prepared by the Prov . Grand Secretary , and characterised the work with the appendices as the best he had seen . The speaker entered into some very interesting particulars concerning thc Province of Devonshire , which is claimed to be the senior working lodge in Mark Masonry .

Some interesting discussion arose upon the remarks of Bro . Hughan , which tended to prove the accuracy of the details which Bro . Stocker had appended to the by-laws . A vote of thanks was accorded to the Prov . Grand Secretary lor his labour in connection with the work . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . A banquet was afterwards held at the Rougcnioiit Hotel .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Somerset.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SOMERSET .

Ihe above Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons assembled on Wednesday afternoon , the 20 th ult ., under the banner of the Else Lodge , No . 102 , at the Masonic Hall , Weston-Super-Mare . There was a large attendance of officers and visitors . Bros . Lord Dungarvan , as D . G . M . ; R . V . Vassar-Smith , D . P . G . M . Gloucester and Hereford ; and C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., Grand Secretary , were received with the customary honours . The P . G . M ., Bro . R . C . Else , appointed the following officers for thc ensuing year :

Bro . Col . W . Long ... ... ... D . P . G . M . „ F . W . S . Wicksteed ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ R . R . Rice , W . M . Royal Cumberland ... Prov . J . G . W . „ 1 . T . Dunsford ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O .

„ W . Peach , Royal Cumberland , P . P . G . Std . Br .... Prov . S . G . O . ,, G . Strawbridge ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . G . E . Gardiner ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . .. C W . Rarlw . iv . P . rt . I ") . Rncr . Prn ., C . T ™« ¦ ¦ ¦

11 " " * , M ~ JI - ••*— . " ••£ 5 * •••••* * " » •* - •* - * -- **>* „ B . C . Board ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ F . T . Elworthy , P . G . D . Eng . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . ,, F . Blackmore ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ J . B . Sincock ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ VV . C J . York , S . VV . 128 ... ... Prov . G . I . of VV . „ W . H . Webb ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ T . C Chaffin ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ A . J . Mawer ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br .

,, li . G . Lalonde ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ O . W . Wiltshire ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ;; L ^ . S pel 1 ::: ::: ::: :: > - . G . st *™ ... „ A . J . Salter ... ... ... ... Prov . G . T yler . A sum of 15 guineas was voted to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and thc

alms were given to thc Weston-Supcr-Marc Hospital . Among those present , in addition to the officers named , were—Bros . C . L . F . Edwards , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . F . Norris , E . A . Purvis , F . A . Hyndman , P . P . G . D . Oxford ; W . C . Thomas , E . Huntley , J . P . James , S . [ . Sellick , F . B . George , W . C . Leaker , W . E . Perrett , P . P . G . D . ; J . Burnett , H . M . Marsh , T . W . Stone , P . P . J . G . W . ; F . T . Perrett , IJ . H . Watts , R . H . Baggs , S . Bigwood , J . T . Hallam , A . Holborn , R . Knight , C . S . Leech , H . B . ffarington , E . E . Baker , T . Cogle , W . B . Frampton , P . P . G . M . O . ; T . Cox , C . Cornelius , and others .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

A meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at thc Masonic Hall , Hanley , on Tuesday , thc 26 th ult ., when there was a good attendance of members . Bro . Col . G . S . Tudor , Prov . G . M ., was unable to bc present owing to the state of his health , and Bro . J . F . Pepper , D . P . G . M ., presided . Amongst those present

wcre—Bros . B . Piercy , 45 , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . A . Tomason , P . M . 318 ; S . Jennings , P . M ., J . O . 318 ; A . E . Parkes , 31 S , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Tunnicliffe , E . V . Greatbach , J . Alunro , H . R . Strange , F . VV . Warne , E . li . Devereux , D . Jones , J . T . Howson , H , Windle , W . H . Jones , E . B . Jackson , and C . Elphinstone , 45 ; Chas . Taylor and V . C . Crump , 290 ; W . Belton and W . Lascelles Southwell , 444 ; W . E . Thomason and Chas . Lamsdale , 318 ; and T . Patten , E . M . Youd , and VV . Wood .

lt was decided to recommend Bro . Col . ludor to the Prince of Wales for re-appointment as Prov . G . M . for the ensuing three years . The following appointments were made - .

Bro . J . F . Pepper ... ... ... D . Prov . G . M . ,, G . A . Thomason ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ E . B . Devereux ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ F . W . Willmore ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ H . R . Strange ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O . „ A . E . Parkes ... ... ... Prov . G . J . O . ,, Rev . W . Pressor ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, C A . Newnham ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ S . B . Wheway ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ G . W . Walker ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ C . Taylor ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ W . Belton ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ V . C . L . Crump ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ D . Jones ... ... ... ... Prov . G . L of W . „ W . L . Southwell ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . T . Howson ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ C . Lamsdale ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ W . Twist ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The customary banquet took place after thc conclusion of thc business , and a splendid repast was provided by Bro . Munro . The loyal and other toasts were honoured , and several brethren contributed vocal music during the evening , which was spent very pleasantly .