Provincial Lodge Of Devonshire.

He had turned the matter over in his mind for several years past , in order that some educational scheme might be adopted for boys especially , and for girls if they had the means of bringing it about . The Boys' School in London cost /" 43 per head , and had been considerably more ,

but there was great difficulty in getting a boy into the school . In Lancashire the Freemasons had fifty bovs under education in good and wellconducted schools , and they clothed the boys , leaving them to reside with their mothers . He thought that they could adopt a plan of that

kind , and whilst they were giving a proper support to the charity in London , they might have an additional scheme , and they might educate and clothe the boys for s 8 i $ each . There were now six applicants without the means of education , and they might take the

whole six of them and place them in schools near their own homes at an expense of about ^ 90 per annum . He had before him several reports from the Province of Cheshire , and in the ninth he found twenty boys under education , at a cost of / 96 for the year . That did not

include clothing , but in Devon they would like to do it properly , and clothe antl educate as well the boys they took under their charge . Bro . I . Watts observed that in such a case as that they ought to raise funds and invest them , anel call upon each lodge to contribute a sum which

might be sufficient for carrying out the scheme . TheD . P . G . M . thought it would be best to adopt the principle . After much consideration , Bro . Cover mentioned that to elect a boy to the school in London cost 200 guineas . They had just elected one , and taken three years about it .

A resolution was then moved , seconded , and carried unanimously . It was to the following effect : — "That a sub-committee should be appointed to inquire into the desirability of instituting an educational fund for this Province , and that the sub-committee bring up a report feir the consideration of the next meetino- of this

Committee of Petitions . " The following brethren were appointed to act on the committee : — Alessrs . Aletham , Latimer , Bird , AVatts , Jones , Gover , Hooper , antl Jew . The special business to be transacted was to decide whether any and what sum of money should be contributed from the funds of the

Provincial Grand Lodge to the Royal Alasonic Benevolent Institution on the occasion of the festival in February , at which His Roval Highness the Prince of Wales will preside as chairman , and the Right AVorshipful the

Provincial Grand Alaster will be one oi the Stewards . Bro . Aletham rose in furtherance of the call of the meeting to propose that a sum should be given to the Grand Alaster to represent their Province well and worthily at the Grand Lodgein London . He desired that this Province should

he represented as standing out for its benevolence , and that it should be one of the first in the amount that it would contribute . It would flatter their pride , —and he thought it was a just pride , —and when the vanity had passed away they would have the satisfaction of knowing

that they could look back and see what an amount of good they had done their distressed brethren who wanted their assistance . They hael not so largely supported some of the other charities as many Provinces hael done , but their contributions towards the Benevolent Institution

had been always very considerable . On the present occasion their brother , the Prince ot Wales , who was evincing a great deal of interest in the Craft , and was actually going to become the Master of a lodge , and initiate his own brother in the mysteries of the Order , would preside . Their P . G . AI . should on this occasion be

assisted by all the influence and power that money could give . It was at that festival that he desired that that Lodge should stand out well , and he should like to see Devon at the top of the list . ( Applause . ) When he himself went up he had the honour of standing first , and on

the second occasion he stood second , and surely they were also desirous that their Grand Alaster should stand at the top of the list . 'Cheers . ) Bro . Aletham then referred to the great benefits the Benevolent Institution conferred upon poor anil decayed Alasons , giving instances of some ei ! those whei hail benefited in this Province . No

Provincial Lodge Of Devonshire.

one who was 111 business could say but what he might one day be subject to misfortune , and he trusted that every case of the kind that might arise they should . be prepared to meet ( Cheers . ) To do that thev must put their hands in their pockets , and he hoped that they would give freely that day ; and he proposed , therefore , that

they should vote their Grand Alaster one hundred guineas . ( Applause . ) Their funds could not be better spent than in the cause to which this money would be devoted : Bro . Bird seconded the motion , remarking that he should have been better pleased hael the amount been s £ i <] o .

Bro . Davies proposed , as an a mendment , that £ 130 should be voted ; and this was seconded by Bro . Hooper . Bro . Gover said that the first proposal almost took away his breath , but

he was ejinte astonished at the second . Lie objected that so large a sum of the funds of the Province should be devoted to such a purpose , for they were " eating the calf in the cow ' s belly . " ' ( Laughter . )

The Grantl Alaster said that the whole of the lodge dues were due to the Grantl Lodge on the first of January , but they always gave time feir tiieir being -sent in ; still the money could as well be relied upon as if it were in their hands .

He also remarked that the Grantl Lodge of England were in future geiing to give to every annuitant e £ ? fi a year instead eil ^ 26 , and he should say that the former was not a farthing too much to tiive to a Freemason on the fund .

( Applause . ) And tht ) - would also give the widows £ < j a year more than ihey were giving at present , therefore the sum required to sustain these benefits would be a very large one . Then the Prince of AVales was going lo preside , and the ) - ought to support him . His Royal Hi

ghness did not merely give his name , but supported Alasonry in every u-ay , and he was g ling to become the Master of his ( the Grand Atasier ' s ) mother lodge , the Apollo of Oxford , of which he was one of the oldest members living , and lie intended to go up on the nineteenth with his

brother , Sir John Hayes , who , with himsell , was initiated in iSz 2—now more than 50 years since , and within a few days of each other . The Prince of AVales had done more for the Order than any crowned head , except the King of Sweden , and he would make Alasonry

exceedingly popular . Bro . Watts was unable to give a silent vote on this question . He had been taken by surprise , and thought that the amount was altogether too large , and if it had not been feir

the Prince of AVales they would have heard nothing of this meeting . Bro . Latimer rose , and saiel that Bro . AVatts did not represent the feeling of the Three Towns . There was no occasion on which a

money question arose but what Bro . AVatts exhibited the niggardly spirit which then animated him , and he was satisfied that no one lodge in the Three Towns concurred with him . He ( the speaker ) hael brought the matter forward on several occasions , and had been met with the most cordial approval , whilst the suggestions of Bro . Watts did not find even a seconder . After

some further discutsion , a vote was taken , and the amendment received 27 , whilst for the original motion 29 voted . The amenelment for . £ 130 was thus lost by a majority of two . The Past Grand Alaster said he was hig hly satisfied . ( Loud chirrs . ) It was a very large

sum for any Province to vote , i-xoe-pimg the great Provinces in the North , anel he would Inmost hail ])) - and proud lo carry up such an amount along with the sums which would be volet ! by the lodges in the Province . ( Cheers . )

It was then determined that the bye-laws of ihe Province , which have not bei-n printed since 1 M 4 - , should be reprint , el , after they hael been subject te > re-vision . For this purpose proofs are to be sent lo all the lodges , and to all the members of the Provincial Grand Lodges .

The . Provincial Grand Lodge w as then closed in due form . AftiTwards , on a special invitation from Bro . John Way , P . P . G . T ., of Alp hington . the following brethren , members of the Committee ol Petitions , dined at A / r . Gilford's , I ligh-strce't : — Rev . John I luyshe-, L . P . Aletham , W . G . Rogers ,

Provincial Lodge Of Devonshire.

I . Latimer , R . Rodda , AV . H . Geachsias , J . B . Gover , S . Jew , I . Watts , V . Bird , Hambly , and Browning . The dinner was in all respects most excellent , and the wines , from Bro . Way ' s own cellar , were of the choicest . The party spent a most pleasant and happy afternoon , and were very much indebted te > Bro . Way for his fraternal hospitality .

Masonic Presentation At Lowestoft.

MASONIC PRESENTATION AT LOWESTOFT .

AVe have pleasure in announcing a welldeserved compliment paid to our esteemed fellow-townsman , Air . Robert Clark , the pro prietoi of the Suffolk Hotel . On Thursday evening , Air . Clark was invited to a dinner at

the Suliiolk Hotel , by the members of the Lodge Unity , No . ] i , upon which occasion nearl y 30 of the brethren were present . The chair was ably occupied by Brother Thomas , AA . AL , the Senior ami Junior AVardens' chairs being efficiently filled b y Brothers Alarks and Collins .

In the course of the evening the Worshipful Alaster , in an address which met with its echo in every brother present , handed to Brother Clark , in the mime of the lodge , a testimonial of their high regaid and esteem , in the form of a splendid silver vase- or ' Loving Cup , " with

ebony stand ami glass shade , upon which was the following inscription : — Pa-sente'el to Bro . Robert Clark , P . AL , Alasonic Lodge Unity , No . 71 , by the Bivthrcn of his Lodge . Lowestoft , January , 187 . 3 . " Bro . Claik , who was much touched with the kindness manifesle-d bv the

members ol his lodge , respondee ! most appropriately and with much feeling . lie alluded to the many years the lodge had been held at his hotel ; the many kind manifestations of their regard he had received , of which the present was the visiole atul tangible climax . He thank' \ 1 them all most sincerely , antl should treasure up ,

not so much for its material value—though that was considerable . '—as for the sincere expression of regard and esteem for him of which it was the practical proof . A very happy Alasonic evening was spent , which was greatly augmented by the excellent songs of Brothers Firinin and AJ .-Hjii . —Ipswich Journal .

West Indies.

WEST INDIES .

Never was the town of Grenada thrown into such a state of excitement as em Friday , Dec . 27 th , when the Alasonic Fraternity turned eiut and inarched to St . . Andrew ' s Kirk , for the purpose of having a sermon preached to them , on

the anniversary of their Tutelar Saint . The streets , and windows in every building throughout the line of route , were- thronged with persons of all classes and creeds—in fact , there were thousands out to witness a sight which for over twenty years Gienada had not seen . The

brethren iornied 111 procession at the lodge , and ( avoiding the order in which they respectively stood ) , ncmbered thirty-ei ght . Amongst their number S'o id some old vet ruts of the Craft , — brothers , who on that doy , called to rcineinbrrnce happy years of the past when similar happy

gatherings took place , ami who also , with that love for ihe Order which none but Masons can ha ' -. ' , marked the stirring present , and for old " Caledonia , 324 , " pointed to . 1 hopeful future . In the- evi ning , an entertainment was given it the lodge i be programme included darning

and snppe-i . The menu comprised every delicacy ol tin-season , and the \ iands being served in proper style-, their fully enjoyment was ensured . The usual lov aland Masonic toasts were given and responded lei . ' The Quern , " "The Grand

Aiasters ol England , Ireland and Scotland , " "Our Broth , r the Piinceof Wales and the- Princess of AVales , " we-re proposed by ihe- W . AL , and from the heartine-ss ol the manner in which they were received , were undeniably endorsed by all .

The ball room was profusely decorated with shrubs , flowering plants , \ -c . Phe arrangements were carried out by a most intl' fatigabli" band of Stewards , and to these- we

can sali-ly say , with the co-operation of the re speeteel R . W . AL , ih- gre-al success may be attri billed . —St . ( , 'eoriju ' . ' Chronicle .