Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

Bro . A . W . Waller , 702 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ F . B . Osborne , 951 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ E . F . Broderip , 1363 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . F . Noak , 270 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " » ' J' r ^ T' r 1 Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ H . G . Gadd , 1067 ... ... ,.. )

„ H . Cadle , 1005 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ M . LI . Evans , 82 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ G . A . Baker , 1006 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . " w ° H ^ f V •" 1 Prov . G . Stwds . „ W . H . Allen , 761 ... ... ... ) „ Twitchett ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

At the conclusion of the lodge business , the brethren adjourned to the Victoria Hall , where a banquet was served , presided over by the Prov . Grand Master .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF ESSEX .

The second annual meeting of the recently-formed Prov . Grand Mark Lodge of Essex was held on Wednesday , the 29 th ult ., at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , and was a successful and interesting function . Much regret was felt and expressed at the absence of the popular Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , partly from the fact that the Warwickshire

Yeomanry , in which his lordship is one of the oldest commissioned officers , is under canvas in the Park at Warwick Castle , but chiefly , it is feared , owing to his lordship ' s present indifferent state of health . Bro . Colonel Lockwood , M . P ., the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , proved an efficient substitute , presiding over the business meeting and at the repast that followed with his customary smartness and bonhomie .

The first business was the confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held last year at Brentwood , which having been done , letters were read from several distinguished brethren regretting their inability to attend . These included Bros , the Earl of Warwick , Prov . G . M . ; M-ijor C W . Carrel ! , P . G . D . C ; Dr . Salter , Prov . G . Treas . ; C E . Egerton-Green , P . P . S . G . W . ( Major of Colchester ); F . W . Imbert-Terry , P . P . J . G . O ; John J . C . Turner , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . J . H . Ward , P . P . S . G . W . ; and Robert CookP . P . G . I . of W .

, The roll of lodges was then called by the P . G . SECRETARY , and the eight forming the province were found to be duly represented . Bro . J RAMSEY , Prov . S . G . W ., presented the report of the Board of General Purposes and moved that it be received , adopted , and entered on the minutes . The report opened with a feeling allusion to the bss which Ihe Order had sustained in common with the nation generally by the death

of her Majesty Queen Victoria ; and satisfaction that his Majssty the King , on resigning theurand Mastership had consented to becom . its patron , and had been succeeded by his august brother H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . The returns from the eight lodges showed that there had b : en during the year 24 advancements and two joining members , while on the other hand thete had been or . e resignation , the losses by death e ght and three brethren had been struck off the books of their respective lodges , leaving the present

strength of the province 199 members against 185 last year . The accounts had been audited and showed a satisfactory balance in hand . In conduM . n , the B -ard expressed a hope that during the coming year there might be increased activity amongst the Mark Masons of the province . " Se-. ing that Essex is now self-dependent and that one lodge has succeeded in adding no fewer than 11 new members during the past year , the Board feel sure that it only requires a little individual effort to make the Degree more popular . "

Bro . RICHARD CLOWES , P . G . O ., Prov . G . D . C , seconded the motion for the adoption of ( he report , which was put and carried unanimously . Bro . Colonel LOCKWOOD then addressed the brethren . He said his task was an extremely light one , as there was no trouble of any kind to disturb the friendly relations between the lodges and the authorities , while the returns showed that the Order was making steady progress . The Board of

General Purposes had rightly called attention to the loss all had sustained by the death of Queen Victoria , who had always taken a deep interest in Freemasonry , whilst as regards his Majesty the King , there was no man alive to whom the Order was more indebted for his eminent services , and it was a genuine subject for congratulation that his Majesty had consented to remain as Patron of the Order , and that his brother the Duke of Connaught had

become the Grand Master . From personal knowledee he could testify to the thorough way in which the Duke took up anything to which he gave his attention , and he ( Col . Lockwood ) felt sure that the brethren would have cause to be satisfied with the Duke as Grand Master . They all , he was sure , much regretted the absence again this year of their Provincial Grand

Master ; and they must take care next year in fixing the date of the meeting to see that it did not clash with the Yeomanry training . In conclusion the gallant Colonel urged the Masters of lodges , and the other brethren interested in the Mark Degree , to throw as much zeal as possible into the work of the Degree , so that the result might be ssen in the admission of new members and the formation of new lodges . ( Applause . )

The next business was the election of four members of the Board of General Purposes , and there being only the requisite number of nominations they were declared elected as follows : Bros . F . W . Imbert-Terry , P . M . 377 , P . P . J . G . O . ; James Speller , W . M . 461 , P . P . G . M . O . ; John J . C Turner , P . M . 145 . P . P . S . G . W . ; and A . J . H . Ward , P . M . 413 . P . P . S . G . W . On the motion of Bro . RICHARD CLOWES , seconded by Bro . G . A . EUSTACE , the brethren unanimously re-elected Bro . J . H . Salter , P . P . G . D . of C , as Prov . G . Treasurer .

The officers for-the year were appointed as follows : Bro . Wm . Adams Greene , W . M . 205 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Robert Cook , W . M . 342 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Leon V . Walker , P . M . 205 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ Walter Fisher , W . M . 467 ... ... Prov . G . S . O . „ G . M . E . Hamilton , I . P . M . 205 ( second year ) ... Prov . G . J . O . .. the Rev . Canon Ouennell , I . P . M . and Chap .

377 ( third year ) ... ,.. Prov . G . Chap . „ A . S . B . Sparling , S . W . 145 - •••Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 145 , P . G . D . Eng . ( third year ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . ,, George A . Eustace , P . M . 145 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ M . A . Mclnerny , S . W . 205 ... ... Prov . J . G . D .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Essex.

Bro . Jas . E . Pegram , W . M . S 27 ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ R . Clowes , P . J . G . O . Eng . P . M . 413 ( third year ) ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C „ W . H . Howard-Flanders , P . M . 342 ...Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ W . W . Salter , W . M . 413 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . P . Sayer , S . W . 342 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ F . B . Townend , M . O . 377 ( second year ) ... Prov . G . Org .

„ J . T . Ward , S . W . 413 ¦••... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ E . Piper , J . W . 527 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G-„ Thos . Byford , Stwd . 205 ... —ID ,.... r- c . J „ E . M . Kemp , Stwd . 205 ... j Prov . G . Stwds . „ Arthur Wright , Tyler 145 ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

A hearty vote of thanks was , on the motion of Bro . Col . LOCKWOOD , unanimously passed to the W . M . and brethren of the Beaconsfield Lod ge , No . 2 J 5 , for the excellent arrangements they hid made for the meeting and the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed . About 30 brethren afterwards dined together at the Royal Forest Hotel , under the genial presidency of Bro . Col . Lockwood .

Amongst those present on the occasion , in addition to those alread y mentioned amongst the offices , were Bros . C F . M . atier , G . Sec Clifford Probyn . P . G . Treas . ; Johi Ramsey , P . A . G . D C , P . P . S G . w ' ' J . W . Mow , P . P . J . G . O . ; Thorn is Hum . -h-e . 's , P . P . SG . O . , * Janes ' Speller , P . P . G . M . O . ; Jam < s Pinder , P . A . G . I . G ., P . P . G . M O . ; J . G

Mackenzie , P . P . A . G D . C ; John Wright , P . P . G . I . G . ; John Hall . ws P . P . S . G . O . ; J . S . Hammond , 145 ; H . H . Nuding , P . P . G O . ; Arthur Livermore , 342 ; W . J . Barnes . 145 ; F . ank E . Bailey , P . M . 2 K ; W . Metcalfe , P . M . 284 ; W . P . Warren , P . M . 284 ; J . Djffy , S . D . 205 ; and others .

Boys' School Athletic Sports.

BOYS' SCHOOL ATHLETIC SPORTS .

The annual athletic sports in connection with the Royal Masonic Institution for Bo . s were held in the school playing field , directly opposite the Institution , on Saturday , the 1 st instant , in the presence of a goodly attendance of visitors , both l . idies and gentlemen . Among those present we noticed the following members of the Committee of the Institution : Bros . R . D . Cummings , G . Everett , J . P . Fiti . gerald , Jno . Glass , Rev . H . Hebb ( Headmaster ) , the Secretary , H . Manfield , ' H . Pritchard , W . A . Scurrah , and J . Willing , jun . There were also present Bros . W . G . Kentish , J . Speller , A . W . Duret , C . H . Stone , and several ether prominent Masons .

The management of the sports was in the hands of Mr . H . R . Francombe , and to him is chiefly due the credit for the excellent arrangements and promptitude observed in the decision of the various events , which contributed so greatly to the success that was achieved . He was abl y assisted in the performance of his arduous duties by a school committee consisting of A . W . Huskisson , H . D . Maidment , W . G . Nichols , and V . Hawkins . The starters were Mr . G . A . Roberts and Sergeant Willmott , while the judges comprised Bros . R . D . Cummings , J . P . Fitzgerald , H . Pritchard , and Messrs . H . V . Crane and R . H . Pinhorn , house-masters .

During the progress of the sporls the visitors were entertained at intervals by the sweet strains of the band of the Strand Schools , who , by the kind permission of the Strand Board of Guardians , performed the following programme of music under the conductorship of Bro . W . Binnie , P . M ., bandmaster : Quick March ... ... ... " Jubilee . " Uverlure ... ... ... " The Mountaineer . " Valse ... ... ... " Passing Thoughts . " Fantasia ... ... ... "O ' er Land and Sea . "

Dance of the Elves and Gnomes . Selection ... ... ... "Olivette . " Valse ... ... ... " La Jolie Hongroise . " Fantasia ... ... ... " A String of Pearls . ' ! Polka ... ... ... "Cinderella . " Selection ... ... ... " Gems of Operatic Melody . " Barn Dance ... ... ,.. " The Jolly Sisters . " Galop ... ... ... " Early Morning . "

" God Save the King . " The weather was rather threatening , in consequence of which the sports were started at 2 . 30 instead of 3 p . m . Foitunately , however the rain held off till their conclusion , although it had commenced to fall before the distribution of the prizes was quite over . The temperature , however , was less trying to competitors than would have been the case had the sun been shining brightly throughout the afternoon .

fn most old-established schools there is usually a mythical Golden Age , a " Consulship of Plancus , " when all the boys were giants and prodigious athletes , capable of defying their masters with impunity . In this respect boys are , perhaps , not so very different from their elders , who pin an unquestioning faith to the " good old times " of a century or so ago , but those who believe more in evolution than degeneracy , will be of opinion that it would be hard indeed to unearth from the school's past , records better sports , from an athletic point of view , than

those held on Saturday . The first event , throwing the cricket ball , was won by lnsull , with a creditable throw of 54 yards . The various races were accounted for as follows : 100 yards handicap ( boys under 13 ) , Miners ; 100 yards open level , Chipp ; 220 yards open handicap , Bassett ; 4 * 0 yards open level , Gjjde ; 223 yards , Preparatory School , Wayman ; loos yardsopen handicap , Delahaye j bicycle slow race , Woodward ; 220 yards handicap ( boys under 13 ) , Delahaye ; 100 yards , Preparatory School , Wayman ; 300 yards " handicap ( boys under 13 ) , H .

Stephenson ; 880 yards open level , lnsull ; hurdle race , Chipp . There were also minor races and races open for competition to old boys , members of the band , and other public schools . In the jumping contests , E . Colman . Chipp , H . Stephenson , and lnsull were all credited with firsts . There was also a tug-of-war , not for prizes , but for the honour of the respective

house . " , or , as it was classically phrased on the programme , pro aris et focis , between teams of 12 boys each , from the Head Master's , Crane's , and Pinhorn ' s Houses . The team from the Head Master's House proved victorious . They were Chipp ( capt . ) , Rogers , Woodward , Pickles , Gabbutt , Cooper , Dallas , Coiles , Crompton , Sanderson , Walker , and Dale . The captain of Crane ' s was lnsull , while Maidment commanded Pinhorn ' s .

The victor ludorum , whose portrait we produce , was lnsull , who scored a first for throwing the cricket-ball , second in the 100 yards ' open level , second in the open high jump , third in the 220 yards' open handicap , in which he started six yards behind scratch , the winner receiving a start of 30 yards from scratch ; first in the 440 yards' open level ; first in the 883 yards' open let-el ; an J first in the open broad jump .

The victor among boys under 13 ycirs of age was H . Stephenson , who wad first in the high jump , broad jump , and 300 yards' handicap open to boys of his age . The marks allowed for ; a first , in deciding as to the victor , numbered three , for a second two , and for a third one . Another very consistent performer undsr 13 years of age was Delahaye , who scored only one mark less than Step henson .