Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

him during his retention of that important office . Bro . Buss was then unanimously re-elected Grand Treasurer , amidst hearty cheers .

The Provincial Grand Master said he could assure Bro . Buss that it was with very great gratification he had to announce to him the pleasing intelligence of his unanimous re-election .

Bro . Buss acknowledged the brethren ' s continued confidence in him , and expressed the gratification he felt that his services had been satisfactory to the brethren . The following brethren were then appointed by the Provincial Grand Master to hold the offices set opposite to their respective names : —

J . C . Parkinson ,... D . Prov . G . M . Sir George Elliott Prov . G . S . W . Angelo J . Lewis Prov . G . J . W . Rev . Canon Collis Prov . G . Chaplain . Rev . E . E . Brette Prov . G . Chaplain . H . G . Buss Prov . G . Treas . John Thomas Moss Prov . G . Reg . R . Wentworth Little Prov . G . Sec . Paxton Prov . G . S . D . Glover Prov . J . G . D . Edlmann Prov . G . S . ofW . Lindsay Prov . G . D . C . H . A . Dubois Prov . G . A . D . C . Charles Coote Prov . G . Org . T . J . Sabine Prov . G . S . B . Frederick Walters Prov . G . Purs . Col . Peters Prov . G . Stwd . Dr . Woodman Prov * . G . Stwd . Dr . J . Sharpe Prov . G . Stwd . W . H . Thompson Prov . G . Stwd . W . Hammond Prov . G . Stwd . Phythian Prov . G . Stwd . J . Gilbert Prov . G . T yler . The Prov . G . Master said that the brethren had heard that the Provincial Grand Lodge had

a large sum of money in hand , but it was of no use for that money to be lying idle . He thought they could not do better than give some part of it to the Institutions connected with the Order . He had , therefore , put down on the agenda paper a proposition to give g £ io ios . to

the Girls ' School , _ a

Bro . Thomas Fenn , actintr a- G . S . W ., put the motion , wliich was unanimously adopted . The Depu . y Provincial Grand Master moved that the lodges and brethren in the provinces be requested to send their votes < W the Masonic Charities to the Provincial Grand Master , with

the view of securing , by united action , the success of candidates connected with the province ; and that the formation of a Committee to promote this object be authorised by the Prov . G . Lodge . His object was that any candidate taken up by the province should be successful . Unity of

action only was wanted to do this . The Prov . Grand Master , to whom the votes would be committed , was the last man in the world who would monopolise the votes . By the brethren acting together , now giving , now taking , their individual force would not be frittered away . So

convinced was he of the expediency of this course that he had thrown in his own votes , and he had a letter from Sir George Elliott to say that he would do the same . He ( the Deputy Grand Master ) trusted this motion for the formation of a Committee to carry the scheme out , would

be adopted . He would propose that the Committee should be composed of three members appointed by the Prov . Grand Master , and three by the Provincial Grand Lodge . The Prov . G . Master would propose himself , his Deputy , and the Prov . G . Secretary .

Major Barlow said that a similar scheme was very successful in Cheshire . Bro . Charles Horsley asked whether it was intended tbat the Master of a lodge should send all the votes that came into his hands during his

year of office to the Provincial Grand Master . He really could not understand how unity of action would be preserved by this scheme . He himself belonged to the Royal Union Lodge at Uxbridge , and the Acacia at Potter ' s Bar . Each of those lodges might hare a candidate it wished

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

to bn " ng in . How could it be done ? He would ask the Deputy Grand Master , whether it was wished that all the votes which annually came should be sent to the Provincial Grand Master , and how the success of the particular efforts of each lodge would be guaranteed .

Bro . F . Davison thought that there was already too much monopoly of votes . To get any candidate into the institutions it was necessary to obtain the support of a- very few good names . Every brother had a perfect right to give his votes to the most deserving case . He did

not approve of the motion . Bro . J . Baxter Langley said their great object should be to support the most deserving case , no matter what locality or province it came from . He could not imagine that charity , in the highest sense in which it had been so eloquently alluded

to in the pulpit that day , could take so narrow a view of its duties as to cause the brethren to support a candidate from his own geographical district without reference to its merits . He was glad that the terms of the resolution had been so modified as to prevent that obnoxious view

being taken , against which Bro . Davison had protested . They should have an election of brethren of influence and well acquainted with the districts , first of all to report on the case which seemed to them to deserve the support of the district , without any reference to its

geographical position . If that was done he felt sure the province would accept the recommendation of the brother so elected , and the first step would be gained At present a great many who were governors of the charities were unable when an election approached to gwe their votes to the

most deserving case . If a committee reported on the cases , they would not have the difficulty they now experienced . He submitted that it would be the best course to take to appoint a committee to be , as it were , a committee of investigation , and that upon their report the

votes of the province should be recommended to be given , above all things , the report should be upon the merits of the cases , and not be given with reference to the geographical locality . Bro . Angelo J . Lewis , Prov . G . J . W ., while giving a general support to the . amended

proposition of the Deputy Prov . G . Master , thonght that all the lodges of the province should be represented on the Committee . The Prov . G . Master thought the brethren mi ght hit upon a scheme to be presented to next Prov . Grand Lodge . This was only the first

movement made in this particular direction . Bro . Charles Horsley seconded the proposition , Next Prov . Grand Lodge might adopt a decided mode of action . Bro . J . J . Wilson , opposed the original motion . It had been , bethought , brought forward

without due consideration . Four or five years ago , he tried to get the lodges of the province to act with him on the same plan . After several meetings , it was found it would not work . He wished the Deputy Prov . Grand Master every success in his scheme 5 but he would find the

same difficulty as he ( Bro . Wilson ) had , by a brother being called upon for his votes by two lodges , to both of which he was equally loyally subject . Then it would also be found that the Committee could not meet without sundry expenses , and after they had met they would

find they were no further then they were at the starting . He would propose that the matter be deferred till next Prov . Grand Lodge for further consideration . Dr . Ramsey thought the matter should be left for the consideration of a Committee .

Bro . Angelo J . Lewis proposed " That a Committee be appointed , consisting of six members , three to be nominated by the Provincial Grand Master , and three by the Provincial Grand * Lodge , to consider the best mode of promoting unity of action in the province . "

Bro . Baxter Langley adopted this amendment , the orig inal motion was withdrawn , and the amendment . put as an original motion , was carried unanimously . The Provincial Grand Master nominated

himself , Bro . Parkinson , and Bro . Little , and the Provincial Grand Lodge elected Bros . Pi gden , J . Baxter Langley , and Glover , to form the Committee . The Prov . G . Lodge was then closed , and the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

brethren afterwards sat down to a first-class banquet , supplied by Mr . Allsopp , confectioner . Enfield , in the best style . At the conclusion of the repast grace was sung , and the customary

speeches were delivered , and a selection of vocal and instrumental music was performed under the direction of Bro . Limpus , Bro . Theodore Distin , Mrs . Limpus , Mr . Wray Brewster , and Miss Kate Wild .

After disposing of the loyal , & c , toasts , ancl duly honouring " The Health of ihe Grand Master , " The Provincial Grand Master proposed " The Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , and the Grand Officers , " and spoke of the great service the Grand Officers were to

the Order , one of whom , the Grand Junior Deacon , he was happy to say was Deputy Prov . G . Master of Middlesex . Speaking , however , of Bro . Fenn , who was present , he said he did not believe there was another member of the Order , who could do the working part of Masonry so well .

Bro . Fenn , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , after thanking the Prov . G . Master , referred particularly to the province of Middlesex , which he said was a new province , but he found that there was a determination on the part of all

connected with it to make it one of the most distinguished Prov . G . Lodges in the kingdom . With sufficient power and ernergy to carry that ambition into effect , this province , be was sure , could not fail in the course of a short time to

become second to none but the Grand Lodge of England . Bro . J . C . Parkinson G . J . D . of England , a * i * A Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex , proposed " The Health of Colonel F . Burdett , Provincial Grand Master . " There were , he said ,

many ways in this world in which men obtained honours , but it had always seemed to him that these honours were the sweetest when they were derived from the free suffrages of free men . It was the exceptional privilege of the province of Middlesex , to have virtually chosen its own

Grand Master . So far as he knew it was the only Masonic ) Province in the three kingdoms which could lay claim to that particular privilege . It therefore behoted all the brethren of the province to do what they could to make the province vigorous and strong , and it was really

with that view that he ( Bro . Parkinson ) had been induced to bring forward the motion , which he had just spoken on in Prov . G . Lodge . He had not quite anticipated that it would provoke so earnest and animated a discussion as had been engaged in , but he was very glad that it had , for

it proved that on all sides there was a very warm and healthy feeling on the subject of charity . His personal desires were limited to a very strong wish that they should consider fairly by means of a representative Committee what were the best means of utilising their votes

and at the same time strengthen and solidify the province . If in committee they found , as he thought it was possible they might find , that it was not practicable that thc peculiar circumstances of Middlesex , where many brethren who were active members also belonged to

London lodges , or other lodges in the neighbourhood , would render the carrying out of the scheme practicable or beneficial to the province , he for one should heartily join with them ; at the same time he begged to assure every one of the brethren , that those with whom the

proposition originated , hau no other feeling than that of promoting the cause of charity , and , if possible , strengthening the province . They sought for no monopoly of votes 5 that was a subject that would not bear a moment ' s thought . He then referred to the services of Col . Burdett ,

than whom a more earnest , popular , zealous brother could not be found , ( hear , hear ) a brother who had the happy knack of making and keeping friends , and who devoted a large proportion of his time in promoting the good of the Craft . ( Cheers . ) The Prov . Grand Master returned thanks , and

said it was with pride he heard the D . Prov ; Grand Master say that it was by the free suffrage of the brethren that he had become Prov . Grand Master . He felt as proud as did an uncle of his , Sir Francis , when he was placed at the head of the poll for the county of Middlesex . From the kindness shewn to himself , he