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Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .
The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex was held at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , on Tuesday , the 28 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . Lord Brooke , M . P ., P . G . M ., supported by Bros . F . A . Philbrick , O . C ., G . Reg ., D . P . G . M . ; V . P . Freeman , P . G . Sec . Sussex ; R . T . Clowes , T ' . P . G . W . ; " jamcs Terry , P . G . S . B . ; Lennox Browne , P . P . G . W . ; G . Cooper , P . G . D . ; t . Railing , " P . A . G . D . C , P . G . Sec ; A . Lucking ,
P . G . P . ; E . Acworth , P . G . Stwd . ; T . Scoresby Jackson , P . P . G . W . ; J . Glass , P . M . ; W . Buck , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Shunnur , P . G . Treas . ; Rev . Dr . Dunbar ; F . Philbrick , jun . ; T . Courtenay Warner , P . M . ; Geo . Corbie , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W . ; J . M . Scarlett , P . P . G . W . ; C . E . Keyser , P . P . G . W . Herts ; " Rev . T . Lloyd ; Rev . M . Rees ; F . C . Dixie , l . P . M . 453 ; and a large attendance of " members of lodges in the province .
The Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Officers having entered Provincial Grand Lodge , it was opened in ample form , and they were saluted by ihe brethren . The minutes of the last meeting were read and unanimously confirmed , and the roll of lodges was called over .
The Report of the Board of General Purposes was presented , showing a balance on the General Account of £ 166 3 s . 3 d ., and on the Charity Account of ^ 51 15 s ., and recommended that 50 guineas should be given from the General Fund to the Jubilee Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution , and 10 guineas from the Charity Fund to the Royal Masonic •Institution for Girls , and a like sum to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . It was further recommended that £ 15 should be voted to the joint Committee of the entertaining lodges towards defraying the expenses of the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge .
In the last clause of the report the Board expressed their opinion that it was desirable that the lodge or lodges entertaining Prov . Grand Lodge should submit their arrangements to this Board for approval before they were finally settled . A motion was made that this clause should be expunged from the report , but after some discussion it was agreed to , and the report was adopted .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in addressing the brethren , drew attention to the great progress made in the province since Prov . Grand Lodge last met at Chingford in 1882 under the presidency of Lord Tentcrden , when there were 19 lodges on the roll . There were now 32 lodges in the province , and during the last year the number of members had been increased from 1440 to 1573 , as compared with about 800 in 18 S 2 . v \ . bout ^ 1200 had been contributed
to the Charities during the year , including a list of 500 guineas taken up by Bro . Shurmur , Prov . G . Treas ., and several other large lists . Next year being the Jubilee Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , he was glad to find that 50 guineas had been voted to that Institution . He should have much pleasure in acting as Steward on that occasion and placing
that amount on his list . Ihe Provincial Grand Lodge would , next year , be held at Harwich , the invitation to meet there having been accepted with much pleasure , remembering as they did the successful meeting held there some years ago , under the banner of Lodge No . 650 , when Bro . Clowes was the W . M :
Bros . W . Buck , P . P . S . G . W . ; E . Gowcrs , P . P . G . O . ; W . D . Mcrritt , P . P . G . W . ; and J . J . C . Turner , Prov . S . G . W ., were elected members of the Provincial Board of General Purposes . Bro . E . J . Acworth , P . M . 153 , 1612 , 2077 , and 2265 , was unanimously elected as P . G . Treasurer , after which the P . G . M . appointed and invested the following officers : Bro . T . Courtenay Warner ( High Sheriff of Essex ) ,
P . M . 225 6 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . J . Crump , W . M . 2006 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . Thos . Lloyd , P . M . 2342 ... •) D „ r r \ " 0 ,, •JV ° ^ \ rrov . G . Chaps . ,, Kev . M . Kees , Chap . ... ... ) L ,, E . J . Acworth ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ F . B . Page , P . M . 214 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 51 , P . A . G . D . C . England ( 15 th year ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ F . C . Dixie , LP M 453 j Prov . S . G . D - . ,, A . G . Hayman , l . P . M . 2005 ... ... j „ C H . Canning WM 2184 | Prov . J . G . D's . ,, M . C . Meabv , W . M . 2255 ... ... ) - ' „ H . Ffrench Bromhcad , l . P . M . 231 S ... Prov . G . S . of W . ,, A . Lucking , P . M . and Sec . 1000 , P . G . Purst .
England ( iSth year ) ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ G . Foster , W . M . 12 S 0 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ Fred . Horsman , l . P . M . 51 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . Newton Berridge , W . M . 1817 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, M . L . Sanders , P . M . and Sec . 6 = 50 ... ... " ) D r Cll ,-, 1 17 11 osr , „ 1 Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, James Howell , P . M . 1343 ... ... ) ,, Walter Latter , Org ' . 23 iS ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, F . J . Nunn , W . M . 2063 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ IT . J . Day , W . M . 1457-.. ••¦ •••Prov . G . Purst . „ W . H . de Caen , P . M . 1024 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst . „ S . D . C . Ablitt , W . M . 51 ... ... " ] ,, Walter T . Christian , W \ M . 453 ... ,, Thomas Hood , W . M . 1000 ... ... I „ / - c . 1 „ A . R . Chamberlainc , Treas . 2255 f 1 rov ' ' Stewards .
,, J . J . Briginshaw , S . W . 2256 ... ... | „ C . J . Dale , W . M . 2184 ... ... J ,, A . W . Martin ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Officers were saluted , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in ample form .
A banquet was followed by the customary toast list , the speeches being interspersed with items from a programme of music performed under the direction of Bro . Walter Latter , Prov . Grand Organist , assisted by Madame A . Vaudrey , Mademoiselle M . Vagnolini , Mr . A . Mcdcalf , and Bros . Henry Prenton , IT . M . Hind , and G . Corbie .
" The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master" having been heartily honoured , the PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER proposed " The Grand Officers , " coupling with it the name of Bro . Cooper , P . S . G . D . He knew personally what a hard-working Mason Lord Lathom was , for besides his other duties , he was the head of a splendid
province , which contained over 100 lodges . The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe was an excellent Mason , and his recent appointment was a popular one . He was only too glad to sec on the right and left of him that evening several Grand Officers , to all of whom he gave a hearty welcome , and he hoped they would always see success and good fellowshi p in the Essex lodges .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.
Bro . GEORGE COOPER , P . G . D ., in returning thanks , said the list of appointments at the last investiture of Grand Officers was a guarantee that the work and reputation of Grand Lodge would be carried out in a consistent manner . He regretted to have to mention that since they last met in
the province they had lost a prominent brother in Bro . the Rev . T . Cochrane but he had p leasure in stating that the province had gained a Grand Officer by the appointment of Bro . Clowes to Grand office . The Grand Officers had but one aim—to increase the usefulness of the Order , and to assist the brethren who had but recently become Freemasons .
Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C ., Deputy Prov . G . M ., then said the brethren would understand why the emblem of authority had been entrusted to him . It was to propose " The Health of their respected and beloved Prov . Grand Master . " As Masons of that province since the period when Lord Brooke was placed upon the throne , they had owed him a debt of gratitude which he was sure the province had never been reluctant to acknowledge . The }'
had always felt that they had a man and a brother of sincere Masonic attachment and great personal popularity at their head , and from the very first all those who had been intimately associated with the prosperity of that province had felt that its career , under the guidance of their well-beloved Prov . Grand Master , had been one of great success and prosperity . " The American father , when he cautioned his son not to prophesy until after he
knew the event , and thereby put dollars into his pocket , was no wiser than the simplest of the Essex Masons when he ventured to predict a prosperous career for the province under tl \ e auspices of Lord Brooke . In iSSr , which was the hist ye ; ir that Lord Tenterden presided at Prov . Grand Lodge , and in 1882 , when they had the honour in a storm of hail equalled recently of seeing their Provincial Grand Master installed by that most
excellent Mason whose early loss the Craft might well deplore—he meant the Duke of Albany—there were 19 lodges , but they now had 32 . He hoped they would be 33 soon , which was a still more perfect Masonic number , but they had increased even at a greater rate than the population . He would say that a great deal was due to their having a Provincial Grand Master who was at once respected and beloved , and under whom , if Masonry was
ever to flourish , it would prosper under him . They had increased not onl y in the number of lodges , but also in the due proportion of the number of members of those lodges , and when they heard that clay that there was something over 1570 now on their returns , he thought they as members of the province might well be proud of this magnificent result . He might venture to say without being the death ' s head at the banquet of
the Egyptians , that prosperity had its duties and its dangers , perhaps , the greater because of the feeling of easiness it encouraged . Whenever he had been privileged to visit an Essex lodge he had seen work done which had reflected credit upon the province , and he had seen in the lodges at Chino--ford ceremonies rendered in a manner that could not be surpassed , but let him say how dangerous it was for individuals , how still more dangerous for
a community or a body which rested upon its oars . Individual exertions which made a body what it was , and the great responsibility which each lodge felt , rendered the province a power in the great power of Masonry in the land , because none who were Masons and had a worthy conception of what they were as Masons but knew that Masonry was a great and
progressive and an increasing power in the community at large . He felt as one of the officers that the great position which Masonry had taken generally , and the great position it had absolutel y achieved in Essex , was in no small sense due to its head , and that the province recognised it in the most loyal manner he trusted the Prov . Grand Master would feel assured . On behalf
of every brother he would express inadequately their delight and pride in their head , assuring him of their intense loyalty and devotion to the great Order of which amongst them he was the great exponent , assuring him too of their loyalty to the principles of their great Order , and while the success on which they congratulated themselves under him had been in the past great and appeared bright prosperity in the future , he would say that the
Essex Masons , with Lord Brooke at their head , would yield nothing in their devotion to the great principles of the Order to any province in the country . Bro . Lord BROOKE , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master , said his excellent Deputy had proposed his health in a kind and cordial way , and the brethren had received it in the hearty manner they always did . He confessed that whenever he met them on those occasions it was extreme ! } ' difficult for him to
return thanks in appropriate terms for their kindness , not only on that day , but their kindness shown to him throughout the year . He was well aware of his shortcomings in his high office in which he was placed , but he was sure he always had their kind indulgence , and that they would always believe that whatever he did was after consideration with those with whom he was brought in contact Masonically in the work he performed in this province . Whatever
Provincial Grand office was given by him it was given without any thought , save an earnest belief that it was given to the best man and the one most suited . There must always be some heart-burnings , but thev were too loyal to let them exist for any time , and it would always be his wish , without favouritism , to appropriate those honours in the best way he possibly could . They had increased wonderfully and marvellously in the province . They
had a number of lodges of whom any Provincial Grand Master might well be proud . He was thankful to say there was a go and energy about them which stirred them up to do the best they could in whatever position they were placed , and he was confident there was no more loyal or more excellent body of Masons than in the Province of Essex . In any increase in numbers they should be careful not to lose quality , but select with judgment and care
those whom they proposed and introduced to their lodges , because , although Freemasonry was by no means an exclusive body , they wished to see in all candidates that the mark of nature ' s gentleman was upon him . He was sure that as Lord Lathom the other day bestowed upon their province words of praise privately , those words were what he considered deserving , and lrom the record of the Masonic Charities they were . He
hoped they would always be ready to support Freemasonry by means of their purses and by means ol kindly help and assistance , because Charity did not always consist of money , but a kindly hand held out when wanted , and he was convinced these principles were those which ought and would always guide every Mason in the province . In a great empire like theirsgreat because it embraced within its folds countries which had been acquired by energy and power of colonisation — they were specially
impressed with the importance of their Order when they saw their lellow countrymen coming over and attending Colonial lodges in London , their first feeling naturally was one of pleasure at belonging to the great body of the Old Country . The next feeling was that they were all bound together with the same bond of Freemasonry , and that they not only felt that it placed together the two names—the Queen and the C raft—m their far-away countries in the same way they did " here . He trusted that might always be so , and could onl y say that so long as he presided over them
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .
The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex was held at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , on Tuesday , the 28 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . Lord Brooke , M . P ., P . G . M ., supported by Bros . F . A . Philbrick , O . C ., G . Reg ., D . P . G . M . ; V . P . Freeman , P . G . Sec . Sussex ; R . T . Clowes , T ' . P . G . W . ; " jamcs Terry , P . G . S . B . ; Lennox Browne , P . P . G . W . ; G . Cooper , P . G . D . ; t . Railing , " P . A . G . D . C , P . G . Sec ; A . Lucking ,
P . G . P . ; E . Acworth , P . G . Stwd . ; T . Scoresby Jackson , P . P . G . W . ; J . Glass , P . M . ; W . Buck , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Shunnur , P . G . Treas . ; Rev . Dr . Dunbar ; F . Philbrick , jun . ; T . Courtenay Warner , P . M . ; Geo . Corbie , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W . ; J . M . Scarlett , P . P . G . W . ; C . E . Keyser , P . P . G . W . Herts ; " Rev . T . Lloyd ; Rev . M . Rees ; F . C . Dixie , l . P . M . 453 ; and a large attendance of " members of lodges in the province .
The Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Officers having entered Provincial Grand Lodge , it was opened in ample form , and they were saluted by ihe brethren . The minutes of the last meeting were read and unanimously confirmed , and the roll of lodges was called over .
The Report of the Board of General Purposes was presented , showing a balance on the General Account of £ 166 3 s . 3 d ., and on the Charity Account of ^ 51 15 s ., and recommended that 50 guineas should be given from the General Fund to the Jubilee Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution , and 10 guineas from the Charity Fund to the Royal Masonic •Institution for Girls , and a like sum to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . It was further recommended that £ 15 should be voted to the joint Committee of the entertaining lodges towards defraying the expenses of the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge .
In the last clause of the report the Board expressed their opinion that it was desirable that the lodge or lodges entertaining Prov . Grand Lodge should submit their arrangements to this Board for approval before they were finally settled . A motion was made that this clause should be expunged from the report , but after some discussion it was agreed to , and the report was adopted .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in addressing the brethren , drew attention to the great progress made in the province since Prov . Grand Lodge last met at Chingford in 1882 under the presidency of Lord Tentcrden , when there were 19 lodges on the roll . There were now 32 lodges in the province , and during the last year the number of members had been increased from 1440 to 1573 , as compared with about 800 in 18 S 2 . v \ . bout ^ 1200 had been contributed
to the Charities during the year , including a list of 500 guineas taken up by Bro . Shurmur , Prov . G . Treas ., and several other large lists . Next year being the Jubilee Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , he was glad to find that 50 guineas had been voted to that Institution . He should have much pleasure in acting as Steward on that occasion and placing
that amount on his list . Ihe Provincial Grand Lodge would , next year , be held at Harwich , the invitation to meet there having been accepted with much pleasure , remembering as they did the successful meeting held there some years ago , under the banner of Lodge No . 650 , when Bro . Clowes was the W . M :
Bros . W . Buck , P . P . S . G . W . ; E . Gowcrs , P . P . G . O . ; W . D . Mcrritt , P . P . G . W . ; and J . J . C . Turner , Prov . S . G . W ., were elected members of the Provincial Board of General Purposes . Bro . E . J . Acworth , P . M . 153 , 1612 , 2077 , and 2265 , was unanimously elected as P . G . Treasurer , after which the P . G . M . appointed and invested the following officers : Bro . T . Courtenay Warner ( High Sheriff of Essex ) ,
P . M . 225 6 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . J . Crump , W . M . 2006 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . Thos . Lloyd , P . M . 2342 ... •) D „ r r \ " 0 ,, •JV ° ^ \ rrov . G . Chaps . ,, Kev . M . Kees , Chap . ... ... ) L ,, E . J . Acworth ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ F . B . Page , P . M . 214 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 51 , P . A . G . D . C . England ( 15 th year ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ F . C . Dixie , LP M 453 j Prov . S . G . D - . ,, A . G . Hayman , l . P . M . 2005 ... ... j „ C H . Canning WM 2184 | Prov . J . G . D's . ,, M . C . Meabv , W . M . 2255 ... ... ) - ' „ H . Ffrench Bromhcad , l . P . M . 231 S ... Prov . G . S . of W . ,, A . Lucking , P . M . and Sec . 1000 , P . G . Purst .
England ( iSth year ) ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ G . Foster , W . M . 12 S 0 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ Fred . Horsman , l . P . M . 51 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . Newton Berridge , W . M . 1817 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, M . L . Sanders , P . M . and Sec . 6 = 50 ... ... " ) D r Cll ,-, 1 17 11 osr , „ 1 Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, James Howell , P . M . 1343 ... ... ) ,, Walter Latter , Org ' . 23 iS ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, F . J . Nunn , W . M . 2063 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ IT . J . Day , W . M . 1457-.. ••¦ •••Prov . G . Purst . „ W . H . de Caen , P . M . 1024 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst . „ S . D . C . Ablitt , W . M . 51 ... ... " ] ,, Walter T . Christian , W \ M . 453 ... ,, Thomas Hood , W . M . 1000 ... ... I „ / - c . 1 „ A . R . Chamberlainc , Treas . 2255 f 1 rov ' ' Stewards .
,, J . J . Briginshaw , S . W . 2256 ... ... | „ C . J . Dale , W . M . 2184 ... ... J ,, A . W . Martin ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Officers were saluted , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in ample form .
A banquet was followed by the customary toast list , the speeches being interspersed with items from a programme of music performed under the direction of Bro . Walter Latter , Prov . Grand Organist , assisted by Madame A . Vaudrey , Mademoiselle M . Vagnolini , Mr . A . Mcdcalf , and Bros . Henry Prenton , IT . M . Hind , and G . Corbie .
" The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master" having been heartily honoured , the PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER proposed " The Grand Officers , " coupling with it the name of Bro . Cooper , P . S . G . D . He knew personally what a hard-working Mason Lord Lathom was , for besides his other duties , he was the head of a splendid
province , which contained over 100 lodges . The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe was an excellent Mason , and his recent appointment was a popular one . He was only too glad to sec on the right and left of him that evening several Grand Officers , to all of whom he gave a hearty welcome , and he hoped they would always see success and good fellowshi p in the Essex lodges .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.
Bro . GEORGE COOPER , P . G . D ., in returning thanks , said the list of appointments at the last investiture of Grand Officers was a guarantee that the work and reputation of Grand Lodge would be carried out in a consistent manner . He regretted to have to mention that since they last met in
the province they had lost a prominent brother in Bro . the Rev . T . Cochrane but he had p leasure in stating that the province had gained a Grand Officer by the appointment of Bro . Clowes to Grand office . The Grand Officers had but one aim—to increase the usefulness of the Order , and to assist the brethren who had but recently become Freemasons .
Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C ., Deputy Prov . G . M ., then said the brethren would understand why the emblem of authority had been entrusted to him . It was to propose " The Health of their respected and beloved Prov . Grand Master . " As Masons of that province since the period when Lord Brooke was placed upon the throne , they had owed him a debt of gratitude which he was sure the province had never been reluctant to acknowledge . The }'
had always felt that they had a man and a brother of sincere Masonic attachment and great personal popularity at their head , and from the very first all those who had been intimately associated with the prosperity of that province had felt that its career , under the guidance of their well-beloved Prov . Grand Master , had been one of great success and prosperity . " The American father , when he cautioned his son not to prophesy until after he
knew the event , and thereby put dollars into his pocket , was no wiser than the simplest of the Essex Masons when he ventured to predict a prosperous career for the province under tl \ e auspices of Lord Brooke . In iSSr , which was the hist ye ; ir that Lord Tenterden presided at Prov . Grand Lodge , and in 1882 , when they had the honour in a storm of hail equalled recently of seeing their Provincial Grand Master installed by that most
excellent Mason whose early loss the Craft might well deplore—he meant the Duke of Albany—there were 19 lodges , but they now had 32 . He hoped they would be 33 soon , which was a still more perfect Masonic number , but they had increased even at a greater rate than the population . He would say that a great deal was due to their having a Provincial Grand Master who was at once respected and beloved , and under whom , if Masonry was
ever to flourish , it would prosper under him . They had increased not onl y in the number of lodges , but also in the due proportion of the number of members of those lodges , and when they heard that clay that there was something over 1570 now on their returns , he thought they as members of the province might well be proud of this magnificent result . He might venture to say without being the death ' s head at the banquet of
the Egyptians , that prosperity had its duties and its dangers , perhaps , the greater because of the feeling of easiness it encouraged . Whenever he had been privileged to visit an Essex lodge he had seen work done which had reflected credit upon the province , and he had seen in the lodges at Chino--ford ceremonies rendered in a manner that could not be surpassed , but let him say how dangerous it was for individuals , how still more dangerous for
a community or a body which rested upon its oars . Individual exertions which made a body what it was , and the great responsibility which each lodge felt , rendered the province a power in the great power of Masonry in the land , because none who were Masons and had a worthy conception of what they were as Masons but knew that Masonry was a great and
progressive and an increasing power in the community at large . He felt as one of the officers that the great position which Masonry had taken generally , and the great position it had absolutel y achieved in Essex , was in no small sense due to its head , and that the province recognised it in the most loyal manner he trusted the Prov . Grand Master would feel assured . On behalf
of every brother he would express inadequately their delight and pride in their head , assuring him of their intense loyalty and devotion to the great Order of which amongst them he was the great exponent , assuring him too of their loyalty to the principles of their great Order , and while the success on which they congratulated themselves under him had been in the past great and appeared bright prosperity in the future , he would say that the
Essex Masons , with Lord Brooke at their head , would yield nothing in their devotion to the great principles of the Order to any province in the country . Bro . Lord BROOKE , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master , said his excellent Deputy had proposed his health in a kind and cordial way , and the brethren had received it in the hearty manner they always did . He confessed that whenever he met them on those occasions it was extreme ! } ' difficult for him to
return thanks in appropriate terms for their kindness , not only on that day , but their kindness shown to him throughout the year . He was well aware of his shortcomings in his high office in which he was placed , but he was sure he always had their kind indulgence , and that they would always believe that whatever he did was after consideration with those with whom he was brought in contact Masonically in the work he performed in this province . Whatever
Provincial Grand office was given by him it was given without any thought , save an earnest belief that it was given to the best man and the one most suited . There must always be some heart-burnings , but thev were too loyal to let them exist for any time , and it would always be his wish , without favouritism , to appropriate those honours in the best way he possibly could . They had increased wonderfully and marvellously in the province . They
had a number of lodges of whom any Provincial Grand Master might well be proud . He was thankful to say there was a go and energy about them which stirred them up to do the best they could in whatever position they were placed , and he was confident there was no more loyal or more excellent body of Masons than in the Province of Essex . In any increase in numbers they should be careful not to lose quality , but select with judgment and care
those whom they proposed and introduced to their lodges , because , although Freemasonry was by no means an exclusive body , they wished to see in all candidates that the mark of nature ' s gentleman was upon him . He was sure that as Lord Lathom the other day bestowed upon their province words of praise privately , those words were what he considered deserving , and lrom the record of the Masonic Charities they were . He
hoped they would always be ready to support Freemasonry by means of their purses and by means ol kindly help and assistance , because Charity did not always consist of money , but a kindly hand held out when wanted , and he was convinced these principles were those which ought and would always guide every Mason in the province . In a great empire like theirsgreat because it embraced within its folds countries which had been acquired by energy and power of colonisation — they were specially
impressed with the importance of their Order when they saw their lellow countrymen coming over and attending Colonial lodges in London , their first feeling naturally was one of pleasure at belonging to the great body of the Old Country . The next feeling was that they were all bound together with the same bond of Freemasonry , and that they not only felt that it placed together the two names—the Queen and the C raft—m their far-away countries in the same way they did " here . He trusted that might always be so , and could onl y say that so long as he presided over them