Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumbebland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHUMBEBLAND .

The occasion of the annual gathering of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland , in the Assembly Rooms , Westgate-street , Newcastle , was taken to perform the ceremony of installing Earl Percy as Provincial Grand Master .

At two o ' clock between four and five hundred brethren of the Craft assembled in the large ball room of the Assembly Rooms . Among the distinguished visitors present were Bros . W . W . Beach , P . G . M . for Hampshire and the Isle of

Wight ; Victor Williamson , P . G . J . W . England ; Win . White , P . S . G . D . England ; C . J . Bannister , P . G . S . B . England ; F . Binckes , P . G . Steward ; Sig . Pinsuri , W . Punshon , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . S . Challoner , P . P . S . G . W . ; J ohn Hopper , P . P .

S . G . W . ; J . Twizell , P . P . S . G . W . ; John Stokie , P . G . J . W . Durham . Amongst the other brethren present were J . Stephenson , P . G . J . D . Durham ; Rev . J . P . DePledge , P . P . G . S . W . Durham ; John Trewhitt , P . G . R . Durham ; Wm . Brignall

P . P . G . R . Durham ; F . P . Ionn , P . P . G . R . Durham ; J . H . Jackson , P . P . G . S . D . Durham ; Tohn Wade , P . G . D . C . Durham ; H . Hobham , P . P . G . S . W . ; A . Clapham , P . P . G . S . W . ; George Thompson , P . P . G . S . W . ; T . Y . Strachan , P . P .

G . J . W . ; J . S . M'Gregor , W . M . 393 ; James Brown , 431 ; W . W . Smith , W . M . 481 ; J . G . Joel , W . M . 685 ; H . C . Hansen , W . M . 991 ; J . J . Britton 635 ; R . Johnson , I . G . iou , Salford ; R . H . Holmes 685 ; J . H . Thompson , P . P . A . S . D . C . ; J . Hare , P . P . D . C . ; W . H . Sharp ,

P . M . 94 ; M . Allison , P . M . 91 ; George White , W . M . 240 , South Shields ; J . Ditchburn , S . W . 240 ; George Lawson , P . M . 240 ; James Roddam , P . M . 240 ; W . H . Dickenson , W . M ., St .

Bedes , Jarrow ; G . A . Allan , P . M . 991 . The chair of K . S . was occnpied by Bro . J . FAWCETT , P . G . Master for Durham , who opened the lodge in due form . The P . G . SECRETARY ( Bro . B . J . Thompson ) having read the warrant from the Grand Lodge

of England , a deputation , consisting of Past Wardens and Present ancl Past Deacons , introduced Bro . Earl Percy as P . G . M .-designate . Earl Percy having been conducted to the pedestal , the Installing Master proceeded with the ceremony of installation .

Earl PERCY , having been invested with the insignia of office , briefly thanked the brethren of the various lodges of the province for the kindl y manner in which they had received the appointment of himself as their Provincial Grand Master . He was aware that on that occasion their

feelings were not entirely of an unmixed character . He knew what a loss they had sustained in the course of the past year by the lamented death of their late Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . Ogle ) . He could onl y say that it would be his endeavour to fill his position and

so follow in his footsteps that they should feel the loss of their late Provincial Grand Master as little as possible . The usual reports having been read by the Provincial Grand Secretary and Treasurer , and received , the P . G . M . proceeded to appoint the following as his officers for the year : —

L . M . Cockcroft , 685 D . G . M . Edward Shotton , 431 S . G . W . T . B . Winter , 541 J . G . W . Thomas Anderson , 541 G . Treas . ' Rev . J . W . Dunn , 1167 G . Chaplain . Benj . J . Thompson , 481 G . Sec .

Wm . Daggett , 685 G . S . D . W . W . Smith , 481 G . J . D . Robert Smaile , 541 G . Registrar . Hubert Laws , 541 G . Supt . ofWks . E . D . Davis , 68 s G . Dir . of Cers .

Wm . Foulsham , 466 G . A . D . of Cers W . L . Johnson , 654 G . Swd . Bearer ' . R . Watson , 541 G . Organist . D . Hetherington , 636 G . Pursuivant . J . S . Trotter , 406 Tyler .

The W . M . ' s then made their annual reports as to the condition of their lodges . The R . W . P . G . M . said that the progress and harmony which characterised the lod ges of the province were very gratifying to him . He was glad to find that Masonry was flourishing in his district . Votes Of thanks were afterwards paid to Bro . John

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumbebland.

Fawcett , P . G . M . for Durham , for his kindness in performing the duty of Installing Master in the absence of the Earl of Carnarvon , who was unavoidably prevented from being present ; and to Bro . Beach , P . G . M . for Hampshire , for his attendance ; and both these brethren responded .

The lodge was then closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to the Town Hall , where the banquet was served up by Bro . Miller , of the Queen ' s Head Hotel . It was originally intended that this part of the proceedings should take place in the Queen ' s Head Hotel , but the

demand for tickets was found so great that it was necessary to hold the banquet in the Town Hall . Between 200 and 300 brethren attended . The chair was occupied by the R . W . P . G . M ., Earl Percy , and the vice-chair by P . G . S . W . Bro . Edward Shotton . After dinner , the Chairman

gave the following toasts : — "The Queen , " "The Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the Royal Family , "" The M . W . G . M . Earl de Grey and Ripon , " "The R . W . D . G . M . and the Grand Lodge of England , " to which Bro . Victor "Williamson , Past Grand J . W ., responded ; " The Provincial Grand Master of England , " to

which Bro . Beach , Provincial Grand Master responded , and complimented the Province of Northumberland on the succession of the Earl Percy to the chair . He also thanked the brethren of the province for the true and hearty Masonic spirit in which they had received him in their midst .

The Chairman also proposed " The health of P . G . M . Bro . John Fawcett , " ancl expressed his gratitude to Brother Fawcett for the kind and hearty manner in which he had accepted the invitation to perform the ceremony , and also for the efficient way in which he had discharged his

onerous duty . Bro . Fawcett returned thanks in suitable terms , and proposed " The health of the R . W . P . G . M . of Northumberland , " which was received with great enthusiasm , ancl feelingly responded to .

The R . W . P . G . M . proposed the "Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham , " and thanked them for their attendance and assistance that day , to which Bro . John STOKOE , P . G . J . W ., responded . Other Masonic toasts followed

During the banquet a rich selection of vocal music was performed by the following brethren , under the leadership of Bro . R . Watson : —Bros . J Walker ( of Durham Cathedral ) , J . G . Penman , J . Liddel , D . J . Halliday , and T . Blenkinsop .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

On Thursday , the 29 th ult , the annual Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for the Province of Staffordshire , was held in the Shire Hall , in the county town . Although numerically the muster of brethren was less than last year ( when the Provincial Lodge was held at

Newcastle ) , still upwards of 100 were present from various parts of the county , and inscribed their names in the Tyler ' s book . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in tlie Grand Jury Room , about one o ' clock , the Right Worshipful Bro . Geo . Singleton Tudor , 326 , Deputy

Provincial Grand Master , presiding , and being assisted by his officers . He was supported by the R . W . P . P . D . G . Masters , Drs . Burton ancl Foster Gough , LL . D ., the Rev . P . G . Chaplains , F . Willett and J . Westbury , and by Bros . W . Masefield and M . Dennison , 252 , P . P . S . G . Wardens

of Worcestarslnre . Letters of apology were read from the R . W . P . P . G . M ., Lieut .-Col . Vernon ( from indisposition ) , P . G . M . A . Royds , of Worcestershire , and other officers , all of whom expressed regret at their inability to attend the

Provincial Grand Lodge . The first business was the appointment , by the R . W . P . D . G . Master , of his officers , who were invested with their respective jewels . They were as follows : —

C . Newnham , 417 S . G . W . Henry Parker , 498 , 451 J . G . W . Rev . F . Willett , 662 ) r . , . Rev . J . Westbury , 418 ] u * - P lams . Wm . Howells , 347 , P . P . S . G . W .... Treasurer . Wm . Cartwright , 460 , P . P . S . G . W . Secretary .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

Richard Mayger , 624 Registrar . John Bodenham , 726 S . G . Deacon . Thomas Sneyd , 539 J . G . Deacon . Piercy , 418 Supt . of Works . Samuel Hill , 546 Dir . of Cer .

J . Burrell , 546 Asst . D . of Cer . George Hulme , 637 Sword Bearer . Thomas Mason , 460 Organist . Edward Baguley , 419 Pursuivant . T . Twyford , 98 Stand . Bearer . H . Baggaley , 460 Tyler .

It should be remarked that Bro . Howells was appointed Senior Grand Warden by the R . W . P . D . G . Master and invested with the usual insignia and jewel of office , but that he resigned the same on being re-appointed Provincial Grand Treasurer .

Amongst the brethren present , in addition to those already named , were the Rev . James Downes , 539 , P . P . G . C . ; W . AVestall , 281 , PG . S . ; Alfred Glover , 546 , 4 60 , P . P . G . S . W . ; Geo . Spilsbury , 726 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Dr . J . D . Hewson , 726 , P . M . ; J . Pilling , 726 , S . W . ; W . Hargreaves ,

4 60 , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . Bullock , 662 , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . Upton , 624 , P . P . G . S . D . ; W . H . Briggs , 460 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Jos . Newman , 539 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Jas . F . Wileman , 546 , P . P . J . G . D . ; Saml . Hyslop , 460 , P . P . G . P . ; David Wright , 546 , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . S . Wright , 54 6 , S . W . ; Edwd . Baguley , 619 ,

P . M . ; John Warner , 6 37 , P . M . ; C . H . King , 460 , P . P . J . G . D . ; S . Gibson , jun ., 966 , P . P . G . D . C . S . ; J . Sutton Barber , P . P . G . R . ; J . C . M'Lean , 1039 , P . P . G . S . ; S . Pearsall , 1039 ,

P . M . ; T . W . Crabb , 1039 , D-C . ; Trigg , 1039 , S . W . ; E . Johns , 1039 ; J . Wallers , 1039 ; E . Shargool , 726 , P . P . G . O . ; John Storer , 726 , P . P . G . S . B . ; H . Gillard , 726 , P . M . ; N . Joyce , 726 . Secretarv : W . Dibb . 726 . P . P . G . S . B . : T .

C . Marson , 726 , I . G . ; W . G . Gray , 726 ; S . P . Beer , 726 ; T . Moore , 726 ; J . T . Cox , 726 ; J . Webberley , 546 , P . P . G . P . ; B . W . Ellis , 451 , S . D . ; Jos . Waterhouse , 654 ; the Provincial Grand Stewards , Saml . Yates , 726 ; H . Fairhead , 726 ; R . Heath , 726 ; F . Greatrex , 726 ; A . F . Whittome , 726 ; Thos . Till , 546 ; & c , & c , & c .

The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge and the Treasurer ' s accounts having been read and confirmed , the lodge was adjourned , and the brethren walked in procession to St . Mary ' s Church , preceded by the P . G . Swordbearer , the " Book of the Law , " as usual , being

carried by four sons of Free and Accepted Masons . Prayers were read by the Rev . J . Westbury , of Hartshill , P . G . C . ; and the sermon , a very able Masonic discourse , was delivered b y the Rev . F . Willett , of Westbromwich , P . G . C , from the 7 th verse of the 34 th Psalm .

On returning to the grand jury room , where the lodge was re-opened , P . P . D . G . M . F . Gough proposed that the collection at the church , amounting to ^ 5 9 s . 6 d ., should be increased from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge to the sum of ten guineas , and that two guineas of

that amount should be presented to the rector of St . Mary ' s for the use of the parochial schools ; three guineas to the Rev . F . Willett , for the use of his parish schools ; and five guineas to the funds of the South Staffordshire Hospital . This was seconded by the Rev . James Downes ,

P P . G . C , ancl unanimously approved . On the further propositions of Dr . Burton , P . P . D . G . M ., and of P . M . William Howells , P . G . T ., the handsome sum of twenty guineas was unanimousl y voted to the fund for the relief of the widows and orphans of the persons lost in the Captain ;

as were also twenty guineas to the sick and wounded of both armies in the continental war ; twenty guineas to the Masonic Charity for Boys ; ten guineas to the Masonic Girls' School ; and ten guineas to the Charity for Aged Freemasons and Widows . These gifts make up an aggregate of eighty-five guineas voted from the funds of

the province ; ancl whilst it is an example worthy of imitation for every other Provincial Grand Lodge , it is at the same time a noble illustration of the many charitable and moral virtues emanating from Masonry , which seeks to communicate happiness to all classes , but above all to promote the glory of God .

A short discussion followed , introduced by P . P . S . G . W . Alfred Glover , on the subject of the still vacant office of Worshipful Grand Master of the province , suggesting that it should be filled