Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of North Wales.

Bros , the Rev . J . Fairchild , J . Lloyd Griffith , W . Douglas Jones , F . Fisher Jones , Thomas Jervis , R . G . Thomas , K . McEwen , Samuel Evans , Robert Owen , H . Jones Roberts , J . T . Morgan , W . A . Foster , G . W . Matthews , Hugh Pritchard , Richard Pritchard , and Captain Nathaniel Philips . The Prov . Grand Master , Colonel Hunter , arrived , attended by his Deputy , Bro . Rev . Thomas Edwards , Rector of Aber . and Past G . Chaplain of England .

On assuming the chair at half-past two o ' clock , Bro . Colonel HUNTER alluded in feeling terms to the demise of her late Most Gracious M ijesty Oueen Victoria , and went on to refer to the loss the province had su tained by the death of its worthy Tyler , the late Bro . Vincent ( of Vincent ' s Private Hotel , Llandudno ) , and the bereavement the Amlwch brethren had suffered through the removal , by death , of their late Bro . John Hughes , of .

Frondeg . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his officers for J igol-2 as follows ; Bro . Rev . Thomas Edwards , P . G . Chap . England

( Rector of Aber ) ... ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M . „ T . Westlake-Morgan , P . G . Org . England ... Prov . S . G . W . , „ Dr . Hugh Jones Roberts ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ R . E . Pritchard ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . j „ W . Bulkeley Hughes Hunter ... ... Prov . G . S . O . „ J . O . Morris ... ... ... Prov . G . J . O . „ Rev . J . Pugh Evans ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Capt . W . Douglas Jones . M . A . ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Dr . Kenrick Davies , M . B . ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . i „ Major G . R . Ashley , B . A . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ G . W . Matthews , B . A ., H . M . I . ... ... Prov . S . G . D . I „ Hugh Pritchard ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . I „ W . Walton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ Owen Rowlands ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . Bowen , B . A ., H . M . I . ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ J . T . Morgan ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ John James ... ... ... - } Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ " samuel Evans ... ... ... j „ Major Ashley ( acting ) ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ John Owen ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G-„ Thomas P . Leche ... ... . A „ Hugh Thomas ... ... ... f Prov . G . Stewards . „ J . L . Mayger ... ... ...J „ Sergeant Thomas Powis ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The balance sheet of the Prov . Grand Treasurer ( Bro . Douglas Jones ) , duly audited by Bros . Kenrick Davies and Farrington , was received , and showed a balance in hand of nearly , £ 30 . The Auditors were re-elected . The business of the province being finished , a presentation of a very

handsome Past Deputy Prov . Grand Master s jewel was made to Bro . Col . Gordon Warren , on behalf of the province and the lodges within its juris- j diction , that good brother having acted as Deputy for 15 years , and rendered very valuable services to the cause of Mark Freemasonry in the province j generally .

It was decided to hold the next Provincial Grand Lodge at Rhyl 12 months hence . j After the Prov . Grand Lodge had been closed ( with that of St . Eilian ) , I a Masonic festival took place at the Dinorben Arms Hotel , presided over by the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Col . Hunter .

After dinner , the usunl loyal and Masonic toasts were duly pledged , and before leaving , a vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Thos . P . Leche , the proprietor of the Dinorben Arms , for the excellent way in which he had j prepared for the comfort of the brethren , many of whom had to travel , long distances home that night , and much appreciated his kind attention ,

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

The annual general convocation of Royal Arch Masons for the Province of Staffordshire was hell at Heron-street Schools , Rugeley , recently . Great regret was felt and expressed that the Grand Superintendent , Lieut .-Col . Bindley , V . D , P . G . D . Eng ., was unable to be present owing to his long and continued illness . In his absence the duty of presiding fell upon Comp . J . F . Pepper , whoie zealous and disinterested service fo : Masonry

is only equalled by his wonderful energy and his perfect knowledge of the working of Prov . G . Chapter , in which he has been " secnnd in omrnand " for nine years . Among those who signed the admission rjll wire : Comps . Thomas Taylor , J . G . D . Eig ., acting H . ; G . Vaughan , J . ; Col . G . W . Walker , P . G . S . B . Eng ., S . E . ; G . Wormal , 727 , S . N . ; T . H . Siltcr , 662 , Reg . ; George H . Frewcr , 546 , ist A . S . ; George Buttery , 1941 , 2 nd A . S . ; J . T .

Marson , 726 , D . C ; J . E . Dolman , 539 , Std . Ur . ; J . Twist Snape , 418 ; J . J . Smith , H . Percy Smith , and J . N . Lester , 419 ; H . Ward , 456 ; H . Richardson , P . P . D . C . Worcestershire , and W . Allman , 4 S 2 ; W . Hebblethwaite , T . M . Heape , D . Power , and W . A . G JU M , 539 ; A . Reeve and W . G . Lowe , 624 ; J . W . Bromley , 546 ; F . Taylor , the Rev . S . Wickham Jones , and George Daan , 726 ; the Rev . W . Trevor-Parkins , Col . J . D . Murray , P . G . T . Eng ., J . Hackett , W . Webster , A . Tunnicliff , II . Whitehouse , A . Campbell , and F . Fereday , 1941 .

With the sanction of the Grand Superintendent , the following were appointed the ollicers of Prov . Grand Chapter for the ensuing year : Comp . Dr . F . VV . Wiilmore , Vernon ... ... Prov . G . J . „ Col . Walker , St . Peter ' s ... ... Prov . G . S . E . n VV . Baker , St . Peter ' s ... ... Prov . G . S . N . 1 . G . C . Kent , Etruscan , P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ... Prov . G . Treas .

11 J . T . Snape , Staffordshire Knot .., ... Prov . G . Reg . 11 Frank Hughes , St . James ' s ... ... Prov . G . P . S . n J . VV . Bromley , Etruscan ... ... Prov . 1 st A . G . S . 11 A . Reeve , Abbey ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . 11 Rev . S . Wickham Jones , Royal Chartley ... Prov . G . S . B .

,. H . Ward , Dove ... ... ... Prov . G . Sid . Br . 1 , J . T . Mason , Royal Chartley ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . D . of C . 11 Geo . Haines , St . Augustine ' s ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . i , B . Nock , Mus . Bac , St . James ' s ... Prov . G . Org . 11 VV . Hebblethwaite , Vernon ... ... Prov . Asst . G . S . E . 11 W . Davis , Vernon ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Staffordshire.

Comps . H . Percy-Smith and J . W . Bromley were appointed Auditors . Comp . Dr . Newnham having resigned the office of Prov . G . Treasurer , a vote of thanks was passed to him for his services in that capacity . The appointment of Comp . Kent as . his successor was moved by the

ACTING G . SUPERINTENDENT , and seconded by Comp . THOMAS TAYLOR , who remarked that he had known Comp . Kent for many years in connection with Masonic work , and could bear testimony to the admirable services which he had rendered not only in the Province of Staffordshire but to English Freemasonry in general .

The ACTING G . SUPERINTENDENT read a letter from Col . Bindley , in which he expressed his great disappointment at not being able to be present , and his gratification in knowing that Royal Arch Freemasonry was nourishing in the province . On the motion of the ACTING G . SUPERINTENDENT , a vote of sympathy was passed with Col . Bindley in his illness , and ordered to be entered on the minutes .

Ccmp . THOMAS TAYLOR said it was six years since Prov . G . Chapter had met in the north of the province , and gave a cordial invitation to Hanley , under the banner of the Staffordshire Knot Chapter , No . 418 , next year . On the motion of Comp . T . TAYLOR , two guineas was voted to the Speth Memorial Fnnd .

On the motion of the ACTING G . SUPERINTENDENT , a vote of thanks was passed to St . Augustine ' s Chapter for the excellent arrangements made on behalf of the convocation , and the vote was suitably acknowledged by Comp . WEBSTER . After the proceedings in Prov . G . Chapter , an adjournment was made to the Shrewsbury Arms Hotel , where an excellent dinner was provided by Mr . Macgregor . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .

During the banquet a telegram was despatched to Col . Bindley with fraternal greetings from the Prov . G . Chapter , and wishing him a speedy recov rry . A reply came from the G . Superintendent conveying his cordial than ks to the Prov . G . Chapter for their sympathy and good wishes , and his heartiest greetings .

It should be recorded that the Prov . G . Chapter was in Masonic mourning in consequence of the death of the Right Hon . W . VV . B . Beach , Third Principal , and " Father of the House of Commons , " an event which has caused deep sorrow to every member of the Order , by whom he was greatly respected and beloved .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Somerset.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SOMERSET .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge took place on Thursday , the 24 th ult ., under the banner of the William de Irwin Lodge , No . 162 , at the Masonic Hall , Yeovil . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . R . C . Else , P . S . G . D . Eng ., presided . All the lodges in the province were represented .

In the absence of the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Col . Long ( in South Africa ) , Bro . J . VV . Nosworthy , P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . Org . England , was appointed to the chair to act for him .

Bro . WATTS , P . A . G . D . C . England , Prov . G . Treas ., presented the accounts for the past year , showing a balance from last year of ^ 80 19 s . 1 id ., and that the cash in banker ' s hands at the present time was £ 6 z ns . 7 d . — the reduction in amount being explained by the fact that a donation had been sent of £ 21 to the South African Masonic Relief Fund . The accounts were adopted .

Bro . Watts was re-elected P . G . Treasurer , and heartily thanked for his past services . The P . G . M ., Bro . ELSE , proposed that a sum of 15 guineas be granted from the funds of the Prov . G . Mark Lodge to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and placed upon the list ofthe brother who undertakes the office of Steward at the 1902 Festival .

Bro . WATTS seconded the proposition , which was agreed to . Bro . ELSE , P . G . M ., expressed his regret at the absence of Bro . Colonel Long , the D . P . G . M ., who , he remarked , was now entering on his third year ' s active service in South Africa . For some time after he got there , Colonel Long wrote stating that he rather liked the climate and got on very well , but unfortunately lately he had suffered from the heat , and his hialth did not seem to be as good as it was . His son , toohas bsen seriously

, wounded , and was now in Netley Hospital , and under those circamstances Colonel Long would no doubt be glad te return home at no distant period . They all sincerely hoped he would soon bs able to do so , and that they might once more have the pleasure of shaking him by the hand . He hid very great pleasure in again nominating Bro . Colonel Long as his Deputy for the ensuing year . The other Prov . Grand Officers appointed

were—Bro . F . VV . Gaylard , P . M . 162 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ F . Evered , W . M . 41 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . " „ A . Gates , W . M . 162 ... ... ... p . G . M . O . „ W . M . Dames , P . M . 177 ... ... p , G . S . O . „ G . J ames , P . M . 348 ... ... ... Prov . G . J O . „ Rev . H . W . Dymond , Chap . 34 S ... p . G . Chap . „ O . VV . Wiltshire , P . M . 119 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . R . of M „ F . T . Elworthy , P . M . 348 , S . G . D . of Enir . ( -

reappointed ) ... ... ... p , G . Sec . „ R . J . Dart , W . M . 102 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ W . Warner , P . M . 12 S . ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ H . J . Ker Thompson , M . O . 191 ... ... Prov . G . L of W . „ W . C . Thomas , P . M . 102 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, N . Buchanan , S . W . 1 G 2 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " „ L . Goodman , J . W . 162 ... .,, p " , G . Std . Br „ J . W . Nosworthy ... ... ... p rov . . Org . „ VV . Dancer , Sec . 155 ... ... ... p rov # G . I . G . ,, J . E . Symes , J . O . 348 ... ... ) „ R . J . 11 . Scott , S . W . 177 ... " j Prov . G . Stwds . „ A . J . Salter ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The alms , amounting to £ 1 13 s . Gi ., were devoted to the Yeovil Hospital .

After the meeting a banpuet was held at the Mjrmiid Hj-el the catering being satisfactorily carriei out b y tie proprietor , Uro . C T Pitcher . '