Brief Essays On Curious Subjects.

•sert a face or head , and we then have a representation of the tranced figure of an Osirian neophyte , in a tau-shaped couch , rutin " the expiry of his three days' intercourse with spirits to nken to the final consummation of human knowledge as then understood .

The Square , like the Nilotic hieroglyph for M , signifies natter , foundation , earth , house , and with ourselves is frequently lSed as a contraction for the word " Lodge . " Although the body of our -Apron is practically a superficies , we must bear in mind that it represents a Cube , which considerations of personal

co nvenience preclude our wearing with comfort . Fhe hexahedron connects with the Plexalpha , ancl is contained in the Triangle . If we divide an equilateral triangle by two equidistant lines , parallel to the base , and sub-divide the two lower portions so that each space is the same capacity as the uppermost triangle , we shall

have at the top One , in the middle Three , and below Five smaller equilaterals , Nine in all , and with the enclosing figure added in we obtain the Denary or Ten , which reminds us again that the total of ouriirstiournumeralsis Ten , equivalent in value to the FlebrewYod , vvhich is often placed inside a Triangle , and the figure itself can be

made by p lacing the Yods as a Pyramid for the greater or lesser Tetractys . If our intersected Triangle is correctly divided , we have the six sides of a cube visible , ancl if the smaller lines are continued till they cross we get the Plexalpha . Of this symbol ,

variously known as the Seal of Solomon , Shield of David , or Sign of Vishnu , very wonderful stories are told in the Orient , and the thousand and one readers of the " Arabian Nights " must be acquainted with its alleged potency . It is generally found over the entrance to a Synagogue .

To render our star complete , we must read into it the central or Kosmic point , yielding the Venerable Seven . The arrangements in R . A . chapters remind us of this , and the exhortations often addressed to the members will , no doubt , have familiarised all with the persistent recurrence in Ploly Writ of this mysterious

number . In reciting the seven ages of man , Shakspere merely echoed the old philosophers . The Trine of Spirit plus the Quaternary of Matter result in the Septenary of the Macrocosm , and with the Microcosmic Pentalpha are main characteristics of our Rituals . _____ C A '

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

The above Provincial Grand Lodge vvas held on Tuesday , at Easton Lodge , the residence of the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Brooke , M . P ., under the banner uf the Rosslyn Lodge . The occasion was one vvhich will be memorable in the annals of Essex Freemasonry . The facilities generously afforded by the Great Eastern Railway Company enabled large numbers of the brethren from all parts

me province to take part in the proceedings , which were altogether of a most interesting character . Special trains were run from Bishop Stortford and Witham , and these were met at Dunmow Station by an ample supply of brakes , in which the brethren were conveyed through the quaint Essex town to the palatial residence of the Prov . Grand Master . The library was set apart for the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and a charming little lodge room it made . Unfortunately , it was not large enough to accommodate all the brethren vvho desired to be present , and admission was necessarily confined to the members of Provincial Grand Lodge , for the other brethren Bro . Lord Brooke had thoughtfully provided entertainment in the beautifully wooded park and charming gardens which surrounded the house , where the splendid band of the Northumberland Fusiliers , under Mr . W . H . . cer , performed selections of operatic and classical music , which were very much enjoyed .

Che Prov . Grand Lodge was opened by the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Brooke , assisted by the Prov . Grand Officers , Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , the Deput y br ^ t n d Mastei L of Suffolk . acting as D . P . G . M ., in the absence of Bro . Philth ' p ^ "i display ° f purple was said to be one of the largest ever seen at e t-ssex Provincial Grand Lodge . Thebrethren present included the following ' resent and Past Prov . Grand Officers : Bros . George Harrison , P . S . G . W . ; John -,. , Wuennell , P . J . G . W . ; Thos . Cochrane , P . G . C . ; Andrew Durrant , P . G . Treas . ; ^ "os . Railing , P . G . Sec , P . A . G . D . of C . ; Lennox Browne , W . M . 2256 ; ^ w-sby . jackson , M . D ., W . M . 23 L 18 ; ] . W . Whitlock , P . G . S . of W . ; A . ^ cking , P . G . P ., p . G . D . of C . ; D . Roberts , P . G . O . ; C . T . Lewis . P . G . S . B . ; 1 . Martin , P . G . T . ; J . P . Lewin , P . M . 276 , 1543 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; H . E . Dehane ,

( . ; ''•' 543 , P . P . S . G . D . ; Vero W . Taylor , P . M . 1312 , P . P . S . G . W . ; F . B . Shepp ' i -G- Chap ., P . P . S . G . W . ; F . J . Snell , P . M . 1543 , P . P . G . R . ; A . Welsh , p - " -5 i , P . P . J . G . W . ; John Hutley , P . M . 1024 , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . R . Dawson , Hi , ' i ! 000 ' P -P-S-G . D . ; W . R . Willcocks , I . P . M . 136 , P . A . G . P . ; Thos . llllptlreys , P . P . C . G . W •Thns . K RarrnH- P M rrvm PPT , Rocr- TV , nrm ,= T . lnvil

p ' p ^ - Staff . ; F . R . Hales , P . M . 650 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Robert Martin , P . M . 453 , p ' p ' rsD - A - Gosling , P-M . 6 97 , P . P . S . G . D . ; G . A . Eustace , P . M . 6 97 , Si VPn ' X J ° P Grimes , P M Si . P . P . G . S . of W . ; John J . C . Turner , P . M . i o'j P ' r ? - ' E * Hennemeyer , P . M . 51 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Edmund Gowers , P . M . W V w-n ° rg- ; F * G-Green ' P-P-S . G . W . ; Rev . E . H . Crate , P . M . 6 97 , P . P . G . C ; Woorl D w ° ' > M - l 6 o > P-P-G . S . B . ; A . F . Ginn , P . M . 276 , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . H YVi and Treas . 1000 , P . P . S . G . W . ; E . Shedd , P . M . 276 , P . P . G . R . ; J . i 7 an P ^ o" P ' * 433 , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; John Downes , P . P . G . P . ; H . Finn , P . M .

J . G W D - ; C - Cobb > P M Si . P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . Sowman , P . M . 51 , P . P ' '¦ PGP T , Haward Ives , P . M . 51 , P . P . A . G . S . ; Thomas P . Mills , P . M . 6 97 , GD y o ' * Kellett , P . M . 1312 , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . Motum , P . M . 453 , P . P . S . A - Me-J ' o n 0 n ' RM 2 ° 77 . P-P . G . R . ; J . E . Horn , P . M . 1457 , P . P . G . S . oi W . ; ¦ 3 i" PPr-o S - of W '< E * H- Inman > P - - J 3 > P . P-G . R . ; T . Malyn , P . M . Chun . , ; S of W -l J- Fuller , P . M . 1312 , P . P . G . P . ; E . H . Horwood , P . P . G . ¦^ ck P TU White ' RM ' 437 . P-P . G . R . ; H . T . S . Burney , P . P . S . G . D . ; Alf D -Merr ' iir-rt , ' P-P-S . G . W . ; Andrew C . Durrant , P . M . 27 6 , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . . „ . rltt , PM . mno PPcr . w . „„ J „ n dim uieis

I herr- 1 ^^— . < J . KJ . vv . , u . V ' ' lr - ° us j \ also a very large attendance of the Masters and Past Masters of the P -A . G D r- 'V n tlle P ° vince . Amongst the visitors were Bros . J . Lewis Thomas VV 'Hiam 11 g ' ' Co 1 ' S- Burney , Rev . H . A . Pickard , P . G . C . Eng . ; SanPpn RRC Re S * Cornwall ; G . Cooper , P . G . D . Eng . ; W . H . S . B . Suff ' iu -UR ! W * H . Saunders , P . G . D . C . ; Geo . Abbott , P . M . 225 , P . P . G . S -W . J 1 ' Kev . George Nugee , P . G . C . Middlesex ; and Fred . C . Atkinson ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

Letters of apology were announced from Bros , the Marquis of Hertford , Lord Alg . Lennox , Lord Henniker , Sir Francis Burdett , Sir Reginald Hanson , Sir Whittaker Ellis , Sir Geo . Harris , Col . Shadwell H . Gierke ( Grand Secretary ) , and other distinguish ::: ! brethren .

From the vs-izzi read by the Prov . Grand Secretary , it appeared that the total number of brethren in the province vvas 1300 , an increase of 36 as compared vvith last year . The Auditors reported that there was a balance of £ 93 18 s . Sd . in the hands of the Prov . Grand Treasurer . The report of the Charity Committee was read by the Prov . G . Secretary , and adopted .

On the suggestion of the P . G . M ., it was resolved , on the motion of Bro . DEHANE , seconded by Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , that the names of brethren sending in votes to the Charity Committee be published . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren . He gave them a very cordial welcome to Easton Lodge , and expressed the hope that by the arrangements which had been made the inconvenience of holding the meeting there had

been minimised . He felt that a very great honour had been conferred upon him by holding the Prov . Grand Lodge under his roof , and he thanked the brethren for attending in such large numbers , and took that opportunity of thanking them for the cordial support they had given him on that as well as on many previous occasions . With regard to the state of Freemasonry in the Province , he thought they had every reason for congratulation . When he was first appointed to rule

over the province , the number of members was 866 . Since then several new lodges had been consecrated , and at the present moment there were 1300 members in the province . Referring to the recent consecration of the Lennox Browne Lodge , his lordship predicted for it a most successful career . The brother after whom the lodge vvas named , and whom he vvas glad to see amongst them that day , had taken the greatest interest in everything connected vvith Freemasonry . He

was glad to see that the financial position of the province had improved , and that , notwithstanding the agricultural depression which so seriously affected the district , the contributions to the Masonic Charities showed an increase on previous years , . £ 291 had been sent up to the Masonic Benevolent Institution , towards which Bro . Lennox Browne contributed the magnificent sum of ^ 234 , ^ 23 had been sent up to the Girls' School , and ^ 331 to the Boys ' , making a total of ^ 645 , which he thought was a very satisfactory amount for a not very rich province .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER then announced , amidst applause , that Bro . Philbrick , Q . C , had consented to act as his Deputy Prov . Grand Master for the ensuing year . He then called upon the brethren to elect the Provincial Grand Treasurer . Bro . VERO W . TAYLOR proposed the re-election of Bro . Andrew Durrant . He knew there vvas a feeling that there should be a more frequent change , but he did not share that feeling , and he thought it better to retain the services of so good an officer as Bro . Durrant .

Bro . G . T . CLAPHAM seconded . Bro . J . J . C . TURNER nominated Bro . Sadler , W . M . of St . Peter ' s Lodge , Maidon . He endorsed everything that had been said in favour of Bro . Andrew Durrant , but it vvas impossible to confer upon him any greater honour than he

already possessed , and it would not detract from the honour if another brother vvas elected to the office he had filled vvith so much credit to himself for so many years . Bro . Sadler was the present Mayor of Maidon , and in every way a most suitable brother for the position of Prov . Grand Treasurer . Bro . F . R . HALES seconded the nomination of Bro . Sadler .

Bro . SALMON nominated Bro . Ackworth , who was a P . M . of three lodges , vvas Treasurer of his mother lodge , and Past Treasurer of the Epping Lodge . Bro . J GLASS seconded the nomination of Bro . Ackworth . The voting vvas taken by ballot , the result being declared as under ¦ Bro . Sadler , 77 ; Bro . Ackworth , 61 ; and Bro . Durrant , 39 . Bro . Sadler , amidst applause , was declared duly elected , and Lord Brooke proceeded to invest the Prov . Grand Officers as under

Bro . Lennox Browne , W . M . 2256 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ E . H . Baily , I . P . M . 2006 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . W . Quennell , 214 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Joseph Sadler , W . M . St . Peter ' s Lodge ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ . A . J . H . Ward , W . M . 650 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ T . J . Railing , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., P . M . and Sec . 51 ( 13 th ( year ) ... ... ... ... ^ nuv . ur . oec . „ J . Van Essen , I . P . M . 2005 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ Frank Sackett , P . M . 1343 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D .

„ G . Copus , I . P . M . 1312 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . Lucking , P . G . P . Eng ., P . M . and Sec . 1000 ( 16 th year ) Prov . G . D . C „ W . Burroughs , P . M . 1437 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ G . J . Westfield , I . P . M . 2184 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br .

„ W . Metcalfe , I . P . M . 276 ... ... ... •> „ G . Thomas , I . P . M . 1817 j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ Egbert Roberts , W . M . 917 , Org . 2255 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Arthur Barritt , I . P . M . 1024 ... * ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ John Ayling , I . P . M . 160 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Win . Strutt , Treas . 2077 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ J . G . Renshaw , W . M . 6 97 „ Heagerty , W . M . 1343 „ R . C . Lyle , S . W . 1543 ... ... ... „ „ , ;; D . Milbank , S . D . ! 543 Prov . G . Stwds . „ J . M . Welch , D . C . 1 543 „ C . Bint , 1543 „ A . W . Martin ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Bro . ANDREW D URRANT said during the 10 years he had filled the office of P . G . Treasurer he had endeavoured to discharge the duties of his office to the best of his ability , and if in the future he could give any assistance to the newly-elected Treasurer he should be only too pleased to do so .

Bro . Bailey was unanimously elected a member of the Charity Committee , in the place of Bro . Lewin , who retired by rotation ; and , on the proposition of the PROV . G RAND MASTER , the remuneration of the Prov . Grand Secretary vvas increased from ten guineas to 20 guineas per annum , an additional honorarium of 10 guineas being granted to Bro . Railing for his services during the past year .

On the proposition of Bro . SALMON , seconded b y Bro . CORBELL , and supported by Bro . SADLER , it was resolved that a jewel be presented to Bro . Durrant , and that the thanks of the Prov . Grand Lodge be recorded on the minutes for his past services as Prov . Grand Treasurer .

On the proposition of Bro . SADLER , the sum of ten guineas vvas voted to each of the Masonic Charities , and on the proposition of Bro . SNELL , a like sum vvas voted to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution , the votes to be vested in the Master ot Rosslyn Lodge for the time being . The PROV . GRAND MASTER announced that he intended to hold the next

Provincial Grand Lodge at Walton-on-the-Naze . A vote of thanks was accorded to the Great Eastern Railway for the facilities afforded to the brethren attending the meeting , and on the proposition of Bro . MERRITT , seconded by Bro . the Rev . C . J . MARTYN , a similar compliment was accorded to the Prov . Grand Master for the hospitable manner in which he had received the Provincial Grand Lodge . The PROV . GRAND MASTER briefly responded , and the Iodge was closed .

The banquet was served in a large marquee , erected in the park . The interior was lined with broad strips of Masonic blue and white , and presented quite an imposing appearance . The Prov . Grand Master presided , and over 300 brethren were present . The dinner was admirably served by Messrs . Wright and Son ,