Provincial Grand Chapter Of Staffordshire.

The GRAND S UPERINTENDENT delivered an address , which he commenced by the expression of his profound gratitude to the M . E . G . Z ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , for that additional and growing proof of his confidence . He then , on behalf of himself and the other two P . G . Principals , heartily thanked the G . S . E . for his visit , and acknowledged the able and dignified manner in vvhich the ceremony had been performed . He said the occasion marked a red-letter day

in the history of Royal Arch Masonry in Staffordshire , as it was not only the first time the Royal Arch province had been visited by an Officer of the Supreme Grand Chapter , but also the first occasion of a Grand Superintendent having ever been installed in the province . He was most grateful to the companions for the unprecedented muster , and the more especially so as it vvas the commencement of the North Staffordshire annual holidays—the

day before the Brigade camp and the Stafford Assize time—but , of course , the convenience of the G . S . E . had been his sole consideration . He suggested that in future companions should hold themselves in readiness about the third week in the month of August for the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter . After thanking Comp . Sillitoe and other visitors , he assured the companions that he should at all times exercise the same care , concern , and interest in the R . A . as in the Craft . Steps would be

taken to ensure uniformity of ritual , but in the meantime they mig ht conclude that the opening and closing of P . G . Chapter that day was the same as they must observe in private chapters . As to visitors , he should adopt the same rule as in the Craft . They might expect him when they saw him , and the like might be expected with respect to the P . G . H ., Comp . Bodenham , who , so far as practicable , must be considered as his Deputy , and who , as a Past Officer of the Supreme G .

Chapter , had his best thanks for accepting his present office . The G . Supt . referred in grateful terms to Comp . Kitson , the P . G . S . E ., as having been initiated by himself upwards of 30 years ago , and who had consented to withdraw his resignation , and to continue his valuable services to the province . He did not wish to utter any complaint upon so auspicious an occasion , but he wished a note made as to regular and punctual returns by each of the chapters , an invariable transmission of circulars to the P . G . S . E ., the P . G . H ., and to himself , and , with the exception of

the Loughton Chapter , to increased activity generally . He congratulated the Burton-on-Trent companions upon the resuscitation of their chapter , and trusted that in due time the Newcastle companions vvould follow so excellent an example . Having recorded the thanks of the P . G . Chapter to Comp . Major Thorne , late P . G . H . in charge of the province , for his services ; to the St . Peter ' s Chapter for the use of the room and furniture ; and his hearty personal thanks to Comp . Col . Tudor , Past G . Supt ., for his jewel , the P . G . Chapter was closed .

The companions then adjourned to an excellent banquet , after which all the usual toasts were duly honoured , the principal speakers being the G . Supt ., vvith Comps . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Thorne , Bodenham , Prince , Sillitoe , and the Rev . W . Randall , D . D . The proceedings were enlivened by the musical performances of the Stafford Glee Party , to which performances the G . Supt . referred in very complimentary terms

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF BERKS AND BUCKS .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . VISCOUNT VALENTIA AS PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , AND PRESENTATION TO BRO . THE EARL OF JERSEY , RETIRING PAST GRAND MASTER . The Berks and Oxon Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held on Wednesday afternoon , the 31 st ult ., under the banner of the Alfred Lodge , and the proceedings were more than usually interesting on account of the installation of Bro . Viscount Valentia as Provincial Grand

Matter , in the room of Bro . the Earl of Jersey , vvho recently retired from that office , which he had held with great advantage to the province from the date of its formation , 10 years ago . Another interesting feature in the day ' s programme was the presentation of an address to the retiring Provincial Grand Master .

Bro . Lord Jersey opened the Provincial Grand Lodge shortly after mid-day , assisted by the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . Stephens , and the Prov . G . Ofiicers . Several distinguished Grand Lodge Officers honoured the gathering with their presence , including Bros , the Earl ot Euston , President of the Board of General Purposes , and P . S . G . W . ; Sir Lionel Darell , J . G . W . ; CF . Matier , Grand Secretary ;

Ber .-idge , G . D . of C ; Leon , P . G . D . ; Capt . Airey and S . Kni ght , G . Stwds . ; MaiorCook ; Cousans , J . G . D . ; the Rev . j . H . Jukes , P ; G . Chap . ; Baynes , P . G . M . O . ; Tomkins , P . G . Stwd . ; Ravenscroft , P . G . Sec ; Margrett , P . G . D . ; Pulley , P . G . D . ; and a number of Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers and brethren .

The reports presented by the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY as to the lodges in the province and the progress of Mark Masonry were of a satisfactory character . Bro . Tomkins vvas unanimously re-elected-Prov . Grand Treasurer . The patent , signed by the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , having

been read by the PROV . G . DIRECTOR OK CEREMONIES , appointing Bro . Viscount Valentia to the office of Prov . Grand Master , his lordship vvas introduced , and suitably addressed b y BroL Lord J ERSEY , who proceeded to install the noble viscount , whom he invested with the regalia of Prov . G . Master amidst the hearty applause of the brethren . The newly-installed Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested the Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year as follows : —

Bro . C . Stephens ... ... ... ... Deputy Prov . G . M . „ H . G . W . Drinkwater ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ H . Creed ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ W . Dunning ... ... ... ... p . G . M . O . „ A . C . Hewitt ... ... ... ... p rov . S . G . O . > . J . B . King ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . R . W . Pope ... - ) J „ J . M . Guilding . ... ... j Prov . G . Chap . „ John Tomkins ..... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . 1 , E . A . Bevess ..... ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ W . Ravenscroft ..... ... ... ... p . G . Sec . ,, C . L . Lovett ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ C . E . Hewitt , ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ R . Canning ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C „ R . Maples ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ W . Fenton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . 11 H . G . Sherwin ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . C Long ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ J . W . Messenger ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ W . W . Wyatt ... . -v „ S . C . Wakefield ... ... '" '"

„ A . E . Preston \ ... ... . " , ' _ L > Prov . G . Stwds . ,, A . J . Kersley .... ... ... ,,. ) 1 , W . Hemmings ... ¦) „ G . Norwood . ... . ... ' [[[ ^ j Prov . G . T ylers .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

The P . G . SECRETARY then ' read the following address , which was presented to Lord Jersey :

" Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , Berks and Oxon . " To the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of jersey . " Ri g ht Worshipful Sir and Brother , " With most sincere regret this Provincial Grand Lodge has to record your resignation of its chief office , and , in so doing , the hearty wish of the brethren is that expression shall be given to the deep sense felt by all as to the able

efficient , and genial manner in which your lordship has carried out the duties devolving upon you during the past 10 years in the capacity of Grand Master contributing thereby so largely to the prosperity enjoyed by the province from its ' formation in 18 79 until the present time . " We beg , therefore , respectfully that you will accept this address as testif yingour grateful appreciation of your rule over us , and our hope and trust that it may please the G . O . O . T . U . long to spare your life , and if so it may be that we may long retain your interest and influence amongst us .

" On behalf of the province we beg to subscribe ourselves , Right Worshi pful Sir and Brother , " Yours faithfully and fraternally , " VALENTIA , Prov . Grand Master . " C STEPHENS , Dep . Prov . Grand Master . " W . RAVENSCROFT , Prov . Grand Secretary . "July 31 st , 188 9 . "

Lord J ERSEY , in a feeling speech , expressed his thanks to the brethren , and congratulated them upon the appointment of Bro . Viscount Valentia as his sue .

cesser . The Provincial Grand Lodge was shortly afterwards closed , and a number of the brethren subsequently drove to Blenheim Palace , and inspected the princi pal apartments , by the kind permission of the Duke of Marlborough , and also visited the famous orchid houses , after which they returned to Oxford , and partook of a banquet , when the usual Mark Masonic toasts were proposed and honoured .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

A quarterly communication of the above Grand Lodge vvas held in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on the 1 st inst . There was a fair attendance . In the absence of the Grand Master , the throne was occupied by Bro . Elliot of Wolfelee S . G . W . ; Bro . James Dalrymple Duncan , S . G . D ., acted as S . G . W . ; and Bro . Col , John Campbell , as J . G . W . There vvere also present : Bros , the Rev . R . Henderson Grand Chap . ; D . Murray Lyon , Grand Sec . ; Major Allan , Proxy Prov . Grand

Master of Gibraltar ; James Caldwell , of Crai gielea , Past Grand Deacon ; ex-Provost Christie , Stirling ; David Hume , Past Grand Bible Bearer ; J . Melville , President of the Board of Grand Stewards ; and others . Apologies for absence vvere intimated from Bros . Sir Archibald C . Campbell of Blythswood , Bart ., Grand Master ; Lord Haddington , Lord Saltoun , John Graham of Broadstone , Prov .

Grand Master of Glasgow ; James Berry , Prov . Grand Master of Forfarshire ; D . Reid , Grand Bible Bearer ; Rev . Thomas Somerville , Grand Chaplain ; W . Officer , S . S . C , representative from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ; James Crichton , Grand Jeweller ; and Dr . James Middleton , Prov . Grand Master of Berwick and Roxburghshires .

On the motion of the ACTING GRAND MASTER , the Grand Secretary was instructed to prepare and forward a loyal and dutiful address to her Majesty the Queen in reference to the marriage of the Duke of Fife and the Princess Louise , and also to the Prince of Wales , and to the Duke of Fife and his Royal spouse . Reports vvere submitted from vvhich it appeared that the income of Grand

Lodge during the quarter ending 20 th July had been ^ 1235 , showing an excess of . £ 672 over expenditure . The number of entrants to the Order had been 1300 . The income for the first ei ght months of the year has been ^ 3 686 , as compared with £ 3416 in the corresponding period last year . During the last quarter £ 90 has been granted from the Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence . The Annuity Fund now amounts to . £ 3211 .

A report by Bro . BRINGLOE , C . A ., to the Board suggested that it was desirable to keep within safe limits , so as to avoid the necessity of withdrawing any annuity for want of funds , and the keeping in view the liability incurred on existing annuities and the expenses attendant upon the management and administration of the fund , that the total annuities should be restricted to ^ 400 for the first two years until the capital accumulates and the working of the fund is more thoroughly tested .

Grand Lodge resolved to issue charters to the following new lodges : Taurus , Mersina , Syria ; The Golden Light , Potchefstroom , South African Republic ; St . Andrew , Kumara , New Zealand ; and Sir William Wallace , Queensland . On the recommendation of the GRAND MASTER , Lord Clanmorris vvas appointed as representative of Grand Lodge to the Grand Lodge of Ireland .

Communications were submitted from the DISTRICT GRAND SECRETARY showing that the District Grand Lodge of Victoria , under Scottish Constitution , had been dissolved , and that the lodges under its jurisdiction had transferred their allegiance to the newly-formed United Grand Lodge of Victoria . The

Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge had announced its establishment , and asked for the grand body official and fraternal recognition by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , vvith an interchange of representatives , and that the lodges heretofore hailing from the Scottish Constitution be allowed to retain their original-charters as memorials of their Masonic connection with Scotland .

Grand Lodge resolved to enter into fraternal relations with the Grand Lodge of Victoria , and to accede to the request of the seceding Scottish lodges as to the retention of their charters . , A report was submitted from the Prov . Grand Master of Dumbartonshire , Bro . Martin of Auchendennan , stating the completion of another round of Provincial visitation of the 12 lodges of that province . Everywhere he found work being

carried . on energetically and enthusiastically , and in strict accordance with the constitution and laws , and in hardly an instance was it necessary to suggest improvement , even in subordinate details . The accession of numbers in some of the lodges had been astonishing , and in all substantial . He believed Masonry to be & present in a more satisfactory position in this province than at any time within the recollection of their oldest brethren .

In reference to the subject of issuing circulars , Grand Committee recoinme "" . - the adoption of the following resolution : " Grand Lodge fully recognises the inalienable right of all Master Masons to meet , discuss , and petition Grand Lodg 1 - on any matter connected vvith Masonry ; but when a communication is to be a' * dressed to the whole Craft , the sanction of Grand Committee must first u ° procured . " Bro . CALDWELL suggested that the finding should be more explicit , so as « guard brethren from unwittingly infringing the rule , and the matter was sent lw < - '* to Grand Committee . The other business was routine .

BERKELEY HOTEL ( late St . James ' s ) , 1 , Berkeley-street , and 77 , Pi *" ' j i ' London , W . First-class accommodation for residents , with a restaurant , ie ^ - rattached for hi gh class luncheons and dinners , at fixed prices and a la carte- - " DIETTE , Manager . [ ADVT . ]