Installation Of Bro. Colonel Foster Gough, Ll.D., As Prov. G. Master Of Staffordshire.

INSTALLATION OF BRO . COLONEL FOSTER GOUGH , LL . D ., AS PROV . G . MASTER OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire was held in the Shire Hall , Stafford , on Tuesday , the 30 th ult ., and as it was known that Bro . Col . Foster Gough , LL . D ., P . G . Std . Br . of England , who had been appointed to succeed Bro . Colonel S . Tudor in the office of Prov . G . Master , which the latter had some time since vacated , would be

formally installed , there was a very full attendance of Prov . Grand Officers and members , while the town itself was thronged with people all anxious to obtain such glimpses as were possible of the brethren on their way to and from St . Mary's Collegiate Church , where special arrangements had been made for the attendance of Provincial Grand Lodge .

Bro . Col . Singleton Tudor , P . P . G . M ., presided , and was supported by Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , G . Sec . of England , and J . F . Collins , D . P . G . M . of Warwickshire , as well as by the following Present and Past Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , namely :

Bros . W . R . Blair , P . M . 546 , and J . E . Wood , P . M . 456 , P . G . W . ' s ; F . H . Beaven , 72 G and H . Abud , M . A ., ' 456 , P . G . C . ' s ; John Bodenham , P . A . G . D . C , P . M . 726 , P . G . Treas . ; J . L . Hamshaw , P . M . 41 S and 2149 , P . G . R . ; li . H . Thorne , P . M . 1838 , P . G . Sec ; T . Ryder , P . M . 1792 , and S . Bentley , W . M . 9 8 , P . G . D . ' s ; E . V . Greatbatch , P . M . 41 S , P . G . S . of W . ; G . H . Stanger , P . M . 419 , P . G . D . C . ,- j . Wooldridge , P . M . 726 , P . A . G . D . C . ; E . J . Milner , P . M . 9 66 , P . G . S . B . ; E . S . Hildick , P . M . 539 , and C .

W . Watkins , P . M . 1941 , P . G . Std . Brs . ; E . W . Taylor , 72 G , Mus . Doc , P . G . Org " . ; J . B . Ashwell , P . M . 637 , P . A . G . Sec ; C . Ashmail , P . M . 1039 , P . G . Pursuivant ; J . Bates , P . M . 419 , Prov . Assistant G . Pursuivant ; W . Twist , Prov . G . Tyler ; also Bros . W . H . Hales , P . M . 41 S , P . P . G . Warden ; Frank James , 539 , P . D . Grand Master ; Colonel Arthur Allen Owen , 51 ; E . H . Croydon , P . M . 400 , P . P . J . G . W . ; A . L . Broad , P . M . 460 , P . P . J . G . W . ; John T . Snipe , P . M . 400 ,

P . P . G . S . B . ; S . Watson , W . M . 2064 ; G . Smith , I . P . M . 2064 ; HlCostock , P . M . 15 S 7 ; J . J acobs , P . M . 482 , P . P . G . Reg-. ; H . Windle , W . M . 418 ; A . Tooth , VV . M . 2215 , P . P . G . Reg-. ; T . Barker , W . M . 1942 ,- F . Weston , 98 , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . Mountford , P . M . 4 60 , P . P . G . O . ; E . H . Smith , W . M . 347 ; George Platt , W . M . 696 ; Jas . W . Walton , P . M . 6 9 6 , P . P . G . Reg . ; R . Dain , P . M . 98 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; J . Godwin , W . M . 98 ; T . Turner , P . M . 4 60 and 54 6 , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Bromley , P . M . 41 S and 2149 , P . P . S . G . W . ; F . W . Grove , P . M . 637 and 1942 , P . P . J . G . D . ;

| . Webberley , P . M . 54 6 , P . P . G . Reg . ; D . Smth , P . M . C 3 6 , P . P . J . G . D . ; A . G . Prince , P . M . 54 6 , P . P . J . G . D . ; P . H . Benyon , W . M . 54 6 ; H . Woodhouse , P . M . 726 , P . P . S . G . W . ; I . Eardley , W . M . 637 ; J . B . Piercy , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; T . Buckstone , W . M . 1060 ; H . Hare , P . M . 1060 , P . P . S . G . D . ; K . W . Taylor , 726 , P . G . O . ; J . W . Hancock , P . M . 20 G 4 ,

P . P . G . Purst . ; W . Burlon , W . M . 9 66 ; W . Needham , P . M . 9 66 , P . P . G . S . cf W . ; Jas . Clark , M . D ., P . M . 10 3 1 , P . P . S . G . W . ; G . Newnham , 417 and 526 , P . P . G . W . ; G . W . Waring , -547 , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . L . Blackball . W . M . 624 ; ' 1 ' . C . Martin , P . M . 624 , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Payne Hall , P . M . 45 G , P . P . A . G . D . of C ; J . E . Wood , P . M . 45 6 , P . P . J . G . Warden ; G . Vaughan , W . M . 419 ; A . B . Plant , P . M . 353 , P . P .

G . Org . Derbyshire ; W . Bayhss , P . M . 359 , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . Warrilovv , VV . M . 4 S 2 ; C Fendelow , P . 1 VI . 52 G , P . P . S . G . W .. P . G . S . B . England ; D . Randall , P . M . 4 S 2 , P . P . G . C ; H . Heywood , 4 . 5 C , P . G . C . ; J . Rowlands , P . M . 4 S 2 , P . P . J . G . W . ; James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Secretary R . M . B . I . ; T . J . Barnett , P . M . 526 , P . P . G . W . ; T . W . Caddick , P . M . 662 , P . P . G . R . -, F . Frobi ' sher , W . M . 1792 ; J . L . Gibbons , P . M . 1520 , P . P . G . S . of VV . Derbyshire ; M . Barker , P . M . 1792 , P . P . G . W . ; S . B . Wheway , W . M . 539 ; VV . G . Gothard , P . M . 624 , P . P .

S . G . W . ; T . Maitin , P . M . 624 , P . P . G . R . ; E . J . Moseley , W . M . 72 C , P . G . S . ; V . Spence , P . M . 662 , P . P . G . R . ; A . Lorn-den , VV . M . 1 S 3 S ; B . H . Brough , P . M . 540 ; E . Heelis , W . M . 062 ; and others . Altogether , close on 250 brethren were present , while many distinguished brethren , among whom

vvere Bros . Col . tj . A . Vernon and William K . Harvey , both Past Prov . G . Masters of Staffordshire ; Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart ., M . P ., Piov . G . M ., and A . F . Godson , M . P ., Dep . P . G . M . of Worcestershire ; SirOffley Wakeman , Bart ., Prov . G . M ., and R . G . Venables , Dep . P . G . M . Shropshire ; Lord Burton , the Hon . G . Allsopp , M . P ., and the Marquis of Hertford sent letters of regret at their inabilitv to attend .

BRO . COL . FOSTER GOUGH . LL . D .. PROV . G . M

Bro . Col . Tudor , accompanied by the Grand and Prov . Grand Officers , having entered the Hall in procession , Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , and the Presiding Officer and Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke having been saluted according to ancient form , the usual preliminary business was

disposed of and the roll of lodges called over . The INSTALLING MASTER announced that the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . Master , had been pleased to appoint Bro . Col . Foster Gough as Prov . G . Master , and remaiked that in doing so his Royal Highness had honoured the province as well as Bro . Co / , Gough . A brother occupying a more distinguished position might have been chosen , but not one more likely to

render loyal service to the Craft , and it was to him ( Col . Tudor ) , in particular , a great pleasure to find a Staffordshire Mason , whom he had known for some 30 yearsand who had worked with him as D . P . G . M . during a considerable portion of that time , had been appointed to so exalted an office . The arrival of the P . G . Master designate having been announced , and his patent of appointment presented , a deputation of seven P . Masters and

the Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . was appointed to introduce and conduct Bro . Col . Gough to the dais . The patent was then read , and the Prov . G . Chaplain having offered a prayer , Col . Gough was invested with the apron , chain , and jewel of his office , and duly installed in the chair . _ Having been saluted and congratulated , the new PROV . G . MASTER briefly acknowledged the honour conferred upon him , and the very

cordial reception which he had just experienced , remarking , in the course of his short address , that most of ihem had heard him enunciate and enlarge upon the doctrine that Masonic appointments , whether in private or provincial lodges , were not intended to encourage idleness—they were not intended as a sort of receipt in full of all demands , as P . M . ' s occasionally considered them ; they were not even primarily intended as the reward of merit . The real aim and purpose of their bestowal was to strengthen the

power , to increase the opportunities , and to stimulate the zeal oi their recipients for the advancement of the best interests of Masonry . In that spirit he had undertaken his work , and as he should never spare himself , so every brother who served under him , no matter in what capacity , would , by the fact of his acceptance of any office , be considered as having thereby given a solemn pledge for the performance of every duty appertaining thereto ,

Installation Of Bro. Colonel Foster Gough, Ll.D., As Prov. G. Master Of Staffordshire.

Having invited the brethren to attend him on Thursday , the 16 th inst ., on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the Jubilee Buildings at Tunstall , and again at West Bromwich on Monday , the 20 th inst ., when he proposed laying the corner-stone of the nevv Masonic Hall , Bro . GOUGH announced that he had appointed as his Deputy Bro . Colonel Bindley , who was thereupon obligated , invested , and saluted .

The P . G . Treasurer ' s statement of account having been submitted and approved , and Bro . J . Bodenham having been unanimously re-elected to office , the following were appointed and invested as officers for the ensuing year , namely : Bro . the Rev . W . Sandall , 624 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W .

„ F . Walton , 1838 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . » Rev - " •Abud , 456 ... ... - ] Prov . G . Chaps . „ Rev . A . C . Talbot ... ... „ J . Bodenham ( re-elected ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ VV . T . Copland , 637 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ E . H . Thorne , 526 ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ T . Mountford , 460 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ H . J . Clarson , 1060 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . Powell , 347 ¦¦¦ ••••¦•Prov . G . S . of W . „ G . H . Stanger , 419 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . T . Eayes , 662 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ j . Stevenson , 1942 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ C . Gee , 1941 ... ... ... •- Prov . G . Std . Br ,. . „ Dr . Taylor , 726 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ F . E . F . Bailey , 539 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ S . Watson , 20 54 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ T . Jones , 6 9 6 .... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, H . Woodcock , 1 914 ... ... ... 1

„ W . D . Batkin , 726 „ Thomas Evans , 1520 ... ... ... j . p rov > G # Stwds > „ G . Vaughan , 419 „ G . J . Mousley , 726 ... ... ... | „ R . London , 1858 ... ... ... J „ W . Twist ... ... ... .- •Prov . G . Tyler .

Prov . Grand Lodge then adjourned in order that the brethren might attend Divine service at St . Mary ' s Church , whither they marched in procession .

The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . H . ABUD , P . G . Chaplain , while Bro . E . W . Taylor , Mus . Doc , P . G . Organist , presided at the organ . On the return of the brethren from church ,

Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed , and such business as remained to be done having been disposed of , Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren , to the number of about 100 , dined together at the Swan Hotel , the chair being occupied by Bro . Col . Gough , Prov . G .

Master . When dinner was over , The PROV . GRAND MASTER rose and gave the toast of " The Queen , " who , he said , swayed the Imperial sceptre over the greatest and the grandest empire the world had ever seen ; of a woman who , despite—nay , in the

enjoyment—of " the fierce light which beats about a throne , " had ever stood before her people the exemplar of every domestic , as well as public , virtue , truly " a pattern to all Princes living with her and to all that should succeed . " He gave for their most loyal and hearty reception the health of her Most Gracious Majesty the Oueen .

In proposing " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince ot Wales , " Col . GOUGH said : Amongst the many admirable characteristics of Freemasonry loyalty to its rulers had ever

held an important and conspicuous place . They might very safely assert and very truly feel that amongst the Masonic rulers of the world no one of them deserved , and no one of them enjoyed a higher place in the honour , the estimation , or . the affection of his subjects

than his Royal Highness the Prince of . Wales , the M . W . G . M ., who so splendidly ruled over that section of their universal system which was represented by the Grand Lodge of England . That he might long , very long , continue to do so was a wish very near and very dear to the hearts of all , and to none more so than to the hearts of the Masons of Staffordshire .

In response to the toast of his own health , which was drunk with all the honours and amid the utmost enthusiasm , the P . G . MASTER expressed his gratification on account of the very large and almost unprecedented muster of the brethren . Their cordial and hearty reception of him was at any rate equal to anything in the past , and that was saying a great deal . On this occasion he specially thanked them for it , since it would no doubt be

satisfactory to the M . W . Grand Master to know , through the Grand Secretary , who was then present , how completely his selection had been approved ; to his personal motives and feelings they had already been fully informed . The proposer of the toast had described him as he would wish to be rather than as lie was . He had resigned all appointments which mig ht possibly interfere with or militate against the strict and impartial discharge of '

duties in the future , and he did not lay claim to any virtue in the past , save perfect loyalty to his chief and honest industry in his attempts to fulfil the duties of " his office . In future they would possibly favour his deputy with most oi their communications , but so many of them as might think " necessary to write to him direct might rely upon the continuance of his rule '" namely , a reply by return of post in every practicable instance . He did no appeal to thern for support as that was altogether unnecessary ; he had tha day received upwards of 20 telegrams from kind and loyal brethren , a ° during the past week he had written acknowledgments ot nearly 90 s P Vf addresses , resolutions , and letters of congratulation , these included tn whole of the lodges in the province . He said , in conclusion , that whetne he had acted wisely or unwisely in accepting his office , time alone coul show ; but of one thing they might all rest assured , and it was that ii failed , the records of that failure should at least declare he strove to do hisduty-Other toasts followed , and the brethren afterwards separated after one the most successful meetings ever held in the Province of Staffordshire .