Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex

The brethren subsequently dined at the King ' s Head Hotel , where a ubstantial repast was admirably served under the personal superintendence of the worthy host , Mr . Charles Tomkins . The usual toasts were afterwards given and received with the customary heartiness . "The Queen and the Craft , " and "H . R . H . the Prince of VVales , M W . G . M ^ " having been duly honoured .

. The P ROV . GRAND MASTER gave " The Grand Officers . " They all knew the work done by the M . W . G . M ., and were aware he could not carry on the duties if he were not so ably supported by the Earl of Carnarvon and T ord Lathom . Those two noblemen were able and energetic Masons , and , in addition to their work as Pro G . M . and Dep . G . M ., performed their duties as Prov . Grand Masters of their respective provinces to the

satisfaction of all . In coupling with the toast the name of one they had present that evening , he was confident it would be warmly received , for he was well known and beloved by all . He referred to their esteemed Bro . Thrupp , P . G . D- He was sure the mention of the name would be the signal for an enthusiastic reception , and he was pleased to find he was not mistaken , for Bro . Thrupp rendered him great and special services .

Bro . RAYMOND H . THRUPP , D . P . G . M ., in reply , said it was always an honour to have his name coupled with the names of the Earl of Carnarvon and Lord Lathom . He was sure every Grand Officer , although he be but an humble representative like himself , exerted his utmost to support those two Grand Officers in their work . All present were aware that most of the Grand Officers were appointed by the M . W . G . M ., and he felt sure they

would all agree with him that it was very seldom his Royal Highness made a mistake by promoting the wrong man . Wherever he had gone in Masonry he always heard that toast proposed and received with acclamation , and he thought it deserved it . If they turned to the executive officers they would find them a hard-working body of men . Take , for instance , Bro . Fenn , President of the Board of General Purposes , who was engaged in a great

task that would tax the brains of many men . He thought there were a large number who would shrink from the task of attempting to seat many thousands of Masons in their proper places by a given time . He believed , however , they would find that the meeting at the Albert Hall on the 13 th inst . would be conducted in the eminently satisfactory manner that characterised the installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . He had the honour of

being a Steward on that occasion , and it would never be effaced from his memory . He hoped the brethren would attend in large numbers , and show that it was not only the Grand Officers , but the Craft generally , who wished to prove their devotion to their Queen and attachment to the M . W . G . M . He thanked them for the loyalty shown to the Grand Officers , and for the cordiality with which the toast was always received . He would now ask

them to support him in the toast of the evening— " The Health of R . W . Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master . " If it ever afforded a Mason pleasure to propose the toast of the Prov . Grand Master , it certainly gave him extra pleasure on that occasion . Most of the brethren present would recollect that last year Sir Francis was prevented by illness from attending , and no one regretted his absence more than himself . They all missed his genial and kindly manner , and sincerely sympathised with

him . Sir Francis was , however , very pleased to hear from him a few days afterwards how successfully the Prov . G . Lodge was carried out , but at the same time they all felt they were performing the play of " Hamlet" without a Hamlet . They were all heartily pleased to have him with them again that evening looking as well as ever , full of energy and spirit , full of that geniality £ md courteous manner which had won the hearts of all , and full of that devotion to the Order which had earned for him his name in the Craft .

He asked the brethren to join him in hoping their present Prov . G . M . would be with them for many years to preside over them . Bro . Col . Sir FRANCIS BURDETT , Bart ., Prov . G . M ., said he might have considered his duties were acquitted , and he might also have thought that he had got through them successfully , but he felt the duty he had now undertaken was more arduous than anything he had previously performed .

Ihe hearty manner in which the Dep . Prov . G . M . had proposed his health was far more than he could expect , and far more than he could return thanks for . They were all aware that he had a love for the Order , and that he was anxious to do his duty to the province . He would always carry out his duties as far as lay in his power , and hoped for a few years to come to continue amongst them , and see the province flourish . He did not think that

since he had presided over them he had seen a more genial number of members , and he hoped to meet them again during the next twelve months . It was his anxious wish to visit them as often as he could , and he would do his best to accept as many invitations as possible . His best wishes were with the brethren in the province , and when he was away he could assure Ihem they were not forgotten . He begged to thank them for the kind

manner in which they had received his health , and he only wished they would often again meet happily in the future . In proposing "The Visitors , " the PROV . GRAND MASTER said there were not many occasions on which they could show their hospitality , but they were always happy to receive those who so kindly visited them . There would

have been a larger attendance of Grand Officers , as several invitations were sent , but they were unfortunately engaged elsewhere . They , however , had with them a number of other brethren , including Bro . Wynn , whom they were pleased to see , and Bro . Chas . Greenwood , who would no doubt endorse the remarks he had made respecting the Secretaries of lod ges .

Bro . CHAS . GREENWOOD , Prov . G . Sec . Surrey , said he thanked the brethren most heartily for the manner in which they had received the toast , an d he could only say that he accepted with avidity the invitation to be Present . Although it was difficult for him to visit lodges not in his own pro-| " ce , he thought he might get a wrinkle from the manner in which the business was conducted , which would be of service to him in the Province

' " * * urrey . He had learnt one thing from the proceedings , and that was e immense amount of good that might be done from the enthusiasm of a ~ y of Masons . He sincerely thanked them for the great pleasure it had , $ *? I " im to visit the sister province . Ihe W . M ., Wardens , and membersof the Harrow Lodge" was proposed b y the Prov . G . Treasurer , Bro . HEPBURN .

. ¦?• ETHERINGTON , Prove J . G . D ,, in reply , said that he felt greatly toa I at t ^ k manner in which his name had been coupled with the but " ^ assure £ I ^ Prov . G . M . that what he had done in the past was the T-T earnesl - ° f what he would do in the future to promote the welfare of tha j , arrow Lodge . He took the present opportunity of expressing his deep him V- ° ^" ^ - G . M . for the honour he had that day . conferred upon dist ? c ** ^ valued as much for the prestige given to his lodge as for the "ction conferred upon himself . The Harrow Lodge had passed through

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex

a period of difficulty , but he was pleased to say that as every dark cloud had a silver lining , so he could now see a time of renewed prosperity approaching . He was pleased to hear the Prov . G . M . was satisfied with the arrangements made for his reception , and he hoped that at a future time not far distant the lodge would again have the honour of receiving the Prov .

G . Lodge under its banner . The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . An excellent programme of music was carried out under the direction of Bro . John Read , Prov . G . Org ., assisted by Bros . W . Sexton , G . T . Carter , Stanley Smith , and G . S . Graham , P . P . G . Org .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Norths And Hunts.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHS AND HUNTS .

The annual Provincial Grand Lodge meeting of the various lod ges in the Province of Northants and Hunts was held under the banner of the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 445 , Towcester , on Thursday , the 2 nd inst . Especial interest attached to the meeting , as this year is the Jubilee of the Lodge of Fidelity , and also the Jubilee year of Bro . George Osborn , the senior Past

Master now in the province , and one of the founders of 445 , and a large attendance of brethren testified to the general desire to honour the occasion . The Board of Benevolence and Charity Organisation Committee met at the Town Hall at 12 . 30 a . m . At one o ' clock the Lodge of Fidelity

was opened , and punctually at 1 . 30 Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form by Bro . Butler-Wilkins , the Dep . Prov . G . M ., P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., in the absence of the P . G . M ., Bro . the Duke of Manchester . The brethren present numbered nearly a hundred , including representatives from most of the lodges in the province .

The Provincial Grand Lod ge having been opened , the minutes of the last P . G . Lodge meeting , held at Kettering , were confirmed , and the roll of lodges called , and minute books examined . Bro , GEORGE OSBORN proposed the re-election of Bro . J . U . Stanton as Treasurer to the Province , and paid a warm tribute to thezeal and energy with which Bro . Stanton had carried out the duties of the office for some

years . This tribute was emphasised by Bro . HERBERT HART , who seconded the re-election , which was unanimously adopted . The Dep . Prov . G . M . then proceeded to appoint and invest the Officers

of P . G . Lodge for the ensuing year . The first installation was that of the Earl of Euston to the chair of Prov . S . G . W ., an appointment which was greeted with Masonic enthusiasm . The officers appointed and installed are as follows : —

Bro . Lord Euston , 445 ,., ,., ... Prov . S . G . W . „ G . H . Percival , 1911 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ the Rev . G . B . Hooper ... ... ... p . G . Chap . „ J . U . Stanton , 360 ... ( re-elected ) Prov . G . Treas . „ A . Jones , 1764 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ b . G . Buckle , 442 ... ( re-elected ) Prov . G . Sec . „ J . J . Hart , 360 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ George Burtord , 445 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . H . Martin , 607 ... ... ... p . G . S . of W . „ G . Ellard , 360 .,, ( re-appoin ' ed ) Prov . G . D . of C .

„ K . uannam , 400 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ T . Coote , 373 ... ... ,,. ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ R . Payling , 442 ... ... ... ) D " r C . J r > „ E . P . Toller , 455 ... ... j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ W . Simmonds , 445 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Worley , 737 ... ... ... p . G . Purst .

,, J . Snow ( Pomfret ) .. ,,. * ^ „ T . Whitsed ( St . Peter ' s ) ... ... ... | „ A . P . Kingcombe ( Fidelity ) ... ... 1 „ n _ , „ T . Hart ( Merit ) ... ... j-Prov . G . Stwds . „ H . Dainty ( Wentworth ) ... ,,. ... | „ H . Hodges ( Eleanor Cross ) ,,. ,., j „ T . Cook , 442 ... ... ... ,,. Prov . G . Tyler

1 he grants made by the Board of Benevolence were confirmed , and 30 guineas were voted to the Boys' School , on the suggestion of the W . D . P . G . M . Other Masonic business having been transacted , the Provicnial Grand Lodge was closed , and a procession was formed to attend the special service in the parish church . The unwonted spectacle attracted a large :

attendance of sight-seers . The open Bible , a valuable black letter edition , being dated 16 34 , the property of the Fidelity Lodge—with the square and compasses thereon—was borne by four comely boys , the children of members of the Fidelity Lodge : they were Masters Alfred E . Jones , William Oldham , Willie Greville , and Willie Newett . A large congregation assembled in

church . " Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow " was sung as a processional . The prayers were read by the Rev . M . T . Brown , curate . The Rev . Harcourt Powell ( Wollastan ) read the first , and the Rev . T . Grabham ( Irthlingborough ) the second lesson . The anthem was " Oh how

amiable are Thy Dwellings ( Psalm 84 , 1 , 2 , and 4 verses ) . 'Ihe solos were sung with much power , expression , and sweetness by Mrs . Kingcomba ( wife of Bro . A . P . Kingcombe ); and the choir acquitted themselves admirably , The musical part of the service , which was under the direction of Ihe organist , Mr . Hunt , went exceedingly well .

The Rev . G . B . HOOPER , Prov . Grand Chaplain , preached from 1 Kings vi ., 7 , " And the house , when it was in building , was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither ; so that there was neither hammer nor axe , nor any tool of iron , heard in the house while it was in building . " He spoke of the admiration which King Solomon ' s Temple had excited throughout all agesand of the traditions of its magnificence having been faithfully handed down

, from generation to generation . The preparation and building of the Temple was a pattern of what all work for God should be . Their work might be a work of preparation . That might be the part which they would have to play . Work was not to be judged by the outward show . Some sowed and others reaped , some built and others got ready for the building ; and if they found that their work in life was a work of quiet preparation he exhorted them to go on patiently and steadily , for though