Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

The Provincial Grand Officers appointed for the ensuing year were then invested as follows : —

Bro . Edward Home , 1887 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ R . E . Goolden , 2228 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Canon J . A . Dalton , 771 ... ... " ) r f ,, „ Rev . J . M . Guilding , 1101 ... ... ) ^ rov > u Cha P ' „ C . Stephens , 414 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ R . J . Ball , 209 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ ] . W . Martin , 414 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . C . B . Tirbutt , 414 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Newbery , 574 ... ... ... Prov . j . G . D . „ W . Kenton , 795 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . ,, W . H . Gardener , 771 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ B . W . Bennett , 2043 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Col . E . Ball , 1899 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ H . Warden , 1566 ... ... ... ]„ ^ c . , n ;; J- B . King , 945 j Prov . G . Std . Brs .

,, J . Oreenaway , 1101 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ . R . Maples , 574 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, G . J . Dyke , 1770 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, J . S . Liddle , 574 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, H . T . Hobbs , 209 ... ... ... " ) ,, E . K . Purnell , 1899 „ T . E . J . Hawkins , 574 ... ... •¦• lpmv r

The ACTING P . G . M . said it was his pleasing duty to present to the P . G . Secretary , on behalf of the brethren of the province , a testimonial in recognition of his great energy and labour in organising the important gathering at Reading last December , and for the zeal and ability with which he

directed all the arrangements . The Committee appointed by the Board of Stewards at the last meeting to arrange for that testimonial had purchased a valuable gold watch and also an elegant silver bowl , both of which were then produced , and Bro . FERGUSSON , who had acted as Secretary and Treasurer to the Testimonial Fund , was requested to read the illuminated address which accompanied the gifts , and which was as follows : '

To Brother John Wessley Martin , P . M . 414 , Provincial Grand Secretary of Berkshire . We , your brother Freemasons , whose names are hereafter subscribed , desire to express to you our appreciation of the energy and ability with which you carried out the

arrangements for the installation by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , Most Worshipful Grand Master , of H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., as Prov . Grand Master of Berkshire at the Town Hall , Reading-, on December , 15 , 1890 , and for the luncheon , which was afterwards held in the Jubilee Banqueting- Room of Messrs . Sutton and Sons .

We feel that to your able direction the great success of these important ceremonies was largely due , and in token of our appreciation of your efforts we ask your acceptance of a gold watch and silver bowl , which we trust may be fitting mementoes of these events in which you took so active a part , and will prove to be of personal and family interest for many years to come .

The ACTING P . G . MASTER said it only remained for him to ask Bro . Martin ' s acceptance of the gifts , with the expression of every good wish from the brethren of the province that he might be spared for many years to meet them at Masonic gatherings and elsewhere , and to wear the watch as a reminder of the auspicious event which had given rise to the testimonial .

The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY , in the course of a feeling response , said he could assure the brethren it was no easy matter to speak about himself , and his task was rendered more hard in consequence of the kind words and lavish gifts which had been bestowed upon him . A year ago he had no idea that he should be occupying the honourable position to which it pleased his Royal Highness the Provincial Grand Master to appoint him .

It was intimated to him in August that he would be invited to succeed their late worthy and lamented Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Robert Bradley , and here he would like to say a word or two in Provincial Grand Lodge in regard to that esteemed brother , whose memory they would ever cherish in the old Province of Berks and Bucks . To him ( Bro . Bradley ) they owed , m a great measure , the present high position in which the province

now found itself . In November , he ( Bro . Martin ) received the news from Grand Lodge , fixing the date December 15 th , 1890 , for the installation of their Provincial Grand Master , and then it was the real work began . It would be affectation on his part if he were not to admit the fact that he had a great deal of responsibility placed upon his shoulders , which necessarily brought about the usual one or two sleepless nights , but he was thankful to say that with the help of the brethren throughout the province they made the

day a success , and one never to be forgotten by those who had the good fortune to be present . The " all round " ' thanks he received on that occasion ampl y repaid him for all he had done , and the matter might very well have rested there , but it had pleased the brethren to go further , and to reward him still more for his services , by giving him these handsome presents . He thanked them all for their generosity , which he should never forget , and he should always treasure up the fraternal feelings and good wishes which he had had from all quarters as long as he lived . '

. U had been usual in previous years to announce where the next Provincial Grand Lodge would be held , but the new by-laws , just adopted , specif y ihat the place of Meeting shall be fixed by the Provincial Grand Master , and Bro . MORLAND observed that he was therefore unable to make

anj- definite statement , but he anticipated that the next Provincial Grand J -odge would be held in the Royal borough of Windsor . the PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY announced that he had received etters of apology from a large number of distinguished brethren , including « ros . Lord Carrington , P . G . M . of Bucks ; Baron Wantage , S . G . W . ; Viscount Valentin , Chief Justice Way , Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , G . Sec . ; "ro . W . G . Mount , M . P . ; C . T . Murdoch , M . P . ; Sir Gabriel Goldney , "art . ; Bro . Terry , and others . Ihc

Provincial Grand Lodge was closed shortly afterwards , the business ¦ laving occupied about an hour and a half . Most of the brethren adjourned to the Town Hall , to partake of the of n . ? ' wnich nad been provided in excellent style by Bro . John Hamlcn , bn Quecn ' s Hotel . The room had been effectively decorated with ' liners , flag's , Masonic emblems , & c , and there was also a fine display of eonf | ! P ' . ants . and cut flowers , the W . M ., Bro . Maples , being a liberal nbutor in this department . To his courtesv also a larpc number of

Wercf r . lndebted for the privilege of seats in the balcony , to which they re admitted shortly before the banquet commenced , being cordially dii- - , y ^ - Maples , who entertained them with light refreshments curing the evening .

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The ACTING P . G . M . commenced the toast list by proposing "TheOueen and the Craft , " which was succeeded by that of " The M . W . G . M ., H 7 k . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., " and "The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and

the Grand Officers of England , Present and Past . " To the latter toast Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., made an able response . "The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , " was suitably proposed by the ACTING PROV . GRAND MASTER .

Bro . BEACH , M . P ., in complimentary terms , proposed "The Health of the D . P . G . M . and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , " to which Bro . MORLAND made an appropriate reply . Bro . EVE , Past Grand Treasurer , gave the toast of "The Masonic Charities , " and in the course of an eloquent speech pointed out the great and good work done in connection with the three important Charities of the

Order—namely the Girls'School , the Boys'School , and the Benevolent Institution for aged Freemasons and their Widows . He also spoke of the Charity exercised by provinces , lodges , and individual Masons , and referred , with grateful feelings , to the most successful Festival held at Brighton on the previous Wednesday in behalf of the Boys' School , when the amount raised reached the large sum of ^ 29 , 000 . Bro . Eve coupled with the toast the

name of the Secretary to the Boys School , Bro . J . M . McLeod , who made a fervent appeal in behalf of the Masonic Charities , expressing his high appreciation of the liberal support which had just been accorded to the Boys ' School , which he regarded as a vindication of the satisfactory character of the work done by the Committee of Management by that Institution during the past two years .

'I he ACTING PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed " The Health of the Mayor and Corporation of Newbury , " and the MAYOR suitably . returned thanks . The next toast proposed was that of "The Worshipful Master and the Officers of the Lodge of Hope , " whom the ACTING PROV . GRAND MASTER warmly thanked for the hearty reception given to the Prov . Grand Lodge , and for the excellent arrangements that had been made .

Bro . MAPLES , the W . M ., responded , and expressed his hope that the Prov . Grand Lodge would renew their visit to Newbury on some future occasion . " The Healths of the Prov . Grand Treasurer and the Prov . Grand Secretary " were then drunk , and Bros . CHARLES STEPHENS and J . W . MARTIN severally replied . Bro . J AMES LEGG gave the Tyler ' s toast .

The bulk of the brethren then quitted the hall , but most of the Newbury brethren , with a few visitors , remained under the genial presidency of Bro . Maples , when a number of local toasts were proposed and honoured .

Centenary Celebration Of The Amity Lodge, No. 283.

CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE AMITY LODGE , No . 283 .

On Wednesday evening , the 24 th ult ., the centenary of this lodge was commemorated by a banquet , held in the Public Hall , Haslingden . The hall had been beautifully decorated for the occasion , and the staircase was curtained off and carpeted . The assembly room was divided by the temporary erection of a screen composed of curtains , relieved with scarlet damask , and red , white , and blue flags , and surmounted with triplets of

bannerettes . At the platform end of the room a space was reserved for dancing . The floor was covered with holland , with a broad border of green baize , and an ample supply of chairs for those who wished to rest or promenade between the dances , and on the side of the screen facing that part of the room were hung portraits of the Past Masters of the Amity Lodge , and also of Bro . Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . Grand Master , and the

late Bro . Stephen Blair , Prov . Grand Master of East Lancashire . The platform was used for the purposes of an orchestra , where Messrs . Howarth and Warburton ' s quadrille band played for dancing ; while on the wall overlooking the platform was hung a large silk banner bearing a likeness of her Majesty the Queen . At the opposite end of the room the space was utilised for the banquet , the caterer for which was Mrs . Yates , of the Grey Mare

Hotel , Regent-street . The tables were conveniently arranged , and well filled by the brethren and visiting friends of the Amity Lodge , with their wives and sweethearts ; and it is but due to Mrs ; Yates to say that the way the banquet was prepared and served reflected the utmost credit upon the hostess . The presence of ladies was quite an innovation , but this was highly appreciated as a graceful feature , and no

doubt will be repeated on future similar occasions . Among the officers present were the following : Bros . Harling , Freeman , Southerst , Worsh , Spencer , Sutcliffe , Hamer , Fletcher , Bradshaw , Mills , Greenwood , Barnes , Taylor , and Nuttall ; and of brethren of the lodge and visiting brethren : Bros . Stallon , Baxter , Holt , Bury , Hunt , Dixfield , Hindle , Howarth , and others .

The following toasts were duly honoured : " The Queen and the Craft , " proposed by Bro . FREEMAN ; "H . R . H . the Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family , " proposed by Bro . BAXTER ; " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " proposed by Bro . HOLT ; "The Earl of Lathom , Pro G . M ., Earl Mount Edgcumbe , D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand

Officers , Present and Past , " proposed by Bro . BURY and acknowledged by the brethren ; "Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . M ., " proposed by Bro . SOUTHERST ; "George Mellor , D . P . G . M ., and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , " proposed by Bro . WORSH , and acknowledged by the brethren .

Bro . STALLON also responded . He said he hoped it might please their M . W . G . M . to add more brethren there that night to his Provincial Grand Officers .

Bro . BRADSHAW proposed " The Visiting Brethren . " Bro . HUNT responded . He said it was the first centenary meeting that he had ever had the privilege of bcingat , but he hoped it would not be the last . He was sure they were obliged for the kind way in which the toast of the visitors had been received , and they would be happy in another hundred years from then to pay them a second visit .

Bro . STALLON proposed "The Prosperity of the W . M ., his Officers , and the Brethren of the Lodge . " He said it would be surplusage on his part to say anything of the W . M . and the worthy officers ; they were all well known , and he was sure their action must commend itself to them generally . Most of the visitors who were there were , in some degree or other , acquainted with the members and officers and the W . M . of the Amity Lodge . Their W . M ., Bro . Freeman , had , ever since his initiation into Masonry , evinced the strongest regard for , and interest in , all those tenets which were so dear to