Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire

The PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and said they would drink the toast with double enthusiasm on the present occasion , when they remembered the new Prince of the new generation of the Royal Family lately born . In giving "The Grand Officers , " the PROV . GRAND MASTER said they were always fortunate in getting a good attendance of Grand Officers at had

their Provincial Grand Lodge meeting . On the present occasion they with them Bro . Fenn , whose name was a household word in the Craft , and nowhere more so than in the Bushey Hall Lodge . They had also Bro . Knyvett and Bro . Terry , and at the lodge meeting Bro . Dawson , their late Dep . Prov . G . Master , was present in improved health , and they hoped to frequently see him at their gatherings .

Bro . t . F ENN , P . P . Bd . General Purposes , in reply , said that a chair on his left had been kept in expectation of Bro . Loveland Loveland being present , and he was sure that brother regretted his absence as much as they all did . No one regretted it more than he ( Bro . Fenn ) , for it would have prevented him from the necessity of boring them with a speech , and in the second place he would have been gratified to hear Bro . Loveland as his

successor on the Board of General Purposes . Having been a Grand Officer for 30 years , he ( Bro . Fenn ) had , therefore , had some experience and personal intercourse with the two Grand Officers mentioned at the head of the toast . He could safely assure them that during the whole of those years he had never met two Grand Officers occupying exalted positions who were

so thoroughly interested in Masonry and so desirous of fulfilling the important duties devolving upon them . With respect to the other Grand Officers , they had excellent examples in that province , and he would only say they were anxious and desirous of doing all they could for the benefit of Masonry and of discharging the onerous duties they were called upon to perform in justificatian of their high appointments .

Bro . G . E . LAKE , D . P . G . M ., proposed " The Health of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., " a toast , he was glad to say , was always received in an enthusiastic manner , and he was sure it would be received no less enthusiastically when he reminded them that that was the 21 st Provincial Grand Lodge over which the Provincial Grand Master had presided . When Bro . Halsey was

installed as Provincial Grand Master there were eight lodges , and there were now 22 , and that fact spoke volumes for the ability , zeal , and enthusiasm with which he had presided over the destinies of Masonry in Herts . Nothing further was required to recommend the toast , and he , therefore , asked them to drink heartily , on that the 21 st occasion on which he had presided , the health of the Provincial Grand Master .

Bro . T . F . HALSEY , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., thanked the brethren most sincerely for the kind manner in which they had received the toast . He could look back upon the 20 years he had been Prov . Grand Master with the greatest pleasure . He did not think the result was due to any merits of his own , but to the inherent virtues of the cause . He believed Masonry would have increased equally under any circumstances , but it had been his

pleasure to assist in that prosperity , and , at any rate , he could venture to say he had done nothing to check it . He thought Herts could be proud of the position it took . They could necessarily be nothing but a small province , but they held a position any province might be proud of . As Bro . Keyser had told them , they had a power in carrying their cases through the Charities , which showed what a small province could do by husbanding its

forces and working them together . It was the old story , with a new application , of the bundle of sticks , perfectly strong when bound together in a faggot , but of no service when severed . If they worked together in the same harmonious way , he believed they would attain even greater successes in the future . With regard to the Charities , he hoped by putting their shoulders to the wheel to carry their three cases . He hoped the province

would continue its prosperous career , and that the only rivalry between the new lodges and the old would be , which could best assist those objects for which Masonry existed . He was proud of presiding oyer such a province , and thanked them again sincerely for the manner in which they had received the toast . As the time was short , he would ask them to assist him in drinkine " The Health of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the rest of

the Prov . Grand Officers . " He had learnt during the years he had presided that a Prov . Grand Master could accomplish nothing unless backed up by his Prov . G . Officers , especially his Dep . Prov . G . M . He had been most singularly fortunate in the deputies he had had under him during the past 20 years . There was Bro . Sedgwick , whom some of the older brethren remembered , and who had served as Prov . G . Sec . Then they had Bro .

Wilson lies , whose memory was still green amongst them ,- and who first fave that revival to the work in the individual lodges . Then followed Bro . ) awson , whom they were all pleased to welcome in the lodge , and last but not least Bro . Lake , who they hoped would long be spared to continue his good work . A Prov . G . Master like himself , with pressure of other

avocations , could appreciate the value of the services of such a Deputy as Bro . Lake . VVith regard to the other Prov . Grand Officers , one and all had striven to do their duty , and those appointed that day would resolve not to be one whit behind their predecessors in carrying on the traditions of the Province .

Bro . G . E . L AKE , Dep . Prov . G . Master , returned thanks , and said their hearts were in Masonry , and any services they had placed at the disposal of the Prov . G . Master would continue at the disposal of Masonry in the Province . The officers would use their utmost endeavour 10 rival their predecessors , and carry on the excellent working which , as had been remarked , was revived by Bro . Wilson lies . He

remembered that when he was initiated in the province it was the exception for the Master to do his own work , but now the contrary was the rule , and it was a point of honour that every Master placed in the position did his work . That was largely due to the efforts of the senior numbers of the Province , and he ventured to say similar efforts would not be wanting in the future .

The Prov . G . M . bjing obliged to lewe to attend to duties in another place , the Dep . Prov . G . M . assumed the chair , and proposed " The Victors , " to which Bro . DE LARA COHEN , P . G . Stwd ., replied . Bro . J . TERRY , Sec . R . M . B I ., responding on behalf of " The Masonic Charities , " said that in an assembly like that , where so miny had done their best on behalf of their Institutions , very few words were required . £ 19 , 000 collected for the Boys' School , . £ 18 , 500 for the Girls , and , £ 13 , 100 for the

Old People was a grand result to attain in one year from the Masonic body . The Centenary of the Girls' School realised £ 51 , 500 , and ( he Craft grew in four years so that in . 1892 , at only a "Jubilee" of the Old People ' s Institution , £ 69 , 000 was collected . In a few years they would have the Centenary of the Boys , and with the growth of the Craft who should say that the announcement that would then be made would not run into six figures in

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire

the pounds column ? The Girls' Institution was one they all fell in love with on visiting it , and the Boys' would be the backbone of the Craft in the future . What were they to do with the Old People ? Those who had spent their lives well , and had honourably maintained the reputation of the Craft , but then adversity overtaking them , had reluctantly been compelled to ask for assistance . Wh ? n he was first elected an officer of the Institution 30 years ago , they had only to raise- ^ 1800 to pay the annuitants , but now

£ 16 , 100 was required . The men then received £ 26 and the widows £ 25 ; now the amounts were £ 40 and £ 32 respectively . They now had 475 annuitants , and therefore he ventured to say that , whilst the girls and boys could appeal to their sympathies on account of their youth , let them not forget those who had been overwhelmed by trouble and misfortune . He appealed to them to support that Institution , which , although the youngest of the three , was the most deserving of them all in his way of thinking .

" The Worshipful Masters of Lodges in the Province and the Bushey Hall Lodge" was then submitted by the DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , and Bro . C . E . BIRCH , W . M . 2323 , P . J . G . W ., in response , thanked them for the great honour conferred upon the Bushey Hall Lodge by holding the Prov . G . Lodge meeting under its banner . The members had done their

best to give them a good reception . He hoped they had enjoyed themselves . The Tyler's toast then closed what was unanimously agreed to be a very successful gathering , thanks to the efforts of the entertaining lodge , the brilliant weather , and , last but not least , the beautiful building and grounds in which the meeting had taken place .

Under the direction of Bros . A . R . Bilby and C . Winterbon ths following artistes assisted in the musical programme : Miss Agnew Samson , Miss Ada Wntchurst , and Messrs . Herbert Groves , and Harrison Brockbank .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Shropshire

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SHROPSHIRE

By command of the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Sir Offiey Wakeman , Bart ., the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Town Hall , Whitchurch , on Tuesday , the 31 st ult . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form , and the Prov . Grand Master , and the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . R . G . Venables , J . P ., P . A . G . D . C . were saluted . Bros . J . Bodenham [ and W . H . Spaull , P . A . G . Dirs . of . Cers , and Capt . G , Williams Freeman , P . G . W . Egypt , were also saluted .

The minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge , held at Shrewsbury on 21 st September , 1893 , were read and confirmed . Letters of apology for inability to accept invitations were read from Bros . Lord Egerton of Tatton , and Horatio Lloyd , Esq ., the Prov . G . Master and the ¦ Deputy Prov . G . Master of Cheshire . Letters of apology , for absence were read from Bro . Sir Chas . Soame , Bart ., P . Prov . G . W ., and from other brethren .

The roll of lodges was called over , and showed every lodge in the province to be represented , the number of brethren in attendance being 61 . The accounts of the Prov . Grand Lodge to the 31 st December , 1893 , showed a balance in the bank of £ 47 3 s . 3 d ., and the Prov . G . Master , after

congratulating the Prov . Grand Lodge on the satisfactory statement , moved that it be adopted and printed , it was further proposed that Bro . J . H . Cooksey bs re-elected Prov . G . Treas ., and this was unanimously agreed to . The Prov . G . Master then proceeded to appoint and invest his officers for the ensuing year , as follows :

Bro . R . G . Venables , 611 ( re-appointed ) ... Dep . Prov . G . M . „ A . E . Lloyd-Oswell , 262 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ T . J . SaIwey , 6 n ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . G . R . Plant , 2311 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ 1 . H . Cooksev , 1621 ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . '

„ A . S . Townsend , 611 and 117 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ VV . H . Spaull , 1124 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec . „ G . C . Cooper , 1621 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ R . Willams , 1896 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . D . Southam , 262 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ W . Adams 2311 and 117 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . Baxter , 2311 and 117 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . B . Morris , 117 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " T : ^??' " ::::::- ^ v ™ . * . ** . ** .

,, C . T . Reynolds , 1124 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Org . „ R . J . Roberts , 1432 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ R . A . Burdon , 1120 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ A . Joyce , 2311 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ S . C . Southam , 262 ... ... .,, ^ 1

„ W . Calwell , 601 „ W . H . Packer , 1120 ... ... ... In / - c . . „ W . Martin , 1432 ... > Prov . G . Stwds . „ W . Rhodes , 1621 ... ... ... I

„ A . C . Mmshall , 2131 ... ... „ . J ,, J . Cartwright , 18 9 6 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Tyler . The DEI ' PROV . GRAND MASTER read the report of the Committee appointed to compile the Provincial Calendar , which showed a profit of £ 2 5 s . on the sale of 271 copies , and the Prov . Grand Master in complimenting the Committee on the success attending the publication , moved

that the same brethren be re-appointed to compile the calendar for the ensuing year . This was unanimously agreed to . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER then read his report on the position of lodges , by which it appeared there were 348 subscribing members to the 12 lodges , the number of initiations in the year 1893 having been 21 and the joining members 12 .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER expressed his pleasure at the continued progress of Masonry in Shropshire and intimated that the next meeting would be held at Bridgnorth under the banner of the Castle Lodge , No . 1621 . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to a luncheon at the Victoria Hotel .

The Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and in response to that of " The Charities , " Bro . J . M . McLeod , P . P . G . W . Derbyshire , Secretary to the R . M . I , lor Boys , alluded to the gratifying fact that a sum of nearly £ 50 , had in the present year been raised for the three Institutions , and towards which this province had borne its share . In eloquent terms Bro . McLeod impressed upon the brethren to still further support these Charities , the claims upon which were continuous .