The Eastern Division Of South Wales.

THE EASTERN DIVISION OF SOUTH WALES .

It is not often that it falls to the lot of a Provincial Grand Master to be called upon to perform three important Masonic functions within a year of his installation . The work of Freemasonry proceeds in ordinary circumstances so quietly , with such

method and regularity , that the one great gathering in the course of the year in which the Grand Master of the majority of our Provinces takes part is the meeting of his Provincial Grand Lodge . Bro . Lord LLANGATTOCK , however , who was in the

autumn of last year appointed successor to the late Bro . Sir GEORGE ELLIOT , Bart ., has been exceptionally fortunate , and when , in obedience to his direction , the brethren of his Province met in annual communication at Cardiff on Thursday , the

26 th ult ., there was not only the usual business of Provincial Grand Lodge to be transacted , but a new Masonic Hall to be opened , and a new lodge to be consecrated . This augurs well

for South Wales East under the guidance of its new chief , and we trust the auguries may prove true , and that the Province has a long spell of good fortune awaiting it in the future . Not that it has not had a successful career under Lord LLANGATTOCK's

predecessors in office . When the late Bro . Sir GEO . ELLIOT was appointed Provincial Grand Master , in 1876 , there were n lodges on the roll , and during his administration warrants for eight additional ones were granted , but of these the Duke of

York Lodge , No . 2453 , was not consecrated till towards the close of last month . In the year that has elapsed since the present Provincial Grand Master was installed , two further warrants have been granted , namely , for the Llangattock Lodge , No .

2547 , and the Llewelyn Lodge , No . 2570 , both located at Cardiff . There are now , therefore , 21 lodges in the Eastern Division of South Wales , and of these as many as six belong to Cardiff and three to Swansea . There is , too , as was stated in our report of

last week , a rumour abroad that ere long another lodge will be inaugurated for the benefit of professional men , so that the prospects of the Craft in this part of Wales are most encouraging . But to return to the meeting on the 26 th ultimo—as

might have been expected , the brethren assembled in unusuall y large numbers from all parts of the Province on this occasion and the new hall was opened and the new lodge consecrated amid demonstrations of satisfaction which show

that Freemasonry has established a firm hold on the affections of our South Wales brethren . The opening of the hall in particular marks a new era in the progress of the Craft in this part of the principality and may be taken to indicate an earnest desire on

the part of' the brethren that the surroundings of Freemasonry shall be in all respects worthy of its ancient reputation . As regards the special functions which had brought together so large a concourse of members , it is almost needless to say that

they were carried out successfully , while as for the business that was set down for transaction in Provincial Grand Lodge , it must have been gratifying in the extreme , both to Lord LLANGATTOCK and the brethren . The statement of account presented by the

° rov . Grand Treasurer showed a balance to the good of between £ 160 and £ 170 , and of this 50 guineas was voted as a donation ' ° the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and one of equal a | nount to the local Educational and Widows' Fund , which now

"as a credit balance of £ 1464 . The number of subscribing mem"Crs was not given , but it was stated that during the year ended ;" 3 rd December , 18 94 , 106 candidates for initiation and 28 joining members had been placed on the roll of the Province . n fine , the records for the past year prove to have been

The Eastern Division Of South Wales.

exceptionally favourable and at the banquet with which the varied proceedings of the day were brought to a conclusion , tin * Prov . Grand Master , his officers , and the representatives of lodges had little else to do than congratulate each other on thc admirable manner in which the Province had thriven durinp * th *

opening year of Lord LLANGATTOCK ' administration . Wc hope the records of future years under his lordshi p ' s auspices will be at least as favourable .

The Province Of Dureham.

THE PROVINCE OF DUREHAM .

The transactions of the Provincial Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Chapter of Durham are invariabl y pleasant reading , and convey to those who are privileged to peruse them a very favourable impression ofthe zeal and energy of Durham brethren

and their devotion to the interests and well-being of the Craft . There is a good deal of quiet enthusiasm about our Northern brethren . They set about their appointed duties very calmly , but , at the same time , with a determination to carry them out

thoroughly . There is no hurry , no fuss , no ostentation over what they do . But Freemasonry has contrived to establish an exceedingly firm hold on their love and respect , and thus it has come to pass that when thebrethren in other parts of the country

are favoured with an insight into thoir proceedings , the results of their labours during any specified time are always found to be satisfactory . Last week we published an account of their annual meeting at Jarrow , on the 24 th ult ., and , though we were

able to furnish a mere outline of what was done , or reported to have been done , during the past 12 months , enough was said to show that in 18 94-5 , as in previous years , the condition of the Craft is prosperous , and its prospects encouraging .

Grants were voted of 60 guineas to each of the Masonic Schools and one of 70 guineas to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , while the fees of honour received from the brethren appointed to provincial office were set aside for the local

Masonic Chanty . The Charities Committee were likewise able to report that the donations and subscriptions that had been contributed during the past year were in excess of those raised during any year since the Durham Masonic Educational Fund was founded . The Provincial Grand Master—Bro . Sir HED

WORTH WILLIAMSON , Bart . —was able to add his testimony as to the progress that had been made since their last annual meeting and , as he was also in a position to announce that Bro ; Lord BARNARD , the Prov . S . G . Warden of the past year and J . G .

Warden of England , had sufficiently recovered from his recent severe illness to be able to leave Raby , there was nothing of very serious moment to mar the general effect of all these welcome announcements , at least nothing more serious than

those losses which are inevitable in every community , and of which very kindly and sympathetic mention was made by Bro . Sir H . WILLIAMSON . Subsequentl y the Provincial Grand Master appointed his officers for the ensuing year , and the proceedings

in lodge having been concluded , he occupied the chair at the accustomed banquet , the only drawback from the general enjoyment being the unavoidable absence of the respected Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . the Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , D . D .,

Past Grand Chaplain . We congratulate both the Provincial Grand Master and the lodges and brethren over which he has presided for the last 10 years on the condition of Craft Masonry in the county of Durham . And , as with Craft , so with Royal Arch Masonry , the condition and prospects appear to be equally