Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex was held on Saturday , last at the Town Hall , Uxbridge , under the presidency of Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., Prov . Grand Master . Provincial Grand Lodge was opened by Sir Francis Burdett , who had the support of the following : Bros Raymond H . Thrupp , D . P . G . M . ; James Inglis , P . P . G . S . W ., as P . G . S . W . ; H . T Adams , P . G . J . W . ; Rev . R . Fawssett , P . G . Chap . ; H . G . Buss , P . G . Treas . ; J . W LambertP . G . Reg . ; J . F . H . Woodward , P . G . Sec . ; A . G . Fisher , P . G . S . D . ;

, A Brvant , P . G . J . D . ; D . P . Cama , P . G . Swd . Br . ; E . M . Lott , G . O ., P . G . Org . ; W . H . Lee , P . G . A . Sec . ; J . Featherstone , P . G . A . D . C . ; and J . Gilbert , P . G . Tyler . Amonest others presenc were the following Past Prov . G . Officers : Bros . G . Cordwell , P P G R . ; D . VV . Fenn , P . G . R . ; VV . Coombes , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . C . D . Crespigny , P ' PGC : VV . H . Green , P . P . G . D . C ; J . M . Stedwell , P . G . J . W . ; F . Walters , PG ' . D ' ; J . George , P . G . O . ; H . Lovegrove , P . P . G . S . W . ; J . Tickle , P . P . G . R . ; \ J . W BaldwinF . VV . Levander , P . P . G . S . D . ; Edwin Gilbert , P . P . G . S . ; C . W .

; Pridmore ; C . J . Axford ; W . A . Rogers ; W . Taylor ; J . B . Ryley ; C . Graham ; T VV Cooper ; ] . J . Marsh , P . G . S . B . ; Thomas Nolan , W . M . 1309 ; Geo . Tegg , W . M . 1237 ; F . Knight , S . W . 1326 ; J . J . Wilson , J . W . 3 S 2 ; W . H . Rohrs , P . M . g 6 ; H . W . Nicholson , l . P . M . 3 S 2 ; J . C . JesseII , P . M . 1512 ; K . R . Montgomery , W . M . 1 S 71 ; C . Stevens , l . P . M . 1793 ; C . A . Walter , P . M ., Treas . S 65 ; R . H . Williams . J . W . 86 >; - 1 . Ferguson , P . M . 1691 ; G . Gregory , P . M ., Sec . 20 S 7 ; Spencer R . A . Butler ,

iTOi- W . Angus , P . M . 1310 , 619 ; J . Ethenngton , b . W . 1310 ; 1 . Or . Holdsworth , S D . ' nio : H . A . Pitkin , 3 S 2 ; R . C . Hall , S . W . 3 S 2 ; G . J . Jenkins , 3 S 2 ; T . Aitken , 3 S 2 ; Joseph Lonsdale , P . M . 3 S 2 ; James Taplin , J . D . 3 S 2 ; E . Cotton , W . M . 3 S 2 ; Charles Veal , Sec . 1549 ; E . Stanton , 77 S ; A . Bailey , Org . 382 ; G . Clark , jun ., P . M . 1777 ; Harston , S . W . S 65 ; F . J . Parks , l . P . M . 1777 ; R . Bilby , 1702 ; J . J . Schloss , 1702 ; P . VV . Morfitt , 1 S 61 ; J . T . Briggs , S . D . 1503 ; J . A . Wilson , 1326 ; E Baber P . M . 123 s ; F . G . Mitchell , 1226 ; Scurrah , J . W . 204 S ; H ' . H . Room , I . G . Fehrenbach 382 Cruickshanks

1777 VV . J . Spratling , J . W . 1293 ; G . , P . M . ; C . C . , PM Sec . 1777 ; W . Cassila , J . W . 1326 ; John Guest , 1777 ; S . Larcombe , P . M . 7 SS '' W . S . Uunkley , W . M . 1777 ; J . Gait Fisher , P . M . 1191 ; M . L . Larlham , P . M . ' . ' . 1 Finch , l . D . 1793 ; J . Osborn , W . M . 1897 ; E . Rogers , J . W . 123 S ; C . Corston , P . M . 865 ; J . Proffitt , P . M . 13 S 9 ; J . Woodmason , 1639 ; C . S . Buck , W . M . 1702 ; John Hill , Sec . 1702 ; W . T . Buck , P . M . . 1702 ; J . Hepburn , P . M . 1702 ; C . 1 . Knightley , 1744 ; H . D . Cama , 255 ; N . D . Fracis , J . W . 255 ; G . T . Clayton , l . P . M . 1782 ; and others .

After the formal opening of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and the calling over the roll of Provincial Grand Officers and of lodges of the province , the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge were read and verified , and the reports of the Audit and Charity Committees were read and

confirmed . The Provincial Grand Lodge then voted £ 10 to a distressed brother . The R . W . PROV . GRAND MASTER announced that , after many years ' connection with the province , Bro . Buss had resigned the Prov . Grand Treasurership , and he regretted that ill-health was the cause of it . He hoped , however , that Bro . Buss mig ht be spared for many years to visit Provincial Grand Lodge in the character of Past Prov . Grand Treasurer . He had looked round with a view of proposing some fit and proper brother

for the post , and he had much pleasure in proposing Bro . Archer , P . P . G . W ., as Prov . Grand Treasurer , vice Bro . Buss . The motion having been seconded , Bro . TICKLE raised a discussion on the advisability of electing a new Grand Treasurer every year , instead of re-electing the same brother . The PROV . GRAND M ASTER ruled that the question was not before the

Provincial Grand Lodge . Bro . Archer was then unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treasurer . The following brethren were invested Provincial Grand Officers for the year ensuing : Bro . W . A . Rogers ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ W . Taylor ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . S . Saunders ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . S . Buller ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, F . B . Archer ( elected ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ lohn Proffitt ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

T . F . H . Woodward ... ... ... frov . aec . „ W . H . Lee ( re-appointed ) ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Sec . „ VV . Coombes ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ C . Graham Prov . G . S . D . „ J . W . Baldwin ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . .. C . A . Walter ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . __

W . T . Buck Prov . G . S . ofW . I arcomb ... ... •¦• Prov . G . D . of C . " Axord Prov . G . D . D . C . : ; LoS & e S - cH- , i R lessett ... ••• Prov . G . Swd . Br . " 7 . Osborne ... ... ... - Prov . G . Std . Br .

„ C . W . Pridmore ... ... Prov . G . btd . Br . „ C . Stevens ... ... ... - P ™ v . G . Org . Featherstone ... ... ¦¦¦ Prov . G . Purst . " Ed . Gilbert ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . A . Purst . Bros . R . H . Williams , 865 ; J . G . Fisher , 1194 ; Dr . ~ \ h * ' *?&> ^ J- £ o uso £ i 1 ( . T- ?¦ Prov . G . Stwds . Goodchild , 1793 ; and K . R . Montgomery , \

1871 ¦•• ••• ••• •¦• ' „ „ , Bro . J . Gilbert ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Twenty guineas were voted to the memorial fund being raised for the late Bro . H . C . Levander , Prov . G . Sec , on the motion of Bro . H . Lovegrove . The sum of 15 guineas was voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls a similar sum to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the like sum to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and

Widows of Freemasons . On the motion of Bro . T ICKLE a Committee was appointed to consider the best means of recognising the services of Bro . Buss to the Province of Middlesex . On the motion of Bro . Buss a Committee was appointed to revise the bye-laws of the Provincial Grand Lodge . After some further business , the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Chequers Hotel , where an excellent banquet

awaited them . The PROV . GRAND MASTER , after dinner , proposed " The Health of the Oueen , " and of "The Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " whose efforts on

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

behalf of the Order of which he is the head he highly commended , and referred with satisfaction to the initiation of Prince Albert Victor by the Gran d Master as a proof of the interest he took in the Craft . The toast of "The Grand Officers" was responded to by Bro . H . G . . Buss , Past Assist . G . Sec , and Past Prov . G . Treas . Middx ., who said that the toast should really have found a respondent in Bro . Thrupp , who was of

higher rank in the Craft than he . But as the Master could do no wrong , and as the Prov . Grand Master had called upon him ( Bro . Buss ) to reply , he felt bound to do so . Sir F . Burdett having referred to * . is ( Bro . Buss ' s ) services to the Province of Middlesex , he thanked him very much for his kind observations . The brethren had so fully exhausted the subject of the qualifications of those who held office in the Craft that any words of commendation from him in responding for those Grand Officers would not be

necessary . The Prov . Grand Master had spoken of the Earl of Carnarvon and the Earl of Lathom in terms which every member of the Craft would know they were entitled to ; both were most excellent Masons and Grand Officers , and were always willing to do everything they could for the service of the noble Craft . On their behalf he therefore thanked the Prov . Grand Master and brethren , but he regretted his name had been coupled with the toast , because if Bro . Thrupp had had to respond the brethren would have been favoured with a speech worth listening to .

Bro . RAYMOND H . THRUPP , P . G . D ., who was loudly called for , said the brethren had already had a very good reply from an old and experienced Mason , but as the brethren required a few more words he would add that all the Grand Officers appreciated the encomiums passed on them at the banquets wherever they went , as well as the high estimate they experienced of the efforts they made for the Order .

Bro . E . M . LOTT , Grand Org ., also replied , in answer to repeated calls . Bro . RAYMOND H . THRUPP , D . P . G . M ., proposed " The R . W . Prov . Grand Master . " All Provincial Masons had known Sir Francis Burdett for a good many years , but no brother , however humble in the lodge , even if he had been only a year in the Craft , could say that he did not receive a

hearty greeting from the Prov . Grand Master . That was one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Prov . Grand Master for Middx . He had always a kind word for every brother in the province , and that was the reason there was such a large gathering at the table that evening , even though they met in such a remote part of the province .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in reply to the toast , which was most warmly received , thanked the brethren for their hearty reception of him , and also thanked the Deputy Prov . Grand Master for his kind words . He felt he did not deserve th ' em , though he could confirm the statement that he was always ready to receive every brother that came among them , whether he was a junior or a senior member of the Order . He was also glad on

all occasions to see brethren of the higher grades and the older members of the province . As long as he could see the brethren rally round him as they had on that occasion , he should do all he could for the province and the brethren . He was now an old member of the province , and he must say it had gratified him very much to see the advance the province had made , in the last six or eight years especially . They were now out in the far districts of

the province , and he could not have expected to see so large a number of brethren assemble at such an inconvenient place ; but as they had come , and so readily , too , he must thank them most sincerely . He had believed there would be a very different attendance in consequence of the difficulty of getting there ; but it might yet be better when other railways came down there . There was no difficulty coming down from Paddington at present . The Provincial Grand Chapter took place at the Mitre , Hampton Court , on

the 22 nd of this month , and he would be very glad to see Royal Arch Masons there . He then ' proposed " The Deputy Prov . Grand Master , " a genial , kind-hearted Mason , who if anything was wanted to be done was always ready to do it , not only the ordinary working of Masonry , but in every instance he was perfectly up in the work he was asked to perform . He did not think there was a brother in the province so efficient , and he ( the Prov . Grand Master ) felt very small indeed bv the side of him .

Bro . RAYMOND H . THRUPP , Dep . Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex , responding , said there was a very strong body of Prov . Grand Officers , and they all endeavoured to keep up the prestige of the province . They were only too proud and pleased to work for the good of the province . Every one of them did all he could to promote the welfare of the Craft in the Province of Middlesex , and so long as they had Sir Francis Burdett to preside over them , they would continue to do everything they could to promote its interest .

The PROV . GRAND'MASTER next proposed "The Visitors , " and apologised for cutting the toasts so short , accounting for it by the circumstance that the brethren were all going to leave b y the 8 . 20 p . m . train . They were much gratified to see the visitors , and should be gratified to see them again . When these banquets took place the brethren of the province were not more gratified with them than they were to see visitors enjoy themselves . He hoped on the next occasion there would be even more visitors than there were at present . He called upon Bro . H . Massey to respond .

Bro . H . MASSEY , P . M . 619 and 1928 , in reply , said that , though he was there as a humble member of the roll of visitors , he believed there was no visitor present more competent to acknowledge the hospitality of the Grand Lodge of Middlesex , as no visitor had experienced more of it . On all occasions he had been received in the province with the most unbounded

hospitality , and , though he was never fond of replying to toasts , he was glad on this occasion to have had the opportunity afforded him of , even though inadequately , acknowledging so much past kindness . The Prov . G . Tyler , Bro . GILBERT , then gave the Tyler's toast , and the brethren separated .

An excellent programme of music was performed , under the direction of Bro . Edwin M . Lott , Past Prov . Grand Organist , by Bros . Collins , Arthur Weston , Co . son Philips , and Franklin C . ive .