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great credit is due to Bros . Buss , P . G . Treas . ; Little , P . G . Sec , and the Chairman of the Board of Stewards , Bro . Parkinson , for the attention and care they bestowed upon the general arrangements .

SOMERSETSHIRE . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , R . W . Proy . G . M . of Somerset , summoned a Provincial Grand Lodge for the 20 th inst ., at the Mechanics ' Hall , Frome , for thedisposal of business connected with the province , and to appoint officers for the

ensuing year . On the evening of the 19 th , however , a telegram was received from his Lordship , expressing his great regret that indisposition would prevent his attendance . The chair was in consequence taken by the V . W . D . Prov . G . M . Captain Bridges .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at one o ' clock . The whole of the lodges in the province were represented , and the accommodation provided for the comfort of the brethren gave great satisfaction .

The decoration of the hall was entrusted to Mr . C . Holloway , and the effective manner in which he performed his task fully entitled him to the praise which he deservedly received ; the appearance of the interior of the hall in the daytime is not of the gayest description , but on Thursday last it was transformed .

On entering the hall , the first thing which attracted attention was the organ gallery , which presented all the appearance of a grove , the gilded pipes of the organ harmonising with the dark green [ colour of the laurel shrubs by which it was surrounded . The platform , which was

carpeted , was arranged as a dais , and around the throne was placed some beautiful ferns , kindly lently for the purpose by Bro . A . R . Baily . The walls on either side were festooned with evergreens , looped up to a point between each of the niches , and surmounted by a group of flags of

all nations , springing from a shield bearing a Masonic device . Altogether , the appearance of the hall was such as we have not seen at any previous Provincial Grand Lodge in the county . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been

opened , the minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge held on the 18 th of July , 1871 , at Crewkerne , and also the minutes of the special Provincial Grand Lodge held on the 3 th of March last were read and confirmed .

An address was signed congratulating the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . D . G . M . of England , and R . W . Prov . G . M . of Somerset , upon his recovery from serious illness , and the presentation of such address was moved by the V . W . D . Prov . G . M .

The Treasurer ( Bro . E . 1 ' . Payne ) next presented his accounts , by which it appeared that Masonry was making a steady and satisfactory progress in the Province , and the accounts having been previously audited , they were now presented and passed .

The various offices having been declared vacant , and the insignia of office delivered at the foot of the pedestal , the V . W . D . P . G . M . then proceeded to appoint and invest the officers for the ensuing year as follows : — Bro . Herniman , P . M . 261 Proy . G . SAY .

„ Inskip , W . M . 973 ... Prov . G . J . W . " v ^ w ^ h r -9 4 ' 1 Prov . G . Chaplains . „ Rev . W . lebbs , C . 28 3 j ' „ E . T . Payne' P . M . 33 Prov . G . Treasurer , „ W . H . Davis . W . M . 2 ' 91 Proy . G . Registrar . „ R . C . Else , P . M . 291 Prov . G . Secretary . „ Loder , W . AI . , 379 Proy . G . S . D .

„ | no . Chaffin , W . M . 329 Prov . G . | . D . „ Wilcox , W . M . 41 Prov . G . ' s . W . „ Hodge , S . W . 291 Prov . G . Dir . Cers . „ Saunders , ) W . M . 28-3 ... Proy . G . A . D . C .

„ Capt . Phayre , P . M . 3 . 3 Prov . G . S . B . ,, Macfarlane , W . M . 1296 Prov . G . Organist . „ Bragg . W . M . 1197 Proy . G . Purst . „ Motintstevens . S . W . 1199 Prov . G . A . Purst . ,, Woodward , T . 291 ... Prov . G . Tyler .

„ Carter , T . 3 , 3 Prov . G . A . Tyler . Bros . R . A . " Baily , J . D . 97 . 3 ; S . J . Parsons , Sec . 97 . 3 ; K . Baker , 1917 : Douglas , 41 ; Batten , 29 ; Gore , , 379 : were appointed Prov . Grand Stewards .

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The following resolution was then proposed by Bro . E . T . Payne , P . G . D . of England , P . P . G . S . W ., P . G . Treas .. and seconded by Bro . R . C . Else , P . P . G . S . W ., P . G . Sec , and carried : — " That a committee be appointed to regulate

( so far as the Governors and Subscribers resident in the Province will permit ) the support to be given to the various candidates for admission to the benefit of the Charities belonging to the Order with a view to prevent the waste of strength which has occurred of late—and that such

committee be permanent—and to name the members of such committee if appointed . " Bro . Payne then nominated the Committee , which was agreed to . A sum of £ 1 $ was granted to the representatives of the widow of Bro . Hellier , P . G . T .,

deceased , to defray funeral expenses ; a contribution of £ 10 towards a fund to purchase a small annuity for the widow of the late Bro . Farebrother of 285 ; and SST , to the widow of Bro . Miller , of Bath . A collection was then made in the lodge , which amounted to the sum of £ 3 14 s . 3 d .

At 3 . 30 the brethren sat down to a sumptuous banquet , provided by Mr . Brunsdon , in the Assembly room , George Hotel . The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers , lent for the occasion by Bros . J . Baily and A . R . Baily . The viands were both plentiful and good , and ample justice was done to the good cheer provided .

The toasts were : "Ihe Queen and the Craft ;" "The M . W . Bro . the Marquis of Ripon , G . M . of England ; " "The M . W . Bros . theP . G . M . ' s of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and the Earl of Zetland ; " "The R , W . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , D . G . M . of England , and the rest of the Grand Officers , past and present ; " "The R . W . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon . P . G . M . of

Somerset ; " "The V . W . Bro . Capt . Bridges , D . P . G . M ., and the other P . G . officers , past and present ; " "The Visiting Brethren ; " "The W . M ., Officers , and Brethren of the Royal Somerset Lodge , No . 97 , 3 ; " " the W . M . ' s and Wardens of the other , lodges in the province" ; "The Masonic Charities ; " and "The T yler ' s Toast . "

The whole arrangements at the hall and at the banquet , were greatly praised , and reflect credit on those to whom was confided the pleasing duty of catering for the comfort of the numerous visitors .

SUFFOLK . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODOK . On Monday afternoon the Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk was opened at the Town Hall , Sudbury , by the R . W . Sir Robert A . Shafto Adair , Bart ,, P . G . M ., assisted by the W . the Rev . E . J . Lockwood , M . A ., D . P . G . M .

The Provincial Grand Lodge , which is over a century old , held its annual meeting for the first time at Sudbury . The rector of St . Peters declined to allow the use of his church for the service , and although there is another church in the town , it was felt to be more complimentary to

the W . M . of the Stour Valley Lodge , the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chaplain of England , to hold the service at Melford church . The unusual procedure must have been very gratifying to the Rev . gentleman , but not more than he deserves , both as a trood mason , and a most kind

and courteous gentleman . Propably but for him the town would not have had the honour of a visit from the Provincial Grand Lodge . Previous to the lodge being opened , the Finance Board had met at half-pasteleven o ' clock in the morning , at the Audit Room of the

Hospital , Long Melford , after which the brethren attended the fine old church at Melford for Divine service . The parish appeared to be quite eu fete ; the bells were rung merrily , bunting was profusly displayed , and the inhabitants , who turned out in full force to witness the procession

of the Masons , had erected a triumphal arch oyer the gateway leading to the church , ornamented with evergreens and flowers , and bearing the following inscriptions . On the side facing the street , " Bear ye one anothers' burdens , " and on

the reverse , " Glory to God , good will to men , " flanked by two masonic emblems- —the square and compasses and the united triangles . The church , which is a fine ancient architecture , is dedicated to the Holy Trinity , and

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is a Gothic structure about one hundred and eighty feet long , with a small square tower of more modern construction , in which is a peal of eight bells . The sacred edifice , which possesses five very beautiful stained glass windows ,

contains several ancient brasses , and monuments of the Martyn , Parker , and Cordell families , especially one of Sir William Cordell , Speaker of the House of Commons in the reign of Philip and Mary . The register commences in 1539 .

The service , which was well attended both b y the inhabitants and the brethren of the lodge , who were attired in their elegant Masonic costumes , was full choral , and commenced with the following Masonic hymn , sung to tune 125 , " Hymns Ancient and Modern " : —

" When I hud the foundation of the earth , the morning stars sang together , and all the Sons of God shouted for joy . " When the Almi ghty Architect Had planned the heavens and earth ,

The hosts on hi gh in concert joined , To sing aloud its birth . The sons of God , the morning ' stars In one glad hymn unite To praise the work , while angel choirs Welcome the new born light .

And so one song of harmony Rang through the heaven above ; The note they sing in glad accord Is God ' s unending love . And we too , Lord , befoie Thee met ,

Our feeble hymn would raise , With hearts as one , we try to tell The great Creator ' s praise .

O God , thou could ' st the glorious light From blackest chaos move ; Then sin dispel from human hearts , And light them with thy love

Maker of all things , end they plan , Bind hearts of men as one , Till we , like brothers , hand in hand , Shall seek our Father ' s throne .

And thus with th y inspiring love A new creation frame , And saints above shall join with us To praise the Maker ' s name .

Great Master Builder , prais'd be thou , The God whom we adore ; Be glory as it was , is now , And shall be evermore . Amen . The usual afternoon service up to the Psalms

was then intoned by the Rev . Mr . Brigg . The Psalms , which were the 1 . 5 th , the 19 th , and the 1 , 3 . 3 rd , were chanted to Barnbey in E ; the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were sung to King ' s Service in F , and the responses were those of

Hopkins . The lessons , which were very appropriate to the occasion , were read , the first b y Bro . the Rev . Dr . Bennett , and the second b y Bro . the Rev . Air . Beaumont , then commenced his sermon preaching from the 4 th verse of 1 St .

Peter , II . chap , to verse 17 , inclusive . The second porlion of the service was intoned by the Rev . Mr . Brigg , and the Anthem , which was the collect for Uuinquagesima Sunday , was J . Marsh ' s . Bro . A . I . Barber , Provincial Grand

Organist , and Bro . A . Orlando Steed , Organist of the church , presided at the organ . The sermon was preached b y the former , being II . Chronicles , chapter ii ., and the latter the \ ery Worshipful the Rev . Charles [ . Martyn , M . A .,

rector ol Melford , Past Grand Chaplain of England , and Worshipful Master of the Stour Valley Lodge , No . 1224 , Sudbury . The prayer offered b y the Rev . gentleman , before the sermon , was as follows -.

—O Almighty God , Great and Grand Architect of the Universe , at whose word the pillars of the Sky were raised , and its beauteous arches formed . Endue with a competence of Thy Most Hol y Spirit , thy servants who are assembled in Th y

great name to acknowledge Thy power , Thy wisdom , and Thy goodness , and to implore Th y blessing , that we may be enabled to trace Thee out in till Thy wonderful works , that Thy praise

may resound with the fervent love of Thy creatures from pole to pole , grant this O God , through Jesus Christ our Lord . Amen . The preacher , before commencing his sermon ,