Provincial Grand Lodge Of Worcestershire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WORCESTERSHIRE .

' . The Perseverance Lodge , No , 573 , at Halesowen , this year celebrate their 50 th anniversary , and at the invitation of the members the Prov . G . Lodge was held on Tuesday , the 25 th ult ., in the National Schools , which were beautifully draped and decorated for the occasion . There was a

large attendance of brethren from all parts of the country . The Prov . G . Master , Bro . Sir A . Frederick- Godson , was unable to be present , being engaged in the Parliamentary contest at Kidderminster , and the Dep , Prov . G . ' Master , Bro . W . T . Page , officiated , Bro . A . Green being the acting Dep . Prov . G . Master in his stead .

The lodge having been opened by the W . M . of Perseverance Lodge , No . 573 , Bro . G . H . Dunn , the Dep . Prov . G . Master , the G . Officers of England , among whom were Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Secretary of the R . M . I . for Girls , and Bro . John Mason , P . G . Std . Br ., collector of the R . M . Benevolent Institution , and the Prov . G . Officers were received with the customary honours .

The reports presented from the various lodges were of a very satisfactory character , showing that Freemasonry had made good progress in the province during the past year , On the proposition of the DEI * . PROV . GRAND MASTER it was resolved that a donation of £ 10 ios . be made from the Prov . Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence in aid of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

The accounts presented by the Masonic Charity Organisation showed that the receipts from the various lodges amounted to £ 362 103 ., as compared with , £ 262 15 s . in the previous year ; £ 42 had been subscribed to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , £ 31 ios . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and ^ 284 lis . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , leaving a balance in hand of £ 4 9 s . Gratification was expressed that there was an increase in the amount of receipts , and the report was adopted . The following brethren were appointed and invested as Oflicers of Prov . Grand Lodge :

Bro . E . Lowe , 573 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ R . C . Smith Carrington , 280 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ the Rev . J . C . Hill , M . A ., 573 ... - "I Prov G Chans „ the Rev . F . H . Tatham , M . A ., 2724 ... ) ™ - unaPs ' „ W . Somers , 573 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ F . Richards , 23 S 5 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ E . Collins , 560 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ •C . Dakin , 573 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ W . H . Maxey , 280 ... ... ... Prov . LG . D .

„ C . B . Bishop , 2654 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wk . „ G . Foster , 252 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ C . J . Holder , 377 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, J . Wilson , 1204 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ C . M . Griffiths , 2034 ] Pr 0 Vt G . Std # Brs , „ G . G . Poppleton , 2724 ... ... ... ) „ C . B . Shuttleworth , 280 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ S . Fiddian , 564 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ A . W . Edge , 1 S 74 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ A . J . Smitn , 573 ... ... ... ) „ F . Connop , 578 ... ... ... j „ J . Billingham , 573 r Prov . G . Stwds . „ b . S . Sommers , 573 ... ... ... | „ A . J . Grove , 573 „ W . D . Abbiss , 573 ... ... ... j ,, F . VV . Knott , 2 S 0 ... ... ... ( o r-i T- 1 ; J . Duggard , 377 j Prov . G . Tylers .

After the transaction of ordinary business the brethren attended service at the Parish Church , and there was a very large congregation . The service was intoned by Bro . the Rev . F . H . Tatham , M . A ., Prov . A . G . Chap ., and an appropriate sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . J . C . Hill , M . A ., P . G . Chap . The service was fully choral , and the musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . A . J . Grove , choirmaster , and Bro . J . E . Bottomley , P . P . J . G . W ., organist of the Parish Church .

'the anthem was "Seek ye the Lord" ( Dr . J . V . Roberts ) , and was effectively rendered by the choir . The opening and closing voluntaries were played by Bro . C . B , ShuUtewovth , P . G . Org . The usual banquet followed in the evening .

The New Sheriffs.

THE NEW SHERIFFS .

The brief but interesting ceremony accompanying the swearing-in of the new Sheriffs ( Bru . Alderman Vaughan Morgan and Mr . Joseph Lawrence ) took p lace on the 28 th ult . at the Guildhall . The Lord . Mayor , Bro . Sir A . Newton , Bart ., presided . In accordance with ancient custom , a procession was formed of civic dignitaries to the hustings erected in the Great Hall . The aldermen present were : Bros . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., Sir Henry E . Knight , and Sir David Evans , Sir George Faudel-fhillips , Bart ., Bros . Sir J . Voce Moore , Frank Green ,

Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , Alderman and Sheriff-elect Vaughan Morgan , Mr . Sheriff-elect Lawrence , Mr . Alderman Samuel Green , Mr . Alderman Pound , Mr . Alderman Smallman , and liro . Alderman and Sheriff Sir William Treloar . There were present also : The Lord Mayor ' s Chaplain , the Rev . J . Stephen Barrass ; the Chamberlain , Sir Richmond Cotton ; the Town Clerk , Bro .

Sir John B . Monckton ; the Common Serjeant , Mr . Bosanquet , Q . C . ; the Comptroller , Bro . E . A . B : iylis ; the City Solicitor , Bro . Sir Homewood Crawford ; the Remembrancer , Bio . Sir l ' rior Go dney , Bart . ; the Secondary , Mr . T . Vaughan-Kodcrick ; Bro . Under-Sheriff Langton , Mr . Under-Sheriff Gardiner , llro . Sir Edward Clarke , Q . C , Bro . A . G . Sandeman , and many iiitinbeis ol the Court of Common Council .

The business of the day was opened by the Common Crier , Colonel BUKN . MIV , who , having commanded silence , called upon the Sheriffs-elect to come forward , and take upon themselves the office ol Sheriff of London . The Six riffs-elect then advanced to the table , where the qtiaintly . worded and exceedingly elaborate oath and declaration of ollice was administered by the Town Clerk . This formality having been satisfactorily accomplished . Alderman llro . Sir William Treloir divested himself oi his gown and chain of office . Sheriff Bio . Sir Alfred iievan was , unfortunately , unable to be present owing to

The New Sheriffs.

illness . Sir William , therefore , robad the new Sheriffs , and placed their shcieval chains upon their shoulders amid the applause of those present . The ceremony then concluded , and the members of the civic party returned to the Alderman ' s Room , where the new Sheriffs received the congratulations of many close and personal friends . For the first time in its ancient history the Great Hall at Christ ' s Hospital was used for the purpose of the Sheriffs' inauguration breakfast , at which nearly

400 guests were entertainer ! . It seemed a fitting finale to the civic history of Christ ' s Hospital , and , as Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Vaughan Morgan remarked in the course of the festivity , it was the first and the last time that Christ ' s Hospital would witness a similar festivity . The great hall suffered by the absence of the rich stained glass windows , which have been removed to Horsham , but this deficiency was minimised by a lavish display of flags in trophy form . It was also fitting that on such an occasion the C . I . V . flag should be prominently displayed at both ends of the splendid old hall .

Mr . Collingwood Banks , the organist , played some very tuneful selections before breakfast , and the band of the Grenadier Gjards took up the thread of melody during the festivity . The responsibilities of the chair were conjointl y undertaken by the new Sheriffs , whose election has been a very popular one . The company included Bro . Sir William Preece , Mr . Alderman Strong , Sir John Gunn , J . P ., Bro . Alderman Alliston , Mr . Alderman Bell , Bro . Sir Edward Clarke , Q . C , Bro . Alderman and ex-Sheriff Sir William Treloar , Bro . Sir Forrest

Fulton , Q . C , Recorder ; Bro . Alderman Frank Green , Sir W . MacCormac , Bart ., the Hon . R . Clere Parsons , Bro . Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., Bro . the Hon . Sir T . T . Bucknill , the Earl of Lichfield , Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal , Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph Savory , Bart ., the Hon . Alban Gibbs , Sir Trevor Lawrence , Bart ., Bro . Alderman Sir David Evans , Bro . the Rev . Sir Borradaile Savory , Bart ., Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , Vlr . Alderman Pound , Bro . SirGeorafe D . Harris , Mr . Alderman Truscott , Bro . Sir H . H . Bemrose ,

Bro . Alderman Samuel Green , Sir James Henderson , J . P ., Mr . Alderman Smallman , Sir Richmond Cotton , Chamberlain ; Sir Robert Rogers , Mr . S . Vaughan Morgan , Mr . T . Blandford , Bro . Sir Henry Harben , Mr . E . Vaughan Morgan , Mr . J . G . Wainwright , Q . C , Bro . Brigadier-General J . Davis , A . D . C , Mr . E . Beaumont , Mr . B . F . Williams , Q . C , Mr . F . A . Bosanquet , Q . C , Common Serjeant ; Mr . Alderman Crosby , Mr . E . Hovenden , Col . J . Roper Parkington , J . P ., and others .

Bro . Alderman and Sheriff VAUGHAN MORGAN proposed the first toast , namely , " Church and Queen . " By way of prologue he welcomed , on behalf of his colleague and himself , so goodly a company within that historic hall . It was the first time , he added , that it had been used for a Shrieval breakfast , and he feared that it would be the last time it would be available for such a

purpose . He asked those present to drink the health of the illustrious Lady who for 63 years had presided over the destinies of the Empire . Her Majesty had also been a staunch and valued supporter of Christ ' s Hospital , she having been a governor of the Foundation for $ 7 years . Two years

afterwards her Majesty honoured the institution by presiding at a Lenten supper , when he , as a small schoolboy , had the privilege of bowing to their beloved sovereign . ( Cheers . )

URO . ALDERMAN AMI SIIERIFK Her Majesty had always taken a warm VAUGHAN MORGAN . interest in the school , and during the early days of his treasurership her Majesty sent for him and graciously inquired whether she could do anything to aid the governors during the anxious and troubled times which passed over the institution following the changes inaugurated by the Charity Commissioners . At Christ ' s Hospital they remembered that the Queen was not only the head of their glorious Empire , but the head of the Church . He , therefore , asked them to drink to "Church and Queen . " ( Cheers . ) Mr . Sheriff LAWHENCK followed with the toast of " The Princ ? and Princess

of Wales , and the Other Members of the Royal Family . " The toast , like the first , having been honoured with enthusiasm , Bro . Alderman and Sheriff VAUGHAN MORGAN proposed the toast of " The Religious , Royal , and Ancient Foundation of Christ ' s Hospital . " In doing so the Alderman reminded his guests that Christ's Hospital was founded in 1552 by Edward VI ., and that it had for three and a half centuries given shelter , food ,

and education to children of the Empire . During that long period very many ot those who had received careful nurture in mind and body within those hallowed walls had contributed to the history of the British Empire . Indeed , he was not over-stepping the bounds of truth when he said that in almost every p lace where the British flag had been unfurled there also had been found fro m time to time the children of Christ ' s Hospital . He expressed an earnest hope that Christ s

Hospital would for many years to come be able to do as much good as it had rendered in the past , and further , that the funds carefully and liberally dispensed by the governors and friends would benefit future generations of Bluecoat boys . He added that the Prince of Wales had ban a governor of Christ's Hospital for 56 years , and that many other members of the Royal Family appeared upon the rolls . The Duke of Cambridge had been a governor for 59 years , and the

president for 46 years . The governors had hoped that the Duke would have DCUI present that day , but in reply to their invitation his Royal Hig hness wrote : ' I should have attended with pleasure had I been in town , but I am going north , and shall not be back until next month . For many reasons 1 should otherwise have gladly accepted the invitation , not only out of regard for yourself , but as taking place in our line old hall . " The toast was enthusiastically honoured . .

, The toast of " Her Majesty ' s Forces" was proposed in highly appreciatn't terms by Mr . Sheriff LAWRENCE .

Major FRKUKKICK having acknowledged the compliment , Lord LICHFIELD submitted the toast of "The Lord Mayor and the Corpora - tion of the City of London . " His lordship remarked that both the Lord M iyor and the Corporation deserved the good opinion not only of the country , but ol 1 ' Empire at large , for the manner in which they had come forward in a crJse 0 great national importance . Further , they always took the lead in lnsp

it'ihty-As a matter of fact , lUwould be impossible for any other body to renuL , ^ service the Corporation had always done on occasions when a foreign SovereiJ , or victorious general came to this country . In cases of national caliinity ¦ - Lord Mayor issued appeals which were always nobly responded to , a fact J ° testified to the confidence which the nation repoied in the Mmsion u ' ^ ( Cheers . ) In that connection he wished to congratulate the Lord Miy ° " i . the wonderful subscription lists which had marked his occupancy of the 1

chair ; indeed , his lordship ' s year of ofTue would be memorable for thosJ ., funds . Then , again , the mayoralty of Sir Alfred Newton would hi memo . ^ for the creation of the C . I . V . —( cheers )—and when those brave msn return ^^ London he hoped the present Lord Mayor would be in offics to g ive a nwelcome to Ihcm .