Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH WALES .

There was on Thursday a large assemblage of the Masonic brotherhood at Abeiavon on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales ( Eastern Division ) , and of the dedication of a new . Masonic hall at Aberavon . The lodge was opened

at the new hall , in due form , by the Right Worshipful Brother Theodore Mansel Talbot , Provincial Grand Master , and the business of the lodge was proceeded with , and the hall dedicated to Masonic purposes , according to ancient usage .

Upon the motion of the Provincial Grand Master , seconded by Bro . W . H . Martin ( Cardiff ) , P . P . S . G . W ., the sum of fifty guineas was voted to the Masonic School for Boys , and thirty guineas to the Masonic School for Girls . The sum of five guineas was also voted to the

Aberavon Charitable Aid Society . The following officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge were appointed for the ensuing year : —Brothers G . Browne Brock ( 1 , 323 ) , S . G . Warden ; Thomas Davies Daniel ( 8 33 ) , J . G . W , ; David Parker Morgan ( 833 ) , G . Chaplain ; John

Jones ( 8 33 ) , G . Treasurer ; Frederick Cowderey Hill ( 36 ) , G . Registrar ; Walter Whittington ( 364 ) , G . Secretary ; William Henry Tucker , sen . ( 237 ) , G . S . Deacon ; William Henry Davies , jun . ( 960 ) , G . J . Deacon ; William Griffith Davies ( 364 ) , G . Supt . of Works ; John Mills Seddon

( 160 ) , G . D . of Ceremonies ; S . W . Hurford ( 36 ) , G . D . of Ceremonies ; John Rogers ( 237 ) , G . Sword Bearer ; Fred . Atkins , Mus . Baa , Oxon ( 960 ) , G . Organist ; Thomas Windsor Jacobs ( 36 ) , G . Pursuivant ; George Butterwell ( 237 ) , G . Tyler ; Wm . Lychar Ileed Jackson

( 833 ) , Robert Jones ( 833 ) , Thomas Rosser Robinson ( 237 ) , John Charles Barny ( 364 ) , David Hopkins ( 9 60 ) , Grand Stewards . The banquet , which took place in the new Public Hall was served at half-past three o ' clock . TheAfan Lodgeof Aberavon was originally held

in the Walnut-tree Hotel , and was afterwards removed to the school room . Recently , however , the Public Hall adjoining the Walnut-tree Hotel hasbeenbuilt , partof it being occupied by the Masonic Hall dedicated on Thursday , and the upper storey by a very excellent hall for public

purposes . The banquet was provided by Miss E . W . Jones , of the Walnut-tree Hotel , and gave the very greatest satisfaction , the arrangements being in every way complete . At the conclusion of the banquet the Provincial Grand Master gave the toast of " The

Queen and the Craft , " which was acknowledged with the greatest enthusiasm . The Provincial Grand Master , in giving the next toast , " The Worshipful Grand Master , " said that it was proposed under exceptional circumstances . He had to couple with the toast

the health of one who will , perhaps , some day fill the highest position , not only in Masonry , but in this country . ( Cheers . ) He alluded to the Prince of Wales , who , although he was not actually installed , was the supreme ruler of the Craft in this country , and in that capacity he

asked them to drink the health of the Prince of Wales , as the Grand Master elect of their fraternity . ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with all the honours , and " God Bless the Prince of Wales " was sung . The Dep . Prov . Grand Master ( Bro . Morris )

then proposed " the health of the R . W . Prov . Grand Master" Bro . Theodore Talbot , and in doing so , claimed for the toast the greatest support of the fraternity , in consequence of the efforts for good which the Provincial Grand Master had put forth in that large and influential

province . ( Cheers ) . There was no province so thoroughly well provided for in Masonry as the eastern division of South Wales . The Provincial Grand Master possessed all the qualifications for his position , and such as were possessed by few

others m the country . ( Cheers ) . Very few provinces had the advantage of the services of one capable of working every ceremony appertaining to Freemasonry , and South Wales ought to be grateful for the advantages it enjoyed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales.

( Cheers . ) They hoped for many years to come to have the privilege of the services of the Provincial Grand Master , whose earnest efforts in the past were sure guarantees of similar services in future . ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was responded to with all the honours ,

The Prov . Grand Master , in acknowledment , expressed his great obligations to the private lodges of the province in which he had always been received in the most kindly and fraternal spirit . ( Cheers . ) If it were not for that , he would have found it impossible to discharge the

duties of the Provincial Grand Mastership . There were many little things cropping up which demanded careful consideration , and the assistance he received made it an easy task to come to a right and just conclusion . ( Cheers . ) With reference to the proposal which had been mooted

to form a third lodge for Swansea , he was glad to see that Masonry was so flourishing in South Wales , but he believed at the present moment three lodges in South Wales were not necessary . It mi ght be that in a year or two another might

be requisite , but his opinion was shared by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the most influential Masons in South Wales , that the present moment was not quite the one in which it would be desirable to establish another in

Swansea . ( Cheers . ) He assured them , in conclusion , that so long as he had health and strength , it was his wish , with their permission , to occupy his present position . ( Loud cheers . ) The Provincial Grand Master next proposed "The better health of the Deputy Provincial

Grand Master , " and in doing so , stated that , but for the assistance and exertions of Brother Morris , the working of the province would not have been brought to its present efficient position . ( Cheers ) . In knowledge and ability he was second to none in the kingdom —( cheers)—and

he was endowed with tact , knowledge of the world , and plain common sense , possessed by very few Masons in his position . ( Cheers ) . He hoped the next time they had the pleasure of drinking that toast the subject of it would be free from the painful affliction from which he was

now suffering . ( Cheers ) . The Dep . Prov . Grand Master briefly replied . The toast of "The Provincial Grand Officers " was given by Bro . P . M . Hall , P . Pro . S . G . W ., and was responded to by Bros . Brock , S . G . W ., and Daniels , J . G . W . ; that of "The Visitors" by

the Dep . Prov . G . M ., and responded to by Bro . Homfray , D . P . G . M . ( Monmouthshire ) . The Rev . Bro . Parker Morgan , Prov . G . C , in proposing the toast of "The Masonic Charities , " referred to the number of people who were in the habit of cavilling at Masonry . He was often

spoken to about it by his parishioners , but he always referred them to the Masonic charities . Let the world say what it would about Masonry so long as it maintained the principles of charity , Masons never need be ashamed of Masonry . ( Cheers ) .

The toast was responded to by Bro . Tennant . The last toast was that of "The Lodges of the Province . " The enjoyment of the evening was greatly enhanced by the mutual exertions of Bros . J .

Jones-Hewson , H . Green , J . D . Rodetick , T . R . Robinson , W . Paxton-Garrett , Robert Jones , and Homfray . Bro . Atkins , P . G . O ., Mus . Bac . Oxon , presided at the piano , and rendered most able and efficient service .

The "Ancient And Accepted Rite," In Sussex.

THE "ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE , " IN SUSSEX .

CONSECRATION OE THE ALBION CHAPTER , l 8 =, AT

EASTBOURNE . Following the good example of their brethren of Brighton two years since , tlie Freemasons of Eastbourne recently obtained the sanction of the 0

Supreme Council 33 for the establishment in that town , of a Chapter Rose Croix 18 ° , and on Friday 16 th instant , the Chapter was consecrated and opened in due form , at the Albion Hotel , by a deputation from the Supreme Council , the following

The "Ancient And Accepted Rite," In Sussex.

members of which attended from London for the purpose : —W . Bros . Capt . N . G . Phillips , P . G . S . C , acting for the Earl of Carnarvon , M . P . S . G . C . ; Major Shadwell Clarke , G . Sec . Gen . ; Colonel A . W . Adair ; Hugh D . Sandeman ; accompanied by W . Bros . Rawson , 33 ° , D . Insp . Gen . of S . E . District ; Hyde Pullen , 33 ° Ass . Sec . to S . C .

The following brethren were present to receive the Supreme Council : —Major Barlow , 32 ; Major Molineaux , 31 ° , P . G . S . W . Sussex ; C . Horsley , 31 ' , M . W . S . Eureka Chapter ; T . Lane , 30 ; j . Webb , 30 ; Drs . Trollope , 30 ° M . W . S . nominate Albion Chapter ; W . Tanner , 18 ; C . J . Smith , 1 S ; Capt Huth , 18 ° ; Moren , 18 ; W . R . Wood , 18 , and

many others . The Supreme Council Chapter having been opened , the following candidates were dulyperfcctcd , Bros . Duke and Pidcock , the impressive ceremony with its beautiful ritual being most admirably performed by Bro . Hyde Pullen , who was assisted by Bros . C . J . Smith and Trollope as Grand

Marshal and Raphael . The Albion Chapter Rose Croix was then duly and solemnly consecrated by the Past M . P . So .. G . C , assisted by the other members of the Supreme Council . Dr . Trollope , 30 ° , was next installed as M . W . S . of the Chapter , and nominated his officers , Bros .

Moren and T . Lane , 1 st and 2 nd Gen ., Bro . Pidcock ( elected ) Treasurer , Capt . Huth , Grand Marshal . After the usual formalities , and votes of thanks to the Supreme Council , in their presence the Chapter was closed . The brethren afterwards assembled at an excellent

banquet in the Sam Hotel , one of the very best hotels on the South Coast , by-the-bye , thanks to the management of Bro . Rudd , and his good wife of Liverpool " Adelphi " fame . Here it may not be out of place to advert briefly to a certain pamphlet which has lately been circulated extensively in Sussex , emanating from tlie

pen of a brother holding an important official position in the Craft in this Province . We regret lo find that this brother in his impotent wrath against the Christian and Chivalric Degrees , has not scrupled to advance statements , admittedly on second-hand , without either giving his authority for the same , or making any attempt to verify the correctness of his

rash assertions . It is almost needless for us to state that the charges which he brings against the christian degrees are as devoid of truth as ihc } - are offensive , and wanting in that charity which it might have been expected his Masonic career would have taught him to practise . But this is not all from the " suggestio falsi " tothe " suppressio vcri "

is but a step , and when our ingenious , but hardly ingenuous brother , quoted the first portion of paragraph two of the Articles of Union , of December 1 st , 1 S 13 , as being a conclusive proof that the chivalric degrees are not recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England , would it not have been but common honesty to have finished the paragraph

in question ? which we may state runs as follows " But this article is not intended to prevent any Lodge or Chapter from holding a meeting in ; ny degree of the Order of Chivalry , according to the constitutions of the said Order" ( vide Preston ' s Illustrations of Masonry and Archives of Grand Lodge ) . This paragraph will doubtless prove a

surprise to very many brethren , who have never had an opportunity of perusing the Articles of Union of 1 S 13 , and who wc regret to say , appear to have been deliberately kept in the dark on the subject by the writer of the pamphlet . We must add , that the author is also incorrect in his . assertion that an application for recognition was made in the

year 18 5 6 to Grand Lodge by the Christian and Chivalric Degrees ( or as he is pleased to term them " superior , " a designation not used by themseh es ; . No such application was ever made , except by the " Mark Masons , " a body neither Christian nor Chivalric , and which cannot be said to be a " superior" order , inasmuch as its request was to

be allied to the second degree . As a convincing proof that the Christian and Chivalric Degrees are not antagonistic to , or incompatible with the practise of" Craft" Masonry , we may mention the fact that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales is at the present moment Grand Masier nominate of the Craft , Grand Master of the Temple ,

and Grand Patron of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , 33 ° , and that the Earl of Carnarvon is Depuiv-Grand Master of the Craft , Sov . Grand Commander of the Supreme Council , 33 , and a Grand Cross of the Temple , whilst out of the very liiniird number of Provincial and District Grand Masters

of the Craft , no less than thirty-four belong to the Christian Degrees . Having now put the matter in its true light , we trust that our brother will not hesitate to come forward , to retract his statements , and u > acknowledge the errors into which helms unhnpp il *

fallen , remembering that "Brotherly Love" and " Truth " are sacred precepts of our Order .