The Board Of Management Of R.M.I.B. And The Critics.

make up a deficiency . West Lancashire , for instance , has some 200 or more children ( of both sexes ) in its Educational Institution , and it is probable that when the chance came for electing the

youngest or last-accepted of these children into the Central Schools , they would be about elig ible for admission to the Male or Widows' Fund of the Benevolent Institution . On the other hand ,

a Province with only io or a dozen lodges , though it can rarely hope to get more than one or two candidates elected in the course of two or three years , may by means of its local Charity render material hel p to its indigent members or their widows and orphan children .

It remains for us to express thc hope that in meeting the statements contained in our correspondent ' s letter , we have said nothing to wound his susceptibilities ; if we have , it has been said inadvertently .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Bedfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BEDFORDSHIRE .

The above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Town Hall , Dunstable , on Thursday , the 29 th ult ., when the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Lord Ampthill , occupied the chair , supported by the Dip . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Dr . Prior . There were some 60 brethren present , including Bros . H . V . Cavill , VV . M . ; G . S . Duberly , W . M . elect , * J . Cumberland , A . Cumberland , H . Cumberland ,

E . F . Green , F . J . Coleman , W . L . Gates , G . J . Warhill , S . W . Smith , A . Grace , W . H . McNamara , G . Bindloss , C . Dawson , T . B . Ellery , and W . E . Dipplej while those representing Dunstable were Bros . A . E . Langridge , Mayor ; W . Deacon , VV . M . ; A . Morcom , H . Rose , C . Parker , A . Bartholomew , A . Spendlovc , M . Taylor , W . Lowe , W . Asker , C . WDeacon , W . A . Taylor , and Samuel Bayes .

The usual reports were made , and the Provincial Grand Oflicers were appointed as follows : Bros . E . F . Green ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W .

„ Yirrell ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . P . F . j . Pearce ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Verey ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Austin ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . .. AL Wlivlpv . Prni , H < Zer

„ Kilpin ... ... .. ' . ' ... Prov . S . G . D . ,, Spendlove ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ H . Cumberland ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W „ Temple ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Coombs ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C

„ R . Rose ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ A . Hill ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Miller ... ... ... *) „ Kemp ... ... ... S Prov . G . Stwds . ,, Ambler ... ... ... J

Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales (E.D.).

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH WALES ( E . D . ) .

CONSECRATION OF FFOREST LODGE , No . 2606 . As already foreshadowed , a special meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday afternoon , the 28 th ult ., at the Public Hall , Treharris , for the purpose of consecrating the Fforest Lodge , No . 2606 , and the installation of Bro . George F . Harris , P . M . no , P . P . S . G . W ., as W . M . The ceremony was conducted by Bro . Lord Llangattock , P . G . M .,

and the attendance of Prov . Grand Officers and other members of the Craft was large and influential . The proceedings took place in the large room of the hall , which was spec i illy fitted up in view of the large company expected to be present . The lodge hereafter will be located in a room above the Coffee Tavern . The attendance included the following brethren :

Bros . Lord Langattock , P . G . M . ; Marmaduke Tennant , P . A . G . D . C . Englandi Deputy P . G . M . ; J . T . Wordsworth , Chap . ; John T . Hogg , P . P . G . W . ; N . MGrose , 1573 , P . P . G . S . B . ; Thomas Phillips , W . Whittington , Sec . ; C . HPriestley , W . M . 36 ; Fairbank , King , F . P . Kerman , P . G . P . ; W . Jones , and George Bullerwell , of 237 ; F . J . Ferris Bailey , P . M . 1992 , P . P . G . R . ; J . O'Neill , ' 99 2 , P . P . G . S . ; Charles D . Richards , P . M . 1573 , P . G . S . B . ; J . Findlay Smith , W . M . 237 , P . G . P . ; Lewis N . Williams , P . G . Reg . ; George Palmer , P . G . Supt .

of Works ; Edward E . Jones , P . P . A . G . S . ; S . Sandbrook , P . P . G . P . ; G . F . Harris , P . P . S . G . W . ; William Jones , W . M . 1752 ; C . E . Terry , P . A . G . P . ; R . G . Pugh , S . W . 1752 ; Rees Rees , I . P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; D . Rees Lewis , W . M . 2560 , P . P . J . G . W . ; D . K . Macdonald , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . E . Dovey , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . W . ] . Jenkins , P . G . S . B . ; R . W . Jones , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W . Mon . ; D . F . Pritchard , P . M ., P . J . G . W . ; J . Llewellyn , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . Lloyd Marks , P . M ., P . P . G . P . S . ; H . N . Davies , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W . ; Stephen Lewis , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; and many others .

The lodge was opened in the Three Degrees , and some excellent Masonic addresses were delivered by various officers , the music and dedicatory portions of the service being exceedingly impressive . The lodge having been constituted , the P . G . CHAPLAIN gave the oration customary on these rare occasions , and proposals for initiation and joining were received .

The officers of the new Iodge ( the founders of which each received a beautifully-enamelled jewel ) arc as follows - . Bros . G . F . Harris , W . M . ; D . ' *• Jones , LP . M . ; David Roberts , S . W . ; W . Cuthbert Thomas , j . W . ; ( . Kay , Treas . ; M . P . Morris , Sec . ; D . E . Jones , S . D . ; T . Dowdeswe ' ll , J-D . ; R . Edwards , D . C . ; A . C . Botterill , I . G . ; John Jones , Org . ; J . Aurelius and Thomas Williams , Stewards ; and J . P . Gibbon , Charity Steward . A banquet was afterwards held at the Navigation Hotel .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cumberland And Westmorland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held a Carlisle on Friday , the 6 th inst , in the County Hall , under the banner of Union Lodge , No . 310 . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck , M . P ., having opened the Prov . G-and Lodge , he was supported by Bros . Col . Sewell , P . G . D ., Deputy Prov . G . M . ; A . Taylor , P . M . 1532 ,

P . S . G . W . ; A . Rollinshaw , P . M . 1074 , P . J . G . W . ; R . J . Nelson , P . M . 129 , P . G . Treas . ; G . Ddrymple , P . M . 1663 P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . Sec ; W . F . Lamonby , P . M . 962 , P . P . S . G . W ., Past G . W . of Victoria ; and others . Bro . J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R M . LB , wasalsj present as a visitor . The general attendance was not so numerous as we have seen , owing , no doubt , to the time of year .

Ihe Prov . G . M ., the Deputy Prov . G . M ., and Bros . McLeod and Lamonby having been saluted with Grand honours , the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY called the roll of lodges , when it was found that all were represented , with the exception of the three youngest , namely , the Eden , the Windermere , and the Vale of Eden . The minutes of the half-yearly meeting , held at Whitehaven , on the 5 th of June last , were read and confirmed .

The PROV . GRAND TREASURER presented his balance-sheet , which showed a balance of ^ 145 2 s . 2 d . in the bank , and the same was adopted . Bro . LAMONBY proposed the re-election of Bro . R . J . Nelson as Prov . G . Treasurer , which was carried unanimously , as usual . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested his officers as follows * .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in commemoration of the M . W . Grand Master ' s 21 st year as ruler of the English Craft , then invested Bros . James Gardiner , P . M . 371 , and the Rev . William Cree , P . M . 339 , with the collars of P . P . S . G . W .

The report of the Provincial Benevolent and Educational Fund , which was founded five years ago , was read , showing that no calls whatever had been made thereon during the past year . Bros . Nelson and Dalrymple were unanimously re-elected Hon . Treasurer and Secretary to the fund respectively . The PROV . G . SECRETARY read a list of brethren who had signified their intention of acting as Stewards at the ensuing Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , when the Prov . Grand Master will preside . Several other brethren also handed in their names .

The PROV . G . MASTER invited Bro . McLeod to address the Provincial Grand Lodge on the Boys' School . Bro . MCLEOD , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . Boys , thanked the Prov . Grand Master for giving him the opportunity of saying a few words to the brethren , and was glad , after an absence of five years , once more to possess the privilege . On behalf of the Institution he had the honour to serve he

thanked the Prov . G . M . for so readi ' y undertaking the position of Chairman of the Festival in the ensuing year . The brethren knew that the success of the Charities largely depended upon the right worshipful brother who presided over the destinies of the particular Institution he might select , and he felt specially happy in the fact that Lord Bentinck had so spontaneously and generously responded to the request of his Board of

Management that he would occupy the chair on the occasion of the next Anniversary Festival of the Boys' School . He also welcomed the opportunity of thanking the 18 brethren who had already signified their intention to act as Stewards at the Festival , and trusted that number would be augmented before the close of the meeting , as it was all important that his lordship should be well supported from the province . He would point out that no

previous Grand Master of that province had occupied the proud position of Chairman of a Festival for either of the Masonic Institutions , and therefore it would be incumbent on the part of all the subscribing members that they should do their very best to secure to their chief the hearty and loyal support of the province . Another claim on their charitable disposition was the fact that they had received great advantages from the Institution in respect to

the number of boys who had received its benefits for many years . At the present time three boys were in the School-till recently lour were on the books—and another candidate was knocking at the door for admission . He had to acknowledge many acts of kindness from the brethren in the past , but would remind them that the records of the Institution showed that the province had received greater benefits from it than had been returned by its subscriptions . He felt sure that would be altered by the support which

they would be prepared to give to the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master on his presidency at the Festival , an event which would not only redoundto his honour , but add lustre to the province over which he so ably and genially ruled . He would claim for the Bays' School that it was the most progressive of the Masonic Charities ; it was managed by a Board of Governors who were imbued with the truest principles of Freemasonry , an i desired to extend and expand the benefits conferred upon the boys comm . tte i

Bro . The Hon . H . V . Duncombe , M . P ., P . M . 119 .. Prov . S . G . W . „ Walter Gbbings , P . M . 1532 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . T . W . Melrose , 371 ... . „ l n „ _ , „ Rev . R . J . Burton , 962 .. ... ... j rov * G * Cha P * „ R . J . Nelson , P . M . 129 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ John Harris , P . M . 327 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ George Dalrymple , P . M . ny , 1660 ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Charles Whitaker , P . M . 1074 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ John F . Grant , P . M . ; 10 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ William Bradley , P . M . 129 ... ... Prov . G S . of VV . „ John Bouch , P . M . 962 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . F . Hope , W . M . 1073 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ George Armstrong , VV . M . 1532 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ William Brown , P . M . 1660 ... ... *) , * , , ~ C . J n „ James Menuly , P . M . 140 , 1 ) l rov ' G * Sld * Brs - „ John Kassell , P . M . 1074 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ j . S . Yeates , 339 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Thomas J . C . Fox , W . M . 1391 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Fletcher Ritson , W . M . 310 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, Isaac Maxwell , W . M . 119 „ John M . Clarke , W . M . 872 ,, ames Jones , W . M . 9 G 2 ... ... D r c . j , ; J . P . Bennett , W . M . 1002 f Prov ' Stewards . „ John W . Henderson , P . M . 310 ,, E . E . Atkinson , P . M . 1390 „ Thomas B . Roxby , P . M . 1400 ... ... Prov . G . Tyler ..