Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucester Shire.

Prov . Grand Lodge having been duly opened , and the minutes of the last annual meeting at Stovv-on-the-Wold , and of the special meeting at Cheltenham , in December last , having been read and confirmed , the report f the Prov . G . Treas ., Bro . Nelson Foster , was presented . Notwithstanding some exceptional items of expenditure , the report showed a balance h hand of nearly £ 100 . The report was received and adopted vvith a vote

f thanks to the Treasurer . Then the report of the Prov . Chanty Secretary , Bro . Vassar-Smith , D . P . G . M ., was also submitted and adopted . It showed steady year ' s work and a balance of £ , 138 in hand upon the Provincial Benevolent Fund . The report of the Brook Smith Memorial Fund Committee was similarly presented . It contained a record of the ceremony of

unveiling the memorial window in the Parish Church of Cheltenham , in March last , and conveyed an expresssion of thanks to the Parish Churchwarden and sidesmen for their co-operation . There was a balance of a few pounds in the hands of the Treasurer , which it was determined to apply to the Provincial Benevolent Fund .

The election of a Prov . Grand Treasurer vvas the next business , and Bro . Nelson Foster was unanimously re-elected . Bro . Phillips was re-elected Prov . Grand Tyler . The usual Charity votes having been passed , Bro . Nelson Foster withdrew a resolution , of which notice had been given , in favour of discontinuing * the printing of a summary of the proceedings of Prov . Grand Lodge .

The roll of the lodges of the province having been called , the P . G . M . proceeded to the appointment of the Provincial Grand Lodge Officers for the ensuing year , explaining that in the case of the appointment of the Prov . S . G . W . he had departed from the rule which required the personal attendance of the recipient of office , under especial circumstances , and

because he had desired to pay a compliment to Bro . Lord Fitzhardmge , as W-M . of Lodge 270 , in the year of ils centenary . The following are the officers appointed :

Bro . Rig ht Hon . Lord Fitzhardinge , P . M ., W . M . 270 ... Prov . S . G . W . „ F . Moore , P . M . 900 ... ... * ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . E . H . Hawkins , 702 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ W . H . C . Fisher , P . M . 702 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Nelson Foster , P . M . 82 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . B . Winterbotham , P . M . 82 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . L . Brelherton , P . M . 839 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . " „ F . Fenner , W . M . 246 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . C . Ferris , I . P . M . 1005 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . R . Grieve , I . P . M . 702 ... ... * ... Prov . G . D . C . „ E . C . Cripps , W . M . 592 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ S . W . Woods , I . P . M . 1067 ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ J . Brend Batten , P . M . 82 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ Henry Perrett , P . M . 855 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . A . Matthews . 82 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Weston , P . M . 839 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . Bros . H . Luker , 1005 ; D . Chandler , 000 : and G . C . C . 7 t > ^ c . J Pike , 8 39 .. ... j Prov . G . Stewards Bro . H . Phillips ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The remaining business having been disposed of , P . G . Lodge wasclosed . The brethren subsequently sat down to banquet at the Swan Hotel . Between 6 . 30 and 7 . 30 Bro . Hemingway gave a recital on the organ o the Abbey , vvhich -was attended by a large number of the brethren , and afterwards the old bowling green was visited , and a friendly gams of bowls played between several of the lodges .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE .

The meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , at Grimsby , on Thursday , the 6 th inst ' . Bro . W . H . Smyth , D . L ., Prov . Grand Master , presided , and was supported by a very large number of Present and Past Prov . G . Officers . Every lodge in the province was represented , about 260 brethren being present .

the statements of the Prov . G . Treasurer , Bro . C . M . Nesbitt ; the Prov . G . Reg ., Bro . H . Watson ; the Prov . G . Sec , Bro . B . Vickers ; and the Prov . G . Steward , Bro . H . E . Cousens , having been received , the P . G . M . announced that the office of D . P . G . M . had been rendered vacant b y the resignation of Bro . Major E . Locock , whose failing health compelled him to relinquish the duties . He had intended investing Bro . Sissons

wun the office , but a family bereavement had rendered that impossible , and he had therefore selected Bro . James Fowler as his Deputy . Bro . J . FOWLER having been duly installed into the office , vvas presented with "The hearty good wishes" of all the lodges in the province . It was resolved to present Bro . H . E . Cousens vvith a jewel , in recognition of "is services as Charity Steward during a period of two years . Bro . C . M . Nesbitt was re-elected Treasurer . It was decided that the Girls' Institution should be the Charity to receive the support of the province during the year , and Bros . H . T . Bellamy and J . Ward were elected Prov . Grand Stewards .

, The Prov . G . M . then appointed and invested the Prov . G . Officers for the ensuing year . It was announced that Prov . G . Lodge would next year be held at s « tton Brid ge .

th p ? J odge !* ° P d ky Bro . J . B . Morton , W . M ., and . the officers of e Pelham Pillar Lodge , who entertained the visiting brethren in a most hospitable manner . % permission of the Prov . G . M . the brethren were subsequently * " " p P and photographed in their Masonic clothing , pre USUal ban 1 uet Loolc place in the Town Hall , 178 brethren being

Consecration Of The St. Alkmund Lodge, No. 2311, At Whitchurch.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . ALKMUND LODGE , No . 2311 , AT WHITCHURCH .

Hall \ Jn ^' ' the 6 th inst *» a Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Town to the i * c 1 Urc ' ' by Bro " Sir 0 ffley Wakeman , Bart , when an addition was made meet nnur * 0 l % es by the consecration of the St . Alkmund Lodge , No . 2311 , to Tl p . ' ™ rcl 1 - for un . ° ' ' ' Grand Lodge was opened , when letters of apology were read H E R ! . e absence from Bros . Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , Bart ., P . S . G . W . ; tf Koberts ¦ i

„ . . P . T . n . n I « o „ . „ n p a . n . x * vr .,,., * „ P P A a n r . T C . Rn , nn * J * * * i J- Sewell , P . P . G . O . ; J . Machin , P . P . A . G . D . C ; T . WillAA DnS * *! C * Drew > P-P-G . D . ; L . E . Wollstein , P . S . G . D . ; J . H . G . U » . A * * i W . J . Ogg , P . G . Stwd . ; W . Westcott , P . G . Stwd . ; H . P . G ' pt ° P G * Std * Br *! L * A- Manning , P . G . Std . Br . ; T . J . Barnett , Hed ' ees ¦ ! ' ' -rf * G * G * Warren , P . P . G . W . ; A . Marston , P . P . G . D . ; F . R . W . ¦ s = > ¦ sec . Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; J . B . Meredith , P . P . G . C . ; E ,

Consecration Of The St. Alkmund Lodge, No. 2311, At Whitchurch.

J . Webb , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; J . C . W . Lister , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; W . Deedes , J . W . 262 ; R . King , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . D . Andrew , P . S . W . 33 6 ; T . C . Bird , P . G . Stwd . ; P . M . Berkley , W . M . 262 ; A . C . Spaull , P . P . G . R . ; F . R . Spaull , P . P . G . R . ; T . Collins , P . P . G . W . ; W . L . Southwell , P . P . G . W . ; and others .

There were about 80 brethren present , representing the whole of the lodges of the province , amongst whom were Bros . Rowland G . Venables , P . A . G . D . C , D . P . G . M . ; E . C . Peele , P . J . G . W . ; the Rev . J . T . VV . Claridge and the Rsv . Dr . R . Lucas , P . G . Chaplains ; V . C L . Crump , P . G . Treas . ; E . A . Hicks , P . G . R . ; W . H . Spaull , P . G . Sec . ; Thomas Whitefoot , jun . ( Mayor of Bridgnorth ) , P . G . D . C ; A . T . Akeroyd , P . A . G . D . C ; Frederick Cox , P . G . S . B . ; W . Belton , P . G . Org * . ; A . B . Townsend , P . A . G . Sec . ; J . Avery ,

P . G . Purst . ; H . Major and S . Bennion , P . G . Stewards ; George Bonner , P . G . Tyler . Visitors : Bros . J . Salmon , P . G . Treas . North Wales ; H . C . Lisle , P . P . G . D . Cheshire ; W . Dunning , P . P . G . O . Cheshire ; Robert Fendelow , P . P . G . Std . Br . Cheshire ; L . H . l ' ait , P . P . G . Steward Cheshire ; J . H . Cooksey , P . P . G . R . Shropshire ; Thomas Roberls , P . P . G . D . Shropshire ; T . Pratt , P . P . G . Std , Br . Shropshire ; T . Warren Thompson , P . P . G . D . C . Shropshire ; John Cinders , P . P . G . D . C . Shropshire ; James Smart P . P . G . O . Shropshire ; W . Norton , P . P . G . P . Shropshire ; and W . Putman , P . P . G . D . Shropshire .

The founders of the lodge were Bros . Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , Bart , V . C . L . Crump , P . G . Treasurer , W . M . ; M . H . Davenport , S . W . ; John Brayn , J . W . ; T . B . Stevens , Treasurer ; Barrow Jones , Secretary ; W . Belton , P . G . O ., D . C ; W . A . Powell , S . D . ; Arthur Joyce , J . D . ; T . T . Chubb , I . G . ; Walter C . Joyce andW . Adams , Stewards ; Thomas Evans , Tyler ; W . Baxter , Charity Represensative ; Frank Maddox , C . B . Bulkier , P . W . Godsall . and C H . Hines .

The Prov . Grand Lodge business having been disposed of , the ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . Sir Offley Wakeman , assisted by Bro . W . H . Spaull , Past A . G . D . of C The brethren of the new lodge were then arranged in proper order , and the

CONSECRATING OFFICER addressed the assembly as follows : —We are assembled upon an occasion at all times most interesting to Freemasons , namely , the consecration and formation of a new lodge , for vvhich it has pleased the M . W . G . M . to grant a warrant . I shall now proceed to perform the requisite ceremony . I now call upon the Past A . G . D . of C . to read the petition and the warrant .

This being done , the brethren of the new lodge signified their approval of the ' officers named therein . An excellent oration was delivered by Bro . Dr . LUCAS , P . G . Chaplain . After this the 133 rd Psalm was sung , and the ceremony was then proceeded with , Bro . the Rev . J . T . W . CLARIDGE , acting as Prov . Grand Chap ., repeating the prayers necessary and duly censing the Lodsfe .

The ceremony of consecration being ended , and the Prov . Grand Lodge closed , the W . M . designate , Bro . V . C . L . Crump , was installed as Master of the new lodge by Bro . R . G . Venables , D . P . G . M . Bro . Crump , having been duly installed , then invested the officers as given above amongst the founders . Six joining members and five gentlemen for initiation were proposed . 'A very hearty vote of thanks vvas passed to the Consecrating and Installing Officers , and the various brethren who had so ably assisted them .

The transaction of the remaining business having been completed , the members and friends , numbering about 70 , sat down to a banquet at the Fox and Goose Hotel , when , after the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been honoured , The W . M ., in proposing the first toast , "The Queen and the Craft , " said that Freemasonry possessed many watchwords , and that amongst the foremost was loyalty ; as Freemasons they yielded to none in cordial and loyal devotion to their Queen and Country , and by none vvould the prayer of " God save the Queen " be more fervently uttered than by the loyal-hearted brethren then assembled .

The brethren vvere then called upon to honour the toast of " The M . W . G . M . of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . " The W . M . said that under no previous Masonic government had Masonry so flourished as under the happy rule of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . His genial , frank , and open-hearted disposition had gained the fraternal love and admiration of all brethren who had had the honour

of coming in contact with him . He had abundantly proved himself worthy of his high position ; and when in course of time he would be called upon to take a still higher station , he would undoubtedly prove himself a worthy son of a worthy sire—an honour to himself and an honour to the nation over whose destinies he would be called upon to preside .

Tne W . M . next proposed "The Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , Dep . Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and said if there was one thing more than another that the Grand Master could be congratulated upon , it was on the exceedingly happy and wise selection of his Grand Officers . One and all possessed high qualities , whether they judged them as men or Masons , and the highly successful manner in which

the business and duties of Grand Ledge were carried out called for their warmest admiration . As Shropshire Masons they were proud to have amongst them representatives of Grand Lodge , in the persons ot their P . G . M ., Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart . ; their D . P . G . M ., Bro . R . G . Venables , P . A . G . D . C ; Bros . W . H . Spaull , P . A . G . D . C ; and Bodenham . Bro . W . H . SPAULL , P . A . G . D . C , responded .

The toast of "The R . W . P . G . M . of Shropshire , Bro . Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart ., " was very heartily received . The W . M . said the reception that the brethren had given at the bare mention of the toast testified more than words of his could express as to the regard and esteem that Shropshire Masons entertained towards their Provincial Grand Master . The satisfactory manner in which Sir Offley discharged the arduous duties of the various oilices with which he was connected in Masonry , sufficiently proved the great interest that he took in all that related to the

welfare of the Craft in genera ] , and this province in particular . In him they , as Masons , had an example worthy of imitation , for whatever amount of labour the requirements of his high sfcition demanded , he never shrank from it , not even when called upon to preside over one of their great Masonic Festivals , which they would recollect he so successfully did in 188 7 ; or as they had seen him that day actively engaged in the work of consecrating a new lodge . Such conduct would always ensure , not only the homage and respect due to his exalted rank , but also the goodwill and fraternal affection of all Shropshire Masons .

The P . G . M ., in reply , expressed his sincere thanks for the hearty and cordial reception given to him , and stated how delighted he was to see Freemasonry increasing and flourishing in the Province of Shropshire . Since he had the honour of being appointed Provincial Grand Master this was the second lodge added to the list , novv making in all one dozen lodges . He thought from what he had heard that day that the prospect of Masonry in Whitchurch was a very good one , and personally he was exceedingly pleased that the efforts made to establish a new lodge had been so successful .

The S . W ., Bro . DAVENPORT , next rose , and proposed the toast of 'The Dep . P . G . M ., Bro . R . G . Venables , P . A . G . D . C , and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " coupling with it the name of the D . P . G . M ., who briefl y replied on behalf of the P . G . Officers . The P . G . M . then proposed " The W . M ., Bro . V . C . L . Crump , and Success to the St . Alkmund Lodge , No . 2311 . " He heartily congratulated the * brethren of

St . Alkmund Lodge on the selection of their first W . M , He had known Bro . Crump for many years in connection with Masonry , and how actively he had always been engaged both in Iodge work ancl also in the necessary and important work that had to be done out of lodge . He could not say in which department of work he excelled most , but he could truly say that he excelled in both . Under the able management of so zealous and experienced a Mason , and from what he had heard that day , he believed a very successful future would be the