The Prov. Grand Lodge And Prov. Grand Chapter Of Suffolk.

Bro . Gibb , at the outset , expressed his deep regret at the unavoidable absence of the Prov . G . M ., Lord ITenniker , and also paid fitting tribute to the memory of the late Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn , who , he said , was indeed " a brother beloved . " Alluding to the specific purpose for which the province had been summoned together , Bro . Gibb remarked that the death of the Oueen had occasioned wide-spread sorrow—he might almost say

universal—and what struck one most about it was its profound sincerity . It was found in the palace and in the cottage , in our great Colonies—the glory cf our Empire—amongst the dusky millions in Asia , and the swarthy natives of the distant islands of the sea . All were united in manifesting their sympathy and regret at the death of the great Queen . What was the secret of this widespread influence ? Not power , but love . The greatest orators of the day had spoken of her great qualities of head and heart , but

even their eulogies seemed poor and unworthy the subject . But as a great statesman said a day or two ago , she needed no eulogy ; her eulogy was in our hearts . No need ot pen for her to trace The scroll of mortal fame ; She passes to her resting place Fearless and free from blame ;

The victory of her lands and race Are written in her name . But they should sound a note of thanksgiving in their meeting that day , as well as of sorrow . While they regretted the loss of a great historic figure from their midst , a magnetic influence that was ever used for the noblest purposes , and a wisdom and foresight that often astonished her Ministers of

State , yet he thought they should thank God that He gave them such a good and wise Queen to reign over them ; that she was spared so long ; for the manifold blessings that had come to us- as a nation during her long reign ; and for the fact that she had not to endure long weeks and months of pain and weakness , and that only a few days laid aside from active labour , and then , like a shock of corn fully ripe , she went to her eternal

home . They had often watched the sun on a summers night as it sank into the western ocean , paint sky and earth with something of its golden light , and so their noble Queen passed from them , after her long and laborious day , leaving behind her blessed memories and inspiring thoughts . They were thankful , too , that she was succeeded by her eldest son , King Edward VII ., the M . VV . Grand Master of English Freemasons , whom

mig ht God long preserve and bless . He came to the throne at a mature age with great knowledge and experience of men and affairs . Moreover , he had taken a very deep and practical interest in some of the most important questions of the day , relating to the welfare of the working classes . Addresses of congratulation from all parts of the country were being sent

to his Majesty , and surely it was only becoming in them a ^ Masons , and the most loyal of his subjects , to send their congratulation on his accession to the throne of his ancestors . He ( Bro . Gibb ) prayed that he might follow in the footsteps of his departed mother , and that his reign might be long , happy , prosperous and peaceful . God save the King . ( Applause . )

Bro . ANNESS briefly seconded the resolution , and expressed the feeling of thankfulness Masons felt for the blessings that had accrued to our country during the late reign , and rejoiced that in King Edward VII . they had a noble and respected successor to their late beloved Queen .

The motion was carried tic in . cor .., all the brethren being upstanding The text of the address was as follows :

To his Most Gracious Majesty the King , Most Worshipful Grand Master , Most Excellent Grand Z . May it please your Majesty , VVc , the Freemasons of the Province of Suffolk , duly assembled in Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter , desire fraternally to approach you with the expression of our sorrow at thc loss your Majesty , the Oueen Alexandra , and the Royal Family , with your subjects , have experienced in the death of her Majesty Oueen Victoria , whose life had been devoted to the good of our nation .

The position your Majesty has held for thc last 27 yeais as the head of our Order has given us a knowledge of your ability and power for good , and in congratulating you on your peaceful accession to the throne of your ancestors , we pray T . G . A . O . T . U . may grant you many years to rule our land with satisfaction to yourself and to the honour , happiness , and prosperity of your people .

The ACTING P ROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed — " That the Prov , Grand Sec . be instructed to write a letter of condolence to the relatives of the late Deputy Prov . G . M . ( Rev . J . C . Martyn ) . " The ACTING DEPUTY PROV . CRANIO MASTER seconded the motion , which was supported by Bro . A . E . SMITH , and carried unanimously , all the brethren again rising .

The PROV . G . SEC . read letters of apology from Lord Henniker and other ofheers and brethren , that from his lordship stating that he could not possibly be at Ipswich that day , because of a memorial service at Douglas , I . O . M ., on Saturday , and there being no possible opportunity of reaching Suffolk in time to meet the province . He was anxious that thc brethren should know he would have been present if it had been possible .

After Prov . Grand Lodge , Bro . A . J . Grimwade , Hon . Sec . to the late Rev . C . J Martyn ' s Life Assurance Fund , presented a complete return of the fund , which showed that for 16 years' premiums of 50 guineas , the province had received £ 1443 15 s ., and they had paid in the meantime 50 guineas to ihe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The Committee

lecommended , as being in consonance with the late Bro . Martyn ' s wishes , that 400 guineas be paid to the Girls' School , 400 to the Boys' School , 290 guineas to the Male Fund , and 2 S 5 guineas to thc Female Fund of the Benevolent Institution . This arrangement was cordially supported by the Charity Representatives of ihe several lodges ,

Mark Grand Lodge.

MARK GRAND LODGE .

The following circular has been issued by the above Grand Lodge : Worship ful Master , Your attendance is requested , together with that of your Past Masters , Wardens , and Overseers , at a Special Grand Lodge , to be \ olden in Maik Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , Lincoln ' s Inn-fields , on

Tuesday , the 19 th hebruary , at three lor four 0 clock punctually , lor the purpose of transacting the following business : 1 . —To vote a Loyal and Dutiful Address to His Majesty the King , offering the respectful sympathy of this Grand Lodge and the members of the Mark Degree , on the death of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria , and further presenting the respectful and

Mark Grand Lodge.

sincere congratulatione of this Grand Lodge to His Majesty on his accession to the Throne . 2 . —To receive a Communication from the Most Worshi pful Pro Grand Master . 3 . —Motions arising out of such Communication .

By command of the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master ( The Right Honourable the Earl of Euston ) , C . F . MATIER , Grand Secretary Grand Secretary ' s Office , Mark Masons' Hall , Great Oueen-street , London , W . C . 7 th February ^ 1901 .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Drury Lane Lodge . No . 2127

INSTALLATION OF BRO . J . H . BARNES . This celebrated theatrical lodge held its installation meeting on Tuesday last , undei the Mastership of Bro . Lionel Rignold . About 140 brethren assembled at the Hotel Cecil , the lodge being held in the Masonic Hall there . Among the brethren who attended were Bros . Guy E . Repton , S . G . D ., l . P . M . ; Sir Henry Isaacs , P . G . W . ; James Fernandez , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C ; Dr . Robson Roose , T . H . Bolton , Herbert Campbell , Charles Coote , Lionel Brough , Harry Nicholls , Sec . ; Thos . Catling , P . A . G .

D . of C , Treas . ; Gilbert Farquhar , Sydney Brough , A . Rashleigh Phipps , J . H . Barnes , W . M . elect ; Major Hugh W . H . Elwes , C . VV . Somerset , Fredk . Mead , Luigi Lablache , Dr . Tatham Armitage , A . B . Bennett , Gerald Maxwell , P . M ., Frank Rendle , Henry Nye Chart , A . M . Reis , James Powell , E . W . Braine , Sidney Smith , William Wilson , Clarence Coggin , C . A . Hanson , Henry Guarracino , A . G . Neville , A . Blomfield Jackson , II . G . Hibbert , VV . B . Clarkson , Frank Atherley , Lieut . A . B . Armitage , F , Trehawke Davies , Oscar Dibb , Walter Louis Bradfield , George B . Burgin , Bedford

McNeil , J . Thompson Murray , Stanley Prtngle , F . O . Baxter , Blake Adams , J . P . Fitzgerald , Frank Lawton , Major Henry Walker , Walbancke Bruce Smith , James Catling , P . P . G . Supt . of Works Cambridgesnire ; T . Skewes Cox , M . P ., P . G . Stwd . ; Oscar Barrett , P . M . ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . M ., P . G . Org . ; J . J . Thomas , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; C . F . Matier , P . A . G . D . C ; Lennox Browne , P . D . G . D . C ; Gen . Lawrie , P . G . VV . ; George Everett , P . G . Treas . ; Jot n Strachan ,

K . C ., G . Reg . ; the Rev . W . Whittley , P . G . D . ; E . Beale , P . G . Stwd . ; H . Massey , P . M . 619 and 192 S ; R . Manuel , R . D . Cummings , Walter Lestocq , Cockram Taylor , Piidham Wippell , F . II . Macklin , P . M . 1319 ; J . H . Lile ; Captain John Barlow , P . P . J . G . W . East Lanes . ; Oliver Barrett ; J . E . Hambiedon , P . M . 1319 ; Courtice Pounds ; Fred . Mead , P . G . D .: Charles Copland , Avon Saxon , George Muller , J . Bu ' . Ier , Henry Guarraimo , and T . P . Thalberg .

After the Auditors report had been adopted , Bro . Rignold initiated Mr . James Alexander Welch and Mr . Herbert Bernhardt , and then proposed a vote of condolence with his Most Gracious Majesty the King . The motion was seconded by Bro . Gerald Maxwell , P . M ., and passed in solemn silence . Bro . Wilhelm Ganz then pliyed the Funeral March . Bro . Harry Nicholls , P . M ., Sec , reported the death of Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C , Chaplain of the lodge ; and of Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . G . W ., one of the Consecrating Officers of the lodge , and graceful tributes to their memory and

worth were paid by the W . M . Bro . Harry Nicholls afterwards took the chair , and installed Bro . John H . Barnes ( Lyceum Theatre ) , S . W . and W . M . elect , as Master of the lodge for the year ensuing . Bro . Gerald Maxwell , P . M ., acting as J . W . Bro . Courtice Pounds sang " Be thou faithful , " Bro . Wilhelm Ganz accompanying on the organ , and Bro .. ] . E . Hambleton , P . M . 1 S 19 , on the ' cello . Bro . Lionel Rignold was invested as l . P . M ., and the other brethren appointed and invested were : Bros . Luigi Lablache , S . W . ; A . G . Neville , J . W . ; T . Catling , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C ,

Treas . ; Harry NHiolls , P . M ., Sec . ; A . R . Phipps , S . D . ; II . Nye Chart , J . D . ; Clarence Coggin , D . C . ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . Org ., Org . ; Dr . Tatham Armitage , I . G . j Frank Atherly , H . G . Hibbert , and Sidney Brough , Stwds . ; and R . W . Goddard , P . M ., Tyler . Bro . Barnes , W . M ., presented to Bro . Rignold a valuable Past Master ' s jewel , and said that the name of Rignold had been honourably connected with the stage for ages , and it was a great pride to the Drury Lane Lodge that one of the family was a member . The brethren would remember Bro . Rignold's year of Mastership with pride and pleasure . Bro . Rignold , in acknowledging the compliment

said the brethren ' s reward far exceeded his merits . He took this opportunity of thanking them all for their leniency and forbearance during his year of oflice , and his special thanks were due to Bro . Henry Neville , to whose assistance he was indebted for the jewel . To Bro . Harry Nicholls he must tender his congratulations forthe splendid way in which he had performed the ceremony of installation , which he looked upon as the Victoria Cross . He should ever look back with pleasure on his year of oflice . Before he sat down he wished to make a a communication which he thought would be a

great gratification to the members of the lodge . It occurred to him when he was Master of the lodge that as one of the founders was Lord Kitchener and other distinguished brethren . Lord Athlumney and Sir Bryan Leighton were members who had served in South Africa , to invite Lord Roberts to dine with the brethren . His lordship , however , had declined on the ground that the South African War was not vet over . He then ventured to go one step further , and ask Lord Roberts if he would allow himself to be elected an honorary member of the lodge . To this he

had received the reply that his lordship gladly acceded to the request that his name should be enrolled as a member . He , therefore , now moved that Field-Marshal Lord Roberts be elected an honorary member , and that this letter b : recorded on thc minutes . Bro . Thomas Catling , P . M ., seconded , and congratulated the Drury Lane Lodge on forming alliances which strengthened the ties between the members of the theatrical profession of a most interesting kind . Lord Kitchener was a founder of the lodge , and was a very great friend of Sir Augustus Harris . Bro . Harris introduced him ( Bro .

Catling ) to Col . Kitchener at a rehearsal of " Human Nature , " and all the brethren knew he took the greatest interest in the drama . When Lord Kitchener came back with all the glories of the Soudan campaign upon him he was most cordially received , and the brethren wanted to elect him an honorary member . Lord Kitchener , however , refused , and said he preferred to remain a regular subscribing member . The lodge had already congratulated Lord Athlumney and Sir Bryan Leighton on returning from South Africa , but Lord Kitchener was still there guarding the honour of the country . —

The motion was carried with acclamation . On thc motion of Bro . Harry Nicholls , P . M ., seconded by Bro . Thomas Catling , P . M ., two guineas were voted to ' * Our Brother ' s Bed " In the Home for the Dying , the usual one guinea not having been voted last year on account of Bro . Catling ' s absence from England . The acknowledgments by Lord Athlumney and Sir Bryan Leighton ol the brethren's congratulations on their return from South Africa were afterwards . read , and the lodge was then closed . A choice banquet followed , and the toasts were honoured .

Under the direction of Bro . Wilhelm Ganz , Organist of the lodge , a beautiful programme of music was performed by Senor Guetary , and Bros . Richard Green , Avon Saxon , George Miiller , and Miss Dolly Dupgan and Miss Flossie Behrcns . Bro . Barnes , VV . M ., for the first time proposed "The King and the Craft , " which lie said seemed somewhat funny from thc brethren's lips , and he thought thc brethren would not expect him to pass it over in silence or without some slight reference to the

monarch who had gone from us—one who was the most imperial of Empresses , thc mostqueenly of Queens , the most womanly of women , the most motherly of mothers , the loving and beloved mother of her people . Thinking that the brethren would expect him to say something with regard to her passing from us , he had the temerity to put a thought of it into 24 lines , which he would now give them . He submitted them with the utmost diffidence ; they had never yet been heard in public . OUR OUEE . M .

1 S 37—lyoi . Spring— % She came among her people in the Springtime of her youth , With face all purely English , all sincerity and truth , Her people rose to greet her , and the Workuun vied with Lord Ihe peasant ' s and patrician ' s voices joined in glad accord , In one great universal prayer , which through tfii years bstween , lias but increased in heartiness " Gad save our Sov ' reijjn Queen . "