Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

singing a collection was made on behalf of the work on the stained glass windows of the Lady Chapel . The brethren having formed up in the same order the procession returned to the Chapter House , where lodge was resumed and business disposed of . In discussing the Charity votes the Deputy Provincial Grand Master proposed that ^ 10 be voted to the Fund for the Relief of Refugees from the Transvaal and the Orange Free State i—or rather the Orange River Colony , and the new title seemed equally to

bother the memory of the Chancellor of the Exchequer , who seconded the unanimous vote . The Committee which had been appointed to inquire i nto the restoration of Tewkesbury Abbey reported , per Bro . Vassar-Smith , that the work , a portion of which the lodge had in view , was started by Bro . Collins , but since then Tewkesbury brethren had had to mourn the loss both of that good Mason and of Bro . Fred Moore , who had also substantially interested himself in the work . The repairs contemplated would cost / 520 .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in deploring the loss of the brethren mentioned , remarked that the former had been for many years a personal friend , while no one who had known Bro . Moore could fail to recognise the good work he did for his native place and for Masonry . He hoped that the name of Bro . Collins would be handed down for all time , associated with the

building he had done so much to preserve and beautify . The expenditure was agreed to when Bro . BAKER had explained that already the Tewkesbury brethren had volunteered to contribute . £ 200 . ' of the ^ , 520 , in addition to the amounts they had already & di ridually contributed to the restoration work . The officers for the ensuing year were invested as follows :

Bro . Lindsey Winterbotham , 2709 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Edwin Lea , 100 5 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Canon St . John , 493 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ G . J . Holloway , 2407 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ J . Bruton , 839 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ I . B . Winterbotham , S 2 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . ,. H . Bansall Todd . S 2 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ G . Goodwin Norris , 2541 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ F . J . Townshend , 592 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks „ W . J . Greenstreet , 702 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . . „ H . A . Armitage , 839 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ A . W . Hopkins , 761 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " H w ? 0 dder o \ r ° ] Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ H . Waghorne , 246 ... ... ... ) „ Rev . G . C . Ryley , S 39 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ M . Llewellyn Evans , 82 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ G . Banaster , 900 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ F . Treasure , 493 ••• •••) „ J . Smithin , S 39 ... ... ... [ Prov . G . Stwds . ,, Oliver Carter . l 100 5 ... ... ... ) „ VV . Window ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The PROV . G . M ., before closing the business , embraced the opportunity of expressing the warm thanks of the members of Prov . Grand Lodge for the hospitable welcome extended to visiting brethren by the members of the three city lodges , and in especial thanked the Very Worshipful the Dean , not only for the eloquent discourse they had just listened to , but for the privilege of attending service in that magnificent Cathedral , whose condition showed the care with which the custodians discharged their trust .

The opportunity of worshipping as a body in the cathedral and of holding lodge in that historic Chapter House was , indeed , a privilege that contributed largely to the profit and pleasure of the province . To this the DEAN replied that nowhere should Provincial Grand Lodge expect a heartier welcome than in the building which bore such substantial evidence of their princely munificence .

After Provincial Grand Lodge had been closed in due form , brethren to the number of about 150 sat down to a banquet served at the Bell Hotel . The post-prandial proceedings were none the less cordial and patriotic owing to the news from Pretoria . The Gloucester brethren had applied

themselves in good earnest to the task of making the proceedings pleasurable , and not the least enjoyable feature of the day was the beautiful singing of a large glee-party conducted by Bro . W . H . Morgan . The permission to smoke was conveyed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer remarking "The more tobacco you smoke the better it will be . "

Bro . the Rev . C . J . MARTYN , who responded for the toast of " The Grand Lodge " in a thoroughly characteristic speech , reminded the Prov . G . Master of the early Freemasons of whom the V . W . Bro . the Dean had spoken in his sermon , and who were exempt from taxes of all kinds . If the Prov . G . M . were to put that principle into practice , at least within that province , Freemasonry would flourish beyond precedent .

The PROV . GRAND MASTJJR , replying to the toast of his health , remarked that it was a characteristic of all parties , irrespective of politics , that each tried to get out of paying taxes , and cacli tried to get as much as it could out of the Exchequer . The suggestion of Bro . Martyn might have commended itself to him were it not for the recollection of what happened to the early Freemasons who were exempt from taxation . Were they not bitterly persecuted by the taxpayers , and finally driven to take refuge on the island 111 Lake Matjgiore ?

The following lodges of Gloucestershire were represented : Royal York Lodge , No . 2709 , Nailsworth ; St . Andrew's Lodge , No . 2541 , Avonmouth ; Hicks-Beach Lodge , No . 2407 , Stroud ; Tyndall Lodge , No . 1363 , Staple Hill ; Royal Forest of Dean Lodge , No . 1067 , Newnham ; Zetland Lodge , No . 1005 , Gloucester ; Prince of Wales' Lodge , No . 951 , Stow-on-the-Wold ; St . George ' s Lodge , No . 900 , Tewkesbury ; Lodge

of Sympathy , No . S 55 , Wotton-under-Edge ; Royal Gloucestershire Lodge , No . 839 , Gloucester ; St . | ohn's Lodge , No . 7 61 , Dursley ; Sherborne Lodge , No . 702 , Stroud ; Cotteswold Lodge , No . 592 , Cirencester ; Royal Lebanon Lodge , No . 493 , Gloucester ; Foundation Lodge , No . S 2 , Cheltenham ; Royal Union Lodge , No . 246 , Cheltenham ; Royal Lodge of Faith and Friendship , No . 370 , Berkeley .

DURING THK EXCAVATIONS in the forecourt of St . John ' s Church , CIcrkenwell , for the purpose of building an improved entrance to the crypt ( which dates back lo 1010 ) an ancient wall has been uncovered , which forms a portion of a circle . In the opinion of experts who have been called to sec it the original nave of the edifice was circular , like the Temple Church at the present time . This is interesting , because there are only four ancient round churches in England . Last night , at the Clerken-Wcll Vestry , Mr . Churchwarden Millward asked permission to continue the excavations in St . John ' s-square , to endeavour to discover the continuation of the old wall . The woik would be done free of cost to the parish . The request was granted .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of the above county was held at Boston on the 7 th instant , and attracted an attendance which was the largest on record , 351 brethren being present from all parts of the province . The lodge was held at the Corn Exchange , which was prettily adorned with banners , flags , and plants , and the arrangements made by the brethren of the Harmony

and Franklin Lodges were in every way complete . The Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborough , the Prov . G . Master , presided , and he was supported by Bro . W . Harling Sissons , J . P ., D . L ., Dep . Prov . G . Master , and an exceptionally large number of Present and Past Prov . G . Officers . The roll of lodges and of Prov . G . Officers having been called ,

The PROV . G . MASTER gave an address , and the usual statements of accounts were submitted by Bro . B . Vickers , Prov . G . Sec . Bro . H . Watson , P . G . Reg ., presented the return of the lodgts , and the Charity Stewards submitted their reports . A resolution passed at the last meeting of the Benevolent Committee contributing 50 guineas for assistance on behalf of the lodges in South Africa was confirmed .

Bro . F . J . Sowby was unanimously re-elected Pr ov . G . Treasurer . The Prov . G . Master invested the Prov . G . Officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . C . T . Tunnard ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ T . C . Moss ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ the Rev . A . W . G . Giffard ... ... ¦ )„ n „ „ G . SchoIey ... ... ... j Prov . G . Chaps . „ F . J . Sowby ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . Watson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ B . Vickers ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ T . Kitwood ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ A . R . Watson ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ G . J . Dashper ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks „ G . F . Burrell ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . Franks ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ J . T . Symes ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ G . B . Walker ... ... ... v „ , „ J . Haslam ... j Prov ' - ' - „ J . W . Sharp ... ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Sec „ G . Dawson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . King ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ W . Porter ... ... ... .,. Prov . A . G . Purst . „ W . W . Wright ... ... ... J „ H . Tweed ... ... ... ... I

„ J . H . Lee ... ... ... ... ID n c- * J „ W . Heaton }¦ Prov . G . Stwds . „ J . E . S . Passmore ... ... ... 1 „ W . J . Shepherd ... ... ... J „ W . Donner ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The PROV . G . MASTER announced that next year the Prov . G . Lodge would be held at Horncastle .

In the afternoon a banquet was served in Shodfriars' Hall , the Prov . G . Master being supported by the Dep . Prov . G . Master , Bros . W . Garfit ( M . P . for Boston ) , G . Doughty ( M . P . for Grimsby ) , W . Pooles ( Mayor of Boston ) , and others . Mr . F . Storr ' s band played selections of music , and songs were sung by Bro . G . H . Gregory .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

British Lodge , No . 334 . PRESENTATION OF A LODGE BANNER . Members of the mystic tie throughout South Africa will be pleased to learn that the election of VV . M . for the ensuing Masonic year has resulted in the almost unanimous vote of the lodge in placing Bro . J . R . Finch in the chair of the mother lodge of English Freemasonry in South Africa . Bro . Finch ' s record in Masonry has been one commanding the esteem of his brethren , and he will enter upon the cares of office with

the free support of the largest and most influential lodge in South Africa . At the regular meeting for election , held on Wednesday evening , May 16 th , about 150 brethren attended , no doubt to give expression to their appreciation of Bro . Everett ' s work during the past year . The occasion was a memorable one in another respect , inasmuch as the officers and Past Masters seized the opportunity to present to the lodge a richlyembroidered banner .

Bro . G . li . O . Bennett , D . D . G . M ., had the pleasure of presenting this handsome gift on behalf of the donors , and did so , remarking that the officers and Past Masters trusted that Bro . Everett would ever iegard it as a memento of their love and esteem . The banner is certainly a beautiful work of art , and the finest of the kind ever seen in South Africa . It was designed b y a Past Master of the lodge , and measures 6 feet C inches by 4 feet 2 inches , 'ihe design has been happily executed by the firm of Bros .

Kenning and Son , of London , and depicts Table Mountain as a background . The whole of the work is silk and gold thread embroidery , very massive and handsome . The ospreys attached to the banner are correct in detail and colour , and represent the R . A . symbols and numerals . The centre of the banner is the British coat-of-arms in correct heraldic colours and design . Every member of the Craft will be pleased to learn that Bro . W . E . Goodman was elected at the same meeting for the 25 th year of office .

Cambrian Lodge , of Australia , No . 656 ( E . C . ) The regular meeting of this old English lodge ( the only one under the Grand Lodge of England in New South Wales ) was held on Wednesday , the 2 nd ult . There was , as usual , a good attendance of members and visitors from E . C , I . C ., and S . C . lodges in other parts of the Empire , represented by visitors to the colony in H . M . ships on the station . Prominent on the dais were some well-known and esteemed members from the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales , who rendered assistance to the W . M . in the working of the lodge . What was particularly noticed was the rendering ( by request of the W . M . ) of the final charge by the Master of a Sydney lodge in a manner seldom surpassed .

Punctually at eight p . m . the VV . M ., Bro . Tait , took the chair , supported by the I . P . M ., Bro . Beiesford G . Campbell , and several other P . Ms . Two candidates were balloted for , and having been accepted , were initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry by the W . M . The work throughout was done in a manner that showed a careful study of the ritual , and must have created in the minds of the candidates an impression never to be effaced . The business of the evening being concluded , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , a pleasant hour being spent .

Bro . Malcolm , of Il . M . S . Torch , a member of United Chatham Lodge of Benevolence , No . 1 S 4 ( E , C . ) , who has been a constant visitoi to this lodge was accorded ban ¦ voyage , he being on the eve of departure to England by Il . M . S . Diana . It is noticed with pleasure by the members of the lodge that many E . C . brethren from No . 2404 ( Lord Charles Beresford Lodge ) , ani other E . C . lodges visit the lodge , where a very cordial welcome awaits any visitor , paiticularly those of II . M . ' s Army and Navy .