Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

been justly called , that made them not only li '< ndly affectioned to those of the household of fs . ith , but looked even to the outer world and practised benevolent designs , raising the afflicted from the dust , succouring ' those in distress , and doing good to all mankind , whether they were

members of their mystic Craft or not . _ They were joined together in an ancient institution , so ancient that not only the memory of man runneth not to the contrary , but neither his Biblical nor his antiquarian research had enabled him to fix a period at which Masonry first

dawned upon the world . They had the great traditions of their Order , which told them that whenever Masonry had been spoken of , it had been spoken of as an ancient institution . It seemed never to have had any youth , except that youth in which it would flourish unimpaired ,

until they forgot their principles , and were unfaithful to the obligation which they took on themselves when they joined an order , which cast honour on all men , and upon which he hoped they would cast no dishonour . If brethren wished to maintain the high character of

Masonry , and hand it down untarnished from age to age , and from year to year , they must strive to remember these things . It was their boast that , by the special favour of the Great Architect of the Universe , Masonry existed in the earliest days of creation ; Alasonry lent the ability and

the talent that decorated that great temple which gave so much delig ht and satisfaction to the early world j in those early days Masonry inculcated the rightful worship of Almighty God , and caused them to bow down to the one great cause ; it lavished many blessings on the people .

Masonry was a great thing in olden times and it would continue to be so if they did their duty to their Creator , loved one another , were faithful to their trust , observed secresy , did kindnesses to their enemy , loved them who persecuted them , and helped the erring brother . They

must not think that mere charity was everything , that almsgiving was merely the spending their superfluous cash , for the man that had little wealth could help a brother in trouble , in a way that money could not , by a kind word in season . They must remember

that something more than mere wealth blessed human nature , warmed the heart of the generous brother , and caused him to help his neighbour and friend in times of trouble , and cheerfully to extend his charity when mere charity only was required . Alasonry sought to uphold the great

moral truths of all relig ious teaching : it was not religions teaching , it was not religion , and must never be thought to be its substitute . Many , very many , wisely extended their belief and submission far beyond the faith of the ancient people , and all could grandly and sublimely adopt lhe language of the poet , and

exclaim—Father of all ! in every age , In every clime ndor'd liy saint , by savage , and by sage . Jehovah , } wv , or Lord . It there was any religion in Alasonry , it was this , which did not divide men . Here the )

could not talk of distinctions of creed , ihey met on common ground ; they hatl one object , and one purpose , to love one another and to practice before the world the greatest principles ever taught to man ( except those higher principles in that Sacred Book , which hc would not venture

to touch upon ) the principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth . These were the principles of Alasonry , and he exhorted them so to act that when ihey came to their death-bed and had to think of a life well o ,- ill-spent they mig ht be able lo say— " 1 have striven to fulfil my obligation ; I

die at peace wilh all the world , I have tried lo love my brethren , 1 hope my last days will be peaceful and happy , and that when with greater aid than ever these can give , I go to the Grand Lodge above I may not be marked out as one unfaithful lo tlio cause , but join in one universal brotherhood , where happiness , peace and ¦

truthful e .. " -: ' ¦ . charity and In'iu vol : nee , shall reign lor ever . " Tin : lint pari of ihe iLdk'aUim prayer wastl . eu iiilereil , followed by the iiivoi'iilion , by the l'rov . G . AL ,-after which the . Chaplain read Chronicles , : nd book , chap , ii ., ist lo it ' ll ]! verses . The lodge was constituted bv the l'rov . G . AL ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

after which a hymn— " Great source of light and love , " was sung . The lodge having been resumed in the second degree , Bro . Captain Trower , P . AL , was installed as W . M . of the new Iodge , after some very complimentary remarks from the Prov . G . M ., which

were richly merited ( the W . M . having taken great interest in the establishment of the new lodge , and most generously supplied , at his own cost , the collars and jewels for the officsrs ) , the W . M . appointed his officers as follows : —

Bros . Tuohy , LP . AL ; J . R . Wilson , S . W . John McDouagh J . W . j T . Mears , Treasurer ; Holmes , P . AL , Secretary ; II . Townshead , S . D . ; W . Willmore , J . D . ; W . Aliller , I . G . j ExcII , Tyler .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was to have been held at the Southsea Assembly Rooms at one o ' clock , but in consequence of the time occupied in the consecration of the new lodge , business did not commence until an hour later , when the Provincial Grand Alaster took the chair ,

supported by the D . Prov . Grand Alaster and a number of Past Provincial Grand Officers . Considerable time was spent in the discussion ofthe report ofthe Charities' Committee , recommending a scheme for utilising the votes of the various lodges , and eventually , with some

amendments , it was agreed to . The Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts , shewing a balance of several hundred pounds , which had been duly audited , were submitted , after which Bro . Captain Hooper , P . G . S . Warden , proposed the re-election of Bro . AI . E . Frost as

Prov . Grand Treasurer , which was seconded by Bro . Eve , Prov . G . S . Warden , who said they could not have a better officer than Bro . Frost , who had discharged his duties so well for many years , and they were much obliged to him tor his services . ( Applause . ) The resolution was

carried bv acclamation , and the Provincial Grand Alaster said he could only express their gratitude to Bro . Frost for the very efficient and zealous services which he had given them for the benefit of for so many years . The Prov . G . Treasurer briefly returned thanks .

The committee for auditing the Prov . G . Treasurer ' s accounts and the committee for managing the Prov . G . Lodge funds having been appointed , the Provincial Grand Masterappointed and invested the following brethren as his ollieers for the ensuing year : —

Col . Hon . S . Calthorpe , 17- ; , l ' rov . S G . W . Henry Cawte , lofiy , Prov . J . G . W . Rev . E . Nepean , 1 , 37 , 3 , Prov . G . Chaplain . Rev . IS . O . Wilberforce , 130 , Prov . G . Chaplain . Loveland , rtytS , l ' rov . G . Reg . AI ark K . Frost , 4 8 7 , Pi ov . G . Treas

W . Hickman , 130 , Prov . G . Sec . J . E . Lc Feuvre , 150 Prov . G . Sec . G . H . De Fraine , ' 2 <; 7 , l ' rov . G . S . D . K . Siieppard , 76 , . ' l ' rov . G . J . D . Dyson , 324 , l ' rov . G . S . of W . Dusaiuoy , ^ yj , l ' rov . G . D . of C .

Hath , , ; iy Prov . G . A . D . of C . Slecman , 903 , l ' rov . G . Sword li . H . AI . Green , 804 , Prov . G . Purst . Shaipe , 130 , Prov . G . Organist . Thatcher , 6 94 , Prov . G . Stewards . E . Aloore , 487 , „ „ „

C . Cox , So 4 , „ „ „ J . R . Rastick , 1069 , „ „ „ C . Cox , 394 „ „ ,, J . G . Buttefant , 76 , , Dawkins , Prov . G . Tyler . Biggs , „

D . Prov . G . Master Stebbing said a suggestion had been made that it . would be belter to have a winter meeting , at which business might be transacted . The Prov . G . Alaster promised that he would consult as to what would be the most convenient

lime for holding the meeting , and if it was the general wish that it should be . held , he would make tiie most convenient arrangement for holding it . ' D . Prov . G . Master Sli bbiinr said they had

lost , during the las 1 , few wet ks , lhc near relatives of three veiy distinguished Alaso is in Hampshire . 'I'he fi . st he would mention was Bro . tlie Rev . — 1 ' ettat , who was a relative of their Prov . ' G . Mastcr , and whose kindness of manner endeared him to every one in the province . They had

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

also had the misfortune to lose a very illustrious dignitary of the Church , the Bishop of Winchester , and his son was an active Mason at Southampton . There was a special reason wh y he should mention the late bishop , because although he was not a Mason , when they held the

centenary of the Royal Gloucester Lodge at Southampton , and they could not get access to their parish church , St . Mary ' s Church was placed at their disposal , and the Bishop wrote the special service for the day . The D . Prov .

G . Alaster further referred to the bereavement sustained by Bro . Hickman , one of the Prov . G . Secretaries , in the loss of his wife , and which deprived them of his presence that day , and moved that a vote of condolence be sent to the

relatives of the two first-named and to Bro . Hickman , which was seconded by Bro . H . M . Emanuel and carried . The Grand Lodge was shortly afterwards closed in due Masonic form .

At five o ' clock a number of brethren partook of a cold collation at the Portland Hall , under the presidency ofthe R . W . Frov . Grand Master , the vice-chairs being occupied b y the newly appointed Wardens . The splendid band of the Royal Marine Light Infantry , under the direction

of Herr Kreyer , was stationed in the balcony , and p layed some choice selections during the evening . The Provincial Grand Alaster , in giving " The Queen and Craft , " said if there was one class more loyal to tlie throne than another it was the

Freemasons of England . They had two reasons for this . They were , in the first place , prompted by that loyalty which , as Englishmen , they owed to their Sovereign , and as Freemasons they were taught to obey those in authority . The Provincial Grand Alaster next proposed

" The Alost Worshipful the Right Honourable the Marquess of Ripon , K . G ., Grand Alaster . " They had during the year to mourn the loss of one who presided over them for more than a quarter of a century , who for that period reigned in the hearts of Freemasons , and obtained from

them that love and affection which was acquired by a long life spent in doing his duty , and by having attached himself to the principles of the Order they loved . By the death of the Earl of Zetland they lost a brother whom they all esteemed and revered . Hc was sure that when

the loss of that nobleman was announced to them , full of years as he was , a poignant sense of grief pierced the heart of every true brother , and the mourning in which for a period of six months every lodge throughout thc country was placed would evince that they duly reverenced

him and were duly sensible of the loss they had sustained . In the present Grand Alaster they had indeed a worthy successor of him . They had one who was able to rule lheir Craft with that firmness and decision which should

characterise a Grand Alaster , with that zeal anil attachment to the Order which hc should also evince , and also with that courtesy which should distinguish every brother who aspired to rule over such a widely extended and important body of men . ¦ ' ¦

The Provincial Grand Alaster next gave " Bro . His Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales , P . G . AL " He was esteemed by them all , and he was sure he was ready to discharge his duties in Freemasonry with zeal and ability . He was certain , from the interest the Prince of Wales took in Freemasonry , no doubt need be entertained that

they should always find him a firm supporter . He did not shun trouble , but was ready to come forward on every occasion win re the interests ol the Order were concerned . They knew full well that when one of their grand Alasonic charities needed a brother to preside at its anniversary festival the Prince of Wales came forward and

lent his name and position to the great assemblage which then took place . Bro . J . Rankin Stebbing , D . l ' rov . G . AL , then said he had to claim their attention tor a few moments whilst he proposed to them a toast as dear to them as any that had been proposed . It

was in a spirit of loyalty to those distinguished persons whose healths had been proposed that they would drink to the health of one in authority under them—that was their revered and beloved Provincial Grand Master . ( Loud Applause . ) They mi « jht rejoice indeed that they had a