Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wilts.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTS .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Wiltshire was held Yesterday week at the l ' ovvi . Hall , Swindon , under the ( . resiliency of the Right Hon . Lord Methuen , R . W . Prov . Grand Alaster . Previous to the meeting of the lodge , the receiving lodge , Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation , No .

,-: , met under the Alastership of Bro . J . Campbell Alac-Kan , M . B . Grand Lodge was opened at two o ' clock , when the following brethren were present : —Bros . Rt . Hon . the Lord Methuen , P . G . M . Wilts ; Gabriel Goldney , ALP ., V . W . D . pG . AI . Wilts ; Sir Daniel Gooch . Bart ., M . P ., P . G . M . Berks ami Bucks ; Rt . Hon . Lord H . T . Thynne , ALP .,

[» . G . Supt . Wilts ; Case , P . G . D . Eng . ; Col . Basevi , Gloucester ; W . H . Poyndcr , Walter Long , W . AI . 632 ; Fred H . Goldney , Past G . Steward Eng ., P . G . Treas . Wilts ; Henry C . Tombs , P . G . D ., P . P . S . G . W ., and P . G . Sec . Wilts ; E . Trinder , P . G . Sec . Gloucester ; Gen . H . Doherty , 33 ° , P . P . S . G . W . Somerset , P . P . S . G . D . Wilts ; Henry Galley , W . M , , !; 33 ; Henry Kinneir , P . P . S . G . W . ; John Chandler , P . P .

S . G . W ., ar . d P . G . Dir . Cer . Wilts ; G . L . Lopes , P . G . Steward Eng . ; J . Campbell Alaclean , W . AI . No . 355 , Receiving Lotlge ; R . N . Fowler , P . G . Purs . Wilts ; A . L . Goddard , 355 ; Col . Everett , 1478 ; Thos . Graham , P . P . J G W . ; Richard Bradford , P . P . S . G . W . ; Rob . Stokes , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . F . Gooch , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . II . Chandler , P . S . G . W . ; John Toomer , P . P . J . G . W . ; Arthur Law , P . G . Chap . ;

VV . Nott , P . P . J . G . W ., Charity Organisation Secretary ; J . H . Callev , E . j . Sewell , Cotswold Lodge ; R . de M . Lawson , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . W . Whatley , P . P . J . G . D . ; T . Young , Past G . Steward , Eng . ; Wm . Affleck , P . AI . 355 ; F . H Phillips , W . AI . 626 ; Geo . Pike , W . AI . 1478 ; F . Gardner . VV . AI . 335 ; E . T . Payne , P . G . D . Eng ., P . P . S . G . W . Wilts -, Baldwin ' , Bromley , Feaviour , and Fudge , of No . 333 ;

Armslrong , Braid , Bryant , Colbron , Cornwall , Deacon , Edmonds , Gooelwin , Green , Liddiard , Plummer , Pocock , Skuray , Wentworth , Whitehead , of No . 355 ; Bartleit , liuttifant , Calkin , Cross , Futcher , Harman , Harwood , Norwood , Rumbold , Tucker , and Wiltshire , of 5 86 ; Bailey , Daly , Eyres , Heame , Heidley , Holhrow , Lapham , Allison ) , and Sudlow , of No . 626 ; Bishop , Foley , C . Gauntlett ,

S . Gauntlett , Lavington , Alann , and Norris , of 632 ; Badham , Burman , Burt , Gibbs , Tuckey , Rawlins , Raymond , and Sterne , of No . 663 ; Barker , E . Brown , Dean , Durnford , Howsc , Kent , Ludgate , Powell , Reece , Turner , Tyrrell , and White , of No . 1295 ; Chisman , Crockett , Cross , George , Toone , and Vincent , of No . 1478 ; Carter , Drury ,

Lewis , and Lucy , of No . 1533 . After lodge had been openeel , Bro . H . C Tombs , P . G . D . Prov . G . S ., read the minutes , which were put to the meet ing and approved . He also read the following litters : Darmstadt . 27 th October , 1878 Dear Sir anil Brother , —

H . R . H . Prince Leopold desires mc to express the regret he feels at not being able to be present at the forthcoming Prov . Granel Lodge at Swindon . It woulel have been especially gratifying to H . R . H . to be present , when your P . G . Alaster , an old and trusted friend of our Royal

Family , receives the honourable recognition that he has so well earned from the brethren . Perhaps you will kinelly be an interpreter to the P . G . M . of his Royal Highness ' s feelings . Faithfully and fraternally yours , R . H . COLLINS .

Henry C . lombs , Esq . Erlestoke Paik , Devizes , 23 rd October , 1878 , Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very sorry that I shall be unable to attend lhe Provincial Grand Lodge or . the Sth of November next , when the testimonial will bc presented to our Prov . Giand Alaster , Lord Alithuen . It will , however , be a pleasure to

me to contribute in some degree to the festivity on that occasion , and I hope that a couple of haunches of havier venison will be acceptable for the banquet . If so , please lo let me know ' whcrc and to whom they should be addressed . 1 purpose to have the haiier shot on Monday next , the 28 th October , so that the venison may be in good

order for the table by the 8 th November . The haunches shall be sent off on any day you may suggest after Tuesday , the 29 th inst . I have filled up the card sent me , Hating that I am unable to attend the banquet , and I beg to enclose it as you probably file the cards . 1 am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , ( Signed ) ' S . WATSON TAYLOH . Hro . H . C Tombs , P . G . D ., & c , & c .

Bro . Tombs also read a letter from Bro . John Hervey ri'gretting his inability to attend on account of his health "ot having been very good of late . The letter also stated that lie the more regretted his inability to attend because be was present at Lord Methuen ' s installation 25 years ago , and be desired Bro . Tombs to convey his congratulations to his lordship on his silver wedding .

oro . F . Goldney , Prov . G . Treasurer , presented the report and accounts of the province which was very satisfactory , showing a large balance in hanel . There was also 1 balance of £ 57 12 s . 6 d . to the credit of the Charity Fund . Hro . H . C . Tombs said that as a Chaiity Committee ' s report which would be presently submitted to the meeting showed that there was a balance of £ 31 12 s . 6 d . available , 'be Committee had come to the conclusion that it was

l ^ e-sirablc that the province should vote fifty guineas to the "" yal Alasonic Benevolent Institution , to endow the chair 11 the Provincial Grand Alaster with a Vice-Presidentship O tlm . I " > tution . Bro . Nott , the Secretary of the ^ 'ijanisation had expiessed his willingness to take the pewardship of the province for the next festival of the "stitution next February , and the sum would be placed on J be Treasurer ' s accounts of general lodge funds showed

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wilts.

a balance in favour of the Provincial Grand Lodge of £ 31 8 s . as against £ 14 for last year . Some of the lodges , however , had not sent in their accounts or paid their Prov . Grand Lodge dues . The balance standing to the credit of the charity account was £ 31 18 s . Donations to the Charities are made from this account every year so as nearly to exhaust it . The balance of £ 31 18 s . this year

was reduced by a vote of fifty guineas being made to the Roval Alasonic Benevolent Institution . Bro , William Nott then read the following report of the Provincial Charity Organization Committee prrsenteel to the R . W . the P . G . M ., Officers , and brethren , in P . G . Lodge assembled at Swindon , on Friday , the Sth Nov ., 1 S 78 . " The Secretary of the Provincial Charity Organization

Committee begs leave on its behalf to present a short statement of its work during the past year . " The case of the widow ( Airs . Elizabeth Gundry Burt ) adopted by the Committee as mentioned in last year ' s report , received the full support of the province at the election in Alay , when she was placed fourth on the list of successful candidates , with 99 8 votes . To attain this highly

satisfactory result , however , a very considerable number of votes was borrowed from other provinces in the full belief of being able to repay them at the next election in Alay . Your Committee has had no local case for the Boys ' School broughtb fore it , but it has adopted as a candidate for the Girls' School the case of Ada Alary Cook , daughter of the latt Bro . Henry Cook , of the Royal Sussex Lodge of

Emulation , No . 355 , Swindon . There were only four vacancies at the October Girls' School election , and consequently a very large number of votes was required to secure the election of a candidate . Your Committee , feeling it impossible to attain to anything like this number , lent the greater part of the votes at its disposal to three other provinces , with which this province is in friendly unison , and

in each case the candidate for whom our votes were lent was successful . The repayment to us in April of the votes so lent will give a very good chance of our candidate ' s success at that election if your Committee is as well supported as it has been this year , and if there is an average number of vacancies in the school to be filled . " The votes from the lodges in the province and from their members and fricnels handed over to the Committee

during the past two years have been as follows : — 1877 1878 Royal Alasonic Institution for Boys ... ... 395 37 6 Royal Alasonic Institution ft r Giils 209 341 Royal Alasonic Institution for Aged Freemasons 250 187 Royal Alasonic Ben volent Institution for Widows of Freemasons 140 228

994 1132 being an increase of 13 S votes—or nearly 14 per cent . —in the past year . ' This indicat' s a steadyjprogrcssive increase in the suppott given by the Masons of Wiltshire to the great Masonic Charities , which your Committee trjsts will go on from year to jcar without diminution , and , it possible , keep pace

with the greater need of funds in whicn * hose Charities are placed by the rapidly increasing demands upe _ . i them . " WILLIAM NOTT , " Hon . Sec . to the Committee . " On the motion if Bro . Gabriel Goldney , D . Prov . G . AL , seconded by Lord H . Thynne , this report was put to the meeting and carried unanimously .

Brn . Gabriel Goldney , Dep . Prov . G . AL ; then rose and said , the brethren were about to perform a duty that he was quite satisfied would meet with the approbation of all present . They were there with closed windows and borrowed lights , with all the mysteries of their Craft , and the insignia of their institution ; but they were about to perform an act which he was sure w . uld bcin sympathy and harmony

with the feelings of the outside world , who , he believed , if they had it in Ihtir power would appreciate the object in view and the means taken to carry it out quite as much as the brethren there assembled . The brethren were about to shew their lasting testimony of feelings of esteem , regard , admiration and gratitude for the services which had been rendered to them by their Right Worshipful

Provincial Grand Master . He would ask Bro , Tombs to request the Committee and the Grand Deacons to introduce into Grand Lodge a testimonial which they would heartily respectfully , and with every feeling of kindness and love , wish to offer to the Provincial Grand Master . The brethren named then retired and rcturncel in a few minutes , bearing two massive silver candelabra of the value

of 600 guineas , and a handsome address in illuminated writing on vellum , framed and glazed , and placed them on the tab'e in the centre of the lodge . Bro . Gabiiel Goldney , then addressing the Provincial Grand Master , —all the brethren slanding at the timesaid , that he was deputed on behalf of the lodge , and on behalf < f the Freemasons of the Province of Wiltshire , to

offer to his lordship the testimonial now before him in recognition of the feelings which they entertained with respect to the good his lordship had done , not only for Masonry in the Province of Wiltshire , but for Alasonry in general , by having accepted and acted as the Provincial Grand Master for the last five and twenty years . He knew of nothing which they could give that would

adequately represent the brethren ' s feelings for his lordship ' s kindness , but as Alasons they could offer their respectful thanks to him for what he had done . The testimonial , however , which they now presented would show to others whocame after them , the value the brethren

set on his lordship's presidency over them . The candelabra and address , now in lodge , the brethren asked his lordship's acceptance of . There were some people who professed not to wish for praise and renown , but praise and renown , were frequently not the only reward that persons had . Philosophers professed not to wish for praise or renown ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wilts.

anil yet they wrote their names on the papers or books which they wrote , that they might be handed down to posterity . He was sure that no man ever earned feelings of resp . ct and kindly sentinents towards him from those amongst whom he lived , as well as among Alasons , than his lordship had in his position of a country gentleman and as Provincial Grand Alaster . His kindly friendships ,

tvs liberality of feeling , as well as his liberality of means in general , were acknowledged by every person who come in contact with him . He trusted that his lordship ' s life might be long spared , and that they might for many years have the advantage of seeing his lordship preside in that chair , and the brethren knew perfecly well that while he did s . ) Masonry would flourish in the province . The

brethren had already heard from the Treasurer's report the great increase which had taken place in the Freemasonry of the province ; now , in the year before last , the number of brethren had increased from 300 to 350 , and in last year from 350 to 450 , and he doubted not that in future years a similar state of progress would be witnessed . The charitable funds of the province had likewise increased ,

and they had been able to dispense those funds in a praiseworthy manner . He believed that the increase in the number of Freemasons of the province , and the increase in tbe charitable funds was mainly due to the interest which his lordship always took in these matters , to his own personal dignity , to his well-known character , and to the kindness , firmness , and forbearance ever displayed by him to the

brethren , more especially in the chair of Provincial Grand Lodge . Alasonry had now attained to such an elevated position as to encourage people in the principles it professed . His lordship had assisted in raising it to its high position in the lodges of this county , and he trusted , as he had said before , that Alasonry in that province would long have the advantage of his presidency over it .

Lord Alethuen , in reply , said , brethren , I rise , I assure you , with very great difficulty to express to you but a very small amount of that deep gratitude I feel to you all for the very kind appteciation you have shown of my humble efforts in favour of Alasonry which you have shown towards me this day . I am one of those who never , until I rise , think of what I am going to say , and , therefore , if I

but inadequately express my feelings you must not attribute it to a want of gratitude on my part , but to a want of power to express myself as I would wish to all of you this day . When I behold those magnificent candelabra , and consider not only their pecuniary value , but their artistic quality , when 1 see that magnificent testimonial which you have presented to me , I cannot help saying to

myself , what is it that 1 have done to render myself worthy of so much kindness on the part of the Freemasons of Wiltshire ? 1 am sorry to say that although I may to some little extent have benefited the Craft during the time that I have had the honour to preside over this province , I am sure that the amount of generosity and kindly feeling that has been evinced towards me this day

is as multiplied by it ten or even a hundredfold . It is more than anything I had to expect of you . For many generations 1 trust those splendid specimens of your generosity and kindness will go down to those who I hope and trust will have the same feelings towards ths Alasons of this province that I have myself , which is , and always has been , cm : of the kindest and most heartfelt

sympathy for all of you . It would not do for me to detain you longer by any further observations on what is to mc the happiest and , I can assure you , the very proudest moment of my connection with Alasonry , not only because this testimonial comes from the brethren belonging to the province over which I have the honour to preside , but also because those brethren belong to that county in which so many of those of

my family who have gone before me , though they have not been Alasons , have lived . It is , I assure you , a double gratification to me to know that that splendid testimonial is one which sprung from the hearts of Masons . It will ill become me , with a vivid memory of what occurred twenty-five years ago , if I omitted to mention the great encouragement to Alasonry , and the great kindness to mc

by one who , I am sure , we are all delighted to see among us here ibis evening . The Alasons of Wiltshire may take my word for it , that the seed was sown by the present Provincial Grand Alaster of Beiks and Bucks—that he laid the foundation stone of that edifice which was placed in my hands , and directed me how to carry out the whole work of Alasonry . But for him , I feel convinced , that the Alasons

of Wiltshire would not at this moment have b . en doing that honour to me , for which I hardly know how to thank them sufficiently . As I said before , it would ill-become me to sit down without assuring the Alasons of Wiltshire that but for Bro . Sir Daniel Gooch I should never have been in the proud position that I am in now . I tender you all by best and sincerest thanks for the great

honour that you have done me , and for the liberality , generosity , and kindly feelings you have evinced for me . I trust that for many years 1 may continue to have the pleasure of presiding over the interests of Masonry in this piovince . Bro . H . C Tombs , Provincial Grand Secretary , then read the address from the illuminated vellum .

Bro . F . H . Goldney , the Provincial Grand Treasurer , afterwards said that he had prepared a history of Freemasanry in the Province of Wiltshire . To save time he would not read it , but he begged to present it to Lord Alethuen , and he would afterwards have it printed for distribution . The history had been some little trouble to get up , as the records of Freemasonry in the province were few , and

scattered before the time that his lordship undertook the government of the province . Bro . Goldney then piesented the manuscript to Lord Alethuen . Lord Alethuen said , the thanks of the brethren were due to Bro . Goldney for his attention to the interests of Alasonry by devoting so much time to the compilation of the work just placed in his hands , and he had no doubt that there wonld be few Masons in the province who would not