Provincial Grand Chapter Of Essex.

Committee , consisting of the M . E . Z ., with Comps . F . H . Bright , F . Bird , J . Hutley , and the veteran Scribe E . of the chapter , Comp . F . G . Green , had made every arrangement possible for the reception and entertainment of their visitors . The portion of the old church used was seated for 62 and could be made to accommodate even more than that without inconvenience .

The Grand Superintendent was supported by Comps . J . Glass , T . J . Railing , P . G . S . B . Eng . ; F . H . Meggy , J . Speller , M . Z . Tuck , A . Lucking , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., and A . W . Martin , and a large number of Past Provincial Grand Officers and companions , many of them coming from distant parts of England for the occasion .

The report of the Board of General Purposes was passed , and Comps . G . H . Finch , J . J . C . Turner , and Francis White were elected to serve on the Board for the ensuing year . The roll call of the 12 chapters in the province showed that all were represented . The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then addressed the companions . He said that it gave him great pleasure to be amongst them all again . He

took a keen interest in Royal Arch Masonry , and it was most gratifying to find himself surrounded by the kind faces of those with whom he had been associated ever since the formation of the province . That was the 13 th time he had had the privilege of presiding over the Grand Chapter of the Province of Essex . On the first occasion , when he was installed at Chelmsford , the province consisted of but four chapters , now , with the

newly-consecrated Ixion Chapter , there were 12 , which was a large increase . There were 38 Craft lodges , and , with 12 of them holding charters for Royal Arch chapters , he found that looking to the proportion of chapters and lodges on the roll of the Grand Chapter of England , the Degree in Essex was maintaining and more than maintaining its way , both in the number of chapters and of companions . He thought , therefore , they had

reason to thank the M . H . for favours already received , and to take courage for the future . For that future there were good signs . At the meeting of the Grand Chapter , which was being held that afternoon , a Setition was to come up for a chapter to be attached to the Royal Victorian ubilee Lodge , which , if granted , would bring up their numbers to 13—those fond of coincidences would notice that this was the 13 th year of

Provincial Grand Chapter—and he trusted he was violating no confidence when he mentioned that a movement was on foot for the establishment of a chapter at the northeast corner of the province , at Harwich , which would probably before long take definite shape . But whatever was in store for them , one thing was quite clear , that all who belonged to it highly valued the privileges of this Degree as a fuller development

of those secrets which are not expounded to the Master Mason , secrets , which , while they had a mystical meaning , had a very real meaning to all their hearts . No one could have seen , as he had done , the ceremonies of the Order worked in one or two of the chapters of the province , without feeling that theDegree was held in high estimation amongst the companions , and while desiring to keep up their numerical strength , he might say that

they wanted the thoughtful , consistent Mason to join their ranks—it was not for the frivolous , unthinking one , but to the earnest , zealous Mason the Royal Arch was the legitimate crown . Referring to the present state of the province , the Grand Superintendent said of the 23 new members , the great bulk , as might be expected , came with the new chapter , but though their actual increase seemed small , he thought in these days of depression in trade and agriculture not to go back was a substantial increase . After

remarking that the effect on the alteration in the Constitutions , by which a Master Mason could now receive the privileges of the Royal Arch sooner than formeily , had hardly yet been felt , the Grand Superintendent concluded by congratulating the companions on the happy and united condition of the province—there was no element of discord amongst them , the province was never worked better , and for himself he felt that tie had the loyal support of them all .

The Grand Superintendent then invested the following companions as his officers for the ensuing year : Comp . R . Martin ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ A . G . Hayman ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ T . J . Railing ( 13 th year ) ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ E . Gowers ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N .

„ A . Durrani ( 13 th year ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ I . M . Knight ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ H . E . Dehane ... ... ... Prov . G . P . Soj . „ J . Pinder ... ... ... Prov . ist A . G . Soj . „ R . S . Cushing ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . Soj . „ J . G . Renshaw ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

„ F . G . Green ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ A . Lucking ( 13 th year ) ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ A . Vandervord ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ C . F . Rush . ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ F . S . Guy ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ A . W . Martin ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . Provincial Grand Chapter being closed , the companions adjourned to the

Blue Boar Hotel , where an excellent banquet was served to about 50 , the after proceedings being very much enhanced by the music of Miss Kate Cherry , soprano ; Mr . A . J . Layton , tenor ; and Mrs . Layton at the pianoforte . The musical arrangements were in the capable hands of Comp . Gowers .

Those present during the day , ar . d not already mentioned above , included Comps . J . H . Salter , Francis White , W . Shurmur , G . Coible , J . P . Lewin , R . Jennings , G . H . Finch , F . Gayton , R . H . Ives , the Rev . D , Gotio , G . Copus , T . J . D . Cramphorn , B . Stewart , W . Clover , W . M . Butcher , C T . Thorn , H . J . Skingley , J . P . Sayer , T . G . Pechey , E . M . Scott , R . Dittewell , and F . J . Cumine .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cornwall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF CORNWALL .

The above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at Lostwithiel , on Tuesday , ihe 30 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . Sir Charles Graves-Sawle , P . G . M ., assisted by the following distinguished Present and Past p rov . Grand Officers : Bros . P . Colville Smith , P . G . D . of England ; King Baker , P . S . G . W . ; Major Ross , P . S . G . W . ; Baynes Reed , P . S . G . W . ; Carne , P . S . G . W . ; Mason , P . J . G . W . ; Mack , P . J . G . W . ; E . Milford , P . S . G . W . ; W . J . Johns , P . G . Sec . ; and others .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cornwall.

The minutes of the previous Provincial Grand Lodge having been read and confirmed , and the Prov . G . Treasurer's s ' atement presented , showing a balance in favour of the province of £ 13 9 s . 6 d ., the PROV . GRAND MASTER feelingly referred to the loss the province had sustained by the dea h of Bro . Chirgwin , and proposed a vote of condolence with the widow and

family of the late brother . This was seconded by Bro . CARNE WILSON and carried . Bro . Sir Charles Graves-Sawle was then nominated by Bro . Major R oss as P . G . M . for the ensuing three years . This was seconded by Bro . MASON and carried with great enthusiasm . Bro . Sir Charles Graves-Sawle appointed his officers as follows :

Bro . P . Colville Smith ... ... ... Dep . P . G . M . ,, Rev . Frazer Frizell ... ... . . Prov . S . G . W . „ T . W . Perry ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ M . Sampson ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ W . J . Samble ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O . .. R . H . Lee ... ... Pm « IHfl

„ Rev . E . Drewe ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ., W . J . Johns ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . Milford ... ... ... ... p rov . G , Treas . „ W . W . J . Sharpe ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ A . Dunkin ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ N . C . S . Couch ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . Crossman ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W .

„ W . J . Collins ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C „ E . V . Bryant ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . H . Rowe ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ C . F . Zimber ... ... , „ ¦)_ _ , „ . _ .. W . F . Clarke ... Prov . G . Std . Brs .

„ C . Haddy ... ... ... ... Brov . G . I . G . „ J . Fitton ... ... ... . ¦> _ _ , _ „ T . H . Menadue ... ... j Prov . G . Stwds . „ J . Langdon ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . On the motion of Bro . E . MILFORD , seconded by the PROV . GRAND

SECRETARY , it was resolved to devote five guineas to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and five guineas to the CM . A . and B . F . At the close of the lodge the brethren adjourned to the Royal Talbot Hotel to a capital luncheon , provided by Mrs . Wheeler . The usual toasts were submitted . Songs were given by Bros . M . Sampson , A . O . Michell , J . A . Rowe , and T . W . Perry .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Northumberland and Durham was held on the 6 th instant at the Freemasons' Hall , South Shields . The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Canon Tristram , D . D ., F . R . S ., presided , and was supported by Bros . R . B . Reed , Deputy Prov . G . M . ; J . Straker Wilson , as P . S . G . W . ; H . Lamb , P . J . G . W . ; and upon the dais and present were the following :

Bros . Thos . Coulson , P . P . G . O . ; Robt . Ferry , P . G . O . ; E . Dunford , P . J . G . O . ; J . C . Moor , P . P . G . M . O . ; Jas . Ferguson , P . G . I , of W . ; Wm . Bell , P . P . J . G . O . ; E . Hudson , P . P . G . W . ; C . B . Ford , P . G . Sec . ; David Walton , J . W . 362 ; R . S . Holt , I . P . M . 135 ; J . Sinclair , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; W . F . Carmon , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . F . Allan , P . P . G . M . O . ; Wm . Coxon , P . P . J . G . O . ; R . F . Benson , P . P . J . G . O . ; Wm . Brown , P . P . J . G . O . ; C . F . Sutcliffe , P . P . G . D . ; Thos . J . Armstrong , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . D . Todd , P . P . G . M . O . ; T . G . Mabane , P . P . J . G . O . ; John Heppell ,

P . P . S . G . O . ; J . K . Wilkes , P . G . Reg . ; S . M . Harris , P . G . M . O . j Wm . Logan , P . G . R . of M . ; J . R . Short , P . G . D . C ; Thomas Bell , P . P . S . G . W . ; G . E . Macartney , W . M . Northumberland and Berwick Lodge ; Thomas Purvis , Prov . Grand Treasurer ; James Sedcole , P . G . S . B . ; F . Schnitger , J . W . Northumberland and Berwick Lodge ; Seymour Bell , P . P . G . D . C ; H . S . Bird , W . M . 4 6 3 j E . Shewbrooks , S . W . 346 ; George Harland , S . W . 362 ; James Shaw , S . W . T . I . Lodge ; J . Deans , S . W . 124 ; J . Matthewman , P . G . Sec . West Yorkshire ; and others .

The report of the Committee of General Purposes was read by the P . G . Secretary , Bro . C . B . FORD , and its adoption was duly moved by Bro . R . B . REED , D . P . G . M ., who referred to the loss Mark Masonry had sustained during [ the past year by the death of Bros . Lieut .-Col . Bentham , Adam Robertson , Thomas Dinning , and others . The motion was seconded by Bro . T . L . ARMSTRONG , P . P . J . G . W .

The roll of lodges was called , and reports were read from all by representative officers .

The P . G . M ., Bro . Canon TRISTRAM , briefly addressed the Prov . Grand Lodge , and commented upon the losses which the lodge had sustained , and referred to the visitation and membership of the lodges . Upon the motion of Bro . R . B . REED , D . P . G . M ., Bro . George W . Bain , W . M . 124 , was elected P . G . Treasurer .

The investment of officers followed , when the following were appointed and invested ; Bro . Thos . Purvis ... ,,. ... Prov . S . G . W . „ C . B . Ford ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ G . W . Bain ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ T . J . Armstrong ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ H . S . Bird ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ J . Sedcole ... ... ... p v . G . M . O . „ W . Weston ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ J . W . Lovibond ... ... ... p , J . G . O . „ Rev . R . M . Ilderton ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ G . E . Macartney ... ... ... p . S . G . D .

„ J . Sinclair ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . Patterson ... ... ... p . G . I . of W . „ W . Barlow ... ... ... p , G . D . C . „ J . Scarborough ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br .

„ Thompson ... ... ... p . G . S . B . „ G . Harland ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ R . Ferry ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Jno . Appleyard ... ... ... p v . G . Tyler . The PROV . GRAND MASTER announced that the next meeting would be held under the banner of the Gosforth Lodge , Newcastle .