Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

ff jt ) , a view to obtaining a larger number of subscribers , copies of this report and the Treasurer ' s report , together with a statement of the objects and regulations for the management of the fund , be forthwith sent t 0 every lodge in the province . " This rider was seconded by Bro . CORNISH , and , with the report , was adop ted .

Bro . COVER presented the report of the Committee of Petitions . The Committee stated that they had been enabled during the year to repny a large debt of 2968 votes incurred to secure the election of their candidates , an d had now a balance of 561 votes owing to them available for next year ' s elections . The votes received this year had been 424 more than last , attributable to the exertions of the Devon Stewards at the Jubilee meeting

0 f the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , presided over by the much esteemed Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , D . G . M . of Eng land , and P . G . M . of Cornwall , when a sum of £ 67 , 000 was raised . Bro . Or . Lemon , P . J . G . W ., by a second donation of 100 guineas , made himself a Patron of the Institution , g iving him yearly votes of about 266 , which are always given to your Committee . The Committee fraternally reminded the

Prov . Grand Lodge that the amount subscribed to the grand Charities are still about one-third the sum annually received , and they wished also to ask Worship ful Masters of lodges and brethren having votes to send them as soon as possible after their receipt to their representative on this Committee , whose duty it was to collect and forward them to the Secretary for registration . It was a matter for congratulation that all lodges had faithfully sent

their votes this year , some very late , of course , but just in time . At the meeting that day they recommended further grants , and that the Lodges 159 , 3 ° 3 i 3 28 , 1212 , 14 S 6 , 1550 , 1 S 47 , 105 , 202 , 710 , 954 , 1247 , 202 5 , 223 , 251 , and 710 , who , in accordance with the by-laws , had sent a deposit of 10 guineas to the Prov . Grand Secretary for the Masonic Charities , had their donations supplemented at the cost of the province to 160 guineas , that being the available balance in the hands of the Prov . Grand Treasurer .

Bro . STOCKER proposed the election of Bro . Robert Bird as Treasurer . Bro . Bird , he said , was an old Past Master , and the founder of the lodge he represented . Bro . Major TRACY seconded Bro . Bird ' s nomination , although , he said , had Bro . Bird not been before them he could have supported the other brother who was a candidate with eoual nleasure .

Bro . TWOSE supported the nomination of Bro . Bird , who , he said , had been twice Junior Warden of No . 70 , and who , in 1875 , founded Lodge Prudence , No . 1550 , of which he became the first W . M . On a division Bro . Bird was elected Prov . Grand Treasurer .

Bros . Lord and Cornish were elected Auditors . The Prov . Grand Master then proceeded to invest the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . W . G . Rogers ... D . P . G . M . Bro . W . Southwood ... P . A . G . D . C . „ Major Dick P . S . G . W . „ E . Tout P . G . S . B . „ W . S . Mortimer ... P . J . G . W . „ R . Blight )„„ . „ _ „ Rev . Dr . Lemon ... ) G „ „ J . Catford j P . G . Std . Brs . „ Rev . J . Henning ... j r , u > cna P - „ E . Binding P . G . Ortr . „ R- Bird P . G . Treas . „ W . H . Apling ... P . A . G . Sec . „ A . S . Truscott ... P . G . Reg . „ S . Panter P . G . Purst . uavie

„ o . u . r . u . bee . „ Jesse Sergeant ... P . A . G . Purst . " ? n ? f IpSGD ' s " F . C . Frost ~ | „ S . B . Harvey ... J ™ . U . U . s . ^ Mark Whittle » i ?? f house -lp | r , n ' < » P . J . Dunn , ) f , . , „ F .. H . Littleton ... j ¦ J- ^ -u - s - „ W . Bickle ... M -G . Stwds . „ G . S . Sandford ... P . G . S . of VV . „ T . R . E . Olver ... „ I . R . Lord P . G . D . C . „ F . Hex „ T . I . R . Chalice ... P . D . G . D . C . .. H . Shooter PC . . T „ l » r

The P . G . M . explained that as there was often a difficulty in getting a Chaplain , he proposed that Bro . Dr . Lemon should be a sort of perpetual Chaplain of Prov . Grand Lodge . Unfortunately , Dr . Lemon was that day ill in bed , and therelore unable to be present . With regard to the appointment of Bro . Lord as Provincial Or . inrl llirprtnr of rnrmnn ; m u

,, , P . G . M . also explained that they had often felt that the services of a brother who knew all about Grand Lodges , and who could direct the ceremonies , would be valuable , and he had therefore asked Bro . Lord to hold the office with some degree of permanency . The business was then brought to a close .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .

INSTALLATION OF DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER . , 9 . " lnursd ; iy , the 9 th inst ., there was a large gathering of brethren at the ' own Hall , Newark , the occasion being the annual meeting of the 'Newton Lodge , and the installation , at a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , of the new Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Newton , who has pcen appointed to the office by his Grace the Duke of St . Albans , P . G . M ., in succession to the late Bro . Rev . F . Vernon Bussell .

I he Newton Lodge met early in the afternoon , antl Bro . H . W . Hutchinson was installed W . M . for the year , in succession to Bro . G . < Mi ' tlie otner a PP 'ntmcnts being as follows : Bros . \ V . Bradley , ? -W . j H . Friend . I . W .: Rev . F . C . Rwhnnk . Chnn ¦ C \ n » r

, freas . ; H . George , Sec ; E . F . Milthorp , SD . ; H . Paine , I . D . ; I . M . 1 alkc & D - \ ol C " S > Kea K 0 r S- H . Shaw , I . G . ; R . P . Almond and " . ]• Smith , Stwds . ; J . Dooly , Tyler ; and W . P . Warr , Asst . Tyler . At the close of the business of the Newton Lodge a meeting of the Proymcial Grand Lode-e was held , representatives beintr present from all the

l 0 u ges in the province . Amongst those present were : « ros Edward Letchworth , G . Sec ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; H . Georee , ' . b . G . W . ; R . C . Wills , P . J . G . W . ; Revs . T . B . B . Ferris and H . W . Wynne 'oulkes , Chaplains ; J . A . H . Hirst , Treas . ; A . Stubbs , Sec . ; R . F . Watson ,

» ' ?• " •"•; J- G . Dimock , P . J . G . D . ; H . Walker , P . G . S . of W . ; Thomas Roberts , G - ^ -D . C . ; E . G . Loverseed , P . G . S . B . ; G . G . Bonser and J . Gale , P . G . Std . Brs . ; B e ° rge Essex , Org . ; J . Levy , Purst . ; H . E . Wilson , Asst . Purst . ; C . H . enham , Tyler ; G . S . Fish , G . W . Dominy , W . H . Farmer , H . E . Hartshorn , S . wimonger , and J . Townrow , Stewards ; J . Sansom , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . H . Faulconj " age , P . A . G . T . ; R . Moone , P . G . T . ; J . Mason , P . P . G . D . Middx . ; I . M . lcL «> u , P . P . S . G . W ., Sec . R . M . I . for Boys : and others . J

hav ; , \ Grancl Secretary occupied the chair , and the patent of appointment of n ? A read Uro - Lieut .-Col . Newton was installed into the hi gh office 1 - '. G . M . brcih tlle c coursc of an eloquent reply , Bro . Lieut .-Col . NEWTON thanked the " ren for the many kind congratulations he had received , and hoped to

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

have their assistance in discharging his responsible duties in a way that would be satisfactory to the Prov . Grand Master and themselves , and beneficial to the interests of Freemasonry in the province . At the close of the business , which included the passing of a unanimous vote of sorrow and condolence on the death of Bro . the Rev . F . V . Bussell , D . P . G . M ., the brethren adjourned to the large hall , where a banquet was served , at which Bro . H . W . Hutchinson presided .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and a special feature of the evening was the presentation of a silver salver and silver epergne to Bro . H . George , P . P . G . D . C , together with an illuminated address in recognition of his valuable services to Masonry in the province . Bro . Lieut .-Col . NEWTON made the presentation on behalf of the numerous subscribers , and Bro . H . GEORGE made a suitable and impressive reply . The proceedings throughout were of a very interesting and successful character .

Library Of West Yorkshire.

LIBRARY OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

Bro . William Watson , the honorary and most efficient Librarian , has just published another of his interesting and instructive annual reports respecting the Masonic library of West Yorkshire . This time the particulars afforded respecting the various additions during the past year are not only important , but appear to be the most valuable collection made during any year since the start of this wonderful organisation .

The donations are numerous and costly , headed , as usual , by the esteemed Prov . Grand Master . It is pleasant to note the support received from brethren of other provinces , and all may be assured that their gifts are much appreciated and duly welcomed . The purchases described by Bro . Watson , though not numerous , are of

considerable interest , such as the second edition of " Cole ' s Constitutions " of A . D . 1731 , and the fifth edition of the "Ahiman Rezon" of A . D . 1800 . Three issues are still wanted to complete the series , viz ., 1778 , 1787 , and 1 S 01 . The one of 1787 is about the scarcest Masonic work going , as respects Constitutions .

Of the later Books of Constitutions there are still needed 1865 , 1866 , and 1 S 6 7 ( large paper ) . Surely these copies are knocking about somewhere , and could be sent to the Librarian , 28 , East Parade , Leeds , so as to complete the set . Since the publication of the report the rare 1746 " Constitutions " has been purchased , so only the three editions named are lacking . The "Hughan MS . " of the " Old Charges " has been edited and

published by Bro . Win . Watson , on behalf of the province , and at the expense of Bro . T . VV . Tew , J . ., who has now been the means of having all these MSS . in Yorkshire reproduced , with portraits in facsimile . This is a great boon for all Masonic students , and though entailing considerable labour on the editor , has been the means of scattering far and wide accurate

information concerning these treasures . Four are in the possession of West Yorkshire , and one is of priceless value , viz ., the " William Watson " MS . We append the report by the Honorary Librarian , not only because of its interest , but we cannot see our way to make selections from the capital account of the progress made during the past year , so give it in full .

THE LIBRARY REPORT . The report for the oflicial year now ended shows that the contributions to the library as regards number and importance will bear favourable comparison with those of previous years . Many desirable additions have been made , and West Yorkshire may now justly claim to have one of the finest and rarest collections in existence . We are again heavily indebted to our R . W . P . G . M . for generous

pecuniary and other support . A glance at the accompanying list of donations will indicate in some degree how the library has been further enriched by his liberality . Amongst the more important of the R . W . P . G . M . ' s gifts may be mentioned another of those old rolls of the Ancient Constitutions , which were indited in a period anterior to the existence of a Grand Lodge or other comprehensive organisation of the Craft . R . W . Bro . Tew conferred upon this scroll the title of "The Hughan

MS ., " in just recognition of the many inestimable services rendered to rreemasonry in general , and this province in particular , by Bro . Wm . James Hughan , of Torquay , P . S . G . D . England , the distinguished Masonic writer and authority . The Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire is now the enviable possessor of four of these priceless relics of the olden time in Masonry , viz , the " T . VV . Tew , " the "Clapham , " the " William Watson , " and the " Hughan" MSS .

Reprints of these in pamphlet form ( with facsimile frontispieces ) have been published at the entire cost of the R . W . P . G . M . A copy of each has been presented by him to every lodge in the province , and duly forwarded at his desire by the Honorary Librarian . It is confidently hoped by the Provincial Grand Master that the issue of these and similar publications will foster and disseminate a taste for a higher and more extended knowledge of Masonry .

With the exception of these old manuscripts , no addition to the library approaches in importance to the latest gift of R . W . Bro . Tew , secured for him by your Librarian , viz ., a work styled " A Serious and Impartial Enquiry into the Cause of the Present Decay of Freemasonry in the Kingdom of Ireland , & c ., KiC ., by

Fifield D'Assigny , M . D ., & c , Dublin , A . B . 1744 . This is the so . ' e copy known to be in existence in the Eastern hemisphere , the only other which has come to light for a century back being in the celebrated library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa , U . S . A . As containing the first known reference to the Royal Arch Degree , the work is necessarily of supreme value to the Craft .

Another disastrous fire , unfortunately , has to be announced ; in this instance having caused during the past year the destruction of a Masonic temple in South Africa . As happens with deplorable frequency in such calamities , irreparable injury has fallen not only on the owners of the property , but upon the Craft et large , by the destruction of important documents , books , & c , a loss for which nothing can fully compensate .

These misfortunes should draw the attention of lodges to the desirability of depositing in some place of real security their minute books and other valued documents .

The thanks of this Provincial Grand Lodge are again due to many brethren at home and abroad for their interest in the welfare and success of the library , expressed in the practical shape of contributions . A catalogue is now in course of preparation presenting the contents of the library , classified in such a manner as to form an instructive guide to the student , and to be useful generally as a ready means of reference . It will be issued at the earliest moment consistent with the accuracy and comprehensiveness essential in such a work .

Your Librarian ventures to look forward again with confidence to the support of the brethren of the province , and begs to offer his sincere acknowledgments for the hearty encouragement received in the past . It may be fairly claimed that the desire which has been frequently evinced by a large number of distinguished brethren in this country , and in far distant places , has approached realisationthat of seeing the library become an institution worthy of this great province , anl its beloved and distinguished Ruler .