Grand Lodge Of Iowa.

II organisations in ils regard for Masonic literature , and , besides which , is - most powerful and influential body , having 430 active lodges , and considerably over 20 , 000 Master Masons on its roll . J We hope soon to report that a new catalogue will be printed and circulated of the Grand library . There is one now being prepared of the famous -ollection in the Grand Lodge of England , and , beyond question it is only

hy the circulation of such papers that brethren can adequately appreciate the character , value , and extent of such possessions . We are very pleased to note the very kind references to our lamented Bro . Woodford by Bro . Parvin in his memorials of the " departed , " who took that duty by request of the Grand Masier . He states that " Bro . Woodford vvas the author of several works , and many papers of interest

and value , showing much research and great ability as a writer . The most noted of his labours is his Kenning ' s Cyclopcedia of Freemasonry , which hjs life-long friend , Hughan , characterises as the best Masonic cyclopcedia , from a purely English stand-point , of any issued . He , with Bros . VV . J . Hug han and R . V . Gould , constituted tbe united trio of Masonic Students , the like of which no country or age has produced , their published works

being judges . In all his labours he had only one end in view—truth . He had long been the chief exponent of the legendary and traditionary history of the Craft , while his colleagues and friends , Gould and Hughan , represented the realistic school of the Craft . While we joined hands with the latter , we had , from a long correspondence , learned to appreciate the former ,

for his great services , and to love him for the nobleness of his character . " We may state that one of the Memorial Tablets in the proceedings is dedicated to the late veteran Emperor of Germany , and the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., and we beg to thank Bro . Parvin for the honour thus paid to our lamented friend .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

On Thursday , the 9 th inst ., the annual Prov . Grand Lodge of Essex was held at Colchester , under the presidency of the R . W . P . G . M ., Bro . Lord Brooke . His lordship , who had the previous evening been the guest of the Lord Mayor at the banquet to her Majesty's Ministers at the Mansion House , arrived from London at 1 . 42 , and was met at Colchester Station

by Bros , A . Welch , P . M . 51 , P . P . J . G . W ., and the Rev . W . Morgan Jones , P . M . 6 gj , P . P . G . C , as representing the two Colchester lodges , and vvas conducted to the Corn Exchange , where the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened at half-past two o ' clock , his lordship being assisted by the D . P . G . M ., Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg ., Recorder of Colchester , and the other P . G . Officers .

The minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge last year at 'Romford having been read and confirmed , letters expressing their inability to attend were read from Bros . Earl Amherst , P . G . M . Kent ; Lord Egerton of Tatton , P . G . M . Cheshire ; Lord Euston , P . G . M . Norths and Hunts ; Lord

Henniker , P . G . M . Suffolk ; Col . Sir Francis Burdett , P . G . M . Middlesex ; W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; T . F . Halsey , M . P ., P . G . M . Herts ; the Lord Mayor ; Earl Ferrieres ; Rev . C J . Martyn , D . P . G . M . Suffolk ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; Col . Somerville Burney , P . G . D . ; and others .

The roll of lodges was then called over , and it was found that all of the 28 lodges comprising the province were duly represented . The P . G . SECRETARY then read an abstract of the lodge returns for 188 S , vvhich showed that there were 1264 subscribing members , as against 1173 last year—an increase of 01 .

The report of the Auditors showed a balance in the hands of the Prov . Grand Treasurer on the General Fund of £ 90 6 s . 2 d ., and on the Charity Fund of £ 14 ss . 6 d . The report of the Charity Committee complained that some of the large holdeis of votes in the province had not loyally given their support ; and it having been intimated that this was owing to the practice of printing the

names of those who sent votes , the Committee recommended that it be discontinued . They regretted that they were unable to carry the candidates of the province at the last elections , but it was owing to the very high polling which took place thereat . Considerable discussion took place in reference to the general working of the Charity Committee , and one

brother proposed that it be an instruction to the Committee that they should borrow no more votes till all those owing by the province are paid ; but eventually it was decided not to letter the action of the Commiltee by drawing a hard-and-fast line , it being understood that the custom of borrowing votes be limited as much as possible .

The P . G . SECRETARY reported that the calendar had been more successful this year , and he trusted that there would be a balance in hand after paying expenses of publication . The R . W . PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren . He

was , he said , very pleased to see the province in such a satisfactory state . He could also say that he came to Colchester with very great pleasure , and at the same time he experienced a feeling of some sadness , for on the last occasion when he was present at a Prov . G . Lodge meeting in the town , ¦ ~ viz ., at his installation—there was one present , H . R . H . the Dukeof Albany , a great friend of his own , and he believed of all in the province . They ouId

c not , therefore , help looking back with some feelings of sadness when 'ney remembered that H . R . H . was no longer with them . Still , as his . Lord Brooke ' s ) installation dated from that time , he could not but have pleasant recollections of that meeting . He had had , they knew , since 1883 l » e most cordial support of the brethren of the province , and he now wished to his sincere and deep feelings of gratitude .

express "is lordshi p also had great pleasure in congratulating thebrethren on the state of the province at the present moment . He believed when he 'rt lnsta ** - * t * members enrolled numbered 866 , and fhey had 12 lodges , lhey bad 28 lodges and 1264 members . At the same time , might he say nat they had exercised the greatest care possible in recommending to the

t . W . Grand Master only such new- lodges as they considered would ^ a benefit to the localities , and where they believed a real necessity existed , -course the principal thing that they had to support was Charity , and e had , great pleasure in congratulating the province on the magnificent 'anner in which Charity had always been supported by thebrethren . They . i 'n times of denrpssion . contributed from thp . nrovinrp Hnrina- his term

office an average of about £ 1000 a year to the great Masonic Charities . e well recollected , moreover , the manner in which he was supported on p ° . ccasion when he had the honour to take the chair at the Girls' School e stival . He could also testify to his appreciation of the manner in which ie province came forward when H . R . H . the Piince of Wales took the air at the recent Girls' School Festival , They collected over ^ 900 on

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

that occasion—a very satisfactory contribution . He believed that the total contribution to Charity last year was £ 1335 , which was very satisfactory for a province like that , which depended mainly on agriculture , which he regretted to say vvas not in a very prosperous stale . He had alluded to the number of lodges in the province , and he must say it had given him great pleasure to consecrate several lodges , but this year there was one consecration

to which he would particularly draw attention—it was the consecration of the Philbrick Lodge . The name of Philbrick was one which they always received with sincere respect , regard , and acclamation , and he thought it would have been a most extraordinary thing if they had not commemorated the good work done for Freemasonry by Bro . Philbrick by the establishment of a lodge in the province bearing his honoured name .

He felt sure the lodge would keep up and respect and honour the name of Philbrick , and that the lodge would rank in the future amongst the best in the province . There was one other matter to which he should like to allude , namely , that he had held forth hopes at the last meeting that he might have been able to induce H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor to come to this meeting , but he regretted to say that misfortune , not only of

a private character as regarded their Royal Family , but also , he thought , of the general public , in the death of the Emperor Frederick , one who was so generally and universally respected , had come , and had so altered his Royal Highnesses arrangements for the year that he was unable to come , although he had hoped to do so . He should also like to allude to the P . G . Lodge meeting of next year . It was an extremely difficult

thing to select a suitable place , but he , in a few moments conversation which he had had with Bro . Philbrick , had ventured to make a suggestion—and he trusted it might be received iavourably by the brethren—and it was this , that the P . G . Lodge should meet in the locality of Easton Lodge . He had had so little time to go into the matter that he had not been able to ask the brethren of the Rosslyn Lodge how far they would be able to help

him . ( Bro . the Rev . F . B . SHEPHERD , P . M ., Rosslyn Lodge : In every way , my Lord . ) But he could assure them that if some arrangement could be made to meet at Easton Lodge , he would spare no effort to make it not only a successful lodge , but a very pleasant gathering . In conclusion , hislordship again thanked the brethren for their presence , and expressed a hope that next year ' s meeting might be as successful as the one they were then holding .

The R . W . P . G . M . then announced , amidst much applause , that Bro . F . A . Philbrick had kindly consented to act as his Deputy for another year ; and his lordship thanked Bro . Philbrick for the assistance he had been to himself in carrying on the work of the province . The brethren vvere then called upon to elect a Prov . Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year .

Bro . J GLASS , P . M . 453 , P . P . G . S . of W ., proposed as a candidate Bro . E . J . Acworth , W . M . 2077 , expressing the opinion that , following the example of Grand Lodge , the office of Treasurer should be an annual and not a permanent one . He cast no reflection on Bro . Andrew Durrant , who had filled the office with so much ability for many years past . Bro . SALMON , P . M . 2077 , P . P . G . R ., who seconded the nomination of Bro . Acworth , also spoke in the highest terms of praise of Bro . Durrant .

Bro . the Rev . F . SHEPHERD , P . M . 1543 , P . P . G . Chap ., proposed the reelection of Bro . Andrew Durrant , who had served the province faithfully for

nine years . Bro . KELLETT , P . M . 1312 , P . P . G . Swd . Br ., seconded . After some discussion , both names were put to the vote , when Bro . Acworth received 36 and Bro . Durrant 39 votes . Bro . DURRANT was therefore declared elected , and thanked the brethren for that renewal of their confidence in him . The R . W . P . G . M . then appointed and invested his officers for the year , as follows ;

Bro . George Harrison , I . P . M . 51 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . C . Quennell , P . M . 214 ... . .., ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Thos . Cochrane , P . G . C . England ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Andrew Durrant , P . M . 27 6 ( tenth year ) ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ E . H . Inman , P . M . 1312 , Sec . 2154 ... - ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . A . G . D . C . England , P . M . and ) G - Sec . 5 i ( i 2 thyear ) ... ... _ _ j frov . U . Sec . „ G . Pung Hazell , I . P . M . 6 97 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ A . J . Dixie , I . P . M . 453 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . N . Whitlock , P . M . 1280 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ A . Lucking , P . G . P . England , P . M . and bee . 1000 j proy Q rj 0 f rj „ G . Lionel Wood , I . P . M . 160 ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . Prov . A . G . D . C . „ S . Shawyer , W . M . 1977 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . » C . . T . Lewis , I . P . M . 2184 1 Prov . G . Srrl . Brs .

„ F . Horsman , S . W . 51 ... ,,, ... J „ Martin ,., ... ... ,.. Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . A . J . Dixie , P . M . 453 , P . J . G . D ., was elected a member of the Charity Committee in the place of bro . Tandy , who retired by rotation .

„ C . b . Blyth , f . M . 1024 ... ... .., ) ~ „ J . A . Clarkson , W . M . 1457 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ T . J . Woodrow , I . P . M . 2077 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ J . Downes , W . M . 433 ... .,, ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Henry Finer , I . P . M . 1799 ••••••Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ Frank Quilter , W . M . 51 ... ... . ... 1 „ H . J . Skingley , W . M . 697 ... ,,, j „ A . C . Parsons , P . M . 650 ... ... " •Iprov G Stwds „ F . H . Bennett , W . M . 1280 ... _ WOT . U . stwds . „ George Copus , W . M . 1312 ... ... I

The following grants were voted out of the funds of the Prov . Grand Lodge ; £ 21 to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , £ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , ; £ io ios . to the Ussex and Colchester Hospital , £ 10 ios . to the Eastern Counties' Asylum ior Idiots , and £ 5 5 s . to Bro . Sarel , who has been Tyler to Prov . Grand Lodge for 17 years , and was unable , through old age , to continue the office longer .

On the motion of Bro . J . SALMON , a resolution was passed expressing the opinion that in future no brother should hold the office of Prov . Grand Treasurer for more than two years . The P . G . M . and the D . P . G . M . both reminded the brethren that that resolution in no way bound the Prov . Grand Lodge in the future . The appointment was by the Book of Constitutions an annual one , and no reso ° lution passed at that meeting would be binding on Prov . Grand Lodges in the future . Bro . DEHANE , P . M . 1543 , P . P . G . D ., referred to the votes alleged to be due from the province to the Province of Monmouthshire in respect to one