Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

of the Masonic Charities . At the meeting at Romford last year it was decided that the province was not indebted to Monmouth , and consequently the votes had not been repaid . Some of the brethren , however , seemed to think that in equity Monmouth had a claim against the province , and , in order to avoid any ill-feeling , he proposed that the votes be repaid .

A long discussion followed , and in the end it was seen that the Prov . Grand Lodge was decidedly in favour of repaying the votes , and Bro . Dehane ' s proposition was unanimously agreed to . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed . It should be mentioned that the north end of the Corn Exchange had been converted into a very handsome lodge room . A large portion was curtained off , and the sides draped with coloured cloth , while over and

around the clock flags of various kinds were effectively hung , while the effect of the whole was greatly enhanced by the artistic grouping of plants , consisting of choice ferns , azalias , zamids , palms , india rubber trees , pandanus , blue gum tree of Australia , and others , producing quite a tropical effect . The plants were kindly lent by the Rev . W . Morgan Jones , Mrs . Kerry , Mr . Manley , Stanway , and Messrs . Prior and Son , of Myland Nursery . The grouping of the plants was carried out by Bros . Horsman and Renshaw .

Soon after five o ' clock , over 100 brethren sat down to a banquet served in excellent style by Host Edwards , of the Three Cups Hotel . The R . W . Prov . G . M . presided , and was supported by the D . P . G . M ., and the majority of the Present and Past Prov . G . Officers . After dinner , the noble Chairman gave the toast of "The Queen , " which was loyally received , as was also the toast of " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " the " National Anthem " being led by Bro . C . Osmond , and " God bless the Prince of Wales" by Bro . J . J . C . Turner .

The noble CHAIRMAN then proposed " The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . M . ; the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Deputy G . M . ; and the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " coupled with the name of the Rev . Thos . Cochrane , P . G . Chap ., who briefly replied . The D . P . G . M ., Bro . PHILBRICK , said one of the privileges of the position he held amongst them , and one by no means the least valued , was that

he had the right to rise at that moment in the proceedings , and to propose the health of their respected , their honoured , and he would add , their beloved Prov . G . M . Five years ago , amidst a flood of the elements , such as they had been seeing of late , he had the honour to propose Lord Brooke's health , on the occasion of his installation . At that time he made some prophecies , and he ventured to say that night that those prophecies had

been fulfilled . He then said that , much as they lamented his predecessor , they looked for great things from his lordship , and they trusted that the progress of Masonry in the province would be unexampled , and an example in itselt to the other provinces of England . It was sufficient for him now to say that their 800 odd members had increased to between 1200 and 1300 , and that the number of the lodges had risen from 19 to 28 , and that

their Masonic work was such that he would venture to say his lordship might be proud of it . And if he were called upon to point to an instance to justify that remark he should quote the case of the S . VV . of the province ( Bro . George Harrison ) , upon whose elevation he congratulated the Angel Lodge . If the Prov . S . G . W . had heard the remarks of the Prov . Grand Master upon the perfection with which he performed the noble ceremony of

installation , he would have been more than satisfied . As to the other great principle of their Order—brotherly love—he could assure his lordship their province was singularly well situated . To the great principles of the Order the province was thoroughly loyal , and he rejoiced to think there were no burning questions , whilst at the same time he was greatly pleased that an intelligent and keen interest was taken in the concerns of the province .

With regard to the Charities , the province had nobly held its own , and they could appeal to outsiders whether the support that had been given to the three Institutions did not illustrate the fidelity with which they adhered to the principles they professed . Let them hope that Masonry would continue to progress and flourish in the province , and that the brethren would vie with each other in their loyalty and devotion to Lord Brooke , their head . The toast was drunk with great heartiness .

Lord BROOKE , in a happy speech , said he knew that the feelings they had so warmly expressed were feelings of loyalty towards the Prov . Grand Master , more than for himself personally , and that whoever had been placed over them would have been equally loyally supported . He wished most heartily that the son of their noble Grand Master had been present , that he might be able to convey to his father the report that in Essex

Freemasonry was flourishing , and had not retrograded in the last five years . There were many things in Masonry which they ought to do , but one of the chiefest things they ought to cultivate was that brotherly love one to another which it was the aim of Masonry to cultivate and extend . In concluding , his lordship again cordially invited the Prov . G . Lodge to meet at Easton Lodge next year .

The noble CHAIRMAN then , in felicitous terms , proposed "The Health of the V . W Deputy Prov . Grand Master , " whose Masonic experience had been one of his lordship ' s mainstays during the time he had had the honour of presiding over the Province of Essex . He coupled with the toast the other Provincial Grand Officers , of whose merits his lordship spoke in high

terms . Bro . PHILBRICK , in an eloquent speech , returned thanks for the gracious and grateful appreciation of their position which his lordship had expressed ; and he could assure his lordship of the present and future loyalty of the province to himself and to the Craft .

" The Visitors , " given from the chair , was acknowledged by Bros . ZACHARIE , P . G . M . of California , and F . BINCKES , Sec . of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The concluding toast was " The Masters of Lodges , " coupled with the names of Bros . F . Quilter , W . M . 51 , and H . J . Skingley , W . M . 697 , whose hospitable reception of the Prov . Grand Lodge his lordship highly eulogised .

Bro . Q UILTER suitably acknowledged the toast , and thanked the sister lodge ( United , No . 697 ) for their sympathetic and kindly help ; and tiro . H . J . SKINGLEY , in the course of his reply , said the members of his lodge were very much hoping that Lord Brooke would honour them with a visit at one' 01 their regular meetings , so that they might give his lordship a specimen of their work .

The meeting then broke up , and his lordship returned to town by the 9 . 22 train . A pleasant feature of the evening ' s proceedings was a capital selection of music by Bros . Osmond , Turner , Cowers , and Sergt . Heal .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

The annual Provincial Grand Lodge and general communication of the Province of the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire took place at Richmond , on Wednesday , the Sth inst ., on the invitation of Lennox Lod ge No . 123 . The brethren of the Lennox Lodge had made ample preparation

for the reception of the large body of brethren attending the Prov . Grand Lodge , and received them very hospitably at their Masonic Hall , in Newbeggin . The three York lodges sent a strong contingent of brethren , and the other lodges of the province were fully represented .

The Prov . G . Lodge was held in the Town Hall , which had been suitabl y fitted for the occasion . The R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Earl of Zetland , presided , and was supported by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master Bro . the Hon . VV . T . Orde-Powlett , and a large number of Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers . After the confirmation of the minutes and the

reports of the Board of Benevolence and Charities Association , the Prov G . Master presented a sword of state to the Prov . G . Lodge , and was accorded a vote of thanks for his generous gift . His lordship then appointed and invested the following officers for the ensuing year , viz .:

—Bro . Col . R . G . Smith , 1010 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . Watts , 200 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . T . Cheese , 566 ... ... ... " rr > ,- i-u „ Rev . G . L . M . Rees , 630 j Prov . G . Chaps . „ W . Reynolds , 250 ... .,, ,,, Prov . G . Treas . „ E . Corris , 57 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ M . C . Peck , 250 , G . Std . Br . Eng . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ G . Garbutt , 236 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ J . March , 123 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . Fidler , 602 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of VV . „ M . M . Westerby , 294 ... ,,. ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ S . W . Fisher , 1248 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . G . Forbes , 543 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ F . Creaser 743 } „ - " ¦

„ i . Uaie . 501 ... .,. ... j ,. W . S . Child , 1611 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Howcroft , 12 44 ... ,,, . „ Prov . A . G . Purst „ A . M . White , 1991 .,, ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ T . Oates , 250 ... .,, ,,. Prov . A . G . Sec . „ W . B . Hutton , 57

„ A . P . Mattison , 1618 „ C E . Bradley , 1760 ,., ,,. ... , „ . , „ G . Longbottom , 1848 ... ^ 'w- G ' Stwds ' „ J . H . Taylor , 1991 „ J . Webb , 21 34 ... ,,, ... J „ F . Lambert , 1010 ... ,., ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The banquet was afterwards held at the King ' s Head Hotel , when a large number of brethren sat down under the presidency of the Prov . G . M , A lengthy toast list was submitted , and musical contributions were given by several of the brethren present .

Consecration Of The Lochfyne Lodge, No. 754 (S.C.)

CONSECRATION OF THE LOCHFYNE LODGE , No . 754 ( S . C . )

On Thursday , the gth inst ., the ceremony of the consecration of a new Lodge named Lochfyne , No . 754 , was performed at Loch gilphead . The M . W . G . M ., Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell of Blythswood , M . P ,, presided ,

and was accompanied by a deputation from the Grand Lodge . The new lodge , which has been in existence since the beginning of the year , was inaugurated at the request of a number of brethren in Lochgilphead and the neighbouring district , and is the first ever erected in the village . A

very old lodge formerly existed in the neighbouring parish of Kilmartin , but it has been extinct for about jo years . At present the nearest lodge is at Inverary . Already the membership of Lodge Lochfyne numbers over

50 . Being in the Province of Argyle and the Isles , the duty of consecration devolved upon the Provincial Grand Lodge , but at the urgent request of the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , the Grand Master of Scotland took the chair on the occasion .

Early in the evening the members of the lod ge assembled in their p lace of meeting , the village Courthouse , and , preceded by a brass band , attended Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell and his deputation at the Argyle Hotel , the whole company marching in procession to the lodge room . Bro . Sir Chas . Dalrymple , who was accompanied by his Depute Master , Bro . Major

G . H . Fenton Newall , opened the Provincial Grand Lodge , and immediately afterwards the Grand Master was admitted . The Grand Lodge deputation consisted of the following Grand Office Bearers : Bros . D . M . Lyon , Sec ; Rev . R . Henderson , M . A ., Chap . ; T . Crichton , S . B . ; Major

F . W . Allen , proxy Master Gibraltar Lodge ; Allan Mackenzie , R . JJamieson , and Jas . Drummond , R . W . M . 2 , Stwds . The Prov . Grand Master vacated the chair in favour of the Grand Master , and the consecration ceremony was proceeded with .

The oration on the nature and objects of Masonry was delivered by the Prov . Grand Chap ., Bro . Rev . Dr . CAMERON ; and the Secretary , Bro . A . CLARK , read the charter . After the consecration , the Grand Master performed the ceremony of nstalling the office-bearers of the new lodge , and invested them with their several emblems .

On leaving the lodge room , a considerable crowd had assembled to witness the procession back to the hotel . After a short interval , the brethren proceeded in brakes to Ardrishaig , again preceded by the brass bandand attracting as they went a large amount of public attention . In accordance vvith arrangements , the somewhat novel proceeding was adopted 0 holding the Masonic banquet on shipboard . The large dining saloon 0 th

the magnificent steamship Iona was utilised for the occasion , and banquet was presided over by the R . W . M . of the new lodge , Bro . Cap H . C . Allandey . The Grand Lodge deputation were accorded the place ? honour , and the speeches and toasts were of the usual loyal and Mason character . Apologies , for absence from the ceremony of the day we received irom Bros , the Marquis of Breadalbane and Co ] . Malcolm- - "