Provincial Grand Lodge Of Derbyshire.

Bennett , P . G . A . D . of C . j J . H . Richardson , P . G . Asst . Sec ; Thomas Parker , P . G . Purst ; J . Hawthorn , P . G . Std . Br . ; Gadsby , P . G . O . ; Jas . Wright , J . Monck , G . Higginbottom , and Raymond Slater , P . G . Stwds . The R . W . P . G . M . entered the hall soon after three o ' clock , and was supported by the following brethren , in addition to the P . G- officers already mentioned : —

Bros . VV . H . Matsden , P . P . G . S . VV . ; F . Campion , P . P . G . S . VV . ; John Smith , P . P . G . S . W . ; J . B . Coulson , P . P . G . S . VV . ; J . Chadwick , P . G . Sec . ( East Lanes . ) ; Thomas Hall , P . P . J . G . VV . ; VV . Whittaker , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Allen , P . P . G . T . D . ; I . Brown , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . E . Russell , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . Howell , P . P . G . S . of VVks . ; S . Steele , P . P . G . P . ; J . Worsnop , P . P . G . P . ; R . A . Greenhough , P . M . ; V . I . Greenhough , P . M . ; Joseph Pym , P . M ., P . P . G . S . D . ; F . Bennett , P . M . ; ' C . Webster , P . M . ; R . Carlin , P . M . ; T . E . Yeomans , P . M . ; W . H . Humphreys ,

P . M . ; H . Cupit , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Barnes , P . M . ; Fred . I . Robinson , P . M ., P . P . G . A . D . ofC . ; I . Whitehead , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C . ; Alfred Wood , P . M . ; P . P . G . P . ; Isaac Hyde , P . M . ; H . Arnold Bembrose , VV . M . 253 ; R . Roberts , W . M . 353 ; VV . Dust , VV . M . CSi ; J . Copestick , W . M . 731 ; the Rev . E . A . Hillyard , VV . M . 787 ; A . ] . Waller , VV . M . S 02 ; 7 . H . Cooke , W . M . S 50 ; VV . F . Mill , W . M . 1235 ; J . B . Boycott , VV . M . 1052 ; O . Wilkinson , W . M . 1235 ; T . Roberts , W . M . 102 S ; J . H . Orme , W . M . 16 SS : and many other officers .

The reports presented by the Masters of the various lodges were uniformly gratifying . They testified not merely to a prevailing spirit of harmony and goodwill , but to increased numerical strength and corresponding financial prosperity . The report of the Masonic Hall Committee , presented by Bro . J SMITH , P . P . G . S . VV ., was also satisfactory , making reference to the extinction of the hall debt , and the redecoration and refurnishing of the building .

The report of the Charity Trustees , was submitted by the Chairman of that body , Bro . G . T . WRIGHT , P . P . G . J . W ., and was of an exceptionally interesting character . It showed that the distinguishing virtue of the Craft . had during the past year been most cordially espoused by all the lodges in the province , and that exceedingly large sums of money had been contributed to the various Charities of the Order . Especial allusion was made to

the magnificent aggregate sum—over £ 1500—sent up to the Festival of the Boys' School , at which Lord Hartington presided . Bro . Wright added , amidst cheers , that all this generosity on the part of the brethren had greatly strengthened the hands of the local Charity Committee , who had been enabled to carry the election of their nominees , and who had a voting power at their disposal second to none of any other province .

Bro . Thomas Cox having been unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . G . T . Wright ' s re-election as chairman of the Charity Committee having been very heartily agreed to , the R . W . P . G . M . proceeded to appoint and invest his officers in the following order : —

Bro . G . T . Wright , 731 .,. ... ,,. Prov . G . S . W . „ Wm . L . Ball , 802 ,., ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . C . E . Bagshawe , 168 S .,, ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . H . Price , 253 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Thomas Cox , P . P . G . S . W ., 253 ( re-elected ) ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . T . Jones , 681 ... .,, ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ Wm . Naylor , P . P . G . S . VV ., 1085 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Sam Robinson , 625 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ C . D . Hart , 1085 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ A . H . Smith , 506 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ Percy Wallis , 850 ( re-appointed ) ... „ , Prov . G . D . of C . „ J . Clexton , 787 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C .

„ John Clark , 1324 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . B . „ W . Barnes , S 50 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . B . „ J . W . Wyatt , 654 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . B . „ Charles Armstrong , 631 ... ... ,., Prov . G . Org . „ W . Silver Hall , 253 .,, ,., ... Prov . G . A . Sec . „ Vernon J . Greenhough , 1 425 ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ H . George , Derwent Lodge ... ... Prov . G . A . Purst , The P . G . Stewards are Bros . W . Dust and T . Shipton , Scarsdale Lodge ; Bros . James Melrose and Wm . Forman , Arboretum Lodge ; and Bros . Luther Russell and Baxter W . Pike , Hartingdon Lodge . Bro . Wm . Stone was again appointed P . G . Tyler , amid general tokens of approval . It may be added that the appointment of Bro . T . G . Wright to the Senior Grand

Warden ' s chair was hailed with the cordial approbation of the brethren , by whom his ardent and disinterested labours in the interests of the Craft Charities have long bejn cordially appreciated . The P . G . Master also took occasion , whilst investing Bro . Wright , to bear testimony to his long and untiring labours , remarking that he knewof no Mason who had more unselfishly and more indefatigably promoted the well-being of his distressed brethren and their families .

1 he routine business of the lodge having been brought to a close , the R . W . P . G . M . delivered a short address , in the course of which he referred to the recent centenary festival of the Tyrian Lodge—a festival which , he remarked , was singularly interesting and well carried out , under the mastership ol their old and well tried friend , Bro . Thomas Cox . ( Applause . ) The cause of Charity , the P . G . M . observed , had been exceedingly well looked

after during the year j in fact , the tone which pervaded the whole of the reports presentedhim clearlyshowed that the Order was not only beingactively carried on in Derbyshire , but that the brethren were mindful of its highest and noblest principles . ( Applause . ) He congratulated them all upon the results of their labours , and he would in particular , if they would allow him , congratulate their good Bro . Percy Wallis upon the splendid sums he had ,

not onl y on this occasion but from time to time , been able by his zeal and fidelity to secure for their noble Masonic Institutions . ( Applause . ) Bro . Wallis did his work with such thoroughness that when he sought for subscriptions he was bound to get them , and they all honoured him for his devotion to a good cause . ( Applause . ) He regretted that his next duty was that of a less pleasant character . He could not allow that occasion to pass

over without saying how deep was his sense of loss at the decease of their Br ° \ Thomas Horsley , P . P . G . S . W ., whose death had quickly followed that of his son , Bro . T . Horsley , jun . Bro . Horsley was initiated into Freemasonry in the Beaureper Lodge in 1862 , and ever since that time he had been a true and loyal brother amongst them , winning the approbation of all , and the animosity of none .

, After the transaction of some further business of a formal character , the P . G . Lodge was closed with the usual ceremonies . Subsequentl y a large number of the brethren dined together in the Denver Hall , and spent a pleasant and harmonious evening .

Progress Of The Grand Lodge Of England In 1885.

PROGRESS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND IN 1885 .

Now that the Grand Lodge and the " Cosmo" Masonic Calendars are issued for 1 SS 6 , we have before us the latest figures and details respecting the progiess and present condition of the Grand Lodge of England .

Taking the Grand Lodge Calendar for our guide ( as it was issued later than the ' Cosmo , " and therefore contains a few more lodges ) , we find that the last warranted lodge bears the number 2129 ; which means an increase of 5 S lodges as compared with the edition for 18 S 5 ; each issue having to do with the year immediately preceding that for which it is published .

During the last ten years of Calendars , say 1877 to 1886 inclusive , it will be noted that there has been an increase of 4 S 1 , 1 S 77 having 1648 and 1886 no less than 2129 lodges ; the largest increase being for 187 S ( really 1 S 77 ) , when 77 were added to the roll . The average during the decade has been 55 new lodges per annum . '

Since the period of December 27 th , 1813 ( termed by Bro . Hughan the " Blessed Union " ) , there have been 2059 lodges chartered , making with those then in existence a grand total of 2707 . The rate of increase per year has been some 12 lodges from 1814 to 1832 , exactly 22 lodges from

1833 t 0 JSoj , but from 1834 to 1 SS 5 it has exceeded 52 per annum . During this period there have been many erasures , arising out of financial and other reasons , especially the formation of new Grand Lodges ; but notwithstanding these heavy reductions , there are still on the roll the very large number of 195 1 active lodges " scattered over the four quarters of the globe . "

There are now 43 Provincial and 28 District Grand Lodges , besides many groups of lodges , greater in number than some Grand Lodges , which are not dignified by any such titles . Some are very large , and muster on their rolls several thousands of members , e . g ., East Lancashire with 95 , West Lancashire with 84 , West Yorkshire with 69 , Kent with 53 , and Devon with 50 lodges , and then again districts such as Victoria with S > ,

New South Wales with 66 ( an advance of eight lodges each , since the issue of the former Calendar ) , and the East Indies , with its 109 lodges , divided into five District Grand Lodges . These districts begin with Gibraltar , Malta , Turkey and Egypt , and having particularized the numerous offspring we have in the East Indies ; the Eastern Archipelago , China , Borneo , and

Japan are duly chronicled . Then Africa seeks our attention , and certainly makes an excellent show with its three District Grand Lodges ( Western , Eastern and Natal ) , and 16 lodges not under any district , numbering a total of 59 lodges dotted round the coast , in evidence of the " Mystic tie , " which connects that great Continent with "dear old England . "

Passing these by with a friendly word , we come to the West Indies and Central America , including Jamaica with its ten lodges ( No . 513 being omitted for 18 S 6 ) and various Isles of the Sea , in which Masonry flourishes as the " green bay tree . " North America is represented by Montreal and Newfoundland District Grand Lodges , and one lodge at Halifax unattached . In South America there is one District Grand Lodge , and some seven lodges scattered over various parts—Demerara , Monte Video , Valparaiso ,

& c . Then Australia and New Zealand enter the field with their 264 lodges , notwithstanding that South Australia has " swarmed , " and is now independent , happy , and prosperous . "Last scene of all , " No . 193 1 , Fiji , concludes the extraordinary Masonic panorama of living lodges , and suggests how widespread and far-reaching are the lodges and Provincial and District Grand Lodges over which H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has the honour and pleasure of ruling as our beloved and esteemed Most Worshipful Grand Master .

In Royal Arch Masonry , gratifying progress has likewise been made , and the rate of increase suggests that the " root , heart and marrow" of freemasonry is at length receiving the support it deserves . Much of this increase of interest in the Degree is due to the labours of the Grand Scribe E ., who never loses an opportunity to utilise his welcome services and abilities at special assemblies of chapters , whether it be convocations for centenary celebrations or other important meetings .

There are on the roll at the present time the large number of 6 S 2 chapters , being distributed as follows : Provinces and Channel Isles , 418 ; military , 3 ; Colonies , 127 ; and London , 134 chapters . East and West Lancashire head the list with 37 chapters each , followed closely by Yorkshire with 36 , and then Devon chimes in with 27 , Cheshire and Hants and Isle of Wight having-20 each . Kent is fifth , as respects numbers , with 18 , beng exceeded by Devon , Cheshire , and Hants , though they have fewer

lodges . North and East Yorkshire have 15 ; Cornwall , 14 ; Durham , 13 ; Middlesex and Surrey , 11 ; Cumberland ( with Westmorland ) , Somerset , Staffordshire , Sussex , and Warwick , 9 ( each ); Nothumberland , S ; Berks ( with Bucks ) , Derby , Dorset , Lincoln , Norfolk , and Suffolk , 6 ( each ) ; Leicester , Monmouth , Nottingham , North Wales ( with Shropshire ) , and Wilts , 5 ( each ) , and the numbers then lessen from four down to one ( Herefordshire ) .

Bro . Hughan tells us in his "Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry " that " in 1813 the proportion of lodges to chapters in London was seven to one ; but in 1884 it is five to two . " This proves the immense strides Royal Arch Masonry has made of late years , and we hope yet to see the day when all healthy , vigorous lodges have chapters attached to them throughout England especially , so that what has been termed the " English Rite " may be fully worked and appreciated in the country of its origin .

The " English Rite , " as it is termed , or the " York Rite , " in error , by some , is peculiar to this country , and is due to the union of the two rival Grand Lodges in 1813 , being brought about on the condition that the Royal Arch Degree was recognised . From December , 1813 , Royal Arch Masonry has been an integral part of the Craft , the completion of the Third Degree , and the consummation of the ceremonies adopted by the United Grand

Lodge of England . Although it is not , strictly speaking , a Degree as now worked or acknowledged , it actually is one to all intents and purposes , and , in our opinion , when conferred as the completion of , and in connection with the Master Masons' Degree , has no equal , as a ceremony , amongst all the numerous Masonic Degrees which claim the attention and support of the Craft .

Though the chapters are not yet as numerous as we should like to see them in this country , still the progress made of late years has been most gratifying , and at the present time there are considerably over 500 active chapters working in England , side by side with upwards of 1400 lodges .