Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northants And Hunts.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHANTS AND HUNTS .

The Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , his Grace the Duke of Manchester , held this Provincial Grand Lodge at the Town Hall . Northampton , on Thursday , the nth inst ., under the banner of the Eleanor Cross Lodge , of which Bro . the Rev . S . Wathen Wigg is W . M . The arrangements for the reception of the brethren of the province were entrusted to a Committee , consisting of Bros , the Rev . S . Wathen Wigg , T . Phipps Dorman , T . Emery , H . Brown , and G . Butcher , Secretary , and

everything passed off in a most successful manner . The work of decorating the hall was confided to Bro . T . Emery , and seldom had a large room been seen to present such a pleasing and attractive and even somewhat unique appearance . Bro . T . Pnipps Dorman cheerfully assisted in the work . The floor was covered with a large carpet of a black and white tiled pattern , and the brethren sat around the sides under

the respective banners , and in the preparation of the latter great taste and judgment had been exercised by Bro . Emery . In addition to those banners , which formed a very pretty feature in the decoration , several shields , bearing Masonic emblems , were attached to the side walls , and p ieces of statuary were here and there effectively displayed . The civic flags were fixed to the Mayor ' s gallery , and there was also a number of flags and banners to be observed around the room .

His Grace the Duke of Manchester occupied a seat on a raised dais at the platform end of the room , and the platform itself formed a very pretty back ground , being nicely set out with p lants and flowers . At the other end of the room a good effect was produced by mirrors draped with muslin curtains , and surmounted by a canopy of flags , banners , & c . Muslin also adorned the sides of the partition dividing the hall at the lower end , and immediately underneath the mirrors were some large palms , ferns , & c .

The Eleanor Cross Lodge was opened at half-past twelve , and the Provincial Grand Lodge at a quarter to one o ' clock . There were present the Right Worshipful Grand Master , his Grace the Duke of Manchester , and

Bros , the Rev . S . Wathen Wigg , P . P . G . S . Norths and Hunts , Leicester and Rutland , P . M . icjit . W . M . 1764 ; Butler Wilkins , P . M . 360 , D . P . G M . Norths and Hunts , P . Z . 36 . 1 , Prov . G . H ., and G . S . B . Eng . ; Rev . S . J . W . Sanders , W . M . 3 60 , P M . 1 9 11 , 1764 , P . P . G . C . ; J . A . S . Bouverie , W . M . 1911 , P . G . J . W . j M . A . B . eme , 360 and 1764 , P . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts ; H . Brown , P . P . G . J . W .. P . M . 1764 , S . D . 360 ; G . Ellard , P . M . 3 60 , Prov . G . D . C . ; T . Emery , J . D 1764 , P . G . S . D . Norths and Hunts ; H . J . Atkins , P . M . 1764 , P . G . S . W . ; J . U . Stanton , P . M . 360 , Prov . G .

Treas . ; G . Butcher , Sec . 1764 , P . G . Org . ; J . Haviland , 1764 , W . C . N . Vikings Lodge ; Brook Sampson , P . P . G . Org ., 1764 , 1911 ; W . Jackson , W . M . 737 ; E . R . Adams , 373 ; G . T . Wooldridge , 373 ; J . W . Kirby , W . VI . 442 ; T . Oldham , W . M . 4 + 5 : j . W . Fisher , 737 ; C . Matthews , 737 ; W . Packwood , 737 ; H . Dainty , 737 ; j . VV . Ingram , D . C . 373 ; | . R . Shearsmith , 1010 , 3 60 ; C . Roberts , S . D . 466 ; H . A . Rohinson , Treas . 3 G 0 , I . P . P . G . S . ; A . Cockerill , J . D . 360 , P . G . St . Br . ; C . Roberts , 360 ; H . Myers , 1180 ; S . J . Harding , W . M . 445 ; H . Bowles , P . P G . Org ., 276 ; D . Bloodworth , P . M . 466 : G . Lewis 445 ; 1 . C . Royce , I . W . 466 ; I . Woolston , 466 ; E . Pcirce ,

S . D 455 ; E . Roberts , 3 60 ; J . Snow , Stwd . 360 ; H . Martin , Stwd . 3 60 ; | . C . Price , W . M . 473 ; T . D . Hensman , 360 ; H . T . West , 1764 ; F . W . Gooch , 466 ; T . W < -therr ! l , 360 ; P . J . T . Henery , 1911 ; J . Eunson , 1911 ; W . H . Bullock , 1911 ; E . M . mtattue Browne , 1911 ; C . Heald , 588 ; Lee F . Cogan , 1764 ; S . Gough , 293 ; R . J . Johnston , 1764 ; C . W . Lane , 455 ; T . Cook , 442 ; C . Foote , 442 ; J . E . Custance , 442 ; E . Harrison , 442 ; T . W . Harrison , S . W . 442 ; J . Harrison , 442 ; T , Franks 360 ; G . Leopold Michel , 360 , P . P . G . S . W ., P . G . J . D . ; W . Robertson , D . C

442 ; R Ay res , 373 j H . S . W . Preedy , 455 ; H . Rose , 6 . 7 ; A . Coulson , 4 66 ; A , Jones , 171 ) 4 ; H . Hodges , 1764 ; B . Thompson , 1764 ; F . Laycock , 1764 ; C . F . Cox , 1911 ; E . J . Orford , P . M . 4 66 , P . P . G . S . W . ; G . A . Eldred , P . M . 455 , P . G . S . ; J . Wheeler , P . G . S . of Works , 442 ; H . J . Eunson , P . G . S ., 1911 ; A . G . Evans , P . M . 445 , P . P . G . P ., P . G . S . B . ; W . Dixey , P . M . 445 , P . P . G . S . ; D . W . WarH , P . M . 4 66 , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . G . Green , P . M . 373 , P . G . J . D . ; R . Croft , S D . 1764 , P . G . Org . ; ) . T . Smiti . I . W . , . . P . G . D . C ; Rev . I . lenkins , P . G . A . C .. 441 ; H . Shepheard ,

P M . 445 , P . P . G . J . W . ; J . C . Jones , P . M . 445 , P . P . G . J . W . ; A . Bunting , P . M . 373 , P . G . J . W . ; J . Marson , P . M . 373 , P . P . G . S . W ., P . P . G . D . C ; J . | . Hart , I . P . M . 3 60 , P . P . G . P . ; W . M . Crowley , P . M . 445 ; J . T . Green , P . M . 360 , P . P . G . S . D . ; G . Osborn , P . M . 445 , P . P . G . S . W . ; T . C . Beasley , S . W . 176 4 . J . W . 1911 , P . P . G . C ; F . G . Buckle . P . M . 442 , P . G . S ., & c . ; G . Cotton , P . M . 360 , P . Z ., P . P . G . S . D . ; W . H . Watson , J . D . 466 , P . P . G . S . D . ; H . Norton , P . M . 466 , 1265 , P . P . G . J . W . Norths and Hunts ; A . C . Knight , P . M . 737 , P . P . G . D . ; W . W . James , P . M . 737 , P . P . G . D . ; R . MiCluie , 360 , P . G . S . B ., 445 ; J . Slinn , P . M . 737 , P . P . G . R . ; W . H . Smith , P . M . 37 ^ P . P . G . R . ; J . F . Airs , P . M . 3 60 , P . G . S . B ., 445 ; J . Bingley , P . M . 360 , P . Z . 3 60 ,

P . P . G . J . D . ; W . H . Linnell , P . M . 445 , P . G . J . D . ; R . Griffin , P . M . 442 , P . P . G D . of C , P . P . G . S . W . ; H . Wright , iun ., P . M . 466 , P . P . G . S . D . ; Rev . W . A . Howes , P . M . 445 . P . P . G . C . ; J . Terry , P . P . G . S . W ., P . P . G . D . of C . Herts ; G . C . Caster , 442 , P . G . S . ; S . S . Campion , 1764 ; W . A . George , 3 60 ; H . V . Tebbutt , I . G . 1764 ; W . A . Howe , 1764 ; T . Cockerill , 1764 ; Rev . R . H . Cox , 3 60 ; W . Goldney , D . of C . 1764 j J . Clayson , 3 60 ; H . Manfield , 1764 , P . G . S . ; Wilcox-Smith , 445 ; E . C . Ashford , 3 60 ; J . jeffery , 360 ; H . W . K . Markham , 1911 ; G . H . Percival , P . M . rgn ; W . A . Smith , 445 ; J . C . Franklin , 1764 ; H . W . Todd , 360 ; J . Faulkner , 360 ; and others .

Immediately after opening the lodge , and before the reading of the minutes , a pleasing incident took place . A deputation , comprising the Masters of all the lodges in the province proceeded , under the guidance of the Director of Ceremonies , to make a presentation to the worthy D . Prov . G . Master , who had been appointed Grand Standard Bearer of England . The deputation was headed by Bro . the Rev . S . J . W . Sanders , as Master of the

senior lodge ; Bro . Buckle , P . G . Sec . ; and Bro . G . Osborn , the oldest Past Master in the province , and the former , addressing the Duke of Manchester , spoke in highly laudatory terms of the conduct of Bro . Butler Wilkins as Deputy , the impartiality of his decisions , and the integrity of his government . Turning to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , he wished him long life and health to enjoy his honours , and expressed the pleasure the province felt at his elevation .

An address ( appended ) was then read b y Bro . BUCKLE , and the gift , which also comprised a complete set of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter clothing ( manufactured by Bro . George Kenning ) , was offered to Bro . Wilkins by Bro . Osborn , and Bro . Wilkins immediately proceeded to array himself in the clothing . The brethren then , under the direction of the Director of Ceremonies , saluted Bro . Wilkins as the Grand Standard Bearer of England , and the business of the lodge proceeded .

The address was beautifully illuminated on vellum . The border was specially designed , introducing the Provincial Masonic colours o ( purple and gold . In the centre were the arms of the Grand Lodge , and at the bottom Bro . Wilkins ' s jewel of office in Grand Lodge . At each corner were the emblems of the different offices Bro . Wilkins had filled—those of P . M ., P . Z .. D . P . G . M ., and Prov . G . H . The address , which was in a handsome

gold frame , was as follows : " To the Worshipful Bro . Butler Wilkins , P . M . 360 , D . P G . M . Norths and Hunts , P . Z . 360 , Prov . G . H . and Grand -Standard Bearer of England . Worshipful Sir and Dear Brother , —We , the Grand Master , Grand Wardens , and brethren of the Province of Norths and Hunts , in Provincial Grand Lodge assembled , desire to express to you our congratulations on your appointment to office in the Grand

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northants And Hunts.

Lodge of hngland , and offer for your acceptance the Grand Lodge clothing and other gifts which accompany this address . We rejoice in the ' tribute of merit' thus awarded . Your career in the past as one of the rulers of the Craft in this province , the impartiality of your decisions , the genuine goodwill at all times exhibited , the energy for the good of Freemasonry increasingly displayed , the qualifications necessary for a ruler so worthil y manifested—these have inspired us one and all with feelings of the highest fraternal esteem and affection , and have deservedly earned the distinction

which his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales , the M . W . Grand Master , has been pleased to bestow on you in appointing you to the office and rank of a Grand Standard Bearer of England . That it may please the G . A . O . T . U . to grant you long life , health , and strength to enjoy your dignity , and a continuance of all the blessings ot the past , is our earnest and united prayer . —Signed on behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge held at Northampton , June nth , A . L . 5885 , MANCHESTER , P . G . M . ; F . G . BUCKLE , P . G . Sec . "

The following officers of Grand Lodge were then appointed and fully invested by his Grace the Duke of Manchester : — Bro . W . Jackson , W . M . 737 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ J . A . S . Bouverie , W . M . 1911 ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . S . J . W . Sanders , P . M . 1911 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . J . Jenkins , 445 ... ... ... Prov . G . A Chap . „ J . U . Stanton , P . M . 360 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ T . Oldham , W . M . 445 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ F . G . Buckle , P . M . 442 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ T . Emery , J . W . 1764 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ W . Green , W . M . 373 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ A . J . Harding , W . M . 455 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ G . Ellard . P . M . 360 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C .

,, J . T . Smith , 442 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ A . Cockerill , 360 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ G . C . Caster , 442 ... ... ... Prov . G . > wd . Br . „ G . Butcr . er , Sec . 1764 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, F . L . Gooch , 466 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

It was stated that next year the Grand Lodge would be held at Kettering , under the banner of the Perseverance Lodge . At three o ' clock the brethren attended Divine service at All Saints '

Church , marching in procession with their different banners from the Town Hall . The sacred edifice was well filled . The prayers were read by the Rev . R . B . Hull , the vicar , and the lessons by Bro . the Rev . S . Wathen Wigg Bro . the Rev . S . J . W . Sanders preached the sermon , basing his discourse on the words , " Thou son of man , show the house to the house of Israel , that they may be ashamed of their iniquities : and let them measure the pattern . "—Ezekiel xliii . 10 . He said :

It was with great pleasure he had accepted the invitation to preach to the brethren that day , and yet he felt considerable difficulty in chousing a subject on which to enlarge . It had occurred to him , however , that the work of the day , b-ing the business of an annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , was a work more especially of enquiry and review . I hey had already enquired in their business into the stability and prosperity and progress of each lodge within the province , and they were at that time met together to worship and to witness the sincerity of their religious professions , and to

witness that there was nought in the whole circle of their Masonic rites and teaching inconsistent with their faith , but rather that everything which was transacted within the tyled recesses of their meetings had that as a natural consequence . They did not claim that Masonry was a religion ; but they did claim that it was a religious system , a system based on , and utterly useless and having no meaning if it were not based on , religious feeling and worship . He would treat that part of their annual meeting as a time of review , and take as a basis for that review the text he had chosen from the hook of

Ezekiel . The most Masonic of the prophets he might be called , so aoundant were the illustrations he used from buildings , and so intimate and thorough his knowledge of architectural ait . How could the few minutes of that service be better spent , he said , than in " measuring the pattern , " consideiing the gl . iries of their ancient institution , and weighing well the noble principles on which it was founded , and examining wh ther or no they themselves were acting up to the grand standard they beheld ? If ihey were not , let them be " ashamed of their iniquities , " and amend . And let them ihink it not

strange he should thus speak of possible defection from the genuine and ancient princi p les of the Order . They might say the Order , which had stood so many centuries with so many sworn to be guardians of its ancient landmarks , was in no danger of falling now , and yet was it not a fact among those who claimed to belong to their ranks in other countries there were found those who denied the very first articles of their creed . He supposed they knew as well as he did that it would be in vain that he who denied the existence of a Goit , or denied the continuance of thU life into another , should knock for

ever at the dour of a tyled lodge . No possibility was there of admission being granted to such an unhappy man in this country , and yet for want of this " measuring the pattern " they had the mournful example of some foreign lodges falling away from the faith , and the necessity of excommunication being uttered by their own country ' s Grand Lodge and nearly all the Grand Lodges of the world . So , while they claimed the glories of antiquity and prided themselves on their principles , let them not be content with history or with grandeur of ritual , but seek the underlying truths which it embodied ,

and shape their conduct by them . And while he yielded to none of the brethren with regard to the distinguishing work of the Order , he still raised a word of exhortaiion to " measure the pattern . " Without the real influence of the Masonic spirit Masonry could not live . Was there not a work in the world for Freemasonry ? From the bottom of his heart he belived there was a future yet before it . The present was an age of increasing difficulty ; with increasing Atheism ; when the study of the mysteries of science was being conducted sometimes with a spirit

not akin to that Masonic reverence instilled into the brethren of the mystic tie ; when men of the world met together , and the name of God was never heard in the midst of their meetings ; when they were told that religion was admirable for private persons , but that it had , and it ought to have , no control over bodies of men ; when classes were becoming estranged one from the other , and there was an urgent need of their being drawn and banded together ; when there was increasing uneasiness that the solidity of kingdoms was being relaxed , or if presenting an externally solid appearance , only

presented that appearance from sheer despotic pressure ; when even the eternal principles of right and wrong were treated as indifferent matters by communities of men ; when the lessons of loyalty , brotherhood , reverence , truth , and charity needed re-stating with increased emphasis in every variety and form . Here then was room and scope for Freemasonry . Its ancient principles need not be altered to suit the times . They had only to " measure the pattern . " He knew many had conscientious objections to Freemasonry in their half knowledge of its principles and aims , but he asked—could they afford to do

without help like that in the state of affairs they found themselves in ? Would they rot welcome an aid which might be powerful for good ; powerful in teaching reverence , humility , and in welding together otherwise divided classes , and inculcating self-sacrifice , self-devotion for the common good ? If Freemasonry was to exert i < s legitimate influence upon the age and the society in which they lived , what a responsibility devolved on them who by their sulemn promises had sworn themselves to uprightness . Let them " measure the pattern ; " let them see that brotherly love , relief , and truth be practised in all their incontent

tegrity , and , while thankfully recognising the past of the Order , let them not be with simply gazing on the splendours which had gone , but let them see where improvements could be made , adaptations to present needs be effected , and proceed , albeit in Conservative spirit , courageously to the task . When men asked what was the value ot Freemasonry , let their life be an example to which they might point . Men might ask , and rightly , where was the proof of their life , where was the proof that they were

anything butter than a mere Social Club . Had they any proof of their influence in maKing men the better , the more godly , and the more scrupulous in their dealings with their fellow men ? If they could not give an honest affiimative answer to those questions , then what objection could they raise when they heard , as they did hear , the nnpa " n * cry , * ' Down with it , down with it even to the ground . " But , determined to carry o"J