Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey was hclel on Friday at the Public Hall , Dorking , Bro . General J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., Provincial Grand Master , presiding . After the formal opening of the Provincial Grand Lodge

the roll of lodges in the province was read over by Bro . Greenwood , Prov . Grand Secretary , when it was found that every lodge in the province was represented by Masters , Warelens , and brethren . This list contains eighteen lodges , viz ., St . George's , 370 , Chertsey ; Grove , 410 , Ewell ; Surrey , 416 , Reigate ; Freelcrick Lodge of Unity , 4 S 2 , Croydon ; East Surrey Lodge of Concord , 4 63 ,

Croydon ; Royal Alfred , 777 , Guildford ; Dobie , 886 , Kingstonon-Thames ; St . Andrew ' s , 1046 , Farnham ; Dorking , 1149 , Dorking ; Lome , 1347 , Sutton ; Royal Albert Edward , 1362 , Red Hill ; Way Side , 1325 , Woking ; Addiscombe , 155 6 , West Croydon ; St . John ' s , 1564 , Knaphill ; Studholme , 1591 , Surbiton ; Friendship and Harmony , 1616 , Walton-on-Thames ; Brownrigg , 16 3 8 , Ditton ;

and Albert Edward , 1714 , York Town . The minutes of the last meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge were then read , put , and confirmed . The reading of the balance sheet , which was the next business , disclosed receipts £ 214 2 s . 1 id ., and expenses £ 67 5 s . 6 d ., leaving a balance in the hands of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . George Price , of £ 146 17 s . jjd .. This

announcement was received with loud cheers , and on the motion of Bro . H . j . P . Dumas , seconded by the Rev . C . W . Arnold , the balance sheet was ordered to be received , adopted , and entered on the minutes . Gen . Brownrigg then rose and said , these funds enabled the Grand Lodge to do a little more than usual , and it had been suggested to him that they should contribute

something to the Earlswood Asylum for Idiots , and also beyond the contributions which would be made by the brethren after Divine service , a : um to the Dorking National Schools . He was alw . iys very glad when the brethren had funds to make such grants , becaus : it was too much the custom of the outer worlel to represent Masons as very selfish , and as confining their subscriptions to the Masonic

Institutions . Now that the Provincial Grand Lodge was in posscssir . n of such large funds , he was happy to say they could cor . ' ribute something to charities beyond the Masonic body . General Brownrigg then explained that when he appointed the Rev . C . W . Arnold as Deputy Provincial Grand Master he h . ai neglected to obligate him , and he would now therefore call upon the Rev . Brother to

take the obligation for the due perform nice of the duties of his office . This form having been gone through , Bro . George Price was unanimously re-elected for the 22 nd time as Proiincial Granel Treasurer , for which compliment Bro . Price expressed his thanks to the brethren . General Brownrigg then invested the following brethren

as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : — Rev . C . W . Arnolel , M . A ., P . G . C , Prov . D . G . M . Dr . Brushfield , 1395 Prov . G . S . W . Dr . Spence , 1149 Prov . G . J . W . Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , Prov . G . Chap . George Price , 4 6 3 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . Milner , 1616 Prov . G . Reg .

Charles Greenwood . ... ... Prov . G . Sec , A . T . / effcry , P . M . 452 Pror . G . S . D . Wells , W . M . 1638 Prov . G . J . D . Street , P . M . 139 s Prov . G . S . of W . Owens , 1347 Prov . G . D . of C . Capt . Ormsby , 1616 Prov . G . S . B . E . M . Lott , Prov . G . Org .

Stacey , W . M Prov . G . Purst . C . T . Speight , Prov . G . Tyler . All the Grand Officers were then saluted in Masonic form . At the conclusion of this ceremony General Brownrigg said : Brethren , it is usual on these occasions for the Provincial Grand Master to aeldress a few words to the

brethren assembled respecting Masonry in the province in general , but I shall cut it shcrt to-day , because we have been very late in beginning our work , the trains having been much delayed . Altogether I think Masonry in the province is extremely satisfactory . Most fortunate for me I have a most zealous and indefatigable Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and I believe that he has visited every lodge

in the province since we last met . Of course , the reports that he sends to me touching those visits are confidential , and must remain confidential to me ; but , altogether I am very well satisfied with his report . He has found faulthe has pointed out deficiencies among some lodges , and I certainly shall not particularise those . I give only my advice to them—I elo not say " censure , " because I hope

it will never come to that . I think it much better to advise quietly and without fuss , and I shall take the opportunity of calling the attention of the brethren of the province to what are certainly deficiencies . I think it cannot be too strongly impressed upon you all that no brother should undertake work that he cannot perform . I do not like to he thought for a moment to interfere with the rightof

selection by the brethren of those who axe to rule over them ; but I do think it very important that the Worshipful Master of a lodge should be able to do his work thoroughly well , and not only the Worshipful Master but all the brethren who arc placed in office . Therefore , I suggest to the hrethren that it is not because a brother is popular and charming that he should be chosen as Master ; that is not

the onl y recommendation for the Master of a lodge . He ought to be up to his wink . Now , a man must have a very defective and bad memory if he cannot with the assistance he can obtain get up his work properly , anel , therefore , I hops and trust in this province , wherever I may go , that I may see the work properly performed . I make it a point of never announcing when I am coming , and I

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

think the Deputy Provincial Grand Master does just the same . We drop in unawares , and I think that is the proper way . However , I repeat that altogether I am satisfied with the way in which the duties of the province are performeef , and I need not say how happy and glad I always am to meet you . General Brownrigg added that he would now appoint the Provincial Grand Stewards ; whereupon

Bro . H . E , Frances remarked that there was a difficulty in getting Grand Stewards , because when a brother took the office it carried with it no past grand rank . He thought if a representation was made upon the matter to United Grand Lodge , and some pressure brought to bear , the Grand Master would make an alteration in this respect . He did not see why it should not be properly brought before

Gtand Lodge . General Brownrigg said he had not failed to mention it , but he did not think it was the intention of Grand Lodge to make any alteration . However there was a rule adopted in some provinces which he did not think a bad one , that no brother should be appointed to Provincial Grand Lodge Office if he had not first served the office of Steward . He

should not be at all indisposed for the future to adopt some rule of that sort in the Province of Surrey . That would be , at all events , an inducement . Brethren must know how extremely difficult it was to select brethren for the provincial purple . There were only fourteen offices to be given away in a large province , and it was the most difficult task he had to distribute the purple . Not

adopting any hard and fast rule , he would , however , be much disposed for the future to give preference when conferring the purple to those brethren who had serveel the office of Provincial Grand Steward . Bro . Greenwood said that if the brethren served the office of Steward it was one indication that they did attend Grand Lodge and the duties of office . There were only

six Stewardships to be given , would it not be better to select them from the lodges according to the seniority of the lodges . Bro . General Brownrigg said there would be a difficulty about that . It would be hardly fair to take the first six lodges , because in that case those lodges would always retain the Stewardship ? .

A brother asked whether it would not be better that the Stewards should be balloted for . Bro . George Price said he thought it wouM be well not to arrive at a decision at once , but to give notice to all the lodges before the next meeting of Provincial Grand Loelgc . Bro . General Brownrigg said he was much obligeel for the suggestion . Cretcris paribus , he would rather give

Grand Office to brethren who had been Granel Stewards than to those who had not . Another plan might be adopted ; they might start with the youngest six lodges . Bro . Greenwooel suggested that Masters of lodges might claim the privilege of being Grand Stewards . If six Masters were present and ready to take the rank , it might be better to take them than the rank and file .

The following brethren then volunteered , and were accepted and appointed as Provincial Grand Stewards for the year : Bros . Browse , W . M . 410 ; Taylor , W . M . 1046 ; Strccter , J . W . 1714 ; Honeywell , P . M . 88 9 ; Lendrim , S . W . 1610 ; and Aldridge , W . M . cUct 1347 . Bros . II . E . Frances , George White , Woodward , H . J . P . Dumas , and Dr . H . J . Strong , were appointed the Audit

Committee , and the brethren then voted five guineas to the Dorking National Schools ; ten guineas to the Asylum for Idiots , Earlswood ; ten guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; ten guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; and ten guineas to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons .

Letters of apology for inability to attend were read by Bro . Greenwood , from Bros . H . Hacker , Col . Shadwell Clerke , Lees , Wainwright , Col . Burdett , and several other brethren . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren repaired to the Parish Church to evening service , which was performed by the Rev . P . Ralph Atkinson , the

vicar , who had kindly placed his church at the . disposal ol the brethren . The Rev . Ambrose W . Hall preached the sermon . The offertory after the sermon amounted to £ 1 us , iojd ., and was devoted to the Dorking National Schools . The proceedings of the day were concluded by a banquet in the public hall , after which the usual toasts were

honoured . After the toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " General Brownrigg , in giving the toast of " The Grand Master and the other Grand Officers , " said it had been no doubt an immense advantage to the Craft ( to the Craft of England at all events ) that they were honoureel by having the Heir Apparent to the throne as their Grand Master . Not only

had he taken a prominent position in Masonry , but last year two of his brothers filled the officers of Senior and Junior Grand Wardens . He ( General Brownrigg ) had on several occasions been associated with the Duke of Connaught in Masonry , and it certainly charmed his heart as an old Mason to sec how His Royal Highness had taken to it , and what a warm interest he felt in everything

that concerned Freemasonry . He augured from this very favourably for the continuance of the prosperity of the Craft . True , the Craft was so well founded and was so grounded in the hearts of Englishmen generally , that it did not absolutely require the attachment of members of the Royal Family , but still he should be very sorry to see that connection of Masonry lost . Longer than any of the brethren could recollect members of the Royal Family had

been members of the Craft , and he hoped that our children ' s children might see that connection continued . The Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C , replieel , anel after thanking the Grand Master and the brethren , proposed " The Health of the P . G . M . " In the P . G . M . ' s absence he might say perhaps far more than . he could in his presence . All the brethren knew Gen . Brownrigg , and how willing he was to come forward in every matter connected with

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

Freemasonry . The brethren knew how he was always ready to go to every provincial gathering to which he might be invited . Without any breach of confidence he might tell the brethren that in a piivate letter Gen . Brownrigg wrote to him to say that his engagements were such that if he were to die he thought upon his tomb would be inscribed , " Killed by Freemasonry . " ( Laughter . ) He ( Bro .

Arnold ) hoped that the Masons of Surrey would never work their P . G . M . to that extent . From his knowledge of the P . G . M ., he might safely assure the brethren that whenever anything was addressed to him in the way of a call for Masonic purposes there he would be found , if it was really possible for him , to be present . Gen . Brownrigg in reply said : Brethren , I regret

extremely that I am obliged to run away , but I have people staying in my house , and carriages are waiting for certain trains and must go . If I could have anticipated that we should have been here as late as wc have been I should have made other arrangements . I am very much flattered by what my excellent friend and brother on my right has said about me . I can assure you that any labour I have in

connection with the province of Surrey is really a h' -. our of love . I suppose no P . G . M . had ever more kin 1 ' . nid fraternal spirit shown him from every part than 1 1 ave had . It is now my eighth year of being your P . G . M . During that time the lodges have nearly doubleel in number , and with one solitary exception I have never had anything that has been really unpleasant ; that has

passed , and certainly is forgiven by me , and I have no doubt will very soon be forgotten . I do my best always to forget anything unpleasant . There is one thing I omitted to mention in Grand Lodge to-day which I may do now , as it may suit the convenience of brethren to know it . 1 propose ( I do not actually fix it as a fact , in the same way as I did not fix

as a fact the matter about the Provincial Grand Stewardships ; but I think it would be a very good beginning ) that wc should hold the Provincial Grand Lodge on the second Tuesday in July . The third Tueselay is a meeting of the Frcelerick Lodge of Unity , and many of those brethren , I regret to say , were obliged to go away to attend the eluties of their own lodge . This circumstance makes me the more

thankful to them for their zeal in attending the Provincial Grand Lodge ; but I would wish you to bear in mind that if nothing unforseen happens to prevent it , wc will for the future , as long as God preserves me to elo my woik as your Provincial Granel Mas ' er , have our Provincial Grand Lodge on the second Tuesday in July . I thank you from all my heart for the kind and hearty way in which you

have always received me , and in which you have drunk the toast which has just been proposed . General Browntigg next proposed " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Pas-f . " He slid that holeling the position he did he was most fortunate in having a very valuable Deputy Provincial Grand Master . He hadalrcaely

said how highly he appreciateel that brother , and he hail the happiness of knowing that wherever he himself went among Surrey Freemasons he found a kind word said about Bro . Arnold . Repeating Bro . Arnold ' s words with respect to himself ( Gen . Brownrigg ) it was difficult to say all one wished to say of a man in his presence ; but he did not hesitate to say that Bro . Arnold had a thorough

practical knowledge of his work , besides which , there was a charm of manner about him which ingratiated him in the brethren ' s favour wherever he went He could not descant on the excellences of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , but he hoped in the selection of him he had given satisfaction to the brethren . If he had not , all he could say was that in appointing Bro . Arnold he had acteel

conscientiously . Bro . Arnold was thoroughly deserving i . f it . As he had said before , it was a very difficult task to select Grand Officers , but in selecting them that day he trusted he had pleased all the brethren of the province . ( General Brownrigg then left , and deputed the holding of the chair to Bro . Arnold . ) Bro . C . W . Arnold , answering to the toast , observed

that when the Provincial Grand Master was in lodge he made certain remarks with regard to his ( Bro . Arnold ' s ) reports of the different lodges . It hail been his greatest p leasure to visit the lodges of the province , and wherever he had gone he had been entertained most hospitably , and received in a truly Masonic manner . Although there had been cases in which he had not been able to say that

lodges were working in the very best manner , yet he could say that , on the whole , the Province of Surrey was in thorough working order . He believed that everywhere there was a desire in the Province of Surrey to carry out the duties of Freemasonry a ? they should be carried out . If in any case the duties of different officers had not been properly carried out , he felt certain that there had been a

disposition on the part of the lodge that those offices shoulel be carried out properly , anil if any representation was made to them as to rectifying anything they would do it . He bclieveel it was the duly of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master to report to the Provincial Grand Master the actual state of every Jodge in the province . He must , of course , make a truthful report , and if he found that the duties were not

carried out efficiently he must report to that effect . He was quite sure that the lodges would adopt any recommendation that might be made to them . The rev . brother then mentioned the subject of the support of the charities and the organisation of this province and that of Berks and Bucks for carrying candidates . He also recommended a junction with another neighbouring county—say Essex or Middlesex for that purpose .

Bro . K . Binckes responded to the toast of " flic Visitors , " and Bros . George Price and Charles Greenwooel to that of " The Treasurer and Secretary . " Bro . Dr . Spence responded to the toast of " The Master of the Dorking Lodge , " and thanked the Provincial Grand Lodge for the support given to the local charities , the Dorking National School and the Earlswood Asylum . Bro . Browse , W . M . of the Grove Lodge , 410 , replied