Masonic Libraries.

jsfew York and Iowa , by creating the office of Grand Librarian , or by erecting a special building for its library . Much , indeed , might be urged in favour of either scheme . The appointment of Grand Librarian would result in an annual report on the library , and unless my judgment is at fault , it would be more generally read than any other printed

communication emanating from the governing body of the English Craft . The erection of a special building for our library would , I fear , be considered at present as lying wholly outside the limits of practicability , and yet , as it seems to me , what has proved to be both feasible and expedient at Cedar Rap ids , Iowa , mi ght be entered upon with a light heart by the Masons of Eng land in their time-honoured metropolis .

But let us see whether there are any lesser examples set by the Grand Lodges of New York and Iowa , which might be copied with advantage in the management of our own National Masonic Library . In the first place , the annual grant in support of the library mi ght be

considerably augmented . Last year the Grand Lodge of Manitoba , with only 39 subordinate lodges , and a total membership of 1 S 78 Masons , voted 50 dollars for binding purposes , and 100 for the purchase of Masonic books .

The competition between collectors is dail y growing keener , and besides the ordinary or normal amount to be spent yearly , a provision should be made for the acquisition of a large number of volumes if suddenly thrown on the market , which mi ght be done by the creation of a reserve sum , to be drawn upon , let us say , by sanction of the Grand , Pro Grand , or Deputy Grand Masters , and on the recommendation of the Grand Secretary .

Next , donations of books or money should be invited , and the names of donors , with their gifts , published in the printed Transactions of Grand Lodge . Great stress was laid by all the Reporters on Foreign

Correspondence in the U . S . A . on the presentations to the Grand Lodges of Alabama and Minnesota , in 1890 and 1891 respectively , of the Masonic libraries of Bros . Daniel Sayre and A . T . C . Pierson , former Grand Secretaries , by their widows .

Precepts may lead , but examples draw . Lastly , if the improvement and extension of the Grand Lodge library arc really desired—as there is good ground for believing—by a not inconsiderable section of brethren , would it not be possible to elect certain representatives of these views in June next , at the annual constitution of the

Board of General Purposes ? Service on the Board in question is each year becoming more and more an object of ambition , legitimate in all respects , yet the increasing number of candidates for the position , may well suggest to the electorate the

expediency of justifying their selection from the array , by means of a few preliminary inquiries as to the motives which prompt men to seek election . The 12 members who are elected "from the floor" are , or ought to be , a thoroughly representative body .

If , therefore , no real interest is taken by the Craft at large in the development of the library—Cadit qutestio . But if , as I venture to think , there is a large and growing number of Masons who would like to see the library at Freemasons' Hall a worth y ornament , in all respects , of the oldest and richest Grand Lodge in the universe , the experiment I have suggested would , in all probability , be justified by the result .

The Board of Genera ! Purposes commands and deserves the cordial approval of all classes of English Freemasons , and if in a constitutional manner , by the election to their body of brethren who would gladly see more money spent on the library , it could be made clear that such was the

expression of a general wish , there can be no doubt whatever that a recommendation , through the accustomed channel , would be followed by an increased grant from the funds of Grand Lodge , for the purpose of adding to and otherwise improving the library and museum of the English Craft .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Victoria Rooms , Southampton , on Monday , the Sth instant , under the presidency ol Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., supported byttros . J . E . Le Feuvre , J . P ., P . G . D . of England , Deputy Prov . G . M . ; R . Eve , P -P-G . W ., acting P . S . G . W . ; J . R . Atkins , P . G . W . ; Rev . J . N . Palmer , P . P . & G . W . ; M . Emanuel , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Cole , P . P . G . R . ; F . H . Woodrow , P . G .

Purst . ; Geo . Pearman , P . G . Org . j J . Friedebey , P . P . S . G . D . ; G . J . Tilling , P -P . G . S . of W . ; C . W . A . Jellicoe , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Adams , P . P . G . D . C . ; E . H . Sharland , P . P . A . G . P . ; R . Boughton-Smith , P . P . S . G . D . ; F . King , P . P . S . G . D . ; Jfatstone , P . P . S . G . D . ; F . Cooper , P . P . G . D . C ; J . W . Gieve , P . G . Treas . ; W - S . Cox , P . P . S . G . W . ; G . Heathcote , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . B . Thomas , P . P . S . G . D ., James Chandler . 2068 : E . Penton . 100 : F . E . Betts . IOO" ? .- Orton Coooer . 21 V :

W . Bainbrid ge , 1533 ; A . Scott , 551 ; G . Fellows , 35 i E- R- Fisher , 2068 ; G . Ward , i 883 ; W . Foster , 17 80 , •E . Kingman , 359 ; P . H . Emanuel , 2068 ; C . Hod ges , 2158 ; R . H . Weekesand E . Edwards , 1461 ; G . H . Swanborough , 2016 ; w - Stewart , 1428 ; C . Alexander , 1780 ; A . Hewett , 394 ; G . Greenslade , ' j ' ! " J . B . Atkinson , 2208 ; E . Warren , 1780 ; A . B . Wade , 785 ; W . Mlller , 1780 ; J . Methven , 1461 ; D . Stopher , 7 6 ; W . Beuttell . ? 42 | E . F . Kine , iei : A . W . Hewett . . 142-. 1 . Maline . qoi : H . V . ' . Blackader . . -j . . . . ... .- „ .. _ .., j ^ - j . ... u .... y ^ j ... ... u . u ^ nau ^ i

„ , , , , , £ ° - Wickens , G . D . Birch , and J . Saints , 2074 ; H . J . Moon , 1958 ; E . Boorman , , ' ^ "•F . Collins , 130 ; S . M . Burch , 903 ; J . H . Atkinson-Grimshaw , 928 ; V- Leonard , 2153 ; W . H . Bastick , 279 ; W . H . Chapman , 146 !; \ V . T . ner ' 97 > E . Williamson , 1780 ; M . S . M . McDonnell , 2150 ; H . Searle , ^ j W . R . Matthews , 76 ; T . Lavington , 1780 ; T . W . Taylor , 35 ; G . HQ s > l 32 ; H . G . T ^ ewcome , igji ; F . H . Sheppard , 551 ; G . Williams , 2068 ; Abrh e , 2 ° ; A - Perry , 2169 ; H . Lehmann , 723 ; W . E . Duck , 1834 ; H . anam , t 30 ; W . Farrance , 132 ; T . G . Dacombe , 359 ; R . W . Rider , 1461 .-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And Isle Of Wight.

J . Dew , 6 94 ; R . L . Linthorne , 394 ; F . Trueman , 551 ; A . H . Watts , 1776 ; J . E . Aldis , 359 ; A . J . Callaway , 1869 ; T . Chesterton , 1331 ; W . Baker , 1835 ; J . EUery , 175 ; W . Bates , 804 ; and many others . Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the minutes of the annual Provincial Grand Lodge and special Provincia ! Grand Lodges were confirmed .

The balance-sheet , showing receipts amounting to , £ 666 Ss . iod ., and expenditure £ 65 1 13 s . 5 d ., the latter of which included / 315 to Charities and ^ 189 grants , was passed upon the proposition of the D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . R . EVE , acting P . S . G . W . Bro . D . O . HOBBS proposed , and Bro . ATKINSON seconded , the re-election of Bro . J . W . Gieve , J . P ., P . M ., as Prov . Grand Treasurer , which was carried unanimously .

The Worshipful Masters of Lodges 309 , 319 , 342 , and 359 were elected on the Audit Committee for the ensuing year . The PROV . GRAND MASTER expressed his pleasure at seeing such a goodly attendance of brethren that day ; it was , he said , only a fact to be expected in such a flourishing town as Southampton . He had been in hopes

that the P . G . M . of Surrey , Bro . Col . Money , would have been present , but he was unavoidably absent . They had , however , amongst them his Deputy , Bro . West , to whom , with other worthy brethren , he offered a hearty welcome . After a few remarks of a general character , the P . G . M . invested the officers for the ensuing year as follows : —

Bro . f . Lemon , 394 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ T . H . Williams , 309 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ G . Andrew , 92 S ... ... .... ,-. «~ i „ Rev . Betts , 1903 j Prov . G . Chaps . „ J . W . Gieve , 309 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ VV . L . Poster , 1 971 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ E . Goble , 309 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . A . Rowe , 903 ... ... •••} p cc n '« = „ J . Methven , 1461 ... ... 3 Prov . S . G . D . s . FT W rVncc oonS 1

;; w . sto ^ v ::: ::: -jProv . j . G . D .-s . „ W . Bentall , 342 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ C . J . Lawrence , io ( 5 S ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . F . Westerman , 1776 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . .. H . Webb , « o ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ Lieut . T . Cowd , 1834 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, W . Bates , 809 ... ... ¦¦¦ In / - o . j D > Ii A . Shaw , 1869 ... - j Prov . G . Std . Br . ' s ,, G . Pearman , 903 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, G . F . Lancaster ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec .

„ G . Williams , 2068 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, G . Trucman , 551 , ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ A . W . Hewitt , 342 „ R . Stokes , 1958 G .

„ I . G . Garnham , isi ... ... ... n ,, , ii A . Hewitt , 394 ^ Prov . Stwds . „ Harfield , 1112 ,, S . W . Swanborough , 2016

Provincial Grai i Lodge was then closed , after which the National Anthem was sung , and the majority of the brethren adjourned to the Masonic Hall , Albion-place , and partook of a banquet , under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master .

Consecration Of The St. Lawrence Chapter, No. 2016, At Alton.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . LAWRENCE CHAPTER , No . 2016 , AT ALTON .

On Wednesday , the ioth inst ., St . Lawrence ' s Day , the newly-formed chapter to be attached to the local Craft Lodge , No . 2016 , was duly consecrated at the Assembly Rooms , Alton , Hants . The ceremony was ably

performed by Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., G . J . Eng ., G . Superintendent , assisted by Comps . J . E . Le Feuvere , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., Prov . G . H . ; Lieut .-Col . W . Campbell , P . Z . 257 , Prov . G . J . ; and the officers of Provincial Grand Chapter .

After the ceremony of consecration , the following companions were duly installed as Principals for the ensuing year , viz .: Comps . Rev . Alfred Cyril Harvey , P . Z . 309 , as Z . ; Henry Harbor , H . 76 , as H .,- and George H . Swansborough , J . 7 6 , as J . The officers of the chapter invested were Comps .

H . J . Turner-Smith , P . S . ; George Turvill , S . E . and Treas . ; Walter F . Blake , S . N . ; Tom Cox , ist A . S . ; and A . E . Thompson , 2 nd A . S . Amongst the visiting companions were Comps . Edgar Goble , P . G . S . E . ; G . F . Lancaster , W . Bente // , F . H . Woodrow , Noakes , Thornton , F . King , P . Z . 76 ; Geo . Ward , Z . 76 ; Doswell , and others .

Upon the conclusion of the business the companions adjourned to the Swan Hotel , were a capital banquet was served by Mr . Davies , the proprietor . Several toasts were proposed and duly honoured , including "Success to the St . Lawrence Chapter , No . 2016 . "

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Corn Wall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF CORN WALL .

The annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Cornwall was held on Tuesday , the 9 th inst ., at the Public Rooms , Truro , under the banner of Fortitude Lodge , No . 78 . Bro . Sir Charles Bruno Graves-Sawle , Bart ., P . G . M ., presided , and the following distinguished brethren were present : Bros . T . Chirgwin , Deputy P . G . M . ; Edmund Venning , 379 , P . S . G . W . ; Hugh

P . Vivian , 73 and 417 , P . J . G . W . ; Richard Pearce Couch , 404 , P . G . D . C . ; W . King Baker , 404 , P . P . G . S . D . ; George Williams , 87 , P . j . G . O . ; Edward Forbes Whitley , 206 , P . P . J . O . ; E . M . Milford , 73 , P . P . S . G . W . and P . G . T . ; W . J . Johns , P . P . J . G . W . and P . G . Sec ; R . H . Williams , 379 , P . G . l . G . ; George H . Boynes Reed , 94 , P . P . J . W . ; W . F . Newman , 94 , P . P . S . G . W . ; H . W . Hockin , 7 8 , P . G . R . ; W . G . Hancock , 379 , P . G . M . O . ; T . C . Polglase , 04 , P . P . G . M . O . ; J . G . Hemvood , 351 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Sampson