The Grand Lodge Of Iowa.

of thc great Masonic Library at Cedar Rapids . This Library is not onl y valuable on account of thc great number of Masonic publications which have been gathered together from all the countries in which the Craft has been established , while many of them

are almost priceless , on account of their rarity ; it has , too , the further inestimable advantage of being housed in handsome premises , in which are rooms that are set apart for the use of those who may be desirous of becoming acquainted with our history and literature .

There is nothing new in these remarks , but we are pleased to have this opportunity of making them because , on taking up thc report we have quite recentl y received of the proceedings of thc 55 th annual communication of the ' Grand Lodge of Iowa ,

which was held at Council Bluffs on the yth-gth June , and glancing through its contents , we find that thc portion relating to thc Library is about the most interesting , though at the same time there is a mass of statistical information as to ( he finances

and numerical strength of the Craft which to those who look upon them as indications of prosperity cannot fail to prove most instructive . Thus as regards the financial position of the Grand Lodge , we find that the receipts on the General Fund , including tho balance from the previous year , exceeded 50 , 500 dollars ,

while the disbursements , including liberal appropriations for charitable purposes and towards the library and library buildings , reached to upwards of 24 , 500 dollars , so that thc account for the year closed with a balance of , in round figures , 26 , 000 dollars . As regards numerical strength , it appears that the number of

lodges enrolled is 555 , but of these 73 have become extinct , so that the number working is 482 , thc aggregate of whose subscribing members is 27 , 997 , or not very far short of 28 , 000—a very substantial aggregate for a period of little more than half a

century . Wc congratulate the ( irand Master and his executive officers on the position in which Masonry in Iowa is at the present time , and trust that the progress that has been thus far made will be exceeded in thc future .

Grand Lodge Library.

GRAND LODGE LIBRARY .

I presume that we shall soon hear of additions being made to thc Freemasons' Hall Buildings , and this has led me to wonder as to what will be done for the ever-increasing Library . Is there to be a lire-proof Building for the valuable Books and MSS ? There surely should he , and I venture to submit the statement ,

that many and needful as the claims may be for other Departments in this great Beehive of Masonic Industry ( Official , Clerical , Charitable , and Masonic Ceremonies , & c ) , there is not a more pressing want at the present time than a suitable fireproof Habitation as a storehouse for the invaluable Masonic

I rcasures , so iniini j virtuall y priceless , which may all be lost to the Craft through a destructive fire . The Records of the Grand Lodge of England , from 1723 , those of the "Ancients , " from 1751 ; thc United Grand Lodge of England , from 1 S 13 to dale ; the Royal Arch Chapter and Grand Chapter , from I 765 , and

thc continuous Volumes from 1 S 17 ; besides Registers of lodges and chapters ; Engraved Lists of lodges from I 723-4 ( several copies Iwinr / uniqut ) , and ( other important documents have never been reproduced , save in a very few instances , though their "price is lu-ijond rubies" and their loss would be a grievous blow to the Craft universal .

There is also a vast correspondence preserved , MSS . of the "Old Charges , " rare medals and jewels , and an immense variety of other literary treasures , books , and MSS ., that any

reasonable expense to ensure their safety would be heartily agreed to b y the English Brotherhood , and , what is more , they would welcome undoubtedl y any scheme that provides such a lire-proof building accordingl y .

1 see that at the last meeting of the ( irand Lodge- of Ireland , held 2 nd June last , the following proposition , following due notice , was uiiuniiiiniisli / upprnvnl"That it is desirable to provide for the safe custod y in the

premises of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , of completed minute books and other records of subordinate Lodges desiring lo deposit same ; and that it be referred lo the Board of General Purposes to frame such rides and regulations as inavbe requisite for this purpose . "

I his is a step in the , right direction , and 1 shall watch mere ' eagerly for developments . The Records , however , of the ; ( irand Lodge of Ireland , . are not of the age and value of those to be found in our Freemasons' Hall , for our ( irand Lodire Library is 1 1 r ' without an equal , in several respects . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hants And The Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HANTS AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Town Hall , Ryde , on Tuesday afternoon , the 9 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . VV . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M ., and was largely attended by brethren from all parts of the province . The roll was called by Bro . LANCASTER , P . A . G . Sec , and was responded to by representatives of nearly every lodge in the province .

The accounts were submitted by the P . G . Treasurer , Bro . J . VV . GIEVE , and were of a satisfactory character . Bro . R . EVE , in proposing that the accounts be received and adopted , said he was sorry that the position he occupied that day was not held , as usual , by their Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Le Feuvre , whose illness continued to the very great regret of all the brethren . ( Hear , hear . ) The Provincial Grand Lodge had expended a considerable amount in Charity

during the past year , for not only had they voted the usual 100 guineas , but 500 guineas as well to the Boys' School , and notwithstanding this large payment there was a balance at the bank to the credit of the province . He remembered the time when they had no invested capital in the Provincial Grand Lodge , but now they received interest from investments in Consols and Victorian and New Zealand Bonds and also on a deposit at the bank . The motion was seconded and carried .

Bro . LASHMORE moved , and Bro . FRANCIS NEWMAN seconded , the reelection as Treasurer of Bro . Gieve , and the motion was carried with applause , the Prov . Grand Master expressing his appreciation of the value of thc services rendered to the province by Bro . Gieve , who in acknowledging the vote , said it would give him pleasure to continue in the office , and he had

particular pleasure in now acknowledging his re-appdintment , inasmuch as it was 10 years ago that day he was first elected to it . Nine times he had been re-elected , and he felt sure that had his opponent at the first election been present that day he would have been glad to have proposed or seconded his re-election . ( Hear , hear ) .

The Audit Committee was then appointed , after which Bro . LANCASTER read the report of the Provincial Grand Lodge Committee , which detailed , among other matters , the successful efforts made on behalf of the province in connection with the elections of candidates to the benefits of the Masonic Charities .

The PKOV . G . M . said they had heard by the report that the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Le Feuvre , was prevented attending through illness . They had hopes on the last occasion that his illness would be only temporary , and that he would in due course meet the brethren and occupy his usual place in Provincial Grand Lodge in the enjoyment of good health . He regretted , however , that those hopes had not been fulfilled . Bro . Le

Feuvre's health was now so impaired that he [ felt he could no longer continue in the office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master . He received this communication , in the first instance , with very deep regret , and he at once asked him to continue in tbe office , but lighten his labours by taking a rest , which he trusted would have happy results . Bro . Le Feuvre did so for a little time , but his health did not improve , and not feeling happy in an office

in which he could not b : active , he had , he ( the P . G . M . ) regretted to say , written that he could not continue to act any more . He could only say for himself that he felt the loss deeply , and he was sure that all the brethren would join him in a feeling of regret that Bro . Le Feuvre had been compelled to retire from the office which he had well filled for many years . His recollection of him went back a very long time ; he had known him as

Assistant Provincial Grand Secretary , then as Provincial Grand Secretary , and afterwards as Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and they all knew how he threw into the work of these offices all that energy which was characteristic of his disposition . He was sure they all joined with him in the hope that his present illness was only temporary , and that , though he would no longer fill the office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , he would recover sufficiently to be able to again take an active part in that Masonic

work which he loved so well . Bro . Le Feuvre had been of the utmost service to him as his Deputy ; he had found in him a most able counsellor , to whom he looked for help on every occasion ; he had been most indefatigable in his work , taking an interest in every lodge in the province , and making himself acquainted with the capabilities of the brethren . He asked them to join him in extending towards him their hearty sympathy , trusting that his health would be speedily restored , and that they would have him among them for many years to come .

Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND said the Provincial Grand Master had given him the opportunity of saying a few words concerning Bro . Le Feuvie from an Isle of Wight point of view . The Provincial Grand Master had principally spoken , and well spoken , of him as his Deputy , and they all knew what an excellent Deputy he had made . He ( the speaker ) had known him for 33 j ears ; he had seen him in his Masonic work in Hampshire , and he had , too , seen much of his work in London , where he was connected with many societies of which that Provincial Grand Lodge was not cognisant .

and he was afraid that the present state of his health was very greatly due to his activity and hard work as a Freemason . He had suddenly collapsed , for a time only they hoped ; and they trusted that the voyage he was now taking would restore his health . Bro . Le Feuvre was a man who did no ' care to fill an office in which he could not work , hence his resignation of tiie office . Bro . Loveland Loveland made further sympathetic allusions to U > e late D . P . G . M ., and was followed by

Bro . EVE , who said he missed Bro . Le Feuvre as a personal friend . He hoped they would not lose his presence among them , for there was no brother in Hampshire who had rendered more faithful service to Masonry than ho had . ( Hear , hear . ) The PKOV . G . M . said that the office of Deputy Prov . G . M . being i * vacent , he felt he could not better consult the wishes of the province th- ' '" by appointing Bro . Goble to fill tlie vacancy . ( Applause . ) Bro . Coble li ' -d

been for many years Prov . Grand Sscretary , and the brethren generally could hardly conceive what an onerous position that was . He had discharged the duties with the utmost ability , and he felt sure that in the higher o \ h : e he would act in the interests of 1 I 12 Craft and bring to the discharge of the duties all the abilities he had shown in his previous capacity . He had every confidence in asking him to accept thc office of Deputy Prov . Grand Maste of this large and important province . ( Applause ) .