Provincial Grand Lodge Of Buckinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , The Institute , Slough , on Saturday , the 14 th inst . Bro . Lord Carrington , G . C . M . G ., P . G . M ., presided , and was supported by Bros .

the Rev . J . Studholme Brownngg , P . G . C ., D . P . G . M . ; Lord Addington ; Lieut .-Gen . Lawrie , P . G . M . Nova Scotia ; J . E . Bowen , P . G . Sec . ; the Rev . C . A . Treherne ; the Rev . C . H . Spurrell ; and about 60 other brethren .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was formally opened , and the minutes read and confirmed . The Charity Committee ' s report , which showed that the voting power of the province was thoroughly organised , was next considered . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , who proposed its adoption , said

they had an excellent Secretary in Bro . Stephens , and the Committee was in good working order . No money was wasted , no undeserving case was supported , and no votes were thrown away . It was extremely important that when they had no case they should accumulate votes . He hoped all the brethren would send in their votes , for in a small province their united assistance was necessary to carry their cases . .

Bro . J AMES STEPHENS , P . S . G . D ., Secretary to the Committee , seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously , and endorsed the remarks of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master . He asked the Worshipful Masters of lodges to see that their votes were properly sent in . At their next meeting the

daughter of Bro . Sherman , who died during his Mastership of the Buckingham Lodge , would be adopted as a candidate for the Girls' School , when he hoped the brethren would take an interest in the case , and secure her election on the first application .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s accounts were submitted and adopted and , on the proposition of the PROV . G . SECRETARY , Bro . J . Williams was unanimously re-elected as Prov . G . Treasurer . The Prov . Grand Master appointed and invested the following Prov . G . Officers :

Bro . Lord Aldington ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Baton F . De Rothschild ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . C . A . Treheine ... ... ... ) i » r- /~ i „ Rev . CM . Spurn II j Prov . G . Chaps . „ R . P . Laundy ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

,, J . Williams ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, | . E . Bowen ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ ' [ . C . F . Tower ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ R . H . Major ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Major Cooper ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ Dr . G . Millom ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ C . J . Whikock ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ A . H . Cliffe ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ' 11 G . Skinner ... ... ... ... 7 D n c , . „ „ E . P . Palmer ... { Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ Simcox ... ... ... ... Piov . G . Org . „ . W . Woollett ... ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Sec .

1 , Sampson ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . 11 Hollon ... ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst . 11 J . B . Burgess ... ... ... ~ 1 11 W . G . Cannon ... ... ... j » Sims ... ... ... ... j .. r- c , 1 „ S . Calladine ... ... M ' rov . G . Stwds . 11 Bowdler Sharpe 11 Crowhurst ... ....

The Audit Committee having been re-elected , The DEP . PROV . GRAND MASTER reported as to the publication of the Masonic Calendar for the province for the first time , and proposed that , tle deficit should t e defrayed from the provincial funds . I his was unanimously carried , a suggestien being ' made that the calendar should not be issued every vear .

Charity jewels and bars were presented to brethren entitled to them , and Prov . G . Lodge was formally closed . An adjournment was made to the Roj'al Hotel , where an excellent banquet was well server " .

lhe Prov . Grand Master presided , and , after grace , proposed the usual "TheOueen and the Craft " was first beaitily honoured . , , " ro . - I-ieuti-General LAURIE , P . G . M . Nova Scotia , proposed " H . R . II . ¦ ne Pnnce of Wales . M . W . G . M .. and the rest cf the Grand Officers .

tolfi and P ? ' - " He said tnev a " knew the dec P interest Lord Carringon had taken in Masonry and the services he had rendered to the Craft in n's position as Grand Master of New South Wales , and as Masons could never sink their rank he addressed him that evening as M . W . G . M . There was no necessity for him to dilate at length on the services of the Grand "leers . They saw how smoothly the machinery worked , and that was

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Buckinghamshire.

because the Grand Officers knew their duties , and the brethren had , therefore , every right to be proud of them . Bro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , Dep . Prov . G . M ., next rose , and said he was sure every brother knew the manner in which he was going to use the gavel . The proper thing he ought to say was that he wished the toast had fallen to other hands , but he was not going to say that because the Prov . G .

Master would excuse him if he asserted that he was the person who was most capable of proposing his health . A great many years ago he had the honour of proposing Lord Carrington , then an undergraduate at Trinity , for Masonry , and he was proud of the foundation laid that evening , and the superstructure raised . His joy at seeing him Prov . Grand Master was great , and whenever he came amongst them they were always pleased to see

him . When it was first determined to start a Prov . Grand Lodge for Bucks it was quite certain there was only one feeling , and that was that the first Prov . Grand Master should be Lord Carrington . They were under a special debt of gratitude to him for taking the office , for he took a lower office than he was holding . He was Grand Master of an independent

jurisdiction , but had conferred upon them a favour by consenting to be Prov . Grand Master . They would , no doubt , hear a Masonic statement of what had happened during his rule , but he could assure the Prov . Grand Master that that rule had been to all a pleasant one , and they were glad indeed to see him amongst them again .

Bro . Lord CARRINGTON , Prov . G . M ., said he hoped the brethren would believe that it was not merely as a matter of form , but with all respect , sincerity , and gratitude that he rose to return thanks for the great favour the brethren had paid him . He could only wish he were more worthy of the kind words used , but he thanked the Deputy Prov . Grand Master for them . As regards their province they had nothing to complain of , but even' reason

to congratulate themselves . 1 he 1 reasurcr s accounts showed a balance in hand of ^ 120 , notwithstanding a few extra expenses . They wereon a sound financial basis and he thought they were also on a perfect ! } ' Masonic basis . He had heard of no cause for dissatisfaction , and he congratulated the brethren on this result , which could only have been attained by Masonry , and Masonry alone . As regards their present position they had

wonderfully improved in the last three years . . When they parted company with Berks there were many reports spread that they would not be able to run alone , but they had disproved those reports and outstripped their most sanguine expectations . There had been an increase of 50 per cent , in the number of lodges . It might be thought that thesenew lodges had been started at the expense of the old , but he understood that the old lodges were as

nourishing as ever . He might venture to say that this was evidence of the advantages of self-government . They had left the protecting wing of their big brother and weie able to run alone . They had in fact outstripped that brother having two more lodges than Berks could claim . He hoped those brethren who were honoured with collars that day were those brethren who were popular in their lodges and were those the brethren would like to see in high office .

It was no doubt the prerogative of the Prov . Grand Master to appoint these brethren and it had been his earnest desire not only on his part , but of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master and Prov . Grand Secretary , to appoint those brethren who in the opinion of the lodges were the proper persons to be selected for this great honour . In the Psalms there was a great deal of common sense . Promotion cometh not from the East nor from the West .

He should like to add it came from the top . Having served them for three years it was his intention to place his resignation in the hands of the M . W . Grand Master . There were other brethren worthy of the great honour the M . W . ( irand Master could bestow . He would always support any Prov . Grand Master appointed to succeed him and assist the brethren whenever

he could . He had been well supported and thanked them most sincerely for the support given him . He still remembered the . great meeting at Aylesbury when the late Duke of Clarence opened , their first Provincial Grand Lodge . In sitting down he had to thank the brethren again for their loyal , conscientious , and honourable support , and for the lflhd greeting shown him that evening .

The PROV . G . M . then said he had to propose the health of his brother and cousin , " The Deputy Prov . G . M . " who had worked so hard , and had such an honourable record , that the brethren would give him the welcome he deserved . Bro . Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , Dep . P . G . M ., said he was proud indeed to act in that capacity . The Prov . G . M . had spoken with just pride of the

progress made . He could look furtherbick , for , having taken office in 18 72 , he was looking forward to keeping his " silver wedding . '' During that time they had gone up 450 per cent . They did not Want lodges in the province that were not working lodges . They did not want to develope new lodges for the sake of starting them . He should be pleased to see a lodge at Marlow , and after that they could stand still for a year . He wished to propose " The Health of the Prov . G . Officers . " Bro . Lord Addington was really a hard-working

Mason , was the first S . W . of a lodge and its present W . M ., and had proved very useful on the Charity Committee . The Prov . J . G . W . was a most distinguished personage—the B iron Ferdinand de Rothschild . As the Prov . S . G . W . had left , he would include another toast—that of " The Prov . G . Treas . and Prov . G . Sec . Bro . Howeii and himself had a good many consultations about details , and their Prov . G . Sec . kept all his books with marvellous accuracy .

Bro . J . E . BOWEN , Prov . G . Sec , in responding said that year after year one took a great deal of pains to make his meeting go off satisfactorily , but each year the attendance fell very far below what it should be . He