Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

The Prov . G . Sec . ( Major G . C . DAVIE ) , reported that he had received the returns for the year from all the lodges in the province . There were up t 0 December 31 st , 1887 , 2744 Masons on the books of the lodges in the orovince , an increase of 91 on the preceeding year ; 231 brethren had been

initiated during the year . 1 here were 667 Past Lvlasters on the books ot the province . He had received 10 guineas each for 11 lodges , 39 , 70 , 847 , 11 ^ 5 , 1247 , 1254 , 1284 , 1 4 , 1885 , 2025 , and 2189 , being the sums necessary to obtain Life Governorships in the Royal Masonic Institutions with the assistance of the Provincial Grand Lodge .

The TREASURER reported that there was a balance in hand of £ 204 . fhe Treasurer and Secretary of the Fortescue Fund were not present , but a statement of the accounts of that Charity was read by Bro . H . STOCKE , Prov . G . Treas ., who announced that two new annuitants would be placed 0 n the fund at the next election in July .

The D . P . G . M . announced that the contemplated new by-laws of the Fortescue Annuity Fund were not yet ready to be presented to the Prov . Grand Lodge . The report of the Committee of Petitions was read and adopted . The election of Prov . Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year was then proceeded with . There were three candidates , and Bro . J . R . Lord was elected .

Bros . J . W . Cornish , 223 , and J . T . Browning , 10 5 , were elected the Auditors . Bro . J . Brewer ' s proposition to extend the voting power , of 20 guineas , possessed by the Prov . Grand Lodge , to any sums the state of the funds will admit , was carried . The following brethren were appointed the officers for the year ;

Bro . W . G . Rogers , 112 ... ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M , Major Tracy , 1247 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., 18 9 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . " !^ w R rt : " 9 1 Prov . G . Chaps . „ R . W- R . McCheane , 2189 ... ... ) r „ I . R . Lord , 1247 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ C . Barnett , 1135 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . , Major G . C . Davie , 251 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ G . C . Searle , 248 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ B . J . Fisher , 444 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ T . C . Lewarne , 22 3 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ A . T . Blarney , 1402 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D .

„ J . Moas , 1284 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . b . otW „ J . Gifford , 202 5 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ C . Watson , 954 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ W . J . Stanbury , 10 99 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ MajorE . L . Bearne , 1138 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . P . Rogers , 70 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br

„ Ford , 1091 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ W . S . Hearder , 10 5 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . Yeo , 1753 ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ R . Lose , jun ., 184 7 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ T . Kingdom , 421 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst

„ J . Algar , 39 ... ... ... .,. - } „ H . M . Imbert-Terry , 112 ... ... 1 ,. A . P . Reece , 404 ... ... ... | „ n Cl , ,, J . Drennan ; 710 > Prov . G . Stwds . •„ Captain Ivemy , 11 35 ... ... ... | „ W . Adams , 1181 ... ... ... J „ F . Shooter , 112 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . In the evening the brethren dined at the Ilfracombe Hotel , Bro . W . G Rogers , [ D . P . G . M ., presiding .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE .

On the invitation of the W . M . and brethren of the Shakespeare Lodge , No . 426 , the annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire was held at the Masonic Hall , Spilsby , on Thursday , the 31 st ult . The rooms were beautifull y decorated , and it was apparent from the excellent arrangements made that the Spilsby brethren had spared no effort to give the visitors a

suitable reception . The Shakespeare Lodge having been opened by the W . M ., Bro . Colonel Grantham , the officers and brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge entered . There were present—Bros . W . H . Smyth , Prov . G . M . ; James Fowler , acting D . P . G . M . ; and the folloiv'"? Provincial Grand Officers : Bros . C . J . Fox , P . M . 426 , S . G . W . ; H . E . Cousans , J . M . 297 ( Sheriff of Lincoln ) . J . G . W .: C . M . Nesbitt . P . M . 712 . P . G . Treas .: H .

p \ . tson » P . M . 297 , P . G . Reg . ; B . Vickers , P . M . 297 , P . G . Sec ; J . A . Robinson , . f'V !; , > P-S . G . D . ; E . Organer , P . M . 272 , P . J . G . D . ; H . Brady , P . M . 712 , P . G . S . ™ W -j W . H . Roberts , P . M . 792 , P . G . D . C . ; J . H . Carter , P . M . 985 , P . A . G . D . C ; J . Waldrarn , P . M . 792 , P . G . S . B . ; F . J . Green , P . M . 1232 , and R . Wood , P . M . 1482 , '•U Std . BrsCSmithPM 58 SPAGSecWSClitherovvPM 1304 PG .

. ; . , .. , ... ; . . , .. , . f / ret-s C . Reeve , P . M . 12 S 6 , P . A . G . Purst . ; A . Robinson , P . M . 426 : W . H S'foy , P . M . 838 ; W . Goodwin , W . M . 792 ; J . J . Musgrave , W . M . 1304 ; R "annatt , W . M , 1477 ; and George Green , W . M . 1600 , P . G . Stewards ; and W D onner , Tyler 1477 , P . G . Tyler .

There was also a very large attendance of brethren , 234 responding to the roll call of lodges . . The minutes of the last annual Prov . Grand Lodge , held at Lincoln on J Une 2 nd , 188 7 , having been confirmed , the finance statement of the pronce was read by the P . G . TreasurerBroCMNESBIT It was of a

,, , . . . . b ^ , sat'sfactory character , as were also the returns of the lodges presented TV ? ^*^ ' ^ £ - ' ^ ro" ** ' W ATSON . mill f- ^ - Secretary , Bro . VICKERS , next read the reports of the Com-F 11 A 1 . tneProv - Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence , the Oliver Memorial „ una , the Smvth SchoIarshiD Fund , and the Prnv . Granrl T . nrla-P flharitv

it w ^ 1166 ' Generally a prosperous condition of affairs was reported , and HIP 1 seetn lllat thc Charity Committee has been successful in securing e election of its candidates this May . and following were appointed a Committee to draw up suitable rules has u egulalions for the management of the Sutcliffe Memorial Fund , which Bros r } " corn P ' eted this year , the sum of 1000 guineas having been raised : Bellerb " ' Hewson ' Clarke > Mountain , Kirby , Sutcliffe , Clitherow , and th e Ch *^ decid ! d lllat tlie Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution should be Bro j | nt ^ navi ' ng the support of the province during the next year , and Part ' ir , i ...Cousans was appointed Provincial Steward to work that •""iicular Charity .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

Four of the brethren having had conferred upon them P . G . rank , in honour of the Queen ' s Jubilee , namely , Bros . C . M . Nesbit , H . Watson , Col . Grantham / and J . Sutcliffe , they were formally invested by the R . W . PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , who made a few remarks appropriate to the occasion . The P . G . SECRETARY read a communication from the Hon ^ e Secretary in acknowledgment of the address sent from the last Prov . Grand Lodge to her Majesty the Queen on the celebration of the Jubilee of her reign . The following brethren were invested as Prov . Grand Officers for the

ensuing year : Bro . G . H . Porter ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ H . Clark ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . EM . Weighall ... £ Prov . G . Chaps . „ Rev . C . Laing ... ... ... ) * „ C . M . Nesbitt ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . Watson ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ B . Vickers ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

,, Horobin ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Mansell ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Challans ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ W . H . Roberts . ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C .

„ J . C . Basker ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ Padley ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . B . I ! G . Dunkley Z Z I . " ] Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ H . G . Gregory ... ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ Robinson ... ,,, ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ F . J . Green ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Green ... ... ... A . G . Purst . „ F . D . Davy ... ... ..

„ W . N . Mason ... ... ... | ,, Collinson ... ... ,., 1 D 1- c . J „ H . T . Bellerby j-Prov . G . Slwds . „ G . W . . Ham ... ... ... I

„ W . F . Reed ... ... ... „ W . Donner ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . At the close of the lodge , the banquet was held in a marquee , about 170 brethren attending . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly responded to , and a very pleasant afternoon was spent .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire was held on Tuesday , 29 th ult ., in the Borough Hall , Stafford . There was an exceptionally strong muster of brethren from all parts of the province , the brethren from the north attending in large numbers .

I he lodge was opened by Bro . Col . Foster Gough , Past \ J . Std . Br ., D . P . G . M . The minutes of the annual meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge held at Westbromwich , on the 17 th May , 1887 , and of the emergency meeting held at Etruria , on the 30 th August , 1887 , having been read , the roll of private lodges was called , and several letters of apology were read .

The D . P . G . M . then stated that he had received a letter from the P . G . M ., Col . G . S . Tudor , announcing the fact that he had forwarded his resignation as P . G . M . of Staffordshire to the M . W . his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , G . M . of England , who had accepted it . " Col . Tudor , in his letter , said it was with feelings of regret , after a service of twenty years , that he had to inform the brethren , in consequence of his state of health ,

and his inability to reside in the province during the winter months , that he had felt it his duty to request permission to resign his appointment . When he first received the office of P . G . M . the lodges in the province numbered 19 , and now they numbered 29 , and he wished to return his hearty thanks to Bro . Col . Foster Gough , D . P . G . M ., for the valuable assistance he had rendered to him , and he also thanked the brethren for their loyal . support .

The D . P . G . M . said he felt the loss of the P . G . M . most acutely , and he moved the following resolution : "That this meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire receives with profound regret the letter of R . W . Bro . G . S . Tudor intimating his resignation of the office as P . G . M ., and desires to express the sincere and hearty appreciation of his long and valuable services to the Province , and its earnest wishes for his long lite , health , and happiness . " Bro . NEWNHAM seconded this , which was unanimously carried .

A letter was read from Bro . Bodenham , P . G . Treasurer , who was prevedted from attending through a family bereavement , and a resolution was passed expressing the Prov . G . Lodge ' s deep regret at his sad bereavement . The appointment and investiture of P . G . Officers was then proceeded with as follows :

Bro . W . R . Blair , W . M . 54 6 ... ... ,., p . S . G . W . „ J . E . Wood , 436 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, J . Bodenham , 726 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ E . H . Thorne , P . M . 526 and 18 38 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . L . Hamshaw , P . M . 418 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ T . Ryder , P . M . 1792 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ S . Bentley W . M . 98 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ E . V . Greatbach , P . M . 418 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ Stanyer ... ... ... ... prov . G . D . C . „ J . Wooldridge , P . M . 726 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ F . J . Milner , P . M . 9 66 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ E . G . Hildick , P . M . 539 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Er

„ J . B . Ashwell , P . M . 637 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ G . As ' nmall , P . M . 1039 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ J . Bates , P . M . 419 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst „ Rev . H . Abud , 456 ... ... ... Prov-G . Chap . „ W . D . Badkin , W . M . 726 ... ... ") „ E . J . Mousley ... ... ... ... | „ T . Masters ... 1 ... ... ... ' „ „ W . E . Marsh , P . M . 526 ... ... ... f Prov - G > btwds ' „ H . J . Clarson , 696 ... ... ,., I „ J . Woods , P . M . 18 38 ... ... ... J

Subsequently the brethren attended Divine service at St . Mary ' s Church , where a sermon was preached by Rev . F . H . Beaven , Prov . G . Chap ., vicar of St . Paul's , Burton-on / Trent , who chose for his text the words " Charity edifieth . The Organist was Bro . Dr . E . W . Taylor , S . D . and Org . 726 ; Prov . G . Org . A banquet was held subsequentl y in the Shire Hall ,