Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

The PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren . He said he could but recall to his mind the very p leasant reception he received upon his last visit to Maldon . and the kindness and heartiness then extended to him bv the brethren . ( Hear , hear . ) It xvas peculiarly gratifying to him to feel that Freemasonry was in such a prosperous condition in the province . ( Hear , hear . ) During the past year they had had to record the consecration of

txvo new lodges—the Tilbury Lodge and the Brooke Lodge—and he could only account for that progress by the able manner in xvhich the officers and others worked for that desirable result . ( Hear , hear . ) He referred , in terms of thankfulness , to the handsome way in xvhich the brethren supported him in the chair at the Girls' Festival last May , xvhen over / A , ooo xvere subscribed to that Charily . ( Hear , hear . ) In these days of

depression , his lordship remarked , it was very difficult to exercise ones charity ; but he had never found Masons insensible to the calls made upon them . ( Hear , hear . ) In conclusion , his lordship alluded to the death of the Duke of Albany , to the interest xvhich his Royal Highness took in the Craft , and to the manner in xvhich Prince Leopold came forward to install him at Colchester in the office he now held . He thought , hoxvever , that it

xvould be out of place to pass any formal -vote of condolence so long after the sad event , but he suggested , with the concurrence of the brethren , that he should be allowed to send a private letter to her Roynl Highness the Duchess , expressing the sympathy the province felt for her in her sad calamity . ( Hear , hear . ) His lordship then thanked the brethren for their hearty reception , and resumed his seat amidst loud applause .

Rising again , the PROV . GRAND MASTER said that under the nexv Constitutions it was not necessary to appoint a Deputy annually , but he xvas glad to say that Bro . Philbrick had consented to act as his Deputy during the ensuing year . ( Applause . ) He thanked Bro . Philbrick for his kindness , and at the same time took the opportunity to congratulate him upon his appointment as Grand Registrar of England . ( Loud applause . )

Bro . PHILBRICK , who was warmly received , briefly acknoxvledged the compliment , and assured the brethren that he felt that the Prince of Wales in appointing him Grand Registrar had honoured the province as xvell as the individual . ( Applause . ) Bro . ALBERT LUCKING , Prov . G . D . C , proposed there-election of Bro . Andrew Durrant as Prov . Grand Treas ., and the motion having been seconded , Bro . Durrant was unanimously re-elected . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested the folloxving brethren as his officers : —

Bro . Donald S . Baynes , W . M . 2006 ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ J . C . Earle , I . P . M . 214 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ The Rev . W . Morgan Jones , S . D . 697 ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Andrew Durrant , P . M . and Treas . 276 ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Wm . Herbage , W . M . 2005 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thomas J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 51 ... Prov . G . Sec . „ T . 1 . D . Cramphom , I . P . M . 1024 ... ... Prov . G . S . D .

„ J . Gilling , P . M . 1280 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ A . Mead , VV . M . 276 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . Lucking , P . M ., Sec . 1000 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ A . Richardson , W . M . elect 1977 ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ W . V . Willson , I . P . M . 160 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ G . A . Eustace , I . P . M . 697 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br ,

„ John Dean , P . M . 433 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br , „ Geo . F . Smith , 1977 ... Prov . G . Org . „ H . G . Everard , VV . M . 650 ... ... Prov . G . A . Sec . „ D . Bartlett , P . M . 1343 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Charles Floyd , I . P . M . 1817 ... ... Prov . G . A . Purst .

„ R . H . Ives , WM . 51 ... ... ... " ) „ John Huntley , W . M . 1024 ••¦ ' o / - c . J " S . H . Ellis , 1977 r Prov . G . Stwds . „ W . Strutt , 1 977 ... ... ... „ T . S . Sarel , 276 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . ANDREW DURRANT proposed " That , in accordance with Rule 104

of the new Book of Constitutions , fees should be charged for registering new lodges' bye-laws and amendments to bye-laxx * s ; " and the motion , having been seconded , xvas carried . Bro . J AMES GODWIN , W . M . 1343 , proposed "That this Grand Lodge appro \* es of the Calendar compiled by Bros . E . Shedd and H . Dehane , and recommends that the same shall be distributed throughout the province , under the sanction , and by the order , of this Provincial Grand Lodge . "

Bro . the Rev . C . H . ROBERTS , P . P . G . Chap ., seconded the motion , pointing out that the Calendar would be as useful to the province as the " Masons' Handbook " xvas to the Craft in general . A long discussion ensued , and it was eventually agreed that the Calendar should be published under the sanction , but not by the order , of the Provincial Grand Lodge , Bro . Godwin undertaking to bear any loss the publication might incur , or to hand over to the Provincial Grand Lodge any profit which might accrue .

Votes of thanks having been passed to the local lodges for the excellent arrangements made for the comfort and accommodation of the brethren , The PROV . GRAND MASTER announced that the next Provincial Grand Lodge xvould be held at Saffron Walden . Lodge xvas then closed in due form xvith solemn prayer .

In the evening the brethren sat doxvn to a recherche' banquet at the Blue Boar Hotel , under the genial presidency of Lord Brooke , who was supported by a large and distinguished company of officers and brethren . The Puov . GRAND MASTER , in proposing "The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the Grand Officers present and past , " said that xvith regard to the late Duke of Albany , xvhose memory was still green among them . ( Hear , hear ) . His Royal Highness considered that one of

his most pleasant Masonic experiences xvas connected xvith them in the town of Colchester , and his lordship felt sure they xvould always look with interest lo the doings of those xvho xvere dear to him—the Duchess and his children . ( Applause ) . Bro . J OSEPH NUNN , President of the Board of Benevolence , responded , and paid a tribute to the part Bro . Philbrick had taken in the revision of the Book of Constitutions . ( Applause . )

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER said he rose to propose the toast of the evening , "The Health of the Prov . Grand Master , Lord Brooke . " ( Loud and renexved cheers . ) As Essex men , he said they were proud of their Prov . Grand Master—( cheers)—and the Prov . Grand Master had told them , in no unmeasured terms , hoxv proud he felt of the Province xvhen the Secretary of the Girls' School announced that the contributions from Essex exceeded those of any other province in England . ( Cheers . ) Long

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

might Lord Brooke be spared to preside o \* er them ; long might the provinces be prosperous , united , and increasing , and long might Lord Brooke find them in that state to xvhich the province had now attained . ( Cheers . ) The PROV . GRAND MASTER , on rising to respond , xvas received xvith round after round of applause . He thanked the brethren most heartily for their kind

and xvarm reception ; and in paying a tribute lo his predecessor , the late Lord Tenterden , he said he felt he could only in a very distant measure tread in his footsteps ; but if he could not make so deep a mark in the Masonic history of Essex as Lord Tenterden made , he trusted they xx'ould bear xvith him as far as they could , and support him as heartily as they had hitherto done . ( Applause . )

The PROV . GRAND MASTER next submitted "The Provincial Grand Officers , " and in doing so he referred to a discussion xvhich had taken place in lodge as to providing nexv regalia , ice , and stated that Bro . Philbrick had promised to provide a new sword for the Pursuivant ; Bros . Herbage and Clever , of the Brook Lodge , had promised to present txvo banners , and he himself should be happy to give collars and jewels . ( Cheers . )

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , replying , said his lordship had struck the key-note xvhen he said that , glad though they xvere of an accession to their numbers , quality was xvhat they wanted . ( Hear , hear . ) They xvere strong enough and respected enough to say that they could not afford to have a candidate brought forward unless "the tongue of good report" was heard in his favour . ( Applause . ) Bro . R . CLOWES , in a neat speech , proposed "The Visitors . "

Bro . BINCKES , the Secretary of the Boys' School ; Bro . TRACY , the Secretary of the province of Suffolk , who exp ' ressed his earnest xvishes for the prosperity of the province of Essex ; and Bro . THOMPSON responded lo the toast .

'Ihe PROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed "The W . M . ' s of Lodges in the Province , " coupled with the name of Bro . Glass , W . M . of the Chigxvell Lodge , xvho responded . The proceedings , which xvere interspersed with some excellent songs , then terminated .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Somerset.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF SOMERSET .

1 he annual meeting of this chapter xvas held on Tuesday , the 19 th inst ., at Wells , under the banner of the Ascalon Chapter , No . 446 , in the Toxvn Hall , xvhich xvas tastefully decorated for the occasion . The receiving chapter was opened at 1 o ' clock , the three chairs being occupied by M . E . Comps . Perkins , Z . ; Newnham , H . ; and Livett , as J . ; and at 1 . 30 the M . E . Grand Superintendent , Col . A . W . Adair , accompanied by his Provincial Grand Officers , xvere received in due form .

The minutes of the previous meeting xvere read and confirmed , and thc roll of the chapters called . The Treasurer ' s account for the past year xvas received , when a vote of thanks xvas passed to M . E . Comp . Payne for his valuable services as Treasurer , and he was unanimously re-elected to that office . The M . E . Prov . Grand Superintendent then appointed and invested his officers as folloxvs :

Comp . R . C . Else , P . G . Std . Br . ... ... prov . G . H . „ C . L . F . Edxvards ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ Major Long , P . P . G . J , ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ Major Perkins ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . . ,, Wilkinson ... ... ... Prov . G . P . Soj . „ B . Cooke ... ... ... Prov . G . Asst . Soj . „ J . B . Colthurst ... ... ... prov . G . 2 nd Asst . S .

„ E . 1 . Payne , P . G . Std . Br ., P . P . G . T . ... Prov . G . Treas . „ T . C . Manning ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg - . „ Livett ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ F . Hearne ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ Marwood ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ Newnham ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . Comps . Cozens and Salter ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitors .

At the conclusion of the business the alms were collected , amounting to £ 1 15 s . Gd ., and it xvas agreed that this sum should be presented to the Wells Cottage Hospital . The Provincial Grand Chapter was then closed , and thc companions adjourned to the Mitre Hotel , where the banquet took place under the presidency of the M . E . Grand Superintendent , after xvhich the usual Masonic toasts xvere duly proposed and acknoxvledged .

New Grand Lodges.

NEW GRAND LODGES .

Those of us xvho take up the Freemason xveek by xveek must be conscious that there seems to be no little stir and movement going on in our English Masonicxvorld abroad . Everywhere almost we read in our colonies of meetings and deputations , in the formation of Grand Bodies , on various grounds , some reasonable , some fair , some sensible ; but the greater part very silly , xveak , and contemptible , and too often utterly mendacious . The statement , for

instance , frequently made , that the English Grand Lodge obtains any benefit from its colonial lodges , and that therefore it has an interest in retaining them on the register , is so unreal and so ludicrous that in England it simply gives rise to laughter that people can be so very foolish as to say such things . The sum paid by colonial Freemasons for registration , certificate , & c , is so small that it is hardly worth mentioning , and when we remember

that no benevolent quarterages are paid , and yet that all English colonial Freemasons have a claim upon , and claim largely at times , from our Board of Benevolence , one of the alleged great grounds of some recent movements , is entirely cut axvay . In the old controversy xvith Canada it xvas proved by a return that , xvhereas from 1 S 46 to 1 855 the English lodges had sent £ 14 , 602 4 s . i <\ . to benex'olence , all the lodges in Canada had sent £ 2 , 1 ) 3 s . iod . The force ol comparison surely can no further go . But the great difficulty

the English Grand Lodge has xvhen such movements come before it is to decide betxveen xvhat is spontaneous and genuine and xvhat is simply the outcome of personality , the result of a caucus and a cabal . Whenever in any English settlement abroad the English lodges peacefully and laxvtully by a decided majority hax'e expressed a xvish for independence , the English Grand Lodge has always conceded claims which are honest , and yielded to proposals xvhich are constitutional . But the agitators who too often make these mox'ements to serve their own petty personal longings and cravings are