Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held aL Colchester on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., and passed off most successfully . The arrangements were in the charge of a Committee of the two lodges at Colchester , those for the Angel Lodge , No . 51 , being Bros . C . E .

Egerton-Green , W . M , ( Chairman ) ; Past Masters-Chas . Cobb , T . J . Railing , E Hennemeyer , J . J . C . Turner , C . Osmond , R . Haward Ives , J . Grimes , A , S . B . Sparling , S . D . C . Ablitt , Harold Francis , G . F . Wright , and Harry Becker ; H . H . G . Elliott , Alfred Hartley , Willoughby J . Bean , and J . E . Cheese .

The representatives of the United Lodge , No . 6 97 , were Bros . Harry E . Baker , W . M . ; Past Masters—A . Gosling , G . A . Eustace , J . T . Bailey , H , J . Skingley , J . G . Renshaw , John Howe , G . J . Booth , and F . J . Motum ; Robert Emson , R . A . Mann , J . P . Smith , and F . R . Bean .

This Committee were fortunate in obtaining permission from Bro . Claude Egerton-Green for the entire use of the charming grounds of East Hill House , and the weather being fine , the attendance was unusually large , and both before and after the business meeting ' thc brethren wandered amongst the shady walks or reclined under the trees .

The Prov . Grand Master , the Right Hon . the F . arl of Warwick , accompanied by Bro . Robert Woodhouse , travelled by rail from London to Colchester , and drove direct to East Hill House , where his lordship was received by Bros . Egerton-Green , W . M . 51 ; H . E . Baker , W . M . 607 ; T . J . Railing , Prov . G . Sec . ; A . Lucking , Prov . G . D . C . ; Richard Clowes , P . G . D . C ; and J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B .

The party having been entertained ; to luncheon by Bro . and Mrs . Egerton-Green , an adjournment was made to the grounds . The Masonic proceedings took place in a large marquee erected in the paddock , some 250 brethren being present , and when the Earl of Warwick entered , accompanied by his officers , he received quite an ovation . The Provincial Grand Officers present were :

Bros . F . H . Bright , P . M . 1024 , S . G . W . ; Arthur R . Meggy , P . M . 214 , J . G . W . ; Edmund Gowers , G . Treas . ; Charles E . Garrard , G . Reg . ; Thomas J . Railing ; , P . A . G . D . C , G . Sec . ; Robert Cook , P . M . 276 , S . G . D . ; Edward Hobbs , P . M . 453 , and Charles Lewis , P . M . 2508 . J . G . Ds . ; F . J . Eedle , G . Supt . of Works ; A . Lucking , P . G . P ., G . D . C . ; A . G . Shenstone , P . M . 2077 , D . G . D . C . ; C . Westwood , P . M . 1343 , A . G . D . C . ; C . W . Barnard , P . M . 1000 , G . S . B . ; W . D . Child ,

P . M . 1437 , and Turner B . Ennew , P . M . 2477 , G . Std . Brs . ; Val . Mason , G . Org . ; G . J . Booth , P . M . 6 97 , G . P . ; F . Gooderham , P . M . 1817 , A . G . P . ; A . W . Martin , G . Tyler ; I . G . Bryan , P . M . 697 ; W . Howard-Flanders , VV . M . 1024 , and T . J . Grant , W . M . 1977 , Stwds . In the absence of Bro . His Honour Judge Philbrick , the chair of Dep . Provincial Grand Master was occupied by Bro . Richard Clowes , P . G . Std . Br .

The minutes of the last annual Prov . Grand Lodge ( at Maldon ) having been read and confirmed , The PROV . G . SEC said that letters expressing regret at their inability to attend had been received from Bros . Earl Amherst , Dep . G . M . ; Lord Henniker , P . G . M . Suffolk ; Lord George Hamilton , P . G . M . Middlesex ; Rev . Charles'John Martyn , D . P . G . M . Suffolk ; Matthew Clark , Essex ;

Hamon Le Strange , D . P . G . M . Norfolk ; James Eastes , D . P . G . M . Kent ; Raymond R . Thrupp , D . P . G . M . Middlesex ; Major Le Feuvre , D . P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; Ven . Archdeacon Stevens , P . G . Chap . ; Colonel Lockwood , M . P ., P . G . D . ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; N . Tracy , Prov . G . Sec . Suffolk ; G . W . G . Barnard , Prov . G . Sec . Norfolk ; Howard H .

Room , Prov . G . Sec . Middlesex ; Alfred Spencer , Prov . G . Sec . Kent ; Col . Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; Sir Francis Boileau , Bart ., Sir Weetman Pearson , Bart ., M . P . for Colchester , Rev . D . Gotto , Prov . G . Chap . ; R . Loveland Loveland , Pres . Board of Gen . Pur . ; James Terry , Sec . R . M . B . I . ; and F . R . Hedges , Sec . R . M . I . G .

Ihe roll of lodges was then called over and all were found to be repre sented .

The Earl of WARWICK said before the recommendations of the Board of General Purposes for certain grants were put he had a suggestion to make . They were all aware that a fund was being raised in the county and by the Lord Mayor with a view to assist the sufferers by the dreadful hailstorm that visited that county a week or two ago . That was a matter that he thought would appeal to them as Essex men , but particularly as Essex

Masons . Whilst liberally supporting the Charities of their Order , his experience of Masons was that they were as ready to open their hearts to a cry of distress outside the Craft . Coming down in the train Bro . Woodhouse had kindly volunteered to give £ 26 5 s . —( applause)—he himself would give . £ 3 1 ios . —( renewed applause)—and he should like to propose that they vote the sum of £ 21 from the Prov . G . Lodge funds , and take a voluntary collection in the room .

Bro . GEORGE CORHI . E , P . M . 4 . 53 . P . P . J . G . W ., said he had been looking at the balance-sheet , and he really thought for such an exceptional occasion as that they might afford 50 guineas . ( Applause . ) He would venture to suggest that if his lordship would amend his motion to that amount it would be heartily endorsed by the Prov . Grand Lodge . ( Hear , hear . )

The Earl of WARWICK said he should be delighted to fall in with Bro . Corbie's suggestion if the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge would allow , ( Applause . ) His lordship then put the amended proposition , and it was carried amidst great applause . A collection was then taken in the Provincial Grand Lodge , and when counted up was found to amount to ^ 33 8 s . This was afterwards supplemented by the following donations : Bros . Claude E . Egerton-Green , £ 20 ;

Matthew Clark , £ 5 5 s . ; C . J . Smith , £ 5 5 s . ; John Ramsey , £ 3 3 s . ; J , Boulton , £ 2 2 s . ; Angel Lodge , No . 51 , £ 5 5 s . ; Lodge cf Good Fellowship , No . 27 6 , £ 2 2 S . ; Chigwell Lodge , No . 453 , . £ 5 5 s . ; United Lodge , No . 697 , £ 5 3 s . ; Liberty of Havering Lodge , No . 1437 , £ 5 5 s . ; Brooke Lodge , No . 2005 , £ 5 55 . ; Tilbury Lodge , No . 2006 , £ * , 5 s . ; Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 , £ ' 10 ios . ; Colne Lodge , No . 2447 , £ 3 3 s . ; and Ixion Lodge , No . 2501 , £ 5 5 s . ; making a grand total of / 230 1 ) 1 .

The next business on the agenda was the Board of Gt-neral Purposes report , a copy of which having been sent to each membsr of Provincial Grand Lodge , was taken as read . The report stated that the accounts for the year had been audited , and that after payment of all ixpenses there was a balance in hand on the general account of , £ 160 123 . jd ., and on

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

the Charity account of £ 1 . 2 us . 3 d . The returns from the lodges showed the strength of the province to be 2001 against 1939 last year . The Board recommended the payment of the following grants : From the General Fund—A donation of 100 guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; £ 10 ios . to the Essex and Colchester Hospital ; and ^ 10 10 s . to the Eastern Counties Asylum for Idiots ; and from the Charity Fund £ \ o ios .

to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and a like sum to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The Board recommended that thq portrait in next year ' s calendar be that of Bro . Andrew Durrant , P . M . 276 , P . P . S . G . W ., P . P . G . Treas ., one of the oldest Masons in the province . One paragraph of the report will be specially interesting to Colchester people . It was as follows : " The Board learn with satisfaction , which they are sure

will be shared by the whole province , that the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys have resolved to retain for the purposes of Higher Education , William Barron George Brightwell ( a Colchester boy ) , elected to the School in 1891 , and whose ordinary term would expire at the end of the present month . The Secretary of the School , in his official intimation , writes : ' He has shown such ability and good conduct as to entitle him to this special mark of favour at the hands of my Board . ' "

The report was adopted , as was also that of the Charity Committee , which stated that at the Girls' election the Committee received S 36 votes , exchanging 319 for 79 boys , and lent 519 . The election was very flat , and there was no demand for votes at all . At the Boys' election they received

7 SS votes from the province , and 79 in exchange for girls' votes , enabling them to poll 277 for Oldham , raising his number of votes to 1217 . This election was a very exciting one , and the demand for votes was almost without precedent . A division of votes acted disastrously , neither of the candidates being successful .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , on rising to address the brethren , was heartily received . He said it was a great gratification to him to find himself once more in the good old town of Colchester , with which he had so many pleasant memories . It was in Colchester that he was first installed as Provincial Grand Master , and for some years he had the pleasure to be connected with the town as its member —( hear , hear)—during which time he

made many and , he trusted they would be lasting , friendships . As to their meeting that day , he felt they might congratulate themselves on their charming surroundings , and they were much indebted to Bro . Claude Egerton-Green , for placing his beautiful grounds at the disposal of the brethren . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) Referring to the recent national celebration of the 60 th anniversary of the reign of their Gracious Oueen , his lordship said

they , as Freemasons , might well ba proud of the part they had taken in the celebration . All those who were present at that wonderful meeting at the Albert Hall must have been greatly impressed with it , whilst it must be a satisfaction to every brother that as a result of that meeting more than £ 7000 had been distributed in Charity . This had been supplemented by a grant of £ 8000 from the funds of Grand Lodge , so that the total sum

presented by the Freemasons of England in commemoration of the Queen ' s Jubilee amounted to a little over £ 15 ooo . ( Hear , hear . ) His lordship congratulated Bros . William Shurmur and W . J . Crump on the honour conferred upon them by his Royal Highness the Grand Master at the Albert Hall , and , although these two brethren appeared to have been grouped with London brethren , the work they had done in Essex entitled them to the congratulations of the province . ( Hear , hear . ) Masonry continued to

prosper in a wonderful way in Essex . When he commenced his career as Provincial Grand Master their membership was goo , r . ow they would see by the report of their Board of General Purposes it had reached 2003—( applause)—whilst , as regards Charity , the brethren were always most liberal , and what had been done that afternoon for the hailstorm fund would be a proof to outsiders , as he had already said , that they were equally openhanded in relieving distress outside their ranks . ( Hear , hear , and applause . )

For the election of the Board of General Purposes there were only the requisite number nominated , and his lordship declared them duly elected as follows : Bros . F . H . Bright , P . M . 1024 , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . D . Merritt , P . M . 1000 , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Salter , P . M . 2342 , P . P . J . G . W . ; and | . J . C . Turner , P . M . 51 , P . P . S . G . W . On the motion of Bro . WILLIAM SHCRMUR , P . G . Std . Br ., Bro . Wm . Gower , W . M . 2501 , was unanimously elected Prov . G . Treasurer for the

ensuing year . Bro . the Earl of WARWICK said he had an announcement to make which he was sure would be received with great regret . He had received within the last few hours a letter from his excellent Deputy , Bro . Philbrick , regretting that his judicial duties prevented his coming amongst them that day , and adding his feeling that this only too clearly showed that as he was always liable to these mischances , he ought no longer to hold the office of

Deputy . His interest was as fully as ever with Freemasonry in the province , but he felt that they were entitled to more than that , viz-, his bodily presence . This letter Lord Warwick continued , had come to him , as to all of them , as a great surprise , and he had therefore not had time to consider what was best to be done . He should write to Bro . Philbrick , and if he decided to res i gn , he ( Lord Warwick ) thought he should be able to nominate a brother for the post who would be acceptable to the whole province . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as under :

Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green , W . M . 51 ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Alfred Wallis , P . M . 2005 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . Henry L . Norden , W . M . ( 1 ^ 0 „ , ) n „ „ , „ Rev . C . Cuthbert Naters , Chap . 51 ... j PfOV ' G' Cha P ' „ Jas . G . Bryan , I . P . M . 6 97 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Thos . J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 51 ( 21 st year ) , ) ^ c P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ... ... ^ ' j Prov . G . Sec . ,, Francis H . Crittall , W . M . 1312 ... ¦••? D C r- i- » „ Richard Galpin , W . M . 2342 ... J Prov . 0 . U . U 5 . „ J . M . Knight , I . P . M . 2134 ... ... \ Pmv , n = „ William White , W . M . 1457 ... j Prov . J . G . Ds , „ J . S . Hammond , W . M . 1437 ... ... Prov . S . G . of W . „ A . Lucking , P . M . 1000 ( 241 ^ year ) , P . G . P . Eng . Prov . G . D . of C . ,, Frederick Clark , I . P . M . 2 . 106 ... ... Prov . D . G . D . of C . „ R . J . Stebbings , W . M . 206 3 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . ,, William Chapman , I . P . M . 1543 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . H . Ham , W . M . 2477 ' ... ,.. \ u _ c . _ I ! Wm . Rudrum , P . M . , 977 j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ F . J . Motum , P . M 697 ... ... ... Prov . G Or ^ . „ H . J . Drane , I . P . M . 2318 ... ... Prov . A . G . S ^ c . ,, C . H . Bestow , W . M . 2374 ,.. ... Prov . G . Purst .