Consecration Of The Armitage Lodge, No. 2261.

been something since ; but that , he hoped , had now happily passed , turnouts neither profited the masters nor the workmen in the long run . The remaining toasts were " The Visitors , " proposed by Bro . D . W ALKER , P . M ., " The Masonic Charities , " proposed by Bro . CROSLAND HIRST , and " The last Masonic toast , " proposed by the J . W . ¦

. Bros . J . R . Mellor , J . A . Stocks , Buckland , Riley , Jenkinson , Rickards and T . D . Ruddock added to the pleasure of a most enjoyable evening by * their songs and duets . The jewels , & c . were manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , Manchester .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

On Tuesday afternoon , the 13 th inst ., the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , Maple-street , Newcastle . The lodge was duly opened by the Prov . G . M . M ., Bro . Canon Tristram , D . D ., who vvas supported by a large number of . officers and brethren from all the lodges in the province . The brethren rose to receive the Prov . Grand Master and Prov . Grand Officers . Among those present were :

Bros . T . Y . Strachan , Deputy Prov . G . M . ; John Wood , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . S . B . Bell , Prov . G . Treas . ; J . Straker Wilson , Prov . G . Sec ; C . B . Ford , Prov . J . G . D ., A . S . Fowler , Prov . G . D . of C ; W . Atkinson , P . P . G . Tyler ; Joshua Curry , Prov . G . Tvler ; R . B . Reed , P . G . Std . Br . England , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . Robertson , P . P . S . G . W . ; K . A . Luck , P . P . G . M . O . ; C . S . Lane , P . G . D . England , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . Armstrong . P . P . J . G . W . ; R . Hudson , P . P . G . M . O . ; Col . Addison Potter , C . B .,

P . G . M . O . England , Prov . S . G . W . ; William Thomas Tate , Prov . J . G . W . ; Michael Corbitt , Prov . S . G . O . ; Thomas Coulson , Prov . J . G . O . ; Rev . Joseph Lawson , acting Prov . Grand Chap . ; John Skynner Bailey Bell , Prov . Grand Treas . ; John Stonehouse , Prov . G . R . of M . ; J . C . Moor , W . M . 124 ; and others . The minutes of the last meeting , at Darlington , were read and

confirmed , and the roll of P . G . Officers vvas called . Bro . J . STRAKER WILSON , P . G . Sec , read the Report of the General Purposes Committee , which showed that the lodges in the province were in a very satisfactory state . It was recommended that the sum of 15 guineas be passed to the Mark Benevolent Fund and the Royal Masonic Institution for Aged Freemasons .

The Report was unanimously adopted on the motion of Bro . T . Y . STRACHAN , D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . Col . ADDISON POTTER , C . B ., P . G . M . O . England .

Bro . J STRACHAN , P . G . D . Eng ., thanked the lodge for the vote . The roll of lodges was then called and responded to in each case . Bro . T . Y . STRACHAN , D . P . G . M ., proposed the re-nomination of Bro . Canon Tristram as Provincial Grand Master for the ensuing three years . The Provincial Grand Lodge had an opportunity every three years of expressing its desire , and , in re-nominating their highly esteemed Provincial

Grand Master , he could not feel it necessary to adduce any arguments or reasons ; they had the same respect and love for him that they had shown during the 15 years that he had presided over them . Bro . R . B . REED , P . P . S . G . W ., seconded the resolution . The nomination was unanimously passed by the Prov . G . Lodge . The Prov . G . M . M . ( Canon TRISTRAM ) was greeted with loud applause

on rising to address the Provincial Grand Lodge . He need not say with what pleasure and gratification he received this repeated testimony of their kindly confidence in his humble endeavours . He need not tell them how highly he esteemed this honour , and how proud he was of the chair which , by their suffrages , he had filled for so many years . Referring to the reports from the various lodges , he was sure that they would all see the progress of

Mark Masonry in their province vvas not spasmodic . They had gone on gradually , steadily , and effectually , and Mark Masonry had planted itself in every centre of these two counties , their numbers and financial position were very satisfactory , and the support they were able to give their Mark Masonic Charities was such that they had no need to be ashamed of it . He then acknowledged the able services for some years of Bro . T . Y . Strachan ,

their able Deputy , who had removed from their midst ; and , on looking round , he found there was no one so fully suited in every way to fulfil the duties of the office as Bro . R . B . Reed , P . P . S . G . W ., whose assistance would be most valuable in the interests of Mark Masonry in the province . He felt that in Bro . Reed he had everything that he could wish and that could be desired to make him a worthy successor to Bro . Strachan , a firstrate Deputy Prov . Grand Mark Master .

In appointing and investing his officers , the P . G . M . M . invested Bro . R . B . Reed his Deputy , amid loud applause . The other officers were invested as follows :

Bro . Jno . Strachan ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ A . S . Fowler ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ J . C . Moor ... ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ W . F . Carmon ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ J . F . Wilson ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . Jos . Reynolds ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ J- S . B . Bell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Davidson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ J . Straker Wilson ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . ,, J . G . Riddle ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Gi Anderson ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . Ferguson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ T . Bell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ J . E . Bell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . Brown ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . ,, Pilling ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ R . Luck ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . -1 J . Curry ... ... ... ... Prov . G . T yler .

The following brethren were elected on the Committee of General Purposes for the ensuing year : Bros . Jno . Wood , No . 293 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Col . Addison Potter , C . B ., P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Logan , No . 356 , P . P . S . G . O . ; and Thos . Coulson , No . 3 62 , P . P . J . G . O .

The P . G . M . M . announced that the next annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge would be held under the banner of the St . Cuthbert ' s Lodge , Berwick-on -Tweed .

The lodge was afterwards closed . In the evening the annual festival of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Central Station Hotel , at which Bro . Canon Tristram , P . G . M . M ., Presided , and Bro . John Strachan , P . S . G . W ., occupied the vice-chair . The P . G . M . M . was supported by Bros . R . B . Reed , D . P . G . M . ; T . Y . Jtrachan , P . D . P . G . M . ; Col . Addison Potter , C . B ., P . P . S . G . W- ; Robt . Hudson , P . P . G . M . O . j and others .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Devon.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DEVON .

The annual Provincial Grand Chapter of the above province was held on Monday , the 5 th inst ., at Torquay . The first business was a meeting at the Queen ' s Hotel , of the Educational and General Purposes and Financial Committees of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund . Among the members present were Comps . F . B . Westlake , P . P . S . G . D ., who presided ;

J . Stocker , P . P . G . T . ; J . R . Lord , P . P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; J . B . Gover , P . P . G . Sec ; Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., Prov . J . G . W . ; H . Stocker , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . W . Cornish , P . P . G . T . ; D . Cross , P . P . G . T . ; R . Cawsey , P . P . G . D . ; E . Aitken-Davies , P . P . G . S . of VV . ; R . Hambly , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . Jerman , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . A . Gregory , P . P . G . D . C ; W . E . Warren , P . P . G . O . ; W . Taylor , P . M . 328 ; and J . Gidley , P . M . 2025 .

The question was raised whether a b y-election from among the candidates for the fund should be held or the election be postponed to the annual meeting in April . The SECRETARY advised the adjournment . It was pointed out that all the votes derived from the subscriptions for the year from April ist , 1888 , would be available on April ist , 1889 ; that there would at the latter date be vacancies for at least two and , possibly , three candidates , and that only one cost to the fund would then be incurred .

On the proposition of Comp . H . STOCKER , seconded by Comp . J . W . CORNISH , it was resolved to postpone the next election to April next . Comp . CROSS asked to have s guineas voted towards the advancement in life of one of the boys , an annuitant on the fund who had become ineligible for the continuance of the usual grant on account of age .

The case was unanimously approved of , but it was pointed out that the Committee could only recommend the grant to the general meeting ; they could not vote it . •In the meantime it would be perfectly safe for a brother in lodge to advance the money . The Provincial Grand Chapter subsequently met at the Masonic Hall . The M . E . Comp . Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., presided , supported by the following officers of the vear :

Comps . VV . G . Rogers , P . G . H . ; Rev . T . W . Lemon , P . P . G . J ., P . G . J , ( pro tem ) : Major G . C . Davie , P . G . S . E . ; W . Densham , P . G . T . ; R . Hambly , P . G . Reg . ' J . Jerman , P . G ., ist Asst . Soj . ; J . T . Browning , P . G . S . B . ; J . Dodge , P . G . D . C . R . Cawsey , P . A . G . D . C . ; T . Brooks , P . G . O . ; H . Shuter , 112 , P . G . Janitor ; | . R ! Lord , P . P . G . T . ; G . C . Searle , P . P . G . P . Soj . ; J . R . Gover , P . P . G . P . Soi . ; E . Aitken-Davies , P . P . G . Reg . ; W . E . Warren , P . P . G . P . Soj . ; J . Stocker , P . P . G . P Harris

ao * . ; W . , P . P . A . U . boj . ; J . b . Kersteman , P . P . G . 2 nd Asst . Soi . ; ] . Chapman , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; F . C . Hallett , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; B . Knight , Z . 3 - * S ; Rev . G . Townsend Warner , H . 1138 ; H . L . Friend , P . P . G . O . ; L . E . Bearne , P . Z . 1138 ; J . Olver , P . Z . 113 S ; J . Lane , H . 329 ; J . Palmer , H . 106 ; R . F . Kingdom , P . Z . 105 ; H . Stocker , P . Z . 112 ; W . A . Gregory , P . Z . 12 S 4 ; A . T . Blarney P Z . 32 S ; J . W . Cornish , P . Z . 223 ; W . Taylor , P . Z . 32 S ; D . Cross , P . Z . and T . 1205 ;

K . j . Fisher , Z . 444 ; T . Mitchelmore , I . P . Z . 710 ; F . C . Frost , H . 303 ; J . J . O . Evans , P . Z . 303 ; E . H . Littleton , Z . 230 ; C . Pope , P . Z . 113 S ; J . Gidley , P . Z . 1205 ; R . P . Morrison , P . Z . 251 ; J . Algar , Z . 112 ; J . Bradford , P . Z . 1358 ; R . Light , 1358 ; W . S . Gervis , S . N . 1138 ; G . Burt , T . Prust , P . Soj . ; T . J . Grossman , S . E . ; T . W . Morgan , Treas . ; J . Taylor , ist Asst . Soj . ; J . Salter , S . N . ; T . Beckett , R . L . Mugtord , and VV . Hill , 32 S .

the P . G . S . E . reported that the dues had been received from all the chapters with the exception of Fidelity , held at Brixham , which had not made any returns for two years . The TREASURER reported receipts for the year , £ 76 ; expenditure , •£ 33 8 s . ; balance in hand , £± 2 12 s .

Comps . W . ROGERS and J . W . CORNISH proposed that ten guineas should be voted tothe Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , to be placed on the Steward ' s list of Comp . the Rev . T . W . Lemon . Comps . J . STOCKER and J . R . LORD proposed that thirty guineas

should be voted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and Freemasons' Widows . This , they said , would be very appropriate , as , at the next Election , the province would do its best to elect on that Institution the widow of a very deserving brother who had worked hard for the province in connection with those Institutions as the London

representative . Comp . GOVER objected to both propositions , and proposed that twenty guineas should be given to the Devon Educational Fund and twenty guineas to the aged Masons . He afterwards modified that proposition , and proposed that the Fortescue Fund should also be remembered .

Comp . AITKEN-DAVIES said it was to be regretted that companions should propose to vote such comparativel y large sums for their especial Charities . It would be far better to endeavour to fairly divide the money . The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT said at a Past Grand Chapter there was not so much money to be divided as at a Prov . Grand Lod ge meeting .

The Boys School was certainly just now more in want of money than it was likely to be one or two years hence . He proposed that ten guineas be given to the Boys' School as proposed , £ 7 10 s . to the Devon Educational Fund , fifteen guineas to the Aged and Widows' Fund , and five guineas to the Fortescue Fund .

The proposition was seconded by Comp . W . D . ROGERS , and unanimously adopted . Comp . ROGERS reported for the by-laws Revision Committee that the by-laws had been considered and drafted by the Committee . He proposed that those laws should be printed , submitted to the lodges , and that any amendments suggested should be forwarded to the P . G . S . E ., before March 25 th , preparatory to a special Grand Chapter being held next summer to consider the adoption of those laws . This proposition was adopted .

On the motion of Comps . J . STOCKER and J . R . LORD , Comp . W . Taylor ( 328 ) , was elected the Treasurer , and Comps . J . Lane and J . Dodge ( 328 ) , were elected Auditors . The Grand Superintendent invested the following officers for tha ensuing year :

Comp . W . G . Rogers , 112 ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ J . S . Kersteman , 303 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ Major G . C . Davie , 251 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ S . Harding , 444 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ W . Taylor , 328 ... ... ... p v . G . Treas . „ Lieut . E . Wilson , 944 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ R . Morrison , 251 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ A . T . Blarney , 328 ... ... ... Prov . G . 1 st A . S . „ J . J . O . Evans , 303 ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A ; S . „ L . E . Bearne , 11 38 ... ... ...Prov . G . S . B . „ R . F . Kingdon , 106 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br , „ W . A . Gregory , 1254 ... ... .... Prov . G . D . C . „ T . Mitchelmore , 710 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . Morgan , 323 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ H . Shooter , 112 . „ „ . . „ Prov . G . Janitor ,