Red Cross Of Constantine.

by the Hig h Prelate . The election of officers Ior thc ensuing -. car was next in order , when Em . Sir Knight T . Mandle , V . F ., was unanimously elected M . P . S ., whilst Sir Knight H . Bai ' ey was as unanimously voted to the Viceroy's chair . Sir Knight VV . H . Lcuthwaite was re-elcctetl

Treasurer , and a committee e . f four Sir Knights from the permanent council having been appointed to audit the accounts , the conclave was closed . Tne annuil assembly for thc enthronement of S ovcrcign and consecration of Viceroy , will be held in July .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

Thc annual meeting ti this Provineial Grantl Lodge was held at the Shire Hall , Stafford , on Friday , thc 17 th inst . The Staffordshire Knot Lodge , 726 , was opened in due form by Bro . T . Chalmers , the W . M . Tlie W . D . P . G . M ., Bro . F . lames , and the other Provincial Grantl Officers

Past and Present , were then admitted , antl the D . P . G . M . having taken the chair , was fraternally greetetl . The following brethren signed thc Tylet ' s book : — G . S . Tudor , P . D . P . G . M . ; S . J . Walker , P . G . S . W . ; Chas . Hickson , 4 60 , P . G . J . W . ; Chas . Lee , 526 , P . G . Chaplain John Steen , 526 , P . G . Registrar ; J . Bodenham , 726 , P . G . Treasurer ; T . Cooke , jun ., 1060 , P . G S . D . ; T . Betlsmorc ,

1039 , P . G . O . ; I . M . Humphries , *; ( 9 , P . G . Supt . nf ' Wotks ; Jos . Rowlands , 482 , P . G . P . ; T . E . Fowke , T . H . ' Grylls , J Mottram , S . Scott , antl H . B . Livingston , 726 , P . G . Stewards ; VV . H . I hates , 418 , P . P . G . S . W . ; A . G . Prince , 54 6 , P . l ' . G . | . D . ; J . Webbcrlcy , 54 6 , P . P . G . P . ; T . Hall , 2 i ** j , P . G . | . W . ( Derbyshire ); G . Spilsbury , 726 , P . P . G . S . W . ; C .

Ncwnham , 419 , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . Taylor , 418 , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Jacob s , 482 , p . p . G . Reg . ; J . Watkin , 419 , P . P . G . D . ; W . J . Whittaker , 4 82 , P . P . G . R . ; F . Derry , 4 S 2 , P . P . G . W . ; S , T . Tozer , 347 , P . P . G . C ; C . Matthews , 526 , P . P . G . I . W .: J . Swinford , 503 , P . P . G . J . D . ; G . Higham , 526 , P . P . G , Supt . Works jV . N . Seytle * , 419 , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; ' j . Rodger- * , 418 , P . P . G . j . D . ; W . Randall , 482 , P . P . G . C . ; ) . Newman ,

H-J 9 , P . P . G . J . W . ; VV . | . Gtthar . l , 624 , P . P . G . S . W . ; ) . P . Hall , 546 , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; B . Lowe , 5- ( 9 , P . » . A . D . C ; A . Caddick , 662 , P . P . G . Supt . Works ; j . ' L . Gibbons , P . P . G . Supt . Works ; antl a large number of W . M . 's , P . M . ' s , and officers of the lodges in the province . The Provincial Grantl Lotlge having been opened shortly before erne o ' clock , Bro . Cartwright , P . G . S ., reatl

the minutes of the last annual meeting held at Stafford in October , 18 7 6 , 3111 ! of thc Lotlge of Emergency licit ! at Newcastle in Jantia * y , 1 S 77 , which were confirmed . The W . D . P . G . M . observed that about twelve months ago , ns they were aware , a quarterly meeting of the P . G . Lotlge was to have been held at Burlein-011-Trent , but the unfortunate death of ihe R . A ' . P . G . M . a feev days before

necessitated thc abandonment of that meeting , the P . G . Lotlge , in point of fact , ceasing ti exist when their lam iitcd P . G . M . died . It would be remembered that in the end of ihe month of May a meeting of the brethien if the province was held at Stafford , antl a resolution was passetl that ; i letter shoultl be addressed to the Countess of Shrews nuy expressing their condolence with her ladyship on her sail

bereavement . I hat not having been a meeting as a Provincial Grant ! Lodge , no entry hat ! been made ou the minutes ; but he thought some recortl should he made of their expression of f cling tin the subj ct , antl he therefore proposed that the letter forwarded las ' . May to tlie Countess and the reply thereto be entered on the urinous of the present proceedings . Freemasonry in Staffordshire had btfore

now passetl under clouds which had been d-ssipalcd , but as time passed on thc cloud in this in-tanec seemed to get elarkcr . Thc memory of their late P . G . M . woultl lor a long time be vividly before them , antl they woultl long feel thc siM'tic loss which they hatl sustained . Bro . Tudor seconded the resolution , which was pas cl unanimously . Bro . Bodenham read thc Auditor ' s report and the

Treasurer ' s statement of accounts , showing that at the en I of 1877 the available funds amounted to £ 129 lis . 8 d . The subject of the purchase of the right to send a scholar to the Masonic School for Boys w ; is introduced . It was stated that the sum required ( £ 525 ) hatl been raisetl within a few pounds , antl the life ol the Duke of Connaught hatl been insured as a means of rendering the right

permanent . It was proposed by the W . D . P . G . M . that the Shrewsbury fund shoultl be closetl , and the balance ( £ 31 3 s . 91 I . ) handed over to thc general fund of thc P . G . Lodge , and this was seconded by liro . Bodenham . Bro . Jacobs suggested that it shoultl he allow , tl to remain as the nucleus of a funtl which woultl prob . bly be raisetl for providing some permanent lire : *; tui .-tl of the l-.-te Earl of

Shrewsbury . After a short ctmicrsaitt 11 , the further 1011-sidcration of the subject was deferred . Thc D . P . G . M . rose antl cxpres ;; 1 ! a hope that the motion hc was about to make would meet with the ui . animeius consent of P . G . Lodge , inasmuch as lite np' -oiiitii . ci . t was one which rested entirely with the brethren . He hoped that not only woultl it be accepted unanimously , but that it

might take the form of a vote of thanks to their esteemed P . G . Treasurer , Bro . Bodenham . This was secontled by Bro . Tudor , P . P . D . G . M ., and carried with applause . Bro . Borienh . im briefly expressed his thanks , afier which the P . G . Sec . was called upon to read the warrant fio . u the acting P . G . M ., Bro . M'Intyre ( Grand Registrar of

England ) , appointing W . Bro . G . Singleton Tudor , D . P . G . M . for the province . The seat of Ihe D . P . G . M . was then occupied hy Bro . Tudor , who expressed the hope that he might meet with the hi arty support arcordetl to him when he was first appointed ten years age > . The following appointments were then made : — C . Graham Prov . S . G . W . George II . Hawley , 546 Prov . I . G . VV ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

Revs . W . Randall and H . Von Straubenzec , 526 Prov . G . Chaplains G . S . Guy , 6 9 6 Prov . G . Registrar J . Bodenham , 726 Prov . G . Treasurer W . Cartwright , 460 Prov . G . Secretary T . Standford , 347 Prov . G .-UX J . Ingamclls , 4 60 Prov . G . J . D . W . Needham , 966 Prov . G . S . of W .

A . Ellis , 451 Prov . G . D . C . I . Smith Prov . G . A . D . C . W . Vernon , 1587 Prov . G . S . B . Bedsmore , 1039 Prov . G . Organist F . Huet , 41 S ' . Prov . G . P . J . L . Gibbons , 1520 .... Prov . G . Std . B . Fowke , Wood , Scott , Livingstone , Mottram , ant ! Grylls , all of 726 ... Prov . G . Stewards

1 he brethren adjourned from Grantl Lotlge to attend Divine service at St . Mary's Church , walking in procession and wearing the Craft clothing antl thc insignia of the respective offices hclel by the members . Thc sermon was full choral , the Rector intoning the prayers , antl the Rev . C . Lee , P . P . G . CliF . plain , the Rev . A . J . V Slr . iubcnzce antl the Rev . VV . Randall , P . G . Chaplains , taking part . Bro .

the Rev . C . Lee , vicar of St . Leonard ' s , Bilston , preached a most able , learned , antl eloquent sermon fiom Matthew xxiii . 8 : " For one is your Master , even Christ , antl all yc arc brethren . " Thc preacher skc chetl in a masterly manner the early history of Free : ; asonry , and showed strong reasons for believing that its princip les were derived from Egypt by Pythagoras , and by him introduced into

Italy when hc retired to Crclon . i , and thence was conveyed by the Romans to this coutitiy . He clot | uently recalled its leading principles , and enforced on the brethren the duties which those principles involve , strengthening the appeal by a touching reference to the late Provincial Grantl Master the Earl of Shrewsbury , whose devotion to Masonry , ant ! especially to its charitable institutions , he invited all thc

brethren to emulate . Atthe c ' ose of the sermon £ \ d 2 s . 8 d . was collected . When business was resumetl in thc P . G . Lotlge , Bro , James proposetl a vote of thanks to the P . G . Chaplain ( Bro . I . ee ) for his eloquent , historical , ami Masonic sermon . This was seconded by Bro . Rowlands , who added to the resolution that ihe sermon be printed ; antl a suggestion

was made by one of the brethren that the seimon should be published by subscription , sold at a reasonable price , ant ! Ihe profits devoted to the funds of one of the Masonic charities . The proposition of Bro . James was carried unanimously ; and Bro . Lee , in acknowledging the compliment , intimated lhat he should be g lad to add , in the fotm of notes , facts which woultl be instructive and might

be interesting lo many of the brethren . Of thc amount which had been collected at the church , £ 3 3 s . was vot'tl to U ' e rector of St . Mary ' s towards tlie funds of his schools , £ 3 5 s . to the Chaplain for his schools at Bilston , and the remainder to the sum required for making up the £ 525 for the purchase of the right to send a hoy to the Masonic School for Boys . The discussion on the subject

of Die disposal of the balance 111 hand on account of tne Shrewsbury fund was resumetl , anil eventually il was decided to add it to the Benevolent Fund of the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Institution . A committee was appointed to consider and report as to the best means of providing a memorial of the late Earl of Shrewsbury . Lotlge having been closetl , the brethren adjourned to thc

Assembly-room , where a sumptuous banquet was provided by the Misses Poiitin , of the Vine Hotel . The gallery at either end of thc room was occupied by ladies . During and after dinner the bant ! of the 2 nd Regiment of Staffordshire Militia playetl merrily . At the conclusion of the repast the W . D . P . G . M . ( Bro . Tudor ) gave thc toasts of " The Queen , " "The M . W ., H . R . H . Ihe Prince of Wales , Gram ! Master

of England , thc Princess of Walts , anil the rest of the Royal Family , " and "The M . W . thc Pro . Grantl Master the Eail of Carnal von , the V . W ., the D . G . M ., the Earl of Skelmersdale , anel the Officers of Grain ! Lodge Present antl Past . " Bro . Lee , in an eloquent speech , which vvas heartily applauded , proposetl "The Health of the R . W . Bro . yKnc . isJ Mclntyrc , Grand Registrar , P . G . M , Staffordshire , and

the W . D . P . G . M ., Bro . Tudor . " The W . D . P . G . M . in responding , alluded to his long absence from office in the province , the kindness be received from the biethren when he formcily held the position he again occupied , and saitl now that he had undertaken important duties at the urgent request of many brethren , he should strive to perform those duties without fear or favour , relying upon

receiving in the future its he had done in the past thc support and assistance of officers of the P . G . Lodge and the brethren geiierallv . ( Applause . ) Bro . Randall , P . P . G . C , proposed " The W . D . P . D . G . M . and the Officers oi P . G . Lotlge , Past and Present . " lie was especially complimentary lu Bro . James , who , he sail , was ii .-tlly master of the duties which he discharged asD . puty ,

and always manifested a kindl y feeling and the courtesy of a gentleman . —Bro . James made a long speech in response to the toast . He observed that there was no one present who hatl occasion to regret the death of their late P . G . M . more than he ( Bro . James ) . Hc had for years enjoyed the confidence of the late Earl , anil hc could honestly say that a more honest-minded , generous man never

existed in Staffordshire than his lordship . ( Applause . ) By his death the P . G . Locge also ceased to exist as a lotlge , and it was a long time before the authorities in high places resuscitated it ai . tl placed thc Grand Registrar in the position of Acting Grantl Master of the Province . The reason I ' . G . Lodge hatl not been convened earlier was that

it was necessary to apply to the Quarter Sessions ( which they were unable to do till April ) for permission to meet in that hall . He hoped Bro . Tudor would make up for lost lin-. e by calling another P . G . Lotlge-in the autumn of this year . ( I lear , hear . ) He . went on to explain why he had retired from the position of D . P . G . M ,, and s rid although he had not

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

done all that hc intended while in that office , hc hoped to visit thc three lodges in thc province which he had not yet attended . Though hc vvas no longer an officer of P . G . Lotlge , hc shoulel retain a fraternal feeling towards all the brethten , antl shoultl continue to render to tlie Craft such support as he was able to give . ( Hear , hear . ) Freemasonry was no doubt progressive , and he supposed there

never was a penotl in thc history of Freemasonry in this country when it progressetl so rapidly as during thc last quarter of a century . Though he was not an old man , hc was oltl enough to remember the consecration of more than one-half of thc lodges in the province . But it was not only numerically that they were increasing . There was an increasing manifestation of that truly Masonic lifc

and spirit which was abundantly brought to their attention in their Masonic ceremonies . If charity vvas thc landmark of Freemasonry , he would venture to say it had two aspicts . It did not consist in almsgiving alone , though if they werc as Masons to be judged by that test , they could say that last year Masons contributetl £ 42 , 000 to support their four great central Charities . ( Applause . ) In supporting those

Charities no one was more hearty than the late P . G . M ., whose loss they all so much lamented . Thc late Earl of Shrewsbury presided at the anniversary of each of the Masonic Charities in its turn , and on one occasion hc presided in thc absence of Ihe Prince of Wales . There was then a larger amount of contributions than at any previous festival . ( Hear , hear . ) But that vvas not the side of

Freemasonry by which they shoulel alone wish to be judged . They would rather be judged by the grand principle which they endeavoured to inculcate in their lodges of doing to others as they would be done by , and which taught them to guide their actions so that when anyone was saitl to be a Freemason the worltl might know that he vvas " one to whom thc buriheiicd heart may pour forth its sorrows , to

whom the distressed may prefer their suit , whose hand is guided by justice , and whose heart is expanded by benevolence . " ( Applause . ) That was what they taught each other to exhibit to the worltl , and when that principle was acted on they need not care for the scoffs of those outside their boundaries , and who , if they were upright , free , and true men , they woultl gladly embrace within their tanks .

The longer he lived the more heartily tilt ! he approve thc principles of Freemasonry , antl thc more strenuous should be his endeavours to promote the interests of the Craft . ( Applause . ) He then pointed out the difficulty of selecting the iV 0 vincJ . 1 l Grantl Officers when there were 21 lodges and only 11 appointments to be made every year , and there were thus so many Past Masters not only qualified

hut ambitious to take provincial honours . lie expressed a hope that the appointments which had been matle that tlay would give satisfaction to the brethren . Bro . James , after a brief interval , proposed in a ncnt speech " The W . Masters of the Lodges in the Province ;" for whom Bro . Turner , W . M . 4 60 , responded in suitable terms .

Bro . Rotlgers , P . P . G . J . D ., gave the tca : t nf "The Visitors , " ou whose behalf Bro . T . Hall , 25--, P . G . J . W . ( Deib ) shite ) , responded . He observed that Masonry was flourishing in the province to whicii hc belonged , as well as in Staffordshire and oilier provinces . Though Staffordshire possessed 21 lodges , the population of Staffordshire was much greater than that of Derby , antl it woultl lake two Deibysliires to make one Staffordshire . Yet he had

thc pleasure of taking part a fortnight ago in thc consecration of Ihe nineteenth Craft lodge in the province of Derby , antl in that province there were nearly 800 members . ( Hear hear . ) Masonry was progressing in numbers , wealth , antl generosity , antl he thought thc lime appeared to be coming when they should consider the question ot tit centralizing their charitable institutions ; and if they established such institutions in different centres it

would create a new interest and a 111 w incentive to the generosity cf the Cralt . And , he asked , why they shoultl not have a Boys' School in Staffordshire antl a Girls ' School in Deibj shire ? If that coultl be accomplished a great amount of additional zeal and liberality would be evoked . ( Applause-. ) lire .. Derby , P . P . G . W ., proposetl the toast of "The Masonic Charities . "

Bro . Bodenham , P . G . I reasurer , in responding , expressed his unbalcd interest in those Charities . I le alluded to the fact that they had secured the right to always have one boy in the Masonic School , and he thought that if they coultl establish such a right to send a scholar to the Girls ' School it woultl he a fitting tribute to Ihe memory of thc late Earl of Shrewsbury . He also pointed out that great

benefits were conferred upon the children of Masons by the Staffordshire Charitable Masonic Institution . Tlie remaining toasts were " The Ladies , " proposetl by Bro . Bodenham , and responded to by Bro . Owens , of Wolverhampton ; " The P . G . Stewards , " propositi b y Bro . Cartwright , and acknowledged b y Bin . Fowke , and the Tyler ' s least .

The Installation meeting of thc Wm . Preston Chapter No . 77 6 , will be held at the Cannon Street Hotel , on Thursday next , at half-past 4 , precisely . A report of the proceedings will appear in the Freemason of June Sth . The principals elect are Comps . A . Braun , M . E . Z ., Dr . W . II . Kempster , H . andJJ . T . Gibson , as J . The family of our late Bro . Superintendent

Mott will according to the ll'liilchall Review , benefit by the Concert at Albert Hall to the extent of about £ 550 . IIOI . I . OWAV ' SOINTMK \ -I | AXD PILLS . —Safely and Securely . —When ihe tevevities of winter have yieltkel to the 'te-mal spring , invalids should make a determined ell ' nTt lo regain tlie-ir lost health ; when through eonline'ine-nt indoors , want of appetite , and disturbed

sleep , the entire system has he-en weakened ami the spirits have been broken down , Holloway's Ti'metlies arc e-ipiai to the occasion ; 'Ihe Ointment rtibhetl over the regions ol tlie stomach and liver , aided hy the internal administration of his I'ills , will tectily the digestion , regulate the bile ' , nnd piuify Ihe blood— three sanatorv actions , which will speedily cooler renewed vigour , brace up tlie failing nerves , conlirm ihe llac : id muscles , and restore lo the ailing , cheerfulness , that great chaim of existence . — [ AJJVT . ] JI