The Province Of Lincolnshire

great literary lig hts of Masonry—Bro . the Rev . GEORGE O LIVER , D . D ., who , though he cannot bc accepted as a trustworthy historian , well deserves to be remembered for his services in behalf of Masonic literature . Moreover , the present respected Provincial Grand Master is the occupant of an office , to which on its creation Bro . the Rev . William Peters—the solitary

Grand Portrait Painter of our Grand f . odge—was appointed , and which since his lime has been held by such distinguished brethren as Bro . W . H . White , Grand Secretary ; the second Earl of Yarborough , who , as Senior Grand Warden of the year , presided as Chairman at the Jubilee Festival of the Girls' School in 1838 , and was Deputy Grand Master of England from

1846 to 1 S 56 ; and the present Duke of St . Albans , who ruled the Province from 1862 till 1878 , when he was transferred to Nottinghamshire . Thus the Province can look back with pride both on a century of useful work as well as on a succession of able rulers , and we trust that the prestige it has acquired will be handed down intact through many successive generations .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Somersetshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF SOMERSETSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held on Thursday , the 16 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Bath , under the presidency of the Grand Superintendent , Comp . R . C . Else , P . G . Std . Br . England , supported by Comps . W . Long , P . G . H ., and J . Burnett , P . G . J . There are 10 chapters in the province ( three of them in Bath ) , and they were all

represented , some of them in force . The presence amongst them of Comp . E . White , P . Z . 41 , was a source of great pleasure to the members of the local chapters , and their pleasure was enhanced by the fact that the esteemed companion was placed by the Grand Superintendent in the chair of Third

Principal of thc province . It is worthy to note that Comp . White passed thc first chair in his chapter 51 years ago , viz ., 1841 , and his acceptance of Provincial Arch rank at 90 years of age ( or nearly so ) is probably without precedent in Masonic annals . It is an honour which reflects honour alike on companion , chapter , and province .

The usual business of thc Provincial Grand Chapter having been transacted , the Provincial Grand Officers for the year were invested , the following being the complete list : —

Comp . R . C . Else , P . G . Std . Br . England ... Grand Supt . „ W . Long ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . H . „ E . White , P . Z . 41 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ E . Noke , P . Z . 53 ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . S . E .

„ li .. Newton fuller , f . / .. 53 ... ... Prov . U . S . N . ,, B . H . Walts , P . Z . S 3 and 379 ( re-elected ) ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Peach , Z . 41 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ T . F . Norris , P . Z . 291 ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ H . Gulliford Hopkins , Z . 17 c , ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S .

„ J . Haddon , H . 261 ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ L . H . Ruegg , Z . 329 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ T . Parker , P . Z . 285 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . ,, E . A . Crosse , J . 446 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . H . Macfarlane , H . 41 ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ Al . 11 . Uarke , 1-1 . 1750 ... ... t ' rov . A . Lj . b . li . ,, A . J . Salter , 53 ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . ,, S . Bigwood , 41 and 379 ... ... Prov . A . G . Janitor The customary banquet followed .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Middlesex

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF MIDDLESEX

I he annual convocation of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , on Saturday , the 18 th inst Owing to the recent decease of the Grand Superintendent , Comp . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., the companions appeared in Masonic mourning , Comp . Raymond H . Thrupp , Prov . Grand H . in charge , presided , supported by thc following Prov . Grand Oflicers and others :

Comps . Rev . S . T . H . Saunders , as Prov . G . H . ; H . C . Weld . Prov . G . J . j W H . Lee , Prov . G . S . E . ; J . G . Langton , Prov . G . S . N . ; F . W . Levander , Prov . G Treas . ; W . H . Matthews , Prov . G . P . S . ; J . D . E . Tarr , Prov . ist A . G . S . ; H H . Hooper , Prov . G . S . B . ; H . Sa . s . vorth , Prov . G . D . C ; S . Jacobs , Prov A . G . D . C ; W . J . Porter , Prov . G . Org . ; John Gilbert , Prov . G . Janitor ; J . M Stedwell , P . P . G . J . ; 1 . Tickle , P . P . G . J . ; D . W . Pearse , P . P . G . R . ; W . A

Scurrah , P . P . G . S . ; F . C . Austin , P . P . A . G . D . C ; R . W . Bilby , P . P . G . R . ; J . T . Briggs , P . P . G . S . ; W . G . Kentish , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; E . Hopwood , P . P . G . Std . Br R . W . Forge . P . P . G . S . ; G . L . Wingate , P . P . G . S . ; T . W . Ockenden , P . P . G . D . C . ; E . Dare , P . Z . 946 ; A . Tomlin , jun ., J . 1503 ; S . Richardson , 1293 ; A . H . Scurrah , 2048 ; J . P . Houghton , P . Z . 382 ; A . G . Fidler ; P . Z . 1237 ; W . R .

Shutt , J . 1549 ; K - Smith , J . 3 82 ; C . Watkins , ' / .. 1293 ; H . Higgins , P . P . G . D . C . ; A . Blenkarn , S . N . 1326 ; G . R . Langley , Z . 1326 ; A . Leighton , 1326 ; R . J . Potter , H . 1326 ; W . P . Hay , Z . 1194 ; J . G . Garson , M . D ., P . Z . 16 91 ; Burcham Cooper , P . Z . 1366 ; T . Wallace Ingram , 94 ( 5 ; R . Poore , S . N . 1423 ; P . H . Davis , 1793 ; and many others .

After the Prov . Grand Chapter had been formall y opened , and the roll of chapters called , Comp . RAYMOND H . TIIRUI'I ' , Prov . G . H . in charge , stated that before proceeding to the further business of the convocation , he desired to make a few remarks in reference to thc great loss the province had sustained by the decease of the Grand Superintendent , Comp . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart . At the recent special Provincial Grand Lodge a vote of condolence was duly

passed to Lady Burdett and family , and he did not think that a similar vole was necessary on this occasion . Hu would , therefore , simply move the following resolution , to be recorded on the minutes : " This Provincial Grand Chapter , havingheard with deep regret the irreparable loss the province has sustained in the death of the Grand Superintendent , Col . Sir Francis Burdett . Bart ., desire to place on record th sir appreciation of his services as the head of the province , his zeal for the promotion of Royal Arch Masonry , and his

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Middlesex

courtesy and kindness at all times shown to the companions of his province . " Comp . the Rev . S . T . H . SAUNDERS , acting Prov . G . H ., stated that he felt on occasions of this kind that feelings were perhaps best expressed by the fewest words ; and he would , therefore , simply second the proposition . The report of the Audit Committee was taken as read , and ordered to be

entered on the minutes . Comp . R . H . TIIRUI ' announced that he had appointed Comp . J . Q . Garson , M . D ., P . Z . 1691 , as Prov . G . J ., and he was obligated and invested accordingly . Comp . J . TICKLE , P . P . G . J ., proposed Comp . R . W . Shutt , J . 1549 , as Prov . Grand Treasurer . The proposition was seconded by Comp . D . W . PEARSE , P . P . G . R ., and carried unanimously .

The following companions were then invested as Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year : Comp . W . H . Lee , 1423 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . ,, John P . Houghton , 382 ... ... Prov . G . S . N . William R . Shutt . 1 w . 0 ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ Harry Parnell Hay , 1194 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Alfred G . Fidler , 1237 ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ Charles Watkins , 1293 ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S . „ A . Toulmin , jun ., 1 503 ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ C . H . Kohler , 1423 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

„ Arthur H . Scurrah , 2048 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ Edmund Dare , 946 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ Wm . John Porter , 1793 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ G . J . Dunkley , 1503 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, John Gilbert ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

Comp . Capt . T . C . Walls , G . R . Langley , and J . D . Tarr were nominated by the Prov . Grand II . in charge to serve on the Audit Committee , and Comp . R . W . Bilby , W . A . Scurrah , and J . Gordon Langton were elected by the companions as members of the same . A vote of thanks was given to the Lebanon Chapter for the use of the

furniture , and acknowledged by Comp . LANGLEY , M . E . Z . A similar compliment was paid to Comp . F . W . Levander , P . P . G . Treas ., in acknowledgment of his services during the past year . Comp . LEVANDER briefly responded .

Several letters ot apology ana regret were atterwaras reaa oy tne t'Rov . GRAND S . E ., and Provincial Grand Chapter was closed . Owing to the recent decease of the Grand Superintendent the usual banquet was dispensed with .

The Imperial Institute.

THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE .

An informal inspection of the progress made with the building of the Imperial Institute took p lace on Saturday , the 18 th inst ., when a large party of representatives of thc public Press of Great Britain and thc colonies , invited by the Executive Council , were conducted through thc interior by Bro . Sir Frederick Abel , General Secretary , Bro . Sir Somers Vine , Assistant

Secretary , and other members of the staff . I hey were shown the councilroom , the conference-room , reading-rooms , writing-rooms , and news-rooms , where fellows and visitors will find copies and files of all the principal newspapers , and will be kept an conrant by the electric agencies now in vogue with commercial , financial , and other intelligence of the day .

They also had the opportunity of inspecting the loan collection of India art metal work and woodwork contributed by the Oueen , thc Prince of Wales , the Duke of Edinburgh , the Duke of Connaught , the Marquis of Ripon , Lord Northbrook , thc Countess of Mayo , and other owners of some

of the choicest and richest artistic treasures of the Orient . The collection far exceeds in vertu nnd variety anything of thc kind ever seen in this country , including as it does inimitable works of Indian art designed and executed as national presents on great national events , such as the marriage of the Heir to the Throne and her Majesty ' s Jubilee .

Another typical room is one in the artisans exhibition , where a beginning has been well made with specimens of plumbers' work from Newcastle nnd Dundee . But what is to be seen now represents but a very small portion of what will bc on view when the Queen inaugurates the institution in the spring of next year . In the meantime it is worth noting that the total

outlay upon thc buildings and their appurtenances as they now exist , or arc in course of completion , stands at £ 279 , 000 . An addition of £ 80 , 000 lo tbe building fund will be required before the Great Hall , the West Stairway , thc Library and Conference Hall , and the two Colonnades can be constructed ; when entirely finished the expenditure on thc building will "

represented by about £ 3 60 , 000 . When thc inspection was over , refresh - ments were served , Bro . Sir F . Abel being a most genial host , and , in t' , c course of his remarks , drawing attention to the great interest taken by tho Oueen and thc Prince of Wales , in his capacity as President , in thc prom " tion of this great enterprise .

WILLIAM WHITE . —Grand Secretary of England ( " Moderns " ) , with Ian £ Heseltine from November ist , 1780 , and from May 3 rd , 1784 , sole Grand Sec tary for many years . On the gth May , 1810 , his son was appointed Junior or jo Grand Secretary , but was not privileged to serve long in that capacity witn father , the latter soon alter having died . Bro . White , sen ., was initiated in " Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge " ( then No . 2 ) , on March 8 th , ' //^ and was S . W . of the " Emulation Lodsre " ( then " regenerated " ) . December -

oi the same year , serving the ollice of Master in 1771 , 1772 , 1774 , and 1777 ' . ^ this lodge he was a most active member , and founder of a lodge of instru ^ " to promote a knowledge of Masonry " under its wing . It is not easy n ^ rightly appreciate and estimate the services of our veteran Grand ^ ^ u ' arg assuredly much of the prosperity of the Society was owing to the able disc ' ¦ ^ ol his manifold duties . Bro . White was also W . M . of the " Grand Stc 1 Lodge" in 17 80 , having been Secretary of the Board of Grand Stewards in /' —Kenning's Cyclopedia of Freemasonry .