Festival Of The Hants And Isle Of Wight Charitable Institution.

' Bro . Sir B ARRINGTON SIMEON , Bart ., in proposing " The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , " said he would rather the toast had been entrusted to a Mason older than himself , though at the same time he doubted if any of them had known BvO . Beach longer than he had . Then , too , he had reason to be grateful to Bro . Beach Masonically , as he was kind enough some time

ago to initiate him into the Order . If they searched the world through they would not find a Mason who did his work better than their Provincial Grand Master , and to show his enthusiasm in it he might mention that Bro . Beach had only just come from Northumberland , where he had been doing Masonic duty . He was at Southampton that evening , presiding at their Benevolent Festival ; to-morrow he would go to Ryde ; and

he believed that since he had been in that room he had very nearly let himself in for another engagement . As they all knew , the Provincial Grand Master had Masonry thoroughly at heart ; he performed the work from love as much as from a sense of duty , and , as he was such a good Mason , it was their place as Masons serving under his rule to do all they could to support him in his efforts to promote the best interests of the Craft .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , who had a most cordial reception , expressed his thanks , and said that Bro . Simeon had spoken no more than the truth when he said that his ( the speaker ' s ) heart was in Masonic wcr > , and that he was pleased to be doing something to promote the interests of the great Order to which they belonged . As had been said , he had just been

performing Masonic duty in Northumberland , which was carried out under great stress of weaiher , but he w . is not alone , for the Grand Secretary , though he hid an engagement in London next day , was also present io shew his zeal in Freemasonry . He should ill fulfil his office if he did not make every effort in his power to discharge the duties which that office imposed upon

him . During the long time he had had the honour of ruling over the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of W ght , he had received the greatest support from the brethren ; he had received much support from Southampton , and he should be ungrateful to the brethren there if he did not reciprocate their kindness by every means in his power when he had the

opportunity of doing so . In every part of the world English Freemasonry was thriving to-day , and those who were already in the Craft were striving to show to those who were joining it that they were becoming members of an Order whose work led to great and happy results . He could not but think that to set an example to others

was the feeling pervading those who filled high office in their various lodges . He repeated his thanks for the kindness they had extended to him , and he hoped he should continue to rule over a province which showed unity and a readiness to accord that support which a Provincial Grand Master had a right to expect , and which it was his ambition to obtain .

Bro . A . J . BLACKMAN , P . M ., gave " W . Bro . J . E , Le Feuvre , D . P . G . M ., and the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " to which Bro . E . GOBLE , P . G . Sec , briefly responded , and urged the necessity of the brethren securing all the votes they

could for the three Central Charities . The province was particularly short of Boys' votes . The efforts made in regard to candidates were , of course , supplemented by the Provincial Educational and Benevolent Institution .

The PROV . GRAND M ASTER , in proposing " Success to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , " said the Deputy Provincial Grand Master had given them some useful information as to the way in which the great Central Charities were thriving , and it was very gratifying to them as Freemasons , looking upon these Charities as

their primary Institutions , to know that such success had been attained . The Institution which they had met that day to assist was comparatively a new one , and many would not be disposed to help it did they think for a moment it would interfere with the support given to the Central Charities , as the current of charitable enthusiasm might thereby be checked . That ,

however , had not been the case , and well supported as the Institution had been in the past , he hoped it would be still better supported in the future . Children who could not be elected to either of the two Central Charities found great benefit from this Institution , and so might it long continue . It was well deserving the support of the several lodges , and he quite approved of the suggestion that had been made that they should

hold its meetings oftener , and that they should not allow a year to go by without giving the brethren an opportunity of rallying to the support of those who had charge of the Institution . He hoped they would all be encouraged by the success of the past to make renewed efforts for success in the future . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . G . F . Lancaster , and thanked him for all he had done for the Institution .

Bro . G . F . LANCASTER , in response , said that since the Institution was formed , eighteen children had been elected to its benefits , all without a contest . No candidate had been rejected who was properly qualified , but all had been elected at once . They had . £ 2000 invested , and between ^ 200 and £ 300 in tl e bank , and of the eighteen children elected fifteen were still on the

list at an averageannual cost of between ^ 12 and , £ 13 . The committee were still open to receive applications on behalf of qualified candidates . He then read the Stewards lists , which amounted to ^ 345 5 s ., there being two lists outstanding . Bro . Lancaster added that he felt very satisfied , and was extremely grateful to the Stewards for bringing up this handsome sum .

Festival Of The Hants And Isle Of Wight Charitable Institution.

Bro . B . HARFIELD , P . G . Warden , proposing "The Stewards , " said he had had the pleasure of serving a Stewardship himself , and he was sure it was . 1 pleasure to any Mason to act in that capacity in . respect of this or any other Masonic . Charity . They took the trouble to collect their lists , not for their . own personal aggrandisement , but it was a labour of love to them , undertaken upon the principle animating every true

Mason , which had been referred to by their Provincial Grand Master that evening . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Pither , who headed the list with £ 2 , 7 9 s - Bro . PITHER , in response / said his lodge had taken special interest in the Institution from the commencement , and he heartily supported the suggestion that the meetings should be held annually . The proceedings then concluded .

Our Portrait Gallery Of Worshipful Masters.

Our Portrait Gallery of Worshipful Masters .

BRO . ARTHUR WATTS , W . M . Leopold Lodge , No . 1571 . We reproduce above a portrait of Bro . Arthur Watts , the newly-installed Master of the Leopold Lodge , No . 1571 . Initiated in 1 SS 4 , Bro . Watts , after filling various offices in the lodge , was unanimously elected Worshipful Master at the December meeting , and in

the presence of a large gathering of the Craft installed into the chair of K . S . at the Bridge House Hotel , on Monday , the 14 th inst ., in a most impressive manner by Bro . Walter T . Johns , his predecessor in the chair . Not forgetting the cause of Charity , Bro . W . itts has

qualified himself a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Insiitution , and will represent the Leopold Lodge as Steward at the forthcoming Festival ol the Boys' School . In our present issue , under " Craft Lodges , " will be found an account of the Leopold installation meeting .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THOMAS DINNING , P . M . The brethren of the Province of Northumberland have lately had to mourn the loss of a most zealous and ardtnt Mason in the person of Bro . Thomas Dinning , P . M . 481 , Newcastle-on-Tyne , whicli melancholy event took place in the first hour of the present year . Bro . Dinning was connected with the

commercial department of the well-known firm of Messrs . Dinning and Cooke , Percy Iron Works . Newcastle-on-Tyne . He had been ill for some months past and has been called away at the comparatively early age of 46 years . He bore his illness with great fortitude and always met the kind inquiries of his numerous friends with a cheerful smile . His death is lamented by all

who had the privilege of knowing him , and in Masonic circles on Tyneside his genial presence is much missed . He was initiated into Freemasonry in 18 79 , and after serving in the lower offices occupied the chair of his mother lodge , St . Peter's , No . 4 81 , in 1884 . Shortly afterwards he was appointed Prov . A . G . D . C , and in 1 S 93 on account of the zeal which he had

shown in the cause of Freemasonry , he was appointed Prov . J . G . W . He was also a P . Z . of 481 , and held provincial rank in that Degree . He was also a P . M . of the Northumberland and Benvick-upon-Tweed ( T . I . ) Mark Lodge , and was P . P . G . D . C . of that Degree . He was also connected with the Royal Ark Mariners , Knight Templars , and several other of the hi gher Degrees . His int . rment took place on the 4 th inst . at

the Jesmond Old Cemetery , Newcastle-on-Tyne , where , notwithstanding the very wintry weather , over 300 brethren and lriends by their presence testified to the high esteem in which he was held . He was universall y respected and beloved , and his death at a time when yet a long span of life seemed before him has created a most painful impression . Amongst those present were noticed the following : Bro . Faraday Spence , P . M . 481 , P . P . S . G . W . ( brother-in-law ) , Mr . R . W . Cooke

Obituary.

( Messrs . Dinning and Cooke ) , Bros . Aid . R . ( J , Holmes , J . P ., D . P . G . M . ; E . Turnbull , P . M ., Pp G . S . B ., F . Turnbull , I . P . M ., John Usher , p . jj ' P . P . G . P ., T . Purvis , P . M ., P . G . R ., J . M . Bruce , P . ' Michael Watson , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , W . F . Carm ' P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., J . A . G . Ross , P . M ., J . McKay ' P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., Jos . Cook , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W

John Spearman , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., C . B ., Ford , P . M P . P . S . G . D ., J . Clarke , J . Brown , T . C . Campbell , H Robson , J . A . Stelling , S . W ., Cornwell Smith W . M ., R . F . W . Liddle , S . D ., A . Kinghorn , j . D . A . Plumpton , Steward , C . E . Watson , and S . p Atkinson , all of 481 ; Councillor Goolden , 1626 Councillor A . Hepburn , P . M . 1626 ; R . B . Reed

P . M . 4 8 ; Rev . J . Walker , P . M 1427 , P . P . S . G . W T . Pickering , W . M . 24 ; John Cowle , P . M . iSeV P . S . G . W . ; W . E . Harker , P . M . 24 ; J . Striker Wilson , P . M . 685 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Hugh Jackson , 48-H . Spittle , P . M . 1342 , P . P . A . G . D C ; j . T . Sayer ' 1427 ; W . M . Lyon , P . M . 406 , P . P . S . G . D . ; and many others . The coffin was of polished elm , and bore

a simple inscription . Wreaths were sent from the W . M . and brethren of St . Peter ' s Lodge , No . 4 S 1 , and by the clerks and commercial staff , the woikpeople and thenppreniices of Messrs . Dinning and Couke , as well as by many pt-rsonal friends . At the close of the Burial Service the hymn " Days and moments , " nnd

the Masonic hymn " May we all meet together" were sung , and the brethren tiled past the grave throwing in tfeir sprigs of acacia . At a meeting of the P , lst Masters of St . Peter's Lodge , held at Bro . J . T . Sayer ' s Royal Exchange Hotel , Grey-street , Newcastle , on the 19 th inst ., it was unanimously resolved to erect a mi nument to the memory of their departed brother .

BRO . JOSEPH NICHOLSON . The Province of Cumberland and Westmorland has lost one of its oldest and dearest Craftsmen , through the death , on the 18 th inst ., of Bro . Joseph Nicholson of many posts , at the ripe age of 82 . We conn entl y say Bro . Nicholson was the oldest Mason of his province , and probibly he was the oldest member of the

Craft in the Border Counties . He was initiated in St . John's Lodge , No 327 , Wigton , as far back as 18 35 , and two years later was exalted in the chapter attached to the same lodge . In 1840 he became a joining member of Lodge of Perseverance , No . 371 , Maryport , and from that year till his death was a subscribing member , holding the position of Treasurer for nearl y

half-a-century , whilst he served the office of W . M . at least hall-a-dozen times . Bro . Nicholson ' s early connection with Lodge of Perseverance was of an historical character . On December 27 th , 1841 , we find him presiding at the Feast of St . John , when the lodge was formally removed from Whitehaven to Maryport , and 10 or 12 years later , when reduced in numbers , he and

the late Bro . William Miller Sewell , father of Bro . Colonel Sewell , the present Deputy Provincial Grand Master , also W . M . of No . 371 , paid the Grand Lodge dues in order to preserve the charter . The loyalty of Bro . Nicholson and his coadjutor was ultimately rewarded , and for years past the Lodge of Perseverance has occupied a most prominent position

in the province , whilst its fine hall is a credit to northcountry Masonry . Bro . Nicholson , many years ago , was Senior Grand Warden of his province . His long connection with Royal Arch Masonry culminated in 18 79 , when a chapter was opened in Maryport under the appropriate name of " Nicholson , " he being its charter M . E . Z ., and only a few years ago he donated

50 guineas to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Insti tutton in the name of that chapter . He was P . P . G . J , In Mark Masonry our venerable brother also became distinguished , and in all probability he could claim to be the oldest member of the Order . His advancement , in 1844 , was of a rather unique character , namely , in his Craft Lodge , for the minutes of Lodge of

Perseverance , July gth , of that year , record that he and eight other brethren "took the Degree of Mark Master Mason , and had their marks duly registered in the Book of Marks , " for which they each paid ten-pence . As time rolled on , the present Whitwell Lodgeof M . M . M ., No . 151 , was warranted , with Bro . Nicholson as its first Worshipful Master , and he subsequently was

P . P . S . G . W . In 1881 , on the death ot Bro . Col , Whitwell , M . P ., the late Lord Bective offered Bro . Nicholson the office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , but age prompted him to decline the courteous recognition of his services , and , in doing so , he recommended Col . Sewell , the son of his old colleague , for the appointment . Add to this , in the Jubilee year , he

was made a Past Senior Grand Deacon of England , In other branches ot Masonry he was founder and P . M . of the W . M . Sewell Council Allied Masonic Degrees , and Past Commander of the Collin Ark Mariners ' Lodge . Unlike many Masons of the present day , Bro . Nicholson was a hard worker nearly all his life , and it was only quite recently that he was obliged , through

infirmity and advauced age , to relinquish his erewhile labours of love in the cause of the institution of which he had so long been an honoured example to his juniors . A perfect ritualist , and a rare stickler for constitutional order and regularity , a long line of Masters of lodges , & c , looked upon him as their venerated Gamaliel , and his departure to the Grand

Lodge above removes from the busy scene one of the brightest characters of Engligh Masonry of the old school . The remains of our late brother were interred in the Maryport Cemetery last Tuesday , and the Masons of the little Cumberland town , it is scarcely necessary to say , mustered in all their strength to pay the last tribute of respect to departed worth .