Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

jn its D . Prov . G . M . He had been associated for eight years with pf Brook-Smith in ties of that close intimacy and confidence that must st between a Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy , and he could not C ' erstate the assistance he had received from him . Bro . Brook-Smith had devoted his unwearied energies and his almost unequalled knowledge to the firtherance of Masonry in the province , until in April he received the apintment to the Headmastership of the Modern Department of

Cheltenham College . That post seemed to have been oneot theob * ectsto which his pfe was devoted , and though he was in feeble health at the time , it looked as 'f a greater work in the future of education in England was opened ' n to him through it . Having received that appointment , Bro . Brook-Smith vrote to him ( Sir Michael Hicks Beach ) explaining- that he did not feel that he could continue to fill the office he had held in Provincial G . Lodge . Thoug h from one point of view he thought Bro . Brook-Smith ' s decision a

vise one , yet from his position as Prov . Grand Master he was reluctant to accept the resignation , and he did not do so when it was first tendered ; but Bro . Rrook-Smith again wrote , emphasising his decision in terms which showed that the interests of the province rather than his own convenience prompted his action . Sir Michael concluded by proposing the record of a minute expressing the irreparable loss the province had sustained in the death of Bro . Brook-Smith and tbe condolence of the brethren with his family . This was seconded by Bro . NEWMARCH and carried unanimously .

The Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . VASSAR-SMITH , as Provincial Charity Secretary , next presented the report of the Charity Committee for the past year . From this it appeared that there were now from this province four widows receiving annuities of £ 32 each , and one brother of . £ 40 from the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Six girls and six boys were being educated at the Masonic Schools .

Hitherto the provinces associated for the purposes of Charity organisation—viz ., Bristol , Gloucestershire , Leicestershire and Rutland , Monmouthshire , Somersetshire , South Wales ( Eastern Division ) , Wiltshire , and Worcestershire—had carried out their respective work separately . But for greater convenience of keeping the necessary accounts , and more particularly to ensure greater stability , they had now agreed to combine , under the title of the " Western Province Charity Association , " with Bro .

Capt . S . G . Homfray , D . P . G . M . Monmouthshire , as chairman , and Bro . William Nott , P . P . S . G . W ., as Secretary . Various other matters were brought before Provincial Grand Lodge . A . communication from Bro . the Dean of Gloucester with reference to the ornamentation of the reredos in Gloucester Cathedral ( given by the Masons of the Province , 1873 ) was referred to a Committee , as was also the consideration of the form of memorial to be raised to the late Deputy Prov . Grand Master .

On the motion of the PROV . GRAND MASTER , seconded by Bro . NEWMARCH , acknowledgment was also made in warm terms of the indebtedness of the province to Bro . Trinder for his long and devoted services as Secretary . The appointment of officers was then made as follows , Bro . Vassar-Smith's appointment being marked by a few expressions of gratitude from the PROV . GRAND MASTER , and a warm demonstration of approval by members of Provincial Grand Lodge : — Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , P . M . 850 , W . M . 246 , P . P .

] . G . W ., Prov . G . Charity Sec ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M . „ J . G . ' Seymour , P . M . 1363 , P . P . G . S . B . ... Prov . S . G . W . „ F . Millman , P . M . 855 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ... Prov . J . G . W . „ J . Albin Roberts , P . M . 702 , P . P . G . P . ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Rev . W . Fawcett , P . M . 592 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ T . Nelson Foster , P . M . 8 39 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . B . Winterbotham , P . M . 82 , P . P . S . G . W . ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . Dening , W . M . 951 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Wheatley , P . M . 702 , W . M . 270 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ R . Prowde Smith , P . M . 82 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ Gen . W . J . Vizard , W . M . 761 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,. E . N . Witchell , P . M . 592 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, W . Parry , W . M . 592 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,. W . Renwick , W . M . 493 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br 1 , J . Hyde , 592 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ J . Bradstock , P . M . 1067 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . » H . Browett , P . M . 900 ... ... ,., ~ ) » B . London , Sec . 1005 ... ... ... f Prov . G . Stwds . .. J . F . Nicholls , P . M . 951 ... ... ...)

Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren dined together in the lower room of the Hall . In the course of the after-dinner proceedings the D . Prov . G . M . repeated what he had previously stated in lodge , that , relying on the support of the province , he should continue to discharge the duties of Charity Secretary . -D ^ " G . M . returned to Cheltenham as the guest of the Deputy IBi- o . Vassar-Smith ) , at Charlton Park .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

% comman d of the R . W . Bro . Co ) . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . W ., ° v . G . M ., the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held in nst Church School-rooms , Heaton Norris , on Wednesday , the 16 th inst . ere was a large attendance of brethren , over 400 being present . The a 'ge room had been superbly decorated by Bro . Josiah Hill , P . M ., P . Z .,

M ! , u ,-5-i and the scene when the brethren were assembled in their lor ! ° c * ' ' £ was most charming . The walls throughout the entire Ke-room were draped with crimson and lace , cretonne , and other tie " ' " ^ hese , w ' lh the richly-coloured landscapes and clusters of bright rl „ j * - ' ^ 'ch were introduced along the walls at equal distances ,

prohas V , A * not eas'Iy imagined , and considering the little time Bro . Hill anv l ° ^ ° " *" h ° ' ° f 'he work proves that gentleman to be equal to y emergency . The W . Bro . Geo . Mellor , P . G . D ., Dep . P . G . M ., Enpf j chair 5 Bro - C . R . N . Beswick Royds , P . P . G . W ., P . G . D . of S'and , was the acting Dep . G . M .

r ecei ? ctlr » g Prov . Grand Master and the Prov . Grand Officers were after . ' ** form on entering the Provincial Grand Lodge room , shortly pr , "Past three . The roll of lodges was called over and showed all ex cepting two . The minutes of the last meeting were taken as

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

read . A letter was read from the Prov . Grand Master , regretting that owing to urgent business in Ireland he was unable to attend . The halfyearly report of the proceedings of the Charity Committee was read , and their confirmation moved by Bro . J AMES ARTHUR BIRCH , who said that he was glad to say they were successful in electing two girls to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and he expressed his acknowledgments to the Province of West

Yorkshire for the valuable assistance they had rendered . Another matter he referred to was in connection with the Jubilee contribution to the Benevolent Institution . The magnificent sum contributed , ^ 2860 , delighted the heart of the Secretary , who said that without East Lancashire he did not know what they would have done . He moved that the list of Jubilee contributions to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Widows and Aged Freemasons be recorded on the minutes of Provincial Grand Lodge . Bro . G . P . BROCKBANK seconded the motion , which was agreed to .

Bro . HEELIS moved that the sum of £ 50 be contributed from the Prov . Grand Lodge Fund in aid of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . He said the motion was one which

was regularly brought forward in that Prov . Grand Lodge , and he believed it always met with the approval of the brethren . Bro . J . L . SILLITOE seconded the motion , and it was passed . A discussion took place in reference to the report of the By-laws Committee , and ultimately it was referred back , a copy of the report , with the proposed alterations , to be sent to every lodge in the province .

The ACTING P . G . M . proposed that the sum of 100 guineas be contri buted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

The Acting Deputy P . G . M ., Bro . ROYDS , seconded the motion , and Bro . BIRCH explained that the P . G . M . was already a Patron of the In- stitution for Boys , and that contribution would make him a Patron of the Institution for Girls . Bro . NICHOLL , in presenting the Treasurer ' s balance sheet , showing a balance in hand of £ 279 us . gd ., said there was not much that called for remark , and the incomings and outgoings had gone on very much the same

as in former years , notwithstanding he had been at the head of affairs . They had a slight increase in income , about ^ 68 , and he noticed that the expenditure had been a . little less than in former years by some ^ 56 . Heexpressed his acknowledgments to the Prov . Grand Secretary for the assistance he had rendered him , and so much had this been the case that the Treasurership was practically a job with all the work taken out of it . He Was sure the Auditors would be able to tell them that they had found the Treasurer's accounts in good order .

On the motion of Bro . LIVESEY , seconded by Bro . BAGNELL , two of the Auditors , the accounts were adopted . Bro . BROCKBANK moved a vote of thanks to Bro . Nicholl , the retiring P . G . Treasurer , for his past services , which was agreed to and duly acknowledged .

There were three brethren nominated for the office of Treasurer , namely , Bros . J . W . Edwards , P . M . 317 ; Alfred H . Williams , W . M . 2156 ; and J . W . Allison , P . M . 993 . These were duly proposed , and the following was the result of the ballot : Bro . Allison , 150 ; Bro . Edwards , 90 ; and Bro , Williamson , 45 . The appointment and investiture of Prov . Grand Officers then took place as follow :

Bro . James Heelis , 62 ... ,,. ... Prov . S . G . W . „ James G . Meakin , 992 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . A . Parkinson , 999 ,.. ... ... ) r > n r-u „ Rev . E . Bigoe Bagot , 62 ... ... ... j Prov ' Gl Cha P ' „ Walter H . Vaughan , 10 30 ... .,, Prov . G . Reg . „ John Chadwick , 44 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Wm . Bagnall , 20 4 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ Nathaniel Nicholson , 1 723 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ George Board , 1798 ... ... .,, Prov . J . G . D . „ . C . D . Cheetham , jun ., 993 ,., ... Prov . J . G . D . „ John Holroyd , 1134 ,.. ... ,., Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . Pemberton , 1030 ,.. .,. ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ Thomas Parkinson , 269 ,., ... .,, Prov . D . G . D . C . „ Thomas Woodcock , 191 .........Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Joseph Mellor , 1 392 ... ... ,,, Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ Samuel Warburton , 10 5 .........Prov . G . Std . Br . „ Wm . Cooper , 146 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ W . Tattersall , 345 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ James Newton , 37 ,,. ... ,., Prov . A . G . Sec . „ Joseph Harling , 1948 ,.. ... .,, Prov . G . Purst . „ J . Heap , 344 ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ R . R . Lisenden , 317 „ W . Cartwright , 633

„ Kenneth Maclean , 10 3 0 ,.. ... , „ ! n ,-, Ct , „ E . W . Irving , 1170 ;"!» Prov . G . Stwds . ,, E . G . Lingard , 10 3 „ J . Cooper , 10 3 ... ... „ , J „ Thomas Higson , 348 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The Prov . Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which took place at the Pendlebury Institute . The noble hall had been beautifully decorated , and the catering was in the hands of Mr . Parrish , of the George Hotel . Bro . Geo . Mellor , the acting P . G . M ., presided , and there was a fair attendance of brethren . On the removal of the cloth the usual toast list was gone through .

Too much praise cannot be accorded to Bro . W . H . Vaughan , P . G . R ., for the admirable arrangements made for the comfort of the brethren present . Everything passed off most splendidly , and the meeting held at Stockport will be numbered among the most successful yet held .

LUMLEY , J AMES , COL . THE HON . —Was present at the initiation of his Royal Highness Frederick Prince of Wales , at Kew Palace , November 5 th , 1737 . We think it well to express here our opinion that Dermolt ' s statement , on which Oliver seems to have relied , that Bros . Ewen , Diisagu *

liers , Erasmus King , Wm . Gofton , Lord Baltimore , formerly Calvert , Madden , De Noyer , and Vraden , who were the original " Trusty Fellow Crafts , " aided to establish the Grand Lodge of 1717 cannot be accepted With the exception of Desaguliers , none of these brethren are previousl y mentioned by Anderson . —Kenning ' s Cyclobcedia of Freemasonry .