Provincial Grand Lodge Of Jersey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF JERSEY .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Temple , on the 31 st ult ., and was followed by the usual banquet , at which from 40 to 50 brethren took part . Bro . E . C . Malet de Carteret , P . G . M ., was in the chair , and was supported by Bro . Dr . J . Le Cronier ,

D . P . G . M . The following were appointed as Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . Charles Naylor ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ H . E . Durell ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Richard Peek ... ... ... Prov . G . Chaplain . „ C . J . Renouf ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Dr . A . C . Godfray ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ C . E . Malet de Carteret ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ E . Bree ¦••... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ E . Oldridge ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . W . Hambling ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ A . Curry ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ G . Coutanche ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ C . F . Luke ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Capt . Hew Stevenson ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

;; f : S . To c ^ ::::::... JP ^ G-SIAB ™ . „ l . B . Cummings ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ M . J . Bradley ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ P . Le Boutillier „ J . Vautier ... „ A . C . M . Queree ... ... ... , „ A . de Carteret ... ... J" Prov . G . Stwds . „ P . W . Davey „ T . H . Wakley ... ... ... J „ G . Rogers ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . A handsome testimonial was voted to Bro . P . E . Sohier , the retiring

P . G . Secretary , and the Prov . Grand Master was appointed special Steward for the province at the forthcoming Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , towards the funds of which a substantial donation was voted .

Consecration Of The Bective Mark Lodge, No. 452, At Keswick.

CONSECRATION OF THE BECTIVE MARK LODGE , No . 452 , AT KESWICK .

A good number of the Mark Masters of the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland assembled at the Keswick Hotel , Keswick , on Thursday , the 17 th inst ., for the purpose of being present at the consecration of a new Mark lodge , under circumstances-that are somewhat unusual , as it is just 20 years past of the 30 th of March when a similar ceremony was performed in the same place , a lodge bearing the same honoured and revered name ,

but on the roll No . 147 , was duly dedicated to Mark Masonry , there being only one Mark lodge under the English Constitution in the province—Cumberland Lodge , No . 6 o , Carlisle , but like unto all that ' s human , it was doomed to change , and about 10 years ago it became numbered with the past , although every effort was tried to prevent it . From what we witnessed on Thursday we have a firm and well-grounded hope that the Mark will become a prosperous Degree in Keswick .

The ceremony of consecration was ably performed by Bro . Col . F . R , Sewell , P . M . 229 , Deputy Prov . G . M ., assisted by Bros . P . de E . Collin , P . M . 151 , P . G . D . England , P . P . S . G . W . ; H . Peacock , P . M . 229 , Grand Steward , P . P . S . G . W . ; Geo . Dalrymple , P . M . 216 , P . A . G . D . C . England , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . G . B . Armes , P . G . Chap . ; Rev . Jamcs ; Anderson , P . M , 21 3 , P . P . S . G . W . ; James Gardiner , P . M . 151 , P . G . Stwd . England , P . G .

Sec ; Jas . Stout , P . M . 6 a \ , P . J . G . W . ; Thos . Atkinson , P . M . 229 , P . G . S . O . ; J . J . Little , VV . M . 282 , P . J . G . D . ; Dr . Chas . Gore-Ring , G . P . Abraham , Thos . Usher , P . M ., P . P . G . S . O . ; J . O . Scott , P . M . 151 ; P . P . G . S . O . ; the Rev . W . Cree , 195 ; and H . D . Cook , 213 , P . P . G . Org . The officers designate were Bros . Dr . Charles Gore-Ring , VV . M . ; George Perry Abraham , S . VV . ; John Wilkinson , J . W .

Previous to the elements of consecration being applied , Bro . the Rev . G . B . ORMES . P . G . Chap ., delivered a long and eloquent address on " The Ancient History of Mark Masonry , " which was attentively listened to . The lodge was then duly dedicated to Mark Masonry . Eight candidates were balloted for and accepted , and seven advanced to the honourable Degree ; two joining members were also balloted for and accepted . The ceremony of advancement was performed by Bro Dalrymple .

Bro . Dr . Gore-Ring , W . M . designate , was presented to Bro . Gardiner , and he was installed in the chair of A . in a most impressive manner , and invested the following as his officers : Bros . Abraham , S . W . ; J . Wilkinson , J . W . ; W . Hodgson , M . O . ; Rev . H . D . Rawnsley , S . O . ; G . Booker , J . O . ; J . F . Hope , Treas . ; J . Gibson , Sec ; H . S . Wilson , S . D . ; J . Swinburn , J . D . ; J . Williamson , I . G . ; and Crowden , Tyler .

Bro . Dr . GORE-RING said that previous to closing the lodge it gave him much pleasure to move that a vote of thanks be passed to Bro . Col . Sewell and the other members of the Craft that had so ably assisted him to consecrate the lodge , and that the same be recorded upon the minutes . Bro . ABRAHAM seconded the proposition , and it was unanimously agreed to .

Letters and wires of congratulations were read from Bros . G . J . McKay , P . G . D . England , D . P . G . M . ( Craft ); T . A . Argles , P . M . 195 , P . P . S . GAV . ; VV . F . Lamonby , P . M . 229 , P . P . G . Sec . ( who also stated that he had been advanced in the old Bective Lodge over 20 years ago ) ; John Vakefield , VV . M . 216 , P . G . M . O . ; Ed . Loach , P . M . 2 S 3 , P . J . G . O . ; J . Lowery , VV . M . 421 , P . G . R . of M . ; G . Starkey , P . P . G . D . C . ; and Spencer "roadbent , P . S . G . D .

With " Hearty good wishes " the lodge was closed , and the brethren , at " ro Dr . Gore-Ring's invitation , subsequently dined in the hotel . The usual 'oast list followed .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Drill Hall , Wolverhampton , on the 14 th inst . The P . G . M ., Bro . Col . G . S . Tudor , presided , and was supported by brethren from all the lodges in the province . Among those present were—Bros . J . F . Pepper , Prov . S . G . Warden ; J . Webberley , Prov . J . G . Warden ;

Rev . W . Prosser , Prov . G . Chaplain ; C . A . Newnham , P . G . O ., P . G . Treas . ; Major G . W . Walker , P . G . Sec ; J . H . Bellyse , P . G . M . O . ; J . Candelent , P . G . J . O . ; Sergt .-Maj . Woods , P . G . D . C . ; W . Bywater , P . G . S . B . ; W . Twist , P . G . Tyler ; Major J . B . Morgan , P . P . G . M . O . ; Major E . Pritchard , P . P . G . S . O . ; J . F . Chapman , P . P . G . S . B . ; S . Jenkins , P . P . J . G . D . ; Herbert Windle , P . P . G . I . G . ; Walter A . Parker , P . P . G . Stwd . ; and several brethren of private lodges .

Apologies were received from Bros . J . B . Piercey , P . P . J . G . W . ; Major E . H . Thorne , Past Grand Stwd ., P . P . S . G . W . ; Major F . Walton , P . P . S . G . W . ; and others . After the minutes of the annual meeting held at Wolverhampton , on the

12 th day of October , rSpr , were read and confirmed , the Provincial Grand Master appointed Bro . J . F . Pepper , P . S . G . W ., as Deputy Prov . G . M ., who was then obligated and invested by the P . G . M . and placed on his right , after being proclaimed and saluted , The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER said that he could not let the

opportunity pass without sincerely thanking the P . G . M . for appointing him his Deputy , and at the same time to say how much he appreciated the high honour conferred upon him . He certainly did not expect or desire further promotion in Masonry , but remembering the many kind favours he had received from the P . G . M ., he felt it would be ungrateful to refuse an office to which was attached some work and responsibility . He reminded the brethren of the increase of Mark Masonry in the country , and hoped each of them would do his utmost to ensure its success in Staffordshire . He would be

pleased to do his best to promote its prosperity , and felt sure all the brethren would render him any assistance or information he might require in the discharge of the duties of his office . The roll of lodges and officers was called and responded to , and the Prov . Grand Treasurer presented his accounts for the year , which were received and ordered to be entered on the minutes .

On the proposition of the P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . J . B . MORGAN , acting P . S . G . W ., Bro . C . A . Newnham , P . G . O ., was unanimously reelected Prov . Grand Treasurer . The Prov . Grand Master appointed and invested the following officers for the year :

Bro . Major J . B . Morgan ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ H . Windle ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Major E . Pritchard ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ J . Bates ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ S . Jenkins ... ... ,., ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . VV . Prosser ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, C . A . Newnham ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . Charlesworth ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ Major G . W . Walker ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . B . Devereux ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . F . Chapman ... ... ... Prov . [ . G . D . „ VV . A . Parker ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of VV . ,, Sergeant-Major J , Woods ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ T . G . Bennet ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ F . VV . Willmore ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ H . R . Strange ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ S . B . Wheway ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ W . Twist ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER invited discussion on any subject the brethren would like to bring before Provincial Grand Lodge , and also their opinion as to the advisability of holding the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in different parts of the province , instead of always at Wolverhampton , as heretofore , when it appeared to be the general desire that the meeting should be moveable . Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

"Early Grand" Freemasonry, Scotland.

" EARLY GRAND" FREEMASONRY , SCOTLAND .

Late last century , and early this , what is known as the " higher " or " additional" Degrees were worked in Scotland , under the supposed but fictitious authority of lodge warrants . The presence of the Craft charter was sufficient to regularise any meeting for the conferring of the Royal Arch | Knight Templar , and other ceremonies . 'Die Grand Lodge , in 1800 , objected to such Degrees being worked , and then , to obtain some kind of

authority , certain brethren in the South of Scotland petitioned the " Early Grand Encampment" of Ireland , and obtained warrants for that purpose , the first , it is believed , being dated in the year 1802 . This subordinate Body became independent some 20 years later , by consent of the Irish Body , and later on , we understand , the Royal Arch Grand

Chapter has become quite separate from the Knight Templar , though still practically one organisation . We mention these facts with caution and . reservation , as it is difficult to get at the real state of matters , and Bro . Hughan , of Torquay , who knows more about the points involved , and ihe history of the Society than anyone else in England , declines to be " drawn " on the subject .

It is said that there arc nearly a score of Royal Arch chapters under the " Early Grand Chapter " working in the South of Scotland , with hundreds of companions , and possibly about the same number of Knight Templar encampments , with proportionately less members , but still numerous and enthusiastic .

There are now talks in the air about Union with the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland as respects the Royal Arch Chapters , and it is to be hoped that sufficient true Masonic feeling will prevail on both sides to lead to such a satisfactory result . The smaller , but older , organisation , has much to gain in the way of prestige from joining the influential and larger body , with head-quarters at Edinburgh ( which was never really so powerful

and prosperous as now ); and the regular Grand Chapter of Scotland may well join hands with its friendly rival , and be completely sovereign in Royal Arch Masonry throughout the country . Honourable terms might easily be arranged , and Peace and Harmony prevail . Bro . R . S . Brown , G . S . E ., is a most zealous Craftsman , and the principal officers of the Grand Chapter are conspicuous for their zeal and ability . We say , Unite and be Happy .