United Grand Lodge Of England.

^ 6041 us . iod ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash £ roo , and for servants' wages £ 100 , and balance of annual allowance for library £ 8 gs . 8 d ( Signed ) THOMAS FENN ,

Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , President . 16 th February , 1892 . 8 . Report of Bro . John Smith , Auditor of the Grand Lodge accounts , of receipts and disbursements during the year 1891 . List of lodges for which warrants have been granted by the M . W , Grand Master since the last Ouarterh' Communication of Grand Lodge . *

No . 2420 , Thc Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge , Waddesdon , Buckinghamshire . 2421 , The Carrington Lodge , Amersham , Buckinghamshire . 2422 , The Ebbisham Lodge , Epsom , Surrey .

Knights Templary In Maryland.

KNIGHTS TEMPLARY IN MARYLAND .

The historian of the Grand Lodge of Maryland , Bro . E . T . Schultz , has written and published by thc authority of the " Maryland Commandery , No . i , Knights Templar , " a valuable history of that organisation , stationed at Baltimore , State of Maryland , from 1790 to 1890 , together with particulars of its various pilgrimages and its Centennial Celebration held in May , 1890 .

The facsimiles of old documents , diplomas , medals , seals , and an extraordinary number of portraits of local celebrities considerably enhance the value of the large and imposing volume , now issued from the press of Bro . John B . Kurtz , and , doubtless , as its importance and exhaustive character

become known to Masonic students in tbe United States , Canada , and Great Britain , the edition will soon be in the hands of many hundreds of readers , and much appreciated by all who desire authentic information of the orig in and career of what is believed to be the oldest encampment , originated as such , in the whole of the United States .

If the Maryland brethren nre as demonstrative and appreciative as they should be , Bro . Schultz would soon be preparing a second edition , for since the historian had examined the old records and made all needful extracts , nearly all the minutes and other valuables have alas ! been destroyed by fire ,

and it is thus only by the fortunate circumstance of Bro . Schultz having been authorised to write the history of this venerable commandery , that we can now possess veritable reproductions of the originals once existing , but which subsequently perished in the devastating flames which consumed the Masonic Temple of Baltimore .

Knight Templary in America is first met with at Boston , Mass ., in the year 1769 , but , as Bro . Schultz points out , that was in connection with a Royal Arch chapter , and the continuity of its working is not apparent . Bro

Schultz ' s claim is that the " Maryland Commandery " is the earliest known body of Knights Templars meeting as an encampment or preceptory ( as we should term it ) in the United States , and , so far as I am able to judge and obtain information thereon , hc still holds the field .

Copies of this fine volume of over 300 pages may be had direct from the author , Bro . E . T . Schultz , 215 , W . German-street , Baltimore , Maryland , U . S . A ., post free for eight , twelve , or sixteen shillings each , according to binding , and I hope that a number of this most interesting and valuable publication will be applied for by my English brethren . W . I . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY .

A special Provincial Grand I . odge of the above province was held at the Criterion , Piccadilly , on Friday , the 19 th inst . Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the following were present : Bros . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., P . G . M . ; C . Hammerton , D . P . G . M . ; C . H . Neville , P . J . G . W . ; L . G . G . Robins , P . G . Treas . ; John W . Mash , P . G . R . ; W .

G . Brighten , P . G . Sec ; F . West , P . G . M . O . ; W . M . Stiles , P . S . G . O . ; L . P . Conbro , P . S . G . D . ; H . A . Marshall , P . G . D . C ; P . H . Clisby , P . G . Std . Br . ; C . Chauffourier and Dr . R . D . R . Sweeting , P . G . Stewards ; and many Grand Ollicers , Past Provincial Grand Officers , Masters , Past Masters , Wardens , and Overseers of lodges in the province , and several

visitors . The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER having been saluted , spoke in feeling terms of the death ol H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence , and moved that the following address be sent to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen . The DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER seconded , and it was carried unanimously .

To the yueen ' s Most Excellent Majesty . May it please your Majesty , We , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Middlesex and Surrey in Special Grand Lodge assembled , humbly beg to approach your Majesty with expressions of deepest sympathy at the great loss vour Majesty has sustained by the death of your grandson , H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor , Duke of Clarence and Avondale .

We humbly pray that the Great Overseer of the Universe may grant to your Majesty strength and comfort in this great trial , and continue to vouchsafe to you that good health which is so desired by all your Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects . Given at London under the seal of our Provincial Grand Lodge this 19 th day of February , 1892 . FRAS . BURDETT , Prov . G . M . C . HAMMERTON , Deputy Prov . G . M . WM . G . BRIGHTEN , Prov . G . Sec .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER again rose , and in a most suitable manner proposed , and Bro . LOVEGROVE seconded , that the following address be sent to the Gra ;* id Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . Carried unanimously .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

To his Royal Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , Most Worshipful Grand Master of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown . We , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Middlesex and Surrey in Special Grand Lodge assembled crave permission to tender to your Royal Highness and her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales our heartfelt sympathy on the sad occasion of the death of your beloved son , H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor , Duke of Clarence and Avondale .

We are conscious of the great loss the nation has sustained and we humbl y pray that the Great Overseer of the Universe may strengthen and comfort your Royal Highnesses and the members of your Royal House In this your great and severe bereavement .

Given at London under the seal of our Provincial Grand Lodge this 19 th day of February , 1892 . FRAS . BURDETT , Prov . G . M . C . HAMMERTON , Deputy Prov . G . M . WM . G . BRIGHTEN , Prov . G . Sec .

The Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . W . G . Brighten , was then called upon to give a short history of the province , and The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY then read the following , a short descriptive history of this Provincial Grand Lodge since its formation . * " This Provincial Grand Lodge was constituted at Guildford on the and June , 1871 , by the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., the Grand Master of the

Order , and our present Provincial Grand Master received his patent of appointment , which he has held ever since , it having been renewed every three years since that time by the unanimous wish of the brethren of the province at each triennial election . At this first meeting it does not appear that there were sufficient brethren to fill up all the offices , seven of which , with four Stewardships , were accordingly left vacant . The roll of lodges

was ascertained on the nth July , 1871 , but only three lodges made any returns to this Grand Lodge . Brother C . Hammerton was Provincial Grand Secretary for the first year . In 1872 there were no returns from lodges ; Brother James Stevens was appointed Secretary , and in August , 1873 , he was able to report that he had received returns from six lodges , but onl y two of these had rendered any dues . At this meeting the office of Senior

Deacon was conferred upon me , and I have since that date attended all meetings . There is no record of any meeting in the year 1874 , although the minutes of 6 th February , 1875 , show that it was summoned by Brother S . C . Dibdin , as Provincial Grand Secretary , who reported the names of seven lodges as attached to this province , but the minutes show that onl y two lodges had made returns and paid dues to the end of the preceding

year . The minutes of the annual meeting of the 19 th June , 1875 , show that the number of lodges had been reduced to five , as two of the older lodges had ceased working . Brother S . C . Dibdin was re-appointed Provincial Grand Secretary , but shortly afterwards intimated his intention of retiring , and Bro . Hammerton , who from the first evinced a most livel y interest in the prosperity of the Provincial Grand Lodge , exerted himself to

find a suitable brother to present to our Provincial Grand Master as Provincial Grand Secretary , but he was unable lo find anyone willing lo undertake the office except myself , and I was duly rewarded with the letter of appointment , and I have carried on that part of the business for the province from June 1875 . All three previous Secretaries had had to bear the brunt of the work of the early years , and their work must have been

heavy yet most unsatisfactory to them as their labours did not then appear to bear any fruit , but the newly-appointed Secretary was placed in office just in time to reap thc harvest sown by his predecessors . There was much to do , the province had no funds in hand , there were several debts and outstanding liabilities , the old lodges , with two or three noble exceptions , would not affiliate themselves , and the only lodges then existing which were bound

to belong to the province were thc Percy , thc Panmure , and the Grosvenor , and whether from oversig ht or from a belief that the province was doing nothing , Grand Lodge had itself consecrated a lodge , the Temple , independent of this province . Your Secretary felt that he had undertaken too much but determined to try and succeed . U was necessary to stir up the brethren to found new lodges if this province were ever to attain any position , and your

Secretary found good men and true , year by year , to aid in the work , so that in his first year of office the Era and thc Francis Burdett were the first ncw lodges added , and at the annual meeting in July , 1876 , the Deputy P . G . M ., Bro . F . Davison , was able to report that there was a balance in hand on general account of £ 1 is . 4 d ., on Charity account £ 1 7 s . gd ., and that he knew of no outstanding liabilities . The returns and dues had been received

from nine lodges , and negotiations and arrangements were on foot for reviving thc Mallet and Chisel , No . 5 . At the annual meeting , July , 1 S 77 , your Provincial Grand Secretary was able to report that not only was the Mallet and Chisel , No . 5 , in full working order , but that in addition three new lodges had been consecrated , viz ., thc Croydon , the Studholme , and the Duke of Connaught , bringing the total of lodges to 13 . At the meeting " '

June , 1878 , your Secretary reported the addition of the Hammersmith , the West Smithfield , and the Menatschim Lodges , and in July , 1879 , five more , viz ., the Brixton , thc Clapton , the Prince Leopold , the Royal Naval , and Trinity College . In July , 1881 , two more , viz ., the Tenterden and tW High Cross , and in that year the Provincial Grand Master rewarded hi 5 Provincial Grand Secretary with the distinguished rank and office ol Pi * ' vinc ' wl Senior Grand Warden . Another brother held the office of Provinc * *

Grand Secretary for that year , and as all the papers remained at my olhcc ' we carried on thc duties there . In July , 1882 , I was again appointed Secretary on the expiration of my year of office as Warden , and in July ( th £ lJ [ your Secretary had the pleasure of reporting not only the addition of a lodge , the Henniker , but also that after a protracted discussion of scve years , the brethren of the Temple Lodge had seen their duty and p lcas lie in the direction of complete affiliation to this province , and had sent returns and paid dues . From that time until now thc Temple has bec " active , useful , and prosperous lodge . In July , 1884 , the addition 01