Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

Dr . Lennox Browne , P . D . G . D . C ; Matthew Clark , P . G . D . ; G . W . G . Barnard , Prov . G . Sec . Norfolk ; and others . The roll of lodges was then called by the Prov . G . Sec , and all the 44 composing the province were found to be represented . Bro . R . CLOWES , P . G . Std . Br ., P . P . S . G . W ., moved the adoption of the report of the Board of General Purposes .

Having respectfully congratulated Lord Warwick on his appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Essex , the Report went on to speak in glowing terms of the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in February last , over which his lordship presided , and at which the Province of Essex subscribed the large sum of £ 4000 . The returns from the lodges showed that during the year there had been 206 initiations , compared with 181 last year ;

and 77 joining members , compared with 78 last year . There had been So resignations , against 97 last year ; the losses by death had been 22 , whilst 20 brethren had been struck off the books of their respective lodges , leaving the present strength of the province 2521 members , against 2360 last year . The Board recommended the following grants : £ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , £ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , £ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and £ 5 5 s .

towards the Loughton Branch of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Institution for Nurses . The Board also recommended that the portrait in next year ' s Calendar should be that of the Right Reverend the Bishop of Barking , P . G . Chap ., and concluded by regretting the resignation of Bro . W . D . Meritt , who had been a member since its formation in 1 S 91 . The Report was adopted . The Charity Committee ' s Report was adopted unanimously .

At this point , Bro . J AMES TERRY , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I ., asked permission to say a few words . He remarked that he had been directed by his Committee to atlend the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge and to ask his lordship ' s acceptance of an engrossed vellum , in recognition of Lord Warwick ' s services as President of the last Festival of the Benevolent

Institution . On that occasion every lodge in the province had been represented by 102 Stewards , with a total subscription of £ 4000 , while the general result of the Festival , supported as it was by 618 Stewards from all parts of the country , was the splendid total of £ 26 , 400 . ( Applause . ) Bro . Terry then read the address , which was handsomely illuminated in album form , as follows :

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . To the Right Honourable the Earl of Warwick , R . W . Deputy Grand Master , R . W . Provincial Grand Master for Essex . At a meeting of the Committee of Management , held at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Wednesday , 13 th March , 1901 , \ V . Brother John A . Farnfield in the

chair , on motion duly made , it was unanimously resolved that the warmest thanks of the Committee of Management are due , and are hereby given , to the Right Honourable the Earl of Warwick , for his kindness in presiding at the Anniversary Festival on the 27 th February last , and also for his great exertions in promoting the interest of the Institution by his powerful advocacy of its claims

whilst acting as Chairman , in which he was supported by 618 brethren from all parts of the country , including 102 from his Province , by which means the funds were increased by . £ 26 , 400 , of which Essex contributed . £ 4000 , being , with the exception of the Jubilee Festival , the largest sum raised on behalf of the Institution .

Lord WARWICK , on rising to acknowledge the presentation , was received with great applause . He said he accepted with pleasure this handsome memento of an occasion of which he was very proud . He confessed that when it was suggested ^ that he should take the chair at this festival he had some misgivings , Essex having , like every other county in the kingdom , done so much for the various funds that had arisen out of the South African

War , and Bro . Terry , with all his experience , could not give him any idea of what that result might be . When that result was announced he was perfectly astonished and at the same time he was very proud of beinp Grand Master of such a province . Speaking of more general matters , his lordship made a feeling allusion to the death of Queen Victoria , and whilst speaking regretfully of the severance of the tie that had long bound

his Majesty the King to the Order , said it was a matter for great satisfaction that the Duke of Connaught had accepted the Grand Mastership . His Roval Highness was most thorough in all he undertook , and would conscientiously perform the important duties he had on the previous day at that great assembly at the Albert Hall so solemnly engaged to do . As regaids the province , he was glad to know that the work in the various

ledges was well done ; that there was a keen desire amongst the brethren to excel , and as a consequence they liberally supported the Charities . He thought they would be interested to know that a new lodge was about to be added to their roll . He had given his sanction to the formation of one at Chingford , which it was desired should be for the benefit of residents in that charming locality . He had carefully considered the petition when it was

brought before him—it seemed to him that there was a good opening for such a lodge , and he trusted it would prove a source of strength . Some of them would probably recollect thata few years ago they had a very pleasant Grand Lodge meeting at Easton . And he had several times thought how nice it would be if the brethren could come down to Warwick—not , of course , for a Grand Lodge—but for a pleasant gathering . The date for this had now been fixed , and he was glad to find that so large a number

were coming . His friend the Grand Secretary had been working like a slave in making arrangements —he had already been down in the district , and was lo go again in order that every possible arrangement for the comfort of the brethren and their lady friends might be made . It would give Lady Warwick and himself the greatest satisfaction to greet them on that occasion , and he hoped that all who took part in it would have an enjoyable time . ( Applause ) .

The next business was the election of four members of the Board of General Purposes , but as only the requisite number had been proposed , his lordship declared them duly elected as follows : Bros . VV . Ernest Dring , P . M . 45 . 3 , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Scott Miller , P . M . 2717 , P . P . J . G . W . ; I . H , Salter , P . M . 2342 , P . G . D ., P . P . J . G . W . ; and John J . C Turner . P . M . 5 , ! , P . P . S . G . W .

On ihe motion of Bro . GOWER , seconded by Bro . CLOWES , Bro . Charles J . Smith , P . M . 2504 , was unanimously elected Prov . G . Treasurer . The Earl of WARWICK having , amidst the heartiest applause , announced his re-appointment of Bro . Col . Lockwood , M . P ., as Dep . Prov . G . Master , appointeJ and invested his officers for the year as follows :

Bro . Howell J . J . Price , P . M . 2561 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Walter J . Tull , P . M . 250 S ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Elsan I . Colnett , Chap . 1457 ,,, Prov . G . Chap .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

Bro . W . G . Synnot , P . M . 2339 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 51 , P . A . G . D . of C . Eng . ( 25 th year ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Jethro Ambrose , W . M . 1457 ... ... ) p < , n „ R . A . Panchaud , P . M . 1457 ... ... 3 Frov" b < lj-U 3-" Percy , ? . Beard , P . M . 1734 ... - ^ Prov I . G Ds t \ onstameivi 2000

,, . j . ^ . , r .. ... ,.. ) „ VV . S . Page , P . M . 453 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of VV . „ A . Lucking , P . M . 160 , P . G . P . Eng . ( 28 th year ) Prov . G . D . C . „ J . H . Bridgman , P . M . 2255 ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . ,, William Leghorn , P . M . 2734 ... ,.. " ) „ Leo Taylor , I . P . M . 2501 ... ... >•Prov . A . G . D . Cs .

„ Arthur S . Gardiner , P . M . 2707 ... ... ) „ Charles R . Allen , P . M . 2749 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . Phillips Sayer , P . M . 1024 ... ... " 1 r e . j r , „ Arthur Hodsell Brooks , P . M . 1977 ... j Prov - ^ btd < Brs - ,, Sidney Hann , Org . 2005 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ VV . L . Crow , W . M . 2717 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec .

„ J . S . Wilkinson , I . P . M . 12 S 0 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ John Wright , P . M . 1543 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . 11 VV . J . Johnstone , W . M . 1312 ... ... ") ,, Alfred Ford , I . P . M 2757 ... ... | ocracioraivi 1177

,, r . n .. , r .. . ... ... in 1- c J „ A . R . Peake , W . M . 650 ... }• Prov . G . Stwds . „ Geo . Ackerman , P . M . 2734 ... ... | „ C . H . Archer , W . M . 697 ' ... ... J „ A . VV . Martin ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

On the motion of Bro . A . HAWARD IVES , seconded by Bro . H . E . DEHANE , the brethren unanimously elected Bro . Howell J . J . Price , the new Prov . S . G . W ., a member of the Charity Committee , in the place of the brother retiring by rotation . The Earl of WARWICK announced that the meeting for next year would be held at Chelmsford .

A hearty vote of thanks having been passed to the brethren of the Bagshaw Lodge for the admirable arrangements they had made for the meeting which was suitably acknowledged by the VV . M ., Bro . J ETHRO AMBROSE , Prov . Grand Lodge was closed . About 150 brethren afterwards sat down to a banquet , admirably served in the gymnasium of the new Club House , just opened opposite the Public Hall .

Lord Warwick presided , and gave the usual toasts . In proposing that of " The Worshipful Masters of the Lodges in the Province , " his Lordship associated it with the name of Bro . Ambrose , W . M . of the Bagshaw Lodge , and said , without wishing to derogate from any previous Prov . G . Lodge , the one they had held that day had been in all respects one of the best he ever recollected .

Bro . AMBROSE , in reply , said himself and the brethren associated with him were most gratified at his lordship ' s kind commendation . He had looked forward to that meeting ' . with considerable pleasure and some amount of anxiety , and their earnest desire had been to do all that was possible for the comfort of the brethren . During the dinner a string band played a selection of music , and between the toasts there was some excellent vocal music , under the direction of the Organist of the Bagshaw Lodge .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK .

The annual Prov . Grand Lodge for the above province was held , by permission of the Mayor , Mr . Charles Tacon , in the Council Chamber of Eye Town Hall on the 19 th instant , under the banner of Lodge Hartismere , No . 1663 , and , considering the inaccessibility of Eye , there was a numerous attendance ol Provincial Officers and brethren . The Chamber in which the lodge was held was prettily decorated , and in honour of the brethren visiting the old borough the band of Eye Company 2 nd V . B . S . R . played

selections of music in the Market Place . The Prov . G . Master , Lord Henniker , P . S . G . W ., P . P . S . G . VV . ( who has quite recently sustained grievous family bereavements ) , was unavoidably aosent—a fact which was deeply regretted , as it had been hoped that to his lordship would have fallen the honour of installing Bro . N . Tracy , 37 6 , P . G . Std . Br , Eng ., late Secretary to the province , into the Deputy Prov . G . Master's chair , vacant

by the lamented death of Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn . Under date July 15 th Bro . Lord Henniker wrote expressing his sorrow at being unable to attend . He had intended , he wrote , to be in London for the installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , and had engaged rooms , but another engagement prevented his leaving-the Isle of Man . He hoped the brethren

would excuse him , as he would be pleased to mest them whenever the opportunity arose . The Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . S . R . Anness , 37 C , P . P . S . G . VV ., also read expressions of regret tor absence from the Prov . Grand Masters , Deputy G . Masters , and Secretaries of the Provinces of Cambs , Norfolk , and Essex ; the Secretary to the Grand Lodge of England , and the Secretaries to the Boys' and Girls' Masonic Institutions .

Assembling about one o ' clock , Bro . Alex . Gibb , 114 , the retiiing Prov . S . G . W ., occupied the Prov . G . Master ' s chair , while Bros . J . M . Havey , 93 6 , P . P . S . G . W ., officiated as Prov . S . G . W ., and G . L . Oxborrow , 37 6 , as Prov . J . G . W . Other Present and Past Provinc ' al Officers in attmdance

were : Bros . W . J . Wilton , 71 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Rev . Arthur Robbs , 81 , P . P . G . C ; K . Smith , 81 , P . P . G . P . ; G . Booth , jun ., 81 , P . P . A . G . D . C . j Rev . T . Housecraft , 81 , P . P . G . C ; J . A . Pettitt , 225 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; G . W . Senton , 225 , P . G . Std . Br . ; Geo . Abbott , 225 , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . Powell Price , 225 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; A . W . Cook , 225 , P . P . G . P . ; Rev . W . E . Fletcher , 37 6 , P . G . Chap . ; B . R .

Bryant , 376 , P . P . G . Std . Br ; E . Hills , 959 and 37 6 , P . A . G . Sec ; Thomas Stevenson , 3 SS , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; F . C . Pecco : k , 516 , P . P . G . R . ; Rev . J . H . Pilkington , 555 , P . P . G . Chap . ; W . H . Mann , 929 , P . P . J . G . D . ; Harry Martin , 929 , P . P . G . P . ; H . J . Wright . 93 G , P . P . G . D . C . ; C . S . Brown , 93 6 , P . P . G . D . C . Middlesex ; R . H . Unsworth , 959 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; A . R . Trew , 959 ' P . P . J . G . D . ; Alma Cocks , 959 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; Geo . Gould , 959 , acting P . L > -

Tyler ; J . C . B . Winder , IOOS , P . P . G . S . B . ; C Denton Leach , 1008 , P . P . G . R . I W . A . Jones , 1008 , P . P . S . G . of W . Middlesex ; C . ] . N . Row , 1224 P . P . A . G . D . C ; ( i . F . Hawkins , 1224 , P . P . S . G . D . ; Major H . W . H . Cary-Elwes , 145 2 . P . P . J . G . W . ; J . Durrant , 1631 , P . A . G . P . ; H . Rix , 1663 , P . G . P . ; C . WHarper , 1663 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; ' H . J . Riches , 16 G 3 , P . P . G . S . ; J . T . Page , IW < P . P . G . Std . Br . ; C . C . Vincent , 1823 , P . J . G . D . ; J . M . Canova , I 9 8 -1 P . P . S . G . W . ; and Rev . S . j . Sherbrooke Banks , 2371 , P . G . Chap .