Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

On Wednesday afternoon the annual meeting of the Pro-. cial Grand Lodge of Middlesex was held at the Town Hall Twickenham , under the presidency of Col . Burdett , v nvincial Grand Master . Bro . F . Davison occupied the gg . W . chair , and Bro . H . G . Buss that of G . J . W . There as ' a crowded attendance of brethren , amongst whom for Col

. General Brownngg , Prov . G . M . Surrey ; . tvisrsinton , Major Shadwell Clerke , W . Hyde Pullen , H . C Levander , H . A . Dubois , Lord de Clifford , T . J . Sabine , TV Ramsay , Sir C . Bright , Captain Reginald Williams , Q A . Smith , W . H . Green , A . H . Tattershall , Lieut .-Col . Tames Peters , J . Lewis Thomas , E . Kimber , Thos . Massa , W H . Pearse > W . Hammond , J . M . Stedwell , and H .

Massey ( Freemason ) . . . . t L 0 dge having been duly opened , the minutes were read . Bro . H . Levander , Prov . G . Sec , and after their confirmation , the balance-sheet of the province was submitted to the brethren . This showed a balance in hands of the Treasurer of £ 200 9 s . Sd ., a result which was hailed with much cheering by the brethren .

Bro . Levander , after the balance-sheet had been received and adopted , by direction of the P . G . M ., read the patent of appointment of Bro . R . W . Little as Deputy Prov . G . Master , and Bro . Little having been formally obligated , was invested by Col . Burdett with the clothing of his rank , the ceremony being accompanied with heatty signs of approval by the Grand Lodge .

The appointment and investiture of Provincial Grand Officers followed , Bro . H . G . Buss , Prov . J . G . W ., being first unanimously elected as Provincial Grand Treasurer , amidst loud cheering . The following is the list of the new appointments : — Dr . Ramsay Prov . G . S . W . I . Lewis Thomas Prov . J . G . W .

Rev . W . F . Reynolds Prov . G . Chaplain Rev . W . L . Moses Prov . G . Chapl ain H . G . Buss Prov . G . Treas . E , Letchworth Prov . G . Register . H . C . Levander Prov . G . Sec . J . Mason Prov . G . S . D . H . H . Swallow Prov . G . J . D .

Thos . Massa Prov . G . S . of W E . Kimber Prov . G . D . C C . S . Brown Prov . G . A . D . C . E . Hopwood Prov . G . S . B . T . C . Walls Prov . G . Org . J . W . Baldwin Prov . G . P . J . Driscoll Prov . G . A . P .

J . Gilbert Prov . G . Tyler . Lord B . de Clifford , Sir Chas . T . Bright , G . C Rushworth , Frank Green , B . Sharp , and W . H . Saunders ... Prov . G . Stewards On the motion of Col . Burdett , seconded by Bro . T . J . Sabine , the following sums were voted by Provincial Grand Lodge : —/" io 10 s . to the Royal Masonic

Institution for Girls ; £ 10 1 os . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; and £ 10 to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Col . Burdett then left the chair , while Bro . Little proposed , and Bro . Buss seconded , "That the sum of £ 10 be voted towards the Burdett Testimonial Fund , and that all expenses of printing , postage , & c , connected with the

testimonial be defrayed out of the funds of the province . " This comprised the whole of the lodge business , and Bro . Levander having announced that letters of apology tor absence had been received from Col . Creaton , Maxwell Close , Jas . Terry , J . C . Parkinson , F . Walters and others , lodge was closed and the brethren proceeded to the Grcvhound , Richmond , to banquet . At this banquet Col .

Burdett presided and he was supported by forty other brethren . The toasts were afterwards proposed in regular order , and Bro . Hyde Pullen responded for the toast of the Earl of Carnarvon , Lord Skelmersdale , and Jthe rest 0 ! the Grand Officers . Bro . H . G . Buss , Prov . Grand 1 reasurer , proposed " The Health of the Prov . G . Master . " After apologising for

Bro . Little , D . G . M ., not being able to propose the toast on account of the state of his health , he said that the brethren all knew Col . Burdett so well , and the ability with which he had always discharged his duties since he had been G . M . of the Province of Middlesex , that it would be unnecessary to say much in proposing the toast of his Health . Col . Burdett was the first Grand Master of

Middlesex , and I had travelled with it from its foundation through all the difficulties and dangers which must Wend a newly formed province . He had weathered all "s storms and breezes , and had succeeded in bringing about a happy result . No province could possibly exhibit a better phalanx of Masons than the Provincial Grand Lod ge of Middlesex . They wece all happy and united

together , and , he believed , no province could pay a greater amount of respect or honour to its Prov . G . Master than Middlesex did to Col . Burdett . The Colonel was always among them at their meetings , no matter where they 'we assembled . He was always willing and anxious to ssist them , and in all their undertakings they never found X h £ ' ' When tney had a Prov * Grand Master ° snowcd a determination and energy to promote the St

en i ' j and weIiare of the Masonic Order , the brethren not " "t set a high value on him . In fact he did fou ti 1 ° r Where a bctter Prov ' Grand faster could be hold ti , katl been his ( Bro . Buss ' s ) peculiar pleasure to estahv t ° ffice of Treasurer ° f the province ever since its honn ment > wi ' 'he exception of last year , when the cloth ! " wearing the Prov . Junior Grand Warden ' s in th ¦ been conferred on him by Col . Burdett ; and ver „ f positlon of Treasurer he had had occasion to refer Utter i qUentl y t 0 the Prov > G < M - Whenever he did so a the th ways rail « « n by return of post . This showed his 1 !! i , ° - rous . h business-like way in which he performed 15 duties vnth regard to the province .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

Col . Burdett , in reply , said he felt very much gratified by what Bro . Buss had said , and he was delighted to find by the heartiness with which those sentiments had been received , that the brethren appreciated his endeavours to advance the interests of the province . They might depend upon it that he would exert himself on behalf of the province , and , as far as he was able , of the brethren . He

had been ably assisted by the brethren of the province , who had endeavoured to raise the province high among the list of provinces . Though it had only been established seven or eight years , it was able now to hold up its head and say that very few provinces in the South of England were able to compete with it in any way whatever . He believed there were no better set of officers or working Masons to be

found in any province in the South of England , or in the north , or any part of the country . He said this not only from hearsay , but from his own experience , derived from visiting lodges in his province . As far as he was able , he visited every lodge . He was always most hospitably received , and he was much gratified at the way the work was conducted . There we e some lodges which did not

perform the work so well as others , but he was convince d they could come up to the same degree of excell ence as the majority . It was the admirable way in which the work was done which gave him his pleasure in visiting the lodges . Col . Burdett then proposed "The Prov . Grand Master of Surrey . "

General Brownngg , in reply , said that Col . Burdett and he held nearly the same date in the army as they did in Grand Lodge , and when they went into Grand Lodge they usually walked side by side , " shoulder to shoulder , " and as soldiers they knew the meaning of that expression , and also of the expression " knee to knee . " When the infantry went shoulder to shoulder , and the cavalry knee to knee ,

they never feared the results . Surrey and Middlesex would always be so , and would assist each other as they should . He would answer for the province of Surrey , and Colonel Burdett could answer for Middlesex . He would tell them now wha t took place before Surrey and a sister province a little north . Surrey and Berks and Bucks met before the election for the charities and compared notes and assisted

each other . The first year this was done Berks and Bucks had a boy they wanted to get into the Boys' School , and Surrey had a girl they wanted to get into the Girls' Scho ol Consequently Surrey gave their boys' votes to Berks and Bucks , and Berks and Bucks gave their girls' votes to Surrey . Both were successful . Bucks and Berks wanted to get an old man into the Benevolent Institution . Surrey

wanted to get an old woman in . By an exchange of votes both candidates were got in . So many of the brethren of these provinces belonged to London lodges that they furnished stewards for the festivals and so got more votes . He wished Middlesex to join in the convention between Berks and Bucks , and he threw the hint out for consideration , thinking it would be a profitable arrangement for all .

Col . Burdett proposed "The Health" of Bro . Little , Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Every brother was quite aware of what the services of Bro . Little had been to the Province . He had been the instigation of this province , its mainstay , and had placed it in the position it now occupied . On account of the state of Bro . Little ' s health he would not trouble him to respond to this toast .

It would cause him great exertion , and it would be out of a feeling of kindness to him that he wished to spare him the fatigue , of replying . Throughout his life Bro . Little had exerted himself in the cause of Masonry , particularly during the last few years , and more especially for the Province of Middlesex . He did not believe any brother could have done more than Bro . Little had done for Middlesex , for it

was to him that Middlesex owed the proud position she now occupied . He would ask the brethren to thank Bro . Little in silence for what he had done . The toast having been duly acknowledged by the brethren , Col . Burdett proposed " The Visitors . " Among the visitors they had brethren who were very severe critics in

Freemasonry , brethren who would perform Masonic duties in the most energetic and perfect manner . In their ranks Bro . Major Shadwell Clerke held a front place ; and although that brother might not perhaps think the Province of Middlesex had yet reached the point of excellence it ought to have reached , yet he must remember that the province was a young province .. He would however

confess that the province was very favourably progressing , and that it had worked satisfactorily and well . ] Major Shadwell Clerke replied , and said he had for many years been invited to attend the meetings of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex , but unfortunately he had been unable to accept the invitations . It had been a great pleasure to him to be present that day , for he had met

several very old personal and dear friends . Also he had seen the working of the Grand Lodge , which although the Prov . Grand Master had somewhat apologised for , was a model to all lodges in England . It was the youngest of the provinces , but it was equal to the oldest and largest . It was very good of the Prov . Grand Master to speak of him ( Bro . Shadwell Clerke ) in the way he had spoken , and he

could assure the brethren that any service he could render to Masonry was a labour of love to him . He might tell the brethren that they were most fortunate in having such a Provincial Grand Master at their head . At the same time they were most fortunate in having such a Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Bro . Little . It was a great pleasure to him ( Bro . Shadwell Clerke ) to see his old friend

and schoolfellow elevated to the position of Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex , and he hoped he would long be spared to hold that high and honourable office . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . F . Binckes proposed , by request , the toast of " The Masonic Charities , " and told the brethren that up to the present time over £ 36 , 000 had been received by the three Masonic Institutions this year . He believed that the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

greater part of this sum had been taken up by new Stewards for new lodges ; and , if so , it showed that the new lodges were started , not for the aggranelisement of the brethren , but for the promotion of the welfare of the Institution . The new lodges had elone their duty nobly . Looking around the table he could see a large number of brethren who had served the office of Steward .

The brethren were not yet " weary in well doing , " and when they saw the officials of the Institution exerting themselves to the utmost on behalf of their respective charities , it was , perhaps , somewhat of an incentive to them to exert themselves . He called on Bro . J . Lewis Thomas to reply . Bro . J . Lewis Thomas having responded to the toast ,

Col . Burdett proposed "The Provincial Grand Officers . " Dr . Ramsay replied , and the Tyler ' s toast having been drunk the brethren separated . During the evening a beautiful selection of music was performed under the direction of Capt . Reginald Williams , by Mesdames Thaddeus Wells and Barnett , and Bros . Thurley Beale and H . Parker .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Monmouthshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MONMOUTHSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Loelge of Monmouthshire took place on Thursday , the 19 th of July , at the Masonic Hall , Newport , under the banner of the Albert Eelward , Prince of Wales , Lodge , No . 1429 , when Bro . Lieut .-Col . Lyne , P . G . M ., presided , supported by

Bro . Capt . S . G . Homfray , P . A . G . D . C of England , and D . P . G . M . Monmouth ; W . Pickford , P . G . S . W . ; H . Gratte , P . G . J . W . ; Rev . J . Osman , P . G . Chap . ; C . Rowc , P . G . Sec . ; and many other distinguished brethren , including Bros . D . Watson , W . M . of Gla . norgan Lodge , 3 6 ; J . Hopkins , W . M ., and W . Davis , P . M . of Bute Lodge , 9 C 0 . The lodge being opened , the Prov . G . Treasurer ' s

accounts were passed , showing a balarce of £ 148 17 s . od . The following officers were then appointed : — G . A . Brown Prov . G . S . W . H . Griffiths Prov . G . J . W . Rev . J . Osman Prov . G . Chap . C . Rowe Prov . G . Sec , W . Pickford Prov . G . Treas .

W . Parfitt Prov . G . Reg . J . Piggford Prov . G . S . of Wks . M . Jones Prov . G . S . D . R . Spercer Prov . G . J . D . F . Orders Prov . G . D . C . S . Gorvin PrDv . A . G . D . C .

H . J . Groves Prov . G . Org . Jos . Gibbs Prov . G . S . B . W . Dovey Prov . G . Purs . L . Precce Prov . G . Tyler . H . Fletcher Prov . A . G . Tyler . Wills , Golding , Hcrmessen , and

Martin Prov . G . Stwds . V . W . Bro . Capt . S . G . Homfray , I' . A . G . D . C , and D . P . G . M ., having served the office of Steward for the Girl .- , ' and Benevolent institutions , and having taken up over £ 500 and qualifieel himself as Vice-Patron , was then

presented with the charity jewel by Col . Lyne , P . G . M ., on behalf of the province , who hoped that he would live for many years to wear it . Bro . H . Griffiths , on behalf of the Kennard Loelge , proposed that something more substantial should be given to the D . P . G . M . for the valuable services rendered to the

province . Bro . Capt . S . G . Homfray thanked the brethren , and hoped' that he might always maintain the same good opinion they had formed of him . When he undertook the office of D . P . G . M ., about seven years ago , the province had scarcely any votes for either Institution , and now they had over 130 for the Benevolent , ninety for the Girls , and

about seventy foe the Boys , and he should never rest until this number was largely increased . The P . G . M . then stated that it was his intention to act as Steward for the next Boys' School festival , and qualify himself as a Vice-Presieient , hi being already Vice-President for the other Institutions , and hoped that when the time arrived the brethren would send him up

with a good list . The business of the Prov . G . Lodge was then suspended and the brethren , to the number of over 150 , formed procession , headed by the band from the Industrial Schools , Caerleon , and the Prov . G . Lodge , preceded by the Volunteer Rifle Corp Band , and marched to St . Woolos Church , where a most excellent sermon was preached by

the Rev . J . Osman , Prov . G . Chaplain , and a collection made . The procession was then re-formed , and the brethren returned to the Masonic Hall , when £ 10 10 s . oil . was announced to be the amount collected , which the brethren very generously voted towards the New Organ Fund for St . Woolos Church . A vote of thanks was pass cd to the Rev . Canon Hawkins for the use of the church , anel also

to the choir for their valuable assistance . The Prov . G . Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet at the King ' s Head Hotel , which was presided over by Bro . Lieut .-Col . Lyne , P . G . M ., supported by Bro . Capt . S . Geo . Homfray and several distinguished visitors , amongst whom were J . Challinder ,

Lodge 679 , E . D . of South Wales ; E . Hamcr , Lodge 1072 , W . D . of South Wales ; and Rev . — Laton , of Gloster . The usual Masonic toasts were given , and some excellent harmony was given by the Newport Glee Society , and the P . G . M . thanked Bro . F . Orders , the W . M . of Albert Edward , Prince of Wales Lodge , for the excellent arrangements he had made throughout the day .

SHAKESPEARE AND FREEMASONRY . —A letter on this subject , from the able pen of G , Somers Bellamy , Esq ., will appear next week .