Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

a thoughtful and pleasing act on the part of the noble lord to ask his Masonic brethren to visit him in the charming country home where Lady Wantage and himself happily pass a good portion of their time , and the large assemblage proved how much the opportunity of spending a few hours at Lockinge was appreciated . Those who had enjoyed the privilege of visiting this delightful demesne on previous occasions were only too glad to

wend their way thither once more , while those who were strange to Lockinge were more than delighted with all they saw . Whether the visitors came by road or rail they had ample scope for convincing themselves that Lockinge is one of the best kept and most attractive estates in the country . From whichever point the fine old mansion is approached , it is by well-made roads , through rich pastures , or fields of broad dimensions bearing wonderful

crops of corn which could scarcely be equalled and certainly not surpassed on any other estate in this part of England . The possession of practically an unlimited capital , the employment of machinery of the most modern and improved construction , and skilled labour , directed by experienced heads of departments , have combined in producing at Lockinge what is really a model estate , noted for the best of everything , cattle , sheep , and horses , as

well as dead stock . Embosomed in a sheltered dip amidst shady and lovely surroundings is Lockinge House , full of art treasures , with the interesting Parish Church standing within a few yards of the dining room windows . Altogether it would be difficult to find a more typical example of the home of an English nobleman . Lord Wantage said he was anxious lo sea the Masons in his own home , and the large muster of the brethren certainly

showed that the feeling was reciprocal . A special train from Paddington , Reading , and Didcot took down a considerable proportion of the visitors , but the members of some of the lodges preferred to drive the entire distance by road—in the case of Newbury nearly 20 miles—theroutetaken being via Shefford and through the Woolley Estate , Mr . Wroughton ' s beautifully wooded deer park being passed , and a

ghmpseof the mansion being afforded . The weather was simply magnificent , and everything was seen under the full blaze of midsummer sunshine . Most of the brethren—about 300 in all—reached Lockinge about mid-day , and were cordially and hospitably received by Lord and Lady Wantage , whose kindness of manner much impressed the visitors generally . The handsome saloon , the walls of which are hung with family portraits ,

had been fitted up for the purposes of the Provincial Grand Lodge , which was opened in due form by the Prov . G . M . Seated near his lordship were Bros . John T . Morland ( the popular Deputy P . G . M . ) ; Lord Addington , Prov . G . M . Buckinghamshire ; Bowen , D . P . G . M . Buckinghamshire ; ] . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Fendick ; Bevir ; J . W . Martin , Prov . G . Sec ; T . Pettit ( Mayor of Wallingford ) ; Alderman Dyson , H .

D'Almaine ; Maurice Wheeler ; E . Margrett , Prov . Charity Sec . ; and other " venerable " members of the Craft who did good suit and service to Masonry many years ago during the reign of the late Sir Daniel Gooch , of Gieat Western Railway and Atlantic cable fame . There were also present—Bros . S . G . Kirchhoffer , E . Home , W . Gardener , W . Ferguson , G . H . Morland ,

W . Ravenscroft , W . W . Ridley , S . Payne , F . J . Ferguson , W . G . Flanagan , Maurice Wheeler , E . L . Shepherd , and E . Margrett , P . P . S . G . Ws . ; G . D . Leslie , R . A ., VV . J . Maurice , C . Slaughter , W . Bonny , C . W . Cox , and W . Nicholson , P . P . J . G . Ws . ; the Revs . A . W . N . Deacon , A . T . Morland , P . H . Ditchfield , and F . F . Penruddock , P . P . G . Chaps . ; C . E . Hewett , K . M . Challcnor , and F . E . Hedges , P . P . G . Regs . ; S . Kni ^ lit , J . C . IB . Tirbutt , W . Gilt Millar , E . W .

Ridley , C . F . Dyson , and F . J . C . Forss , P . P . S . G . D :.. ; A . H . Simpson , P . P . J . G . D . ; W . Fenton , J . N . Day , W . A . Hart , and C . E . Belcher , P . P . G . Supt of Wks . ; W . Hickie , J . J . Gale , E . B . Ormond , and Sydney Smith , P . P . G . D . C ; S . Knight , junr ., and G . W . Fortescue , P . P . Asst . G . D . C ; J . B . Bing , and E . | . Lewis , P . P . G . Std . Brs . ; G . T . Pnillips , P . P . G . Organist ; G . H . Stnbington , P . P . Asst . G . Sec ; G . Boyer , P . P . G . Pirst . ; R . D . Wilder ,

C . D . Adkin , T . R . Barnby , and G . J . Cosburn , P . P . Asst . G . PursK ; Lieut .-Col . J . Otway , S . G . W . ; G . J . Phillips , P . G . Rog . ; J . B . Evans , A . W . Gundry , and E . A . Stickland , P . G . Stwds . ; W . Hemmings and j . F . Stevens , P . G . Tylers ; C . H . Dodd , H . W . Dunlop , Theodore II . White , Harrison H . Jones , R . C . Mount , Blake P . Allnatt , W . W . Williams , Ernest B . George , Richard Penton , J . Rolfe , J . Stradling , J . Howard , C . H . Stradling . E . Turner , K . W . Goddard ,

S . P . Burton , I . Legg , J . M . Gilkes , E . Gould , G . Elms , W . Edmonds , T . S . Cambridge , W . G . Crombie , A . Camp , H . C . Heard , W . H . Saltmarsh , B . Challenor , Slade H . Baker , W . C . Sell , R . Hughes , junr ., T . A . Foreman , D . G . Kennard , C . Luker , J . C . Trenlleld , Stuart Campbell , W . Atkins , G , Adams , E . J . Chamberlain , G . J . Dyke , F . H . Liddiard , T . Phipps , R . Pocock , W . Fletcher , J . B . Weedon , J . Robertson , W . Harris , 0 . Hill , (' ,. Wade , 1 . K . Reason , C . W . Keylock , L . R . Knapp , H . Lewis , M . H . Collard , G .

Walker , W . Holloway , W . Gall , Rev . T . I / iyng , Rev . F . J . C . Gillmor , Rev . E . R . Adams , C . J . D . Andrews , R . Wilder , J . Wilder , C . T . Rogerson , J . S . Lawrence , H . T . Holme , Clarence Dodd , J . W . Trowbridge , T . Mackrill , E . J . Shrewsbury , Rev . W . Neville , E . O . Farrer , W . G . Loyd , Dryland Haslam , junr ., R . H . Bradley , W . J . T . Stapley , F . A . Sargeant , A . Callas , — Shepherd , C . Love , W . R . Nicholas , \ V . B . Reed , F . Tunbridge , R . E . Rawstorne , G . Norris , W . Kearton , Bell Kempton , J . Bowman , — Reed , Abel Starkey , W . Clay , and others .

Apologies for non-attendance through unavoidable circumstances had been received from Bros , the Marl cf Jersey , Lord Onslow , W . W . B , Beach , M . P ., Canon Brownrigg , Canon Garry , Charles E . Keyser , fi . Letchworth , G . Sec , P . Colville Smith , W . G . Mount , M . P ., C . Stephens , E . Terry , F . R . Hedges , Sec . R . M . I . G ., E . Prince , and others .

The Paov . G . SECRETARY Iirst called over the roll of lodges in the p rovince , when it appeared that all of them were well represented . The roll of the Prov . G . Ollieers was also called , and , excepting a few who had sent apologies , they responded to their names . The financial statement of the Prov . G . Treasurer , Bro . Charles Stephens ( who is staying in the Isle of Wight for the benefit of his health ) , was read by the PROV . G . SECRETARY , and was adopted on lhe motion of the PROV . SENIOR G . WARDEN , seconded by Bro . STKNIE . V KNIGHT .

The PROV . G . SECRETARY then presented his report of lodges in the province , which showed that the membership numbered 771 , of whom 206 a-c Past Ma'tcn ? . During the year m ; regular lodges and four lodges of emergency had been held . Thirty-two brethren had joined , and the initiations had numbered ^ o .

Bio . MARORETT , the Prov . Charily Secretary , read the report of the Charity Committee , who acknowledged with gratitude the presentation of 1000 votes by Bro . Keyser . This report wns passed on the motion of the Dr . r . PROV . G . MASTER , seconded by Bro . KIRCIIHOITER . On the proposal of the PROV . G . MASTER , seconded by the Dm-. PROV G . MASTER , Bro . Margrett was unanimously nominated to represent the province on the Board ol Management of thc Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

The DEP . PROV . G . MASTER proposed in complimentary terms the reelection of Bro . Charles Stephens as Prov . G . Treasurer , and expressed the regret which all the brethren must feel that ill-health prevented Bro . Stephens being present on this auspicious occasion . Bro . R . C . MOUNT seconded the motion , referring to Bro . Stephens ' long and valued services , and the election proved perfectly unanimous .

On the proposal of the P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . MARGRETT , the sum of £ 20 was voted from the Prov . Grand Lodge funds to the South African Relief Fund . Bro . Sydney Smith ably performed the duties of D . C . throughout the proceedings in the Prov . Grand Lodge .

The Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed in due form , and the hrethren adjourned to the grounds and were photographed , Lord and Lady Wantage , Lord Addington , Mr . Lloyd , M . P ., and Mrs . Lloyd being seated in the centre of the group . This item in the day ' s programme being over , the whole party , including Lady Wantage and Mrs . Lloyd , sat down to a splendid luncheon beneath a capacious marquee .

The catering was most complete , and a large quantity of magnificent fruit , grown in the Lockinge Gardens , was placed upon the tables , which were ornamented by some valuable silver plate , including a massive fUgon presented to Lord Wantage many years ago by his la ' . e father-in-law , Lord Overstone .

After luncheon , the noble host who presided proposed , tn loyal terms , the toast which took precedence on the list—that of " The Oueen and the Craft . " The PROV . G . MASTER gave as the next toast " The Health of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master of Eng Und , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G . ; the M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl Amherst ; the R . W .

the Dep . Grand AIaster , the Earl of Warwick ; and the Grand Officers of England , Present and Past . " ( Cheers . ) His lordship said he took upon himself to inform the Prince of Wales of the present gathering , which , with the exception of that held on the occasion of the installation of the late Duke of Clarence was , he believed , the largest that had ever taken place in the province . He regretted the unavoidable absence of his old friend and

comrade Earl Amherst , who did him the honour of installing him as Prov . G . Master . He was also sorry that they had not the pleasure of seeing among them his old friend the Earl of Warwick , who was an excellent Mason , and did so much in a quiet way to promote the interests of Freemasonry , particularly in the Midland Counties , where he was greatly

beloved . Other G . Officers had , of course , been invited to attend , but unfortunately the notice had been rather short . However , they had with them Lord Addington , G . Master of the sister Province of Bucks , whose presence gave him the greatest pleasure . All the G . Officers were earnest men , who strove to do all they could to promote the best interests of Freemasonry .

Bro . Lord ADDINGTON , in responding , assured the company that the whole of the G . Officers were only too glad to do anything in their power to support their much-beloved G . Master . He was very pleased to have the honour of proposing the next toast— " The Health of the Provincial Grand Master of this Province , Lord Wantage . " He ( Lord Addington ) was old enough to recollect the Crimean War , and the extraordinary wave

of enthusiasm which passed over the country when they heard that a young Scotch soldier ( Lord Wantage ) carr ed the colours of the Scots Guards up Inkerman . Not only did he do that , but when victory had been gained , he gave his earnest care and attention to the wounded . When this gallant soldier returned home and was married , they realised in his case the happy

saying that " None but the brave deserve the fair . " ( Cheers . ) In common with many of his countrymen , he ( Lord Addington ) joined the Volunteer force , of which for so many years Lord Wantage took the lead . Therefore it gave him much pleasure to attend that day and propose his lordship ' s health . He was sure they would all join him in heartily wishing Lord and Lady Wantage long lile , happiness , and prosperity . ( Loud cheers . )

The toast was drunk with the greatest possible enthusiasm , and special cheers were given for Lady Wantage . The P . G . M ., in reply , thanked Lord Addington for the very kind way in which he had proposed the last toast . There had been long comradeship between them in the peaceful field of home , a comradeship which always drew men together , and they were mutually interested in a

common and good cause , that of the volunteer movement , in which thousands of our countrymen banded themselves together ,-58 or more years ago to defend their hearths and homes . ( Cheers . ) Lady Wantage and himself were very pleased to have had the opportunity of welcoming the Masons of Berkshire to their home at Lockinge , which was surrounded by natural beauties . They had fine open downs close at hand , with lands

bearing splendid crops , and lovely llowers of all kinds . He hoped they would see at Lockinge much to admire and appreciate , and perhaps something to imitate . ( Cheers . ) His lordship then proceeded to refer to the South African war , and dwelt specially on what he considered to have been the merciful way in which the campaign had been conducted by Lord Roberts and other commanding officers downwards . He also touched upon the appalling state of things existing in China , but they could only hope and

believe that all was being done that could be done to avoid sacrifice of human life in that distant Empire . They could only trust to the Great Architect of th < : Universe to overrule events there for the best . Lord Wantage assured the brethren that he should always be glad to advance the interests of Masonry to the utmost of his power , and he thanked them for having come to Lockinge in such numbers in response to his invitation ( Chceis . )

The DEI ' P . G . M . then propnsed " The Heilth of Lady Wantage , " who , he observed , was always ready to promote any good work in this county as elsewhere . The PROV . G . SECRETARY gave "The Health of the Visitors , " coupled with the name of Bro . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B .

Bro . MCLEOD , in reply , congratulated Lord Wantage on presiding over a happy , harmonious , and very charitable province , Berkshire standing very high among the provinces which supported the Masonic Charities most generously . The P . G . M ., in complimentary language , proposed " The Health of the Provincial Grand Secretary , " expressing the hope of all present that Bro .

Martin might long be spared to hold the office , the duties of which he performed so ably . ( Cheers . ) Bro . MARTIN briefly returned thanks . The numerous company then repaired to a shady pirt of the grounds , where several brethren from St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor , executed the following programme under thc direction of Bro . \ V . Kearton : Glee , " The