Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Lancashire.

Bro . John Chadwick Prov . G . Sec . „ M . Cooper Prov . G . S . D . „ John May Prov . G . J . D . „ J . O . T . Newbold Prov . G . D . of C . „ J . D . Murray Prov . G . A . D . of C „ Joseph Senior Prov . G . L of VV . . . VV . Wainman Cottam Prov . G . wd . Br .

„ Rawdon Ashworth Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . J . Greaves Prov . G . Org . „ John Ballard Prov . G . I . G . „ " Frank A . Hewett Prov . G . Stwd . „ Walter Vere Station Prov . G . Reg .

A Committee of four was appointed to represent the provinces on the Fund of Benevolence . Some minor business was transacted , and thc GRAND AIASTER informed the lodge that he had received a pressing invitation to hold the next provincial meeting at Southport , and he should comply with the request . A banquet was afterwards held at thc Red Lion Hotel , Earl Lathom presiding .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SUSSEX .

The annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Alark Alaster Masons of Sussex was held at the Castle Hotel , Hastings , on Friday , the 20 th inst . There was a large gathering of

brethren from all parts of the county , Isle of Wight , and Kent . The R . W . P . G . AI . A 1 .. Bro . Thomas Trollope , M . D ., presided , and appointed his oflicers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . C . VV . Duke , P . G . AI Prov . G . S . W . „ T . J . Pulley , P . G . AI Prov . G . J . W . „ R . Pidcoch , P . G . M Prov . G . Reg . „ R . J . Reed , P . G . AI Prov . G . Sec . „ Capt . S . B . AlcWhinnie ,.. Prov . G . M . O . „ C . VV . Hudson Prov . G . S . O . „ S . Peters Prov . G . J . O .

„ Capt . D'Albiac Prov . G . S . D . „ T . Cabel Prov . G . J . D . „ Capt . Hennah Prov . G . S . ot VV . „ F . Rossiter Prov . G . D . of C . „ R . Paige Prov . G . A . D . of C „ VV . G . Baylis Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ Alarshall Prov . G . Std . Br .

„ VV . Roe Prov . G . Org . „ H . J . Dawson Prov . G . I . G . „ VV . H . Russell , Capt . Henty , la ... r- ci ... 1 and E . Bridges , P . G . M ., & c . $ Prov * G * Mwds ' The R . W . P . G . M . then delivered a powerful address , jiointingout the value of Alark Alasonry , and calling particular attention to the urgency of Alasters and Secretaries of lodges being prompt in forwarding their annual returns . After business a most recherche banquet followed .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Alark Lodge of Warwickshire and Staffordshire was held on the 19 th inst ., at the Star and Garter Hotel , Wolverhampton , for the purpose of installing the V . W . Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel Gough as first Prov . Grand Mark Master Alason of Staffordshire .

For the past six years the counties of Warwick and Stafford have formed one province , under the rule of the R . VV . Bro . the Rev . VV . K . Riland Bedford , with the V . W . Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel Gough as his Deputy ; but at a recent meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge it was unanimously resolved that the time had arrived when , in the interests of Alark Masonry , it was desirable that each county should

form a distinct province , and the M . W . Grand Alaster , Bro . Lord Henniker , was petitioned to appoint Bro . Lord Brooke , AI . P ., as Provincial Grand Alaster of Warwickshire , and the V . W . Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel Gough as Provincial Grand Alaster of Staffordshire . These petitions having been granted , the installation of the V . W . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Gough was appointed , and took place as above

mentioned . _ The meeting was very r . umerously and influentially attended , among those present being the R . VV . Bro . VV . K . R . Bedford , P . G . M . M ., the Installing Officer ; VV . Bros . D . AL Dewar , P . G . O ., A . G . A 1 . Sec . ; T . Howkins , G . J . O ., * E . Worrall , P . G . AI . Treas . j Dr . Belcher , G . Org . ; Lyons Wright , P . G . O . ; V . W . Bro . Captain Coffey , R . A . P . D . G . AI . AL Tunis and Alalia j VV . Bro . Barkley , P . G . S . Worcester ;

V . W . Bro . Alajor Tudor , P . P . G . M . S . W . North Wales ; Bro . the Rev . C . Lee , acting P . G . AI . Chaplain ; VV . Bro . T . H . Smith , P . G . ALS . W . ; and man */ other distinguished brethren from Staffordshire and Warwickshire . The ceremony of installation was impressively performed by the Installing Officer , after which the newly-installed R . VV . P . G . M . M . having addressed the brethren at some length , proceeded to the appointment and investment of his P . G . AI . officers as follows :

Bro . Alajor G . S . Tudor Prov . D . G . ALM . „ C . A . Newnham Prov . G . S . W . „ W . H . Hales Prov . G . J . W . „ J . Bryan Prov . G . M . O . „ R . Dain Prov . G . S . O . „ J . B . Piercy Prov . G . J . O . „ Rev . VV . Randall Prov . G . Chap .

„ Lyons Wright Prov . G . Treas . „ A . R . Britton Prov . G . Reg . „ Capt . E . H . Thorne Prov . G . Sec . „ Capt . F . Walton Prov . G .. A . Sec . ,, E . Scrivener Prov . G . S . D . „ Lieut . G . W . H . Tudor ... Prov . G . J . D . „ T . E . Fowke Prov . G . D . of C .

„ T . Wood Prov . G . A . D . of C . „ Bentley Prov . G . L of VV . ,. T . AL Humphries Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ Blair Pmv . G . Std . Br . ,, J . Thompson Prov . G . Org . ,, Sharp Prov . G . I . G . „ C . F . Schmidt Prov . G . Stwd .

j , VV . Colenso Prov . G . Tyler . Letters of apology for non-attendance were received from the M . W . G . M . M ., who also telegraphed during the ceremony his hearty congratulations and best wishes for the future of the ( Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Staffordshire ; W . Bro . Rev . VV . Randall , G . Chap . ; W . Bro . F . Binckes , G . AL Sec . ; Bros . Lord Brooke , Jos . Rowlands ,

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Staffordshire.

C . Fendelow , A . F . Godson . Warwick ; and other brethren of eminence in Mark Masonry . After the installation a banquet was held at the Star and Garter Hotel , at which the usual loyal and Alasonic toasts were duly honoured . The proceedings both at the meeting and the banquet were throughout of such a character as to augur well for the future of Alark Masonry in Staffordshire .

Scotland.

Scotland .

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF ABERDEENSHIRE . The annual meeting of this chapter was held on Friday , the 13 th tnst ., in the Alasonic Hall , 12 , Exchange-street . There was a very laro-e attendance of the principals of the various subordinate chapters .

The chapter was opened , when the Installed Degrees of Z ., H ., and J . were conferred on the respective Principals , three receiving the Installed Degree of / .., six H ., and ten J . The High Priest Degree was then conferred , ten Principals receiving it . All these Degrees were given by Alajor Crombie , the P . G . Superintendent , in his usual excellent

manner . After the Prov . Grand Chapter had been opened , the minutes of the last two meetings were read and confirmed , and the returns from the subordinate chapters submitted . From the latter a considerable improvement was to be observed , as compared with last year , the number exalted being forty-three , as compared with twenty-nine for the previous year . The finances ot the chapters were also in a considerably better position than in the previous year .

The Treasurer ' s account showed a balance in favour of the Prov . Grand Chapter of £ 5 5 s ., several extra furnishings having been procured in the course of the year . The Superintendent placed the nomination of thc commissioned office-bearers in the hands of the members . The following is a list of the oflicers for the current year : Comp . Major John Crombie Prov . G . Supt . „ Right Hon . the Earl of

Crawford and Balcarres Prov . G . 2 ndPrin . „ William Boyd Prov . G . 3 rd Prin . „ Dr . R . Bcveridge Prov . G . P . Supt . „ Edward Savage Prov . G . D . Supt . „ Robert Crau { ° ^ G' O . 2 nd George Staple ro ? ' * ^ ¦

„ PV : " """ * * •"" i Prin . „ A . I . McConnochie Prov . G . S . E . „ Lord Douglas Gordon , ALP . ... Prov . G . S . N . „ Alexander Dakers Prov . G . Treas . „ Colonel Lumsden Prov . G . Chan . „ Charles Shepherd Prov . G . Ree . „ Rev . VV . Webster > „ „ , 1 Chaps l

u n ,.,: A *„„ c Prov . G . „ J . B . Davidson ) , uv * u * ^ " ^^ „ Donald Blake Prov . G . ist Soj . „ Anthony Callaghan Prov . G . 2 nd Soj „ George Geddes Prov . G . 3 rd Soj „ William Stuact Prov . G . Swd . B „ George Farquharson Prov . G . S . of VV

„ Andrew Stott Prov . G . istStd . B „ James Reid Prov . G . 2 ndStd . B „ John Laing Prov . G . Auditor . After the other formal business of the meeting had been transacted , Alajor Crombie was presented with a very handsome regalia as Superintendent . The regalia was the _ gift of the various chapters , and was presented in their name by the Depute First Principal .

Major Crombie , in replying to what he said he must consider the very flattering remarks of Comp . Savage , stated that he looked upon this as a mark of his companions confidence in him , not as some presentations were , a reward for servicse rendered , seeing that he had little more than entered upon the duties of his office . He should endeavour to discharge the duties to the satisfaction both of Supreme Grand Chapter and the members of the Aberdeenshire Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter .

KELSO . —Kelso Lodge ( No . 58 ) . —The brethren of this ancient lodge held their first meeting after the usual summer recess in the "Masonic Hall , on Thursday , the 19 th inst ., when there was a large muster of the brethren . 'The lodge having been duly constituted , and the minutes of the previous meetings read and confirmed , the R . W . AL , Bro . the Rev . P . McKerron , congratulated the brethren on resuming work again , and hoped they would be able to " clear

the decks " before St . John ' s Day . He had much pleasure in a duty which now devolved upon him , and that was in handing over to the lodge a very valuable present from his friend and brother , Dr . Burton . The worthy doctor , as they all knew , was a very old and very able Mason , and , in fact , it was questionable if there was a more able or more zealous Mason in Scotland . Although he first saw light in Scotland , he had , by long residence in England , so

thoroughly identified himself with English Alasonry as to be , to all intents and purposes , an English Alason ; and they all knew that Alasonry in England was carried out in a different manner to what it was in most Scotch lodges . In the district in which Dr . Burton resided hc found room for improvement , and by his energy and perseverance he raised the status of Alasonry , and by his example encouraged others , so that the Craft was , after a time , flourishing

where before it was stagnating . Dr . Burton occupied for some years the distinguished position of Provincial Grand Alaster of Staffordshire , besides other high offices in some of the _ superior grades . He had been balloted for as an affiliating member of this lodge ; but , owing to his frail health , had been unable to attend a meeting to go through the form of affiliation ; still , he took a great interest in all that concerned thc lodge

, and regularly enquired of him , the R . W . AL , conceiving the welfare of the lodge . The gift which Dr . Burton had put into his hands to present to the brethren was a rare and valuable blackletter copy of the " Volume of thc Sacred Law" known to collectors as a " Breeches Bible " from a curious misprint in the 7 th verse of the third chapter of

Genesis . It had been very handsomely bound in true Alasonic colour on purpose to present it to the lodge and hc questioned if any other lodge in Scotland possessed such a valuable volume as that hc now had the pleasure of handing over to the brethren on behalf of thc worthy Bro . Dr . Burton .

Bro . VV . Fred . Vernon , P . AL , then rose and proposed that the thanks of the meeting be accorded to Bro . Dr . Burton for his handsome gift , and suggested that ii any-

Scotland.

thing could enhance the value of it in their eyes , it would be an inscription in the handwriting of the worthy brother , and he begged to propose that he be requested to write such an inscription , so that future generations of Masons who would succeed them in this lodge , would know to whom they were indebted for the valuable gift . He also proposed that the presentation be entered in thc minutes and an excerpt therefrom be sent to Bro . Dr . Burton .

This was carried by acclamation , Bro . A . Bulman , jun ., I . P . M ., then presented on behalf of Bro . Jas . Steel , P . AL , a framed copy of Bro . Alorris's celebrated poem "The Level and the Square" and also an old play bill of 1 S 0 G in which the R . W . M . and brethren of that day had announced their intention of patronising thc performance at the then existing Kelso Theatre . After other business had been transacted the lodgewas duly closed .

Death Of Bro. John Fawcett, Late P.G.M. Of Durham.

DEATH OF BRO . JOHN FAWCETT , LATE P . G . M . OF DURHAM .

We regret to record the very sudden death of Bro . John Fawcett , J . P ., of the North Bailey , Durham , which occurred about half-past eight o ' clock on Saturday night last . Although the deceased brother had reached the advanced age of eighty-three years , he retained his faculties in a remarkable degree up to the very last . Indeed , so

late as Wednesday , he was one of the magistrates present on the Bench at the Durham Quarter Sessions . He took his usual walk on Friday , but feeling unwell on Saturday he remained in his bed-room . On Saturday evening he had dinner served in his bed-room a little earlier than usual . On the butler going up about half-past eight o ' clock lie found his master dying . Dr . Barron was sent for , but Bro . Fawcett was dead before the doctor arrived .

The life that has just passed away has been far from an uneventful one , and the name of Fawcett is most honourably associated with the landed interests of Northumberland and Durham . The family of the Fawcetts is of some antiquity in the county of Durham . The property in the parish of Bolden was partly alienated and partly descended m the female line to a daughter of the elder brother of the great grandfather of the representative of the family who

has just died . The family possess larga estates in Lanchester , and in Framwellgate townships of the county of Durham , as well as property at Sunderland , chiefly occupied by the sites of Fawcett , John , Frederick , and Foylestreets in the town , which are named after the family . The Fawcetts also possess the Branton estate , in Northumberland . The deceased brother is styled in Watford ' s county families of the United Kingdom as John Fawcett , of

Branton , and of the county of Durham . He was born on the Gth May , 1799 , l was 'he eldest son of the Rev . John Fawcett , by Mary Anne , daughter of the late Ralph Bates , of Melbourne , Northumberland . Thc deceased brother was educated at Baliol College , Oxford , and took his B . A . degree in 1 S 21 , and that of ALA . in 1 S 24 . He was a Justice of the Peace for the counties of Northumberland and Durham , and in 1 S 47 he was High Sheriff of the county

of Durham . He also had conferred on him the honorary title of D . L . Christopher Fawcett , the uncle of the deceased , was a barrister-at-law , and was Recorder of Newcastle-on-Tyne j and the uncle after whom Bro . John Fawcett was named was also a barrister , and was Recorder of Durham . The deceased brother has only one brother living , Mr . Ral p h Thomas Fawcett , who , in 1 S 64 , married Charlotte Amelia , youngest daughter of the Hon . Charles

Lawrence and Lady Caroline Dundas . Bro . Fawcett never married , and thc heir presumptive to the estates is Mr . Christopher Fawcett , barrister-at-law , of the North-Eastern Circuit . Bro . Fawcett had the honour of being the oldest Prov . Grand Alaster in thc United Kingdom . For more than half a century he lias been prominently identified with Alasonry . He was initiated in the Apollo Lodge , at

Oxford . On leaving Oxford he joined the Alarquis of Granby Lodge , 124 , at Durham , and subsequently became Prov . Grand Alaster of the Province of Durham , a position he held until about two years ago , when failing health compelled him to resign , and he was succeeded by the Alarquis of Londonderry . On his resignation thc members of the Craft presented Bro . Fawcett , as Prov . Grand Alaster and as Past Prov . Grand Superintendent , with a beautifully

illuminated address , " for the marked manner in which for upwards of thirty-two years his lengthened and able administration had advancecl and adorned the Order , and for thc calm and wise judgment and gentlemanly courtesy , untiring and able energy , and unvarying impartiality and firmness exhibited by him in the discharge of his high and responsible office , and praying that the Great Architect of the Universe might during his remaining years see fit to grant

him all peace and happiness . " During the period in whicli he held the office of Prov . Grand Alaster cf Durham , Bro . Fawcett had the distinguished honour of installing H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as the W . AL of a Craft lodge , and he also assisted in the installation of the Prince of Wales as VVorshipful Grand Alaster of England , which took place , in the Albert Hall , being one of the largest and most brilliant assemblies of the Craft ever witnessed . He was an ardent ,

enthusiastic , and conscientious member of the Craft , and a good worker as well as a strict upholder of thc rites and customs of the Order , and would not suffer tlie least deviation from , or infringement of , the ancient landmarks . He was very popular throughout the whole of his long reign , frequently visiting the lodges in his province j and was ever ready to advise . and took ¦ great pains to ferret out and reward the real workers of the Craft .

I he deceased brother took a warm interest in several of the public institutions in the city of Durham . He was one of the oldest patrons of the Mechanics' Institute , and so recently as last week promised a donation of five guineas for restoration purposes . For many years hc was president of the Durham County Hospital , and but seldom missed an annual meeting , tie was chairman many years of the Visiting Justices Committee , when t ' e . e duties were very much more onerous than they have been since the

new Prisons' Act came into force , which also marks thc period of Bro . Fawcett ' s resignation . He was also chairman of the Durham Petty Sessional Division , and a most regular attender on court days . His administration of the law was characterised by great impartiality and forensic knowledge . On Thursday last a special Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Durham , when a large number of provincial oflicers and brethren attended , and followed the remains of Bro . Fawcett to their last resting place . A report of thc proceedings will appear in our next issue .