The Craft In The Provinces.

THE CRAFT IN THE PROVINCES .

The present is invariably a season of great activity among- the brethren in the Provinces , a large proportion of which find it convenient to hold their Provincial Lodge meetings during the summer months . The arrangement is not without its advantages . There is no great reliance to be placed on the Clerk of the Weather . He may , or may not be in a comfortable frame

of mind , but there is , at all events , a reasonable prospect that at this time of the year the brethren will stand a better chance of meeting under brillliant conditions as regards the weather , the principal drawback being that when we have a really fine summer , brethren feel more inclined to give themselves up to the pleasures of an inland or seaside trip than to concern

themselves seriously about the affairs of Masonry . However , in the case of those Provincial Grand Lodges which have been held during the last few weeks , and of which we have been privileged to furnish reports of the proceedings , the accounts g iven have been generally satisfactory . There was not a ver } numerous attendance at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire ,

which was held at Broxbourne on the 7 th instant—certainly not so numerous as it should have been—but this may in some measure have been accounted for by the necessity which arose almost at the last moment for altering the date of meeting . But if the attendance was only moderate , the particulars furnished by the executive officers were satisfactory , and it is clear that

Freemasonry , under the auspices of Bro . T . F . HAT . SEY , M . P ., P . G . M ., is in a decidedly prosperous state . At the Provincial Grand Lodge of North and East Yorkshire , which was held at Beverley on the 5 th inst ., the attendance was so large that the Masonic Hall was found too small for the occasion and the meeting took place in the spacious Assembly Rooms . This is no doubt

to be explained partly by the desire of the brethren to give a more than usual hearty welcome to their respected Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Marquis of ZETLAND , who was present for the first time since he had laid aside the cares and responsibilities attaching to the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland . There was also another circumstance that must have exercised

a certain amount of influence . The entertaining Lodge , the Constitutional , No . 294 , has this year completed an existence of 100 years , having been founded by " the Moderns" in 1793 , and the opportunity was afforded to the brethren of the other lodges in the Province to congratulate the Constitutional on the auspicious event . Again , there was the Royal marriage

to take place the following day and the brethren—whether the proximity of the marriage day to the day of meeting was a mere coincidence or not is immaterial—were thus enabled at the suggestion of the Provincial Grand Master to vote an address of congratulation to his Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master on the then imminent marriage of his son . At all events , the

meeting was a very enthusiastic one , and marked by two circumstances which are not often to be found recorded in the proceedings of our Provincial Grand Lodges . In the first place , the Constitutional Lodge was the recipient of a handsome silver loving cup , weighing some 52 ounces , the gift from another Constitutional Lodge meeting in another town of Beverley ,

but in Massachusetts under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of that State . In the second place , it was unanimously agreed , on the motion of Bro . T . B . WHYTEHEAI ) , P . G . S . B . Eng ., to vote a grant of ^ 40 towards the cost of reprinting the valuable constitutional rolls in the possession of the York Lodge , No . 236 . Main' of these documents are of immense value to

Masonic students , and our North and East Yorkshire brethren deserve our warmest praise for sanctioning the issue of such a work . At the special meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire and Rutland , which was held prior to the day of the Royal Wedding , an address of congratulation on the event was voted to the Prince of WALES , M . W . G . M .

Subsequently an address and testimonial were presented to Bro . the Row C . HENTON WOOD , M . A ., in recognition of the valuable services he had rendered to the Province during the eight years he had held the important post of Prov . Grand Secretary , and as an expression of the regret which was lelt everywhere throughout the Province at his retirement from office .

i \ vo other Provincial meetings were reported in our last week ' s issue , that ° ' the Prov . Grand Lodge of Norfolk , which took place at Great Yarmouth on tlle 13 th inst ., and that of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire , Which was held the day previous at Mansfield under the presidency of Bro . 'he Duke of ST . AMIANSProv . Grand Masterwho had been invited b y

, , '" Trustees of certain local Charities to lay the foundation-stone of the "e \ v Technical Schools , which are about to be erected in the town of Mans-^ ld . H tne nroocccdings were of a very imposing character , and were Vl

| triessed by crowds of spectators , the Mayor and Corporation likewise , ' g part in the procession . May the Provincial meetings which will be p d during the remaining months of the year afford as satisfactory evidence tile gencr a pr 0 Sperity of the Craft in England as those to which we have wiall y referred above !

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

I he following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday next : The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 19 th April to the iSth July , 18 93 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

To Balance , Grand ^ Chapter £ 462 11 o By-Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropriated Ouarter £ " 3 6 7 S o Account iSS 15 10 „ Balance 4 61 5 4 „ Subsequent . Receipts .. 364 16 10 „ „ Unappropriated Account 187 10 4 £ IOIG 3 S £ ioiG 3 8

which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have also to report that they have received the following petitions : 1 st . From Comps . James Fritz van Oppen , as 7 ., ; Henry Sargant Chappeil , as H . ; Charles Musgrove Stetson , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Light of the South Lodge , No . 1553 , Rosario de Senta Fe , to be called the Rosario Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Rooms , Rosario de Santa Fe , Argentine Republic .

2 nd . From Comps . William Davidson , as 7 .. ; John Watt , as H . ; Thomas Appleby , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the D'Ogle Lodge , No . 636 , Morpeth , to be called the Percy Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Morpeth , Northumberland . The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

1 . The Committee have also received a memorial from the Perak Chapter , No . 2225 , Taiping Perak , Malay Peninsula , for a charter , in lieu of that granted 1 st February , 1 H 93 , with alteration in the proposed Principals , in consequence of companions named , having withdrawn before the receipt of the charter and consecration of the chapter . The officers now proposed being Comps . Francis St . George Caulleild , as 7 .. ; Robert Douglas Hewett , as H . ; Percival Moss , as J . ; and eight other companions .

2 . A memorial from the members of the Holy Mount Chapter , No . 121 , Penzance , Cornwall , praying for a new charter to include three additional names of members , in lieu of the charter of confirmation granted on the 3 rd February , 1892 . The Committee recommend that the prayers of the above memorials be respectively granted . The Committee have likewise to report

that—The St . Marylcbone Chapter , No . 1305 , London , having , in compliance with the requirements of the Committee , explained fully the circumstances of the irregularity in exalting a candidate within the prescribed time , the Committee resolved that the chapter be required to re-obligate the companion ; that the chapter be censured for the irregularity ; and that the letter communicating the decision of the Committee be read in open chapter . The Committee consider that the companion responsible in the first instance for the error should be reprimanded .

The Constitutional Chapter , No . 55 , London , having exalted a candidate within three weeks of the prescribed period , the Committee ordered that the companion be re-obligated , and that the chapter be reprimanded . A memorial with extract of minutes has been received from the Wisdom Chapter , No . 283 , Haslingden , through the Provincial Grand Scribe E ., praying for permission to remove the chapter to the Queen ' s Arms Hotel , Rawtenstall . The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the above request , recommend that the removal of this chanter be sanctioned .

( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , President Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . 19 th July , 1893 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Southend on Tuesday , the 18 th inst ., and was one of the most successful in the annals of the Craft in the county . The arrangements for the meeting were made by the Priory Lodge , No . 1000 , which meets at Southend , and the Committee appointed by the lodge—ably guided by the Secretary , Bro .

A . Lucking—spared no pains to do lining honour to t e occasion . The Clarence Hall was arranged for the purposes of the business meeting , and very handsome the Assembl y Room looked when set out for the lodjje . The walls were hung round with the banners of the various lodges , supplemented by flags , while pot plants were disposed at various parts of the room and up the staircase .

Bro . Lord Brooke , P . G . M ., accompanied by Bro . Fred . A . Philbrick , Cj . C , G . Reg ., D . P . G . M ., reached Southend at about 1 . 45 , and was met at the station by the W . M . of the Priory Lodge , Bo . Alfied Yandervord , and Bio . Thomas Hood , P . M . 1000 , P . G . R ., and his lordshi p at once proceeded to the Clarence Hall , where he was received with the honours due to his rank . The Prov . Grand Officers present were—Bros . J . H . Vaux , P . S . G . W . ; ] . H . Salter , P . I . G . W . ; Rev . J . P . Noyes , P . G

Chap . ; T . H 00 H , P . G . R . ; Thorn is J . Railing , P . G . Sec . ; H . Gamble Hobs m , P . S . G . D . ; W . Ernest Dring . P . S . G . D . ; A . J . Arihy , P . f . G . D . ; A . Lucking P . G . D . C ; J . Bruton , P . D . G . D . C . ; F . H . Meggy , P . A . GD . C . ; M . T . Tuck , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . F . Haskins , P . G . Org .: Sutton Abbott , P . A . G . Sec ; W . Cox , P . G . Purst . ; and many Past Prov . Grand Officers and members of lodges in the province .