Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.

" That the Provincial Grand Lodge of Wiltshire , desiring to recognise in a special manner the good services rendered by W . Bro . Henry C . Tombs to this province during his 17 years ol office as P . G . Secretary , and considering that instead of a testimonial being presented to him by private subscription , a grant from Provincial Grand Lodge would more particularly mark

their esteem , hereby votes that a sum of 50 guineas out of Provincial Grand Lodge be granted for the purchase of a suitable piece of plate ; and that a Committee , consisting of the P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., the P . G . Wardens , the P . G . Treas ., and the P . G . Sec , be appointed to carry this resolution into effect . "

It transpired that during Bro . Tombs' Secretaryship the number of members in the province had more than doubled , whilst the number of lodges had increased from seven to ten . Bro . Tombs' connection with Freemasonry has not been limited to the Wiltshire Provincial Grand Lodge , for he has held the office of P . G . S . E . of the Wiltshire Prov . Grand Chapter from 1 S 70 to the present time ; he was appointed Grand Deacon of

England in May , 1877 , and Assistant Grand Soj . in the following year . He is also a P . M . W . S . of the St . Peter and St . Paul Chapter , 18 , and a member of the 30 of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and a Past E . C . of the Bladud Preceptory of Knights Templar , and a member of the Mark Degree . Bro . TOMBS stated that he had been requested by a brother who was

himself unable to be present—Bro . William Morris , of Swindon—to ask the acceptance by the Provincial Grand Lodge of a framed rubbing of an ancient Masonic stone , which had recently been discovered in Newport-street , Swindon , such stone having carved upon it the old Masonic arms , and dated 1704 , thus leading to the inference that Freemasonry had an existence in Wiltshire for some time previous to the date of the earliest records extant ,

which do not commence till some 28 years later . This rubbing had been exhibited in August last at the Masonic Exhibition at Worcester , where it had attracted very considerable interest . Bro . Morris ' s offer was accepted by acclamation , and the P . G . M . directed that the Royal Sussex Lodge or Emulation , No . 355 , at Swindon , have the custody of this gift on behalf of the province .

Lord METHUEN then declared all offices vacant , and proposed the reelection as Treasurer of Bro . F . H . Goldney . This was seconded by Lord H . F . THYNNE , and carried by acclamation . The P . G . Tyler was also re-elected , and the other P . G . Officers for the ensuing year were then appointed , and the investments were made according to the following list :

Bro . E . T . Payne , 355 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ J . V . Toone , 147 s ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . F . W . Macdonald , 586 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ F . H . Goldney , 626 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . Merrick , 1271 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,. Harry Bevir , 355 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ A . Tucker , 586 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ W . C . Powning , 586 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ J . T . Calkin , 5 86 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . ofW . „ John Chandler , 355 , P . P . G . S . W . ... ... Prov . G . D . C . fipnrrrp Pikp . inR . nnH ict Ptvw CI A H C

„ W . H . Burt , 663 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ F . C . Kent , 12 95 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ E . R . Henly , 626 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ E . J . Hollings , 355 ... ... , „• %

,, K . Lareless , 020 ... ... ... i-Prov . G . Stwds . „ T . Turner , 12 95 ... ... ,.. ) „ John Savory ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

This ended the business of the meeting , and after the Provincial Grand Lodge had been closed the brethren dined together at the White Hart Hotel .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

The annual meeting of this body was held at York , on the 19 th inst ., in the Masonic Hall , at three p . m . An invitation had been accepted from the Middlesborough Lodge , No . 276 , to hold the gathering in their town , but in order to meet the convenience of the bulk of the members of the Order in the province , the Middlesbro' brethren , at the suggestion of the Prov . Grand Master , waived their right , and consented to receive the Prov . Grand Lodge

at York as being more central , whilst the York brethren kindly placed their hall at the disposal of the inviting lodge . The Middlesborough Lodge was opened by Bro . I . Fidler , the W . M ., and his officers , and the Prov . Grand Lodge entered as follows : Bros . J . VV . W ' oodall , P . G . M . ; Sir James Meek , as D . P . G . M . ; VV . H . Cowper , P . G . S . W . ; T . Thompson , P . G . J . W . ; G . Balmford , as P . G . M . O . ; V . Fowler , P . G . S . O . ; E . Bryan , P . G . J . O . ; Rev . W . G . Chilman , P . G . Chap . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . G . Sec ; M .

Millington , P . G . S . D . ; J . Hogg , P . G . J . D . ; J . Dunn , P . G . I , of Works ; J . B . Nicholls , P . G . Swd . Br . ; J . S . Cumberland , P . G . D . C ; J . T . Seller , P . G . I . G . ; A . T . B . Turner , P . G . O . ; A . M . White , J . Townend , and H . Sherwood , P . G . Stwds . There were also present a number of Past Provincial Officers , Masters , Wardens , and Overseers of lodges , and brethren , as well as Bros . Rev . W . C . Lukis , D . P . G . M . West Yorkshire ; VV . Cooke , Prov . G . Sec . ; and G . Normanton , Prov . G . Treas . West Yorkshire . The usual formal business was transacted and the Treasurer ' s balance

sheet was presented . One guinea was voted to the Hughan Testimonial Fund , it being considered that , the province being very young and not yet clear of debt , a larger vote would not be justified . Bro . J . W . Woodall was re-elected Prov . Grand Master for the ensuing three years , and was at once proclaimed and saluted .

In thanking the brethren for the compliment , Bro . WOODALL Said it was rather more than three since he had been first elected to the position , and he more than ever felt that he would not have been able to perform the duties of the ofiice without the most cordial co-operation of the brethren and the ever ready assistance of the Prov . Grand Secretary , to whom he begged to tender his most sincere thanks . Bro . Whytehead had informed

him that he might possibly be shortly leaving the province , but he had consented to continue to hold the office of Prov . Grand Secretary until such time as he took his departure , and he ( the Prov . Grand Master ) felt sure the good wishes of the brethren would follow him wherever his lot might be cast , and that bis Masonic ability and knowledge of Masonic lore would win him many friends . They had already to regret the loss of Bro . J . S . Cumberland , who was one of those who took an active part in the formation

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

of the province , and as he was removing his home to London he felt sure he would find his sphere of usefulness in no way diminished in that great centre . Though they were losing two such devoted Masons from their midst he knew that those brethren would still sympathise with them and be ever ready to assist them if occasion should require it . He had to recall two very events of the

pleasing past year connected with the office he held . First , the holding of the moveable Grand Lodge in York , under the presidency of Lord Henniker , and the consecration of the Streonshalh Lodge . It was needless to recall the genial manner in which the G . M . M . M . had presided over the lodge , and they would join with him in wishing Lord Henniker a long and useful life . The second event was the success of the

Mark Benevolent Festival at the Crystal Palace , on the 23 rd July , when the sum of £ 812 was collected by the Stewards . As the Board of Stewards had requested him to preside over them on that occasion , he felt highly honoured by so good a result for the funds of an Institution which has already done much good in a very unpretentious manner , and would , he hoped , hereafter be further developed as the Mark Degree progressed .

They were aware that during the past year he had visited Canada and the United States , and he had availed himself of the opportunity to visit some of the lodges in the States . They were probabl y aware that in the United States the Mark Degree , as in Scotland , was under the charge of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter , and that each State of the Union had its own Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter . Thanks to the care of some of the

Philadelphia brethren , amongst whom he mi ght mention Bro . Meyer , whom some will recollect as the organiser of a band of Kni ghts Templar who visited this city some years ago , he received a cordial reception at the hands of both the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania . At the meeting of the latter body he was received in his official rank as Prov . Grand M . M . M . for North and East Yorkshire , and had

an opportunity afforded him of seeing much that was interesting to a Mason . He regretted , however , that he did not see a Mark lodge worked , as these lodges were not held during the hotter period of the year . It appeared , as far as he could judge from the hurried visit he had paid , that the working of the lodges in the State of Pennsylvania corresponded closely to what they believed the old York ritual to

have been . Separated from the mother country at the time when the Masonic division was most accentuated in this country , they had , he ventured to think , retained many little forms and expressions which had either dropped out or were altered at the time of the Union . Just as in the study of natural history they found some older forms surviving , as it were , in a remote district , so there they might reasonably look for the survival of their

antique ceremonies , which they believed were used by theold York Masons . He had also attended a most interesting Craft Lodge meeting in the Masonic Temple in New York City . In both cities the Masonic Temples were very handsome buildings , and a large number of lod ges were accommodated in both . Masonry was widely spread in the United States , and it did good work . Owing , however , to the education laws of the States , it had not been

deemed necessary to erect large schools as had been done in this country , but substantial assistance was often rendered to parents , and the care of orphans was by no means neglected . He had , by the kindness of the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York , been furnished with its report of that Grand Lodge for 1884 . In that State , which , he believed , was the most populous in the Union , there were 715 lodges , having a muster roll

of 7 > 33 8 brethren . As no brother was allowed to be a member of more than one lodge at the same time , they would see how wide-spread Masonry was through the State . He hoped to be pardoned the digression , but he thought the brethren would like to know his impressions of so interesting a trip . He had little to say as to Canada . Unfortunately , at present there was a difficulty as to the jurisdiction of the Grand Mark Masters Lodpe of

England and Wales and the body which is styled the Grand Lodge of Quebec . As he did not wish to enter into any discussion as to the merits of the case , he only mentioned it with regret , as he should have been glad if he could have met some of the Mark Masons of the Dominion . The question was complicated by the action of the Legislature of the Province of Quebec , and he was very doubtful as to the best

means of reconciling opposing interests . Still , he had reason to think that Masonry had some hold in that Grand Dominion of Canada , and was not without its influence , which he trusted would always be used for good purposes . Finally , he would conclude his few remarks by quoting a few words well known to all present , words which he thought should be remembered by every Mason and should be their answer to those anathemas which were indiscriminately hurled against the Masonic body . How far on

the continent of Europe the Masons might have given just cause for animadversion it was not for him to discuss , but as far as lay in their power they should give the lie to all such foul aspersions by living peaceably with all men , having their conversations honest , that whenever they were spoken against as evildoers they should force the world to acknowledge , by the good works that they could show , that Masons were just , upright , and Godfearing men , not only in word , but also in deed and in truth .

The Provincial Grand Master then appointed his officers as follows : — Bro . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , P . G . W . ... Prov . D . G . M . „ W . H . Marwood , W . M . 387 ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ W . B . Richardson , W . M . 95 ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ J . Chadwick , P . M . 277 and 291 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ I . Fidler , W . M . 276 ... ... ... p rov . G . S . O . „ W . Constable , W . M . 277 ... ... Prov . G . J . O . „ Rev . W . G . Chilman , 277 ... ... Prov . G . Chan .

„ J . M . Meek , P . M . 276 ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ C . Goulding , W . M . 281 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ T . B . Whytehead , P . G . O . ... ... Prov . G . Sec „ J . Dunn , VV . M . 291 ... ... ... p . G . S . D . „ J . T . Seller , S . W . York ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ J . Hudson , S . W . 277 ... ... ... p . G . I . of VV .

„ VV . H . Cowper , P . M . 276 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ B . L . Mills , P . M . York ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ A . T . B . Turner , J . W . York ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ W . Greenwood , 95 ... . ... ... p . G . Org . „ F . W . Adams , 281 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ,, J . Verity , 95 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . and requested the Fitzwilliam , Beuerlac , and Drifelt Lodges to nominate Stewards .

Some other formal business having been settled , the Prov . Grand Master accepted an invitation from the Filzwilliam Lodge ( Malton ) to hold the next annual meeting in that town . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed . The brethren afterwards dined in the banqueting-room of the hall .