Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

service . The brethren occupied the body ofthe church , the galleries and aisles being crowded by others . Bro . the Rev . H . B . Bullocke , the rector , read the prayers ; Bros , the Rev . J . D . Hawksley , vicar of Par , read the first lesson ;

the Rev . Dr . Bannister , vicar of St . Day , the second lesson ; and Bro . the Rev . F . B . Paul , vicar of St . Blazey , preached from First St . John , iv . chap ., 16 th verse . A collection was made for the charities .

At the close of the service the brethren reformed into procession and returned to the Public Rooms , where the R . W . Bro . Augustus Smith dedicated in ancient form the Masonic Hall to the purposes of Freemasonry . He then appointed the following brethren as his officers for the

ensuing year : Reginald Rogers , P . D . G . M . ; J . O . Mayne , P . G . S . W . ; G . Kerswill , P . G . J . W . ; the Revs . F . B . Paul , H . B . Bullocke , P . G . Chaplains ; W . Tweedy , P . G . Treas . ; P . G . Hill , P . G . Reg . ; W . J . Hughan , P . G . Sec . ; P . Taylor , P . G . S . D . ; J . G . Richards , P . G . J . D . ; F .

Harvey , P . G . S . O . W . ; E . John , P . G . D . C ; W . Mitchell , Assist , do . ; A . Williams , P . G . S . B . ; J . Hele , P . G . O . ; S . Harvey , P . G . Purs . ; W . Veale , W . C . Oake , E . D . Anderton , J . Coombe , W . H . Christoe , W . Lake , Stewards ; W . Rooks , I . G . ; J . Langdon , Tyler . Bros . W . J . Johns

and R . Jacob were elected the Auditors , and Bros . E . P . Carlyon , W . Tweedy , and W . H . Jenkins , the Committee of Petitions . The amount received at the collection at church was announced to amount to £ \ 113 s . 2 d . One-fifth of this was directed to be given to

the clergyman of the parish for distribution in charity , two-fifths to the county infirmary in the town , and the remaining ] two-fifths to the Cornwall Masonic Annuity Fund . This concluding the business , the lodge was closed . Over 250 of the brethren subsequently

dined together in the concert hall at the Public Rooms . R . W . Bro . Augustus Smith presided , supported by his officers , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and drank . There are now twenty-four lodges in the province . —Plymouth Western Morning Neivs .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Devon.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF DEVON .

A Provincial Grand Lodge and General Communication of Masons of the Province of Devon was held on Thursday , 21 st July , at the Masonic Hall , at Tiverton , for the dedication of the New Hall of St . Peter ' s , and for the transaction of other important business . There were about 200

Freemasons present , assembled from all parts of the province , and especially from the lodges of the Three Towns , one question , that of the increase of

the dues payable to the Provincial Grand Lodge , for charitable purposes , having excited not only a great amount of interest , but also some little opposition . Thc opposition , however , after the malcontents had let off the steam , ended happily , wc are glad to say , by the opponents allowing the proposal to pass unanimously , none of them voting against a resolution which met with such general

support . The following were among the brethren present : The Rev . John Huyshe , P . G . C , Provincial Grand Master ; L . P . Metham , P . J . G . D ., D . P . G . M . ; Wm . Denis Moore , P . P . G . Sec , D . P . G . M . ; j . Tanner Davy , 421 , S . G . W . ; Major Yates , 1138 , J . G . W . ;

Rev . J . Dickenson , 1125 ; Rev . W . Langley Pope , D . D ., 797 , G . Chaplains ; T . S . Bayley , 1 S 9 , G . Treas . ; Captain T . Levett Prinsep , 797 , G . Keg . ; W . G . Rogers , 112 , ( J . Sec ; W . II . Geachsias , 39 , S . G . D . ; J . J . Hambly , 70 , J . G . D . ; James Hawton , 954 , G . D . C ; George Warren , 159 , Assist . G . D . C ;

Josiah Austin , 1099 , G . Organist ; W . Cotton , 112 , G . Sword Hearer ; James Gregory , 39 , G , Tyler ; John Rogers , 202 , Assist . G . Tyler ; William Easton , 39 ; Win . Oram , 421 ; Mitchell , 156 ; C . S . Willshire , 251 ; Fras . Codd , 230 , S . Jones , 1135 , G . Stewards ; H . J . Trcthewy , W . M . 159 ; W . F .

Perry , 16 , Canada ; J . Lynn , S . W . 230 ; J . P . Briggs . P . M . 230 , P . P . G . S . H . ; J . Chadwick , 444 ; H . Bartlett , P . S . W . 710 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; E . Roseycarc , S . W . 1099 ; W . IL W . Sargeant , J . W . 1099 ; J . Tucker , J . W . 1254 ; C . Langdon , 1254 ; C

Leigh , W . M . 2205 ; Major W . H . Russell , j . W . 1250 ; P . Warren , jun ., 1254 ; Isaac Latimer , P . P . G . Sec ; Josiah Austin , P . G . O ., P . M . 1099 ; Isaac Watts , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . Pridham , W . M . 7 io , S . W , 1284 ; J . Greenfield , P . M . 328 ; W . L .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Devon.

Pope , D . D ., P . G . C ; J . H . Snell , 282 ; P . L . Blanchard , Z . G ; J . Way , W . M ., Z . G . ; C . T . Force , I . P . M . 444 ; C . G . Willshire , I . P . M . 251 , P . G . S ., * J . Baxter , J . W . 954 ; T . Gardiner , P . M . 39 ; W . H . Geachsias , P . M . 39 , P . P . G . Secretary , P . S . G . D . ; J . Gamble , 22 3 , P . P . G . A . D . Cers . ; H . W . Hooper , S . W ., 1254 ; L . D .

Westcott , W . M ., 70 ; T . W . Coffin , J . ., 189 ; G . War-P . M ., 159 , P . P . G ., A . D . C . ; J . Brown , I . P . M ., 1099 ; W . F . Cuickie , S . W ., 39 ; W . Rookes , P . G . Purst , Cornwall ; S . S . Tremayne , W . M .. 1212 ; James Ellis , S . W ., 1212 ; M . Paul , S . W ., 954 ; J . Redgate , S . W ., 1212 ; R . M . Andrews , S . W ., 70 ; M .

Williams , J . W ., 105 ; R . R . Ellis , W . M ., 156 ; T . Chapman , W . M ., 282 , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . H . Westlake , W . M ., 666 ; W . Browning , P . M ., 22 3 , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . P . Harrison , Sec , 1284 ; R . Rowse , D . C , 1284 ; C . Hooper , A . D . C , 1284 ; J . B . Euan , J . ., 230 ; A . F . Luke , 39 ; J . Kinshole , 39 : E . Aitken Davies , W . M ., 1099 ; S . Chappie , P . M ., 159 , P . P . A . G . D . C ;

F . P . Balkwill , P . M ., 186 ; G . M . Bird , W . M ., 303 ; C . G . Gibson , P . M ., 189 ; J . G . Gover , P . M ., 70 ; J . Cock , jun ., P . P . J . D . ; J . Montgomery , W . M ., 223 ; J . W . Cornish , S . W ., 223 ; W . Fitch , J . W ., 233 ; H . F . Smith , W . M ., 954 ; J . M . Blake , W . M ., 230 ; J . H . Warren , 1254 ; W . Easton , P . M ., 39 , P . G . S .

W . K . Michell , P . M ., 156 , P . G . S . ; R . C . S . Tocker , J . W ., 112 ; P . Linde , P . M ., 230 ; B . B . Bastin , P . M ., 106 , Sec . ; W . M . J . Pickford , 282 ; John Cornwall , P . M ., 772 , P . G . R ., and P . G . S . L . ; W . E . Williams , J . ., 1125 ; J . J . Gregory , 112 , P . G . Ty . ; J . Hawton , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C ; G . C . Bignell , S . W ., 105 ; W . D . Thomas , S . W ., 159 ; I . U .

Radford , P . M ., 189 ; W . J . Taylor , W . M ., 202 ; J . Purse , S . W . 202 ; E . Parnell , J . ., 202 : J . Price , P . M ., 202 ; G . Keys , P . M ., 202 ; R . P . Culley , S . W ., 1247 ; W . Trego , 1254 , & c . The lodge was opened in due form , after which the Grand Master proceeded to dedicate the new lodge in the ancient and customary form . This was

done with great solemnity by the Grand Master , assisted by the D . P . G . Master , Bro . Metham ; Captain Tanner Davy , G . S . W . ; Major Yates , G . J . W . ; and the Rev . J . Dickenson , G . Ch . The organ was presided over by Bro . H . Norrish , and the musical responses were joined in most heartily by the whole of the brethren . The lodge is most elegantly fitted

up , and much expense must have been incurred in its internal decorations , The throne and the adjacent canopies were amongst the most effective for their elegance of style of anything that we have seen in thc way of lodge decoration . The walls were adorned with suitable drawings , and several

mottoes in different parts of Lodge gave expression to the principles which influence Masonic thought . After the dedication ofthe lodge , theGrand Lodge , which had been opened in the first degree , proceeded to the transaction ofthe ordinary and special business for which it had been convened . The minutes of

the two preceding meetings of the Grand Lodge , held in May , 1869 , and May , 1870 , were read by the P . G . Secretary and confirmed . Some discussion arose upon a question as to whether fees due from lodges should be paid by the quarter or for the whole year . The G . MASTER said that unquestionably by the

Constitutions the payments should be made by the quarter , but he put it to the lodges whether they would act in so objectionable a manner as to return only a portion of a year ' s fees for any member . The question having been briefly ventilated , thc members of the two objecting lodges said they were satisfied , and the fees of thc year should be paid .

The P . G . Treasurer , Bro . T . S . BAYLEY , brought up his report of the state of thc finances . This showed a balance brought forward from last year of , £ 115 5 s . 7 d . ; to duesfrom 39 lodges , , £ 121 12 s . 6 d . ; fees of honour , , £ 38 6 s . 6 d . ; another return , | , £ i 2 19 s . ; interest , £ 3 2 S . 6 d . ; total , , £ 291 6 s . id . Payments , , £ 110 5 s . 2 d ., leaving a balance of / 181 os . nd .

On the motion of Bro . DENNIS MOORE , P . D . P . G . M ., thc accounts were approved and carried ; but Bro . GOWER having objected to the accounts being brought up and carried without being audited , the G . MASTER said that auditors could not be appointed without previous notice being given for thc passing of such a law .

Bro . LATIMI-R said h ; had seen systems of an audit work well elsewhere , and he would give notice of a motion to be brought before thc next meeting ofthe Gtand Lodge , for the appointment of two auditors to audit the next year ' s accounts . Thc GRAND MASTER said that he had attended thc mce : ing of the Grand Lodge of Cornwall , at

Truro , on Tuesday , with Bro . Latimer , and they siw there that the accounts were audited and signed by the auditors , whose names were printed with the accounts . It was an excellent plan . Bro . METHAM , D . P . G . M ., read the report of thc

committee of petitions , which congratulated them on thc success of their movement , as they had succeeded in carrying their two candidates in the Aged Freemasons' Institution and thc Girls' School . The report urged the lodges to decided union , as the voting papers of 16 lodges had not been received ;

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Devon.

if they had it would have saved them from borrowing 100 votes . It also stated that they had granted £ 5 to the late Bro . Foot ; and recommended the Grand Lodge to give , £ 10 to the crippled daughter of another late brother . The report was then received , and unanimously agreed to , and the committee requested to continue

their services till the next Grand Lodge . Bro . DENIS MOORE then stated that this province had received great assistance from the Masonic Benevolent Institution , and from the Widows' Fund , and he should therefore move that 20 guineas be voted to each of those institutions . Bro . CODD , P . M ., seconded the motion , and it

was carried unanimously . On the motion of Bro . DENIS MOORE , Bro . John Sharland , the W . Master of the new lodge ( No . 1125 ) at Tiverton , was elected the Grand Treasurer for the year ensuing . A proposal to elect one of the members of the southern lodges failed , because it was shown that ,

out of ten Treasurers elected , seven of them had come from the Three Towns . The P . GRAND MASTER then brought forward the following proposed new bye-law , of which he had given notice at the Grand Lodge at Topsham , on the 31 st of May last : " Every lodge in this province shall pay to the funds of the Provincial

Grand Lodge , for and on behalf of each member thereof , the sum of sixpence per quarter , or two shillings annually ; such payment to commence from the 1 st day of January , 1870 . " In moving this law , the R . W . speaker said he believed the Province of Devon was the only province in England where only one shilling is paid to the Prov . Grand

Lodge . In Cornwall , West York , North and East York , and Herefordshire , they each paid two shillings yearly , and in the last province they paid an extra shilling . In East Lancashire , Warwickshire , Leicestershire , Bristol , and Somerset , two shillings was paid , but in Devon only one shilling . He had not returns from all thc provinces in England , but

far as returns went , Devon stood at the very bottom of the list . This explained to him why so many taunts were thrown at him in London about their province . They stood very well in their payments to the Benevolent Fund , but taking the Masonic Charities in general , they were at the bottom of the list . When at the Grand Lodge at Truro on

Tuesday he found that they never paid less then two shillings ; and many contemp lated contributing shilling more . They say that Masonry is a charitable institution—an institution based on charity . ( Cheers . ) The R . W . brother , after some further arguments in favour of his motion , read an

excellent letter which he had received from Bro . W . J . Hughan , the Grand Secretary of Cornwall , who stated that all the provinces with which he was acquainted paid two shillings a year for charitable purposes to their provincial lodges , and he was surprised to find that Devon should only pay half that sum . The Grand Master concluded by moving the

resolution . Bro . Captain TANNER DAVY seconded the motion . A discussion ensued , and the proposition was opposed by Bros . Watts and Gover , who stated that the lodges contributed large sums for charitable purposes , besides the subscription to the Grand

Lodge . The discussion was continued by other brethren , all of whom spoke in favour of thc motion , and the feeling of the lodge was demonstrated in favour of the motion in a very decided manner . Thc D . P . G . MASTER ( Bro . Metham ) then supported thc motion in an eloquent ancl able speech , in which he adduced a number of statistics to

prove how necessary it is that Devon should bear a better proportion of thc burden which ought to attach to it in respect to the maintenance of the Masonic Institutions . He said : " There is one fact which cannot be contradicted , that our province does not subscribe as it ought to thc g / eat Masonic Charities . Wc have had fourteen

annuitants on the funds of thc Aged Freemasons ' Institution during thc last ten years , to whose support thc entire province has not contributed a year and a half ' s pay . To thc Hoys' School wc have , as a province , given nothing , although wc have always had boys there . During the last ten years , wc had fir four years three boys , for three years four boys ,

and for thc remaining three years two boys , costing thc Charity in ten years / i , 6 oo , to which the lodges and individual members contributed only ^ " 450—little more than a quarter . In the Girls ' School we have only seven votes , although wc have had six girls there during thc last ten years , the contributions being less than to the Hoys' School . Scarcely more than a third of thc lodges subscribe

to cither charity . There is but one annual subscriber to the Aged Institution recorded in thc last report , eight or ten to the Boys' School , - and only three or four to the Girls' School . The proposed resolution suggests an easy way of making up this great deficiency . It is but a very trilling sum to pay , and it is necessitated by the ever-increasing list of candidates , which must increase instead of