Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somersetshire.

who took up £ 132 for the Benevolent Lodge ; W . H . Good , £ 164 ; E Frv Wade and A . Duckett , P . M . ' s of 291 , who took up £ 3 66 for the Boys Masonic Institution , including £ 130 from their own ( the Rural Philanthropic Lodge ) ; J . L . Stothert , £ 236 from Lodge 53 ; and G . E . Alford , Westonsuper-Mare , £ 53 us-The motion was agreed to with acclamation . : Rro . W . ADAMS , P . M . 261 , briefly responded .

The V . W . DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER then said it became his duty , in the absence of the Earl of Carnarvon , to move the resolution which stood in his name . It was as follows : " That this Provincial Grand Lodge h ' ereby desires to record its satisfaction at the happy completion of this the ¦ jrt-i anniversary of the accession of her Majesty , and to return thanks to the G . A . O . T . U . for the blessings which He has vouchsafed to this kingdom

nnd empire during that long and prosperous period . " He was not going to detain tiiem by making anything in the shape of a speech , because they might lake it that jubilee matters had been thoroughly threshed out , and it would not become him to sav in an imperfect manner what had been so perfectly said so many times . They would all , he thought , agree with the

terms of the resolution , and the most fitting way in which they , as Masons , could show their appreciation of her Majesty's prosperous reign they had adopted by the contribution they made as a Jubilee offering to their Chanties of over £ 900 from the Province of Somersetshire . ( Hear , hear . ) _ The motion was then carried by acclamation , and the brethren joined in

singing the National Anthem . ' Bro STOTHERT , P . P . S . G . W ., then rose lo propose a resolution in connection ' with the recent marriage of the V . W . the Deputy Prov . Grand Master . He said that he exceedingly regretted the absence of the Prov . Grand Master , as he would have made a speech on that occasion which he was sure would have been acceptable to every brother present , especially

when they considered what the subject of that speech would have been . ( Hear , hear . ) The Deputy Prov . Grand Master was surrounded that day by many warm-hearted brethren , all of whom wished him the greatest prosperity , and there was not a single Mason present who wished that to a larger or warmer extent than himself . A personal friendship of something like 40 years had endeared their association , and when he had more

abundant opportunities in recent years of seeing and valuing his worth he had learnt to know what an excellent man their Deputy was . When he was appointed Deputy Prov . Grand Master he was an untried man , so to speak , but since then he ventured to say there had been no Deputy Prov . Grand Master in England who more faithfully fulfilled the duties of Masonry in a higher or better way than he did , or who was more

appreciated by the brethren throughout his province . He had given his whole soul and life to Masonry for many years , and had done so acceptably to every brother with whom he had come in contact . He had attended to all communications with the utmost courtesy , and his decisions had never been impugned in any matter that had been brought before him . They looked up to him and revered him very much as their Deputy Prov . Grand Master ,

arid it was for that reason they took advantage of his marriage to recognize that fact . He would not detain the lodge any longer , but he would ask the Deputy Prov . Grand Master to accept on behalf of himself and Mrs . Else the present before the lodge . He also handed 10 him a handsome album , bearing the autographs of the subscribers inscribed on vellum , and trusted that he would receive the gift in the same hearty spirit in which the Masons of this province wished to present it to him . He begged to move ' -That

thi < - Provincial Grand Lodge congratulates in the most hearty manner the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Else , on his marriage , and trusts he will accept the accompanying silver epergne and album , containing the autographs of more than 600 brethren , in recognition of his valuable and longcontinued services in the cause of Freemasonry in the Province of Somersetshire , and that he and Mrs . Else may long enjoy every happiness the Great Architect of the Universe can bestow . "

Bro . EDWARDS , P . G . Treas ., added that that there were 6 35 signatures of brethren in the province to the addresses in the album . He trusted that the silver centre-piece which was now presented to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master would long be an ornament to his table , and that when the Great Architect of the Universe should be pleased to carry him away from among them it would descend to one of his successors as a memento of the esteem , regard and affection in which he was held in the Province of Somerset . ( Hear , hear . )

THE DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , in acknowledging the presentation , said there were moments in the lives of most of them when the tongue refused to obey the dictates of the heart . Such he felt to be his position on the present occasion , and , therefore , if his words were few , believe him they were none the less sincere . He desired , in the first place , to offer to Bro . Stothert his warmest thanks for the very kind and graceful

manner in which he had been pleased to speak of the lady who had done him the honour to give her hand , and of himself . He was glad to find that during the twelve years he had been honoured with the collar of Deputy Provincial Grand Master he had been able to perform the duties of the office in a manner that had given the Earl of Carnarvon satisfaction , and had commended itself to the favourable consideration of the brethren

in the province . In the second place , he begged all the lodges in the province to accept his hearty thanks for their renewed proof that , notwithstanding they had to put up with many shortcomings and idiosyncracies for many years , they were not quite tired yet of their Deputy . ( Hear , hear . ) He accepted wilh the greatest possible gratitude their beautiful , elegant present , but at the same time he could not lay the flattering unction to his soul that

he was in the least degree worthy of their great kindness . ( " Yes , yes . " ) That superb epergne was doubtless of great value , but its intrinsic worth was nothing compared with the assurance it conveyed to his mind that he still retained the esteem—the love , if he might be allowed to say so—¦ ( hear , hear)—of his brethren in the Province of Somersetshire . As regarded the beautiful album , allow him to say he could not imagine any more fitting

manner to record the names of the generous donois . He congratulated especially the brother in whose fertile brain the idea originated . He especially wished to offer his hearty thanks to the Committee who had got up the testimonial , including , he believed , Bros . Stothert , Elworthy , C . F . Edwards , Hunt and others , for the great trouble they had taken . ( Hear , hear )

The presentation took the form of an epergne , or centre-piece for the table in solid silver , weighing about 165 ounces , the general form of the design being that of an oblong plateau , chased around the sides with the ear of corn and the acacia plant , and ornamented with Masonic emblems , in the centre of which is placed an elegant pedestal , chased to match the plateau , supported on either side by an exquisitely-modelled Masonic figure symbolising beauty and strength combined , and surmounted by a shaped

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somersetshire.

glass dish to hold fruit or flowers . On one side of the pedestal , in a shiel d is engraved Mr . Else ' s arms , motto , & c , above which , in a smaller shiel d ' is engraved the emblem of the office ( G . D . ) he has held in Grand Lod gewhile on the other side of the pedestal , in a shield , is engraved the following inscription : — " Presented to the Worshipful Brother Richard Charles Else D . P . G . M . Somerset , P . G . D . England , by the Freemasons of Somerset on

his marriage , July , 1887 , " and above it is a smaller shield , the emblem of the D . P . G . M . of Somerset . The glass dish is also engraved with twelve emblems of the different Degrees in Masonry held by Bro . Else . The epergne is mounted on a polished ebonised plinth , shaped to match it , bearing two solid silver shields , on which are engraved the numbers of the 25 lod ges in Somerset , and the towns in which they are held , who subscribed to the

testimonial . The epergne , which was supplied by Messrs . Hancock , Cox and Co ., of Yeovil , was manufactured from a design prepared by them especially for the purpose , and selected by the Committee from amongst many others sent them for competition . In the first page of the album is the following autograph letter from the Prov . G . Master , the Earl of Carnarvon : —

My dear Sir and Brother , — I have been requested to write a few lines to accompany this volume , which will embody the good wishes and congratulations of your Masonic brethren in the Province of Somerset on your marriage . It is a great pleasure to me to do so , for among your many friends I hope you will believe there is no one who joins more cordially and sincerel y in those good wishes than the writer of this letter . For many years we have been engaged in Masonic dutiesand that

common , I can honestly say by your judgment , tact , and constant help you have made my task as Provincial Grand Master an easy and pleasant one . Believe me to be , yours faithfully and fraternally , 20 th April , 1 S 87 . CARNARVON . At the head of the signatures in the album from each lodge was the following : — ' •The Right Worshipful Bro . Richard Charles Else , P . G . D

England , ar . d D . P . G . M . Somerset . —We , the undersigned , being members of Lodge , desire to offer you our sincere congratulations on the occasion of your marriage . We trust that the Great Architect of the Universe will see fit to enrich you with every blessing , and that you may long be spared to enjoy the esteem and affection with which you are regarded b y every Freemason in the Province of Somerset . "

Bro . J . L . STOTHERT , P . P . S . G . W ., proposed "That this Provincial Grand Lodge recommends each private lodge throughout the province annually to charge all the collars with a lee of honour , and that the amount thus raised be given to the three Royal Masonic Institutions as may from time to time be determined by the brethren of each lodge . "

Several BRETHREN stated that the suggestion had been carried out in their lodges . Bro . RADWAY seconded , and the motion was carried . Alms were then collected , and the amount— £ 6 7 s . —was handed over to the Bridgwater Infirmary , on the motion of Bro . J . C . HUNT , seconded b y Bro . Cox .

Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . A banquet afterwards took place at the Royal Clarence Hotel , under the presidency of Bro . Else , the V . vV . D . P . G . M ., the vice-presidents beino- Bros . C . F . Marshall , P . S . G . W ., and E . Fry Wade , P . J . G . W . Covers were laid lor about 150 guests . The following was the toast list : "The Queen and the Craft " and "The

M . W . Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " proposed by the V . W . D . P . G . M . ; " Ihe Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and Officers oi Grand Lodge , " proposed by Bro . C . L . Fry Edwards , and responded to by Bro . Else , P . G . D . of England ; "The R . W . Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , " " The V . W . D . P . G . M ., " proposed by Bro . Meyler ; " The Visitors , " responded to by Bros . Dr . J . Parsons

and W . J . Metcalfe ; " ' 1 he Lodge of Perpetual Friendship , 135 , " responded to by Bros . Caffin and J . ii . Sop > c P . M . ' s ; " The other Lodges of the Province , " acknowledged by all the U .. YI . ' s in attendance ; " The Masonic Charities , " proposed by Bro . Eiwo ; iC )>\ and responded to by P . M . ' s W . Adams , 261 , A . Duckett and E . Fry Wide , 291 , and W . Alford , 1222 ; and the Tyler's toast .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Cheltenham , on Thursday , the 21 st inst ., under the banner of the Cheltenham and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 , the premier lodge of the province . The meeting occurring on the day between the holding of the Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund , on Wednesday , and the

annual Moveable Grand Lodge at Weymouth , on Friday , the attendance of some intending visitors was prevented , but exceptional interest attached to the occasion from the presence of a number of Mark Masons from Hereford , a petition of the St . Ethelbert Lodge , of that city , to be affiliated to the Gloucestershire Province , having recently been acceded to by Grand Lodge .

The Cheltenham and Keystone Lodge having been formed for the icceplion of Provincial Grand Lodge , the latter was opened in due form by Bro . J . Walker , M . A ., the Prov . G . M ., who was supported by his Deputy , Bro . VV . Forth ; by Bros . J . Brooksmith , P . M . 10 ; Baron de Ferrieres , P . M . 10 , Past Officers of Grand Lodge ; and by Bro . H . Jeffs , P . M . 10 , G . I . G . The officers of Provincial Grand Lodge present

were—Bros . R . V . Vassar-Smith , P . M . 10 , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . Dr . Lynes , P . M . 3 . 10 , P . J . G . W . ; W . C . Ferris , P . M . 21 S , P . G . M . O . ; Rev . Dr . Kynaston , 10 , P . S . G . O . ; J . S . Carleton , W . M . 340 , W . M . elect 10 , P . j . G . O . ; Rev . P . Hattersley Smith , 10 , P . G . Chap . ; W . L . Bain , P . M . 10 , P . G . Treas . ; T . Milligan , W . M . 218 , P . G . Reg . ; G . Norman , W . M . 10 , P . G . Sec ; H . J . Penis , 318 , P . J . G . D . ; Dr . Gregory , 10 , P . G . I , of W . ; W . K . Porcher , 10 , P . G . D . C ; T . E . Gandy , So , P . G . Org . ; and R . T . Hughes , P . M . 21 S , P . G . I . G .

Amongst others present were—Bros . W . C . Heane , P . M . 340 , P . P . J . G . W . ; \ V . R . Felton , P . M . 10 , P . P . G . M . O . ; ]• Balcomb , P . M . 10 , P . P . G . R . ; E . T . Bryant , P . M . 10 , Prov . S . G . O . ; G . ] . Caldwell , W . M . 243 ; O . Shellard , P . M . 243 ; J . Davies , P . M . 243 ; J . Blinkhorn , 243 J J ' Barnes , I . P . M . 243 ; J . Marchant , P . M . 243 ; E . Stephens , S . W . 243 ; J . S . Morton , M . O . 243 ; B . Cullwick , S . O . 243 ; S . Moss , J . D . 10 ; E . G . Chance , I . G . 243 ' '" A . Huband , 10 ; VV . Powell , 10 ; C . A . Stephens , 243 ; Severitt , 218 ; and others .

The proceedings of Provincial Grand Lodge were chiefly of a routine nature , but they included a hearty exchange of congratulations between the brethren from Hereford and those of the Gloucestershire Province on their union . The reports from the various lodges of the province were satisi

factory , the one exception being the record from the Lyegrove Lodge , "« u " 218 , of the recent death of one of its most esteemed Past Masters , Bro . Lowick , who had filled the post of S . W . of the Province and G . Steward ot England . This incident was the subject of a special resolution of sympathy and condolence proposed from the chair .