Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

The TREASURER reported a balance in hand of £ 84 . The DEPUTY P ROV . GRAND MASTER presented the report of the Fortescue Annuity Fund , which showed that during the past year £ 750 had been invested in Exeter Asylum Bonds , and £ 150 distributed in annuities . The balance in hand was - £ 42 18 s . Sd ., and the capital account showed a total

of £ 2432 . Bro . GOVER read the report of the Committee of Petitions , which stated that the province was now drawing from the Charities no less a sum than •£ li 54 per annum , whilst its average donations and subscriptions only reached the sum of ^ 376 . The province had been for some time largely dependent on the assistance of other provinces in order to elect Devon candidates whose

cases were urgent , and it was still largely indebted to them for valuable assistance . The Committee recorded their especial thanks to Bro . S . G . Homfrey , of Newport , Mon ., for his ready assistance , and especially on a late occasion when there was urgent necessity for electing an esteemed member of the province . The Committee felt that they would be ungrateful if they did not put on record an expression of their deep sorrow and regret at

the loss sustained by the death of Bro . Charles Godtschalk —( hear , hear )—who for so many years transacted their business in London so wisely and zealously . The fact of his having had 124 votes annually in his own right for the great London Charities will cause his memory to be revered . The report of Bro . Whittley , as the London representative of the province , pro tern ., had been received and adopted . A vote of thanks was given to him ,

and he was appointed the representative in London , with power to arrange the votes of the province . ( App lause . ) The Committee referred with regret to the increasing number of applications for relief , constituting a heavy strain on the limited resources of the Provincial Grand Lodge . The various claims had been carefully considered , and they recommended the

following sums be granted : — £ 5 to a brother of Lodge 106 . Exmouth ; £ 5 to a brother of 248 ; £ 10 to a member of Lodge 223 , Plymouth ; £ 5 to a brother of 1550 , Plymouth ; £ 5 to a widow of a late brother of 282 , £ 10 to a brother of 39 , Exeter ; £ 5 to a widow of a late brother of 666 , Princetown ; £ 5 to a widow of a brother of 1099 , Stoke ; ^ 5 to a daughter of a late brother of 1125 , Tiverton ; and £ 10 to a widow of a late brother of

710 , Totnes . On the motion of the Rev . W . WHITTLEY , who met with a very cordial reception , the report was adopted . Bro . E . T . F ULFORD , of Exeter , proposed that the London representative be requested to inform the Prov . Grand Master the amount required to relieve the province of its liabilities in respect of 3000 votes owed to other provinces , and that when the amount was known an appeal should be issued to every lodge in the province to subscribe towards it .

This , seconded by Bro . A NDREWS , was carried unanimously , the feeling of the meeting being in favour of a special effort to relieve the province of its liability , rather than to postpone the election of its candidates to the great Masonic Charities for seven years . A BROTHER having asked that information should be diffused respecting these Charities , the P ROV . GRAND MASTER said it was all given in the admirable directory just published by Bro . Westcott . ( Cheers . )

Bro . W HITTLEY made an earnest appeal to lodges and to individual holders of votes for the Charities to place them at the service of the Provincial Grand Lodge , so that the most might be made of them . The PROV . GRAND M ASTER having very heartily thanked Bro . Whittley for valuable assistance at a time of great need , remarked that he was determined to request the Grand Lodge to erase the name of a certain Mason from the roll . ( Applause . )

A notice of motion , given by Bro . LYNN , to the effect that at Provincial Grand Lodge the W . M . ' s of the several lodges should report the amount of its subscriptions , the sums devoted to Charity , & c , was commended to the serious attention of the brethren by the Prov . G . M . Bro . Cross , proposed in eulogistic terms by Bro . Rev . W . WHITTLEY , seconded by Bro . S TOCKER , was unanimously elected Treasurer ; and Bros . J . W . Cornish and E . T . Browning , P . P . G . Treasurer—were appointed Auditors .

The Prov . Grand Master then invested the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . W . Rogers , 112 ... ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M „ A . Kelso Hamilton , 112 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ A . Brickwood Hutchings , 203 ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . H . G . Morse , P . G . C . Eng . ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . T . King , 421 - ••¦ - Prov . G . Chap . „ John Bradford , 135 S ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . i

„ J . lirewer , 2 0 ... ••••••" « ' •«•- »» „ D . Cross Prov . G Ireas . „ W . Ollis , 189 ... ... ... ••¦ Prov . G . S . D . „ K . Lake , 1135- - - - £ - G . S . D . „ M . Emdon , 105 Prov . G . J D . „ W . H . Webb , 1456 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . 1 01

„ J . F . Burns , 202 ... ... ... rov . \ J . ^ . w „ J . Kinton Bond , 1247 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C „ I . U . Valantine , 303 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . D . C . I ! Burrow Prov . G . A . D . C . Millet ... ... ... ••¦ Prov . G . Swd , Br „ minei ... 1 u . om

„ Sutherland , 710 ... ... ... ^ r . , . ,, Saunders , 1284 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ Constable , 797 - - - Pfov - £ •Org . „ Ward , 847 ... •••Prov . G . A Sec . „ Lavers , 1091 ... ... ••••••Pr ° v . G . Purst .

„ Bovey , 797 ... -. •••... rrov . U . A . rurst „ J . Y . Avery , 150 ,. Tucker , 847 ... . ... „ Ford , 1125 ... ... •••¦••Lp rn „ a . Stwrl «

„ Powell , 1205 ... „ Andrews , 1254 „ Hanley , 1855 ... ••••••-J „ Blanchard , 444 •••••••••Prov . G . Tyler . The D . PROV . G . M . then presented the Prov . G . M . with a diamonc

pendant for Lady Ebringtbn , subscribed lor at a cost of 150 guineas , by the brethren of the province as a wedding gift , and as a token of regard and affection for one who during the seven years he had ruled the province had

well earned such recognition . The brethren hoped that her ladyship would live very many years to wear their gift , and then hand it on as an heirloom ; that the wedded life of their Prov . G . M . would bring with it all the happiness he could desire , and that he would be blessed with fair daughters and •alwart sons to hand down the honoured name of Fortescue for many , •>v generations . ( Loud applause . )

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

The PROV . G . M . / accepting the gift , assured the brethren that he felt he had done very little to deserve so beautiful a present . The duties he had performed as Prov . G . M . during the last seven years had not been heavy , and he had always been assisted most readily by Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers , and by none more so than by Bros . Rogers and Brewer , whom he might call his permanent staff . His aim always had been to

administer the province with impartiality avid justice , and though conscious of many failings , he gladly regarded their handsome gift as an appreciation of his efforts , and as an expression of their opinion thai the welfare of the Craft had not suffered at his hands . ( Loud applause . ) His marriage had brought him a great deal of happiness , much of it in consequence of the goodwill it had evoked from all classes with whom he had been brought into

contact , and which had culminated in that present from an ancient and honourable Society , in which all classes and all interests were represented . ( Applause . ) This was not the first present his family had received from the Masons of Devonshire . Years ago his grandfather , who ruled over the province , was presented with a beautiful centre-piece , which had been bequeathed to the family as an heirloom of the Castle Hill estate .

( Applause . ) He ( Lord Ebrington ) hoped to do the same with their beautiful gift , and he was sure they would all join him in the hope that his wife , who was the daughter of the Provincial Grand Master of North Wales—( applause)—would be spared to wear it for many years , and that their friendship might be as bright and as durable as the gems of which it was composed . ( Loud applause . )

In answer to a BROTHER the PROV . G . M . said he should be happy to do whatever the Craft in general , with the Devonshire Province in particular , thought was the best way of celebrating the jubilee of the Queen , to whose family Masonry owed so much . ( Applause . ) The lodge was closed in due form .

In the evening about 120 brethren attended a banquet at Bro . Rogers ' s , Newmarket Hotel , Plymouth . Lord Ebrington presided , and was supported by Bros . A . Brickwood Hutchings , Mayor of Devonport ; W . Derry , Rev . H . G . Morse , Rev . W . Whittley , and D . Cross . The gathering was the inauguration of the handsome new dining-room which Bro .

Rogers has recently added to the hotel . It is 40 feet long and 26 feet wide , with a handsome covered ceiling and a spacious skylight . The walls of the room were draped with flags , and the effect was heightened by evergreen decorations . The approaches to the hall were also draped , and were lit with handsome coloured lanterns . A capital banquet of seven courses was served on elegantly laid tables .

After the banquet the PROV . GRAND MASTER gave "The Queen and Craft , " referring to the approach of her Majesty ' s jubilee , and to the aid Masonry had received from the members of her family . For " The Grand Master and Officers of Grand Lodge " Bro . the Rev . G . H . MORSE responded . "The Prov . Grand Master of Devon and the Officers of Provincial

Grand Lodge was suitably proposed by Bro . BURNS , W . M . of Friendship Lodge . Lord EBRINGTON , in responding , said he was rejoiced to know that as a whole the county was prosperous and in good health as regarded Masonry , The number of lodges and of members showed an i increase , and he was greatly pleased at the working of the Masonic Educational Fund . The

day ' s proceedings had been a source of deep satisfaction to him . Upwards of 400 brethren had attended , and the business had been characterised by an excellent tone and perfect harmony . He congratulated those who had arranged for the banquet , as its success could not be denied . His lordship then cordially proposed "The Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall . "

The MAYOR of DEVONPORT responded , thanking Lord Ebrington for honouring his civic office by appointing him that day to an important office in the Provincial Grand Lodge . Bro . BURNS responded for " The W . M . ' s of the Lodges in the Province . "

Bro . DERRY , in giving "The Visitors , and coupling Bro . the Rev . W . Whittley ' s name with the toast , spoke of him in terms of the warmest eulogy . Bro . the Rev . W . WHITTLEY , after acknowledging the compliment , gave " Freemasons' Wives and Sweethearts , " coupling with it the name of Lady Ebrington .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER having replied for her ladyship , the Tyler ' s toast was given , and the company separated . A noteworthy contribution to the pleasures of the evening was the excellent music given by Bros . Elford , 2025 , and G . F . Miller , 1099 . Bro . Elford gave an effective rendering of " The better land " on the cornet , and , being vociferously encored , responded most acceptably with "The lost chord . " Bro . Sir Edward Clarke , the Solicitor General , had been invited to the banquet , but wrote regretting his inability to attend .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Western Division of Lancashire was held on Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., at the Drill Hall , Wigan , where there was a very large attendance of the members of the Craft from every part of the extensive province . There are now 85 lodges in the division , and the whole of these were represented at the meeting , at which there were about 600 present . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Dep . Grand Master of England , R . W . Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire , presided , and he was supported by ;—

Bros , the Right Hon . the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres , D . G . M . of Scotland , P . G . M . of Aberdeenshire West , acting D . G . M . ; R . Wylie , P . G . S . W . ; E . Pierpoint , P . G . J . W . ; J . P . M'Arthur , P . P . G . W . ; William Goodacre , P . G . Sec . ; John Chadwick , P . G . Sec . East Lancashire ; Rev . R . T . Leslie , P . G . Chaplain ; R . Foote , P . G . Treas . ; J . Edward Oglethorpe , P . G . R . j J . H . Barrow , P . G . S . D . ; John Cobharn , P . G . S . D . ; George Morgan , P . G . J . D . ; John Beesley , P . G . J . D . ; John Hatch , P . G . S . ofW . ; J . D . Murray , P . G . D . C ; John Sutton , P . G . D . D . C ; H . H . Smith

P . G . A . D . C ; R . Williams , P . G . S . B . ; Robert Cain , P . G . Std . Br . ; B . P . Gee , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . 1 . Greaves , P . G . O . j H . Wyatt , P . G . A . Sec . ; C . B . Holmes , P . G . P . ; Thomas Longmire , P . G . A . P . ; Dr . Costine , P . G . S . ; S . Wallhead , P . P . G . S . ; T . Nevett , P . G . S . ; James Lawrence , P . G . S . ; Thomas Whitehead , P . G . S . ; P . Ball , P . G . Tyler ; W . H . Ball , P . G . A . Tyler ; James Pickering , P . P . G . D . ; W . Tyer , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Rev . Henry G . Vernon , P . P . G . Chap . ; John Case , P . P . G . D . ; G . H . Ashurst . P . P . G . W . Derbyshire ; W . Riolev . P . P . G . D . D . C ; lames Andrew .

P . P . G . D . C ; John Clayton , P . P . G . S . D . Cheshire ; W . Bowden , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . I . Pentin , P . P . G . D . D . C . ; W . C . Erwin , P . P . G . A . Secretary ; J . W . Burgess , P . P . G . P . ; T . A . Hopewell , P . G . D . D . C Bombay ; R . W . Worrall , P . P . G . S . B . Cheshire ; W . Greatorex , P . P . G . R . Cheshire ; Rev . T . W . Richardson , P . P . G . Chap . ; John Wells , P . P . G . D . C . ; Robert Martin , P . P . G . Treas . ; Thomas Armstrong , P . P . G . Treas . ; C . B . Holmes , P . P . G . P . ; Hugh Williams , P . P . G . D . D . C . ; R . Rowbottom , P . P . G . I . W . ; W . Longmire , P . P . G . D . D . C ; John Preston , P . P . G . D . C . ; Maurice