Provincial Grand Lodge Op Leicester Shire And Rutland.

mittee reported that at the last April election of the Girls' School their candidate , Edith M . Hood , was elected eighth on the successful list of 24 , this being her first application , and , on account of her age , her only chance . To ensure this success the Committee had to borrow votes to some extent , but with regard to the other Institutions there were still a considerable number of votes to the good . The Committee called attention to the successful efforts of Bro . Dr . T . Macaulay , P . P . G . S . W „ who represented the province at the last festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and

whose list amounted to £ 267 15 s . That brother was thanked for his services , as was also Bro . Kelly , P . P . G . M ., who went up as Steward at the last Girls' Festival . In concluding their report the Committee stated that in the ensuing year it would be the turn of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution to receive the support of the province , and they nominated Bro . John Metcalfe , P . M . 2028 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works , for appointment as Charity Steward to represent the province at the festival of that Institution , supporting his Stewardship by a vote of ten guineas from the Provincial Charity Fund .

Bro . L . P . CHAMBERLAIN , Prov . G . Reg ., submitted his annual statement compiled from the returns of the several lodges , and showing a nett increase of 27 in the number of subscribing members . The Prov . Grand Treasurer's account , a printed statement of which had been issued with the Prov . Grand Lodge summons , was received and

passed , and a vote of thanks accorded to that officer for his valuable services . The account showed a considerably reduced balance to be carried forward , which was owing to sundry heavy printing and other expenses of an exceptional character ; but in other respects the finances of Prov . Grand Lodge appeared to be in a satisfactory condition .

On the nomination of Bro . KELLY , seconded by the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , Bro . Robert Waite was unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treasurer . The next business was to consider the further publication of the Prov . Masonic Calendar , which for the past 14 years had been issued under the directorship of Bro . S . S . Partridge , D . P . G . M ., but which position that brother , on account of the pressure of his many engagements , was now compelled to resign .

It was resolved that the publication of the Calendar be continued , and that Bro . Partridge be authorised to make the necessary arrangements , with a view to the selection of a brother to succeed him in the editorship . A cordial vote of thanks was at the same time given to Bro . Partridge

for his past services in the compilation of the work . The R . W . P . w . M . then adpointed and invested the Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bro . Wm . Carrick Crofts , 779 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ J . Young , 523 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . W . R . Hurd , A . K . C ., 2081 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . Selwyn C . Freer , M . A ., 1560 ... ... Prov . G . Chap .

„ R . Waite , 2 79 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ E . P- Steeds , 2081 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Rev . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., 1560 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ John H . Thompson , 1265 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ C . F . Wike , 279 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ F . B . Wilmer , 202 S ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W

„ C . J . Wilkinson , 1391 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . Herbert Marshall , 1007 ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ VV . Jesse Freer , 1560 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ E . Simpkin , 779 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ H . J . Goodall , 1120 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br

„ W . H . Barrow , Mus . Bac , F . C . O ., 523 ... Prov . G . Org . „ C . F . Massie , 1330 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Wm . Marchant , 50 ... .... ... Prov . G . A . Purst „ W . Maurice Williams , 2 79 ... ... ~ ) „ J . G . Murdin , 523

;;w^fcS7:::::::::ProvGStwds-„ C . K . Morris , 1265 ... ... ... | „ Samuel Knight , 1 391 ... ... ... J " Thos . Dunn , 523 - ] Prov . G . Tylers . ,, Jas . Tanser , 2 79 ... ... ... ) ^ In pursuance of the recommendation of the Charity Committee , Bro . J Metcalfe was appointed to represent the province as Charity Steward at the next Festival of the Benevolent Institution .

The presentation of the Grand Lodge Charity jewel to Bro . Macaulay , to which he was entitled under the bye-laws of Prov . Grand Lodge on the completion of his second Stewardship on behalf of the province was deferred through the inability of that brother to attend in consequence of a professional engagement of some importance . Bros . Clement Stretton , P . P . G . S . W ., and J . F . L . Rollestox , P . P . G . Supt . of Works , were re-elected to represent the lodge on the Leicester Masonic Hall Committee .

R . W . Bro . KELLY rose to propose " That the sum of two guineas be granted out of the Charity Fund , to which the brethren be solicited to add their contributions ( as had been done at the Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1560 , last week ) , for the benefit of Mrs . Hinton , a widow lady over seventy years of age , towards furnishing her room in Trinity Hospital , in the Newwalk ( to which , after anxiously waiting for five years , she has iust been

appointed for life through the kindness and sympathy of the Mayor , Bro . Israel Hart , ) and for the expense of sending her for a few weeks to the salt baths at Moira , near Ashby-de-la-Zouch , in the hope of curing , or at least ameliorating the crippled condition of her hands from gout . " Bro . Kelly then related a romantic narrative respecting this poor lady and her parents , which will be found in another column .

The sum was unanimously voted , and was supplemented by some private donations by brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge . The sum of five guineas was voted to one of the Provincial Grand Tylers , who had recently suffered a domestic bereavement , and an expression of condolence with him iR his loss was ordered to be recorded on the

minutes . Before closing the lodge the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master tendered his thanks to the brethren of the province for the kindness they had exhibited on the occasion of his marriage , and for the congratulatory address they had then presented . It had given both him and the Countess Ferrers intense gratification , and both iuliy recognised the trood feelinc

that had prompted it . " Hearty good wishes " having been tendered on behalf of the odjoining Province of Norths and Hunts , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Devonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DEVONSHIRE .

At the close of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the brethren who were Royal Arch Masons adjourned to the St . George ' s Hall , Stonehouse , where the annual Provincial Grand Chapter of the Province of Devon was opened . The M . E . Comp . Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., G . Superintendent , presided , supported by E . Comps . VV . J . Rogers , 112 , P . G . H . ; R . Brewin , P . G . J . ; and the other officers of the chapter .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s report showed a disposable balance of £ 42 5 s-It was proposed that 30 guineas of this balance should be voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , to be placed on the list of E . Comp . the Rev . T . W . Lemon , a Steward for that Charity for the year , but

E . Comp . the Rev . VV . WHITTLEY urged that a portion of it should be voted to the fund which he was raising towards freeing the province from the liabilities for repayment of votes which had been incurred . One of the creditors of the province in Wiltshire , to whom was owing 358 women's votes and 27 men ' s votes , had offered to forego that claim on the payment of 20 guineas in the names of persons who lent those votes .

It was resolved to vote 20 guineas towards E . Comp . Lemon ' s list , and the other 20 guineas towards E . Comp . Whittley ' s fund . E . Comp . the Rev . H . G . MORSE presented £ 5 towards E . Comp Whittley ' s fund , and hoped his example might be followed by other

companions . The Bye-laws Revision Committee were re-appointed , and desired to bring up their report at the next annual meeting . E . Comp . J . Kinton Bond was elected the Treasurer . E . Comps . T . S . Bayly and J . R . Lord were elected the Auditors . The P . G . Supt . invested the following as officers for the year : —

Comp . W . G . Rogers , 112 ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ The Rev . T . W . Lemon , 1 S 9 , M . A . ... Prov . G . J . „ J . Kinton Bond , 70 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ E . H . Wilton , 494 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ A . Orchard , 847 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S .

„ T . Heath , 954 ... ... ... Prov . G . fst A . S . „ VV . Harris , 1138 ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . „ Major Dawe , 282 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . B . „ T . B . Patterson , 1125 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . B . Huxham . -528 ... ... ... Prnv . a . n . r ..

„ J . S . Saunders , 710 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ H . L . Friend , 303 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ P . L . Blanchard ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The consecration of the new Chapter , Saint George , No . 2025 , was then proceeded with , and at the close the Principals were installed—Comps . J . Griffin , as Z . ; J . Gilford , H . ; and W . Odam , J .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

Immediately after the close of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the annual meeting of Royal Arch Masons in the division took place , presided over by the Earl of Lathom , M . E . P . G . S ., who appointed the following officers for the ensuing year : Comp . Lord Stanley ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ J . S . Beauford ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ VV . Goodacre ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E .

„ F . J . Pentin ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ A . G . Collins ... ... ... Prov . G . R . „ W . Longbottom ... ... ,.: Prov . G . P . S . „ T . Milligan ... ... ... ... Prov . G . 1 st A . S . „ H . G . Bell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . „ J . G . Bromley ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br .

„ Jno . Williams .........Prov . G . Std . Br . „ R . W . Worrall ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ C . C . Wilson ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ J . J . Greaves ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . B . Wolstenholme ... ... ... Prov . G . A . S . E . ,, John Beesley ... ... ... Prov . G . S . „ P . Ball ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

„ W . H . Ball ... ... ... Prov . G . AJanitor A Committee was appointed to revise the bye-laws of Provincial Grand Chapter , to bring them into harmony with those of Grand Chapter . Twenty guineas were voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , on the motion of Comp . R . WYLIE , P . P . G . J ., and the meeting closed . The brethren and companions afterwards dined at the Public Hall , Bro . W . Burnet , the P . G . A . Organist , efficiently superintending the musical arrangements .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF KENT .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge took place on Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., under the auspices of the Royal Naval College Lodge , No . 294 , at the Ship Hotel , Greenwich , and was well attended by the brethren ot the Degree from most of the lodges in the province . The R . W . Bro . Rev . T . Robinson , M . A .. Prov . G . M ., was in attendance earlv .

and , a procession of Present and Past Grand Officers having been formed , he was received and saluted with grand honours . The same honours were accorded Bro . C . F . Matier , Past G . S . W . The minutes of the previous annual Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at Canterbury , and of an emergency meeting- at Gravesend . havintr been

passed , the roll of Mark lodges was called , when it was found that every lodge in the province was represented . The Prov . G . Officers present having answered to their names , a very pleasing episode occurred in the presentation of a handsome sword to Provincial Grand Lodge by Bro . Horatio Ward , P . M . 262 , G . S . W ., and G . D . England .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER said that before they proceeded any further with the business he should take the opportunity of making an announcement that , he lelt sure , would be very gratifying to the brethren . Some two months previously he received a letter from a very excellent brother ,

who occupied not only a distinguished position in Provincial Grand Lodge , but who had been honoured by receiving the purple in Grand Lodge , requesting him ( Bro . Robinson ) to receive a deputation , who desired to present lo him a sword for Provincial Grand Lodge purposes . He was extremely pleased at receiving such a letter ; but thought it would be better , instead of