Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

P . P . A . G . P . ; C W . Hudson , P . P . G . W . ; C H . Haine , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; E . A . Head , P . P . S . G . D . ; A . J . Howard , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . T . Jordan , P . P . G . Std , Br . ; A . Lloyd , P . P . G . D . C . ; A . T . Long , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; C . F . Lewis , P . P . G . W . ; C F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . Eng , ; J . Pearce , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . MacOueen , P . P . G . D . ; B . Roberts , P . P . G . W . ; W . H . Russell , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; E . W . Stillwell ,

G . Stwd . Eng . ; T . TrolIope , P . G . D ., P . P . G . W . ; C . Warwick Tomes , P . P . G . S of W . ; J . Terry , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; J . H . Wright , P . P . G . S . B . W . Wright , P . P . G . W . ; C Bampfylde Warre , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . R . While , P . P A . G . D . C ; J . T . Whatford , P . P . G . W . ; W . L . Wallis . P . P . G . W . ; H . G . F Wells , P . P . A . G . P . ; and a large number of other brethren .

The minutes of the last annual meeting having been read and confirmed , highly satisfactory reports of the Board of Finance and the Charities' Committee were adopted . The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read statistics showing the present strength of each lodge , the entire province numbering 138 9 members .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER next addressed the brethren as follows : Once more , brethren , I am pleased to greet you all after another year of quiet progress and steady prosperity . I find the number of initiations is up to a fair average , but there are a great many resignations , leaving the actual increase in numbers only five ; as far as I know nothing has occurred to interrupt the harmony of our Masonic proceedings . I have much

pleasure in holding the annual meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge in this beautiful town of Eastbourne—a town in whose progress and rapid growth I take a sincere interest . My desire is that the annual meeting of our Provincial Grand Lodge should be held at different times in the different towns of importance in the province , and I intend that next year it shall be held at the ancient and historic Borough of Hastings , the brethren of whose

lodges I have been informed , are anxious to receive Provincial Grand Lodge . I have received a petition for a new lodge at Shoreham , and considering the circumstances under which the Burrell Lod ge was removed to Brighton , I certainly did not , at first sight , think it either desirable or expedient to recommend the petition . I found , however , upon inquiry that the removal was purely a local matter , and , when the first Master , who is an old and

respected member of the Provincial Grand Lodge , gave his assurance that there were several persons in the town of Shoreham who were willing to become Masons , that the Town Hall was available for the meetings with every prospect of a permanency , that the necessary funds had been provided , and that there was no doubt of a successful future , I could not refuse to recommend the petition , and have , this day , signed it and hope the result

will prove that I have done right , and that the lodge will progress without drawing members from neighbouring towns in which there are other lodges . I understand also that another petition will shortly be presented to me for a lodge at Bexhill ; when I receive it I shall certainly severely scrutinise the signatures , as although a rising town like Bexhill may fairly be expected to provide a lodge , I should be very sorry to see one established if likely

to do harm to any of the existing lodges in the neighbourhood . His Royal Highness added : I regret very much the serious indisposition of my Provincial Senior Grand Warden , Bro . Morrison ; he is so universally esteemed , and his services to Masonry have been so great , that I trust the Great Architect of the Universe will spare him to us for some time longer . I should . like thejSecretary to write to him , and say how much we missed him ,

and how sincerely we sympathise with him in his affliction , and look forward to his further presence amongst us . You are kind enough to send me many invitations to attend your installation meetings , but you will quite understand that my time is so taken up by my profession and other engagements , that I can seldom spare a day to attend a meeting in Sussex , but whenever it is possible I will come and visit you , and even to-day I was forced to interfere with

one of four lodge meetings , but I could not help it . Rest assured I take the deepest interest in all that concerns Masonry in the province , but I am obliged to leave the greater part of the business in the hands of my Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who I am glad to find restored to health after his recent indisposition , and I congratulate him on his appointment as Senior Grand Deacon of England . 1 am pleased to hear that the Masonic Club

established at Brighton has proved a success , and that many brethren from London have joined it , thus giving an opportunity of exchanging Masonic votes and receiving and giving information without bringing Masonry to the front in presence of those who do not belong to the Craft . I cannot conclude without expressing extreme satisfaction at the numerous attendance to-day , and with the cordial reception I have received both from my brethren in the Craft and the local authorities . I can only repeat that my services

are , as far as lies in my power , at trie disposition or Masonry , and rest assured that if 1 do not visit you as often as I should wish , your affairs have my earnest attention . Bro . J . M . Reed was re-elected Prov . Grand Treas ,, and was warmly congratulated by the Prov . Grand Master upon the honourable and successful manner in which he had carried out his duties . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed his officers for the ensuing year , and invested those present with the insignia of their respective offices , as follows :

Bro . E . W . Stillwell , G . Stwd ., P . M . 2483 ... Prov . S . G . W . „ B . Burfield , P . M . 1821 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Canon Cooper , P . M . 1619 ... ... } p „ , r r r , „ Rev . T . H . Langford-Sainsbury , J . W . 1726 ... j rrov . U . Cnaps . „ J . M . Reed , P . M . 732 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ R . P . Clowes , P . M . 2201 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ V . P . Freeman , P . M . am , 732 ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ J . N . Masters , P . M . 341 ... ... } Pr 0 v s G Ds „ J . H . Whatford , P . M . 916 ... ^ rrov . S . U . Us . „ W . A . Raper , P . M . 1184 ... ... } , „ J . Wood , P . M . 1636 ... ... _ j frov . j . u . us . „ J . W . Broad , P . M . 311 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ H . E . Beach , P . M . 38 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ G . Randell , P . M . 40 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . of C „ J . Howe , P . M . 1465 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . B .

„ Harry Kent , P . M . 315 ) Prov . G . Std . Bre . „ E . D . Sapey , P . M . 1141 ... ¦ ¦¦) „ J . Pulman , W . M . elect 56 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ A . J . Carpenter , P . M . 1829 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ G . Fowler , P . M . mo ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ T . Wickham , P . M . 2187 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ V . C . Parsons , P . M . 271 > , S . Denman . P . M . „ J . Turton , P . M . 811 ... ... " Iprov G Stwds . ., H . L . Staffurth , P . M . 1726 ... ... f r „ H . W . G . Abell , P . M . 1797 ... ... I i , B . F . Meadows , P . M . 1842 ... ... J

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

The Prov . Grand Lodge having been duly closed , the brethren sat down to a banquet , under the presidency of his Royal Highness the Duke of CONNAUGHT , Prov . Grand Master , who opened the toast list by briefly proposing " The Queen and the Craft . " In submitting "The MAV . Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , " he said he was sure the toast would be received with greater cordiality than usual , for all would congratulate the Prince on the recent engagement of his daughter .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER next proposed " The Officers of the Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " His Royal Highness said it was highly satisfactory to see the great interest taken in the welfare of the various provinces b y the officers of Grand Lodge , and it gave him great pleasure to see Bros . Sir W . T . Marriott , Col . Egerton , Rev . E . R . Currie , and other Grand Officers present . On the other hand the officers of Grand Lodge fully appreciated the manner in which they were supported by the provinces .

Bro . Rev . E . R . CURRIE ( Dean of Battle ) , P . G . Chap ., in acknowledging the toast , said the provinces owed much to Grand Lodge , and the latter were indebted to the provinces inasmuch as it was made up of Masons from the various provinces . Sussex , he said , was the only province presided over by a Royal Duke , and so long as the province had such a Grand Master the brethren need have no fear ot Freemasonry in the county .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Sir W . T . MARRIOTT , next proposed "The M . W . Prov . Grand Master , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . " The brethren in Sussex were always delighted , he said , to have their Prov . Grand Master with them . They all knew the many duties his Royal

Highness had to perform , and they were therefore the more grateful to him for visiting them that day . In many countries Freemasons , he said , were suspected by those in power , but here there were no more loyal body of men than Freemasons , who were united by a bond of brotherly love . Masonry united all classes , and at their head was the Royal Family .

The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , on rising to respond , was received with enthusiasm . He said he was extremely graceful lor the kind reception given to the toast , and he felt happy in being able to be with them . In the lodge he had spoken , he said , of his many engagements of a military and social character , and though those duties prevented him from being a frequent visitor amongst them , he could assure them that he took the

deepest interest in the welfare of the province . The resutw- given in the lodge of the work of the past year he regarded as very satisfactory . He was pleased to see so large an attendance of the brethren , and thanked Bro . Alderman Skinner ( Mayor of Eastbourne ) , and those who had assisted his Worship in giving him such an hearty welcome to the town . Alluding to the bond of brotherly love uniting all classes , he said his relative , Prince

Leopold of Prussia , had been much struck by the loyalty and union wh ' ch characterised English Freemasons , and wished to see the English and German Freemasons in closer union . The Prince of Wales had conferred upon Prince Leopold the honour of Past Grand Master . Before sitting down he wished to propose " The W . Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C ., S . G . D ., and the Officers of Prov . Grand

Lodge , Present and Past . " His excellent friend , Sir William Marriott , had worthily occupied his place during his absence on many occasions , and had ably carried out the great work imposed upon him . He was sure Sir William took great interest in the province , and warmly congratulated him upon his appointment in Grand Ledge as Senior Grand Deacon . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , who was warmly received , said he

could not plead one-lenth of the engagements of his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught as an excuse / or his absence from the province , but I e rf gretted that recently he had been in the hands of that despot , the dector , who , at cne time , had absolutely forbidden him from attending to his Masonic duties . Loyalty had , however , characterised the brethren of

Sussex , and , in the hands of Bro . Freeman , the province had been perfectly safe . Indeed , no province , he said , had a better Secretary than Sussex hsd in Bro . Freeman . He hoped , with renewed health , to be able to attend the various lodges as usual . He then submitted " The Visitors , " to which Bro Colonel FITZGERALD responded .

In proposing " lhe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institutions , " Bro . Jos . FARNCOMBE embraced the opportunity of making sympathetic allusion to the severe illness of Bro . Morrison—a brother who was beloved throughout the Province of Sussex , he said , had done well in the past in the support of the Masonic Benevolent Institutions , and he hoped the brethren would rally round the Duke of Devonshire , who intended acting as the President of one of the Masonic Festivals next year .

Bto . J . TERRY , Sec . R . M . B . I ., in responding , said Sussex had done nobly in the past with regard to the Masonic Charities , and had a splendid representative in Bro . J . M . Reed . During the past year the province had subscribed nearly . £ 1300 , and he hoped the Sussex brethren , whom he

heartily thanked , would continue their excellent support of the Benevolent Institutions . At this stage of the proceedings the Prov . Grand Master left to catch his train , and the vacated chair was taken by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master .

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed " The Masters of the Lodges in the Province . " Bro . LLOYD responded . Bro . E . R . CURRIE gave " The Stewards , " eulogising them for the admirable arrangements they had made for the meeting and banquet .

Bros . J . H . WHATIORD and W . A . RAPER acknowledged the toast . The Tyler ' s toast brought the gathering to a close . An especial word of praise is due to the Stewards , Bros . J . W . Masters , J . H . Whatford , W . A . Raper , J . Wood , and R . P . Clowes , who did all that was possible to ensure the comfort of those present .

During the evening a pleasing programme of vocal music was sustained by the Lewes Orpheus Glee Union , who rendered several glees in good style , while Messrs . W . N . Barnard , A . Barnard , and E . T . Hall also contributed songs . The duties of director and accompanist were in the able hands of Mr . Percy Starnes .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Devonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DEVONSHIRE .

The above Provincial Grand Chapter met at the Royal Public Rooms , Exeter , on the 22 nd inst ., under the banner of Chapter No . ii 2 , the Principals of which ate Comps . James F . Railing , M . E . Z . ; H . Jerman , H . j and E . H . Shorlo , J . ; In the unavoidable absence of the Grand Superintendent ( Lord Ebringtcn ) , Comp . W . G . Rogers took the chair . Amorig those present were—