Provincial Grand Lodge Of Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF OXFORDSHIRE .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the University Masonic Hall , Oxford , on the 24 th instant , under the auspices of theApollo University Lodge , N 0 . 357 , thelargest and most influential lodge in the Province . There were present at the opening of the Grand Lodge the R . W . Bro . yEneas J . Mclntyre , Q . C ., Grand

Registrar of England , the Acting Provincial Grand Master ; Bro . Reginald Bird , W . Deputy Master , No . 357 , Prov . S . G . W . ; the R . W . Bro . Richard Havers , Senior Grand Deacon of England ; the V . W . Bro . A . J . S piers , Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; and many other brethren of rank in the Province .

The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge were read and confirmed , and the accounts of . the Prov . G . Treasurer were adopted amid considerable applause , as demonstrating the remarkably good financial position of the Province .

The election of Pro . G . Treasurer next took place , and Bro . Thomas Randall , P . M . 340 , was unanimously re-elected to the office he has held for a great number of years , and the duties of which he has discharged with singular credit to himself , and great advantage to the Province .

The report of the charity committee was read and adopted . The number of the brethren who , during the past year , have served the oilice of Steward at the several festivals of the Masonic charitable institutions , was reported to be larger than in any previous year , a fact which proves

that the Province of Oxfordshire , while progressing most successfully at home , has not been forgetful of the great duty which it owes to the Craft in general . The R . W . the acting Provincial Grand Master then appointed his officers for the ensuing year

as follows : —Bro . R . J . Spiers , ( for the 18 th time ) D . P . G . M . ; H . B . Samuelson , jl / . /\ , W . M . No . 599 , S . G . W . ; F . Wheeler , W . M . No . 1036 , J . G . W . ; Rev . T . Cochrane , No . 357 , Senior G . Chaplain ; Rev . C . I <\ Garratt , No . " 1036 , Junior G . Chaplain ; Alderman T . Randall , No . 340 ,

G . Treasurer ; A . Akers , Nos . 357 , and 478 , G . Registrar ; H . H . Riach , Nos . 317 , and 478 , G . Secretary ; W . Park , No . 340 , S . G . D . ; F . Stockwell , M . D . No . 1399 , J-G-D . , II . O . Wakeman , No . 47 eS , G . Supt . of Works ; F . A . Hyndman , Nos . 357 > and 4 / 8 , G . D . of C ; H . A . Cooper

Smith , Nos . 357 , and 478 , A . G . D . of C . ; Frank Spiers , No . 340 , G . Swordbearer ; W . Neville , No . 357 , G . Organist ; Lamb , No . 599 , G . Pursuivant ; Paris , No . 1399 , A . G . Pursuivant and Bro . R . T . Hodge , and others as G . Stewards .

The usual grants to the charities were made , and all business being concluded , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren present adjourned to a banquet , which had been provided in the Clarendon Hotel .

Consecration Of A Mark Master's Lodge At Hastings.

CONSECRATION OF A MARK MASTER'S LODGE AT HASTINGS .

The interesting ceremony of the opening of a new Mark Masters' Lodge , called the " East Sussex Lodge , No . 166 , " took place on Tuesday , the 22 nd inst ., at the Swan Hotel , High-street , Hastings , the head-quarters of the Freemasons for East Sussex . Punctually at the time

appointed , the R . W . Bro . F . Binckes , P . G . J . W ., and Grand Secretary of the Degree , specially deputed by the Most Worshi pful the Grand Master to perforin the ceremony , entered the Lodge Room , and having ' appoiiited his Wardens , proceeded with the consecration , assisted by the

V . W . Bro . Rev . Dr . Richards , Past Grand Chaplain , who delivered in a most effective manner an oration , in which he alluded to the origin of the Mark Degree , pointing out the peculiar teachings of its symbolism , and briefly referring to the intimate association of the practical bearing of this Degree as illustrating its fitness to be

considered as the true Fellow Craft Degree in Freemasonry . He also briefly referred to the causes of the establishment of the Grand Lodge of the Order , and explained the deep interest which was day by day being taken in it by the Master Masons of the world , as shown by the opening of Lodges in every principal centre o ! the habitable globe , and congratulated the Mark

Consecration Of A Mark Master's Lodge At Hastings.

Masons of Sussex in having among them so many earnest workers in all the branches of Freemasonry . As soon as the ceremony of consecration had terminated , V . W . Bro . Dr . Cunningham , P . M . J < , P . G . J . O ., then prcceeded to instal in the

chair of " A " the Worshipful Master Designate , Bro . Dr . Trollope , P . M . 40 , P . Z . 40 , P . P . G . W . of Sussex , a worthy and highly esteemed member of the Craft , whose zeal , ability and love for the Masonic charities , as displayed by him for manv

years past , peculiarly fitted him for the important and responsible post of first Master of this Lodge of Mark Masons . The ceremony of installation having proceeded thus far , special permission was g iven at this point for the introduction of candidates anxious to be advanced

into this honourable degree . The W . M . was most ably assisted by W . Bro . Sabine , P . M . 22 , P . G . A . D . C ., who acted as Senior Deacon and Director of Ceremonies ; W . Bro . Hudson , P . M . 75 , P . G . A . D . C . ; Bros . Ade , P . M . 31 $ , and Sec .

75 ; E . Lewis , J . O . 75 ; Lockyer , W . M . 75 ; W . R . Wood , P . M . 63 , 3 < 5 , Si 1 , P . Z . St . James ' s Chapter , 1 , P . P . G . S . W . Sussex ; and Bros . Duke , Langley , J . W . Wolton , of the Macdonald Mark Lodge . London , Baldwin , & c . A ballot was then taken for twenty-five

candidates , all of whom were duly elected . Of these twenty-two were present , the following being a correct list : —Bros . B . U . lleaiii , P . P . G J . W ., P . M . 311 ; J . Howell , P . P . G . Supt . of Works , P . M . 40 ; J . Dornian , Prov . G . Steward , P . M . 40 ; R . C . N . Davis , P . M . 341 ; W . B . Tanner , P . M . 541 ; T . Lane , P . M . mo ; W .

Lamborn , P . M . 118 . 1 ; R . Pidock , S . W . 916 ; G . Flint , S . W . 1110 ; J . A . Worge , S . W . 11 S 4 ; T . Morris , J . W . 1110 ; G . Fairman , Sec . 40 ; CM . Norris , S . D . 40 ; G . Moran , S . D . 916 ; C . M . Matthews , D . C . 1110 ; T . S . Jackson , I . G . 40 ; S . Chester , 40 ; A . Croucher , 40 ; G . E . Boor , 1110 ; G . S . Grey , 40 ; S . Ilcndy , 40 ; II . C . Davey , uui .

The candidates having read and all signed the " declaration book , " were duly received into the lodge , and properly placed . The ceremony of advancement was proceeded with , and rendered by the W . M . with commendable accuracy , it being the first occasion he had worked the

degree in lodge . Ihe W . M . then appointed and invested his officers as follows : ¦—Bros . Kirkland , S . W . ; Wellerd , / . W . ; Rev . G . Richards , D . D ., P . G . M . Chap ., Chaplain ; C . W . Duke , M . O . ; Thos . Lane , S . O . ; W . Lamhorn , J . U . ; G . Wellerd , Treas . ( he having been unanimously

elected by tlie members . 11 ns brother has been the Treasurer of the Derwent Lodge , No . 40 , for the past 20 years , and is highly respected by all who know him ) ; C . M . Norris , Secretary ; J . Dorman , Reg . of Marks ; G . Fairman , S . D . ; W . B . Tanner , J . D . ; G . Moren , I . G . ; S . Ilcndy was re-elected Tyler .

The ceremony of installation was then completed , the addresses being given by Bro . Cunningham in a most impressive manner . Several candidates were proposed for advancement at the next lodge , which it is expected will be held upon an early day for the purpose of relieving the

pressure of business consequent on so many Masons being desirous of entering the Order . Votes of thanks were especially given to those brethren who had rendered aid in establishing the lodge . Shortly afterwards the members and visitors ,

to tlie number of between 30 and 40 , sat down to banquet , the W . M . again presiding . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given . Bro . Binckes , in responding for the present and past Grand Officers , referred to the fact that the R . W . Earl Percy , Most Worshipful Grand Master

Elect , would be installed as Grand Master of the Order at the Grand Lodge to be held in London , on 'Tuesday , June 3 rd next . He also congratulated the members of the lodge on the fact of their having present so many Past Grand Officers , men who hael taken a deep interest in the welfare of this particular degree , and who had

done so much towards the great success of this lodge . He likewise entered at some length into an instructive explanation respecting the degree , which must have made a deep impression upon the younger iiu nibers present ; and specially impressed upon them that it was ihe only degree in universal Freemasonry which

Consecration Of A Mark Master's Lodge At Hastings.

insisted on a due allegiance to the Craft Grand Lodge of England , by compelling every candidate to prove himself worthy of admittance to the degree by first proving himself to be a Master Mason . He concluded by stating that many Craft Masons holding positions of importance

were assisting in promoting the degree ; the R . W ., the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand Master of England , had been one of the Grand Masters of this Order . The Rev . G . Richards , in responding to a toast with which his name had been associated ,

expressed the pleasure he felt in leaving the quiet retreat in Hertfordshire , now the place of his sojourn , to mix once more and work in harmony with those brethren of the Province of Sussex with whom , in former times , he had worked so happily , more particularly was this

tbe case to-day in meeting the Masons of Hastings on an occasion so important , as he considered it was in the best interests of Freemasonry that the " Mark Degree " should be practised , and concluded by a graceful allusion to his friendship for the W . M ., whom he was

proud to lmd occupying so important a post as tlie first Master of a new Mark lodge . The W . M . specially proposed the health of Bro . Sabine , and , in doing so , referred to the valuable assistance which he and the other members of the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 75 ,

had given him . Bro . Sabine briefly responded , adverting to the fact that although the lodge that day established was the second in the county of Sussex , another lodge had been applied for and the warrant granted ; this , the " Southdown Lodge , No .

164 , " would be opened in the course of a fewweeks at the Station Hotel , Hayward ' s Heath ( Bro . Golding ' s ) . He had also no doubt that efforts would be made before long to accommodate the Mark Masons residing at Eastbourne and neighbourhood ; and in all probability , if

not this year , at any rate early in the ensuing year , another Mark lodge would be applied for , to hold its meetings in the western part of Brighton . With regard to the formation of the Sussex Mark lodges into a province , the preliminary steps had alread y been taken , and it

was within the bounds of posibility that early in the approaching autumn the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Sussex would be inaugurated . Various other toasts were proposed and responded to . The after-dinner proceedings were

marked with a succession of capital speeches , characterised by a determination to uphold the cause , and to spread the principles of Mark Masonry in Sussex ; and the brethren separated shortly before eleven o ' clock , thoroughly satisfied with the remarkable success which had attended

the establishment of the East Sussex Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 166 on the register of the Grand Mark Lodge , of England and Wales .

Reviews.

Reviews .

Tweeils Illustrated Guide tu Glasgow and the Cly de . Bro . Tweed ' s new edition of his Guide is a marvel of cheapness when we consider the amount of information it conveys and the value of the maps , steel plates , anel woodcuts that

embellish nearly every one of the 120 pages . Guide books are so often mere dry descriptions as to scarcely repay perusal , but here we have an intelligent friend who not only conducts us to every p lace of interest in the second city in the empire , but takes us through the finest scenery of Scotland , right away to Inverness in the far North .

To the stranger it will prove a safe and welcome companion , while to those who have before traverseel the route it will prove like the intelligent . emarks of an accurate and observing friend . To our Masonic friends it will possess an additional imerest as it contains a calendar of all the lodges ch ipte is anel encampments on the route with the tunes of their meeting and the address of their Secretary . No Mason visiting Scotland should be without a copy .

A Baas ID livi : tv llie-..., i ., i . o . —aeivt-., with the celeiif . t- 'J ivirc- <| iiilte . l sule" , ive . uiiie ; twice- a- , i . i . t ^ as ordinary id . e ,, f « ail a-je-s : ana c . al . livii's ui >„ ti vv . t . i metallic lips , widen ne-vcr wear out at toe t , ) cs , may be nail at must shoe lic . ileis . Insist on jiving ihesc a tiial , and juilge on thenmerits .