The Province Of Middlesex.

THE PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX .

A most successful meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex was held on Monday , at Hampton Court , —successful both as regards the numbers attending , and the weather which greeted the brethren on their visit to the country . The Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the

Greyhound Hotel , opposite to the favourite palace of William of Orange , who , Masonic history states , held a . lodge within its lion-guarded walls , and practised the mysteries of the craft with his faithful Dutch friends as a relief and pastime when not engaged in campaigns with Louis , " Le Grand

Monarque , " or in overthrowing the plottings of Jesuitical Jacobins . Monday ' s meeting was held under happier auspices , and the Royal Lodge within the walls of Hampton Palace 1 S 0 years ago would have been disposed to envy , if it could have conjured up a view of the Provincial Grand Lodge

of Middlesex , the peace , almost verging on duiiies , ofthe times in which the brethren of to-day pursue the even tenour of their Masonic way . The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Colonel Burdett , at the opening of the lodge was supported by Bro . S . Rosenthal , S . W . ; Bro . Angclo J . Lewis ,

J . W . ; the Rev . Dr . Ernest Brette , and the Rev . P . Holden , Chaplains , the other officers being R . Wentworth Little , J . T . Moss , G . Kenning Cubitt , P . G . P ., Buss , Davison , etc . There were also among those present Captain G . A . Smith , Major Harding , Colonel Peters ( P . M . Thames

Valley ) , J . Savage , Major Creaton , the Rev . W . F . Reynolds ( Apollo and Carnarvon ) , J . Terry , D . C . of the P . G . L . of Herts ; J . While , W . M . 228 ; H . Phythian , W . Hammond , J . Lewis Thomas , Hastings Miller , Howe , Still , W . H . Thompson , Dr . Joseph Sharp , Muggeridge , Towel ) , etc .

The business of the lodge commenced with the election of Treasurer , and Bro . Buss , who had held the position from the formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge , was , on the nomination of the R . W . the Provincial Grand Master , unanimously re-elected .

Bro . Little then read . 1 report on the progress and present position of the province . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex had progressed greatly , for the number of Lodges was increased from 8 to 20 , and the brethren from 200 to more than 1000 , and this , too , by the introduction of

brethren who were prepared to fulfil their obligations to the full . The statement urged lodges to be earnestly discriminating so as to keep the order's high character . That the brethren in the province acted truly on the Masonic principle was seen in the fact that , £ 1 , 160 had been subscribed to

the Masonic chanties , besides the large sums given by some of the brethren as members of London lodges . Bro . Davison said , amid the assenting applause of the brethren , that the report was a most satisfactory one , and he moved that it should be printed

for circulation among the brethren connected with the province . Bro . Rosenthal seconded the motion , which was unanimously adopted . The Provincial Grand Master , in proceeding to appoint and invest his officers for the yearsaid

, that the lodge had had the benefit of the services of excellent officers hitherto , and he had much gratification in acknowledging the benefit the lodge had thus received . It was most satisfactory for the lodge , and was , indeed , a mark of its flourishing condition , that the officers whom he had selected

would follow in the footsteps of those who had preceded them in maintaining the high position the lodge had attained in the craft . The officers whose services the lodge had had deserved well of the brethren , for they had had many difficulties to overcome—for difficulties must always attend the

establishment , on so firm a basis as this lodge now stood , of any new organization , such as a Provincial Grand Lodge , especially for an important province like that of Middlesex . ( Hear , hear . ) The brethren who had discharged the duties of officers to the lodge were actuated with the best and most

unselfish feelings , and as an instance he would mention that Bro . J . C . Parkinson , who had worthily filled the office of Dep . P . G . M ., and was well known for the great work he had done in the craft , as well as for his vindication of its principles ( cheers ) had set an example of unselfish feeling by sending in his

resignation of his office in order that some other brother might enjoy that position . ( Cheers . ) This was an excellent precedent , and it would be a beneficial precedent to follow in the future—that all offices should be resigned year by year , in order that the P . G . M . should have the opportunity of

re-investing the brother , or of appointing a successor , lt was with much pleasure that he nominated Bro . Sir George Elliot , M . P . , as Dep . P . G . M . ( Cheers . ) The other officers whose names 'could be stated as the officers for the year would give equal pleasure , not only to the brethren present , b ut to all who knew them , for they would be found

The Province Of Middlesex.

to be all worthy and hardworking members of the order . The brother to be nominated as S . W ., was one who was acknowledged to be one of the hardest working Masons who could be named , and , indeed , the high position the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex held in the order was greatly

due to his activity , zeal and efficiency—he referred to Bro . Little ( loud cheers)—upon that brother he now bestowed the collar and office of S . G . W . of the province . Bro . Little was then invested and conducted to his position amid the loud cheers and

congratulations of the ' members . The P . G . M . then proceeded to appoint and invest the following other officers : —Bros . Joseph Sharpe , LL . D ., as J . W . ; the Rev . Dr . Ernest Brette , and the Rev . P . M . Holden , Chaplains ; W . H . Thompson as Registrar ; H . Phythian as Secretary ;

Colonel Peters as S . D . ; W . Hammond as J . D . ; J . Lewis Thomas as Superintendent of Works ; and Bros . Still , J . H . Thompson , Hastings Miller and Howe to the junior offices . The P . G . M . warmly thanked the past officers and stewards for the manner in which they had

performed their offices during the year , and then moved that the sum of ten guineas be given out of the Benevolent Fund to the Girl's Scoool ; the like sum to the Boy ' s School , and . £ 10 to the Benevolent Institution . Bro . Davison seconded the motion , which was

carried unanimously . The P . G . M . then adjourned " sine die" the subject , which had been referred to a committee , of the appointment of P . G . officers in the province , and the lodge closed in the usual form . The brethren then proceeded to Hampton

Church to hear a sermon preached by Bro . the Rev . P . M . Holden . Whether they were startled by the appearance of the Rev . Bro . in a Romish biretta , or preferred the walk through the Park to the road , it must be said that few selected the narrow way which led to the church by the river . There was a fair muster of the brethren in the

church clothed in the orthodox black coat and white gloves , and showed their connection with recognized religious ceremony by attending public worship . There was an assemblage of the general public who appeared rather startled at finding that the Freemasons were much as other people , and

were not given to any extravagance of demeanour in or out of church . The service was in the pleasant old English form , in all things being what any sincere lover of worship to God would esteem , the form in which public worship should be . The preacher , on ascending the pulpit , turned to the

east , and uttered an invocation to the Trinity . He gave as his text the nth verse in the 4 th chapter ofthe ist Epistle general of St . John , " Beloved , if God so loved us , we ought also to love one another . " The sermon was marked by great force in parts ,

but in the endeavour of the preacher to identify the craft as belonging to one particular system of religion , there was much room for criticism . This point was urged , and extremely broad references were made to the ceremonies of the craft .

The banquet was held at the " Greyhound , " and a very large party sat down , including Bros . Sir G . Elliot , M . P . ; J . C . Parkinson , F . Binckes , and many others who had not been present at the lodge or the sermon . The toast of the "Queen and the Craft " was received with the customary enthusiasm

and the National Anthem was well chanted by the vocalists under Bro . C . Coote , P . G . O ., the artistes including Madame Thaddeus Wells , Bro . George Pcrren , and Bro . H . Lazarus . The P . G . M ., in proposing the toast of" H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " said this was a toast which

would be received with tlie utmost enthusiasm , for not only did it relate to the heir to the throne , but to the G . M . of England , who was installed amid the hearty rejoicings of Freemasons over the world . ( Cheers . ) The Prince had been in the craft for some time , and he had the good of Freemasonry at

heart , as all who saw the interest he took in the craft knew , and there was not one who felt other than proud that the future king of this great empire reigned over tlie English branch of the craft as its Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) The vocalists sang the quartette , " Cambrian

Plumes" ( by Brinley Richards ) , in a manner which elicited loud applause . The P . G . M . then proposed the " Health of the Pro-Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , " and said he was sure the name would be received with sympathy and respect —( cheers ) . The craft had

seen his lordship perform the duties of D . G . M . for a number of years , and his elevation to the position of Pro-Grand Master was hailed with rejoicing by all the brethren —( cheers ) . All knew of the great loss which befell his lordship not long since , and those

who saw him at Albert Hall could not but admire the noble fortitude he showed under his deep sorrow —( hear , hear ) . They could not , too , but see that he put by his grief to serve the craft , and every one in the hall on that occasion grieved with him as

The Province Of Middlesex.

a brother at that deep and terrible loss —( hear ) . Very recently , too , his lordship had again showed how deep was his interest in the craft , by exercising his influence for the Boys' School , in presiding over the annual festival at the Alexandra Palace , when the proceedings were so successful that the amount

of contributions obtained was the largest ever received at any festival of any one of the charities—( cheers ) . Bro . Binckes , the secretary of that institution , must have been a very proud man to stand at the top of the tree with so noble an array of subscriptions ; but large as was the amount gathered

at the Alexandra Palace , it was to be hoped that it will be eclipsed next year by the other charities , and that each would thus go on from year to year increasing in substance and usefulness —( cheers ) . The toast was drunk with enthusiasm , and Bro . Lazarus gave some charming airs on the clarionet .

The P . G . M . then proposed the " Health of the Dep . G . M ., Lord Skelmersdale , and the rest of the Grand Officers . " He said he could not find' words to express his true feelings in regard to the Grand Officers , so highly did he esteem them . Lord Skelmersdale was a nobleman who had latelv taken hie-h

office , and all who had had to do with G . L . had seen the great trouble he had taken to discharge all the duties of his office . Even in the midst of great anxieties his lordshi p went to the opening of the new Camberwell Hall , and he went simply because he felt himself under an obligation not to disannoint

his brethren , and he would not permit his private troubles to intervene between him and what he considered his duty to the craft —( cheers ) . It was a pleasant thing for the brethren ofthe Prov . G . L . of Middlesex that they had that evening among them their well-known friend and brother , Bro .

Parkinson —( cheers)—whose exertions on behalf of the province and the craft they all knew —(" cheers)—and Bro . Cubitt , both representatives of the Grand Lodge of England . ( Cheers ) . The song , " Come into the garden , Maud , " was sung with fine force by Bro . George Pcrren , whose

performance was warmly cheered . Bro . Parkinson , in responding for the Grand Officers , said it was fortunate for the Grand Officers that from the constitutional character of our Order their position was but representative , as otherwise they would have considerable difficulty in

responding to the toasts which their brethren were on these occasions in the habit of giving in their favour . On behalf of his brother Grand Officers he begged to assure the members of the craft that they highly valued their positions , particularly as the posittons gave them the opportunity of responding to the

kind wishes expressed by the brethren towards the rulers in the craft . For Lord Skelmersdale , whose winning manners and amiable character had won for him the esteem of all men in public as well as in private life , he had great pleasure in responding , and it was indeed a privilege to answer for his

lordship on such occasions ( cheers ) . With reference to the services which the Provincial Grand Master was pleased to say he ( Bro . Parkinson ) had done for Freemasonry , he for his part begged to express his gratitude to the brethren for the kind courtesy they showed towards him while acting as the

Deputy of the Provincial Grand Master . While holding the delegated authority of the Grand Master of the Province , it was Ids desire to fill the position with credit . He felt that he had but one chance , and that was by concealing his disagreeable qualities as much as possible , and to put on an air of

amiability , in fact to resemble Colonel Burdett . ( Laughter and cheers ) . If he ( Bro . Parkinson ) had succeeded in winning the favour of the brethren , it was simply by his imitation of their Provincial Grand Master , by following whose manners and ways had proved the best passport to their favours . ( Cheers . )

It would be but reciprocating the kindness of Col . Burdett to ask the brethren to drink to the good health and prosperity of their beloved chief in the Province . ( Cheers . ) Middlesex , as a Province , had not had a Grand Lodge long , for it was so merged into the capital , that it was hard to say

where the capital ended and the Province began , and thus the Provincial Grand Lodge had its difficulties ; but when the Provincial Grand Lodge commenced , it had the singular good fortune to find a brother who was a Past Grand Warden of England , who for thirty years had devoted himself and

his great talents to the best interests of the craft , and thus , when it commenced its career with a brother like Colonel Burdett , it would have been easy to prophecy that success would attend a Grand Lodge thus inaugurated . Had such a prophecy been made , that day would have seen its fulfilment , for the province had made such rapid strides as

had placed it in the front rank —( cheers ) . When a ship made a good voyage there was , without doubt , the assurance that she hadagood Captain , and how the good ship the Prov . G . L . of Middlesex has made so good a voyage it must be allowed that much credit is due to Colonel Burdett — ( cheers ) . It would not be well , perhaps , to say all they felt in regard to their Prov . Grand Master , but it must be