Provincial Grand Lodge Of Herts.

gain that rest with our fathers ; but the lodge , the brotherhood , our connections , yea , our ciicle , and thc widow , the orphan , the poor and distressed outside our Masonic pale , will mourn the loss of " a just and upright man " as a loss to the community at large , ( b ) But it is expressly stated of David that " he served his own generation . " No doubt his victories , his preparations for the material building of the Temple , and his arrangements for the worship to be

therein conducted , was a public boon not only for his own age , but also for generations then unborn . To-day we , as well as his own generation , partake of the fruits o ( his labours . We sing his Psalms and pray his prayers , which are so suitable to our varied wants and feelings ; yet his one object was to " serve his own generation . " We cannot faithfully serve our own age without , at the same time , handing down a blessing to those who will succeed us .

What object can be so noble as this ? How sad to sec wasted talent—a misspent , selfish life I 1 have known men of talent , men whose parents were , as we say , " born before them ; " they have had wealth given them by God to use in their own generation , yet 1 have seen them work harder than a labourer to gratify their own sehish pleasure . Had they been poor they would have made their name by the exercise of their talents ; but they live for themselves alone .

We owe all to the death of some men , and nothing to their life . They die , and leave their wealth behind them to be often mismanaged and squandered away . Better far be able modestly and thankfully to say like Job ( xxix ., II , 12 , 13 , 15 , 1 ( 5 , ) "When the ear heard me , then it blessed me ; and when the eye saw me , it gave witness to me : Because 1 delivered the poor that cried , and the fatherless , and him that had none to help him . The blessings of him that was

ready to perish came upon me ; and I caused the widow s heart to sing for joy . I was eyes to the blind , and feet was I to the lame . I was a father to the poor , and the cause which I knew not I searched out . " But brethren , if we would serve " our own generation according to the will of God , " it must be now . " There is a tide in the affairs of men , which , if taken at the flood , leads on to fortnne . Neglect the opportunity and "time and tide will wait for no man . " John

ix ., 4 : "I must work the works of Him that sent me , while it is day ; the nightcometh , when no man can work . " " Chisel in hand stood a sculptor boy , And with marble block before him , And his face lit up with a smile of joy As an angel dream passed o ' er him . He carved it , then , on the shapeless stone , With many a sharp incision ,

In heaven s own light the sculptor shone , He had caught the angel vision ! Sculptors in life are we , as we stand With our souls uncarved before us ; Waiting an hour , when at God ' s command Our life-dream shall pass o ' er us , . If we carve it , then , on the yielding stone , With many a sharp incision ,

Its heavenly beauty shall be our own—Our lives that angel vision I " In like manner , as the artist seizes the idea floating in his brain , and losing not the impulse , but at once giving to the world the sculpture or painting which makes his name and fortune , which had he delayed would have passed away for ever , so let us seize the inspiration to do good whilst the opportunity is ours . First dedicate thyself to God , nnd

then " serve thine own generation according to the will of God . " But some may say , "lean do but little . " Then do that little cheerfully . " We cannot all be wealthy . We cannot all become a Beaconsfield or a Gladstone , a Howard or a Wilberforce , and yet we can all serve our own generation . " Full many a gem of purest ray serene , The dark , unfnthomed caves of ocean bear ;

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen , And waste its fragrance on the desert air . " But the fragrance of our little acts is not wasted ; it really " serves our own generation . " Many men become historical because they seize those " circumstances which make the man . "' The defence of Rorke ' s Drift is a case in point . Many men as good and brave would have fought as stoutly had the opportunity been placed in their

way , but although they may not become historical !; yet they served their country equally well . So let us use those opportunities placed in our path to serve our own generation . Be content to serve your own age . The generation to come will have their own maxims and their own men . Enough for you to work to-day . Begin with yourself , with your family , in your lodge , with your acquaintances ; yea , in vour parish , or

in the senate . Wherever you are placed " serve your own generation , " and , by so doing , transmit to future generations , like David , the virtues and maxims which will encircle a noble life ; and , like the ear of wheat in the mummy ' s hand , it will give bread to generations yet unborn ; yea , it shall be seen " after many days , " when you shall have long slcfjt with your fathers . One idea more and I have done . At times vou mav fancy that your work

is overlooked and slighted , yet quietly work " according to the will of God . " The brook complained to the river that by flowing into it it lost its own individuality , and did not receive its proper praise . The river complained to the sea that it swallowed up the honour which was due to the river . In like manner the sea complained to the ocean that it received the praise which should be distributed amongst those which made it famous . So wc may at times be apt to think .

But God sees our work , Hc knows our motives , as explained in onc of our symbolical teachings that the eye of God is everywhere present , equally in the chapter and in the closet , in the broad expanse of Heaven , and in the most concealed recesses of the heart . Nor can a virtuous and pious transaction , however secret , escape His omniscient eye , or lose the approbation of the Divine spectator . Be content , therefore , to be but thc humble brook ,

adorning and fructifying , however humbly , the landscape of life . Then , when your are called away , death will be no terror to you . You will find the cemetery or churchyard "God ' s acre , " or , what the word ( koimrtriim ) really means , " a sleeping place , " where you rest from your labours , until He comes to awaken you out of your sleep and to receive you with everlasting honours unto Himself . " After the service the I ' rov . G . Lodge was "called on , " and the brethren proceeded with the lemaindcr of the

business . The Board of Finance presented their report , which was received and adopted ; and the usual satisfactory balance presenting itself , the following " [ votes were unanimously agreed to :

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Herts.

Proposed by Bro . T . S . CARTER , P . Prov . G . J . Warden , " That a sum of twenty guineas be voted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and that that amount be placed on Bro . J . E . Dawson's list . " Proposed by HENRY C . FINCH , P . P . G . Reg ., "That the sum of £ 10 be voted to the Cranbourne Lodge towards defraying the expenses of entertaining Prov . G . Lodge . " Proposed by Bro . J AMES TERRY , P . P . G . J . W ., "That

the sum of ten guineas be voted to the National Schools at Hatfield . " Proposed by the PROV . G . TREASURER , " . That the sum of £ \ o be invested in Consols . " Proposed by Bro . J E . DAWSON , Prov . G . Sec , " That the publication of the Prov . G . Calendar be continued . " .... An additional notice of motion was also submitted , to thc

effect " That a sum of ten guineas be voted to the Building Fund of the Hertfordshire Seaside Convalescent Home ( St . Leonard ' s-on-Sea ) , " and unanimously agreed to . It was explained that this Institution , although not a Masonic one , appealed tothe sympathies of Hertfordshire people . Immediately before the investment of the Prov . G . Sword Bearer , Bro . James Terry presented to the Prov . G . Lodge for their acceptance , a handsome sword .

The P . G . M ., on behalf of the Prov . G . Lodge , tendered to Bro . Terry his warmest thanks . The business being concluded , the Prov . G . Lodge was then closed in ample form , and with solemn prayer . A banquet was provided in the National School Room , which was very tastefully decorated with flowers , mottoes , and bannerettes , proving that the ladies of the Cranbourne Lodge had seconded the efforts of the members with

much spirit . The R . W . the PROV . G . MASTER presided , and after the toast of "The Oueen and the Craft' * had been proposed , and duly honoured , said , in proposing "The Health of the M . W . G . M . the Prince of Wales , * ' that the promise of efficiency and usefulness given at the installation of the Grand Master at the Royal Albert Hall five years ago had been more than fulfilled . Freemasonry

under his rule had flourished beyond their utmost hopes—indeed , the great thing to be feared was that it might become too popular , and he , for one , did not desire that they should increase in numbers at the expense of quality . U p to the present he believed that to the credit of thc Craft it might be said , thc quality was equal to the quantity , and that while increasing in numbers they would also increase in their perception of duty .

The toast of "'lhe Karl ol Carnarvon , Pro G . Master , the Karl of Lathom , D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , " was next given , and the PROV . G . MASTER said that he regretted that liro . Wilson , who a short time ago received Grand oflice , was not there to respond , but they had present two Past Grand Stewards , Bro . Binckes and Bro . Knyvett . Bro . BINCKES briefly returned thanks , and left Bro .

Knyvett to respond mon : fully . Bro . KNYVETT , in reply , said that he had hoped when the eloquent Bro . Binckes responded he should onl y have to sayditto , and he would content himself by also briefly expressing his thanks . The DEP . P . G . MASTER then proposed * ' The Health of the R . W . the Prov . G . Master , * ' and said that in doing so he never had an easier task—the toast spoke for itself .

lhe presence i > : the P . G . M . at these meetings , and his frequent visits to lodge .- - , was an evidence of his interest in the province . The P . G . M .. in reply , thanked the brethren for the very kind reception they had given tothetuast ; it told him that his efforts to keep Masonry what it was in this province had been successful , and this meeting proved that he himself was not unacceptable to the province , and he was bold enough to hope

that the time to lay down his insignia of ollice had not come yet . Cheers . He hoped that they were at the beginning ofa successful year with regard to the Charities ; they could not vie with such provinces as Yorkshire and Lancashire , but for a small province they need not be ashamed of their position ; if they could not muster thousands , they could hundreds in support of the Charities . The mottoes around the room reminded them that thev not only met to eat a

dinner , but to carry out Alasonry in its integrity ; and he assured the brethren that he would spare no effort to keep up thc prestige of the province , and of English Freemasonry in general . The toast of "The Deputy G . Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , " was next given , and the P . G . M . said that the promotion of Bro . lies , P . G . Sec , to Deputy G . Master had been worthily earned , lt was a comfort to

him to know that he had a Deputy who at all times was enabled to fulfil the duties . Of Bro . Bowyer , S . G . W ., he would not like to say all he could ; they all knew his worth , and looking tothe way thc P . G . Lodge had been entertained that day by thc lodge of which Bro . Bowyer is a P . M ., they could not be otherwise that grateful . 'I he P . G . Secretary , Bro . Dawson , was a brother who was not afraid of work , and he was glad to take that opportunity of congratulating

him on the happy thought of copying the procedure of Grand Lodge by placing in the hands of the members a complete agenda of the day ' s proceedings . The D . G . MASTER , in reply , said that he had had the good fortune to visit nine out of the eleven lodges in the province . He hoped never to be found wanting in any duties pertaining to his oflice . Bro . DAWSON , Prov . G . Sec , returned thanks on behalf of the Prov . G . Officers . Hc thanked the Prov . G . M . for

his flattering remarks . It was true he never shirked work , and always performed his duties with a will . He hoped to receive the support of the Secretaries of lodges . All the returns should be promptly sent in , to enable him to have a record , when asked by the Prov . G . M . for any information . Some lodges were lax in this respect—not the Cranbourne , however ; he had never occasion to ask Bro . Terry a single question . He thanked the brethren most sincerely , and his best services were always at their command .

The PROV . G . M . then said thatthe one duty next to charity was hospitality ; and , in giving the toast of "The Visitors , " he hoped that ( hey would be always favoured with the presence of members of neighbouring provinces . Several of the members had signed as visitors , but they did not look upon them as visitors if they belonged to the

province . He would couple with this toast the name of a brother who was well-known , he might say , to the Craft universally , viz ., Bro . George Kenning , P . G . D . Middx ., who was there that day on the invitation of the Prov , S . G . W ., Bro . Edgar Bowyer ; also that of a young Mason , the Clerk of the Merchant Taylors' Company and honorary

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Herts.

Secretary of the Convalescent Home to which they had voted a donation , viz ., Bro . Faithfull , of the Bayard Lodge , and honorary member of the Sir Thomas White Lodge . " Bro . KENNING , in response , thanked thc brethren for the hearty reception they had given to this toast , and for the kind way in which he , as a member of thc Grand Lodge of Middlesex , had been received among them . He should look forward to paying them another visit with much pleasure .

Lro . FAITHFULL said that there was a peculiar aptness in associating his name with the toast of the visitors . His father had held the rectory of the parish in which the } - were met for a number of years , and he , himself , had been born near thai spot , and he attended for the first time in his native parish a Provincial Grand Lodge . His sister had built the school in which they were assembled , and it was particularly gratifying to him that the renewal of these old associations

should be in connection with thc sacred cause of charity . The next toast was that Of " The W . M . ' s of Lodges ; " " responded to by Bio . J ACOBS , W . M . of King Harold Lodge . The PROV . G . M . then gave the toast of "The Masonic Charities . " The Institutions were well represented there b \ Bros . Binckes and Terry . Hc did not wish to speak in any spirit of boasting , but the small Province of Herts had

endeavoured to do its duty . The Prov . D . G . M . had taker up one of the largest sums ever contributed—no less a sun-. than £ 250—and another brother nearly £ 70 . Bro . BINCKES , in reply , said that all he claimed was to discharge all his duties and to stimulate the brethren to a legitimate exercise of Masonic charity . He regretted that he had been prevented by official duties from attending- the lodge , but hc hastened to be present at the First possible

moment . Thanks to Bros , lies and Cox , not less than £ 300 had been sent from the Province of Herts to the late Boys' School Festival—a contribution of which thev might well fe ; l proud . Hertfordshire was always doing something for the Charities , and no one could throw more heartiness into the work than they had done . He desired to mention a matter which was often of great importance to candidates for the Masonic Institutions , it was often the case that when ;

member died the Secretary of his lodge struck his name off , and many urgent and worthy cases had been rejected on account of the non-payment of the last quarter ' s dues . It had pained him much that in two recent cases the nonpayment of that last paltry quarter ' s dues had caused them to be rejected . He thanked the brethren most heartil y for the support they had always given tothe Masonic Chanties . Bro . TERRY also replied , and , in the course of his speech

expressed a desire that the Prov . G . M . for Hertfordshire would preside at a festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . He was quite sure " that when that event took place Hertfordshire would come out as one man toshow their respect for Bro . Halsey . The toast of "The W . M . of the Cranbourne Lodge " was proposed in felicitous terms , and responded to bv Bro .

R . H . Halford S . G . D ., and the Tyler ' s toast broughttht proceedings to a close . We may mention that the decorations , which were verj elaborate , were carried out under the supervision of Bro Terry . The banners and wreaths were contributed In Bros . Drummond , J . S . Webb , and W . j . Thody . Brt Dare , Organist of the Cranbourne Lodge , officiated at tht organ during the service at the church .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY .

The annual meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Surrey was held at Sutton , on Saturday , the 24 th inst ., on the invitation of the Lome Lodge , No . 1347 , under the presidency of the R . W . the Prov . G . M ., Gen . Studholme Brownrigg . C . B ., supported by Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . G . ' S .: S . C . Perkins , P . G . M . G . L . Penn ., U . S . ; G . B . Brndie . P . S . G . W . ; J . Amos , G . Chap . ; G . Trice , G . Treas . ; W . G . Greenwood , G . Sec ; Horatio T . Tavlor , S . G . D . ; H . Browse , J . G . D . ; G . Yaxley , G . S . of Wks . ; S . T . Turquand , G . D . of Cers . ; Francis Buckland , A . G . D . of Cers . ; Jas . Officer , P . G . Stwd . ; and C . T . Speight . P . G . Tyler ; A . Woodward , P . P . G . | . W . ; R . T . Elsam . P . P . G . D . C ; M . | . Smith , P . P . S . G . W . ; Magnus Ohren , G . A . D . C , P . P . G . W . ; J . 1 ) . Lyam , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . Long , P . P . G . D . ; R . Price , P * G . D . \ V . ; G . F . Ormsbv . P . P . G . S . ; E . Baker , P . G . D . ; F . B . Woodward . P . P . G . Purst . ; Thos . Wood , P . P . G . D . W . ; I . Hamnet . P . P . G . D . ; George White , P . P . G . S . W . ; Ambrose M . Hall , P . P . G . C ; J . J . Brinton , | -, 29 : R . H .

Groombridge , P . M . 1347 ; Henry XV . Linton , W . M . ] G , S ; C . Oldridge , J . W . 163 S ; Charles T . 'Tyler , W . ' M . IS 95 ; Thos . Gundre , 13 G 2 ; 'Thos . Vincent , W . M . 1 S 61 -. F . A . Manning , S . W . 1 SC 1 ; W . E . Potter , " 410 ; J . J . Slade , 1347 ; Thos . Hales , 1347 ; H . Potter , S . W . 1 * 347 ; XV . R . Church , J . D . 1347 ; G . C . Burry , 1 347 ; G . Leaver , 54 S ; E . Lowther , 1347 ; R . Jennings , I . P . M . 907 ; T . L .

Locke , I . G . 1 347 ; J . Steele , 452 ; J . K . Ewell , 1 S 51 : T . Bartlett , 1347 ; Herbert Potter , 1347 ; Henry Sibley . 201 ; G . Elcock , J . W . 1149 ; Chas . Pawley , P . M . 452 : R . R . Davis , P . M . 256 ; A . E . Taylor , W . M . 1 S 51 : Chas . Gale , 1347 ; XV . T . Sugg , 452 ; Geo . H . Stavton . 33 ; Fdwd . Hewhers , 1149 ; J . Webster , P . M . 153 ; \ V . C . Beaumont , W . M . 1 S 26 ; George Benson , TI . C . Leigh

Bennett , 370 ; Rev . F . Foakes Jackson , Chap . 1 G 1 G . P . M . S 59 ; S . W . Lambert , W . M . 1556 ; XV . Weller . ' W . M . 15 G 4 ; H . XV . Turner , 1347 ; H . G . Colvill , P . AI . 3 * -o . P . P . G . S . W . Cornwall ; G . k * . Paxton , P . M . 41 O ; ji ' ll . A . sham , S . W . 15 G 4 ; Joseph Stawcs , P . M . ISJO ; A . H . Titwcll , 157 ; C . Greenwood , jun ., J . W . 410 ; S . Walter Stephens , 4 io ; R . G . Howson , I . G . 1564 ; F . F . Muller .

P . M . 155 G ; Joseph Ball , 15 G 4 ; R . IL Rogers , 4 G 3 ; F . G . Frost , S . D . 4 G 3 ; W . Wilson , Fred . C . Sawyer . P . M . 1 G 19 ; Byron H . Ridge , 1347 ; and W . Lake , P . M . 131 , P . Prov . G . Reg . ( Freemason ) . Letters of apology from several brethren unable to lit present , including the Deputy Grand Master , Bro . Rev . W . C . Arnold , P . G . C , were read .

The roll of lodges in the province was then called , after which thc report of the Finance and Audit Committee wapresented , and adopted . The minutes of the last Prov . G . Lodge were read and confirmed . The Treasurer ' s accounts showed a satisfactory

balance , and the following sums were voted : To Croydon Hospital , £ 5 5 s . ; Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . £ 10 ios . ; Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , £ 10 10 s . : and Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , £ 10 ios . The PROV . G . MASTER then addressed the brethren , congratulating them on the position of Masonry in the province compared with what it was even when he became