The Province Of Derbyshire.

Okeover at Riple \ - ; in 1874 the Arkwright at Matlock Bath ; in 1877 the Buxton at Buxton ; in 1878 the Carnarvon at Swadlincote ; in 188 3 the High Peak at Chapel-en-le-Frith ; and in 1886 the Dorothy Vernon at Bakewell . Tlie consecration of the last-named lodge

took place in the ancient home of Dorothy Vernon at Haddon Hall , and was an occasion of great Masonic interest . Following this , there came in the following year the formation of the Fairfield Lodge at Long Eaton ; of the Chantrey Lodge at Dore , near Sheffield , in 18 90 ; of the

Hardwicke at Chesterfield in 1891 ; of the Ecclesburne at Duflield in 1892 ; of St . Thomas ' s at Tibshelf in 18 95 ; and , finally , of the Tutbury Castle Lodge at Hatton in 1807 . There are thus at the present time twenty-seven

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lodges on the roll of the province , and , roughly speaking , they may be said to contain 1400 members . The meetings of Provincial Grand Lodge in its early days took place at various inns , most of which are now extinct . These included the "Bunch of Grapes" in the

Market Place , the "George , " the "King ' s Head , " and the " Bell . " On occasions of special importance the brethren met at the County Assembly Rooms in the Market Place , hut , as the numbers continued to grow , tlie necessity of having a permanent hall , devoted exclusively to the

requirements of the Craft , became manifest to every one who was in the remotest degree acquainted with the difficulties that periodically presented themselves . The outcome of this movement was the erection of the present

Masonic Hall in Gower Street , Derby . The foundationstone of this building was laid by the Marquis of Hartington in 1874 , and in 1873 it was formally opened . Among the more liberal contributors to the building fund were Lord Hartington , Bros . Colvile , Sir John Smith , Sir A . Woodiwiss ,

W . H . Marsden , Thomas Cox , and other members of the Craft . So great has been the advance in numbers since that time that the accommodation has proved quite insufficient to meet all the demands occasionally made upon it , and at the last meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge further

extensions were decided upon at a cost approaching X ' IOOO . The ante-rooms are to be materially improved and the caretaker ' s house made more comfortable and commodious . The management of the hall is vested in trustees , of whom

the present chairman is Bro . A . Woodiwiss , who , like Ins father before him , is a distinguished citizen of Derby and an active member of the Masonic body . He holds Past rank in Grand Lodge , and is also Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Masons of Derbyshire . During the present year , too ,

he is , for the second time in his life , filling the position of Mayor of Derby . The Province of Derbyshire has always been noted for the liberality with which it has supported the great Masonic Charities , especially since they were organised on a sound

and solid basis by the late Bro . G . T . Wright , and latterly b y Bro . Percy W . illis . The devoted labours of the latter gentleman on behalf of the Charities entitle him to the grateful thanks of all who have their interests at heart , and