Freemasonry In Staffordshire.

in 1813 , the following year being numbered 310 ; but its removal from the Roll took place the same year as the previous lodge referred to of "Ancient" origin , viz ., 1828 . Still another must be mentioned of 1805 , being a revival of No . 134 of 176 4 ( originally chartered for 4 th Batt . R . A .,

Fort George ) , and met at the "White Lion , " LANE END , where it nourished for a time as the " United Pottery ( or Potters' ) Lodge "; the year 18 39 , however , witnessing its removal from the Rull as No . 160 .

The Province of Stafforshire dates from the year 1791 , when the Hon . and Rev . Francis Egerton was the Prov . G . M . His successor was the Right Hon . Earl Ferrers , in 1831 , followed by Colonel the Hon . George Anson , M . P ., in 18 37 , by Colonel George A . Vernon in 18 53 , and Bro .

William K . Harvey in 1864 . In 1871 the Right Hon . the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot became Prov . G . M . ( who joined No . 526 in 1871 ) , but died in 1877 . Major George S . Tudor was appointed his successor in 1881 ( initiated in 526 in i 860 ) , who resigned in 1888 , and died in the year 18 99 ;

seven years earlier , witnessing the decease of his immediate successor , Colonel A . C . Foster Gough , LL . D ., who was installed in 188 9 ( also an initiate of 526 in 1855 ) . The Right Hon . the Earl of Dartmouth , P . M ., No . 18 3 8 , Wolverhampton , became Prov . G . M . in 18 93 , and is a very popular and most successful Ruler of the Province .

FACSIMILE FROM "PINE'S ENGRAVED LIST OF LODGES . " The Prov . G . M . was installed at the Drill Hall , Wolverhampton , in the presence of 700 brethren , by the lamented M . W . Pro G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , in

18 94 , and since then has been indefatigable in the discharge of his numerous duties . In the same year his lordship laid the foundation-stone of the chapel at the Orphan Asylum , WOLVERHAMPTON , in due Masonic form . Also , similar functions were observed in 18 9 6 in respect to the

enlargements of the nave and chancel of old church , WILLENHALL ; the new church of St . Barnabas , at STOKE , in 18 99 ; and another new church at Smethwick in 1900 . On the 7 th of January , 18 97 , the foundation-stine of the Sutherland Institute was laid at Longton in ample form by

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ( now His Majesty King Edward VII . ) , as M . W . Grand Master . The Earl of Dartmouth acted as D . G . M . on the occasion , and fully one thousand brethren took part in the interesting proceedings . Under his Lordship ' s Presidency there are thirty-six

lodges having about 2 , 000 subscribing members . The senior lodge on the Roll is the St . Martin's , BURSLEM , previously mentioned as No . 9 8 ( originally 130 ) of " Atholl" origin , and

assembles in the Town Hall of the Borough . The next is the " Noah's Ark , " No . 347 , Tipton , which first of all assembled at Wolverhampton in 1815 , and then at Bilston from 1828 , finally reaching Tipton in 1853 . The third on the local register is the " Menturia , " No . 418 , Hanley , of A . D . 18 34 , in

which town it met in various places ( some ten in all ) until it was located at the Freemasons' Hall in 1880 . An epitome of its history was written by Bro . E . V . Greatbatch in 188 4 , on tlie occasion of the celebration of its Sixtieth Anniversary . " St . Peter's , " No . 419 , Wolverhampton , was started in the

same year , its senior P . M . of A . D . 1865 being Bro . C . A . Newnham , the Prov . Grand Treasurer . The No . 451 Burslem ( " Sutherland '' ) completes the trio of A . D . 1834 . The Foresters of 18 3 8 , No . 456 , Uttoxeter , has for its senior P . M ., Bro . the Hon . W . Warren Vernon , M . A . ( P . G . W . of England , 1876 ) , and although the membership is small , there are just half the number P . M ' s . of the lodge . The

following year , the " Sutherland Lodge of Unity , " No . 4 60 , Newc . iStle-under-Lyme , was chartered , having a goodly array of P . M's . ; and in 1842 , the "St . James" was established , being now No . 4 82 , Handsworth . The ninth on the register is the " Honour , " No . 526 , Wolverhampton , of A . D . 18 4 6 ,

having , like its immediate predecessor , No . 4 82 , quite a galaxy of P . M's . The senior is Bro . Charles Fendelow , P . G . Std . Br . of England . The Deputy Prov . G . M . ( Lieut .-Col . G . W . Walker , P . G . S . B . Eng . ) being also a P . M . Its history has been written by Bro . T . J . Barnett , P . M ., & c , from 18 4 6 to

18 9 6 ( Wolverhampton , 18 9 6 ) , and deserves careful perusal . The Prov . G . Sec . is Bro . J . Dunbar Steen , a P . M . of 526 , whose official duties cannot fail to prove onerous , though lightened because of his interest taken in the Craft . As to the rest of the lodges , are they not to be found described in the excellent Calendar edited by the same indefatigable Brother , and is a credit to the Province .

The Provincial Grand Chapter was formed in 18 49 , the Provincial Grand Masters being the Grand Superintendents until 1892 , when the esteemed Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Lieut .-Col . J . A . Bindley , became the successor to Col . Gough , LL . D . There are eleven chapters . For the Mark Degree Staffordshire is grouped with Shropshire , and the

Knights Templars are united with Warwickshire , Leicestershire , Derby , and Nottingham . The former has the R . W . Bro . J . F . Pepper as Provincial Grand Mark Master , and the latter enjoys the presidency of the V . E . Knight Charles Fendelow , G . C . T .

Other Grand Officers of England belonging to the Province are Brothers the Rt . Hon , Lord Burton ( P . S . G . W . ) , Lieut .-Col . J . A . Bindley ( P . G . D . ) , and Bro . W . H . Bailey ( P . G . Treas . ) , Past Masters of 624 , Burton-on-Trent , John Bodenham ( P . A . G . D . C ) , P . M . 726 , & c , Thomas Taylor

( P . G . D . ) , P . M . 2149 , & c , George C . Kent ( P . A . G . D . C ) , P . M . 54 6 , and possibly more , but this sketch is already rather long , so other remarks must be reserved .

Knightly Gift To King Edward.

Knightly Gift to King Edward .

THE Sir Knights of California are preparing a gift to King Edward of England , as a souvenir of the Conclave which is to be held in San Francisco next month on account of the King sending a delegation as his personal representatives to the Conclave . The Sir Knights

, appreciative of the honour bestowed upon them by a foreign potentate , and this being the first instance that a delegation of distinguished Knights representing the highest Masonic bodies crossed the ocean to attend a Conclave , will send their token to Britain ' s King by that very delegation , as a

souvenir of the Templar Conclave held at San Francisco . The gift is to be such that the King will appreciate and treasure it among the most valued in his possession . Under

the auspices , and with the sanction of the Triennial Committee , a volume will be printed containing the history of the twenty-ninth Triennial Conclave , with all the incidents of that most memorable event . It will contain a complete and accurate record of the Concluve . The book , which is intended for all Sir Knights as a souvenir of the Conclave ,

will combine all that the best of the printer ' s , engraver ' s and binder ' s art can produce . Neither skill , effort nor cost shall be spared to make it a volume of such exceptional merit and attractiveness that it will convey a correct impression of what San Francisco is capable of in that line . The volume which will be sent to King Edward is to be