The Province Of Somerset.—(Concluded.)

The Province of Somerset . —( Concluded . )

THE M . W . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon was initiated in the Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . io , on February 5 th , 1856 , and was installed as W . M . in the following year , and re-elected in 1858 . In 1857 his Lordship joined the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , Oxford , and the Royal Alpha , No . 16 , in 1870 , becoming W . M . in 1873 , besides joining

other old lodges . Through a considerable period of Lord Carnarvon's Provincial Grand Mastership of Somerset , Bro . Richard Charles Else ( P . G . D . ) , was Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Having many times to preside over the Provincial Grand Lodge for the Provincial Grand Master , besides

frequently visiting the lodges , that zealous brother became almost a necessity of the province , so thorough' was his knowledge of the lodges and members . On Bro . Else's regretted retirement in 1902 , the Right Hon . Lord Dungarvan made an excellent appointment in Colonel William Long ,

C . M . G . ( P . G . D . ) , as his successor . Fortunately for Somerset , Bro . R . C . Else will continue to act as Charity Representative , which he has done so efficiently for many years past , and possibly will yet instal three or four more W . M . ' s , to complete a total of 600 installed by that worthy brother during his eventful Masonic career of over forty years .

The province is well off for Grand Officers , as , in addition to those already named , Bro . Lieut-Col . A . Thrale Perkins , C . B ., was made a P . G . D . in 1887 , Bro . C . L . Fry-Edwards , S . G . D . in 18 9 8 ( who has long been editor of one of the largest and best Masonic calendars published in the country ) , Bro . G . W . P . Harris , P . A . G . D . C , and Bro . G . H . N . Bridge ,

P . G . Swd . Br ., 18 97 . I have not succeeded in tracing many particulars of Bro . John Smith , M . P ., who was Provincial Grand Master for the two terms of 1770 and 1796 . In the transactions of the Grand Lodge for 8 th February , 1797 , he is described as

Major Smith , and is credited with a payment of ten guineas as Provincial Grand Master of Somerset . He was W . M . of No . 41 , Bath , in 1768 , 1784-5 , and 1791-2 , so the " Royal Cumberland " was highly favoured . Of his successor in 178 4 ( the R . W . Bro . Thomas Dunckerley ) it would be impossible to do justice in this

brief notice of the province , for he was one of the most enthusiastic and indefatigable Provincial Grand Masters of the eighteenth century , and , as previously noted , presided over nine provinces . In fact he was at the head of so man )* , that his nomination by the " Lodge of Virtue , " Bath , in 1783 , as the Masonic chief of the county was likely to be refused ,

but ultimately it was agreed to by declining others . Bro . H . Sadler ' s interesting life of this luminary should be carefully studied as the volume is valuable , not only in relation to Somerset , but concerns the Craft of the period generally . His lirst Provincial Grand Lodge for the count )* was held

in Bath , A . D . 1784 , in honour of the birthday of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . In 1786 , to commemorate the King ' s birthday , the Provincial Grand Master held a Provincial Grand Lodge at the City of Wells— " the appearance of the fraternity on this occasion was most numerous and respectable indeed . "

Thomas Dunckerley died in 1795 , his last appearance in Grand Lodge being in the previous year . In 1786 ( September ) the returns for his provinces included six lodges for Somerset , viz ., the present 41 , Bath and 135 , Bridge water , with lodges at Bath , Bridgewater and Wells , subsequently erased . In the Grand Lodge calendar , the name of the R . W . Bro .

A . Chichester appears as Provincial Grand Master in 1818 , but I have failed to trace him as an active ruler in any way . In 1820 Colonel Charles K . Kemys-Tynte , M . P ., became Provincial Grand Master , and presided over the province for many years . The previous baronet was initiated in No . 41

, Bath , in 1767 , and long continued a member ; the connection of the family with that lodge extending over upwards of a century , terminating only with the decease of Colonel Tynte in i 860 . At the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of

the new tower of St . Mary ' s , Taunton , the aged Provincial Grand Master officiated , although quite blind , and used a trowel for the purpose that was found embedded in the former structure . The Provincial Grand Master of Somerset ( who was one of H . R . H . ' s executors ) succeeded H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex as Grand Master of the Knights Templars ,

in consequence of which his name is widely known and greatly respected beyond the county . Colonel Alexander William Adair ( afterwards Brigadier-General ) was appointed to govern the Somersetshire Craft in 1863 , but resigned so as to make way for Lord Carnarvon in

1868 . He was initiated in the "Apollo University Lodge , " Oxford , in 1852 , became W . M . of the " Honour , " No . 379 , Bath , in 1858 , also W . M . of the Unanimity and Sincerity , No . 261 , Taunton , in i 860 and 1888 . He has been aptly described as "the beau ideal of a courteous gentleman , and among all classes was held in high esteem . "

1 JR 0 . THOS . FLOYD XOItlilS , PAST PROVINCIAL SENIOR GRAND WARDEN . The Province of Somerset consists of 26 lodges , having some 1300 subscribing members , and is exceedingly well managed financially and generally , and the votes exceed

5000 in the central Masonic Charities . During the last quarter of a century about . £ 16 , 000 have been subscribed for the three Institutions . THE ROYAL CUMBERLAND , No . 41 , BATH .

The most noteworthy of the old lodges is the " Royal Cumberland , " Bath , established in the year 1733 . A sketch of its history has been written by my dear old friend , Bro . T . P . Ash by , the senior P . M ., published in the year 1873 . This brochure , however , emphasizes the need of a

complete work on the subject dealing with its valuable series of minute books extending over the long period of one hundred and seventy years .