Provincial.

he is a highly valued member of the Winchester Lodge of Economy , No . 76 ( late 90 ) , and Bro . W . Biggs , Prov . S . G . W . of Wilts . Upwards of one hundred brethren attended the Provincial Grand Lodge on this occasion . The lodges of the province having been called over , and the brethren present duly vouched for , the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at one p . m . with solemn prayer . The minutes of the last Proviucial Grand Lodge were read and confirmed . Various votes of money were then passed in relief of local cases .

Bro . Rankin Stebbing , W . M . 76 and S . G . D . of England , proposed , and Bro . Ford , P . M . 247 , seconded , and it was unanimously carried— " That a special donation of twenty-five guineas be made from the Provincial Grand Lodge funds to the Royal Masonic School for Boys . " Bro . Binckes ( Secretary to the Boys' School ) expressed his thanks for the donation , and the appreciation of all connected

with the management of that Institution of this renewed instance of the munificent suppoit of the province . Bro . Rankin Stebbing proposed , and Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., seconded , and it was carried unanimously— "That a Committee of Benevolence of the Province be appointed to aet in urgent cases of distress between the annual meetings of Provincial Grand Lodge , and to recommend any such cases to the decision

ofthe Provincial Grand Master for relief out of the Provincial Grand Lodge funds , and that such committee consist of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Proviicial Senior Grand Warden , Provincial Junior Grand AVarden , Provincial Grand Treasurer , Provincial Grand Secretary , and three other brethren , to be annually appointed by Provincial Grand Lodge ; and that Bros . Stebbing , Emery , and Frost be now appointed to act on such committee . "

Bro . Alfred Smith , P . M . 76 , Prov . G . Reg . proposed , and Bro . J . Norish , P . M . 76 acting Prov . J . G . AV ., seconded , and it was carried unanimously— "That a committee be appointed to revise the by-laws and submit such revision to the Prov . G . Master for his approval , and , on obtaining the same , the present by-laws , with the proposed alterations therein , be printed , and a copy sent to each of the lodges of the Province prior to the next Provincial Grand Lodge , and that such

committee consist of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Provincial Grand Treasurer , the Provincial Grand Secretary , and the AVorshipful Bros . Rankin Stebbing , II . Ford , and Alfred Smith . "

The Rev . Bro . Dr . Bradshaw proposed , and Bro . Alfred Smith seconded tbe re-election of Bro . Heather as Prov . G . Treas ., which was carried unanimously . Bro . Heather returned thanks for the honoured conferred on him . Bro . Alfred Smith , Prov . G . Reg . proposed , and Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., seconded , and it was carried by acclamation : — " That this Grand Lodge deeply regrets to find that the recent

illness of the R . W . Provincial . Grand Master , Sir Lucius Curtis , Bart ., K . C . B ., Admiral of the Fleet , deprived it of the honour and the gratification of his distinguished presence , and desires to assure him of its sincere regard and attachment , together with its ardent hope that he may be speedily restored to the blessings of health and strength , and soon be again associated with his ' . Masonic brethren . That this Grand Lodge is highly

gratified at the presence of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Charles Evans Deacon , as acting Provincial Grand Master on this occasion , and recollects with the highest satisfaction the many former occasions on which he has most ably represented his Masonic chief . That this resolution be entered on the minutes of proceedings , and a copy be forwarded to the "R . W . Provincial Grand Master . "

The D . Prov . G . Master returned thanks , and expressed his pleasure in meeting the brethren again in Provincial Grand Lodge . Votes of thanks were also proposed and seconded and carried unanimously to the R . AV . Prov . G . M . and D . Prov . G . M . of the Isle of Wight for their visit on this occasion , which were suitably acknowledged by them . The D . 'Prov . G . M . then invested the following brethren as Prov . G . Officers for the ensuing year : —

Bro . Charles Sherry Prov . S . G . W . In investing this brother , the D . Prov . G . Master said that the R . W . Prov . G . Master wished by this appointment to mark his strong sense of Bro . Sherry's zealous aud untiring services on behalf of the Masonic Charities .

Bro . J . Baker , W . M . 487 Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . J . A . Wills , P . M . 309 „ G . Chap . „ Alfred Heather , P . M . 257 ... „ G . Treas . „ J . Taylor , P . M . 309 „ G . Reg . „ AV . Hickman , P . M . 394 „ G . Sec . „ J . Collis , W . M . 130 „ S . G . D . AV . FurberP . M . 394 J . G . D .

„ , „ „ J . AV . Brewer , W . M . 359 ... „ G . Supt . of AVorks . „ G . Figgins , W . M . 694 , G . Dir . of Cere . „ G . Finley , J . AV , 928 „ G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . „ G . Wilkins , 342 „ G . S . B . „ AV . Rowley , W . M . 723 „ G . Purst . „ Bradbeare , 342 „ G . Org . „ J . Purnell , 804 „ G . Standard-Bearer .

„ Grant , 76 " 1 G Tvlers „ Dawkins , 394 ^^ i ^ . xyieis . „ Kehvay , 359 " 1 „ Barford , 359 | „ Edwards 309 |_ a . Stewards . „ Fabian , 2 o 7 j „ Eve , 723 | „ Dew , 694 J

The minute-books of the lodges having been submitted for confirmation , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed at a quarter past three p . m . After an hour ' s interval , the brethren reassembled and dined in St . John ' s Room ; nearly all who attended the Provincial Grand Lodge remained to the banquet . Non nobis Domine , having been beautifully sung by the choir , The ACTING G . MASTER then proceeded with the list of

toasts , first doing honour to the most illustrious lady of the land . He gave them "The Queen ; God bless her . " Drunk * with the most loyal manifestations . Choir— " The National Anthem . " The G . MASTEE next gave , with warm eulogium , "The Health of the Prince and Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family , " which was also most loyally received .

Song , Master Builder— " God Bless the Prince of AVales . " The G . MASTER proceeded to remark that the body of Freemasons were under great obligations , and owed immense advantages , to the Grand Lodge of England . Of course they all held in great esteem the noble Earl of Zetland , the Most AVorshipful Grand Master of England , and they could but wish success to that Grand Lodge over which the earl presided in so distinguished a manner . ( Hear . ) The Masons of Hampshire , he knew , especially felt a debt of gratitude to the Grand Lodge , and they had one among them at the present time who had

done his utmost on their behalf in Grand Lodge , and worked with the greatest sincerity to promote their welfare . They knew that he alluded to their respected and distinguished Bro . Stebbing . It was a special source of gratification to find one devoting so much of his time and energies to the ordinary routine of Masonry , and constantly shining in acts of brotherly love and charity —( cheers)—and to find that such efforts were recognised by the first authorities among Masons was also

specially gratifying . ( Hear , hear . ) To sooth the cry of the orphan , and to dry the tear of the widow , their Bro . Stebbing had been the first to sacrifice his time and money , and a great deal beyond that ; and he never felt tired of exertion in order to obtain for the distressed that comfort , and for the bereaved widow that consolation they were so entitled to at their hands •—(hear)—and but for which they would have been allowed to have gone by and neglected . He was proud to allude to the

selection of their brother to serve on the Board of General Purposes , and to his subsequent appointment to the high office of Senior Grand Deacon of England . It was most congratulatory to them that a brother they had so much and so long amongst them should have been selected to represent them in Grand Lodge . AVith tlle toast of "The M . W . G . M . the Earl of Zetland , the V . W . D . G . M . the Earl de Grey and Ripon , and the Officers of the Grand Lodge , " he begged to couple the name of Bro . Stebbing , AV . M . of Lodge 76 , Winchester , and Senior Grand Deacon of England . ( Great and prolonged cheering . )

Choir—Glee , " All hail thou lovely Queen . " Bro . RANKIU STEBBINO confessed himself almost overpowered hy the kindness of his reception . He was never more gratified in his life than to meet them all as one ofthe Grand Officers ofthe Grand Lodge of England , and he felt it the more from the evident affection they bore towards him . If it was a pleasure to them that he had been so distinguished by honours ,