Provincial.

him in the attempt to respond , after the very fiatleiing remarks made in his favour by Brother Robinson . However , he only hoped and trusted that he deserved those remarks , and was certain they would act as a stimulant fco deserve fchem more . He must confess that he had only belonged to the Craft for a very few years , but he was not long in finding out that tho principal object of Freemasonry was to do all the good they could to their fellow-men , and do everything in their power to ameliorate

their condition . Whenever there was an object brought forth to accomplish these benefits he had never shrunk in doing everything which lay in his power to effect its consummation . Such , he believed , was the line to be adopted by every one who wished to carry out the principles of Masonry . He had to-day been placed in a position which he truly felt proud of—that of Master of Skiddaw Lodge ; and he trusted that during his term of office his conduct in the chair would meet with approbation of all the

brethren , so that when he retired from his Mastership he would retire with the goodwill of them all . The Worshipful Master then proposed "JThe health of the Retiring Master , Brother the Rev . H . L . Puxley , " and paid a well-merited tribute to the efficient manner in which the chair had been filled during the past twelve months by Brother Puxley , who had unfortunately been called from amongst them ,

hy reason of duty . Brother R . Robinson returned thanks on behalf of Brother Puxley . Brother Busher gave the health of " Brother C . Morton , Installing Master , " who , he believed , had been one of the first and most active members and promoters of Skiddaw Lodge . Brother Morton was one of those exceedingly nice fellows , whom he would like to say a deal about had he not been there ; but he

was present , and that was a different thing . However he had no doubt they would accord to Brother Morton all due honour and praise . Brother Morton returned thanks , and in doing so , said he had installed every Master of Skiddaw Lodge but one , and had initiated most of the members , including their nowly-elected Worshipful Master . Alluding to the sickness which kept Bro . Faithfull from amongst them—a brother who was one of

the founders of their Lodge- —he trusted ho would quickly recover , and be present at their next anniversary , Although it was he who said it , there was no better conducted lodge than Skiddaw , 1 , 002 . Brother Shilton proposed tbe "New Officers , " and went into the history ofthe foundation of Skiddaw Lodge . Brother C . Mayson responded . The remaining toasts were the "Retiring Officers ; " "Tho

Press , " coupled with the names of Brothers Alsop , Gaspey , and W . F . Lamonby ; the " Visiting Brethren , " and " To all poor and distressed Masons . " The proceedings were agreeably varied by the musical contributions of Bros . W . H . Lewthwaite ( who presided at the pianoforte ) , Dr . Jones ( who sang Miss Blamire's pretty ballad , *• Welcome into Cumberland , " lately set to music by Mr . W . Metcalf ) J . MaysonC . MaysonW . Tayloraud G . W .

Ken-, , , , worthy . Tlis was undoubtedly tho most pleasant and successful reunion ever held ou the occasion of a Skiddaw Lodge St . John ' s Festival , and , perhaps , tho only thing wanting was the presence of Bro . Faithfull , a past officer of the province , and one of the founders of fche Lodge , whose forced absence called forth expressions of sympathy in his afllietion on every hand .

ESSEX . PEOVINCIAL GEAND LODGE . The annual meeting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex was held at the Masonic Hall , Maldon , on Thursday , June Sth , under the presidency of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Robert John Bagshaw , who was attended upon the occasion by the Dep . Prov . G . M ., Andrew Meggy , by the W . M . of the

Richmond Lodge , by the Past Grand Chaplain , tbe Rev . Bro . C . J . Martyn , and other Grand Officers . Every Lodge in the province , ( with one exception , ) was ' represented , either by its Master , or by two or more of its members . Immediately after the opening of tbe Lodgo , the Grand Secretary of the Province , Bro . John Wright Carr , read the minutes of the last meeting , presented the reports and financial statement , & c .

Tho following appointments were made : — Bro . Andrew Meggy , to be again D . Prov . G . M . ; Bro . G . P . Jay , to be S . W . ; Joseph Boll , JW . ; Joseph Burton , Treas . ( seventh time ); John Wright Carr , Sec . ( fourth time ); Charles B . Tatham , Reg . ; Rev . Eustace H . Crate , Chap . ; Daneil B . Grout , S . D . ; C . S . Tovell , J . D . ; Robert Grout , Snpt . of Wks . ; Peter Matthew s , Dir . of Cers ;; Josoph Francis , S . B . ; Henry Barton , Organist ; Thomas Aldham , Purst . ; Thomas S . Sarel , Tyler .

Tho brethren then quitted the Lodge , and walked to All Saints Church , to attend Divine Service . Prayers were read by the Vicar , the Rev . Bro . E . Horwood , the first lesson by the Rev . Bro . Martyn , til's second lesson by Rev . Bro . E . H . Crate , and the sermon preached by the Rev . Bro . J . F . Bullae !; , Radwinter . There was no collection , hut upon the return of tho Brethren to the Lodge to resume duties , the Treasurer was authorised to hand to the Vicar , who was present , tho sum of

ten guineas , as a contribution towards the funds of the Maldon National Schools . After the Lodge had been closed , about seventy of the brethren partook of a banquet , served in excellent style by Mr . and Mrs . Hickford , of tho Blue Boar Hotel . The following is a list o £ those who took part in the proceedings of the Lodge : — Bros . E . J . BassbnwE . W . Prov G . M . ; Andrew Meggy

, , D . Prov . G . M . ; Rev . F . B . Shepherd , S . G . W ., 27 G , P . M ., P . G . C . ; J . Burton , P . M ., 276 , 1 , 024 , P . S . G . W ., P . G . Treas . ; J . Wright Carr , W . M . 160 , 276 , 1 , 343 , Prov . G . Sec ; Joseph Tanner , P . M ., S . G . D , ; George Cooper , G . Supt of Wks . ; John Glass , G . S . B . ; T . S . Sarel , Tvler ; W . Humphreys , P . Prov . G . J . W ., P . M ., 270 , 1 , 024 , F . G " . Green , P . M . 276 , 1 , 024 , P . Prov . G . W . ; J . T . Bott , P . M . 27 G , P . Prov . G . S . W . ; T . Aldham , 1 , 024 P . M .: Samuel H . Wvmark , P . M ., 659 , P . Prov . G . S . D . ; James

Durrant , P . M . G 50 , P . Prov . J . G . D . ; Charles Samuel Tovell , WM . 650 ; W . H . L . Pafctisson , 27 G ; F . A . Jones , 276 ; James L . Brown , 276 ; George Bannister , 486 ; Albert Carr , 050 ; J . Bell , P . M . 1 , 280 ; James Cantor , W . M . 1 , 000 ; H . W . Moffatt , 72 "; Frederick Wood , P . M . 1 , 000 , P . Prov . G . S . W . ; W . Bright , 1 , 024 ; D . Ii . Grout , P . M . lfc'O ; Robert Grout , 160 ; William Calthorpe , W . M . 697 ; J . T . Gale , P . M . 1 , 024 , P . Prov . J . W . ; W . G . Small , 1 , 024 ; J . Maskall , 1 , 024 ; J . B . Taylor , 1 . 024 ;

Robert J . Francis , 1024 ; Alfred Day , 453 ; C . R . Tatham , W . M . 4-53 ; Thomas Itix , S . W . 697 ; John F . Kemp , 1 , 024 ; Joseph Francis , P . M . 432 ; Thomas Eustace , J . W . 697 ; W . Giles . P . M ., 453 ; T . 13 . Harrington , 51 ; T . Carter Wicg , 1 , 024 ; J . W . Jollv , 433 ; John Coppiu , P . M . 51 , P . Prov . G .. T . W . ; Samuel Bntcliff , 1 , 024 ; W . F . Francis , 1 , 024 ; G . G . Gardner , P . M . 453 ; John E . Wiseman , P . M ., P . Prov . A . G . D . C ; James Self ; P . M . 214 ; Edward Kemp 1024 ; Rev . E . II . CrateChap . 51 ;

, , , John James Hawkins , J . W . 1 , 024 ; A . C . Veley , J . W . 276 , ; F . Whitmore , 81 , 276 ; James Nicholls , 1 , 024 , 276 , S . W .,- T . Smee , S . D . 276 ; W . Hickford , 51 , 1 , 024 . C . Clarke , 1 , 024 ; C . Cobb , 51 ; G . Motion , 453 ; R . W . Motion , 453 ; J . F . T . Wiseman , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . B . ; Rev . E . R . Horwood , P . M . ; Samuel Cox , S . W . 1 , 000 , ; 11 . Rowley , P . M . 1 , 000 , P . Prov . G . S . D . ; J . English , 1 , 000 ; Siimuel Chaplin , 51 ; G . P . Jay , W . M . 1 , 024 ; Edward , J . Sands , 51 ; Frederick , A . Cole , 51 ,

J . W . ; Rev . Charles J . Martyn , P . G . Chap . ; W . P . Lewis , W . M . 51 ; H . Barton , 1 , 000 , and others . A painful occurrence took place whilst the members cf the Provincial Grand Lodge were on their way to Church ; one ot * their number , Bro . AV . Hickford , of thfj Blue Boar Hotel , Maldon , was seized with a fit , and had to be carried into the Com Exchange . Fortunately , medical and other assistance was at hand , and the necessary restoratives having been administered , he was soon removed home , but ho remains in a very weak state .

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND . LEICESTER . —St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 27 'J ) . —The last regular monthly meeting of this lodge , before the summer recess was held at the Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the 7 th insfc ., wheu , in addition to tho AV . M ., Bro . Clement Stretton , P . Prov . G . R ., there were present Bros . Kelly , P . M ., and R . W . Prov . G . M . ; L . A . Clarke , P . M ., aud P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; AVeare , P . M ., and Treas . CrowS . W . Dr . PearceJ . W . ; AViddowsonSecJ .

; , ; , , ; AVright Smith , J . D . ; Halford , I . G . ; Bembridgc , Tyler ; McAllister , AVorthiugton , Edwards , Tarratt , Douisthorpe , Blankley , Cleaver , Beeton , Statham , and Kirby . Visitors : Bros . Buzzard , W . M . ; Toller , P . M . ; AV . Beaumont Smith , P . M . ; Scultborpe , S . W .: Partridge , S . D . ; Dr . Clifton , AVhittaker , and