Proposed United Grand Lodge Of New Zealand.

STATEMENT showing Annual Receip ts and Expenditure of District and Provincial Grand Lodges , ivith Number of Lodges under each Jurisdiction , and Approximate Number of Members .

DISTRICT AND CONSTITUTION . AucklandE . C

, Auckland , S . C Auckland , I . G . Wellington , E . C Canterbury , E . C Canterbury . S . C . ( Estimated ) Otago and Southland , E . C . Otago and Southland , S . C . ( Estimated ) ...

Westland , E . C Nelson and Marlborough , E . C

o rt ^ ' --o 252 J § f < « % ~ S 19 929

17 821 15 810 19 8 ( 59 20 1243 9 652 14 737 22 1152

7 250 6 237 148 7700

RECEIPTS . BaI < "lrc Receipts Tnt , . cnaonssr . ««^ r ° taIS - ~ £ ~ ~ " A . ~ " ~ £ "" s . d . I s . d .

. 340 13 7 198 13 10 539 7 5 274 8 2 215 17 2 490 5 4 69 11 10 145 1 10 214 13 8 73 10 1 202 1 0 275 11 1 100 3 6 304 7 8 404 11 2 145 4 11 114 5 6 259 10 5

73 4 5 149 12 0 222 16 5 355 2 4 279 5 9 634 8 1 72 4 0 64 3 3 136 7 3 1504 2 10 1673 8 0 3177 10 10

E XPENDITURE . Remitted n On District Balances to u „„ mln ™ an ( l Provincial at Grand Lodges . *> enevoiencc . l Grand Lodges , end of 1888 . t £ sA £ s . d . C sd £ s . d .

, . . , . . 19 17 6 10 3 0 108 16 11 400 10 0 51 19 6 0 12 0 129 3 6 308 10 4 58 11 6 3 10 1 53 15 0 99 6 2 21 13 6 21 17 0 I 199 12 0 32 8 7 11 2 6 85 10 0 137 7 0 170 11 8 27 10 4 0 6 4 68 7 9 163 6 0

31 19 10 25 10 0 87 13 1 77 13 6 67 5 1 0 15 6 : 167 1 0 399 6 6 7 5 0 ... ! 30 2 0 99 0 . 3 i 297 4 9 147 14 10 j 981 18 3 1750 13 0

We may add to the foregoing that when in Sydney , on a late occasion , the Grand Master of New South Wales proposed the health of Lord Onslow as a Past Grand Warden of England , and expressed the hope that he might see a United Grand Lodge of New Zealand soon ; to

which Lord Onslow replied that he could not then say anything in reference to the movement , though his sympathies were with unity—solid and harmonious—in Masonry . We read between the lines , and join with our Auckland brethren in hoping , that when the change does

come , as it surely will , Brother Lord Onslow will be unanimously elected the first M . W . Grand Master . We believe that the punning motto of his lordship ' s family is " Festina lente , " and we recommend it for adoption by the promoters of the proposed Masonic Union .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

The Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex was held on Tuesday , the 6 th inst ., at Easton Lodge , Dunmow , the seat of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , the Right Honourable the Lord Brooke , M . P . The Provincial Grand Lodge meeting was held in the library at Easton Lodge , and at half-past two o ' clock the Provincial

Grand Master , preceded by his officers , entered the Provincial Grand Lodge which was afterwards opened in due form . In the unavoidable absence of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Very Worshipful Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Registrar , the position was occupied by the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chaplain . The Provincial Grand Master was saluted , according to ancient form .

The minutes were read and confirmed . The roll of lodges was then called over , and all the lodges were fully represented . The auditors' report and the report of the Charity Committee were then fully discussed . The Provincial Grand Master then addressed the brethren , expressing his satisfaction at the progress that had been made in the province since he

was elected their Provincial Grand Master , and commented upon the satisfactory manner in which the business of Provincial Grand Lodge had been carried out without any disputes or disagreements of any kind , and how pleased and proud he was at [ its being held under his roof . The next business was the election of Treasurer , this being the

only position the brethren have the privilege of electing , and although the present treasurer has occupied the position for the last ten years , to their entire satisfaction , they have arrived at the conclusion it ought be held only for one year ( like the Treasurer of Grand Lodge ) . There were therefore three candidates , viz .. - Bros . Durrant , the late treasurer ; Joseph Sadler , W . M . of the St . Peter ' s Lodge .

1024 ( and Mayor of Maldon ) : and Bro . Edward James Acworth . P . M ., Epping Lodge , 2077 . The Provincial Grand Master thought as there were three candidates the election had better be by ballot . In the result Bro . Sadler obtained the highest number of votes , and was duly elected . The Provincial Grand Master proceeded to appoint and invest his

officers for the year , and they received the usual salutations . The Provincial Grand Master then stated that , considering the extra amount of work that devolved upon the Provincial Grand Secretary . Bro . Mailing , P . A . G . D . C ., England , he should recommend his annual fee be augmented to 20 guineas , which was carried unanimously : also that in recognition of his services for the last year a sum of

10 guineas be presented to him , which was also carried unanimously . A committee was then formed to revise the bye-laws of Provincial Grand Lodge ; and afterwards sums of 10 guineas each were voted to the three charities , and a sum of 10 guineas to the Farmers ' Benevolent Fund , in consideration of the agricultural distress , particularly in that part of the province . Letters were then read from Lord Euston , Sir Francis Burdett ,

Lord Alg . Lennox . Marquis or Hertford . Col . Shadwell Gierke , Grand Secretary , and several other distinguished Freemasons , expressing their regret at not being able to attend . A vote of thanks was unanimously carried for the kindness of the Provincial Grand Master and Lady Brooke for allowing Provincial Grand Lodge to be holden at Easton Lodge , which was duly acknowledged by the Provincial Grand Master . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in due form . A banquet took place

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

in the marquee erected in the grounds , which was admirably served , there being an abundance of everything ( champagne Moet , Perrier Jouet and Giesler ) , and the menu had the words '' A good digestion to you all , and once more I shower a welcome on you , welcome all ! " The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master presided , supported by several distinguished Freemasons . A very humorous

speech was made by the Rev . C . J . Martyn , responding to the toast of the Grand Officers of England , which elicited hearty applause from the brethren . The health of the Provincial Grand Master was drank with great enthusiasm , finishing with that old-fashioned English ditty , " He ' s a jolly good fellow . " Other toasts followed . The Band of the Northumberland Fusiliers played a selection of

music during the banquet . In the evening a short concert was given on the lawn , with some capital recitations , Lady Brooke joining the assembly , and whose presence caused great satisfaction . The grounds were prettily and tastefully illuminated , and just before leaving there was a display of fireworks , the set-piece being

• ' Welcome to the Freemasons , " thus ending one of the most pleasant meetings of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex , and which will never be forgotten by some 200 brethren who had the pleasure of being present . We must not forget to mention that the thanks of the brethren are due to the Great Eastern Railway Company , in connection with this meeting .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Somersetshire was held at the Town Hall , Weston-Super-Mare , under the presidency of the M . W . the Prov . G . M . the Right . Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro-Grand Master of England . The apartment had been decorated for the occasion by a committee from the receiving Lodge ( St . Kew , 1222 ) . The officers of the P . G . L . were received with due honours at 1 . 30 .

and , under the presidencj' of the D . P . G . M . ( Bro . R . C . Else ) the formal part of the business was proceeded with . The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed , and the audited accounts of the treasurer produced , the same showing a balance in hand of £ 93 lis . lid . as against £ 143 4 s . Id . at the corresponding period of last [ year . The P . G . Treasurer ( Bro . C . L . F . Edwards ) explained

that at first sight it would appear that they had lost £ 50 during the year , whereas their ordinary receipts had exceeded their expenditure by £ 48 , as their disbursements included £ 89 5 s . to the Girls ' School , and £ 18 7 s . fid . annuity to Bro . Woodward . The revised bye-laws were produced , the principal alteration being to the effect that every officer of the P . G . L ., on his appointment to

officeexcept that of steward—shall provide himself with and retain the same as his property , a full dress collar and apron of the regulation pattern . This alteration was suggested to save the Province the cost of a new set of office emblems , which are sadly needed . The resolution was unanimously adopted . The M . W . the Prov . G . M . entered the Lodge room at 2 . 30 ,

accompanied by Bros . Ffarington , W . M ., and G . H . Perrett , I . P . M . ( officers of the receiving Lodge ) preceded by the G . S . B . and P . G . Deacons . His Lordship , having apologised for being late—owing to the crowded traffic on the railway—thanked the D . P . G . M . for having proceeded with the business . He then invested the following

brethren with collars of office for the ensuing year : —P . S . G . W . George Ernest Alford , P . M ., 1222 ; P . J . G . W . Arthur Duckett , P . M ., 291 ; P . G . Chap ., F . S . Byrde , 1296 ; assist do ., F . \ V . Macdonald , 329 ; Treasurer C . L . Fry Edwards ( re-elected ) ; P . G . Reg ., W . Fuller , 53 ; P . G . Sec , J . C . Hunt ( re-appointed ); P . S . G . D ., F . W . Warren , 1953 ;

P . J . G . D ., A . S . Ashcroft , 1296 ; P . G . S . Works , G . B . Laffan ; P . G . D . C ,

S . Spill , 793 ; Assist , do .. S . W . Pusey , 437 ; P . G . S . B ., C . E . Pearce , 261 : P . G . Standard B ., W . E . Bennett . 2038 ; assist , do ., F . Wood , 1199 ; P . G . Organist , W . E . Sparrow , 906 ; P . G . Purst ., P . Manning , 285 ; assist , do ., T . E . Wilton , 241 ; Stewards : G . H . Perret , 1222 ; C . Lockyer , 976 ; J . Gill , 1966 ; E . P . Palmer , 772 ; G . Barry , 814 ; P . G . Tyler , A . J . Salter ; assist , do ., C . Bidgood .

The M . W . P . G . M . thought the whole of the large assemblage that day would agree with him in a resolution expressive of their deep regret at the lamented death of Brigadier-General Adair , P . P . G . M . of Somerset , and their sympathy with the bereaved members of his family . The resolution was unanimously carried .

The P . G . M . then proposed that a similar resolution should be recorded in the case of the late Bro . Sumner Toms , who had died during his year of office as P . G . J . W . This was also unanimously carried . On the proposal of the P . G . Treasurer , Bro . T . P . Ashley ,