Essex.

donor himself . In pointing out this gift Miss Corelli said that Stratford received these and other gifts to the memory of Shakespeare with complacency , which it could well afford to do , as being the birthplace of the greatest man that ever

lived- Miss Corelli s visit was a very interesting feature of the afternoon , and before leaving the Provincial Grand Secretary expressed to her the thanks of the ladies and Brethren for honouring the occasion by her presence .

On leaving the Hall a visit was paid to Shakespeare s garden and the famous mulberry trees . After afternoon tea at the Town Plall the party remounted the brakes and Leamington was safely reached soon after six o ' clock . A

hasty dinner followed and a special train conveyed the party saftely to town , all agreeing that they had had one of the most enjoyable excursions in which they had ever participated , and heartily hoping that at some future time a similar gathering might be organised .

It only remains to add that the comfort of the visitors was admirably provided for by the manageress of the Regent Iiotel ( Miss Miles ) , and the manager of the Clarendon Plotel ( Mr . A . Kerridge ) while the manager of the Regent stables ( Mr . Robinson ) was indefatigable in attending to the details

of the drives . Mr . and Mrs . Smith , of Stratford , were also highly complimented on the excellence of the luncheon provided . The train arrangements were in the hands of Mr . E . Murphy , the Birmingham District Superintendent of the Great Western Railway .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex was held on Thursday , 18 th ult , at the Public Plall , Loughton , when the Provincial Grand Master the Earl of Warwick presided , supported by Bro . Richard Clowes as Deputy Prov . G . M ., and representatives of every Lodge in the county .

The minutes of the last annual meeting having been confirmed the Prov . G . Sec . Bro . T . J . Railing announced the different communications received and which included letters

of regret at inability to attend , from the Pro G . M . of England , the Provincial Grand Masters of Hertfordshire , Norfolk , Suffolk , the Isle of Man , Middlesex , the Grand Secretary Bro . E . Letchworth and others .

1 he roil of Lodges was called , and representatives duly answered from each . The Report of the Board of General Purposes and also that of the Charity Committee were then presented and adopted . Bro . James Terry P . G . Sw . B . Secretary of the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institution , addressing his lordship and the Brethren , said he had been directed by his Committee to attend the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and to ask his lordship ' s acceptance of an engrossed vellum , in recognition of Lord Warwick ' s services as President of the last Festival

of the Benevolent Institution . On that occasion every Lodge in the Province had been represented , by a total of 105 Stewards-, with a total subscription of £ 4 , 000 , while the general result of the Festival , supported as it was by Stewards from all parts of the country , was the splendid total of

upwards of £ 25 , 000 . Pie desired to first read the words of the address , and would afterwards ask his lordship to accept at his hands the expression of thanks of his Committee , the members of which were most grateful to his lordship

for his efforts and to the many Stewards who supported him . Bro . Terry then read the address , which was handsomely engrossed , bound , and suitably inscribed , and said that if his lordship would do the Committee the honour of accepting it at his hands they would be delighted .

The Provincial Grand Master , in acknowledging the compliment , remarked that when asked to preside at the Festival he felt some misgiving as to whether , considering the immense amount of subscriptions the country had lately been called upon to give , it was a fitting opportunity to ask

the Province to support him . He was , however , perfectly astounded at the result , and he confessed that he never felt so proud of his Province as he did then . He might say , in answer toi the very kind words that had come from Bro . Terry in thanking them for what they had donethat he

, could take back to his Committee the hearty acknowledgment of the Essex Brethren for having thus thanked them for their efforts . The past year had been a most memorable one for them , and events had occurred which touched them as Masons . Prominent among them was the death

Essex.

of Her Majesty the Queen who , although not a Mason herself , that being contrary to the rules of the Institution , was their Grand Patron , and had shown them an example which might well be followed by every member among them . Then that unfortunate death had necessitated the resignation

of the Grand Master who , for upwards of a quarter of a century , had so ably ruled over them . The presidency of Freemasonry was one of the most pleasing of the many duties which fell upon the Prince of Wales , and he felt sure his Majesty left the chair of Freemasonry with the very

greatest regret . Fortunately he had a most efficient successor , to : whom he could entrust the control of the Craft , in the person of his own Brother H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . At the commencement of the King ' s Masonic reign Essex had fifteen Lodges , with a membership of 700 Brethren ;

now they had forty-four , with a roll of 2 , 500 members . It was a source of great gratification to the Brethren of Essex to see that the Province continued to do so well , and that Freemasonry was so popular with them . They were all loyal to the throne , and with the desire of promoting the

principles of the Craft had managed to keep themselves free from the taint of politics . He had already alluded to the support accorded him on the occasion of his Chairmanship on behalf of the Benevolent Institution—he was all through it doubtful as to the result , and never would even

form an estimate of what would be the outcome , but he was perfectly astonished at the very large amount collected and exceedingly proud when his dear old Province of Essex came forward with so handsome an amount as £ 4 , 000 . They were looking forward to an addition to the number of their

Lodges , a new one having been sanctioned at Chingfordand he felt it would be one likely to prove an addition to the strength of the Province . Lord Warwick spoke of the Festival held at Dunmow some years back , which being so successful had inspired him with the idea of having a

gathering of Essex Freemasons at Warwick Castle . ' He was pleased to hear how readily the suggestion had been taken up , and assured them that the Countess and himself would do their very utmost to ensure the enjoyment of all who

were present . He was looking forward to the pleasure of welcoming some four hundred visitors on the occasion , and promised to do all in their power to make them comfortable . He felt his duty towards Essex came before that of any other division of Freemasonry .

Plis lordship announced that Col . Loekwood would continue to act as Deputy , and then proceeded to appoint the Provincial Grand Officers for the year , as follow :

Bio . Howell J . J . Price 2561 ... Senior Warden Walter J . Tull 2508 ... Junior Warden Rev . Elsan I . Colnett 1457 ... Chaplain Chas . J . Smith 2504 ... Treasurer W . G . Synnot 2339 ... Registrar

Thos . J . Railing 51 ... Secretary Jethro Ambrose 1457 ... Senior Deacon R . A . Panchaud 1457 ... Ditto Percy E . Beard 1734 ... Junior Deacon A . J . Constable 2006 ... Ditto

W . S . Page 4 S 3 Supt . of Works A . Lucking 160 ... Dir . of Ceremonies J . H . Briclgman 2255 ... Dep . Dir . of Cers . William Leghorn 2734 ... Assist . Dir . of Cers . Leo Taylor 2501 ... Ditto

Arthur S . Gardiner 2707 ... Ditto Charles R . Allen 2749 ... Sword Bearer J . Phillips Sayer 1024 ... Standard Bearer Arthur Hodsell Brooks 1977 ... Ditto Sidney Hann 2005 ... Organist

W . L . Crow 2717 ... Assistant Secretary J . S . Wilkinson 12 S 0 ... Pursuivant John Wright 1543 ... Assistant Pursuivant W . J . Johnstone 1312 ... Steward Alfred Ford 2757 ... Ditto

F . A . Stratrord 1437 Ditto H . R . Peake 650 ... Ditto G . Ackerman 2734 ... Ditto C . H . Archer 6 97 ... Ditto A . W . Martin ... Tyler .

• a ***************** An addition of 2 , 284 names as members of Lodges under the Scottish Constitution was made to that Grand

Lodge during quarter ending 13 th July . The income from all sources amounted to £ 2 , 240 14 s , and the expenditure , including £ 134 16 s 6 d to the Benevolent Fund , amounted to £ 1 , 017 13 s 8 d , leaving a balance to the good of £ 1 , 223 Os 4 a .