Prov. Grand Lodge Of Monmouth.

Bro . W . Lloyd Marks ... ... Pursuivant il . Richards ... ... ... Tyler R . Gooding ... ... ... ") Abraham Thomas ... ... ]

il . G . Thomas ... ... i ~ . , John Dredge f Stewards G . T . Evans ¦ S . R . Hay J

A vote of condolence was passed to Mrs . C . P . Evans on the death of her husband , who was Provincial Grand Senior Warden for the year . A formal vote of thanks was given the visitors for their attendance , and Grand Lodge was duly closed .

A large number of the brethren who had been present at Provincial Graud Lodge afterwards attended a banquet at the King ' s Head Hotel . It had been arranged that Bro . John Allan Rolls P . G . S . W . should make tho presentation of the centrepieces to the Provincial Grand Master

and Deputy Provincial Grand Master , but he telegraphed stating that he was unable to attend . The duty was , however , performed by Sir George Elliot , who is Provincial Grand Master of the Eastern Division of South Wales , and who , having travelled from London during the day , arrived during dinner .

The toast list opened with the Queen and the Craft , which was followed by thafc of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales . In proposing this , the Provincial Grand Master said there was no one more deservedly popular , especially among

Freemasons , than the Prince of Wales . The Order was deeply indebted to His Royal Highness , who came to its rescue when it was , in a sense , rather proscribed , and for fche position they now held they were more indebted to

their Grand Master than to any one else . Bro . C . Lyne jun . gave the toast of the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Lathom , the Deputy Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge , to which the Rev . W . J . L . D . Stradling replied .

Sir George Elliot , in proposing the toast of the Provincial Grand Master , Colonel Lyne , and Deputy Provincial Grand Master Captain Homfray , made the presentation of the centrepieces . He said he was sure his presence there that evening was a pleasure to his friend Colonel Lyne ,

and to Colonel Lyne ' s friends . They know no politics there . They were all friends . Good friends , he continued were a kind of real property which he urged bis hearers never to lose . He presented the handsome ornaments on

the table with the sincere expression of their good wishes and esteem for the recipients . In conclusion he dwelt on the objects of Freemasonry , and asserted thafc its religion was as pure and its morality as high as thoy could get in any institution , ecclesiastical or otherwise .

The centrepieces arc splendid examples of tho silversmith ' s art . Within a portal formed by threo exact representations of columns in tho Corinthian , Doric , and Ionic examples of architecture stands a charmingly modelled figure of Wisdom , at one side of her being a

beehive , emblematic of industry . There aro threo branches and one centre dish for holding fruit or flowers . Afc fche base of each column are faithful representations of Masonic working tools , and round tho top aro shields bearing

representations of the various jewels , the ones in front being those denoting the offices of the recipients of fche valuable and massive , yet graceful ' ornaments . Each centrepiece has on it an inscription . The one to Colonel Lyne is as follows

represented to the Right Worshipfnl Brother Colonel Charles Lyne , D . L ., J . P ., Provincial Grand Master , by the Freemasons of Monmouthshire , in commemoration of his 21 years' rule over the Province , 28 th July 1892 .

The inscription on the centrepiece presented to Captain Homfray reads : — Presented to the Worshipful Brother Captain S . George Homfray , J . P ., by the Freemasons of Monmouthshire , in commemoration of his 21 years' rule as Deputy Provincial Graud Master , 28 th July 1892 .

The centrepieces are of bold , yet graceful and chaste design , being quite unique in their way , and reflect the greatest credit on Messrs . Rainforth and Son , Newport , who were entrusted with their design and manufacture .

Colonel Lyne , in acknowled ging the gift , spoke of hia twenty-one years' rule of the Province as a period of unalloyed pleasure . He had never regretted for one single

day or hour his connection with the Province . Although his appointment came from tho hi ghest authority in the Order , it was upon tho unanimous requisition of tho

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Monmouth.

brethren of the Province that he was appointed to the office , and ho had retained ifc up to the present by their wish and at their request . The responsibility attaching was very great . He had never met anything but kindness at their hands , and the handsome gift fchey had made to him he would hand down to those who were dearer to him

than he was to himself , as a memento of kindness which he was sure they , like himself , would never forget . Shakespeare had said : —

The friends thou hast , and their adoption tried , Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel . And he for his part would wish to do so . He did not think there was a more happy family in Freemasonry than there was in that Province . He went on to speak of fche

benevolent objects of the Order , and referred to the indebtedness nnder which he laboured , aud the Province also laboured , to his good worthy and 'tear Bro . Homfray , whose services in promoting the Masonic Charities and in getting a fair share of their benefits for

Monmouthshire he highly prized . In conclusion , he urged upon the Worshipful Masters of Lodges not to care so much for numbers as the merit of their members . Ho said thoy should obtain good and true men whom they could respect , and with whom they could associate in good fellowship , and reminded that one black sheep would ruin a whole flock .

Captain Homfray also returned thanks , and , on his part , bore testimony to the amicable relations which had always existed between himself and the Provincial Grand Masters .

The token of the esteem and regard of fche brethren was almost too much for him to fittingly acknowledge . He appreciated very highly the good will and good fellowship of the Province .

Colonel Perkins proposed in a felicitous speech the Masonic Charities , to which Bro . Mason , of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , replied , and in the course of his remarks bore very high testimony to the liberality of the Province of Monmouth to the Charities of the Order .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master gave the toast of the Provincial Grand Lodge Officers Present and Past , to which Bro . E . W . Evans responded . The toast of the Visitors was next given by tho Prov .

Grand Master , and acknowledged by Bro . Stradling , and the Worshipful Master of the Albert Edward Lodge , Bro . George Hazell , and tho Lodges of the Province , and the Tyler ' s toast concluded tho list .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 7.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 7 .

BY BRO . CHAS . F . FOKSHAW , LL . D ., 2417 . — : o : — FIDELITY .

Faith , concord , justice , truth aud honesty , Hearty goodwill , adherence , stedfastness ; Are pregnant terms for sweet fidelity —• Whioh aye will comfort thoso in deep distress . Let ua join hands , bid care and grief begone ;

Lot us bo glad within our inmost heart ; For in our deeds we still shall be as one , If we great Fide ' s virtues e ' er impart . Fidelity denotes

simplicity—Candour and kindness , prudence , love aud trust ; Reflection , sympathy , humility , Aud above all , it tells us to be just To all with whom we journey on life ' s way , To all wo meet with as earth ' s paths we stray . Winder Houae , Bradford . 2 Gtb July 1692 . " - ¦ - * - ¦ '¦ ' — " " ' ' " -

At tho last regular stated meeting of Lodge Obedience , No . 1753 , held afc fcho Whito Hart Hotol , Okohamptou , Bro . J . C Pierco S . W . was mmnimouslv elected W . M . for

the ensuing year , la consequence of both the S . W . and J . W . ( Bro . W . Mauuell ) having to attend a . course of lectures on "Agricultural Chemistry , " at Cambridge , during August , the installation will be postponed to Mon * day , 5 fch September .

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