Ar00902

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Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

THE annual meeting for this Province was held on Satnrday last , the 30 th ult ., at the " Mitre " Hotel , Hampton Court , aud although it is only nine months sinco the representatives of the various Lodgea were last summoned , the large number of the brethren who attended on Saturday to do honour to the R . W . Prov . Grand Master Col . Sir Franois Bcirdotfc , "Flirt ., testified to tho wisdom of holding snch gatherings in the "In V month of June" in pre . ferenco to " brown " October ,

when" Tbe hazel hangs With auburn branches , dipping in tlio stream That sweeps along , and threatens to o ' ernow The leaf-strewn banks . " Amongst thoso present whose names wo were able to ascertain were Bros . Raymond H . Thrnpp D . P . G . M ., James Inglis Prov . G . S . W .,

H . G . Buss Prov . G . Treasurer , C . Locke Smiles Prov . G . Reg ., H . C . Levander Prov . G . Sec , Wm . Stephens Prov . G . S . D ., R . Lonsdale Prov . G . D . C , J . H . Pearson , Prov . G . Assist . D . C , T . J . Bird Prov . G . S . B ., J . W . George Prov . G . O ., Charles Rnss Prov . G . A . Pursuivant , J . Gilbert Prov . G . Tyler ; E . Poore , W . Vincent , F . McDougall aud W . G . Kentish Prov . G . Stewards . Of the Past Provincial Grand Officers there were Bros . Fred . Davison P . P . G . S . W . J . M . Stedwell

, P . P . G . J . W ., D . W . Pearse P . P . G . Reg ., Hugh M . Gordon , j . Mason . F . W . Levander and Wm . Hammond P . P . Grand Deacons ; G . Hop ^ wood P . P . G . S . Bearer , Geo . J . Dunkley P . P . G . Organist , T . W . Ockenden and F . B . Archer P . Prov . Grand Stewards . The various Lodgea were represented b y Bros . G . Fehrenbach P . M . 382 , R . Fawcett P . M . 708 , R . J . S . Barton and S . Larcomb P . M . ' s 788 J . T . Skinner I . P . M . 946 , Thos . Cross P . M . 1191 , A . G . Firller S . W .

1237 , Wm . Weaver and G . 0 . Harding P . M . ' s 1238 , C Sadler 1293 , Thos . Gurney W . M . 1309 , E . W . Devereus , J . Beresford Rvley P . M ' s 1-123 , Alf . Brookman S . D . 1460 , Harold E . Stidol ph P . P . G . D . Essex 149-1 , S . H . T . Saunders J . W . 1503 , J . C Jessell P . M . 1512 . J . W .

Cooper I . P . M . 1 G 37 , J . Seathurst W . M . 1656 , J . Ferguson S . W . 1691 , Chas . Hawksdey I . P . M . 1702 , R . W . Forge and Jno . Filler P . M . ' s 1793 , W . S . Cantrell W . M . 1871 , and many others , whilst amongst tho Visitors wero Bros . Shadwell H . Gierke Grand Secretary , Captain N . G . Philips P . G . D ., Rov . C W . Arnold , M . A ., P . G . C and Deputy P . G . M . Surrey , H . Potter P . M . 11 , J . Green P . M . 27 , James

Terry P . M . 228 Secretary Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , F . Binckes P . M . Grand Stewards' Lodge , Secretarv Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , F . Eckstein P . M . 1196 , Henry Prenton 1391 , & a . Tho Proviucial Grand Lodge was opened shortly " after three o ' clock , the R . W . Provincial Grand Masfcsr being supported by nearly all the brethren enumerated above . The roll of Provincial Grand Officers

and Lodges having been called , the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge were read and adopted . The reports of the Audit and Charity Committees were then presented , but not iu externa , as they will hereafter be printed . From the statements submitted we gather that the funds are in a satisfactory state , there being a balance in band

of £ 44118 s 5 d against £ 396 18 s 9 d last year . On tho motion of Bro . F . Davison P . P . G . S . W . tho report was received and adopted , and tho sum of £ 10 10 s voted to a distressed brother from the benevolent fund . Bro . H . G . Buss Assistant Grand Secretary was again unanimousl y elected to fill tbe office of Provincial Grand Treasnrer , after which the R . W . Provincial Grand Master announced that before

appointing the Officers for the ensuing year , he would call upon Bro . Raymond Thrnpp to take the obligation as Deputy Grand Master . ¦ The patent , dated 30 th September last , having been read , Brother Ihrnpp was afterwards obligated , and tho brethren , by command of Sir Francis , wore called npon to ' salute him as his Deputy . The appointmeut and investiture of Officers then proceeded , as follows : — Bro . F . B . Archer ... ... ... G . Senior Warden

F . McDougall ... ... ... G . Junior Warden Bev . L . M . D'Orsey ... ... \ r r , , . Bev . R . Fawsett „ j G . Chaplain H . G . Buss ... ... ... G . Treasurer B . Horton Smith ... ... ... G . Registrar

H . C . Levander ... ... ... G . Secretary G . Fehrenbach ... ... ... G . Senior Deacon T . W . Ockenden ... ... ... G . Junior Deacon C C . Pearce .. ... ' ... G . Snpt . Works E . Poore ... ... ... G . Dir . of Cers . A F . Eoberts ... ... ... G . Assist . D . of Cers . Vincent ... ... ... ... G . Sword Bearer

Stidol ph ... ... ... ... G . Organist C . Rnss ... ... ... G . Pursuivant Mayes ... ... ... ... G . Assist . Pursuivant Skinner 94 G ... ... ...-,

E . Gilbert 1236 ... 6 . C . Harding 1238 ... ... L , „ . , T . W . Cooper 1637 ^ . Stewards Featherstone 1656

Forge 1793 ... ... ... J J- Gilbert ... ... ... G . Tyler

The notice of motion iu the name of the R . W . Provincial Grand ' Master , " that the following sums be granted from the Benevolent

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

Fund , viz . —The "Royal Masonic Institution for Girls £ 10 10 s , Royal Masonio Institution for Roys £ 10 10 s , and R > yal Masonio Institntion for Aged Masons £ 10 IPs , " was then put , and being . seconded by tho Deputy P . G . M ., unanimously agreed to , after which Rro . R . A . Thrnpp gave notice , that at the next meeting of Provincial Grand Lodgo he should move that in future the sum annually con .

tributed to each of tho three Charities be increased to £ 15 15 s . Tho business on the agenda being ended tho R . W . Provincial Grand Master , before closing the Lodge , stated that he wished to take that opportunity of congratulating Provincial Grand Lodge upon tho state of efficiency and manner of working of the various Lodges in the Province . He might tell them that he had been ably assisted by his

Deputy Bro . Thrupp , who had spent a good deal of time in visiting different Lodges , and had only tho day previously handed him a report of the result of his visits , which was very satisfactory ; he should look upon him as his " inspector . " However , he ( tho Provin . cial Grand Maser ) was much indebted to Bro . Thvupp for what he had done . As he had said before , he fonnd it impossible personally to

visit all the Lodges ; but he had been much ploused with the admirable manner in whioh the work was conducted in some he had recently attended . Only the other day he visited the Sub . TJrban Lodge , at Great Stanmore . It was no easy matter to get from Rich , mond to Great Stanmore ; but he must tell them that he had there an opportunity of seeing the outgoing Master instal his successor , and

the manner in which the ceremony was performed , and the charges delivered , he must say reflected the highest credit npon the I . P . M . He had not been to Great Stanmore for some time previously , but on his recent visit he was very much pleased with the way in whioh everything was conducted . This ended the business of the meeting , and Provincial Grand Lodsre was duly closed .

Tho Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master afterwards presided at a banquet , provided by the host of the Mitre , Bro . 0 . Sadler , afc which upwards of fifty brethren sat down , and marked their appreciation of the viands placed before them in a manner which we think it no idle compliment to Bro . Sadler when we say . it gave universal satisfaction . Grace was sung by the musical brethren ,

after which the toasts of the Queen and the Craft ( followed by the singing of the National Anthem ) , and the Most Worshipful Grand Master His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales were submitted and loyally honoured . The latter was followed by a Masonio version of " God Bless the Princo of Wales , " by Bro . F . Vernon , which we shonld like to hear generally adopted " in all True Masons' Lodges . "

In proposing the toast of the Most Worshipful the Pro Grand Master tho Earl of Carnarvon , K . G ., tho Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master tho Earl of Lathom , and the Grano * Officers preseafc and past ; tho R . W . Provincial Grand Master paid a high tribute to the valuable services rendered by those brethren , and called upon all present to join him in drinking to their health , ' coupled with the

name of the Rev . C W . Arnold P . G . Chaplain and Deputy Grand Master for Surrey , who briefly responded . This was followed by a quartette— " Oh who will o'er the Downs so free " —admirably ren . rlored by Bros . C A . White , W . Sexton , J . W . George , and H . Prenton . Bro . Raymond H . Thrupp D . P . G . M . then proposed the health of the

Right Worshipful the Grand Master of the -Province , Colonel Sir Francis Bnrdett , Bart ., -which was followed by Bro . G . S- Graham singing an old favourite— " Let each man learn to know himself "with chorus , a truly Masonic song without symbolic allusion , except that Charity in its widest and grandest sense which pervades the whole and bids

each"Improve those failings in himself Which he condemns so in his neighbour . " This was much applauded . Sir Francis , in response , thanked the brethren for tbo hearty manner in which the toast had been given and received ; he was greatly obliged for the support he afc all times received from his Officers ,, it was gratifying to see tho Lodges

represented year by year in such increasing numbers ; anything be could do for tho Lodges or the Province he should at all times be most happy to do . Many of the Lodges , as he had previously stated , had been visited by tho Deputy Prov . Grand Master since his appointment ; he was pleased to learn that all were in snch a prosperous slate . Ho had much pleisnre in proposing the health of the Deputy

Prov . Grand Master Bro . Thrupp ; he had not only been able to see , bnt to show them how those dnties should be performed . A quartette"In this hour of softened splendour "—having been feelingly ren . dered , Bro . Thrnpp , in acknowledging the toast , mentioned thafc dnring the nine months since his appointment he had visited eighteen Lodges and three Chapters . He shonld like to have

visted all the others , and he hoped to do so during the nejcfc throe months . This , however , was uo easy matter , seeing how the Lodges wero scattered abont the Province . " Now or Never , " having being snng by Bro . J . W . George , the Provincial Grand Master next proposed the Visitors , and called upon Brother Shadwell H . Clerko to respond . In giving the toasfc of the Masonic Charities

npon which Sir Francis dwelt at some length , referring to the nnpre ceclented success which had attended the recent Boys' Festival , and expressing a hopo that the Girls and Aged Masons might some day attain fche like result ; he incidentally mentioned that Brother C . Hawksley , of tho Sub-Urban Lodge , took up the sum of sixty guineas —the highest amount for the Province . He had much pleasure in

coupling with the toast the name of Brother F . Binckes . Brother F . Binckes , whilst protesting that he expected to have escaped any call upon him , begged to remove any impression that he was so elated with the recent success of the Boys thafc he should stop at what had been clone ; it was a legitimate demand made and responded to , and he trnsted to bo spared to see the R . W . Provincial Grand Master

presiding on an occasion when he should have still larger results . The heart of Freemasonry was sound , and he confidently looked forward to greater successes . Bro . J . Terry , Secretary of the R . M . B . I ., said whilst he congratulated Bro . Binckes on the result of his Board of Stewards—given the Girls and Old Folks the same privileges , he bad little doubt but thafc a like result might be obtained j competition