Provincial Grand Lodge Of Norths And Hunts.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHS AND HUNTS .

rpHE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge - * - of Norths and Hunts was held under the banner of the Chicheley Lodge , Thrapston , in tho Exchange Hall of that town , on Thursday , tho 28 th ult . Around the walls

of the room , which presented a beautiful appearance , hung the banners of the ten Lodges in the Province , and thoy were further adorned with red baize , while the floor was almost entirely covered with carpet . Bro . the Earl of Euston , D . L ., R . W . P . G . M ., assisted by Bro . Butler Wilkins

D . P . G . M . Past Grand Standard Bearer , presided . The following were appointed to fill the various offices of tho Province during the ensuing year : —

Bro . H . J . Powys - - - Senior Warden T . Emery ... Junior Warden Rev . S . W . Wigg - - Chaplain J . U . Stanton ... Treasurer H . T . Smith - » ¦ Registrar

F . H . Buckle ... Secretary J . W . B asley ... Senior Deaoon J . T . Parker ... Junior Deacon E . P . Monckton ... Superintendent of Works G . Ellard ... Director of Ceremonies Maior Turner ... Assistant Director of Cers .

J . Snow .... Sword Bearer r , ' „ " " " i Standard Bearers Currall - - - - j H . Bulford - - . Pursuivant H . C . Clarabut - - . Organist T . Cook - - - O m , Dean - . - . ] Tylers

It was announced that Lord Euston would preside at the Festival in February next , in aid of the Institution for Aged Masons , aud the earnest hope was expressed that all Masons would heartily co-operate in order that its success mi ght be assured . Business over , divine service was held at the

parish church , to which the brethren walked in procession from the Corn Exchange , the open Bible being borne b y Masters Harry Simpson , Harry Parsons , Clephan Hambling , and Henry Siddons . The Rev . S . Kingford

( rector of Thrapston ) , and Bro . tho Rev . J . Jenkins took part in the service , at the close of which Bro . the Rev , S . W . Wigg preached an eloquent sermon , from Ecclesiastes xii ., 14 .

He said that although in these days attendance at Divine Service was unnecessary to vindicate their reverence for the Great Architect of the Universe , or to repel the charge of irreligion sometimes brought against their ancient fraternity , yet it was a wise and seemly custom to spend a portion of the time at their disposal in

prayer to the Most High . Freemasons used to be charged with enmity to religion , and a desire to subvert the commonwealth , but they were taught as one of their primary duties to obey the laws of the country in which they resided , and to act upon the purest principles of morality and virtno . It was true that now and again

tbe charge of excessive indulgence in social pleasures was brought against them , and that they were sometimes even charged with being wine-bibbers and gluttons ; but happily every year enabled them to meet those charges with a more and more emphatic denial . True , there might be sometimes a member who disgraced the fraternity by

his un-Masornc conduct , but no one would condemn Freemasonry because he found a member whose actions were as much opposed to the principles of their Institution as they were to morality and religion . Their doors were firmly shut to all who were known to be transgressors of the fundamental laws of God or man , and no one

was admitted who denied the authority of the Ruler of the Universe , or who did not believe in the resurrection from the dead , Tbe preacher next referred to the mystery with which the proceed , ings of the fraternity were surrounded , and to the fact that vows of secrecy and fidelity were required from each candidate , and

said there was nothing in Freemasonry incompatible with any man's moral , civil , or religious duties . Bro . Wigg also intimated that it was for no childish reasons that the Masons had adopted their peculiar dress . A tree was known by its fruit , but some of the fruits of Freemasonry , perhaps the most rare and precious , must ever be hidden

from the world . The pious duties of visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction were not neglected by members of the fraternity , their schools for orphan boys and girls , and their Institution for aged and decayed Masons being liberally supported , and

provision was also made for the widows of deceased members . There were no rules to compel subscription , but each member was prompted by the higher , tho royal law which was characteristic of Freemasonry , the law of charity .

During the singing of the last hymn , a collection was taken in aid of the Masonic Charities , and of the St . James ' s new organ and site fund . The banquet was provided in a marquee erected in a paddock at the rear of the

White Hart Inn . Brother Butler Wilkins presided , in the absence of Lord Euston , who was compelled to leave Thrapston during the service , to attend the reception of the Duke of Cambridge by the Duke of Grafton . The Queen

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Norths And Hunts.

and Craft having been enthusiastically and musically honoured , the Chairman submitted the M . W . the Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., and this was received with like heartiness . Bro . Orford

next happily gave the M . W . the Pro Grand Master of England the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , the D . G . M . the Earl of Lathom , and the Officers of Grand Lodge , and Bro . Buckle submitted in felicitous terms the

R . W . the Prov . Grand Master , tbe Right . Hon . the Earl of Euston , D . L ., and the W . the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Butler Wilkins P . G . S . B . He spoke of Lord Enston ' s untiring exertions on behalf of Freemasonry , and

paid a high tribute to Bro . Wilkins' invaluable services to the fraternity . The Chairman appropriately replied , explaining the absence of Lord Euston , thanking the members for the kindness they had shown him in the past ,

and spoke of the earnest manner in which Lord Euston was endeavouring to promote the interests of the Craft . He also spoke of the excellent manner in which the visitors to Thrapston had been treated by the members of the

Chicheley Lodge , although they were so small in number , and proposed a hearty vote of thanks to them , to the Rector , to the Churchwardens , and the Choir , and to all others who had contributed to the succes-i of the day ' s

proceedings . Bro . Rogers , rector ' s churchwarden , replied . Brother Fisher proposed the Grand Officers of the Province , present and past . Bi'O . tho Hon . J . Powys made an appropriate response . The remaining toasts were the

Royal Masonic Charitable Institutions , namely , the Girls ' School and the Boys' School , and the Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , the Visiting Brethren , the W . M . and Brethren of the Chicheley Lodge ,

No . 607 , and the other Lodges in the Province , the Ladies , and the Tyler ' s to all poor and distressed Masons . The balance-sheet of the Masouic Benevolent and Grand Lodge Fund , which was passed at the annual meeting , shows that

there was a balance in the bank on 31 st December 1887 , of £ 67 2 s lOd , which , added to £ 700 mortgage on Masouic buildings , Northampton , gives a total for the Provincial Fund of £ 707 2 s lOd .

Prov. G. Lodge Of Monmouthshire.

PROV . G . LODGE OF MONMOUTHSHIRE .

finHE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge JL was held at the Masonic Hall , Newport , on Thursday , the 28 th of June , under the banner of the Silurian Lodge , No . 471 . There was a large gathering ,

the ten Lodges comprised in the Province being all represented . The Prov . Grand Master . Right Worshi pful Bro . Charles Lyne presided , supported by Captain Homfray

Past G . A . D . C . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and other present and past Provincial Grand Officers . Amongst the Visitors were Bros . Marmaduke Tennant Deputy Provincial Grand Master Eastern Division South Wales , R . Vassar-Smith D . P . G . M . Gloucester , John Mason

Past Prov . G . D . Middlesex , George Recknell P . M . 1728 , W . Wray Morgan P . M . 211 , & c . The members of the Silurian Lodge met at 11-30 , when the W . M . regularl y opened his Lodge . At noon the Provincial Grand Master

was formally announced , and Colonel Lyne opened Prov . Grand Lodge , when the minutes of last meeting were received and adopted . The Treasurer ' s financial statement showed that a substantial balance stood to the credit side

of the account , and it was unanimously accepted by Prov . Grand Lodge . The several returns presented by the various Lodges through the Provincial Grand Registrar evidenced that Freemasonry was pursuing an eminentl y

satisfactory course , while Bro . Homiray s Charity Report for the past twelve months congratulated the brethren on the success attendant on their Charity Organisation . This stated that for the greater convenience of keeping the

necessary accounts , and more particularly to ensure greater stability , the associated Provinces , viz .: —Bristol , Gloucestershire , Leicestershire and Rutland , Somersetshire , Eastern Division South Wales , Wiltshire , Worcestershire and Monmouthshire had now combined under the

sty lo of the Western Provinces Charity Association , with the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Captain Homfray as Chairman , and Bro . William Nott P . P . G . W .

of Wilts as Secretary . The Province had now three lads being educated at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at Wood Green , and three girls at tho sister Institution at Battersea Rise , while one aged brother