North Wales.

J . Porter 755 2569 - . - - - Director of Ceremonies J . H . Ellis 1674 - - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers . W . A . Foster 1113 - - - - Standard Bearer T . S . Adams 1477 - - - - Sword Bearer Caradoc Bowland 606 ... Assistant Secretary , - ¦ Dr . W . G . Owen 606 - - - Organist W . Fenwick 2423 - - - Pursuivant

W . J . Bradshaw 597 - - " - Assistant Pursuivant Eugene Clarke 384 - - - \ G . H . Ashley 755 - - " N . J . Preston 1583 - - - - )• Stewards H . 0 . Vincent 1849 ... D . Williams 1849 ... J W . Williams 597 - - - - Tyler .

Newtown was announced as the town for holding the next Provincial Lodge . The banquet was served at the George Hotel , under the presidency of Lord Harlech , Bro . Colonel Henry Piatt , C . B ., being the Vice-President .

Bro . James Porter acted as Director of Ceremonies , and the musical arrangements were excellently carried out under the direction of Bro . Frank Barlow , the vocalists being Messrs . Buxton , J . Jevons , and Charles James .

Hants And Isle Of Wight.

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

TPlHE annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the _ I _ Isle of Wight was held at the Southsea Esplanade Hotel Assembly Eooms , on the 15 th ult ., under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., who was

supported by representatives from all the Lodges in the Province . The annual accounts of the Provincial Grand Treasurer Bro . J . W . Gieve , J . P ., showed satisfactory progress , the current balance being £ 527 , against £ 322 last year , while the total assets amounted to , £ 1 , 742 .

Bro . Eve P . G . Treas . Eng . P . P . S . G . W . proposed , that in view of the approaching Centenary Festival of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , the sum of fifteen hundred guineas be granted from the Provincial Grand Lodge Funds to purchase a Perpetual Presentation to the Institution . This was seconded by Bro . E . Goble Prov . Grand Secretary , and supported by Bro . J . W . Gieve Prov . G . Treas .

However , the seductive language of the proposer was met with strong opposition , which was received with hearty applause ; this led to the original motion being withdrawn , and a substantive one was adopted voting a sum of 250 guineas as a contribution to the Institution .

The sum of twenty guineas was voted to the Masonic Festival in aid of the Mayor ' s Hospital Fund . A vote of sympathy and condolence was passed with the widow and family of the late Brother W . Edmonds P . Prov . Grand Eegistrar .

Bro . J . W . Gieve , J . P ., was unanimously re-elected Prov . Grand Treasurer , and the Provincial Grand Master appointed the following Brethren as his Officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . Col . J . B . Davis 1971 - - - Senior Warden Dr . E . G . Cross 928 - - - Junior Warden 3 . W . Gieve .... Treasurer Eev . F . P . Norman 1971 - - - ) r v „ , , . „ Eev . P . H . Good 1069 - - - } P Ialns A . Paris 785 .... Registrar

E . Goble 309 Secretary J . D . Morant 1069 . - - - - U . ,. James Fewings 130 - - - } eenwr Deacons W . H . Long 175 - - - - | T . _ . H . E . Hawker 2208 - - - } Junior Deacons

J . Hewitson 342 .... Superintendent of Works W . Watts 698 - - - - - Director of Ceremonies C . F . Brown 487 - - - - Deputy Dir . of Cers . F . A . Dunsford 394 - - - *) E . E . Jackman 319 - - - ( Assistant Dirs . of Cerg . G . W . S . Withers 1869 - \

F . Hazzard 903 - - - - Sword Bearer E . T . Wise 1461 - - - - ) G . Boyce 2068 - - - - \ Standard Bearers T . Cox 2016 ) H . G . Fryer 487 - - - - Organist

G . Felton Lancaster 903 - - - Assistant Secretary E . Boorman 2074 - Pursuivant J . Borrow 1958 .... Assistant Pursuivant J . Carswell 2203 - - - - \ G . Frampton 1883 .... EGANash 2153 ¦ .

. . . - - - „ W . G . Shaw 1475 . - " .. ' Rewards C . Martin 1428 .... H . E . Windsor 1776 - j J . Extell 487 Tyler .

The Provincial Grand Master afterwards presided at a banquet , which was attended by many of the Brethren who were present at the Lodge . In the evening the Brethren of the Craft , with their wives and a considerable number of their friends , attended the Masonie Festival which was held at the Town Hall in aid of the Mayor ' s Hospital Fund . There have been many pretty functions in the

Hants And Isle Of Wight.

building recently , and the Festival added another to the list . All the Brethren were in full regalia , and the hall had been neatly decorated for the occasion . From the front of the balconies hung the banners of the 42 Lodges that are comprised in the Province , and at the back of the dais set apart for the

more distinguished of the company were the banners of the Province and its Grand Master . A big bank of palms in the centre of the room looked delightfully cool , and palms had been plentifully used in the decoration of the platform . The affair was a decided success , for it was very largely attended .

The company were received by the Mayor and Mayoress ( who each wore their official chains ) and the Prov . Grand Master Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., with whom were Bros . J . E . Le Feuvre Dep . Prov . G . M ., J . W . Gieve , J . P ., Prov . G . Treas ., E . Goble Prov . G . Sec , Eichard Eve P . G . Treas . England , and others ,

Amongst the company were representatives from all the Lodges in the Province . The Duke of Connaught had promised to attend , but was prevented , so he wrote , from doing so by pressing military duties . But amongst the guests were many brethren high in the Craft . When the function was at its height

the scene was remarkably picturesque . Practically every gentleman present wore the regalia of some degree in the craft , and the mingling of this , with the pretty toilettes of the ladies ; made a very pretty picture . Probably the gathering owed some of its popularity to its free and easy nature . There was an

excellent concert , but one was not expected to sit and mutely listen to this all the evening . The corridors provided a cool retreat—it was awfully hot—and were always well patronised . Here light refreshments were served , those of a more alcoholic nature being obtainable in the Grand Jury Eoom upstairs .

But the concert always attracted a good audience , and deservedly—for it was an excellent one . The Schartau concert party , composed of Bro . Herbert Schartau ( an established favourite here ) , Miss Amy Sargent , Miss Lucie Johnstone , and Mr . John Josey , gave several very acceptable items . Dr . John Kyffin

contributed whistling solos to the programme , and the members of the Portsmouth Orchestral Society , under Mr . W . E . Churcher , gave some charming instrumental selections . Violin solos were played by Miss Ida Gibson , L . E . A . M ., and Bro . J . W . D . Pillow P . P . Grand Organist was at the organ .

The committee , which arranged the function and brought it to such a successful issue was composed of the Worshipful Masters and representative Brethren of the Lodges of the district . W . M . A . E . Gibson , M . A . ( Portsmouth ) , was the Chairman , and the Secretaries were P . A . G . S . Bro . G . Felton Lancaster ( Gosport ) and S . W . Bro . G . W . Edmonds ( Lodge of Harmony ) .

Devon.

DEVON .

rjlHE Provincial Grand Chapter is to assemble at the I Freemasons' Hall , Tiverton , on Monday next , 9 th inst ., at 3 * 15 p . m ., by order of Comp . Walter Goddard Sogers P . A . G . Sojourner of England Acting Grand Superintendent . There are . twenty-eight Eoyal Arch Chapters in the county , the one at

Tiverton being No . 1125 , formed in 1872 . The Officers will be appointed for the ensuing term and other formal business transacted . Arrangements have been made with the railway companies for Companions to travel at reduced fares on production of their Masonic clothing .

Cornwall.

CORNWALL .

r H 1 HE Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe Provincial Grand Master has I decided to hold the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge at Liskeard , under the banner of St . Martin ' s , No . 510 , but the date is not yet fixed . The last occasion when the annual meeting was held at Liskeard was on 27 th August 1889 , and previous to that in 1881 .

South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA .

A NEW Masonic temple at Mafeking was opened recently by the Officers of the District Grand Lodge . The building , which is the largest of its kind in South Africa , outside Kimberley and Cape Town , is a credit to the Fraternity in every way . A procession was formed from the old Lodge to the new temple and the public were admitted to the ceremony . There was a large

attendance , including a number of ladies , says the " Standard and Diggers News . " Bro . Blackboard , Mayor of Beaconsfield , represented the District Grand Master , and was supported by

Brethren from all parts of the Colony aud the Transvaal . The dedication ceremony having been completed Bro . Harbour , who had been chiefly instrumental in getting the tmilding erected , was installed Master .