Prov. Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .

ON Friday , the 2 nd inst ., tho Provincial Grand Lodge was hold at the Town Hall , Weston-Super-Mare , under the presidency of tho M . W . the Prov . G . M . the Right Hon . tho Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master of England . The apartment had been decorated for the occasion by a committee from tho receiving Lodgo ( St . Kew , 1222 ) . The Officers of the P . G . L . wore received

with duo honours at 1 * 30 , and , under tho presidency of tho D . P . G . M . ( Bro . R . C . Else ) , tho formal part of the business was proceeded with . The minutes of tho last meeting were confirmed , and the audited accounts of the Treasurer produced , the samo shewing a balance in hand

of £ 93 lis lid , as against £ 143 4 s Id at tho correspond insr date of last vear . Tho P . G . Treasurer ( Bro . C . L . F

Edwards ) explained that at first sight ifc would appear that they had lost £ 50 during tho year , whereas their ordinary receipts had exceeded their expenditure by £ 48 , as their disbursements included £ 89 5 s to tho Girls' School aud

£ 18 7 s 6 d annuity to Bro . Woodward . Tho revised bylaws were produced , the principal alteration being to the effect that every Officer of the P . G . L ., on his appointment to offico— except that of Steward—shall provide himself with , ancl retain the same as his property , a full dies

collar and apron of regulation pattern . This alteration

was suggested to save the Province the cost of a new set of office emblems , which are sadly needed . The resolution was unanimously adopted . The M . W . tho Prov . G . M . entered the Lodge room afc 2 ' 30 , accompanied by Bros .

Ffaringtou W . M ., and G . H . Perrett I . P . M . ( Officers of tbe receiving Lodge ) , preceded by tho G . S . B . and P . G . Deacons . His Lordship having apologised for being

lateowing fco tho crowded traffic on the railway—thanked tho D . P . G . M . for having proceeded with tho business . Ho then invested the following Brethren with collars of office for tho ensiling year : —>

Bro . 0 . E . Afford 1222 ... ... Soniur Warden A . Djfkeit 201 ... ... Junior Warden F . S . By . de 1296 ... ... ) f . , a F . W . Macdonald 3211 .. J ^ plains C . L . Fry Edwards ( re-elected ) ... Ticasiuvr VV . Pallor 53 ... ... Registrar J . 0 . Hunt fre . amiointed ^ ... Seurotarv

F . W . Warren 1953 ... ... S . D . A . S . Ash-croft 1296 ... ... JD . G . B . Lallan ... ... Superintendent of Works S . Spill 793 ... ... D . C . S . W . Pnscy 437 ... ... A . D . O . C . E . Pearce 261 .., ... Sword Bearer

E . Bennett 2038 ... ... - ) « . , , „ F . Wood 1199 ; Standard Bearer VV . E . Sparrow 906 ... ... Organist P . Manning 285 ... ... Purst . T . E . Wilton 211 ... ... Assist . Purst . G . II . Perrett 1222 ... ... ^

0 . Lockyer 976 J . Gill 1966 ... ... J- e , , E . P . Palmer 772 [ Stewards G . Barry 814 ... ... J A . . 1 . Salter ... ,. > „ , , C . Bidgood ... .-J * ™

The M . W . Prov . G . M . thought tho whole of the large assemblage that had gathered that day would agree with him in a resolution expressive of their dicp regret at the lamented death of Brigadier-General Adair , Past

Provincial Grand Master of Somerset , and their sympathy with tho bereaved members of his family . Tho D . P . G . M . seconded the resolution , which was unanimously carried . The P . G . M . then proposed that a similar resolution should bo recorded in the case of tho lato Bro . Sumner Toms , who had died during his year of office ns P . G . J . W .

The P . G . S . W . seconded thc resolution , which was also carried . On the proposal of the P . G . Treasurer , Bro . T . B . Ashley P . P . S . G . W . was elected as a trustee of the property of the Province in the place of the late Bro . Adair , and the

sum of £ 100 was ordered tj be drawn from deposit ancl invested in consols . Bro . S . R . Baskett 329 then proposed " That this Provincial Grand Lodge is of opinion that it is desirable to have a Benevolent Fund for local charitable

purposes for the Province of Somerset , and that the matter be referred to the Charity Organization Committee , or to a Committee specially appointed by this P . G . L . to consider the question , and report at thc next meeting ol

Provincial Grand Lodge . " Bro . Rev . J . A . Lloyd seconded tho proposal , which was spoken to by Bro . White . After pome discussion it was resolved to omit the latter part ol tho resolution , leaving it to tho P . G . M . to determine

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

whether , after consultation with tho Charity Organization Committee , it was desirable to convene a special meeting of the P . G . Lodgo . Alms were then collected , amounting to £ 7 14 s 3 ^ rd , which , on the proposal of the W . M . of St . Kew Lodge , seconded by the I . P . M ., was voted to tho

Weston-Super-Mare Hospital , and acknowledged by the P . G . S . W ., as one of the Officers of that Institution . An adjournment was subsequently made to the Grand Atlantic

Hotel , whero a large number partook of a repast , served in excellent style , under the presidency of the Right Hon . the Barl of Carnarvon , who was pleased to express hia entire approval of the arrangements made , and congratulated tho town on Mr . Drinkwater ' s extensive undertaking .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

r J'MIIS Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday , at JL Easton Lodge , tho residence of tho Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Lord Brooke , M . P . The meeting was held under the banner of the Rosslyn Lodgo , No . 1543 . The Great Eastern Railway Company , with the characteristic liberality which actuates them , had made special

arrangements , and brethren from all parts of the Province were enabled to take part in the proceedings . Special trains wero run from Bishop Stortford and Witbam , and these wore met at Dunmow Station by an ample supply of brakes , in which the brethren were

conveyed through the quaint Essex town to the country seat of tho Provincial Grand Master . The Library at Easton Lodge was set apart for the meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and an elegant Lodge-room it made . Unfortunately it was not sufficiently commodious to accommodate all the

brethren who desired to bo present , consequently admission was confined to tho members of Prov . Grand Lodge . For his other visitors Lord Brooke had thoughtfully provided entertainment in tho beautifully wooded park and

charming gardens which surround the houso , vhere the splendid band of the Northumberland Fusiliers , under Mr . W . H . Dencer , performed selections of operatic and

classical music , which wero very much enjoyed . Tho Prov . Graud Lodge was opened at half-past two o ' clock , by the Prov . Grand Master , assisted by the Prov . G rand Officers .

V . W . the Rev . O . J . Martyn D . P . G . M . Suffolk , in the absence of V . W . Bro . Philbrick , Q . C , acting as D . P . G . M .

Amongst thoso present were : — Gaorgo Harrison P . G . S . W ., John C . Qneiinell P . G . J . W ., Thomas Cochrane P . G . C , Andrew Durrant P . G . Treasurer , Tins . Balling P . G . Sec . P . A . G . D . of 0 ., J . AV . Wbitlock P . G . S . of W , A . Lacking P . G . P . P . G . D . of 0 ., E . Huberts P . G . O ., C . T . Lewis P . G . S . B ., and

A . Martin P . G . T . , J . P . Lewin , II . E . Dehane , Vero W . Taylor , Rev . F . B . Shepherd , F . J . Suell , A . Welsh , John Hutley , E . J . Acworth , G . E . Dawson , W . It . Willcocks , Thos . Humphreys , Thos . F . Barrett , Thomas Lloyd , F . It . Hales , Robert Martin , A . Gosling , G . A . Eustace . Joseph Grimes . John J . G . Turner , E . Hennemeyer , EdniunJ

Gowers , F . G . Green , Eev . E . H . Crate , W . V . Wilson , A If . F . Ginn , F . Wood , E . Sheadd , J . E . Wiseman , John Downes , H . Finn , Charh a Cobb , VV . Sowman , R . Haward Ives , Thomas P . Mills , R . G . K-dlett , George Motion , Jas . Salmon , J . E . Horn , Arthnr Moid , E . H . Inman ,

Thomas Malyn , J . Fuller , E . H . Horwood , J . E . White , H . T . S Burney , Alf . Buck , Andrew C . Durrant , W . D . Merritt , G . D . Clap ham , J . Tanner , G . U . Finch , A . G . Marshall , G . P . Gilbey , James P Brittoti , J . F . W . Bullock , John Taylor inn ., T . J . D . Crampton .

There was also a very large attendance of the Masters and Past Masters of the various Lodges in tho Province . Amongst the Visitors were : —

Bros . J . Lewis Thomas Col . S . Burney , Rev . H . A . Pickard , Robert Grey , William Lake , G . Cooper , VV . H . Perryman , W . H . Saunders , Georgo Abbot , Eev . George Nugee , Fred C . Atkinson , W . W . Morgan , & c .

Letters , regretting inability to attend , were announced as having been received from the Marquis of Hertford , Lord Algernon Lennox , Lord Henniker , Sir Francis Burdett , Sir Reginald Hanson , Sir Whittaker Ellis , Sir Georgo

Harris , Col . Shadwell Clerke ( Grand Secretary ) , & c ., & c . At an earlier stage of the day ' s proceedings the Finance Committee met to audit the Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s

accounts . After the Lodge had been formally constituted the Provincial Grand Master was saluted according to ancient form , and tho minutes of the last annual Prov . Grand Lodge were read and duly confirmed . On calling

over the roll of Lodges , representatives were present from each , and they duly answered the call . From the report read by tho Prov . Grand Secretary , it appeared that thc total number of brethren ou the roll was

1300 , an increase of 3 G as compared with last year ,