Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

The amount ot contributions from the various Lodges , and tho number of members in each for 18 S 9 presented a very satisfactory result . There was a balance of £ 93 18 s 8 d in the hands of the Prov . Grand Treasurer . The Auditors' report was then read , and it was received , adopted , and ordered to bo entered on the minutes .

The report of the Charity Committee was unanimously adopted , and directions given that it be duly recorded on the minutes . With regard to the Provincial Calendar , a

motion was made tbat its publication be continued . On the suggestion of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro Dehane proposed , and Bro . Dr . Lennox Brown seconded a proposition , that the names of brethren sending in votes to

the Charity Committee be published . The Prov . Grand Master then addressed the brethren . After giving them a

very cordial welcome to Easton Lodge , Lord Brooke expressed the hope that by the arrangements which had been made , the inconvenience of holding the meeting thero had been minimised . He felt that a very great honour had been conferred upon him by the holding of Prov . Grand

Lodge under his roof , and he thanked the brethren for attending in such large numbers . He took the opportunity to acknowledge the cordial support they had given him on that as well as on many previous occasions . With regard to the state of Freemasonry in the Province , he thought they had every reason for congratulation . When he waa

appointed to rule over the Province the number of members was 866 . Since then several new Lodges had been con secrated , and at the present moment there were 1 , 300 members in the Province . Referring to the recent consecration of the Lennox Brown Lodge , his Lordship predicted for it a most successful career . The brother after

whom the Lodge was named , and whom he was glad to see amongst them that day , had taken the greatest interest in everything connected with Freemasonry . He was glad to seo that the financial position of the Province had improved , and that , notwithstanding the agricultural depression which so seriously affected the district , the contributions to the

Masonia Charities showed an increase on previous years . £ 291 had been sent up to tho Masonic Benevolent Institution , towards which Bro . Lennox-Browne contributed the magnificent sum of £ 234 . £ 23 had been sent up to tho Girls' School , and £ 331 to the Boys ' , making a total of £ 645 ; this he thought was a very satisfactory amount for

a not very rich Province . The Prov . Grand Master thon announced that Bro . Philbrick , Q . O ., had consented to act as his Deputy Prov . Grand Master for the ensuing year . The next business was the election of a Provincial Grand

Treasurer . Bro . Vero W . Taylor proposed there-election of Bro . Andrew Durrant . He knew there Avas a feolinothat there should be a change , but he did not share that feeling ; and he thought it better to retain the services of

so good an officer as Bro . Durrant had proved himself to be . Bro . G . T . Clapham seconded . Bro . J . J . C . Turner nominated Bro . Sadler , W . M . of St . Peter ' s Lodge , Maldon . He endorsed everything that had been said in favour of Bro . Andrew Durrant , but it was impossible to confer upon him

any greater honour than he already possessed , and it wonld not detract from that honour if another brother were elected to the office Bro . Durrant had filled with so much

credit for so many years . Bro . Sadler was the present Mayor of Maldon , and every way a most suitable brother for the position of Prov . Grand Treasurer . Bro . F . R . Hales seconded the nomination of Bro . Sadler . Bro . Salmon nominated Bro . Acworth , who was a P . M . of three

Lodges , was Treasurer of his mother Lodge , and Past Treasurer of the Epping Lodge . Bro . John Glass seconded the nomination of Bro . Acworth . Scrutineers were then nominated to examine the voting papers , and later on Bro .

Sadler was declared duly elected . The following shows the result of the voting : —Bro . Sadler 77 , Bro . Acworth 01 , and Bro . Andrew Durrant 39 . The following brethren were then invested with the collars of their respective

offices : — Bro . Dr . Lennox Browne 2256 ... Senior Warden E . H . Baily 200 b' ... ,., Junior Warden Rev . W . Quennell 214 ... Chaplain Joseph Sadler 1024 ... ... Treasurer A . J . H . Ward 650 ... ... Registrar Thos . J . Railing P . G . A . D . C . ... Secretary J . Van Essen 2005 ... ... S . D .

Frank Sackett 1343 ... ... J . D . Geo . Copus 1312 ... ... Superintendent of Works A . Lucking P . G . P . ... ... D . C . W . Burroughs 1137 ... ... A . D C . G . J . Westfield 2184 ,.. „ , Swotf B BMW

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

£ "S ? G ::: . --ja- ***™ . Egbert Roberts 917 ... ... Organist Arthur Barri tt 1024 ... ... Assist . Sec . John Ayling 160 ... ... Pnrst .

Wm . Strntt 2077 ... ... Assist . Purst . A . W . Martin ... ... Tyler J . G . Renshaw 697 ... ... \ W . H . Heagerty 1343 R . C . Lyle 1543 ... ... I „ . , D . Milbank 1543 ^ Stewards

J . M . Welch 1543 ... C . Birtl 543 After the new Provincial Grand Officers had been saluted , Bro . Bailey was unanimously elected a member of the

Charity Committee , m the place of Bro . Le * win who retired by rotation ; and , on the proposition of the Prov . Grand Master , the remuneration of the Prov . Grand Secretary was increased from ten guineas to 20 guineas

per annum , an additional honorarium of 10 guineas being granted to Bro . Railing for his services during the past year . On the proposition of Bro . Salmon , seconded by Bro . Corbell , and supported by Bro . Sadler , it was resolved that a jewel be presented to Bro . Durrant , and that tho

thanks of the Prov . Grand Lodge be recorded on the minutes for his past services as Prov . Grand Treasurer : In response Bro . Durrant said , that during the ten years he had filled the office of Treasurer ho had endeavoured to discharge the duties to the best of his ability , and

if in the future he could give any assistance to the newly-elected Treasurer he should be only too pleased to do so . On the proposition of Bro . Sadler , the sum of 10 guineas was voted to the Bovs' Schooland 10 guineas — — -.. . . _ _ ^ . _ f 0

, o - to the Girls' School , from Prov . G . Lodge Funds ; 10 guineas was voted to the R . M . Benevolent Institution , from the Charity Fund of the Province . On tho proposition of Bro . Snell , 10 guineas was also voted to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution , the votes to be vested in the Master of the Rosslyn Lodge for the time

being . The Prov . Grand Master announced that he intended to hold the next Provincial Grand Lodge at Walton-on-the-Naze . A vote of thanks was accorded to the Great Eastern Railway Company , for tho facilities afforded to tbe brethren attending the meeting , and on the

proposition of Bro . Merritt , seconded by Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , a similar compliment was accorded tho Prov . Grand Master for the hospitable manner in which he had received the Provincial Grand Lodge . The Prov . Grand Master briefly responded , and then Lodge , was closed .

The Banquet was served in one of Messrs . Rands and Jeokell s largo marquees , erected in the park . The interior was lined with broad strips of Masonic blue and white , and presented quite an imposing appearance . The Pro- ? -. Grand Master presided , and over 300 brethren were present . The dinner was admirably seived by Messrs .

Wright and Son , of Colchester . The Provincial Grand Master pi oposed the Queen and the Grand Master , and referred in felicifc HIS terms to the recent marriage of the Princess Louise of Wales . He said he shonld bo very sorry to say anything disparaging of any foreigner , bnt he was sure it was a matter of satisfaction to eveiy

Englishman that Her Royal Highness had become affianced and married to one of their own flesh and blood . Lord Brooke next gavo the Grand Officers , and coupled with it the toast and name of tho Itev . C . J . Martyn , who responded in a characteristically happy speech , in which he stated that a good many years ago he had the

hononr to consecrate the Rosslyn Lodge afc Dunmow , and he was proud and happy to see the progress it had made . Before sitting down he propose . ! tho toast of the evening , the health of Lord Brooke , the lit . Wor . Prov . Grand Master , " a toast which -was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm . Lord Brooke , in response , said he was happy

to think thafc the day had passed off without a single note of discord . With regard to the election of Treasurer , he thought ifc was perfectly right that the office should be open to election , and he felt sure that Bro . Durrant , who ha 1 filled the office for somo time , with pleasure to himself and with great benefit to the Province , would be glad

to seo the honon" conferred upon such a worthy Mason as Bro . Sadler . After a brief reference to the manne ^ in which the Province had supported the Masonic Chailties duiJug the past year , h ' t Lordship alluded to the growth of Masonry abroad , nnd referred to the hospitable receptions which he had met with from brethren iu

India end Egypt , aid in conclusion again thanked fcho brethren for thc hononr they had done him by meeting in Provincial Grand Lodgo under his roof . His Lordship next proposed the Provincial Grand Officers , for whom Bro . Lennox-Brown responded . The toast of the Visitors , proposed by tbo P . G . M ., was acknowledged by Bro . Pickard ,

and for tho W . M . s of tho Lodges in the Province , also proposed from the chair , Brother Clapham W . M . of the Rosslyn Ledge , responded . The other toasts wore the Prov . Grand Secretary Bro . Railing , and I ' rov . Grand Dir . of Cera . Bro . Lucking , both of whom responded . After the banquet the gardens were beautifully illuminated with

variegated lights aud Chinese lanterns , aud a short concert , which was graced with the presence of Lady Brooke , was given in front of the house by talented and well-known artistes . The musical arrangements wero under the direction of Mr . Chas . Clark . Mr . N . Hewlett waa the accompanist , A ( j duak thwQ TCP ft display g £ fireworks ,