Checking Extension.

bond with each other , but as is here shown , and as is known to many Masons in London and England generally , the authorities are not all of the same opinion . We are pleased to think the policy of restriction is less

popular in our midst at the present time than it was a few years back , and we are prepared to argue that the Craft is none the worse as a consequence . There used to be very much said ahout the desire for office being the prime factor in inducing Brethren

to start new Lodges , but even if that was a leading cause which led to the petition it was only the natural outcome of the teachings of Freemasonry , which early instruct a Brother that it

ia the hope of reward that sweetens labour . We are , however , inclined to think this is by no means the chief cause of the desire to start new Lodges . Brethren find their own Lodges crowded and so numerous as to rob them of much that we hold best in

Freemasonry , and as they have friends wishing to join the Craft what more natural than they should seek for power to receive them in a new Lodge , amid all the surroundings they consider best and most desirable ? There is also the desire of Brethren in

new neighbourhoods to form a Lodge among themselves to be considered , and taking one thing with another we think it is far better to err on the side of having too many Lodges , than to run

the risk of checking the ardour of a number of Brethren by seeking to place restrictions on what should be regarded as the natural growth oi Freemasonry .

Devonshire.

DEVONSHIRE .

LORD EBRINGTON Provincial Grand Master held his Grand Lodge on Wednesday , 31 st ult ., at Barnstaple , under the banner of Loyal Lodge , No . 251 , which gave a hearty welcome to those attending the meeting . There were nearly 300 Brethren present .

The Lodge was held in the new Parish Room , which had been prepared and decorated for the occasion . The Provincial Grand Master occupied the throne , and those present included the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , Bart ., C . B ., M . P ., P . M . 2347 , & c .

The Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . G . C . Davie P . A . G . D . of England presented a satisfactory report , the returns having been supplied in proper time and form . On the motion of Bros . Davie and Brewer it was adopted . It was resolved that in future the reports should be printed in time to be in the hands of the Brethren attending the Provincial Grand Lodge .

Lord Ebrington remarked that he thought the reports could be printed in forty-eight hours if the same expedition was used as they had seen recently could be done in printing work . Bro . W . Allsford P . M . Treas . presented the Treasurer ' s

accounts , which showed a balance in hand at the commencement of the year of £ 255 10 s 7 d , which brought the total receipts for the year up to £ 662 7 s Id . The expenditure had been £ 400 16 s Id , leaving a balance in hand of £ 261 12 s 4 d . The Treasurer ' s report was adopted .

The report of the Fortescue Annuity Fund was read by Bro . 0 . E . M . Clapp 112 , who , it was stated , had been elected Secretary in the place of Bro . F . Pollard . During the past year

two additional annuitants had been elected to the fund , and £ 136 16 s lOd had been placed on deposit , leaving a balance with the Treasurer of £ 37 10 s Id , as against £ 40 8 s 2 d last year . One election would be held in October for an additional annuitant .

Brother J . Stocker thought the fund would allow an additional annuitant to be placed on it . Bro . Shorto said this had already been anticipated , and would be done . Bro . J . Gover presented the report of the Committee of Petitions . During the year the Committee had been successful in paying all the votes they

were indebted to other Provinces . Now , for the first time for many years , they were not only clear , but had a balance to go forward , which would enable them to elect at the next election one of the aged Brethren who had that day been adopted . At

the same time , the Committee wished to remind the Lodges that , as a Province , they were receiving amounts from the great charities very much in excess of the subscriptions . Various grants had been made . The report was adopted .

On the motion of Bro . S . Jones seconded by Brother W . A . Eoberts , Bro . W . F . Quicke P . M . St . John ' s , 39 , Exeter , was elected as P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year . Brother Quicke

replied . On the motion of Bro . J . Brewer , seconded by Bro . J . E . Lord , Brother E . T . Fulford and J . Stocker ( Exeter ) were appointed Auditors . Bro . Whiteley was nominated for election

Devonshire.

on the Board of Management for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Lord Ebrington expressed his regret that he should not have to appoint Bro . Rogers as D . P . G . M ., as he had expressed a wish to retire . He had served him faithfully for sixteen years , and

served his predecessor for a great number of years as P . G . Sec . He felt sure they would all join in the hope that the Province would not be deprived of his services and wise counsel . Thev

would , however , have as his successor Bro . G . 0 . Davie , who was recently signalled out for high honours by the Grand Lod « e of England . With so distinguished a Brother the Province would be well served .

On the motion of Bro . J . Stocker , seconded by Bro . Brewer it was resolved to record the great services Brother Rogers had rendered , and the deep obligation the Craft owed to him . Bro

Rogers replied , remarking that it was at Barnstaple , in 1864 , he was first appointed to the office of Secretary . Any services he could render to the Lodge would be readily given . The Provincial Grand Master then invested the following as

his Assistant Officers for the year : Bro . Major G . C . Davio P . A . G . D . C . Eng . 251 - Deputy Hon . Sir S . H . Northcote , O . B ., M . P ., 112 Senior Warden Capt . Quin , E . N ., 954 - - - Junior Warden Rev . E . C . Atherton 328 - - - ) m . I Rev . Prebendary Smith 1332 - - J ^ P lalns W . F . Quicke 39 - - - - Treasurer W . A . Roberts 251 - - - - Registrar John Brewer 251 .... Secretary

G . Hawkon 189 - - - - | c . -p . E . W . Locke 444 .... j Senior Deacons J . J . O . Evans 303 - - - - ) T . T . H . R . Grover 1135 - - - - f Junior Deacons G . Hooper 1486 .... Superintendent of Works J . R . Lord 1247 - Director of Ceremonies J . Cole 710 - - - - - Deputy Dir . of Cera . J . W . Atherton 248 - - - " ) ±

< J . -onara « au - - - - > Assistant uirs . of Ciers . H . J . Barter 1247 - - - - ) R . Carter 1202 .... Sword Bearer F . Orchard 230 - - - ) „ . , , „ W . Edwards 1234 - - - . } Standard Bear <* s J . T . Gardner 1135 - , - - Organist Robert Harper 251 - - - - Assistant Secretary H . W . Pengelly 1099 - - - Pursuivant W . Britton 372 - - - - Assistant Pursuivant A . W . Spinnev 105 - - - - \

H . Roberts 159 .... F . Kerslake 282 - - - . .. , E . Chappie 797 .... - Stewards J . Taylor 1042 .... W . Layers 1255 .... H . Shooter 112 - - - - Tyler . On the motion of Bro . Morse , a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Lodge 251 for the reception they had given the Provincial Lodge . The splendid organ used during the proceedings was

kindly lent by Messrs . J . O . Nicklin , of The Square , Barnstaple . The annual banquet was held at 5 p . m . at the Royal and Fortescue Hotel . There was a large gathering of Brethren . Mrs . Jones , the proprietress , catered in a praiseworthy manner . — " Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette . "

The Committee of Petitions met at mid-day , Brother W . Goddard Rogers P . G . D . England D . P . G . M . presiding . £ 10 was granted to a member of 156 , £ 15 to the widow of a member of 1091 , £ 10 to the widow of a member of 1205 , £ 10 to the widow

of a member of 666 , £ 20 to a member of 1099 , £ 15 to a member of 1255 . An application from a member of 1212 was not entertained . There were twelve applicants for the votes of the Province for the London Charities . After a prolonged discussion a member of 251 and a member of 223 were adopted for election . The W . M . and members of 251 entertained the Committee to a sumptuous luncheon at the Assembly Rooms after business was concluded .

Norfolk.

NORFOLK .

THE annual Grand Lodge for the Province of Norfolk was held on Thursday , 1 st inst ., at the Town Hall , King ' s Lvnn .

At one o ' clock the members of the different Lodges assembled under their respective banners , and half an hour later the Provincial Grand Master Lord Suffield , K . C . B ., preceded by his Grand Officers , entered , and at once opened the Lodge in due

form . On the roll of Lodges being called , it appeared that every one was represented . _ On the motion of Bro . Hamon Le Strange D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . Wightman S . G . W ., the minutes of the meeting

held in Norwich last year were taken as read , and were aiuy confirmed . The following letter was read : —• Marlborough House , Pall Mall , S . W . Sir Francis Knollys is directed by the Prince of Wales to convey His Royal Highness' best thanks to the P . G . M . and Brethren of the Province oi