The Masonic Province Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

THE MASONIC PROVINCE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

IN many ways the town of Leicester might be held up as a pattern worthy of imitation , from a Masonio point of view , by others , for although there may be some which equal it in the thoroughness of their Masonic arrangements , there are few which excel , or which enter more

heartily into the true spirit of Freemasonry than does this busy Midland town . For several years past it has had in its midst men who have made a name for themselves , not only in the immediate neighbourhood , but wherever English Masonrv is practised , and while thev have devoted

themselves to subjects of general interest they have not forgotten the district nearer home . The result is that Leicester now enjoys many Masonic comforts which other

towns of equal size have not yet even dreamed of , while it is far in advance of others which might be expected to do more than it is capable of . "With such a town in its midst , the Masonic district of Leicestershire may be expected to make a good show among its neighbours , and a brief perusal of the details given in the Calendar and Directory of the

Province for the current year will , we think , prove it quite capable of holding its own . In Craft Masonry the Proviuce has at its head the Et . Hon . the Earl Ferrers , who is supported by Bro . Wm . Kellv . F . S . A .. F . R . Hist . Soo .. Paat Prnv . G . M .: Brn . _

j , — , — j — . - 7 Samuel S . Partridge D . P . G . M ., and the usual array of Provincial Grand Officers . There are twelve Lodges under the rule of his Lordship , with a total membership ( as given by this year's Calendar ) of 506 , made up as follows : —

No . Lodge Meeting at Membera 279 St , John Leicester 86 50 * Knights of Malta Hinckley 21 523 John of Gaunt Leicester 82 779 Ferrers and Ivanhoe Ashby . de-la-Zoach 32 1007 Howe and Charnwood Loughborough 46

1130 Rutland Melton Mowbray 19 1265 Vale of Catmos Oakham 19 1330 St . Peter Market Harborongh 25 1391 Commercial Leicester 73 1560 Albert Edward Leicester 42 2028 Granite Narborough 31 2081 Golden Fleece Leicester 30

* No . 50 having been transferred from Cheshire in 1803 , ranks after No . 279 . It will be seen from the above that Leicester has five Lodges ( all of which meet at the Freemasons' Hall , Halfordstreet ) , with a joint membership of 313 , thus proving the

truth of our remarks as to the popularity of Freemasonry in the county town . There is a regular Lodge of Instruction , attached to the Granite Lodge , which meets monthly at the Narborough Hotel , Narborough , on the second

Thursday after the regular meeting of the mother Lodge , at seven p . m ., while the five Leicester Lodges have given joint sanction for " the Union Lodge of Instruction , " meetings of which are held at the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on the second Friday in each month , September to April inclusive , at 7 ' 30 p . m . Special attention is

directed by the compiler of the Provincial Calendar ( Bro . S . S . Partridge ) to the usefulness of the Union Lodge of Instruction , which is held under the superindence of Preceptors , one being appointed by each of the local Lodges . The ceremonies , lectures , charges , sections , & c ., of the three degrees are worked from time to time , and valuable instruction afforded to those who are enabled

The Masonic Province Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

to avail themselves of it , while any who are desirous of taking part in the work are invited to communicate with the Secretary of the Lodge . In this Lodge of Instruction we have an arrangement which might well be adopted in other Provincial towns , where , as a rule , the Lodges are hardly strong enough to maintain independent schools of Masonrv .

The Grand Chapter of the Province is under the rule of Comp . W . Kelly , the Past Provincial Grand Master referred to above . He has five Chapters under his guidance , but no particulars are given as to the number of Companions subscribing to each . The Chapters are aa follow : —

No . Chapter Meeting at 279 Fortitude Leicester 779 St . Augustine Ashby-de-la-Zouoh 1007 Charnwood Loughborough 1130 De Mowbray Melton Mowbray 1560 St . George Leicester

The district is included in the Mark Grand Lodge of Leicestershire , Northamptonshire , and Derbyshire , which , is also under the Provincial Grand Mastership of Bro . Wm . Kelly , and furnishes four of the nine Lodges embraced in the Province , namely ,

No . Lodge Meeting at 19 Fowke Leicester ( Melton Mowbray , Market Ear-21 Howe < borough and Oakham alter . ( , nately . 30 Knight of Malta Hinckley 194 Simon de Montforfc Leicester

To the first named of these is attached the William Kelly Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners , which meets three times a year . In the higher grades , Leicestershire is well represented , the several degrees being worked from time to time in Leicester .

The Freemasons' Hall , to which we have previously alluded , is under the direction of a committee , consisting of the chief Provincial Officers , together with representa tives of Prov . Grand Lodge and the several Masonio bodies accommodated at the Hall . There is also a library

committee , which is presided over by Bro . Kelly , while as regards working officials , it is only necessary to pay a visit to the hall to know that every detail is attended to . The Charitv work of the Prnvinfifl is nnrlor f . TiA tVivani . irm

oi a committee , formed of the heads of the district , representatives of the several Lodges , brethren who have acted as Stewards for the Institutions , and others . The work performed by this committee is of the usual description , and is doubtless fully appreciated by those who , from

necessity , are compelled to appeal to their brother Masons . In addition to this , there is a Provincial Charity Association , which is under influential patronage , and the object of which is to increase the number of Life Subscribers to the three Royal Masonic Charities . An annual subscription

of one guinea * or upwards constitutes membership , the whole of the subscriptions being handed to the Institutions . A ballot is taken half yearly for priority of nomination , but any brother subscribing for five years becomes

entitled to a nomination without ballot . Thirty-two Life subscriberships ( representing , of course , one hundred and sixty guineas ) were drawn last year , so that some really good , substantial work is being done by this Association . The Calendar from which we have gathered the above particulars also contains a list of Lodges in adjoining Provinces ( Derbyshire , Nottinghamshire , Northampton-