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uecernuer IOVI . u ^ nou llfU'g CASJP & 8 80 VK & . EAST MOLESEY , HAMPTON COURT STATION ( Adjoining thn RAILWAY , anil facing the RIVER aud PALACE ) . BRO . JOHN MAYO has auipb > accommodation iu the & ew wing of this old-established and noted Riverside Hotel for Banquets for any number up to 100 . Kvery couveuience for Ladies' Gatherings . Spacious landing to river , whence Steam Launches can start . Specimens of Menus , with prices , sent ou application . Threo LntlRes meet at ' . he Castlo Hotel , and reference may be made to the respective Masters as to the catering , & c .

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B^^^^^^^^ SATURDAY , 12 TH DECEMBER 1891 .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

A SPECIAL meeting of this Prov . G . ' . Lodge was lielcl in the Assembly Booms , Esplanade Hotel , Sontbsea . Beach , ou Monday , the 7 th instant , for the purpose of presenting Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., the Trov ; Grand Master with his portrait , which had been subscribed for by the brethren of every Lodge in the Province . The

gathering was a large and important one , scarcely a Lodge throughout this extensive district being unrepresented . The Prov . Grand Master is one of the most distinguished Freemasons in tbe country , and presides in the Grand Lodge of England oftener than any other official qualified

to occupy the exalted position of Chairman of English Masons . He has * occupied ( . he position of Grand Master of Hampshire and tho Isle of Wight for twenty-one years , and it was to mark his attaining his majority iu that office that tbe brethren decided to present him with his portrait .

Tim funds were raised spontaneously , and Mr . Ouless , E . A ., tlio eminent painter , was entrusted with the commission , which be has executed to tbe entire satisfaction of the subscribers . The ceremonies of the day were of the most impressive and interesting character , and will long be

remembered by those who took part in them , while tbe gathering of Past Prov . Officers was the largest that has taken place in Hampshire and' the Isle of Wight for years past . Lodge was opened shortly before five o ' clock , and

almost immediately afterwards a fanfare of trumpets announced the arrival of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , Most Worshipful Past Grand Master of England , who was received hy a special deputation and conducted to the chair on the left of the Prov . G . M . Tho roll of

Lodges was then called , and nearly every one responded , many of the representatives coming from the most obscure and distant parts of tbe Province . Tho Prov . Grand Secretary ( Bro . Edgar Goble ) read letters apologising for non-attendance from the Earl of Radnor , the Right Hon .

Sir William Marriott , Earl Amherst , Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bro . Montague Guest , Colonel Egerton ( Comptroller to H . B . H . tbe Duke of Connaught ) , Colonel Money , & c , & o . The brethren resolved that the sum of two hundred guineas be given from the Provincial Grand Lodge funds

in aid of tho Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons on tho occasion of the celebration of its Jubilee in February next . Bro . Le Feuvre , Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Past Grand Deacon of England , then addressed the Duke

of Connaught , and asked his Royal Highness to present the Prov . G . Master with the portrait , and with an album containing au address setting forth the circnaistauous nnder which tho presentation waa made aud the names of the subscribers . He said it was with fccliusrs of the

liveliest satisfaction that ha asked Hi-i Royal Highness fco fce th « mouthpiece of upwards of 3500 Freemnsons of that Province in formally recognising the great , work which their Provincial Graud Master had performed in the interests of the Order , not only in Hampshire aud the

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

Isle of Wight , but throughout the country . Bro . Beach had endeared himself to his brethren , not merely by , his conduct as a Mason , but by his every-day life as a county gentleman and as a member of Parliament who had

enjoyed the unbroken confidence of his constituents for thirty-five years . As a Freemason , Bro . Beach had worked himself up through the various stages , succeeding the late Lord Carnarvon as Senior Warden of the Province

in 1858 , aud being installed Grand Master of the Province by that nobleman in 1869 . Under his rule Freemasonry had flourished and grown in the district beyond every anticipation . Then the Province numbered only twenty-four Lodges , whereas now there were

fortyseven , while the number of Chapters of the Royal Arch had increased in the same rieriod from 11 to 23 . As to the number of brethren , there were in 1869 only 950 on the register , whereas there were now no fewer than 8500 , and the roll was still being added to . He did not

regard the increase in the number of members as the only test of the ^ progress of the Order , because he believed id the strongest tests being applied to every person who sought admission to their ranks , lest the fundamental aims and objects of the Fraternity should be interfered with or

frustrated , but he believed that every care was taken that only good and true ni ^ n should be admitted . H . R . H : the Duke of Connaught then made the formal presentation , in a short , but felicitous speech . He felt it was perfectly unnecessary on his part to say anything to tho brethren

of the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of 'Wight as to the good qualities of Bro . Beach , who had successfully ruled oyer , the destinies of Freemasonry in this part of > the Kingdom so many years , and who had , from the ! date 6 f his initiation in 1848 , never ceased to labour for 'the good

of the Order . He ( His Royal Highness ) ,, speaking as Past Grand Master . of England , could' assure tne . brethren ; that the good qualities of Bro . Beach were not merely appreciated in that Province , but by Grand Lodge and 'by Masons'all over the country . The pbrtrait "' was'thiBn urivSiled , aniidst

much applause . Bro . Beach made a suitable acknowledgment , assuring the brethren how deeply he felt the great kindness and brotherly love which had prompted them to make the presentation , and said the proceedings of the day would never bo effaced from his memory .

After the proceedings in Lodge the brethren adjourned , to the largo dining hall , where the festival banquet in connection with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution was held , under the presidency of tho Provincial Grand Master . The usual

Masonio toasts were honoured . The proceedings wero enlivened by tho performance of a choice selection of music by a band under the direction of Mr . T . F . Wilton , and by a number of vocal pieces by the Alver Glee Union , under Mr . Pearman .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not . hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Corresp ondents . All Letters must boar the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

ARTICLE 219 . To lhe Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CURONICLK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — "Half a loaf is better than no bread , " bub I trust that tho Craft will not be Hatisfied with tha "h : ilf-10 » f " givtn them the other night by the V . W . Grand Registrar ' s motion ;

but , like Oliver Twist , will ask for " more , " and insist npon having it . A shifting , haphazard , temporising policy never did answer , and never will ; and both historically and logically I do not think tho very clear wording of tho law can be twisted to cover the extraordinary doctrines propounded the other evening .

The lotti . r from a " Past Master , " printed in tlie Freemason of the Sth inst ., written from Queensland , accentuates the pteseut unsatisfactory position of matters , aud I greatly regret , tm tbe V . W . Grand Registrar did not accept my mi < jj _ ro- »"' on , to omit , ilie words " iu Now Zealand , " that I did not follow up the suggestion by moving it as an imieudment to his motion . I am , youis fraternally , S . R . BAHKKTT , P . M . 13 ( 17 and 329 , P . Prov . U . Registrar U-jraet , Sveiahof , D . / rchetster . 7 th Dtcouibur 1831 .