Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

CRAFT .

— : o : — PROV . GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .

THE Officers and Brethren of the Rural Philanthropic Lodge , No . 291 , had the honour , on Friday , 5 th inst ., of commemorating their Centenary , and of receiving the members of Provincial Grand Lodge . Tho occasion was an eventful one in the local annals of Freemasonry , and

there has not been so large and distinguished a gathering in Highbridge of " the brethren of the mystic tie" for many years . Justly proud of the event and of the honour of entertaining their august visitors , the members of the

Rural Philanthropic Lodge determined to give thoir brethren in the Craft a truly fraternal welcome and a reception befitting thoir Masonic dignity . The ordinary Lodge-room at the Railway Hotel being too small , tho

Town Hall was engaged , and tho ball itself was fitted np for tho Lodgo , and tho offices furnished for tbe reception of the Provincial Grand Master ancl the Provincial Grand Officers . The hall looked quite picturesque , wifch its bannerets , its throne , and its draperies .

The Worshipfnl Master , Brother R , 0 . Else , D . P . G . M . Somerset P . G . D . England , presided over the Lodge bnsiness , and the gratification of the brethren was much increased by the presence of the Provincial Grand Master , Viscount Dnngarvan , and tho Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , who were received with the customary honours . Among the Provincial Grand Officers present

were—Bros . T . Meyler S . W ., B . H . Watts J . W ., Rev . C . J . McConnell and Rev . A . W . M . Weatherly Chaplains , 0 . L . F . Edwards Treasurer , J . C . Hunt Secretary , J . T . Dansford Assistant Secretary , E . A . Crosse Director of Ceremonies , T . H . Railton Assistant Director of

Ceremonies , E . Stephens Sword Bearer , J . S . Jfaish Standard Bearer , M . H . Clark Pursuivant , R . Moody Assistant Pursuivant , W . H . Westlake Steward . The following brethren also recorded their names . —Bros . J . Burnett P . P . G . S . W . 291 , E . Bath P . P . G . D . 772 , A . B . Shaw 291 , H . Davies AV . M . 772 , J . Phillis P . M . 285 , G . P .

Davie P . M . 285 , C . Hopkins P . P . G . S . W . 379 , E . R . Hayter P . P . G . O . 976 , W . C . Leaker J . D . 772 , A . Edwards P . G . O . 437 , H . Harrold 976 P . G . S . B ., T . Parker P . P . G . P . 285 , W . Warner 285 , H . Hawkins

P . P . G . S . B . 772 , F . B . George P . P . G . Steward 416 , J . Coates W . M . 976 , E . Creed S . D . 976 , A . H . Taylor W . M . 446 , E . A . Crosse P . G . D . C . 446 , J . L . Bewsey I . P . M . 437 , H . M . Marsh 191 , W . Clarke 285 , W . Gough W . M . 2038 , A . 0 . Peskett P : M . 291 , E . King 976

J . D ., R . M . Worlock P . P . G . J . W . 1296 , T . G . Vincent P . P . G . D . C . 976 , Elliot Armstrong 291 , 1 . Tidbnry 261 , A . B . Wickenden W . M . 1750 , G . E . Alford P . P . G . S . W . 1222 , F . W . Macdonald Grand Chaplain England , J . Cooper S . D . 1222 , W . Long P . P . G . S . W . 1750 , B . 0 . Board P . P . G . S . B . 291 , T . Cox 1222 , E . J . Morris Chaplain 1222 , H . B . Ffarrington P . P . G . R . 1222 , E . Stevens 1197 , W . Adams 261 P . P . G . D . C , F . T . El worthy 261 P . M ., W . H . Westlake 261 , F . J .

Heynes 261 , H . MoGowan 135 , A . J . Spiller J . D . 1197 , H . Powell S . D . 1197 , AG . Pitt 291 , H . Hyssett 1222 , C . S . Payne 2038 I . P . M ., T . G . Smith 1197 , T . H . Railton 291 P . G . A . D . C , S . Sellick 1222 I . P . M ., T . C . Brice 297 , W . H . Pain 291 , W . H . Wooler 1222 P . P . G . S . W ., AV . E . Perrett junior 1222 P . P . G . Dir . of Ceremonies ,

F . T . Perrett 1222 , H . B . Crouch P . M . 772 , H . K . Law 1953 , J . B . Sincock I . P . M . 291 , E . A . Sandford Chaplain 291 , M . P . Betty 291 , E . White 41 and 1222 P . P . G . S . W ., W . E . Perrett P . M . 1222 , C J . Hook J . W . 329 , W . J . Davis P . M . 135 , T . Cogle 1222 , W . Stiling 291 , C . S . Leech 291 , F . W . S . Wicksteed P . P . G . J . W . 1222 , A . E . Burnett J . W . 291 , E . F . Wade 291 P . P . G . J . W ., J . Bond P . M . 101 , M . Herniman

291 , T . C . Manning P . M . 286 , W . Reece P . M . 1199 P . P . G . D . C , AV . H . Webb P . M . 1222 P . P . G . Stwd ., R . J . Dart 1222 , W . AV . Baker I . P . M . 135 , R . H . Carton 135 , J . P . Capell W . M . 1222 , AV . 0 . Thomas 1222 , J . Tyler S . W . 291 , W . Brewer Stwd . 291 , F . AV . Hesse P . M 1199 , T . Tyler W . M . 1966 , H . W . Chapman I . G . 291 , N . Wade 285 , T . G .

Coggan 772 , AV . Belcher I . G . 135 , J . Terry P . G . S . B ., J . MoLeod P . P . G . S . AV ., J . R . Stead 291 , J . H . Sharpe J . D . 291 , J . H . Davis 2390 , E . J . B . Mercer 41 P . P . Supt . Works , J . C Hodger 285 P . P . Swd . Br ., R . Hole W . M . 2390 , H . A . Fry AV . M . 53 , W . Woodward P . G . Tyler .

The Worshipful Master , Bro . R . C . Else , said the members of the Rural Philanthropic Lodge , No . 291 , were celebrating their centenary thafc day , and ifc was no donbt an honour for any Lodge to be able to attain such an age . He highly appreciated fche honour fchey had done him by

appointing bim as their Master for fche tmrd time , and he desired to thank tho Provincial Grand Master and his Officers for their presence on thafc auspicious occasion . Bro . Norris the Secretary of the Lodge had prepared a

history of the Lodge , aud ifc had been introduced b y that celebrated Masonic historian , Bro . W . J . Hughan P . G . S . D . of England , by an account of the state of Somerset Craft in 1793 , and at the present time .

Bro . T . F . Norris P . M . and Secretary then read the carefully prepared historical sketch of the Provincial Grand Lodge , showing thafc the warrant was granted in the time of George II ., the Provincial Grrnd Master then appointed , having charge of nine Provinces . Bro . J . Smith was the

first Provincial Grand Master of Somerset , his appointment dating 1796 . The late Earl of Carnarvon was appointed in 1868 , and he was succeeded on the 26 th July 1890 by Viscount Dnngarvan . Coming to tho history of the Rural Philanthropic Lodgo , Bro . Norris said its warrant was

dated 21 st January 1793 . Tho brethren first met afc fcho Highbridge Inn , Huntspill , and the first meeting was held on Sunday , 3 rd February 1793 , Bro . J . Jennings being installed as Master . The record stated tbat " the evening was spent in harmony , and the Lodgo was closed iu due

form . " The Lodge was duly constituted in 1795 , and as many as six meetings were held in a month , and two degrees worked in one evening . The bye-laws were very severe on brethren wbo absented themselves . In . 1796 it was recorded thafc one brofcher accused another of

supplanting him in bnsiness without giving him proper notice , and another entry in the minute book showed that a Lodge was held ono morning and a candidate initiated , after which an adjournment was made to the Lamb Inu , Taunton , the closing sentence informing the brethren thafc

" the day was spent in harmony and the Lodge was closed in due form . " Thero were no minutes from 1811 to 1857 , but tho working of tho Lodge between fchose dates was easily proved . In 1857 the Lodgo was removed from Huntspill to Highbridge . Bro . R . C . Else was proposed

as a candidate in March 1858 , and in July 1865 ho was installed into the chair of K . S . He was again appointed W . M . in 1877 , and for the third time he was in the chair this year . The record closed with a reference to Brother Else ' s appointments in connection with the Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge .

Bro . Norris then read the Centenary Warrant , dated 20 th January 1893 , giving the brethren of Rural Philantrophic Lodge permission to wear a jewel in commemoration of the Centenary . The Provincial Grand Master said Masonry was veiy

old in Somerset , and was more flourishing than ever . Tho history of tbe Rural Philanthropic Lodge was mosfc interesting , and he believed there was no more harmonious Lodge in existence . Ho was very pleased to be able to hand the warrant just read into the keeping of their W . M .

The W . M . Bro . R . 0 . Else acknowledged the gift , and referred fco tbe good and solid work wbich had been done under the banner of the Lodge in years gone by . The Secretary then distributed the Centenary jewels to those members of fche Lodgo who had applied for them , a hymn being sung meanwhile . Bro . J . Burnett alluded to the kindness of the

Provincial Grand Master in attending the Lodge , and proposed him as an honorary member . Bro . Wade seconded , and the proposal was carried .

Bro . Burnett also acknowledged the kindness of fche Provincial Grand Officers , and proposed that the executive Officers , Bros . 0 . L . F . Edwards Treasurer and J . C . Hunt Secretary , be also made honorary members .

This was seconded by Brother J . T . Dunsford , and carried .

Bro . Else said the history which their able and energetic Secretary had prepared , was one wbich they might be proud of , and he proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . Norris

and to Bro . Hughan . Bro . Wade seconded , and on its being carried , Bro . Else presented Bro . Norris with a combination P . M . ' s and Secretary ' s jewel .

Bro . Norris acknowledged the gift and tbe vote , and said what he had done had been a labour of love . He should bighly prize their kindness as long as he lived .

The Provincial Grand Master Lord Dungarven then took the chair , and proceeded witb the business of Provincial Grand Lodge . On the Lodge roll being called it was found that every Lodge in the Province was represented .

The Secretary , Bro . Hunt , presented the accounts , which showed that the receipts amounted to £ 331 12 s 3 d , including a balance in hand from previous year of £ 14818 s 7 d . After meeting all expenses , including several

additional items , there is now a balance in hand of £ 107 9 s 2 d . The report was considered very satisfactory , and the balance-sheet was approved . The various offices having been declared vacant the