Surrey.

After luncheon the Prov . G . M . proposed the Queen and the Craft , and said they all looked up to Her Majesty with love and reverence . ± > y her embodiment of all domestic virtues , and by the high feeling of duty that had actuated her life , she had proved herself the greatest ruler this country had ever had .

In giving H . R . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M ., the Prov . G . Master referred to the great interest taken by H . R . H . in Freemasonry , tie was indebted to His Royal Highness for placing him at the head of that important Province , and also for great courtesy shown him on all occasions .

The Prov . G . Master next proposed the Grand Officers , and said that Earl Amherst Pro G . M . was a very worthy representative of H . R . H ., and an earnest Mason . He could say more of the Earl of Warwick Deputy G . Master , having been in his company the previous week as one of a deputation

to the Grand Lodge in Berlin . Beyond the Earl of Warwick ' s qualities as a Mason , he had never travelled with a more genial companion or one more sympathetic . He was pleased with the manly and delightful way in which the Deputy Grand Master made his speech in the Grand Lodge

in Germany , and in giving H . RTL ' s Royal message to those Lodges . He was quite delighted to take that opportunity of saying how much they were indebted to the Earl of Warwick for the way in which he represented English Freemasonry on that occasion . Speaking generally , the Grand Officers

would not have been promoted if H . R . H . was not certain they would perform the duties expected of them . There was one Officer of G . Lodge to whom he was indebted for a very great deal , and he would like to say how much he felt the way in which the Earl of Onslow had inducted him , and

for the courtesy and kindness shown him whenever they had met . Lord Onslow was not only popular as a Mason , and amongst his friends , and a trusted Government servant in a high position , but he was also respected as a thorough English

gentleman . He gave them with a great deal of heartiness and cordiality , and with all his heart , the toast of the Grand Officers , coupling with it the name of the Earl of Onslow P . G . W . Past Provincial Grand Master of Surrey .

The Earl of Onslow said he stood that evening to respond for those who had the duty cast upon them of carrying out the executive work of Freemasonry in this country , and right well and right conscientiously did they perform it . It was now many years since he had the honour

of holding active Office in Grand Lodge , and during that time he noticed the great care , and the great time and attention which was bestowed upon the affairs of Grand Lodge by the Grand Officers . He thanked the Brethren most sincerely on their behalf for the honour done them .

He next passed to a more personal toast which had been proposed by the Prov . G . Master , who had been good enough to couple his name , not only as a Past Grand Officer , but as his predecessor in the chair of Prov . G . M . He was glad of the opportunity afforded him of taking farewell of those who

had been conscientiously loyal and faithful to him in promoting Freemasonry in the Province of Surrey . There were none who would contest the fact that Freemasonry had made steady strides during the past five years in the county . New Lodges had been added—not too many—for those added

had been good ones . Charity had been augmented , and the Charity Committee had carried out its duties in such a manner that no Surrey candidate had ever been disappointed at the poll . Pie ventured ' to say that , he had handed over to his successor the charge of a Province which might well

satisfy the pride and ambition of any Mason to preside over . He would ask them to drink a toast , that of the Prov . G . M , who so worthily occupied the chair which he so lately filled . Col . Davis was a man well-known outside the circles of Freemasonry , and occupied a high and distinguished

position as A . D . C . to Pier Majesty the Queen , a post which carried with it , perhaps , no onerous duties , but showed at least a record of honourable services . Colonel Davis came to them as a Prov . G . M . untrammelled by those ties of duty which unfortunately prevented him from attending to

Freemasonry in the Province as he would have wished . Col . Davis had rendered good service at a trying time in the nation ' s history . There were those who had gone out to South Africa to fight the enemies of the Oueen , and all

honour to them—but there were also those who had stayed at home to undertake the duties of providing for the garrisons of these islands , and the training of the soldiers , which was no less necessary for the protection of the country .

Surrey.

Pie regretted Col . Davis ' s health had recently not been all he could wish , but all sincerely hoped it would improve . The Prov . G . Sec . was suffering from a similar complaint , but as he had had a long experience of Masonic entertainments , and the Prov . G . M . was just commencing , there was no

analogy to be drawn between the two . As he had often said when Governor of a Colony , where he was the recipient of the greatest hospitality and kindness , it was an extremely difficult thing to be an unpopular Governor , and he ventured to say it was an equally difficult thing to be an unpopular

Provincial Grand Master . With the good feeling existing amongst Surrey Masons it wpuld be an impossible task for Col . Davis even to try to be unpopular . He asked the Brethren to drink to the health and prosperity of the Prov . Grand Master of Surrey .

Bro . Col . Davis , in reply , thanked the Earl of Onslow for the very flattering and kindly way in which he had proposed the toast . His position was that of an untried man , and he could only promise the Province to try and

be as worthy a Prov . G . M . as his predecessor had proved to be . If he could in any way advance the interest of their Grand Order in the Province he promised to do his very utmost .

In submitting the next toast , that of the Deputy Prov . G . M . and Prov . G . Officers , he said he had only that day made the acquaintance of this Prov . G . Lodge , and could only therefore speak from hearsay . The Deputy had already

served some time in the position , had done very good work , and had worthily fulfilled his duties . Pie was sure from the hearty offer of assistance the Deputy had given him that he would continue his good services .

Bro . F . West P . G . D . tham < ed the Prov . G . M . for the great honour conferred upon him in asking him to continue as Deputy Prov . G . M . In Surrey they had worked upon lines to do everything possible to enhance the proud position of the Prov . G . M . They had endeavoured , not only to have the

ritual done on proper lines , but also to improve the charity organisation . The late Prov . G . Master knew the value of that organisation , which enabled the candidates to have a certain chance of election , and brought together four times a year representatives from every Lodge in Surrey , all

working for the good of the Province . That body was assisted most materially by Bro . Under-Sheriff Langton , who was well-known . He assured the new Prov . G . M . that the Province would endeavour to maintain its present high standard 'of efficiency .

On the proposition of the Prov . G . M . a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Surbiton Lodge and Dobie Chapter , for use of furniture , and especially to the former for the floral decorations .

Bros . Sheriff Vaughan Morgan and Sheriff Lawrence replied for the Visitors , which terminated the proceedings . — " Surrey Advertiser . "

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

Succession of Provincial Masters . IT has become almost a trite saying that Cheshire is as famous for its Freemasonry as for its cheese . In point of antiquity , too , Cheshire will compare favourably with any other Province , being one of the most ancient , if not the most ancient in the world , and to arrive at some conclusion

on this point it will be necessary to dip a little into historical records . It is especially interesting to know that under the Grand Lodge of England , revived in 1717 , Cheshire was , in 1725 , the first Province to derive its functions therefrom . North and South Wales came next in 1726 ; Bengal , India , in 1728 ; Shropshire , in 1731 ; Lancashire , in 1734 , & c .

The first Provincial Grand Master is noted as Col . F . Columbine , who was related to the Marbury ' s , of Meirbury , a Marbury of that ilk ^ having married Miss Columbine , a Derbyshire heiress , in 168 3 . Captain Hugh Warburton succeeded Colonel Columbine in 1727 , and for twenty-eight

years he ruled over the affairs of the Province , being succeeded by John Page , Esquire , a descendant also of an old' Cheshire family which was settled at Erdshaw and Drakelow for centuries . In 1771 , J . Hugh ¦ Smith-Barry ,

Esquire , who was an ancestor of the present owner of the Marbury estate , succeeded , and it is noteworthy that under what may be termed the old Constitutions , Sir Robert Stapleton Cotton , father of the Peninsular , hero , was the last .