Norfolk.

Provincial Grand Officers , entered and opened the Lodge in due form . After the Provincial Grand Master had been saluted according to ancient custom , the roll of Provincial Officers was called , and those present answered to their

names . On the Provincial Grand Secretary calling the roll of Lodges in the Province , it was found each of the eighteen Lodges was represented .

The minutes of the proceedings of the meeting held at Yarmouth last year had been printed and circulated , were taken as read , and were confirmed and signed by the Prov . Grand Master .

Before proceeding with other business Bro . Lord Suffield moved that the deep sense of regret at the loss of Bro . H . G . Barwell be placed on record . The resolution alluded to the Offices which the deceased Brother had so worthily filled , and embraced a vote of condolence with Miss Barwell and

other members of the family in their sorrow . Bro . Hamon le Strange , in seconding the proposition ( which received a unanimous and silent approval ) traced the Masonic history of Bro . Barwell , and paid a high tribute to

the zeal , energy , and ability Bro . Barwell had displayed in all the works he had undertaken , and mentioned the fact that success had attended every effort he had made to secure the election of local candidates for the three great Masonic Charitable Institutions .

The Provincial Grand Registrar read a return of the several Lodges in the Province , with the numbers of initiations , joinings , resignations , and fees paid to the Grand Lodge during the past year . Bro . B . B . Morgan Prov . G . Treasurer presented the

balance sheet , which was adopted , and the P . G . Secretary read the report of the Board of General Purposes , who recommended that several necessitous cases should be

relieved , and that ten guineas should be sent to the Royal Masonic Institution for Aged Masons and Widows of Masons . The report was adopted on the proposition of Bro . Hamon le Strange , seconded by Bro . Edmond Reeve .

Bro . Bertram Barwell , who had been appointed Secretary to the Charities Committee , read the report submitted by that body , from which it appeared that the

candidate adopted by the Province had been elected , tenth on the list , to the Girls School . Regret was expressed at the irreparable loss sustained by the death of Bros . Captain Mills , G . S . Woodwark , and H . G . Barwell .

It was further reported that from the Province of Norfolk sixteen Stewards went up to the great gathering at the Albert Hall , their lists showing a total of £ 813 13 s 6 d . There being but one nomination , Bro . A . N . Mann 1500 , he was declared elected as Provincial Grand Treasurer .

The Provincial Grand Master appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing year . Six members who had been nominated to serve on the Board of General Purposes were then elected . Bros . G . A . Fuller and J . B . Coleby were appointed Auditors .

Bro . G . Plumstead , of Doric Lodge , invited the Provincial Lodge to hold its next meeting at Wymondham , pointing out that it was twenty years since that town had been visited . Brother Churchyard , on behalf of the youngest Lodge , Baring , hoped that Cromer might be selected for next year ' s meeting .

Lord Suffield , without giving a definite decision , said he was inclined to think the former town had the greater claim . He went on to congratulate the Province on its prosperous condition , a state of affairs which was largely due to the labours of Bro . Hamon le Strange , and those who

cooperated with him . His Lordship then made the important announcement that after much consideration he had determined to resign his position as Provincial Grand Master . Speaking with much feeling , he said it was not on the ground of ill-health that he felt he ought to relinquish his office , but

rather because he thought that as he had occupied this post for twenty-eight years a change of ruler would be beneficial . He had discussed the matter with the Prince of Wales Grand Master of England , who had signified his intention of appointing the Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . Hamon le Strange to fill the vacancy .

In the afternoon the members attended service at the Cathedral .. They assembled in the Choristers ' Room , and , having been marshalled in procession , were met bv the choir

and clergy , including Canon Robinson , Canon Hervey , and Minor Canon Breffit . The Brethren formed two lines , throught which Lord Suffield passed on his way to the Corporation seat . Near Lord Suffield were seated Sir

Norfolk.

Francis Boileau , Bro . Hamon le Strange , the Rev . G . Sharley , Bro . G . W . G . Barnard , and other notabilities in local Masonic circles . The canticles , Magnificat , and Nunc Dimittis were sung to a setting by Prout . The first part of the service was

intoned by Minor Canon Breffit , and the second part by Canon Robinson . The first lesson was read by the Rev . A . J . Alpe , the newly appointed Provincial Grand Chaplain , and the second by Canon Hervey . The anthem was the unaccompanied trio , "Lift thine eyes , " from Mendelssohn ' s oratorio "Elijah . "

The sermon was preached by the Rev . L . Giffard Pollard , vicar of St . Peter Permountergate , Norwich , Provincial Grand Chaplain , who took as his text Psalm xliii ., 3 , " O send out Thy light and Thy truth : let them lead me ; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill , and to Thy tabernacles . "

He said—Provincial Grand Master and Brethren , Before I commence my sermon this afternoon . I feel sure you will agree with me that it is fitting I should make some mention of the great loss that this city and Province have sustained by the death of our Brother Henry George Barwell . None of

us would wish to have him here to-day , and for this reason , that by the Divine providence of the Great Architect of the Universe there was laid upon him a burden , heavy and hard to bear . Yet we to-day can say as we think of the one who is gone , that we have lost a Brother who was a great and

shining light of Freemasonry is this city and in this Province , one whose place it will be hard to fill , one who by his example to us who are left will spur us on to seek those things which belong to the Great Architect of Light and

Truth and Life , so that in His good time our Brother and ourselves may be raised from the valley of the shadow of death to shine with the stars for ever and ever in the great and Grand Lodge above .

Bro . Pollard then went on . to say that they were met that afternoon in that holy shrine , which was erected in days gone b y to the honour of the Great Architect of the Universe by their ancient Brethren , for a twofold purpose , first of all to return thanks for the many mercies they had received

during the past year , and secondly , to supplicate a continuance of those mercies , and that their ^ Craft might prosper in the year that-was to come . Many blessings had been poured out on Freemasonry during the past year . In every branch they might say it had progressed , not only

within their own city and Province , but also throughout the whole of the United Kingdom . They had much cause for thankfulness , and had also much need for earnest prayer , lest having had such prosperity in the past , they might forget Him by whom that prosperity had been vouchsafed .

There was much within that hallowed shrine to appeal to each Masonic heart . It was true that to anyone the beauty ofthe edifice would be supreme , but to Masons there was something more than mere beauty to be seen there , and each column , and each arch , and the vault above , all

bade them to examine and to improve their own morals and conduct . The question was often asked—What is the need of Freemasonry ? What is its principle ? and he though

one great answer to that question was that Freemasonry was the answer to that cry which went up to God from man outside the Eden , the first revealed words addressed to the Architect above , "Am I my brother ' s keeper ?"

Freemasonry enunciated the principle that each had a duty to do in this life to his Brethren—his Brethren of the Craft , and his Brethren in this world . He admitted that it was by no means easy to carry out the great principles of liberty , equality , and fraternity , by which they were animated ,

but in spite of all their difficulties and drawbacks the Great Architect looked down on them with favour . He contrasted the advantages which they enjoyed in England with the disabilities under which their Brethren in foreign lands laboured , and urged them all to go forward unflinchingly into the future .

In the evening a banquet was held at the Masonic Club , under the presidency of Lord Suffield , who was supported by a numerous company . — " Eastern Daily Press . "

Essex.

ESSEX .

rpHE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge will JL take place on Tuesday , 26 th inst ., at the Town Hall , Brentwood , at 4 o ' clock , a special feature of interest on this occasion being the formal appointment of the new Deputy Provincial Grand Master Colonel Lockwood , M . P ., in succession to His Honour Judge Philbrick , Q . C ., who has resigned after holding the office for many years past . .