Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

C . Floyd I . P . M . 1817 ... ... Prov . G . Assist . Pursuivant T . S . Sarel ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler R . Hnward Ives W . M . 51 ... " 1

John Bntley W . M . 1024 W . Strutt 1977 ... ... [ -Prov . G . Stewards S . H . Ellis 1977 A . Durrant jun . 276 ... ... J

The several notices of motion as set ont in the agenda paper were then considered . The first , which stood in the name of Bro . Andrew Durrant , P . G . Treasurer , was as follows : —

" That , in accordance with Rule 164 , New Book of Constitnttons , By-Law VIII . be amended by the addition of the following fees : — For Registering a new Lodge , £ 2 2-t ; for Registering By-Laws , 5 s ; for Registering Amendments of By-Laws , 5 s . " In speaking to this motion , Bro . Durrant stated he was

sure no body of gentlemen , who had it in contemplation to establish a new Lodge , would object to pay these fees ; he bad , therefore , no hesitation in putting it forward . The motion was seconded and agreed to nem con . Bro . J . C . Turner , P . M . 51 ,

proposed" That for tbe better custody of the Books and Documents belonging to the Provincial Grand Lodge , the Provincial Grand Secretary be provided with a Fire . proof Safe at a cost not exceeding ten guineas . "

This was also agreed to . A proposition by Brother A . Lucking" That the Collars and Jewels for the Provincial Grand Standard Bearers be provided out of the funds of the Province "—

Elicited considerable discussion ; it was urged that some of the Lodges would perhaps like to contribute these articles ; in fact , would prefer to do so . Brother Glass moved as an amendment to the proposition that the question should stand over for consideration at the next

Provincial Grand Lodge , and this amendment was carried . The discussion , however , had this practical result ; later on in the evening it was announced that Bro . Philbrick would present Provincial Grand Lodge with a suitable sword ,

Bros . Herbage and Clever undertook to supply the necessary banners , and tbe Provincial Grand Master promised to provide the collars . Brother James Godwin W . M . 1343

proposed" That this Grand Lodge approves of the Calendar compiled by Bros . E . Shedd and H . Debane , and recommends that , tbe samn shall be distributed throughout the Province under the sanction and by the order of this Provincial Graud Lodge . " Some amount of time was spent in considering this

question , but in the end the publication of the Calendar was authorised by Provincial Grand Lodge , Bro . Godwin kindly guaranteeing to make good any financial deficiency that might accrue . Amongst other matters , it was agreed that a sum of money , not exceeding £ 1-3 , be voted out of

the funds towards the expenses of the day ; a vote of thanks was recorded to the Maldon Lodges for the entertainment tbey had provided ; and a similar compliment was paid to the Great Eastern Railway Company for the

facilities tbey had offered to the brethren to attend the meeting . Bro . the Rev . E . R . Horwood , P . M . 1024 , replied for tbe brethren of Maldon , and shortly afterwards Provincial Grand Lodge was closed .

The banquet was served at tbe Blue Boar Hotel , and the after proceedings were of a truly harmonious character . Lord Brooke presided . Bro . Edmund Gowers superintended the musical arrangements , and was ably supported by Bros . A . S . B . Sparling , J . J . C . Turner , and G . T . Smith .

The Prov . G . M ., speaking to the toast of the Pro Grand Master , the Depnty Grand Master , and the Grand Officers present and past , said that with regard to the late Duke of Albany , whose memory was still green among them , his Royal Highness considered that , ono of his most pleasant Masonic est eriences was connected with them in the

town of Colchester , and his lordship felt snre they would always look with interest to the doings of those who were dear to him—tbe Duchess and his children . Bro . Joshna Nunn , President of the Board of Benevolence , responded , aud paid a tribute to the part Bro . Philbrick had taken in the revision of the Bonk of Constitutions . The

Depnty Prov . Grand Master said he rose to propose the toast of the evening , the health of the Prov . Gr . ind Master Lord Brooke . As Essex men , they were proud of their Prov . Grand Master , and th-ir Prov . Grand Master had told them , in no unmeasured terms , how proud he felt of the Province when the Secretary of the Girls' School

announced that , the contributions from Essex exceeded those of any other Province in England . Long might . Lord Brooke be spared to preside over them ; long might the Province be prosperous , nnitiig ,

aud increasing , and long might Lord Brooke find them in that stite to which the Province had now attained . The Prov . Grand Mistnr , on rising to respond , was received with applanse . H ¦ thanked the brethren seat heartily for their kind and warm reception ; and iu

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

paying a tribute to his predecessor tbe late Lord Tenterden he said he felt he could only in a very distant measure tread iu bis footsteps ; but if he could not make ao deep a mark in the Masonio history of Essex as Lord Tenderden made , he trusted they would bear with him as far as they could , and support him as heartily aa they bad hitherto donn . The Prov . Grand Master nest submitted the Provin .

cial Grand Officers , and in doing so he referred to tbe discussion which had taken place in Lodge as to providing new regalia , & o . The Depnty Provincial Grand Master , replying , said hia Lordshi p had struck the key-note when he said that , glad though they were of an accession to their numbers , quality was what they wanted . They were strong enough and respected enough to say that tbey could not afford to have a candidate brought forward unless " the

tongne of good report " was heard in his favour , Bro . R . Clowes , iu a neat speech , proposed the Visitors . Bro . Binckes , the Secretary of the Boys' School ; Bro . Traov , the Secretary of the Province of Suffolk , who expressed his earnest wishes for the prosperity of the Province nf Essex ; and Bro . Thompson responded to the toast . The Prov . Grand Master then proposed the Worshipful Masters of Lodges in the Province , coupled with the name of Bro . Glass , W . M . of tho Chigwell Lodge , No . 453 , who responded .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — VISIT OP THE GRAND LODGE OP ENGLAND TO EXETER .

THE annual moveable Grand Mark Lodge of England was held at the Royal Public Rooms , Exeter , on 7 th instant , when the Grand Lodge paid th ^ ir first visit to Devonshire . This county holds the proud position of being tbe senior Province of Mark Masonry in England , but no aotive steps were taken by the Provincial Lodge to invite the Grand Lodge to hold a meeting in Devonshire until recently . At the Torquay meeting of the Provincial Lodge last year

the representatives of St . George's Lodge , Exeter , suggested that suoh an invitation should be given , and it met with general approval . In April last the proposition was formally adopted at the Provincial Lodge , afc Newton Abbot , and the newly . installed Grand Master , the Earl of Kintore , readily accepted the invitation to pay a visit to Exeter . The general arrangements have been made by a Committee

of Officers from tbe Provincial Grand Lodge and St . George ' s Lodge , who were presided over by the P . G . Master of Devon Colonel Tanner . Davy . The Royal Public Rooms were selected for the meeting , and the decorations were carried out by a Sub-Committee comprising Bros . E . T . Fulford , J . Algar , and H . Stocker . The large hall was transformed into a handsome Lodge-room , and was decorated with

banners of various Lodges in the Province , Knight Templar shields , and a collection of plants lent for the occasion by Messrs . Lncombe , Pince , and Co . The banquet at the Rougemont Hotel in the even , ing was arranged by a Committee consisting of Bros . W . F . Quioke , 0 . Bodley , and J . Algar , the general supervision of the whole arrangements for the day being placed in the hands of Bro .

G . P . Gratwicke , Provincial Grand Secretary . A Provincial Grand Lodge was held previously to the meeting of Grand Lodge , and brethren attending both Lodges were invited by the Dean and Chapter to look over the Cathedral . At noon a large nnmber of visitors met at the west door , and were courteously conducted over the grand old edifice by the Rev . H . E . Reynolds , Librarian of the

Cathedral , who spared no pains to thoroughly explain everything that was to be seen , and to make the visit as interesting as possible . The picturesque grounds of Rougemont Castle were also thrown open by Mrs . Gard for the inspection of the brethren , and many availed themselves of thi « privilege , and also took the opportunity of looking over the Albert Memorial Museum , the Guildhall , aod some of the

ancient houses in High-street . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at three o ' clock . Colonel Tanner . Davy P . G . M . presided , aud the other Officers present were : —Bros . Walter G . Rogers P . P . G . S . W . as D . G . M ., W . Vicary Senior Grand Warden , A . Latimer Junior Grand Warden , J . Lane G . M . O ., G . M . P > urden Teignmouth G . S . O ., W . H . R . Sanders G J . O ., E . Ilbert Cross , M . A ., Grand

Chaplain , G . F . Gratwicke Grand Secretary , W . H . Cnwse Grand As-ustanfc Secretary , H . Stocker as G ^ S D ., G . 0 . Searle G . J . D ., J . Wills Grand Superintendent Works , A . Bodley P . P . G J 0 . as G . D C , G . Huxham A D . C , A . Tout Grand Sword Bearer , L E . Beamo Graud Organist , J . Haywood Grand Pursuivant , H . Rogers Grand Steward , and Ja'nes Gidley P . G . Tyler .

The P . G . Secretary ( Bro . Gratwicke ) announced that the addresses of condolence ou tho death of H . R . H . tho Duke of Albany , K . G ., passed at the P . G . Lodge at Newton Abbot , had been acknowledged both by Her Majesty the Qneeu and H . R . H the Duchess of Albany . The letter from the Home Secretary ( Sir W . V . Harcourt ) was addressed to himself , in the following terms : —

" Sir , I have had the honour to lay before the Queen tha loyal and dutiful address of the members of the Society of Mark Master Masons resident in the County of Devon , on the occasion of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Leopold , the Duke of A bany , K . G-. and I have the satisfaction to inform yon that Her Majesty was p leased to receive the address very graciously . "

On the motion of the Prov . G . Master , seconded by fro . Rogers , an i snpported by tho Revs . Bros . Whiitley ar . d I . Crosse , it was unanimously resolved that the P . G . M . M . Officers and members of tho P . G . Lodge of Devonshire desire to express their gratitude to the M . W . the Grand Mark Master for the readiness with which he has

kiudly accepted the invitation to honour this , the senior Pnmn ce by holding his first moveable Grand Lodge in Devonshire , and ia tha ever faithful citv of Exeter , whose Masonic records are of such antiquity . The " Rov . T . Russell moved , and Bro . E . T . ¦ Fulford seconded , a hearty vote of thanks to the Dean and Chapter for per *