Derbyshire.

DERBYSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 30 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Derby . The Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . H . C . Okeover , in the absence of the Duke of Devonshire , presided , and there was a large attendance of Brethren from all Lodges in the Province . The reports from the various Masters were read , and they

showed satisfactory progress , particularly in the support given to the various Charities . It was resolved to contribute a sum of £ 2 $ out of the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge to the county war fund , and the various Lodges were invited to make individual contributions on their own account .

The Acting Provincial Grand Master congratulated the Province on the satisfactory and gratifying position Masonry held , as shown by the reports presented and the work done during the year , and regretted that they could not congratulate themselves that the peace and harmony which was characteristic of their Masonic Lodges did not at the present

time reign throughout the world . If the great Christian principles and the great Masonic principles , which went hand in hand with them , were only carried out there would be no more wars , but he feared this time was far distant . They would always have the wicked to contend with , but it was their duty as Christians and Freemasons to do all they could

to spread peace and harmony throughout the world , quite as much as within their small circle . He hoped if he was spared another year that he would be able to congratulate them that the present time of trouble and misery had passed away and that once more peace and harmony prevailed . It would not be a bright Christmas for many of them—many a

home would be darkened—but he trusted they would put their trust and faith in the Great Architect of the Universe , believing that He would direct them aright and guide their rulers and leaders in the present crisis so that once more peace and harmony should prevail in all those lands over which the British flag flew .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then proceeded ' to appoint and invest the following as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : —

Bro . J . N . Rigby ... . Senior Warden J . O . Manton .... Junior Warden Rev . Joseph Eayrs - - - ] „ , , . Rev . J . E . Jagger .... J Chaplains W . S . Gilman .... Registrar A . Butterworth .... Treasurer

Wm . Naylor .... Secretary R . B . Wragge .... Senior Deacon Wm . Baker .... Junior Deacon P . A . Morgan .... Superintendent of Works W . S . Fisher .... Director of Ceremonies W . Bentley ..... Assistant Dir . of Cers .

G . Tandy . .... Sword Bearer Geo . Allcock - - - - - j „ , , , _ , A . W . Allen - - - - ( standard Bearers Harold Henry .... Organist Percy Wallis ... . Assistant Secretary A . E . Pine - - - - . Pursuivant

T . A . Matthews .... Assistant Pursuivant E . Coates - . . . - Burdett .. ... C E . Birch-Thorpe - - - - I _ Village . . ' . . . ^ Stewards

Cochrane .... . Lievesley - - - . . A . Slinn - . - . - Tyler . The annual banquet was subsequently held in the lower Hall .

Devonshire.

DEVONSHIRE .

THE Brethren of Devonshire will learn with considerable satisfaction that Sir H . Stafford Northcote has consented to retain his important position as head of the Province . When the announcement was made that Sir Stafford had beeri appointed Governor of Bombay it was generally feared that he would relinquish his rulership over the Brethren of

Devonshire . As a result , nearly the whole of the Lodges passed votes of congratulation and expressed in the strongest possible terms the hope that he would see his way clear to continue in

his high Masonic Offices . In response , Sir Stafford Northcote has agreed to retain his position of Provincial Grand Master , Provincial Grand Superintendent , and Provincial Grand Mark Master of Devonshire .

Sir Stafford has issued circulars to the Province , and after thanking the Brethren for their congratulations upon his appointment , notifies them of his intentions . In his message to the Craft degree he says : "It will give me the greatest pleasure to continue to hold the office with the pleasant anticipation that on my return to England I shall

Devonshire.

enjoy the privilege of resuming the happy associations with the Brethren which during the last three years have been so full of joyous memories . I am the more emboldened to adopt this course from my knowledge of the Masonic zeal and ability of the Deputy Prov . G . M . ( W . Bro . G . G . Davie ) , to whom I have now temporarily committed the government of the Province , and who possesses in so marked a degree the affection and confidence of the Brethren . "

Arch Masons are notified that during the absence in India the rule and government of the Province have been committed to the much respected Comp . G . C . Davie Prov . G . H . Devonshire Mark Masons will be temporarily ruled over by Bro . G . S . Strode Deputy Prov . Grand Master .

Sir Stafford concludes by expressing to the M . M . M . of Devonshire his grateful acknowledgment for the kindness shown him during the ten years he has presided over them .

Isle Of Man.

ISLE OF MAN .

rriHE Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Isle of Man , J _ speaking at a recent meeting of the Tynwald Lodge , at Douglas , took advantage of the large attendance of Brethren to refer to certain criticisms which had recently been ( as he considered ) unjustly indulged in by a few members of the

Craft . He showed that the present apparently apathetic condition of the Province had arisen from the fact that it had , for nearly two years , been without an official head . First came the long illness , followed by the death , of the late Provincial Grand Master Sir John Goldie-Taubman : then

the delay of the Grand Lodge of England in appointing his successor , in Lord Henniker ; and then the prolonged indisposition of that distinguished Brother , which indisposition had absolutely prevented his installation into office . "If " ( added the Deputy ) " any Brother can show me the

way to avoid illness and death , and the consequent inconvenience , that is a Brother whose intimate acquaintance , and whose good graces , I should like to seriously cultivate . " The Deputy concluded by pointing out the good work the Province had done , notwithstanding the difficulties it had

encountered . It had provided a large fund for Benevolence , out of which many deserving cases had been relieved ; and it had provided a governing body which had been instrumental in amicably adjusting many differences ; and in other ways it had proved of inestimable utility ; and he had no

doubt that , when the new Provincial Grand Master got in harness , as he hoped to do early in the new year , they might , under his gavel , fairly look for a renewal of the more vigorous working which had characterised the earlier years of the Isle of Man Provincial Grand Lodge .

Essex.

ESSEX .

THE following were appointed the Officers for the year , on the occasion of the recent meeting of this Provincial Grand Chapter , reported in our last issue : Comp . Sir Wm . Abdy , Bart ., 1024 ' - H . H . G . Giles 51 - - - - J . Thos . J . Railing 51 - . - - Scribo E . T . Garland Wrighton 453 - - - Scribe N .

A . J . Arthy 1000 ... . Registrar P . H . Bright 1024 .... Principal Sojourner Basil Stewart 2501 - - - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner James Block 2184 - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner C H . Bestow 2374 .... Sword Bearer

G . M . Long 2256 .. .. Standard Bearer A . Lucking 1000 .... Director of Ceremonies J . P . Green 276 ... Assistant Dir . of Cers . W . Hayman Cummings 2005 - . Organist James Clark 2374 .... Assistant Scribe E . A . W . Martin .... Janitor .

Cheshire Charity.

CHESHIRE CHARITY .

THE annual meeting of the Committee of Benevolence for the Province of Cheshire was held at the Crewe Arms Hotel , Crewe , on Wednesday of last week , Colonel Dean presiding . The Chairman said that forty-two of the fifty-three Lodges had agreed to assist the Committee of Benevolence in their work of relieving the needy cases , by

contributing two guineas annually to the funds . He had no doubt the other eleven Lodges would fall in with the object . At any rate , their income would be increased by nearly £ 100 a

year . The money would be applied direct to relief purposes , and enable them to bring more annuitants upon the fund . The voting power of the Province on the London Masonic Charitable Institutions was about 5 , , and this year , with