Worcestershire.

Bro . Godson first began to take an interest in the Province of Worcestershire . He was one of the founders of the Sfc . Michael ' s Lodge at Tenbury , and attained to several offices in Provincial Grand Lodge , independent of being Deputy Grand Master for a period of thirteen years , and Provincial Grand Master since the

lamented death of Sir Edmund Lechrnere , Barfc ., M . P . Bro . Godson had aways been mosfc assiduous in promulgating the great principles of Masonry , aud had assisted in fche formation of two Lodges in the Province , and also one Arch Chapter . He now held the unique position of Provincial Grand Master in the Graft ,

Provincial Grand Superintendent of Eoyal Arch Masonry , Provincial Grand Mark Master , and Provincial Grand Sub Prior of the Knights Templar , and had ever shown great zeal and deep interest in Masonry . He had also been the means of securing the raising of Worcestershire to fche rank of a Province in Mark

Masonry and Knight-Templary ; and although his duties in these positions were onerous , yet he had not confined himself only fco them , for he was a Patron of the Boys Masonic Institution , a Life Governor of fche Girls Institution , and a Vice-President of the Benevolent Institution , and the interest which Bro . Godson

evinced in these Institutions also extended to Mrs . Godson and her daughter ( Mrs . d'Eyncourfc ) , who were also Vice-Patronesses of the several Institutions . The gallant Colonel stated that last year , when the British Empire was commemorating the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of the Queen—to whom Masons really looked

as fche head of their glorious Order in the person of her son , the Prince of Wales—the Brethren thought they should like fco commemorate Bro . Godson ' s admirable services to the cause of Freemasonry in the Province , and the idea of a presentation of his portrait was taken up , meeting on all hands with a most

spontaneous and hearty reception . However , there was not sufficient time to complete fche work in the Jubilee year , but the Brethren of the Province , one and all , now wished Worshipful Brother Godson and Mrs . Godson every prosperity and happiness , and hoped thafc he might be spared for many years fco rule over them .

Bro . Waldron and Bro . Green also made a few remarks in support of those uttered by fche Chairman , after which the Mayor of Kidderminster ( Bro . Grosvenor ) spoke to the presentation , remarking that nothing now remained for him but to say what a great pleasure ifc was to the Masons of Kidderminster thafc this

auspicious gathering should take place under their banner . He was sure the Kidderminster Masons were very grateful to the Province afc large for having arranged for that gathering to take place in the carpet borough . They knew that throughout the Province their Worshipful Provincial Grand Master was

universally esteemed and beloved , but he should nofc be saying too much when he said that in no quarter , whether in fche Province of Worcestershire or outside of it , were Bro . Godson ' s many exellenfc qualities both as man and Mason better appreciated than fchey were in the town which he so worthily represented in Parliament .

As the chief magistrate of the town he was also glad fco be able to stand in that room and add his humble tribute fco the remarks which had been made concerning Bro . Godson on thafc occasion . He felt sure that the portrait which the Brethren had presented to Bro . Godson was one which would be valued by the Eight

Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and his family , as a most faithful and pleasing likeness of him , and would be handed down as a memento of the universal esteem in which the original was held by his Brother Masons . Brother Godson had been connected with Masonry and the Province of Worcestershire for more than

30 years . On fche previous night he looked afc the report of the Kidderminster Infirmary to test a date , and found thafc 28 years ago was the first memory he had of Bro . Godson as a Mason . He was then a Brother of the Provincial Grand Lodge held at Kidderminster , and in the course of the evening Bro . Godson came

to him and said , " I want to do something for the Infirmary . "Will you hand this £ 10-note to the proper person ? " That was a small matter , but ifc showed that Brofcher Godson was ever ready to do what he could to promote fche great principles of

Masonry , and he was sure that nothing could give him greater pleasure than fco see thafc large and representative gathering of Masons present from the whole of the Province , to show their esteem and affection for Brother Godson , by the presentation to him of his framed portrait .

Colonel Warner Ofctley said it now fell fco his lot to ask Brother Godson to accept , on behalf of the Brethren of the Province , the book containing a list of the subscribers to the present , and also the three-quarter portrait of himself , together with fche heartfelt best wishes of all the subscribers , who hoped the gift would be pleasing to himself and the members of his

family . The Brethren of the Province also asked Bro . Godson to accept the portrait as the expression of the best wishes for his future happiness and prosperity , and they trusted he would be spared to rule over them as ably in the future as he had done in the past . When made Deputy Grand Master , Brofcher Godson left no stone unturned to do fche best he could for the Province , and to secure respect and esteem for himself , and the Brethren

Worcestershire.

now requested his acceptance of this small token of the regard they all entertained for him . Bro . Godson , on accepting fche gift , was warmly applauded by the Brethren present . He said he hardly knew where to begin to thank the subscribers . When he heard by a side wind

of the kind proposal on the part of the Brethren , he told those with whom he had the opportunity of speaking that he thought it better for them to keep their money in their own pockets , because he really could not conceive what could justify them in his eyes in paying that exceedingly handsome compliment to

him . That day he was looking back as well as he could into his past Masonic career , and although he was not initiated in this Province , yet it was in the nearest Lodge to his own native place , fche Eoyal Edward Lodge , at Leominster . He had to travel eleven miles to Lodge there and back , so that he was in

much the same position now with respect to the Kidderminster Lodge as he was in those early days , for he had now to travel ten and a half miles there and back from Droitwich , which showed thafc in all things there were strange coincidences . It was permitted to him to take part in Masonry with a former

Deputy Grand Master of the Province , Major Barber , a most worthy man and a splendid Mason in every respect , and he became one of fche Pounders of the St . Michael ' s Lodge , afc Tenbury . He had nofc been able to find out fche data which would enable him to say whether he was the second or third

Master of the Lodge , but he joined it and occupied fche Junior Warden ' s chair in the Lodge ab Worcester , and also the Senior Warden ' s chair at Leominster Lodge afc bhe time he became Worshipful Master of the St . Michael's Lodge at Tenbury . He had always had one view—unless a Brother was called upon by

stress of circumstances to aid a Brother in conducting a second chair , ifc was well that he should step aside and let those who wished for the high honour to be conferred upon them to have the opportunity . He therefore retired from one of the fcwo positions he held , and passed through the chair of Sfc . Michael ' s

Lodge . He was honoured some time afterwards in being made Provincial Grand Eegistrar , and then Grand Senior Warden , and , as had been mentioned , he subsequently became Deputy Grand Master of the Province , under one of the best and worthiest of Masons , the late Provincial Grand Master Sir Edmund

Leohmere , Barfc ., wifch whom he worked in a labour of love for thirteen years . He hoped he had always been anxious to bring forward , in bhe Province of Worcestershire and elsewhere , the necessity of affording abundant relief to those who were in distress , and as Providence had been pleased to grant him the

power to do so , he hoped while life was spared him that he should not cease in the course he had pursued for some time , nor cease fco be a Patron of all Masonic Institutions . The worthy Deputy Grand Master had bold them that he occupied a unique position among the Provincial Grand Masters , but he did nofc

think he was quite accurate in his remarks , as Brother Lord Lathom held fche same positions , and also another office which fche Deputy Grand Master did not mention—that was one of the thirty-third degree . He stood in a peculiar position , being chartered fco thafc position in the Province of Worcestershire to

that particular degree . Whatever position he had held , he always endeavoured to do his best , and the Brethren were always very kind to him in saying too many pleasant things , which , however , he was convinced fchey meant . Even when protected by the experience and great common-sense of his

worthy Deputy , he was obliged when making appointments in the Province fco pass over some who thought they had greater claims than those who were appointed , but ifc was not merely the Brother , but the claims of bhe Lodge which had to be considered . He felt thafc in the past ; fche Brethren had worked to make

the year a record one in the matter of charity , and hoped fchey would always give him credit for doing , with the able assistance of his Deputy , the best he could to put the right man in the right place . The beautiful book containing the illuminated address would be to him a great charm , and would go alongside the book

that was presented to his good wife by the ladies and working women of Kidderminster some years ago—a book that Mrs . Godson valued greatly ; and although they had not accompanied their gift to him with a diamond bracelet , at the same time he should keep the book iu his estimation as a most kind and

generous gift . As regarded the portrait , if there was any fault to to be found with it , he must ask them to put ifc to the credit of his daughter , because when she saw ib she said it was very much like him , but that ifc was too good looking , and far too young , and she musfc have more " crows' feet" put in somewhere . The artist

objected very strongly , because he thought he had made the portrait as near perfection as he could ; but if they looked carefully into fche picture they would find that " crows feet " had been put in —in the right places he hoped . The artist had appeased his daugher , and had not put in too many .

They had one great pleasure to record for their tontine charity organisation , having obtained no less than thirty-four ballots for the charities ; and if anything were wanted to add to