Somersetshire.

SOMERSETSHIRE .

THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Town Hall at Wells , on Thursday , 3 rd inst ., under the presidency of the Right Hon . Yiscount Dungarvan Prov . G . M ., who was supported by Bro . R . C . Else

P . G . D . of England and D . P . G . M . The room had been effectively decorated , the walls being adorned with the banners of the various Lodges throughout the Province . There was a large muster of Brethren .

The P . G . Secretary , Bro . J . C . Hunt , Bridgwater , firsfc called the roll of Lodges , and all were found to be represented . The P . G . S . next read the minutes of P . G . L . held at Highbridge on the 5 th of May last year , and they were duly confirmed .

The P . G . Treasurer , Bro . C . L . Fry Edwards , presented his annual statement of accounts , showing a balance in hand of £ 136 17 s 5 d , as compared with £ 107 8 s 2 d at the commencement of fche year . The accounts were received and adopted , on the motion of Bro . Watts P . M . 53 , seconded by Bro . Chaffin P . M . 261 .

On the motion of Bro . Col . Perkins , Bath , seconded by Bro . Ashley , Bath , Bro . C . L . Fry Edwards was unanimously re-elected P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year . Lord Dungarvan made the following appointments

to Provincial Office , and invested the respective Brethren with their insignia of power , the recipients of the favours being heartily received : J . L . Bewsey P . M . 437 - - - Senior Warden It . Norton W . M . 446 - - - Junior Warden

Rov . R . White P . M . 379 - - Chaplain C . L . Fry Edwards - Treasurer E . R . HayterP . M . 976- - - Registrar J . C . Hunt P . M . 135 - - - Secretary J . T . Dunsford P . M . 291 - - Assistant Sec

T . H . Mitchell P . M . 1953 - - Senior Deacon Chas . PfeiSer P . M . 1833 - - Junior Deacon A . W . Mooro P . M . 973 - - - Sup . of Works W . P . Buckley P . M . 976 - - Dir . of Ceremonies J . R . Gill P . M . 906 - - - Assistant D . C .

G . 0 . Strawbridge P . M . 261 - - Sword Bearer 0 . W . Catford P . M . 814 - - ) Q ; inv , i -R „ . R . Hole P . M . 2390 - - -J Standard Bearers C . R . Humphrey P . M . 2038 - - Organist H . F ; Lewis P . M . 1296- - - Pursuivant

T . Hockey P . M . 1197 - - - Asst . Pursuivant G . W . Styles P . M . 285 - - -. S . J . HulbertP . M . 772-J . A . Tucker W . M . 53 - - - ¦ Stewards .

B . Whitby W . M . 329 - A . J . Tonkin W . M . 1755 - - ' A . J . Salter ( Bath ) - - - Tyler S . Bigwood ( Bath ) - - - Asst . Tyler

The P . G . Secretary next read the report of the Charity Organisation Committee , which was of a very satisfactory character . Several notices of motion were afterwards dealt with , including one by the P . G . Treasurer , seconded by Bro .

Capt . Peel Floyd , which was unanimously agreed to : — " That the sum of 100 guineas be given as a donation from the funds of this P . G . L . to the Royal Masonic

Benevolent Institution , and that the amount be placed on the list for the R . W . Bro . Viscount Dungarvan P . G . Master of Somerset , who will preside at the Festival of this Institution in February next . "

It was unanimously resolved , on the proposition of the Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . Else , " That the members of this Lodge desires to express and place on record

their deep sympathy with the widow and family of the late Bro . Capt . George Homfray P . G . S . B . and D . P . G . M . Monmouth , in their sad affliction , and also the widow of the late Bro . H . B . Ffarington P . G . R . "

An anthem was then sung—some Brethren connected with the choir of Wells Cathedral taking part , and Bro . C . W . Lavinton , Cathedral organist , officiating at the organ—while the alms were collected . These amounted to £ 6 10 s 2 d , and were voted to the Wells Nursing Institute .

The P . G . Lodge was then closed m due iorm , and the majority of the members afterwards dined together at the Bishop ' s Barn , adjoining the Moat , under the presidency of the Prov . G . M . By permission of the Canon-in-residence , the Cathedral was kept open for

inspection by the Brethren in the evening , and the Bishop of Bath and Wells allowed them to visit his palace gardens .

North And East Yorkshire.

NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

ON the 10 th inst ., the annual convocation of Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held at Beverley , by the invitation of the Beverlac Lodge , No . 281 . There was a large attendance , amongst those present being Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett P . G . W .

Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Colonel R . G . Smith P . G . W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , & c . Telegrams of congratulation were received from Bros . C . L . Mason and W . Matthewmau , the Provincial Grand Master and Secretary of West Yorkshire .

The roll having been called , the report of the General Purposes Committee was read and confirmed ; the Treasurer ' s balance sheet was also presented and adopted . Brother John Marshall ( of Malton ) , the Provincial

Grand Treasurer , having resigned his office , which he has held with conspicuous ability since the formation of Provincial Grand Mark Lodge , a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to him for his services , and his son , Bro . W . J . Marshall , was elected as his successor .

The Fitzwilliam Lodge , of Malton , gave a cordial invitation to the Grand Lodge to hold the next convocation in that town , and the Provincial Grand Master said the invitation should have favourable

consideration . Donations having been voted from'the Benevolent Fund for the relief of poor and distressed Mark Master Masons , the election of the Committee of General Purposes and of Auditors was proceeded with .

The Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , in an interesting speech , alluded to the prosperous condition of the Province . He thought that ic might be found mosfc convenient to hold future convocations afc York . He

expressed their indebtedness to the Beverley Lodge for their hospitality and the excellent arrangements . He then appointed and invested the following Provincial Officers for the year : — Col . R . G . Smith , Hull Deputy Grand Master

Thomson Foley , Beverley S . W . F . Greaser , Bridlington J . W . W . P . Cochrane , Middlesborough M . O . J . Kirby , Driffield S . O . J . S . Seals , Scarborough J . O . Rev . E . A . B . Pitman , Malton Chaplain W . J . Marshall , Malton Treasurer A . W . Walker , Malton Secretary J . Longford , York Reg . of Marks J . R . Lane , Beverley S . D . E . K . Spiegelhaltor , Malton J . D . F . J . Halliwell , York Inspector of Works H . T . Hayes , Scarborough D . C . W . T . Newcombe Assist . D . C . T . G . Brogden , York Standard Bearer A . Harrowing , Whitby Sword Bearer H . Myers I . G .

The annual banquet was subsequently held at the Beverley Arms Hotel .

The Old Masonians , which it is well known to our readers is an Association of ex-pupils of the Royal Masouic Institution for Boys , will give a performance of H . J . Byron ' s original drama , " Blow for Blow , " at

St . George ' s Hall , Langham Place , this evening ( Saturday ) , at 8 p . m ., the object being to aid the Benevolent and Grant Fund of the Association . It is to be hoped our Old Boys will be well supported in

their endeavours , and thafc a good sum may be realised for the good of the cause they desire to benefit . Tickets and every information in regard to the Society may be obtained of the Secretary , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street .

o o o A telegram to the " Glasgow Evening News " announces that the Duke of Buccleuch has granted a site in the new town of Langholm to the local Freemasons to erect a Hall on .

o o o Bro . F . J . Horniman has signified his intention , says the " City Press , " of entertaining the Brethren of the Alliance Lodge at his residence , Forest Hill , early in July .