Closing Time.

CLOSING TIME .

THE commencement of the Masonic season seems a particularly appropriate occasion on which to address a few words to the Oraft on the question of late hours , which so often mar the most enjoyable entertainments in

Freemasonry , and not only brings it into disrepute among outsiders , but is a serious drawback to its members , and little or no advantage to anyone .

The root of the evil is probably to be found in the very general practice of unpunctuality in starting proceedings , but that is not alone the cause of the mischief , for many meetings are so arranged at the outset as to preclude the

possibility of their completion until a late hour , the Master or others responsible for the programme having no necessity or desire to conclude until the last moment , unmindful of the

fact that some of the members of the Lodge , or some of the visitors , may have trains to catch or long journeys to make , necessitating their early departure .

The fact that so many of our Lodge meetings become almost deserted about half-past ten o ' clock would seem to demonstrate that that hour is the popular one for closing , and it would be well if those who have to arrange our meetings

would consider the point in that light . We really have no desire to lay down any hard and fast line as to the hour for concluding , but each Lodge has an opportuning of judging for

itself and if each was managed on the basis of what previous experience has taught it we believe there would be less to find fault with on the score of long protracted sittings .

Durham.

DURHAM .

THE annual convocation of the Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Gateshead , in the Masonic Hall , Jackson Street , on Monday , under the presidency of the Prov . Grand Superintendent Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart . The roll of Chapters was called and responded to by the principal Officers in each instance .

The Prov . Superintendent , in addressing the Companions , feelingly referred to the loss the Province had sustained in the decease of Comp . T . Dunn P . G . D . C . The Chapters maintained their numbers , and he hoped the Province would continue to

prosper . He thanked the members for their presence in such large numbers , and alluded to the excellent accommodation provided by the Officers of the Industry Chapter for their comfort . Before leaving , Sir Hedworth Williamson invested Companion Eichard Luck , M . A ., as P . G . H . and W . E . Staveley as P . G . J .

Having to leave , Comp . H . J . Turnbull P . P . G . H . acted for Sir Hedworth , and invested the remainder of the Officers as follow :

Comp . R . Hudson ( re-appointed ) - - Scribe E . Richard Hopper Holme - - - Scribe N . B . S . Bechwith - Treasurer Dr . Atkinson .... Registrar G . Harland .... Principal Sojourner W . O . Barron - - - - ) . . , to . E Wade - - . . . f As 3 ls * a nt Sojourners

T . Gibbon .... Sword Bearer G . T . Watson - ' - - - Standard Bearer T . R . Jobson ( re-appointed ) - - Director of Ceremonies George Craven .... Assistant Dir . of Cers . Jos . Robson Pattison ( re-appointed ) - Assistant Scribe B . T . Grieve ( re-appointed ) - - - Janitor . The Chapter was afterwards closed in due form .

Gloucestershire.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge will be held on Tuesday , 27 th October , at Stroud . The meeting is usually held at Whitsuntide , but it was this year postponed until the autumn , in consequence of the condition of Gloucester in the earlier months of the year .

Monmouthshire.

MONMOUTHSHIRE .

THE installation of Bro . John Owen Marsh P . G . S . England as Provincial Grand Master took place at Abergavenny , on Wednesday , 9 th inst ., under the banner of St . John Lodge , in the presence of a distinguised gathering of members of the

Degree . The installation ceremony was performed by the Earl of Euston Pro G . M . assisted by Bro . C . F . Matier Grand Sec . England and Past Warden of Scotland , and Colonel Lyne P . G . M . ( Craft ) Monmouthshire .

Cheshire Charity.

CHESHIRE CHARITY .

ON the occasion of the recent festival of the Cheshire Masonic Charitable Institutions , at Knutsford , after the usual loyal toasts had been honoured , Colonel Dean said he had been honoured with the duty , the very pleasing duty , of submitting the next toast on the programme , which was that of the Eight

Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire—the Eight Honourable Lord Egerton of Tatton , President of the Institutions , who was beloved in Freemasonry throughout Cheshire , where they were persuaded that throughout the Craft there was no better Provincial Grand Master than their own . No work

was commended to him without at once commanding his support , and if , as they were fain to admit , Freemasonry in England had progressed under the regime of the Prince of Wales , they likewise attributed its progress in that Province to the sympathy and interest taken in its purposes by their worthy

Provincial Grand Master . Lord Egerton had rendered very material assistance to his Eoyal Highness in that work of which they had heard , the re-construction of Guy ' s Hospital . He but reflected the wish of every Brother in that room and in the

Province when he said he hoped that their worthy Provincial Grand Master might long be spared to them , and that they might for many long years to come have the benefit of his advice and help in Cheshire .

Lord Egerton , on rising to respond , was received with vociferous applause . He said he could but feel gratified with the warmth with which the toast of his health had been received . He was greatly obliged to them for the support they had on all occasions extended to him as Grand Master of the Province , and

for the warmth and sympathy with which the toast of his health had been received . He could not forget that last year when he presided over one of the great Institutions , the Province had helped him to the extent of over £ 2 , 000 , and it gave him great satisfaction that the Masonic charities were so well supported by

the Brethren . He was very proud to see so many taking an interest in them . It was the best evidence that they did not mean to let them die . He had alluded to the fact that nis Eoyal Highness had attained to his twenty-one years service , and in commemoration of that fact he , as Grand Master of the Province

of Cheshire , had been authorised to invest five Brethren in the Province with Past Grand rank , that number being in proportion to the arrangement of one to each ten of the Lodges . They would know what a difficult thing it was to make such a selection , but as it had been made on the grounds of merit , and

the honour had been accorded to Brethren who had laboured hard in the cause of Freemasonry in the Province , he thought the list would give general satisfaction . The Brethren whom he had determined to nominate were Bro . John Clayton , Bro . F . K . Stevenson , Bro . Dr . Eenshaw as P . P . G . Senior Wardens , Bro .