Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northants And Hunts.

of the Senior Lodge , Bro . Buckle P . G . S ., and Bro . G . Osborn , tho oldest Past Master of the Province . Bro . S mdors spoke iu laudatory terms of the conduct of Bro . Butler Wilkins , and turning to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , he wished him long lifo and health to enjoy tho honours , and expressed ih « pleasure tho Province felt

in his elovs . tion to the dignity . Tho following address , with specially designed border and frame , and illuminated by Bro . Atkins , of Abington-street , was then read by Bro . Buckle : — "To the Worshipful Bro . Bntler Wilkins , P . M . 3 fi 0 , D . P . G . M . Norths ami TCivnts , P . Z . 360 P . G . IT . and Grand Standard Bearer of England . Worshipful Sir

and Dear Brother , —Wo , the Grand Master , Grand Wardens , and Brethren of the Province of Norths and Hants in Provincial Grand Lodge assembled , desire to express to yon onr congratulations on yonr appointment to office in the Grand Lodgo of England , and offer for your acceptance the Grand Lodge clothing and other gifts which

accompany this address . We rejoice in the tribute of merit thus awarded . Yonr career in the past , as one of the rulers of tho Craft in this Province , the impartiality of your decision , the genuine goodwill at all times exhibited , the energy for the good of Freemasonry unceasingly displayed , tho qualifications necessary for a ruler so

worthily manifested ; these have inspired us , one and all , with feelings of the highest fraternal esteem and affection , and have deservedly earned the distinction which his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , tho Most Worshipfnl Grand Master , has been pleased to bestow on yon in appointing you to the office and rank of

a Grand Standard Bearer of England . That it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to grant yon long-life , health , and strength to enjoy yonr dignity , and a continuance of all the blessings oftlio past ia onr earnest and united prayer . Signed , on behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Northampton , 11 th Juno , A . L . 58 S 5 ,

MAXCHESTER P . G . M ., F . G . BUCKLE P . G . Secretary . " A complete snit of the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter clothing was offered by Bro . Osborn , and Bro . Wilkins proceeded to array himself in the garments . Ho was then , under the Director of Ceremonies , saluted by the brethren as Grand Standard Bearer of Eugland .

It , may be stated here that the promotion of Bro . Wilkins to be a Grand Lodge Officer was a general theme of congratulation by the brethren . Another event of the day , which will long be held in remembrance , was the presentation of a superb banner b y the Treasurer , Bro . T . Phipps Dormau , to the Eleanor Cross Lodgo . The

speech that accompanied the gift was marked by good taste , and the wish was heartily expressed that the banner might long wave over the brethren of the Lodge , ' and in years to come welcome other meetings of the Provincial Grand Lodge . Tho Rev . Worshipfnl Master accepted the banner , in the name of the Lodge , and in re

turning thanks reciprocated all the donor ' s good wishes . The emblem of the Lodge , the fatnoii 3 Queen ' s Cross of Northampton , from which the Lodge takes its name , forms the centre of the banner , with the motto " Amor Conatantia Fides . " After the foregoing cerem inies

had been concluded , and the necessary businpss of the Lodge had been transacted , the business of tho Provincial Grand Lodge was proceeded with , the following being the Officers appointed and duly invested by his Grace : —

W . Jackson W . M . 737 Senior Warden J . A . S . Bouverie W . M . 1911 Junior Warden Rev . S . J . W . Sanders P . M . 1911 Chaplain Rev . J . Jenkins 145 Assfc . Chaplain J . U . Stanton P . M . 3 G 9 Treasurer

T . Oldham W . M . 445 Registrar F . G . Buckle P . M . 112 Secretary T . Emery J . W . 1764 Senior Deacon W . Green W . M . 373 Junior Deacon dxiaruina iu

o . . vv .. < ± oo Hupt . ot Works Geo . Ellard P . M . 360 D . of Ceremonies J . T . Smith 442 Asst . D . of Cers . A . Cockerill J . D . 300 Standard Bearer G . C . Caster 442 .. ... Sword Bearer Geo . Butcher Sec . 1764 Organist F . L . Gooch 466 Pursuivant

It was stated that the Grand Lodge would next year be held at Kettering , under the banner of the Perseverance Lodge . A few minutes before three the brethren , carrying banners and wearing the insignia of the Order , left the Town Hall , aud went to All Saints ' Church for Divine Service . The Provincial Grand Master was ,

howover , compelled to leave Northampton earl y in the day . The following is a list furnished of tbe brethren attending either the service or some other portion of the day ' s proceedings : — Bros , the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master His Grace the Duke of Manchester , Rev . S . Wathen Wigg P . P . G . C . Norths and Hants and Leicester and Rutland P . M . 1911 W . M . 1761 , Bntler Wilkins

P . M . 360 D . P . G . M . Norths and Hnnts P . Z . 3 « 0 Prov . G . II . and Grand S . B ., J . A . S . Bouverie P . P . J / W , E . J . Orford P . P . S . G . W ., Honry Brown P . P . G . J . W ., G . A . Eldred P . G . S ., George Ellard Prov . G . D . C ., John Wheeler P . G . Snpfc . Wks ., Henry J . Ennscm P . G . S ., A . G . Evans P . P . G . P . P . G . S . B , W . Dixey P . P . G . S . D ., William Ward P . P . S . B ., J . G . Green P . G . J . D ., R . Croft P . G . O ., Thomas Emory P . G . S ., John

T . Smith P . G . A . D . C ., Rev . Jas . Jenkins , Hen . Shepheard P . P . G . J . W , James C . Jones P . P . G . J . W ., A . Bunting P . G . J . W ., J . Maraon P . P . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts , H . J . Atkins P . G . S . W ., John J . Hart P . P . G . P ., Rev . S . J . W . Sanders P . P . G . C , W . M . Cowley P . M . 415 , John T . Green P . P . G . S . W ., G . Osborn P . P . G . S . W ., Rev . T . C .

Beasley P . P . G . C , J . G Buckle P . G . S ., G . Cotton P . P . S . D ., W . H . Watson P . P . G . S . B ., Henry Norton P . P . G . J . W . Norths and Hunts , J . U . Stanton P . G . Treasurer , L . 0 . Knight P . P . G . D ., W . Warwick Jame 3 P . P . G . D ., Robert McClure P . G . S . B ., John Slinn P . P . G . R ., W . H . Smith P . P . G . R ., Frederick J . Airs P . G . S . D ., John Bindley

P . P . G . J . D ., W . H . Linnell P . G . J . D ., Robert Griflin P . P . G . S . W ., Horace Wright jun . P . P . S . D ., Rev . W . A . Howes P . G . C ., J . Terry P . P . G . S . W ., George 0 . Caster P . G . S ., W . Jackson W . M . 737 , Elliott It . Adams and George T . Wooldiuge 373 , J . Wilson Kirby W . M . 412 , Thomas Oldham W . M . 415 , James W . Fisher 937 , C . Matthows . W .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northants And Hunts.

Packwood and Horace Dainty 737 v J . Wood Ingram D . C . 373 , I . R . Shearsmith 360 and 1000 , C . Roberts 466 , Ehnry A . Robinson , P . P . G . S ., Alfred Cockerill P . P . G . S ., Charles Roberts 360 , H . Myers I ISO Warwickshire , S . J . Harding W . M . 455 . H . Bowles P . P . G . O ., D . Bloodworth P . M . 468 , G . Lawis 455 , J . C . Itoyee and J . Woolston

466 , M . A . Biino P . M . 360 , E . Pierce S . D . 455 , E . Roberts , J . Snow , and IT . Martin 360 , John C . Price W . M . 373 , T . D . H-nsman 360 , nenry Thomas West 1764 , Frederick W . Gooch 466 , Thomas Wetherell 360 , P . J . T . Henery , John Ennson , W . EI . Bullock , and E . Montague Brown 1911 , C . Heald 383 , Stophen Gough 293 , T .

Cook , W . Robertson , C . Foote , J . E . Enstance , E . Harrison S . W ., T . W . Harrison J . W . 442 , Thomas Franks 360 , George Leopold Michel P . G . S . D ., R . Myers 373 , E . Snodker 4 t 5 , U . S . G . Preedy 455 , H . Rose 607 , A . Conlsin 466 , A . Jones , Harry Hodges , Beeby Thompson , Frederick Laycock 1761 , C . F . Cox 1911 , R . J . ' Johnston 1764 , L . F .

Cogan 1760 , G . H . Perceval P . M . 1911 , Rev . E . H . Cox . ° G , James Clavson 360 , T . Cockerill , S . S . Campion , W . Goldney , T . Emery P . G . S . D ., II . Manfield P . G . S ., George Butcher Secretary , J . A . Jowett , and Joseph Gold 1764 , Brook Sampson 1764 and 1911 .

P . P . G . C . G . Wilcox-Smith P . P . G . C , W . A . Smith 445 , J . Havibmd 1761 , E . ' C . Ashford and J . Jeffery 360 , T . P . Dor man P . P . G . S . Treasurer , H . W . Kennedy Markham 1911 , J . C . Franklin 1764 , W . W . Morgan I . P . M . 211 , & o . The seats in the central aisle of the church were reserved for the

Freemasons , and the general public—many of whom watohed the procession as it passed along George-row from the Town Hall to All Saints '—occupied the side seats . Mr . Ebenezer Law was at the organ . Evening Prayer was read by the Rev . R . B . Hull ; special psalms , the 122 nd and the 145 th , were used ; the lesson was read by Bro . the Rev . S . Wathen Wi

133 rd Psalm , "O , how good and joyful a thing it is , brethren , to dwell together in unity . " Two hymns were anng , "Lord , Thy Word abideth , " and " Through the night of donbt and sorrow . " Bro . the Rev . S . J . W . Sanders preached the sermon , from Ezekiel xliii . 10 , " Thon , son of man , shew the house to the house of Israel , that they

may be ashamed of their iniquities , and let them measure the pattern . " No summary would g ive a fair conception of the eloquent discourse delivered by our Rev . brother , and as it is to be published in a complete form we feel that there is no necessity to do more on the present occasion than to say the sermon ought to be universally

perused by , brethren , and even by th . 3 non-Masonic public . It is a masterly vindication of the princip les of the Order , and a reverent al recognition of its divine source . Tho offertory amounted to £ 20 , and was divided between the Girls' Institution and the Peter , borough Cathedral Restoration Fund . At tho close of the service

tho members of tbe Order returned to the Town Hall . At five o ' clock a banquet took place at the Peacock Hotel , the D . P . G . M . Bro . Butler Wilkins presiding ; he was supported by Officers of the Grand Lodge and . others . Mrs . Forth provided a capital dinner . The toast of the Qneen and the Craft having been duly

honoured , the P . G . M . gave the Most Wor . Grand Master H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales . Bro . tha Rev . J . S . Sanders gave the M . W . the Pro G . M . Lord Carnarvon , the D . G . M . Lord Lathom , and Officers of the Grand Lodge , observing that this was the first time for many years that they had had any one present who could respond personally for

the Grand Lodge . The D . P . G . M ., in reply , was very grateful for tho honour which had been conferred uot only upon him individually , but on tho Province of Norths and Hnnts . The Province owed this recognition to the reception given to the Grand Lodge by the St . Peter ' s Lodge , Peterborough , on the occasion of laying

the corner-stone of tbe centre tower of Peterborough Cathedral Tho first thing that struck him on taking his seat in Grand Lodge was the fraternal spirit which prevailed , all the Officers , whatever their relative position , were regarded on a footing of equality , and the brethren were reminded that all could aspire to the

purple . Bro . Wilkins gracefully allnded to the honour done him that afternoon , and concluded an excellent speech by some capital remarks as to the admission of candidates . Bro . Buckle P . G . S . gave the health of the R . W . the P . G . M ., his Grace the Duke of Manchester , a toast which was duly honoured ; and then Bro .

Timpson proposed the W . the D . P . G . M . and the Grand Officers of the Province present and past . This was replied to by Bro . W . Jackson P . G . S . W ., who referred to the splendid hospitality extended that day , a day which the brethren would bear in their minds for many years to come . Bro . Atkins P . M . 1764 P . P . G . S . W ., who showed that he is

thoroughly versed in the snbject , gave the Royal Masonic Charitable Institutions , remarking with pride the liberality of the Province ; and Bro . Terry , whose name was coupled with the toast , said during the time he had been the representative in Loudon the Province had had five cases for election , and with one exception the whole of the

candidates were elected on tbe first application . He referred to the earnest spirit with which Bro . Atkins himself , tho D . P . G . M ., the P . G . Treasurer Bro . Stanton , and others had acted as Stewards for the Charities and urged their claims . Bro . Campion proposed tho Visiting Brethren , for whom Bro . Tyndall , P . M . of St . Peter ' s Lodge ,

Market Harborough , responded . Bro . Kingston P . M . 360 proposed the W . M . and Brethren of the Entertaining Lodge , Eleauor Croas , No . 1764 , aud the othar Lodges of the Province , and paid a tribute to the magnificence of the preparations made for the ontartainment of the brethren , and the programme which had been so ably devised

and carried out . He had an expedience of 30 years of too Provincial Grrmd Lodge , and he had nevorseeii a meetingcarried ont with somuch eclat as on tho present occasion . A great debt of gratitude wai rlivj to the brethren of tho Eluanor C-oss , whom ho congratulated not only on the success of tho present occasion , bat ou their wo -k as

a Lodge . Bro . tho Rev . T . C Be i 3 iev S . W . re-ip ^ nded , and afterwards proposid the health of the W . M . ' sof the Sistec Lodges of the Province . Bro . T . M . Oldham W . M . of the Fidelity Lodge replied ,

and expressed the gratifying surprise with which ho witnessed the attendanco of brethren that day , aud the general success of the admirable arrangements made by the Eleanor Cross Lodge . The sermon of the afternoon he also commended , as giving a correct idea