Lincolnshire.

LINCOLNSHIRE .

TJHE Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Thursday , 11 th inst ., in the Masonic Hall , Osborne Street , Grimsby , under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master the Earl of Yarborough , who was attended by the Past Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire Bro . Major Smythe , and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire Bro . Sissons . There

were also present a large gathering of past and present Provincial Officers , with a numerous company of Brethren representing the various Lodges in the Province . After the roll had been called , and the minutes confirmed , the Provincial Grand Master delivered his address .

The finance statement of tbe Provincial Grand Treasurer Bro . C . M . Nesbit was presented , and showed the Lodge to be in a flourishing condition . The returns of the Lodges from the P . G . Eegistrar Bro . H . Watson were then received , together with the report of the Committee , an abstract of accounts of the P . G . L . Fund of Benevolence , Oliver Memorial Fund , Smyth Scholarship Fund , and Sutcliffe Fund .

Bro . Vickers P . G . Secretary presented the report of the P . L . Charity Committee ; and the P . G . Charity Stewards Bros . B . Beeson and F . Barrett , appointed at last P . G . Lodge to act oh behalf of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls , also presented their report , which showed that during the past year £ 1 , 500 had been sent to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls from Lincolnshire .

Bro . W . H . Sissons D . P . G . M . proposed , " That this Provincial Grand Lodge desires to record its high appreciation of the services of Bros . Bennett Beeson and Frank Barrett as Provincial Grand Charity Stewards from 1894 to 1896 , and has much pleasure in presenting to them the suitable charity jewels , to which they have become entitled by their services . " This was carried .

The Committee appointed to make special arrangementsjfor holding the Provincial Grand Lodge last year , upon the occasion of the installation of the Eight Hon . the Earl of Yarborough as Provincial Grand Master , presented their report and financial statement , after which the inventory of the property of the Prov . G . Lodge was presented by the Director of Ceremonies .

Bro . C . M . Nesbit ( Louth ) was re-elected P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year , and two auditors for the P . G . L . Fund of Benevolence were also appointed . It was decided the E . M . I . G . should be the Charity to have the support of the Province next year , and Bros . B . Beeson ( Grantham ) , and F . Barrett ( Grimsby ) , were re-appointed P . G . Charity Stewards .

Upon the recommendation of the Committee of the P . G . L . Fund of Benevolence , it was decided , " That a sum of 150 guineas be granted to the P . G . Charity Stewards , Bros . Beeson and Barrett , as contribution for this year to the Provincial Benevolent Fund " the votes secured thereby to be placed in the name of the Eight Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master .

The Provincial Officers for the year were invested : Bro . C . Maddison ( Grimsby ) - - Senior Warden Dr . Behrindt ( Scunthorpe ) - - Junior Warden Bev . H . W . Hall ( Grantham ) - ) ™ , . Eev . G . S . Tyack ( Crowle ) - - - j Ohaplams C . M . Nesbitt ( Louth ) - - - Treasurer

H . Watson ( Lincoln ) - - - Eegistrar B . Vickers ( Lincoln ) ... Secretary Dr . Alexander ( Grimsby ) - - - Senior Deacon G . Doughty , M . P . ( Waltham ) - - Junior Deacon G . B . Dickinson ( Boston ) - Superintendent of Works G . F . Barrell ( Spalding ) - - - Director of Ceremonies

F . Fletcher ( Spalding ) - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers . G . P . Pullen ( Barton ) - - - Sword Bearer A . J . Eve ( Spilsby ) - - - - ) e , , , ^ F . F . Sowerby ( Gainsborough ) - - ) Standard Bearers H . Healey ( Sutton Bridge ) - - Organist A . Eamage ( Lincoln ) ... Assistant Secretary T . Nettleship ( Market Easen ) - - Pursuivant

A . H . Eead ( Boston ) - - - Assistant Pursuivant W . Dixon ( Lincoln ) ... Librarian F . J . Clarke ( Bourne ) - - - J . Eaynor ( West Bridgport ) H . Knight ( Sleaford ) - - . Stewards J . Cross ( Brigg ) - C . E . Bonner . ' W . Donner ( Barton ) - - . Tyler .

The Secretary , in bis annual report , announced that the total increase of members in Lincolnshire was five , after the number of resignations and deaths had been deducted . It was decided to hold the next annual meeting at Spalding . Upon the Lodge being closed , the Brethren adjourned to

the Town Hall , where a sumptuous banquet had been provided by Bro . Pratt , of the Dolphin Hotel , Cleethorpes . The room had been gaily decorated for the occasion by Mr . David Smith , . flowers being kindly lent by Councillor Goodwin , Chairman of the Parks Committee . The company numbered about two hundred .

Lincolnshire.

At the conclusion of the banquet , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , including the Masonic Charities and the Visiting Brethren . In the evening a pleasant garden party was held in the grounds of the Grimsby Bowling Club , at Brighowgate , and

amongst those who attended were a good number of Freemasons . The Bowling Club has , of course , no direct connection with the Freemasons , but the garden party was arranged for the same date as the Provincial Grand Lodge , in order to provide an attractive finish to the Masonic day , and at the same time to contribute

towards the success of the Bowling Club . The great pastime of the evening was the alfresco dancing , which was carried merrily on to the strains of Tasker ' s Quadrille Band . The perfectly even and velvety turf made a delightful dancing floor for a summer evening , and though for the first hour or two the attendance was

not numerous , the number of watchers , strollers , and dancers gradually increased and the grounds soon assumed a festive and animated appearance . As the twilight deepened , the Chinese lanterns and fairy coloured lights that were hung upon the summer-house and the surrounding walls and trees were lighted :

and these weird and varied illuminations combined to throw over the scene that suggestion of romance which always heightens the enjoyment of such gatherings . The company ' s material wants , in the way of refreshment , being efficiently supplied from the summer-house , they did not disperse until after midnight . — " Grimsby News . "

New Hall At Gainsborough.

NEW HALL AT GAINSBOROUGH .

IN consequence of a fire at the old Masonic Lodge Eooms , the Yarborough Lodge , No . 422 , Gainsborough , found it necessary to obtain fresh quarters , and by permission of Sir H . B . Bacon , Bart ., a suite of rooms was granted them in that

historic building , the Gainsborough Old Hall . These have been suitably equipped , and on Wednesday , 10 th inst ., the ceremony of dedication was performed by the Eight Hon . the Earl of Yarborough Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire .

His lordship was accompanied by Bro . Sissons , of Bartonon-Humber , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and a number of distinguished Provincial Officers and Brethren from the adjacent Provinces of Yorkshire and Notts .

The Brethren assembled numbered 300 . The Provincial Grand Officers entered in procession , bearing the elements of consecration ; the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , and the Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy saluted . The architect handed in the plans , and was addressed by Lord Yarborough .

The Master of the Yarborough Lodge requested Lord Yarborough to perform the ceremony of dedication , and the Deputy Grand Master delivered ar oration . After an anthem the ceremony of dedication was performed . The Sanctus was then sung , and the salutation followed the ceremony , concluding with the Benediction and hymn .

A Eoyal Arch Chapter , with an exaltation , was subsequently held , the Grand Superintendent Dr . Sissons being present . A banquet was given at the White Hart Hotel , when the Deputy Provincial Grand Master presided , and the usual Masonic toasts were proposed . — " Nottingham Guardian . "

The Earl of Yarborough Provincial Grand Master Lincolnshire has conferred the honour of P . P . S . G . W . —to mark the twenty-first anniversary of the installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master—on Bro . Eichard Ellison , of Lincoln , and Bro . Anderson Bates , of the St . Alban Lodge , Grimsby .

Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

NAVY LODGE .

THIS new Lodge was consecrated on Friday of last week , at Freemasons' Hall , by the Earl of Lathom Pro Grand Master , and the Prince of Wales was declared installed as its first Worshipful Master . The Lodge has been established especially for the convenience of members of the Eoyal Navy , and it is numbered 2612 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England .

The Earl of Euston , who was assisted by Viscount Dungarvan , installed Eear Admiral Albert Hastings Markham District Grand Master of Malta as Deputy Master of the Lodge . Bro .

Gordon Miller was appointed to act as the Immediate Past Master , and Col . W . Campbell , E . M . A ., A . D . C , and Eear-Adrniral W . H . C . St . Clair were invested as Senior and Junior Wardens respectively .