Ar00903

B^^^^p^^a 23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

THE annnal meeting of the Grand Lodge of this Province was held on Tuesday , 17 th inst ., in the Central Hall , Darlington , under the banner of the Restoration Lodge , No . Ill , and of tho Marquis of Ripon Lodgo , No . 1379 , when thero was a more than usually largo attendance of past and present Provincial Grand Officers , and representatives from all the Lodges of the Province . Tho appearance

of the hall was very imposing , the brethren being ranged nnder their respective banners . Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form b y the Right Wor . the Prov . Graud Master the Marquis of Londonderry , Knight of St . Patrick , & c , assisted by the following Officers : —Bros . A . Hey P . G . S . D ., Thos . Conlson P . G . J . D ., T . Bradley P . G . Assist . Sir Hedworth Williamson D . P . G . M ., J . W . Cameron P . G . S . W ., J .

McCulloch P . G . J . W ., Rev . J . J . Brown P . G . Chap . R . Hudson P . G . Sec , Sec ., Geo . Greenwell P . G . D . C , David Sinclair P . G . Assist . D . C , A . T . Munro P . G . Sword Bearer , R . Dickinson P . G . Organist , John Sinclair P . G . Pursuivant , John Thompson P . G . Tyler . Bro . R . Hudson , Provincial Grand Secretary , road the minutes of last Pro . vincial Grand Lodge which wero confirmed . Tho Treasurer ' s report

was read by Brother T . Bradley Assistant Secretary , this showed the Funds to be in a highly satisfactory condition . Bro . Hudson Past Grand Secretary read the report of the Fund Committee , presided over by Bro . Sir Hedworth "Williamson , Depnty P . G . M ., in which it was stated that the committee had that dayvoted £ 60 to five applicants ; and ifc was further recommended that

£ 52 10 s be given to the Masonio Boys' School , £ 52 10 s to the Girls' School , and £ 26 10 s each to tho Aged Masons' Institute and the Aged Widows' Institute . Ifc was likewise proposed that £ 25 be subscribed to the Provincial Education Fund . Sir . Hedworth Wil . liamson moved the adoption of the report , which was carried . Tho Charities Committee reported the successful working of the committee ,

and the now educational scheme in the Province . Bro . C . S . Lane moved , and Bro . M . Corbett seconded the adoption of the report , which was carried . After some conversation respecting tho promotion of tho Royal College of Music , in which the M . W . Grand Master tho Prince of Wales takes a deep interest , ifc was decided to invite the Lodges to take the matter np . The roll of the Lodges

was then called by Bro . Geo . Greenwell , D . C , when tho Worshipful Masters of the following reported progress in funds and mem . bership , and continued harmony in working ; the Industry 43 Gateshead , St . John ' s SO Sunderland , Phcenix 9-1 Sunderland , Palatine 97 Sunderland , Restoration 111 Darlington , Marquis of Granby 124 Durham , Sfc . Hilda 240 South Shields , Lambton 375 Chester-le-street ,

Borough 424 Gateshead , Tees 509 Stockton , Sfc . Helen ' s 531 Hartlepool , Fawcett 661 Seaham , Harbour of Refuge 764 West Hartlepool , Philanthropy 940 Stockton , Williamson 949 Sunderland , St . Bede ' s 1119 Jarrow , Wear Valley 1121 Bishop Auckland , Basnard 1230 Barnard Castle , Earl of Durham 1274 Chester-le-street , Norman 1334 Durham , Marquis of Ripon 1370 Darlington , Fenwick 1389

Sunderlaud , Fraternity 1418 Stockton , Perseverance 1643 Hebburn , Rose of Raby 1650 Staindrop , Strantou 1862 West Hartlepool , Whitworth 1932 Spennymoor , Hadrian 1970 South Shields . After hearing the reports from the respective Masters in the Province , the Right Worshipfnl Grand Master the Marquis of Londonderry said it was only a profound sense of duty and a sincere wish to be with them that clay

alone persuaded him to be present on the occasion , seeing that he had to leave the dying bed of the mother of her to whom he owed a life of happiness . He was glad to meet them in such good numbers , and to congratulate them upon the continued prosperity of the Order , and the harmony which reigned in their midst . Bro . Hudson , the Provincial Grand Sscretary , bad prepared for him some statistics

, which showed that in 1848 there wero thirteen Lodges and 372 members in tbe Province , and in 1881 there were twenty . seven Lodges with 1976 members , and during the present year another Lodgethe Hadrian—had been consecrated . After referringin feeling terms to tho decease , in March last , of Bro . Henry Crookes , late Grand Secretary , and expressing his obligation and gratification to Bro . Hudson

that ho had undertaken the onerous duties of Secrrlary , tho R . W . G . M . expressed tho pain he felt in receiving tho resignation of Bro . J . Cnnc'ell as P . G . Treas ., a brother whom he had lone esteemed and revered . Jjro . R . Hudson P . G . Secretary said it was interesting to know that £ ro . Cnndeil was present afc the Grand Lodge at the installation of Bro . John Fawcettlate P . G . M . and had been P . G . Treasurer since

, , 1858 . Bro . E . D . Davis P . P . G . S . W ., & c , moved that Bro . Bab . Buigton Eowlton , Darlington , be P . G . Treasnrer , whicb , on being p ded , was carried unanimously . On the motion of R . W . Deputy " •'and Master Sir H . Williamson , tho Secretary was instructed to write toBro . tho Rev . J . Cnndeil , expressing feelings of regret that he

"aa retired from the Grand Lodge . The R . W . Prov . G . Master then a PPointed his Officers for the ensuing year , as under : — B " > s . Sir Hedworth Williamson ... P . D . G . Master W . J . Young P . G . Senior Warden C-R . Fry P . G . Junior Warden

B ^ v . C . Jackson ) nn „ , . . Rev . R . H . Yeld j P . G . Chaplains S . Bowlton P . G . Treasurer il -Tuck P . G . Registrar

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

R . Hudson ?&¦ Secretary T . Bradley P-G- Asst . Secretary T . Bell P . G . Senior Deacon T . Conlson P . G . Junior Deacon . T . Tillman P . G . Supt . of Works G . Greenwell P . G . Director of Ceremonies D . Sinclair P . G . Asst . D . C . R . B . Harpley P . G . Sword Bearer T Pm 4 anna .. P . G . 0 [ ' « aiUSt

J . Wyld P-G - Pursuivant G D Sen" P . G . Asst . Pursuivant J . ' Cnrry ° P . G . Tyler J . Martin , C . McMarrar , W . B . ) Elsdon , William Davidson , M . > P . G . Stewards Burn , T . Hylton )

On tbe motion of Bro . Hudson P . G . Secretary , it was resolved to enter npon the minutes of Grand Lodge tho deep loss sustained by tho province at tho death of Bro . Henry Crookes , lato Prov . Grand Secretary , and that a letter of condolence bo sent to his relatives . There being no other business the Lodge was closed in due form ,

after which the brethren adjonrned to tho annual banquet , which was held in the Mechanics'Hall , Darlington . Abonb 150 brethren sat down , under tho presidency of tho most noble the Marquis of Londonderry . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and tho proceedings wero agreeably enlivened by mnsio by Bros . Whitehead , Nutton , and Walker , Bro . Boynes accompanying on the piano .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OP DEVON . fTlHE Royal Arch Masons of tho Province of Devon held their - i- annnal Grand Chapter on Tuesday , afc Exeter . The Companions assembled afc the Victoria Hall . The attendance was not , however , so numerous as expected , and the meeting might have been held at tho Exeter Freemasons' Hall in Gandy-street . Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., tbo Prov . G . Superintendent of the Province ,

presided , supported by es-Coraps . W . G . Rogers H ., and Col . Ridgway J . Tho following Companions were also among those present : — J . Brewer P . G . S . E ., Mark Farrant P . G . P . S ., J . S . Keskerman P . G . 2 nd A . S ., H . S . Gill P . G . 1 st Gr . B ., W . B . Mays P . G . 2 nd Gr . B . J . Blanchard P . G . Janitor , Lieut-Col . J . Tanner-Davy , J . P ., P . P . G . H ., Cant . W . E . Elphinstone-Stone , R . N ., P . P . G . J ., J . H . Warren

P . P . G . A . S ., W . Easton P . P . G . S . N ., W . F . Quick P . P . G . A . S ., S . B . Colston P . P . G . S . B ., Rev . E . Aitken-Davies P . P . G ., James Murray P . P . G . D . C , Joseph Page P . Z . Treasurer 112 , Rev . Thomas Russell H . 251 , Wm . Haynes P . Z . 106 , W . Brodie H . 1284 , Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., Z . 189 , J . P . Heath H . 112 , W . Brodie P . Z . 328 , Thomas Elsworthy P . Z . 251 , J . U . Valentino H . 303 , John Olver Z . 1138 , John Stocker Z . 112 , Charles Stevens P . Z . 1138 , W . E . Warren P . Z .

238 , William Harris P . Z . 1138 , Dr . Bousfield , Weysido Chapter 1395 , P . P . G . Officer Surrey . Companions W . R- Lisle Gr . B . 112 , Henry Stocker Assfc . S . 112 , W . Densham P . S . 112 , Jno . Alger Reg . 112 , F . Sanders S . N . 1284 , S . R . Jerred 112 , Geo . Hnssey 328 , Walter G . Lacey 106 , H . W . Madelay 112 , H . J . Hancock 251 , H . F . Willey 1284 , Thomas Wutherton 248 , H . Stansfield 106 . The minutes of

last P . G . Chapter , hold afc Stonehouse , on 4 th of June 1881 , were read by the P . G . S . B Ex-Comp . Brewer , and confirmed . Tho next business was the reception of reports . The P . G . S . E . 's report showed thafc on unusual amount of duos had been received during the past year . Warnings had been forwarded to several Chapters that were in arrears , and the whole , with the exception of one , had paid up .

Some had four years' dues to pay , others three years , and two years . The Treasnrer , Ex-Comp . Cnrteis , was prevented by his engagements from attending . His statement of accounts was read by Bro . Brewer . It showed a balance in hand of £ 66 14 s ld , bufc from that had to be deducted £ 6 6 s dne to the Fortescne Annuity Fund , which left the available balance at £ 60 8 s ld . Tho By-Laws Revision

Committee had not drawn up any draft of By-laws to submit . They reported thafc they wished to have the Grand Lodge laws settled first , for their guidance . The Chapter received and adopted these reports . A recommendation was made by the Chapter to the Revision Committee to arrange in their draff ; of ^ Bylaws for providing a Committee of Petitions for the Provincial

Grand Chapter , upon a similar plan to thafc adopted by the Uraffc Masons in tho Province , in order that the awarding of the available balances might be made npon carefnl consideration , not haphazard votes at the annual meeting . It was proposed by Ex-Comp . W . Brodie , and seconded bv Ex-Comp . E . Aitken Davies , that twenty guineas be voted to the Devon Educational Fnnd . Ex-Comp . Captain

Stone stated that tho management of that Fund required revision , and should be considered before auy moro money was voted to it . Provision had for the present been made to pay tho allowances to children , so there was no pressing necessity for the £ 20 . Ex-Comp . Fulford and Ex-Comp . John Stocker complained that the Educational Fund was weakening the support furnished from the Province to the

London Masonic Charities , from whom tho Province was at present deriving largo grants . After a long discussion a majority carried a resolution to award £ 30 a year to the Masonic Girls'School , and £ 30 to the Masonic Boys' School . Ev-Comp . J . P . Hcith was elected the Treasurer for the year . Ex-Comps . T . S . Bayly P . P . G . Reg ., and J . Lynn P . P . G . S . B ., were re-elected tho Auditors . The following Officers were then appointed : —

Comp . W . G . Rogers H . J . E . Curteis ... ... ... J . J . Brewer ... ,., ... ... Scribe E . R . T . Thorntou Scribe N .