Hampshire And Isle Of Wight.

HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge will be held on Tuesday , 8 th August , at Southampton .

KENT .

AS we stated last week , the annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Sevenoaks , under the banner of Knole Lodge , No . 1414 , of which Bro . C . Essenhigh Corke is W . M .

The proceedings commenced with a Lodge meeting at the Constitutional Club Hall , at which some three hundred Brethren from all parts of the Province attended . „ --, , The following were appointed the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . Alfred Laurie 1414 - - - - Senior Warden W . 0 . Kenriett 1208 - - - - Junior Warden Bev . Dr . W . H . Eobins 1174 - - ) „ , , . Bev . S . P . H . Statham 2195 - - } P '" ns W . Bussell 77 Treasurer

Alfred Spencer 1063 ... - Secretary C . W . Blaxland 709 - - - - Eegistrar F . B . Howlett 1725 - - - - | c . -p . F . W . H . Penfold 1174 - - - pernor Deacons B : V . F . Seton 1965 - - - - ) ,-. •« . * ¦ •. * . W . J . Dickens 1692 - - - r Junior Deacons

C . F . Quicke 1531 - Superintendent of Works Geo . Church 1 § 9 .... Director of Ceremonies , F . Francis 558 - - - - Deputy Dir . of Cers . F . Snowden 299 - - " - j A . H . Hale 1209 - - - - } Assistant Dirs . of Cers . - , 0 . H . Smith 1436 - - - - I W . ' A . Phipps 2404 - - - - Sword Bearer

•E . W . Sinnett 1536 - - - - I < , , •* , _ J . Neale 429 } Standard Bearers J , Coombes 829 .. - - - - Organist W . 'Tl Wiggehs 20 ... - Assistant Secretary G . H . Letton 615 - - - - Pursuivant "W . S . Baldwin 1 & 4 - - - - Assistant Pursuivant - J . Solomon 77 ... . - - - - \

W . 0 . Stunt 133 - B . Bix * 874 - - - - 0 . •-, L . Seager 1273 . . * - : - - ^ tewards H . B . Mace 1854 .... Sergt-Major H . G . Drake 2195 - - ' t J . Owen 20 ., - - - - - Tyler .

-. * After , the Lodge meeting the Brethren proceeded to the parish Church of St . Nicholas , kindly placed at the disposal of the Brethren by the Rector of Sevenoaks , where an excellent sermon was preached by Brother the Rev . W . H .

•Robins , D . D ., Provincial Grand Chaplain , he being assisted in the service by the Rev . A . E . Brown , Curate of Sevenoaks . Bro . C . Banson ably presided at the organ , and the service was very tastefully rendered by the full choir , appropriate nj'inns , lessons , and psalms being used .

Later in the day , with Earl Amherst in the chair , the Brethren banqueted at the Drill Hall , Argyle Road , which was kindly lent for the occasion by Captain Holcroft , commanding the G Company Volunteers . The banquet was

ably served by Bro . F . Robinson , proprietor of the Royal Oak Hotel , the menu being an excellent one . During the banquet the Bijou Orchestra played a selection of music , and ' after the repast Bro . A . Schartau , assisted by Bros . Fells and Churcher , rendered a series of songs and recitations .

.... The offertory at the Church realised nearly £ 15 , half of which was given to Masonic Charities , and the remaining 'half in equal shares to the Sevenoaks Hip Hospital and the St ' . Michael's Orphanage , Sevenoaks .

Mark Masonry

MARK MASONRY

— : o : — CORNWALL .

npHE Provincial Grand Mark Lodge met on Monday , _ I _ under the banner of St . John Baptist Lodge , No . 404 , at Penzance . Bro . P . Colville Smith P . M : ' P . G . D . of England Deputy Prov . Grand M . M . M . presided , in the unavoidable- absence of the Earl of Halsbury Prov G . M . M . M . of Cornwall .

The Prov . G . Treasurer Bro . Miiford reported that the financial condition of the Province was satisfactory . The reports of the W . M . s of the Lodges in the Province showed that the degree had increased twenty in the last year . Bro . Miiford was re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer for the ei ghth time . The following Brethren were invested as the Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year ;

Mark Masonry

Bro . E . P . Couch 87 - - - - Senior Warden W . L . Chegwidden 73 Junior Warden Sholto Hare 101 .... Master Overseer J . M . Cornish 417 .... Senior Overseer E . Benney 78 .... Junior Overseer Bev . 0 . F . Mermagen 78 - - - Chaplain B . P . Pease 325 - - - - Registrar

W . J . Johns 78 Secretary B . M . Miiford .... Treasurer "CVIilford Abbott .... Senior Deacon F . J . Lee 379 .... Junior Deacon C . H . Wetter 275 .... Inspector of Works 0 . D . Smith 379 ... - Director of Ceremonies J . G . Blight 375 - - - - Sword Bearer

J . M . Blarney 94 - - - Standard Bearer Gundry 94 - - - - - Assistant Secretary 3 . James 175 .... Inner Guard T . Docton 87 - - - - - "V B . Walters 404 - - - - f Stewards S . J . Partridge 101 - - - - > J . B . Bogers 404 - - - - Tyler . Bro . Sholto Hare offered his services as Steward for the Mark Benevolent Fund , and they were accepted .

An interesting feature was a presentation to Bro . W . J . Johns Prov . G . Sec , " By the Mark Masons of Cornwall on his appointment to the office of Grand Standard Bearer of England , i 8 g 8 , in appreciation of his long and valued services to Mark Masonry . " The present consisted of Grand Mark clothing for the Office of Standard Bearer , a P . M . 's jewel ,

and a silver salver ( both inscribed ) . A diamond ring for Mrs . Johns accompanied the gift . Bro . Colville Smith made the presentation , and it is believed that every Lodge and member of the Province subscribed .

Looe invited the Lodge to hold their meeting at that town next year . The business of the Lodge having been concluded , light refreshments were served to the Brethren and lady friends , and later St . Michael ' s Mount was visited by brake . At the

Mount the party were received by the Hon . Piers St . Aubyn , who conducted them to the many places of interest on the historic old pile , but the pleasure of the trip was somewhat marred by the rain which commenced soon after the party reached the Mount . On the return journey the Brethren and ladies partook of dinner at the Western Hotel .

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

'liHE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge JL was held at the Mechanics Institute , Stockport , on Saturday , ioth inst ., the Provincial Grand Master the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W . in the chair , he being saluted with Grand honours , while a similar compliment was paid , to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and other Grand Officers present .

The roll of Lodges was called over by the Prov . Grand Secretary , and all were found to be represented , after which the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge were read and confirmed , and the Treasurer ' s accounts submitted and

adopted . On the motion of Bro . H . Powell-Jones , seconded by Bro . James Cookson , Bro . J . R . R . Jeffrey was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year .

The Provincial Grand Master then addressed a few words to the assembled Brethren , and after thanking them for their support mentioned that the Province was making steady progress , which was most marked in its wealthier portions . He thought the older Mark Masons ought to

impress on their younger Brethren of the Craft the charm and beauty of the Mark Degree . It was , in fact , the duty of all Mark Masons to urge all worthy members of the Craft to become acquainted with the Degree . It was a most regretable circumstance that the Grand Master had had at

last to take action against the body calling itself "The Hon . United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Mark Master Masons , Ashton District , " which operated to the detriment of regular Mark Masonry in the whole of the eastern parts of Cheshire . Their loyalty to their Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales made it essential that in

England and Wales at least , there must be no opposition to his sway as supreme ruler of the Mark Degree . This Ashton body had been approached on several occasions , and requested to own allegiance to H . R . H ., and the most kindly consideration promised them , but all communications from

the Grand Lodge they had treated with silent contempt . Bro . R . Loveland-Loveland , Q . C , President of the General Board , at the last meeting of the Grand Lodge moved a resolution declaring the body spurious and clandestine , which after full discussion was unanimously agreed to . He must enjoin upon all the Brethren to carefull y act on that resolution ,