Essex.

which he was valued more highly and in which his qualities were more fully recognised than by the Masons of Essex . The Provincial Grand Master , who was enthusiastically received on rising , thanked the brethren most heartily for the manner in which his health had been proposed and received . He had in Lodge expressed the very great satisfaction which it

gave him to meet them again in the old town of Colchester . As he then told them , it carried him back to about fifteen years ago , when he was a much younger man—much more ignorant , perhaps , in Masonry , and ignorant in many ways—when he first came before them . He believed the Masons of Essex had done a great deal for him—and from what he could hear from

the Senior Warden , his fellow-townsmen in Colchester did a great deal for him on a celebrated occasion . One thing had always been most pleasing to him ; he was not only on the friendliest terms with Masons , but also with all parties in the town , whether Eadical or Conservative . He though Freemasonry , perhaps , gave one larger views , and it was not a bad thing

sometimes to see both sides of a question , although he did not think vacillation was a thing to admire or uphold . One thing he was proud of that day . They had shown that there was something real and genuine in Freemasonry—something beyond the pleasure of meeting together and the pleasure of banqueting .

They had in the Lodge that day subscribed the handsome sum of over 200 guineas towards the fund in relief of the great disaster which had befallen a part of their county . They had decided to keep the fund open for a fortnight , so that any Lodges or brethren who desired to contribute might send their money to the Provincial Grand Secretary .

The Provincial Grand Master next proposed the toast oi His Honour Judge Philbriek , Q . C , G . Beg . Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Essex , repeating the regret they all felt at the absence of His Honour . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . T . J . Balling Prov . Grand Secretary , to whose devotion to Masonic interests he paid a high tribute , and expressed gratitude to him for his exertions on behalf of the Province .

Bro . Balling , in the course of a happy reply , assured the Brethren that his interest in Masonry was as warm as ever . Speaking from a considerable experience , he asserted that at no time was Masonry so flourishing in Essex as at the present time , and the present gathering was the finest they had ever had , which he could only compare with the gathering they had at E & ston Lodge—a repetition of which he hoped some day to see .

The name of Bro . McLeod Secretary of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys was coupled with the visitors , also proposed by the noble Earl . Brother McLeod said a visit to the Essex Provincial Grand Lodge was such a pleasure that he gladly embraced the opportunity of being with them that day . The harmony with which all the business was carried out and the

genuine ring of charity which pervaded the Lodge had been most pleasing to the visitors . As regarded his special charity , he said the Province was most fortunate in having so good a representative on the Board of Management as Bro . George Corbie , who was most assiduous in looking after the interests of the School . The Province had shown their appreciation of Bro . Corbie ' s services by re-nomiuafcing him to the position .

The toast of the Worshipful Masters of the Lodges in the Province was responded to by Bro . Harry E . Baker W . M . United Lodge , No . 697 , and Bro . Claude Egerton-Green W . M . 51 . The former claimed for his Lodge that his Lordship had no more loyal and hardworking a body of Brethren ; whilst the latter , referring to the harmonious working of the two Lodges together , facetiously remarked that if tbey were not all " Angels" they were certainly " United . "

The day s proceedings concluded with a very pleasant garden party , a large number of Ladies visiting the grounds by invitation of the Brethren . The popular band of the York and Lancaster Eegiment , under Bro . Bandmaster Wood , which had played selections during the dinner , continued to discourse sweet music till the shades of evening brought a most successful meeting to a close . — " Essex Standard . "

North And East Yorks.

NORTH AND EAST YORKS .

MOBE than usual interest was attached to the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of North and East Yorks which was held on the 15 th , at Whitby . This was mainly owing to two reasons—first , that the Lion Lodge , No . 312 , at whose invitation the brethren assembled , was celebrating its 100 th anniversary festival , and , secondly , thafc Whitby is always

considered one of the most pleasant outings afforded the members of the Craft . Although , of course , not able to accompany fche Brethren within the sacred precincts of the Lodge , many of the

fair sex took the journey to Whitby , and spent a most enjoyable time at the old historic abbey , and in visiting many other points of interest wifch which the famous jet town abounds . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at two o ' clock in

North And East Yorks.

the Lodge-room at the Grand Saloon . The Marquis of Zetland Provincial Grand Master presided , and was supported by Lord Bolton D . P . G . M . The minutes of the last meeting , held at Hull , were confirmed .

The annual report of the Board of Benevolence was adopted . This recorded several grants to widows of deceased brethren , as also to members of the Craft , who , through calamity and misfortune , had been placed in reduced circumstances . The balance of the Fund at the end of the financial year was stated to be £ 1 , 046 15 s 7 d .

The Treasurer ' s balance sheet was of a very satisfactory character . On the motion of Bro . T . B . Whytehead it was resolved " That in future the official duties of the Provincial Grand

Treasurer be undertaken by the Provincial Grand Secretary , and that an annual honorarium of ten pounds be voted to the P . G . Secretary in recognition of the additional work entailed by the change of arrangements . " Several minor alterations in the byelaws were agreed to .

The Eev . Fox-Thomas P . P . G . C . read a most amusing and interesting paper on the History of Freemasonry in Whitby , tracing the same from 1616 to 1897 . The Marquis of Zetland feelingly referred to the lamented death of Bro . Joseph Todd P . G . Treasurer , and then presented the Centenary Warrant to the W . M . of the Lion Lodge . Eeviewing the Masonic events during the past twelve months , his

lordship said the assembly last month at the Albert Hall was the largest ever known , the Masonic charities benefiting to the extent of £ 3 , 000 . Locally , the celebration of the fifth festival of the North and East Yorkshire Educational Fund held in May was a great success , as upwards of £ 1 , 036 was realised . Next year the Centenary of the B . oyal Masonic Institution for Boys would be held , on which occasion the Prince of Wales G . M . would preside .

Subsequently the annual banquet was purveyed at the Crown Hotel , the Marquis of Zetland presiding . During the evening a grand ball was held in the saloon , in celebration of the centenary of the Lion Lodge . The Centenary commemoration of this Lodge may be said to have commenced on Sunday , 11 th inst ., when the brethren

attended the Congregational Church in full Masonic costume , and an appropriate sermon was preached by the Eev . E . Fox-Thomas P . M . Chaplain of the Lodge and Past Provincial Grand Chaplain . Yorkshire takes almost a premier position in connection with English Freemasonry , as the first head-quarters of the mystic Craft are said to have been established at York , says the " Leeds

Mercury . " Whitby also has a prominent place in the history of Yorkshire Masonry , for according to ancient documents and records there were two " Free Maisons " in Whitby as far back as 1616 and 1639 . The first Lodge constituted in Whitby was the Golden Lion , warranted in 1764 , and which met at the Golden Lion Inn , a licensed house , which dates back to the days

of the Stuart dynasty . Now , this Lodge is believed to have continued in existence until about the year 1772 , when it was erased for not making its orthodox returns to Grand Lodge , and the Britannia Lodge was established that year in its stead and warranted by the Grand Lodge . Its assemblies were first at the Buck Inn , and later at the Plough Inn , Church street . Although

this Lodge is said to have been most popular and prosperous for some time , for some unexplained reason it seems to have declined , and to have been dissolved . Some of its members evidently desired a new constitution , and were really the founders of the present Lion Lodge , to which the jewels belonging to the old Lodge were presented . The formation of the Lion Lodge took place in 1797 . Its original members- were unquestionably in

many instances some of the most influential inhabitants of Whitby and its vicinity , and the high respectability of this timehonoured Lodge has been fully maintained ever since . Its first place of meeting was at the Golden Lion Inn , then at the Freemasons' Tavern , later on at the Angel Inn , and lastly at the Masonic Hall since 1859 . All the minute books since 1797 are extant , and in good preservation .

The Lodge at present numbers 100 brethren , and the W . M ., is Bro . J . H . Harrowing , C . C . In connection with the Lodge there is also the Britannia Chapter of Eoyal Arch Masons , and a Mark Lodge , and they , like the Mother Lodge , are flourishing There are several Jubilee brethren connected with the Lodge still

surviving , and the oldest of these were initiated in 1838 , 1839 , and 1840 . A number of these venerable brethren paid a visit to the Zetland Lodge at Leeds only last year , at the installation of the JW . M . of that Lodge , and received a cordial welcome from Leeds Craftsmen .

The number of Lion brethren who have had Provincial honours awarded to them shows thc high appreciation in which this old-established Lodge has always been held . A Masonic Library , which promises to be a valuable treasury of Masonic literature , has been formed in the Lodge . The last time Provincial Grand Lodge visited Whitby was