North And East Yorks.

in 1884 , and then , as now , the West Cliff Saloon , of which Sir George Elliot , Bart ., is the owner , was kindly placed at the disposal of the promoters of the gathering . This year , from its two-fold character , the visit of the Provincial brethren being combined with the Lion Lodge ' s centenary commemoration , the event assumed an interest which it has not before possessed .

The Marquis of Zetland appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : Bro . J . S . Moss 312 - - - - Senior Warden W . Biehardson 561 - - - - Junior Warden Eev . W . T . Bobson 543 - - ) _ , , . . Bev . J . Baker 123 - - - - Chaplains

S . Beed 312 .... Treasurer M . 0 . Peck 250 - - - - Secretary J . H . Buohannan 1416 ... Begistrar L . B . Brekke 250 - - - - 1 o ¦ -n " J . Winterschladen 1848 - - - Senior Deacons

D . Morley 294 - - - - )_ . _ , J . H . Shanksmith 1611 - - - { Junior Deacons J . M . Bottomley 1848 - - - Superintendent of Works J . G . Wallis 2494 - Director of Ceremonies J . Holland 2391 - Deputy Dir . of Cers . J . G . Loam 630 ... . Assist . Dir . of Cers .

H . Heggleshaw 566 - - - Sword Bearer Major Wilson 734 - - - - Standard Bearer J . T . Belt 2134 - Assist . Standard Bearer H . Hallgate 312 - - - - Organist T . B . Bedfearn 1511 - - - Assistant Secretary W . Highmoor 1040 - Pursuivant F . S . Pexton 1756 - - - - Assistant Pursuivant .

Shropshire.

SHROPSHIRE .

AN unusual , if not unique , gathering took place at Shrewsbury on the 14 th inst ., when the members of the Shropshire Province held a special Festival in commemoration of the Queen ' s sixty years reign . The proceedings commenced with the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , which was held in the Music Hall , under the presidency of Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master , who was accompanied by Bro . Eowland G . Venables P . A . G . D . C . Deputy Provincial Grand Master .

The usual reports having been read , the Prov . Grand Master appointed and invested the Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —

Bro . Major A . Heber-Percy 1575 & 262 - Senior Warden A . S . Townsend 611 & 117 - - - Junior Warden Bev . J . Lewis Williams 1621 - ¦ | ™ , . Bev . J . B . Meredith 1124 - - - J - ^ plains J . H . Cooksey 1621 ... - Treasurer W . T . Smith 1621 - Begistrar

W . H . Spaull 1124 P . A . G . D . C . - - Secretary W . C . C . Peele 262 - - - - Senior Deacon Lieut .-Col . J . M . Maltby 1124 - - Junior Deacon T . Ashmore 1896 - Superintendent of Works W . Baxter 2311 & 117 - - - Director of Ceremonies H . F . Newman 2311 & 117 - - Assistant Dir . of Cers .

B . de Courcy Peele 611 ... Sword Bearer Arthur Minshall 2131 - - - | 0 . , , _ T . T . Chubb 2311 - - - -J Standard Bearers H . H . Tims 1432 .... Organist T . Owen 1432 .... Assistant Secretary C . H . Deighton 1621 - - - Pursuivant

E . M . Gardner 1432 - - - Assistant Pursuivant W . Bromfield 1896 - - - - \ F . Salisbury 262 - C . J . Glasson 2131 - - - _ . , J . W . Littlewood 601 - - - f Stewards H . W . Hughes 117 - H . J . Skelding 1621 Henry Goodall 1621 - - - Tyler .

The reports of the children in the Masonic Institutions from the Province were read , which stated that they were good and attentive . Bro . W . H . Spaull 1124 Past A . G . D . C . P . P . S . G . W . Prov . G . Secretary and Vice-President of the Institution , was afterwards nominated for election on the Board of Management of the Boyal Masonic Institution for Boys .

The Prov . Grand Master having appointed the next annual communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge to be held at Market Drayton , votes of thanks were unanimously passed to the Ven . Archdeacon Maude for kindly allowing the cominembration service to take place at St . Chad ' s Church , and to Bro . the Bev . Cooper Smith , D . D ., for his visit to the Province in order to preach the special sermon , and he replied .

A vote of thanks was also passed to Messrs . Eyre and Spottiswoode , H . M . printers , for kindly allowing the Province to reprint the Bishop of Wakefield ' s Jubilee hymn , " Oh , King of Kiugs , " iu the programme of the day ' s proceedings . The Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in ancient form .

The Brethren then assembled in a tent specially erected in the Quarry , from which , attired in full Masonic regalia , they marched to St . Chad ' s Church for Divine worship . A very large crowd assembled to watch the procession , which elicited considerable interest . The congregation was a large one .

Shropshire.

A special form of service was gone through , which included the singing of the Bishop of Wakefield ' s Jubilee Hymn , " O King of Kings , " " The Hallelujah Chorus , " and the National Anthem , and the entire service was characterised by great heartiness . The first lesson was read by the Provincial Grand Chaplain Bro . the Bev . J . Lewis Williams , the second by P . P . G . C . Bro . the Eev . J . B . Meredith .

The sermon was preached by Bro . the Bev . H . B . Cooper-Smith , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain , who took as his text the words " Sirs , ye are Brethren " ( Acts vii , 26 ) . In the course of an appropriate discourse the preacher alluded to the position of Freemasonry from a religious point of view , and maintained that it was in no sense inconsistent with the principles of Christianity ,

and no unbeliever could be admitted within its pale . Masons were loyal to the Crown and Queen , and Her Majesty was their Patron . At such a time as the present Masons desired to emphasise the relations in which they stood to the Queen and to each other , and whatever might have been the action of those in

other countries or in other times , the loyalty of the English Masons was undoubted , and the service that day was an expression of their feeling of love towards the Queen , and of gratitude to Almighty God for the happy and prosperous years during which Victoria ' s reign has lasted .

At the close of the sermon a collection was made on behalf of the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fund of the Shropshire Masonic Charitable Association . After tbe service the Brethren returned to the Quarry , and subsequently sat down to lunch in the Music Hall . There were in all about 150 members of the Craft in attendance at the festival , under the presidency of Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

ON Sunday , 11 th inst ., a very interesting service was held at St . Mary Abbots , Kensington . The new Vicar , the Rev . Canon Pennefather holds the rank of P . P . G . C , and as a kind of welcome many Brethren attended , wearing Masonic clothing ,

when a special service was used , consisting of a shortened form of the Evening Service , special Psalms , lessons , and hymns . All who officiated were Masons , and wore their clothing over their surplices .

The Vicar preached a very able and practical sermon from Galatians vi ., 5 and 2 , "For ever man shall bear his own burden , " and " Bear ye one another ' s burdens , and so fulfil the law of Christ . " He remarked there appeared to be some difference between the two texts . They were told not only to

bear their own burdens , but they must help bear another ' s burdens . Although this appeared somewhat contradictory , yet it was perfectly true . Every one had bis own burden , one which was particularly his own , and which no one else could bear for him . These were more particularly felt when friend sympathised

with friend , and at times when they stole away from busy scenes , and were alone with God . Even when walking through the most crowded thoroughfares they realised they were alone bearing their own responsibility . They might see a man or woman at dinner with a careworn look on their face—the sign of

sorrow could be read there . What was the meaning ? It was that the individual was realising his own individuality . Sorrows might have entered their home , and friends speak kindly and write letters of sympathy , but still there was that aching in the heart when they realised they were

alone , comparatively speaking , with God , and bearing their own burden . But they must remember that it was the burden God had made for them . It might be with respect to the responsibilities of life . He hoped they realised the meaning of such responsibilities . Why had God sent them into the world and

endowed them with such powers as they had ? Was it that they should live for their own interest ; simply to acquire wealth and get on in the world , as some had done so well ? If they did so , they did not understand . God had sent them not to live aselfish life , but to live for others , to spend their time in the Master ' s

service . Did they realise that the most blessed days in life were those in which they carried out the will of the Father , doing good to others ? Did they understand the responsibility—that one day they would have to give an account of their work ? Every man bore his own burden when he realised his individuality .

The memory of sin which fell on everyone seemed to come as a black hideous spectre in the night . They tried , but could not banish it , but a voice said unto them , " Cast your burden on the Lord . " That was the only way . He loved them as brothers loved , and died on Calvary ' s cross to take away their sins . They

had also to endeavour to live for others , and to bear , as far as God gave them strength , one another ' s burdens . " All ye that are weary and heavy laden draw near unto God , " said the Apostle . They had to help those who were striving to fight the good fight of faith . Some at times felt weary , and wished to give up the struggle , but as even one of the principles of their great