Essex Masonic Charity Committee

After full deliberation , it was unanimortsly resolved that the support of the Province should bo given to the following cases : — Firstly—To Elsie Helen Ktlpin ( No . 7 on voting paper . ) Secondly—To Clair Bonner ( No . 18 on voting paper . ) Thirdly—To Maud Mary Norris ( No . 9 on voting paper . ) A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Bros . Dehauo , Shodd ,

Clowes and Wood for their past services as representatives of the Committee at the Elections . A letter was read from Bro . Clowe * , thanking the Committee for the confidence they had placed in him for so long , and expressing a wish not to be re-elected , as , owiug to his many engagements , he could not devote the necessary time to the duties . A resolution of regret at Bro . Clowes' resignation was

unanimously passed , and Bro . F . A . White was unanimously elected in his place , Bros . Dehane , Shedd and Wood being at the same time unanimously re-elected . On the motion of Bro . F . A . White , seconded by Bro . 6 . J . Thompson , a resolution of hearty sympathy was unanimously passed to the

Deputy Provincial Grand Master in the affliction that had befallen him owing to the murderous attack on his daughter , and the Provincial Grand Secretary was directed to communicate the same to Brother Pbilbriok . The half-yearly report of the Kepresentatives of the Essex Charity Committee at the last Elections is as follows : —

Girls' Election , 7 th April 1892 . —Considering that five candidates from this Province were on the lists for the May Election of the Benevolent Institution , we were rather over-cartful thau otherwise at the Girls' Election , making our calculations for bottom place . Unfortunately , however , we were misled in the number of cases being " run "—one Provinoe working two oases instead of one threw as out by a hundred or so . Consequently Helen Elsie Kilpin was top unsuccessful by the small number of 208 , we have polled 1 , 917 , whilst

the lowest successful polled 2 , 125 . Girls . Boys . Women . Men . Total . Paid Debts ... 200 77 — — 277 Polled .. 1 , 917 — — — 1 , 917 HoldlOU ' s ... — — 104 276 380 2 , 117 77 101 276 2 , 574 , Eeoeived from Province 835 960 — — 1 , 795

By the above it will be seen a good exchange waa made for the Boys' votes , but many were sent solely on condition they were used to help Beloham ' s case in May . Our thanks are due to several brethren for substantial sapport , nmoug whom are the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Brother Philbrick , Bros . G . H . Finoh , W . V . Willson , A . Lucking , John Glass , W . Shurmur , Dr . Lennox Browne , and the Star in the East Lodge .

Old People ' s Election , 20 th May 1892 . —Of tho five candidates to be supported , in accordance with the decision of the Charity Committee ou 2 nd Marob , we are pleased to be able to report that four were eleoted , while the unsuccessful case received a gratuity of £ 5 .

Tho first case ( that of Bro . Belcham ) , through the anxiety of Bro . Fiuch , to whom our very best thanks are due , not only for proxies but assistance a ; the election , moro votes were polled than necessary , Belcham beiug top of tbe successful candidates ; although one good result will follow , namely , an earlier admission to the benefits of the Institntion .

Bro . Dorling a case was renlly worked by hts county ( bnlfolk ) . We kept ourselves posted as to the numbers polled for him in addition to those polled by ourselve ? , and were satisfied as to the safety of his election . Mrs . Watevhouse ' a case was the fust on our list to be secured , aud in making snre we polled rather heavily , although Mrs . Howard , our

next case , was advanced . Mrs . Austen , the last on our list , was iu very good hands , uamely , the brethren , of tbe Bagshaw Lodge , who entirely by their own eflbrts carried the case , your Representatives polling ouly 17 votes for her . During tho Election we were much worried by several Brethron as to the number of votes polled by us for the different cases , especially

Dorling's , ns we , in accordance with our invariable rule , never let auy one know what we poll during tho time of Election . In Dorling's case , had there been any doubt iu our minds as to success , we might havo broken through our rule ; as it was , we were obliged to poiut out that the management of the Elections was entrusted to your Representatives , and considering the amount of work to be done iu a stipulated time and the general confusion , were justified iu what we did .

At the declaration of the poll the numbers given by the Scrutineers in Beloham's case showed 191 mora than we had polled , and much to our surprise Mrs . Watcrhouse was shown as having 70 more and jtfrs . Howard 19 less than our record . Relcham . Dorling . Waterhouse . Howard . Austen . Polled by your Kepresentatives 2 , 868 530 1 , 93 d 187 17

Polled by Bro . Finch and Friends 1 , 950 — — — — Polled by those working Dorling ' s case — 2 , 209 — — — Polled by those workiug Mrs . AuBton' a case — — — — 2 , 712 Brought forward — — 1 , 797 3-19 — Polled by Friends — — — 781

—Womeus . Meus . Received from the Province 1 , 820 1 , 900 Polled by your Representatives 2 , 138 3 , 398 Oar thanks arc due to many Brethren for the grand support given Us , amongst whom woro Bros . Finch , A . R . Gbambevlayne , A . J . Dixie , II . Fortescue , A . Lucking , W . Sbunnur , J . M . Scarlett , J . Speller , F . A . White , W . V . Willson , Miss F . Groom , and tho following

Essex Masonic Charity Committee

Lodges : —Angel , Star in the East , Priory , and William Shurmur , this latter Lodge sending no less than 610 votes . It may interest the Brethren , as showing the advance made by tbe Province in ten years , that two of yonr present Kepresentatives received from the Province in Women ' 8 . Men ' s .

1892 149 161 1892 1 , 820 1 , 900 ( Signed ) H . E . DEHANE P . M . 1543 P . P . G . S . D . ¦) B \ WOOD P . M . and Treas . 1000 P . P . G . S . W . f T » ftnr « 0 «„^ i , r .. a E . SHEDD P . M . 276 P . P . G . R . ( B ^ esentatives . R . CLOWES P . M . 650 P . G . Std . Br . P . P . G . S . W . J September 1892 .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

* n « PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WORCESTERSHIRE .

THE Annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Murk Master Masons for the Province of Worcestershire was held on Monday , the 19 th instant , at Dudley . The Saracen ' s Head Hotel , which is the usual rendezvous for Masons of all degrees , -was specially prepared for tlie occasion , the

whole suite of reception rooms being used . There was a distinguished assembly of Mark Masons present to do honour to the Provincial Grand Master Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P . In the early part of the afternoon the Godson

Lodge of M . M . M ., No . 330 , was formally opened to receive the Provincial Grand Master and his Officers . The procession was very effective as it entered the Lodge to the strains of the organ , at which presided the Rev . Bro . W .

J . Downe , the Vicar of St . Luke ' s Church , Dudley . Upon the Provincial Grand Master taking the throne , thB Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and other Grand Officers ascended the dais and they were saluted according to

ancient custom . The Lodge was then opened , the minutes of last Grand Lodge read and confirmed , and other routine business satisfactorily disposed of . The roll of LodgeB was called over , and all the Lodges wero fully represented . The

Masters of the Lodges then read their reports to the Grand Master as to the working of their respective Lodges , and tho general position of Mark Masonry . The reports were deemed satisfactory aud ordered to be recorded . The following are Provincial Grand Officers for the year : —

Bro . Abraham Green ... , „ Deputy Master Arthur Comber ... ... Senior Warden G . 11 . Williamson ... ... Junior Warden E . J . Chambers ... ... M . O . W . G . Walker S . O . 11 . Egar . M . D J . O .

Eev . W . J . Downe ... ... Chaplain — Walkor ... ... ... Treasurer J . G . Bennett ... ... Registrar T . F . Blaud ... ... Secretary W . T . Page ... ... Senior Deacon

R . Rhodes ... ... ... Junior Deacon Murray Hayues ... ... Direotor of Ceremonies James Jones ... ... Inner Guard . ^ Snvitb . ) Stewards E . A . Hicks ... ... ) Samuel Spittle ... ... Tyler

Upon the question whore next Provincial Grand Lodge should be hold , the Provincial Grand Master announced tbafc he accepted the cordial invitation of the Lechmere Lodge , No . 59 , at Worcester , where Provincial Grand Lodge would be held in October 1893 .

Tho Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , as was also the subordinate Lodge , and thereupon the brethren adjourned to banqaet . The day ' s arrangements were most ably carried out by Bro . T . P . Bland , the Prov . Grand Secretary , who received the thanks of the Prov . Grand Master

and Prov . Grand Lodge for the completeness of the details . The banquet was of the choicest description , reflecting great credit on the host of the Saracen ' s Head . The

Provincial Grand Master presided , and was supported by his Deputy and all the Prov . Grand Officers , besides many brethren of tho private Lodges . Tao usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly responded to .

Lewis Lodge, No. 394.

LEWIS LODGE , No . 394 .

I ^ IIB annual installation meeting was held at tho Froeroasuus ' - Hall , Lewes , ou Saturday , the 10 th inst-, when Bro . George