Somerset.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Comp . Norris for the history he had prepared , and a hope was expressed that it would be printed and circulated throughout the Province . The Grand Supt . announced that Comp . Colonel W . Long had again consented to receive the collar of P . G . H .,

and that he had great pleasure in appointing as P . G . J . Comp . Edward Fry Wade , an old and esteemed P . Z . of the receiving Chapter , and the Provincial Grand Secretary of Somerset in the Craft . He then appointed and invested his other Officers as follow :

Comp . E . Noke 53 Scribe E . E . B . Hayter 285 - - - - Scribe N . B . H . Watts 53 - - - Treasurer G . R . Wilson 973 - - - - Registrar H . Davies 291 .... Principal Sojourner J . P . Capel 1222 - - - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner W . H . Wake 261 - - - - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner

C . Card 41 - - - - - Sword Bearer P . Bendell 973 - - - . - Standard Bearer A . B . WickeDden 1750 ... Director of Ceremonies A . Beynolds 329 - Organist G . W . Wiltshire 973 - - - Assistant Scribe E . A . J . Salter 53 Janitor S . Bigwood H Assistant Janitor .

The sum of fifty guineas was voted from the funds of Provincial Grand Chapter to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , to be placed upon the list of the Provincial Grand Superintendent , who proposes to serve as Steward at the Centenary of the Institution next year , when H . R . H . the Prince of Wales will take the chair at the festival . A banquet followed at the Railway Hotel . — "Bristol Times . "

undertaken by Comp . George Brown 1375 . The very satisfactory announcement was made that the number of subscribing members had reached seventy-six , with very good prospects of an increase ere long , especially as one of the ¦ main features of the Chapter is a desire to secure uniformity in working the various portions of the ceremony .

TRUTH INSTRUCTION CHAPTER , No . 1458 . THE third regular meeting of this Chapter was held at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on Tuesday , the 14 th inst . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Buckley Carr P . Z . 993 P . P . G . D . C . in the principal chair as acting Preceptor , the candidate being Comp . John Renwick 325 . Comp . G . T . Lenard accepted the position of 1 st Soj ., that of 2 nd Soj . being

At the next meeting ( to be held on Tuesday , 9 th November ) , Comp . Charles Swinn P . Z . 20 ± P . P . G . Std . Br . will undertake the ceremony of exaltation , the second lecture will be given by Comp . Fletcher Armstrong P . Z . 935 P . P . G . A . D . C ., while Comp . Lenard , whose work at this meeting was beyond all praise , will by special request again occupy the position of First Sojourner .

Among others we noticed the following were present , viz ., Comps . H . Hellewell S . E ., Councillor Samuel I . Mills , George Crocker , C . W . Godby , William Booth , Dr . Thomas D . Foreman , Harry G . Walker , John Williams , Walter Cockerham , J . Derbyshire , A . T . McGregor . Visitor , Comp . N . T . Holyoak , Benevolence , No . 226 .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — STAFFORDSHIRE . rr ^ HE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark JL Lodge took place at the Star and Garter Hotel , Wolverhampton , on the 17 th inst . Colonel G . S . Tudor Prov . G . M . M . presided , and was supported by his Deputy , and Brethren from every Lodge in the Province . The following appointments of Officers for the ensuing year were made :

Bro . Bilton ..... Senior Warden Gittings . . . . . Junior Warden Crump ..... Master Overseer H . Manley ----- Senior Overseer J . Munro ..... Junior Overseer C . A . Newnham .... Treasurer E . Smith ..... Registrar

Colonel Walker ... . Secretary J . Carver - Senior Deacon J . J . Smith .... Junior Deacon T . H . Bearne .... Superintendent of Works W . Brickel ----- Director of Ceremonies J . H . Cooksey .... Sword Bearer Tom Pannen .... Standard Bearer Adams ..... Inner Guard .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE funeral of Bro . Watkin Jones Thomas , chemist , Tydfil House , Aberdare , took place at the Cefn Cemetery on Wednesday , 8 th inst . The funeral was strictly private , but the Masonic Brethren travelled by train to the Cefn Cemetery , where they took their position around the grave and dropped a sprig of acacia on the coffin .

Lodge Of Peace And Unity Centenary.

LODGE OF PEACE AND UNITY CENTENARY .

THE celebration of the centenary of the Lodge of Peace and Unity , No . 314 , Preston , took place on Monday , 13 th inst ., at the Assembly Room , Bull Hotel , Preston , when there was a large and representative gathering of Masons from both far and hear .

The original Warrant of the Lodge is dated 13 th September 1797 , and continuity was able to be proved up to the present day , thus putting Peace and Unity in a proud position .

At the celebration , the Lodge having been duly opened , the Worshipful Master announced that , owing to the absence from England of the Most Worshipful Grand Master H . R . H .

the Prince of Wales the Centenary Warrant , which required his signature , had not yet arrived , and letters and telegrams from the Grand Secretary were read announcing that the Warrant was otherwise in order .

An oration was delivered by the Chaplain of the Lodge the Rev . T . Barton Spencer , M . A ., Past Grand Chaplain of England P . Prov . G . C , who said : —To-day is indeed a redletter day in the calendar of our Mother Lodge , Peace and Unity , No . 314 , Preston , for we celebrate our centenary , for

which the M . W . G . M . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales granted our Centenary Warrant . I congratulate you , Bro . Dr . Dunn , upon the well-deserved honour of being Worshipful Master upon this auspicious occasion ; and I think the celebration should give us fresh zeal in carrying on the working of our

Lodge . The event of to-day puts our Lodge in a proud position among the Lodges in Preston . It is true the Lodge of Unanimity , No . 113 , has a Warrant dated 17 th February 1767 , but it has not been able to prove continuous working during 100 years , and so has not received a Centenary

Warrant . Our Warrant is dated 13 th September 1797 , exactly 100 years ago to-day , and we have been able to prove continuous working from that day to this . But to-day , while it brings with it feelings of joy and rejoicing , brings with it also some solemn thoughts . It bids us think of those

who have been Worshipful Masters and Officers during the years that are gone . We , as members of this Lodge , owe a debt of gratitude to those who have done their duty to Masonry in their day and generation , and we think especially of one within the recollection of many present . I mean the

late Bro . T . M . Shuttleworth P . P . G . S . W . and three times W . M . of this Lodge . It also reminds us that while the names of some of those present may be handed down to future generations of the members of this Lodge , and may be inscribed in the roll of our Lodge or Province , not one of us

here to-day will take part in the second centenary celebration of Peace and Unity . Now it would be an interesting and appropriate subject on this occasion to take the history of our Lodge during the past 100 years , and give from the minute books a brief resume of its work , and its members ,

and I am sure that such a history , if published , would be interesting to many Masons , but the W . M . purposes alluding to this point later on in the proceedings , and so I will not dwell further upon it , but will speak not of this Lodge in particular , but will speak of the growth of Freemasonry in

England and in the Province of West Lancashire during the past century . With regard to Freemasonry in England , it was in 1813 that the two Grand Lodges called the Moderns and the Ancients were united , under H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , who

was Grand Master of each , under the title of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . As we look back over the past hundred years we are struck with its great growth in various parts of the world . It still continues to grow , and to add to its ranks and Officers

those who occupy high places in Church and State . It seems quite natural to the true Mason that such should be the case , for Masonry appeals not only to the moral sentiments and faculties of mankind , but to the intellectual powers as well . In England it has greatly grown , and since

the Prince of Wales , K . G ., became our Grand Master it has increased almost by leaps and bounds . It numbers among the Royal Family as Brethren H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . It contains a large number of the nobility , including in Lancashire the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., Pro Grand Master of England Prov . G .

Master of West Lancashire ; the Earl of Derby , K . G ., Past Grand Warden and W . M . of the Stanley of Preston Lodge ; the Earl of Crawford Past Grand Warden ; Lord Skelmersdale Past Grand Warden ; and Lord Stanley Past Grand Warden . The present and the late Lord Chancellors , Lord Halsbury and Lord Herschel , are Past Grand Wardens . It