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ascertained on the 11 th July 1871 , but only three LoJges made any return to this Grand Lodge . Brother C . Hammerton was Provincial Graud Secretary for the first year . In 1872 there were no returns from Ledges , Brother James Stevens wan appointed Secretary , and in August 1873 he was ablo to t that he had received returns from six Lodges , bnt only two of

repor these had rendered any dues . At this meeting the office ot Senior Deacon was conferred upon me , and I have since that date attended all meetings . There it no record of any meeting in the year 187 * although the minutes of 6 th February 1875 show that it was summoned by Brother S . 0 . Dibdin as P . G . Secretary , who reported the names of 7 Lodges as attached to this Province , but the minutes

show that only two Lodges had made returns and paid dues to the end of the preceding year . The minutes of tho annual meeting of the 19 th June 1875 show that the number of Lodges had been reduced to five , as two of the older Lodges had ceased working . Brother S . 0 . Dibdin was re . appointed P . G . Secretary , but shortly afterwards intimated his

intention of retiring , and Brother Hammerton , who from the first evinced a most lively interest in the prosperity of the P . G . Lodge , exerted himself to find a suitable brother to present to our P . Grand Master as P . G . Secretary , but be was unable to find any one willing to undertake the office except myself , and I was duly rewarded with the letter of appointment , and I have carried on that part of the

business for the Province , as from June 1875 . All three previous Secretaries had had to bear the brunt of the work of the early years , and their work must have been heavy , yefc most unsatisfactory to them , as their labours did not appear to bear anv fruit , bufc the newly appointed Secretary was placed in office

just in time to reap the harvest sown by his predecessors . There was muoh to do , the Province had no funds in hand , there were several debts and outstanding liabilities , the old Lodges , with two or three nptable exceptions , would not affiliate themselves , and the only Lodges then existing which were bound to belong to the Province were tho Percy , the Panmure , and the Grosvenor , and whether from oversight or from a belief that the Province was doing nothing ,

Grand Lodge had itself consecrated a new Lodge , the Temple , independent of this Province . Your Secretary felt that he had undertaken too much , but determined to try and succeed . It was necessary to stir up fche brethren to found new Lodges if this Province were ever to attain any position , and your Secretary found good men and true , year by year , to aid in tbe work , so that in his first year

of office the Era and the Francis Burdett were the first new Lodges added , and at the annual meeting in July 1876 the Deputy P . G . M . M . Bro . F . Davison was able to report that there was a balance in hand on general account of £ 1 ls 4 d ; on charity account £ 1 7 s 9 d , and thafc he knew of no outstanding liabilities . The returns and dues had been received from nine Lodges ; and negooiations and arrangements

were on foot for reviving the Mallet and Chisel , No . 5 . Afc the annual meeting , July 1877 , your P . G . Secretary was able to report that not only was the Mallet and Chisel , No . 5 , in full working order , but that in addition three new Lodges had boen consecrated , viz .: — the Croydon , the Stndholme , and tbe Duke of Connanghfc , bringing the total of Lodges to 13 . At the meeting in June 1878 , yonr

Secretary reported the addition of the Hammersmith , the West Smithfleld , and the Menatschin Lodges , and . in July 1879 live more , viz .: —the Brixton , the Clapton , the Prince Leopold , the Royal Naval , and Trinity College . In July 1881 two more , viz .: —the Tentorden , and the High Cross , and in that year the Provincial Grand Master rewarded his P . G . Secretary with the distinguished rank and office

of Provincial Grand Senior Warden . Another brother held tho office of P . G . Secretary for that year , and as all the papers remained at my office , we carried on the duties there . In July 1882 I was again appointed Secretary , on tho expiration of my year of office as Warden , and in July 1883 your Secretary had the pleasure of reporting not only fche addition of a new Lodge , tbe Henniker , bat also thnfc after

a protracted discussion of several years tin brethren of the Temple Lodge had seen their duty and pleasure lio in tlio direction of complete affiliation to this Province , and bad sent in returns and paid dues . From that time until now the Temple has been an active , useful and prosperous Lodge . Iu July 1884 fche addition of two Lodges was reported , viz ., the Davison and the Kintore . In June 1885

your Secretary reported the addition of the Temperance in the East and the Royal Savoy as new Lodges , and also that the members of fche Province had during the past year fche pleasure of being present at the revival and enrolling of the Prince of Wales Mark Lodge , No . 4 . In Jnne 1886 wo reported the addition of the Chiswick and the Onslow as new Lodges , and in 1887 , 1888 and 1889 the addition of

one new Lodge only—the King Solomon . In January 1890 this Provincial Grand Lodge was called upon to record our loss , by death , of Bro . F . Davison in the previous year . He had been our Deputy P . G . M . M . for nineteen years . At that meeting Bro . C . Hammerton was installed Deputy P . G . M . M . At the annual meeting in Juno 1890

your becretary reported the addition of the Euston and Egerton of Tatton as new Lodges , aud at the annual meeting in June 1391 the addition of the Bialey and Ubiquo Lodges during the previous year was dul y reported , bringing the grand total of tho Lodges in this Province to 37 , with a membership of 822 . For years past we havo been enabled to subscribe to the Mark Benevolent Fond , besides

giving relief to the distressed of our own members ; we have considerabl y over £ 100 in hand , whioh ia quite as much aa we need or ought to have , we have all necessary furniture aud aro free from debt . The above are the facts and figures , hastily culled from tho minute book at an hour ' s notice this morning , and , owing to tho fact thar from tho date of tho Constitution of thia P . G . Lodge we havo had

uuc one Provincial Grand Master , Colonel Sir Francis Burdett , to rale over as , and his record ia that of one who haa ruled wifch lirmnets and yet with gentleness ; ono -who has been most just , yet always kind , and ono who has always evinced tho keenest interest m the affairs of this Province ; these are the causes which make our history one of steady successful advance , but otherwise uneventful . As I turned over the pages of the minute book I saw

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tho names of those whe in early days had upheld the bands of our Provincial Grand Master , and year by year as they fell out of the ranks , by death or other causes , thoir places have been filled by worthy brethren , and it must now ba it pleasure to our Provincial

Grand Master to preside sit ib » goodly gatherings of the past few years . Long may Sir Francis Burdett live to be onr Provincial Grand Master , aud share in fcho prosperity of this Provincial Grand Lodge .

Ifc was moved by the Deputy Provincial G . M . M ., and dnly seconded , and carried unanimously—That the history just read be printed and circulated among tho members of the Province , and also be entered on the minutes .

This being tho festival of the Province , it having existed upwards of 21 years , the arrangements for the remainder of the meeting were in the hands of a special committee , of which Brother Captain C . J . Knightley P . P . G . O . was

President , and Brother W . A . Scurrah P . P . G . R . waa the Honorary Secretary . The rest of the proceedings were carried out by the Committee , who had prepared two testimonials for presentation within this P . G . Lodge .

The first was an illuminated address , which reads as follows : — Provincial Grand Lodge , Mark Master Masons Middlesex and Surrey . To tho Right Worshipful Brother Col . Sir FRANCIS BURDETT , Barfc .,

Provincial Grand Master . We , the Members of the Provincial Grand Lodge , congratulate you on tbe twenty-first year of your rule over this Province . We are proud in being governed by a chief who has done so much honour to Freemasonry , and who so well knows what Freemasonry

means . Ifc is impossible to over-estimate the esteem and regard entertained for you , nnd it is most gratifying indeed for us to have fche privilege of assembling this day to offer to you some tangible proof of the respect we have for one who has endeared himself , not only by his Masonic virtues , but aa a friend , a neighbour , a public

man , and an Officer in Her Majesty ' s Army . May you for many years fco come continue to be a shining light in Freemasonry , ruling over this Province with the same zeal and assiduity you have shown for the last twenty-one y ears , and when called off from your labours here may you be found worthy to receive

the reward promised to those who work diligently in His Holy Temple . So mote it be ! Signed , on behalf of the 800 members of this Provincial Grand Lodge

, C . J . KNIGHTLEY , President , GEORGE RICE , Treasurer , W . A . SCURRAH , Hon . Secretary , Festival Committee .

The address was enclosed in a silver gilt casket , of elegant design , which bore the following inscription : —

Province of Middlesex and Surray , Mark Master Masons . This Casket , containing an address , was Presented to tho

Eight Worship ful Duo . Cot . SIR FRANCIS BURBOT , BART ., Provincial Grand Mark Master , to commemorate tha 21 st year of tho existonca of tho Province , during tho whole of which period it has been under his guidance and direction .

1892 . Theso were presented to Sir Francis Burdett , iu tho nam ' o of tlie Committee and Brethren , by Col . Cooke , in a mosfc suitable speech , and tho R . W . P . G . M . M ., in accepting theso presents , expressed the greafc pleasure he had always felfc during tho past 21 years in presiding over this Provincial

Grand Lodge , and asserted that it was due more to the assistance he had received , not only from the present and past Deputy Provincial Grand Masters and Secretaries , bub from all the Officers and Brethren of the Province , than from any merit of his own .

The R . W . P . G . M . M . then , in the name of the Committee , Officers and Brethren , presented the P . G . Secretary with a silver inkstand , of most elegant design , expressing the

p leasure he felt afc having Brother Brighten for his P . G . Secretary , and adding words of kindness and approval of services rendered dnring the past 17 years . The inkstand bore the following inscription : —

Province of Middlesex and Surrey , Mark Master Masons . Presentation to Worshipful Bro . WILLIAM GREEN BRIGHTEN , P . G . I . W . ; P . P . G . S . W . ; Provincial Grand Secretory ; By the Brethren of tho Province , as a mark of esteem and regard . 1892 . Numerous letters of regret for enforced absence wore

read ; after which P . G . Lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet and concert . Before the banquet Sir Francis and Lady Burdett received the ladies and brethren in the drawing room ,