Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

and confirmed , letters of apology were put in from several brethren who were unable to attend . The roll of Lodges , twenty six in number , was then called over , and all , with the exception of the Joshua Nnnn Lodge , No . 2154 , were

represented . The Provincial Grand Master enquired whether the absence of a representative of the Joshua Nunn Lodge was in consequence of the serious loss that Lodge had recently sustained—referring to the death of the founder ,

after whom the Lodgo was named ; but tho Provincial Grand Secretary was unable to give any official explanation . The amonnt of contributions from the various Lodges , and the number of members in each for 1887 , were announced

and it appeared that the total number of members in the Province was 1 , 173 , showing an increase of 34 in the year The contributions amounted to £ 852 3 s , being an increase of £ 10 5 s , and there was also a slight increase in the

Charity Fund . On the motion of Bro . J . J . C . Turner , P . P . G . O ., the Auditors' report was adopted , as also was the report of the Charity Committee . In respect of the

latter , the Provincial Grand Secretary said a number of votes had been borrowed from the Province of Monmouth , in anticipation of an Election for the Girls' School ; and

although no election took place this year , Monmouth still

held them responsible for those votes . The Provincial Grand Master remarked that before any motion was made on the report of the Charity Committee , he should like to say a word about the question raised as

to whether they were indebted to Monmouth for the votes in connection with the Girls' Election . Under the peculiar circumstances of the year , all the candidates were admitted without an election , and as those votes were borrowed for

the specific purpose of supporting a particular candidate , ifc seemed absurd that they should be held responsible for votes which were not available for use . He had asked

advice on this matter , and those who were informed on such subjects told him Monmouth had no claim upon them Therefore he should suggest that it be an instruction to

the Provincial Grand Secretary to refuse the application of the Monmouth Province for the votes they alleged

were owing . Bro . A . J . Dixie J . W . 453 moved , and Bro , J . Corbie P . M . and Sec . of the same Lodge seconded , thafc the claim for votes referred to be declared null and void ; this was carried unanimously .

The Prov . Graud Sec . then read the report of fche Calendar Publication , ancl said although the profit on the Calendar was nofc so greafc as ifc should be , yefc they would be

able to go through the year without calling upon the guarantors . The Calendar was not supported as ifc ouo-hfc to be . The issue of the work involved considerable time

and labour , and the brethren should support it better than they had done hitherto . The Deputy Prov . G . M . moved that the Calendar be continued for the next year . As one of the guarantors he was quite prepared to remain so . The

Calendar was only just alive , but he hoped those brethren who had not taken it would clo so , because they would find in it a vast amount of valuable information . The Essex Calendar would bear comparison wifch anv in the kino-dnm

The motion was duly seconded and carried . The Prov . Grand Master then addressed the brethren observing that it was a very great pleasure to meet them again at their annual meeting . That was a pleasure he

cordially and heartily looked forward to and most highly valued , because he knew he was so well supported in his Province fchafc it was a source of greafc gratification to come amongst such active workers as he had around him that day , and as he had on several occasions before . Ifc

was satisfactory to find fche Province was gradually increasing in numbers , and that the utmost harmony prevailed amongst fche various Lodges . He then referred to the late Bro . Joshua Nunn , who , as thev remembered . WI

done so much for Freemasonry , both in this Province and at Grand Lodge . He believed that Bro . Nunn was President of the Board of Benevolence for some time , and they knew he made great efforts for Freeinnsonw tw RtawMn .,

the Lodge which was named after him . Ifc was a matter of the deepest regret , he was sure , to the brethren of the Joshua Nunn Lodge that , so soon after it had been consecrated , the brother who bad clone so much for it . and find

brought it to life , had been removed from their midst Without having had the opportunity of presiding over it on any one occasion . However , at the same time , he believed they had an excellent Master in Bro . Vero W . Taylor

waom he regretted not to see present that day . He was sure Bro . Taylor would have some good explanation to otter why he was not there . They might also congratu-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

late themselves upon the returns which the Prov . Grand Secretary had read to them . They knew that Essex was almost entirely an agricultural county , and agriculture was afc present in a very depressed condition all over the

kingdom . But Essex suffered especially , being so much subject to atmospheric influences , and the fact that it grew more wheat than any other county , and the price of corn being so low afc the present time . Notwithstanding

this , the financial position of the Prov . Grand Lodge was very satisfactory , and since last year they had added two new Lodges—the Joshua Nuun , to which he had alluded ,

and the Royal Victorian Jubilee Lodge , No . 2184 , which he had the honour of consecrating . He looked back wifch the greatest possible pleasure upon the hospitable reception

he met in that part of the Province ( Tilbury ) . With respect to the consecration of new Lodges , he trusted the brethren of the two he had named would be careful not , in their eagerness and anxiety to increase their numbers , to admit any but those whom they had reason to believe

would prove a credit to their Lodges aud satisfactory to Freemasonry generally . With regard to the Charities , that was a subject of which they might be justly proud . As he had said before , they were not a very rich county ,

but , looking at the figures , he saw that Essex was well represented at the various Festivals . Their contributions to Charity during the last four years had averaged £ 951 ,

and the total last year was £ 863 . Ho knew it was owmg to the exertions of those philanthropic members who had given up so much of their time to the work that this

desirable and commendable result was achieved , aud they ought to be very grateful to those brethren who had given themselves that trouble . His Lordship then alluded at some length to the Jubilee Commemoration Gathering at the Albert Hall , and said those who had the pleasure of attending would bear agreeable recollections of it to their latest hour . All present were delighted wifch the admirable manner in which the M . W . G . M . and others conducted

the proceedings on that occasion . There was one matter of special pleasure to himself , and he was sure the brethren of the Province would agree with him and share in that pleasure when he reminded them of it . Amongst the Pasr .

Grand honours conferred upon many who had rendered good service to the Craffc , the distinction of Past Grand Assistant D . C . was conferred upon their excellent and indefatigable Prov . Grand Secretary Bro . Railing . He ( the

speaker ) could personally testify to the excellent work thafc bad been done in the Province by Bro . Rolling ; he could not say how useful he had found thafc brother to himself as Prov . Grand Master ; and all who had been

brought into contact with him in any way could say h , w well he executed the duties of his office . In conclusion his Lordship said , Prov Grand Lodge was much obliged to the members of the Liberty of Havering Lodge for the

manner in which they had been received on this ocaasion . Of course it was au honour to any Lodge to receive Prov . Grand Lodge under its banner ; at the same time it was an honour accompanied by considerable amount of trouble ou

the part of the members on behalf of Prov . Grand Lodge . He congratulated them upon the result so far , and hoped tho remainder of the day would be spent iu an equally

satisfactory manner , andtheir whole proceedings might have pleasant recollections . Ho thanked thorn again for supporting him so kindly on this as on many previous occasions . His Lordship resumed his seat amidst loud applause .

Bro . F . W . Imbert Terry S . G . W ., moved the reelection of Bro . Andrew Durrant as Prov . Grand Treas .,

remarking upon the good amount of service he had rendered to the Province during the last eight years . The motion was seconded by Bro . J . Grimes , Prov . G . Supt . of Works , and carried amidst ; acclamation .

The Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to invest his Officers for the year , and a somewhat amusing incident occurred . His Lordship had evidently taken it for granted thafc his Deputy had already been invested , for he called

upon fche newly-appointed S . G . W . first . Bro . Philbrick , amidst the laughter of the brethren , stood silently before the Grand Master , who speedily discovered the omission , ancl on investing him as Deputy , thanked Bro . Phibrick

for fche service he bad rendered to the Province and his kindness to himself . Bro . Philbrick assured his Lordship it was with very greafc pleasure thafc he undertook the office

of Deputy Prov . Grand Master again , and so long as he continued to hold his ( ihe Prov . G . M . 's ) confidence , and that of the brethren in the discharge of his duties , anything lie could do for the good of the Province and the happiness