Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

At the meeting of the representatives of the Committee of Petitions , the London Representative , Bro . F . B . WESTLAKE , P . S . G . W ., P . D . G . D . of C . England , stated that since January last they repaid the Province of Kent the 750 votes they were indebted to them , and at the April election the lad elected from Devonshire to the benefits of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys polled 4454 votes . It was a source of gratification to Devonshire

Freemasons to know that the province was now represented on the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys by Bro . Westlake having been elected as their nominee in April last . With deepest regret was recorded the great loss the Charity work of the province had sustained by the death of such a worthy brother as Bro . John Brewer , of Barnstaple , P . P . J . G . W ., P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., who consistently supported all the Charities

and was ever , ready to do good work on their behalf . Bro _ . Westlake , in his report , also observed that the voting power of the province was not fully centred in the Committee , and he impressed on the representatives " the importance of securing unity of action , which was strength . " The Committee considered six applications for relief and recommended Prov . G . Lodge to supplement the grants of £ 5 each which they had made to the

applications for relief with the following additional amounts r £ 15 to a brother of 202 , £ 10 to the widow of a brother of 1 753 , ^ 15 to the widow of a brother of 1885 , £ 20 to the widow of a brother of 1254 , £ 15 to a brother of 1091 , and £ 5 also to the widow of a brother of 405 . The Committee of Petitions having made these grants of _ £ ioo , there was an available balance

of £ 160 , and they further recommended that as the Prov . G . Sec . ( Bro . J . Stocker ) had agreed to be a Steward next year at the gathering in London of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows , the sum of 100 guineas should be placed on his List . They also recommended that a donation of 30 guineas should be given to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

The report and recommendations were unanimously adopted , and the suggestion was also agreed to that the sum of £ 2 $ should be subscribed to the fund for distressed brethren in South Africa . The Fortescue Annuity Fund Committee in their annual report expressed " regret that the amount of subscriptions received from the lodges and its members during the past year had not reached the standard of the two preceding years . There were still many lodges and a large number of

members who apparently took no interest in the maintenance of the benevolent organisations which did so much to mitigate the trials that unexpectedly may have fallen on brethren or their families . Small subscriptions from large numbers would furnish ample funds quite adequate to the local requirements . While , however , complaining somewhat of the apathy of

those who have not rendered assistance , the Committee heartily thanked those who had , and especially the Charity Stewards of several lodges , by whose commendable zeal and untiring energy much valuable help had been rendered . The number of annuitants was now 16 , and some lodges had contributed absolutely nothing , even though in some cases considerable sums had been paid to annuitants of their own lodge .

In bringing this matter before the lodges , the Hon . Treasurer , Bro . E . H . SHORTO , P . M . 39 and 2659 , P . P . G . W ., observed that during the six years he had filled that ofiice it had been his privilege to send more than ^ 2000 to needy brethren and ^ 1600 had been added to the capital . The Treasurer's report showed the receipts lor the year to be £ 1984 , including a balance from the previous year of £ 103 . Interest from invested bonds ,

£ 175 ; donations from Provincial Lodge , Chapter , and Mark , £ 128 ; contributions from 40 lodges , donations and subscriptions , £ 276 ; from sale of ^ 200 consols , £ 206 ; Savings Bank , £ 1094 . The payments were—To annuitants , £ 435 ; management expenses and postage , printing and stationery , £ 14 ; investments , £ 1394 ; leaving a balance in bank on current account amounted to j £ 445 ° - The report was adopted .

The election of Prov . G . Treasurer led to a unanimous and hearty demonstration in favour of Bro . C . Mutten , P . M . 1550 , P . G . Stwd .

His election was proposed by Bro . K B . WESTLAKE , P . G . S . W ., and seconded by Bro . CHAS . PIPER , P . P . D . G . D . C , both brethren speaking highly of Bro . Mullen ' s genial disposition and qualification for the office , and of their pleasant associations with him . Bro . MUTTEN , in a graceful reply , referred to the pleasure he felt to have been so enthusiastically adopted , and to the kind remarks which had been made by his two old friends—Bros . Westlake and Piper . For just

over a quarter of a century he had been associated with Masonry in the province , aud he should ever cherish the confidence they now reposed to him . ( Applause . ) The ACTING PROV . G . MASTER stated he had been deputed to perform a very pleasing duty , lt was felt some time since that some recognition should be given to Bro . F . B . Westlake for the services . he had rendered thc province as their London representative on the three great Charities .

The matter was taken up by the Committee of Petitions , but it grew to such an extent that it was felt it ought to be done by the province generally . Bro . W < stlake was approached on the matter , and he declined to take any personal gift whatever , but suggested that if any testimonial was to be presented to him it should take the form of a donation to the three great Charities . The result was that they had now made Bro . Westlake a Patron of each of the three great Charities , and he had now to hand to him

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

not anly an illuminated address which had been prepared , but also receipts for £ 100 from each of the Charities . Bro . WESTLAKE thanked the brethren for the testimonial , and referred to the great and good work the Charities were doing . Bro . Westlake was then elected as the London Representative , and Bros . Cornish and Lord having been appointed Auditiors for the ensuing year , the acting Prov . G . Master invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . Lieut .-Col . F . G . Edyveant , 2655 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . R . Wilson , 954 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . E . A . Donaldson , 230 ] Prov . G . Chaps . „ Rev . C . H . Salt , 12 47 •••••¦ -A * ,, C . Mutten , 1550 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . P . Roberts , 2 S 06 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ John Stocker , 39 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Dr . R . Coombe , 2659 ... ... *** } Prov S G Ds „ T . Wellesley Kendle , 421 ... - i » . U . Us . „ T . A . Blackler , 328 } Prov . J . G . Ds . „ A . Hope , 39 ... ... ... j J " „ G . F . Watson , 1550 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks „ J . R . Lord , 1247 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . Ferguson , 1212 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ H . S . Hill , 22 3 ... ... ... ¦) „ G . Milford , 1847 ... ... ... [ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . „ G . W . Hancock , 202 ... ... ... J „ H . S . Best , 2258 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . H . Blackell , 10 99 ... ... ... ¦> p „ _ „ J . Clift , 666 ... ... ... _ jfrov . tj . btd . Brs . „ W . J . Joint , 251 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, G . Perkins , 1205 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ W . J . Fearce , 2655 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ H . Warren , 159 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ W . Sweet , 1212 ,, H . Skinner , 282 ... ... „ F . W . Harding , 444 ... ... — ID „ r- c . J " W . H . Puddicomb-J , 48 9 > Ptov' G < Stewards . „ W . II . Evans , 1181 „ C . Bawett , 2595 „ H . Shooter , 112 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

A meeting of the Educational and General Purposes Committee of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund was afterwards held , and presided over by Bro . C . Mutten , P . G . Treas . On the proposition of Bro . COCKS , seconded by Bro . PIPER , it was

decided that the October meeting should be held at Plymouth , it being understand that if any of the lodges in the province wished the annual meeting in April next to be held under their banner , an invitation to do so would be responded to . It was further resolved that two candidates should be elected at that meeting .

The Bond Of Brotherhood.

THE BOND OF BROTHERHOOD .

At Christmas last Bro . W . J . Wells , of the Market-place , Kingston-on-Thames , sent a greeting card to all the members of the Dobie Lodge , No . 889 , of which he was then W . M . The cards went beyond the boundaries of Kingston , one travelling as far as the New Hebrides Islands , in the South Pacific , where Bro . the Rev . W . H . Edgell , elder son of Bro . James Edgell , both members of the Dobie Lodge , is working in the mission field . This week Bro . Wells received an acknowledgment of the card and letter accompanying it . Bro . the

Rev . W . H . Edgell wrote on May 20 th , and his letter was delivered to Bro . Wells on the 28 th ult ., so that an idea of the difficult postal communication is easily obtained . In passing , it maybe remarked that a letter written in Melbourne on July 24 th was received in Kingston on the 28 th ult . Bro . the Rev . W . H . Edgell wrote from a place called Walurigi , Opa , otherwise Lepers' Island , one of the group known as the New Hebrides , and as we have permission to use his letter , we give it , feeling sure it will interest many readers . He

says" It was with the very greatest pleasure that I received your Christmas card and read your very kind letter . You were right in thinking it would be rather late , as it reached me about 28 miles from here on April 27 th . But for all that it was none the less most welcome , because it proved once more the far-reaching bond of brotherhood , and that is always a great consolation to one who leads the solitary life that is necessarily mine . '

" I am just now proclaimed by the Queensland Government as being in the infected plague area , notwithstanding the fact that 110 single case of plague has been reported throughout the entire New Hebrides . But a steamer from Sydney and one from Nohmea , in New Caledonia , call here ( not on me , but in the group ) about every month , and they might possibly bring infection ; so we are taboo at present . However , as far as I am concerned , it will be over in about five weeks , when I shall be picked up by our own mission ship .

" You may be interested to hear thit I fell in ( last November ) with the captain of a Queensland labour ship , who , to my great joy , turned out to be a brother of the Scotch Constitution , and has passed the chair . As a rale , one's

Ad01003

Telephone—1389 Holborn . Telegraphic Address— " Cigarotype . " S.COHEN&C0^^^^™6^"*3* m ° HAVANA CIGARS FULLY MATURED OF 1894 CROP . Box ot Box of Box of Box of Box of J . S . Murlas ... 50 ... 12 / 6 Romeo & Juliet 00 ... 10 / - La Vencedora ... 25 ... 21 / - Bock & Co .. 25 ... 12 / G Casimiro Alvarez oo ... 18 / - 10 / - - - \ 2 < i lK'l Rosa de Santiago 00 ... 15 / - 27 / 0 „ „ 25 ... 13 / - 10 / 0 ( Victor Hugo ) J '" io ''' „ „ „ ... 20 / - Flor de A'Murlas 00 ... 12 / 0 „ „ 25 ... 20 / - 17 / 0 La Vencedora ... 00 ... 18 / - La Comercial . .. „ ... 10 / - ,,... 22 / 0 „ „ 10 ... 10 , ' - „ .. 22 / 0 „ „ ... 20 ... 11 / 0 „ „ „ ... 18 ,- „ ,,... 27 / 0 A . Allones ... 25 ... 0 /( i „ ... 25 ... 25 / - ,,.., 13 / - Bock & Co . 12 / - Flor cl Todo ... „ ... li )/ - Larranagas ... 100 ... 30 , ' - „ ao / - „ „ ... . ... 10 / 3 „ „ ,.. „ ... 17 / - Casimiro Alvarez 25 ... 7 / - Puro Habana ... 50 ... 20 ; - B8F"BUDGET1900.OwingtoourlargeDutyPaidStock,weareNOTadvancingprices, Will bo norit Carriage Free in the United Kingdom on receipt of remittance . < lhe < iuei and Postal Orders Crossed "London City and Midland Bank , Ncwyate Street Branch . "