Provincial Grand Lodge Of Buckingham Shire.

thanks for the honour conferred upon them , and assured the Deputy Prov . Grand Master that it would be their endeavour to justify the confidence reposed in them . Personally , that was the first time he had met the brethren of Bucks as a body . He trusted it would be the beginning of a long career of work in which they would be mutually engaged , and he hoped that next

year and for years to come they mi ght meet annually , and he would have the pleasure of the acquaintance of those brethren whose faces were strange to him that day . He was sorry their Prov . Grand Master was absent . He hoped , for Masonic reasons , that that brother would not be a Secretary of State , or hold any office , but be free to meet them at their gatherings . Bro . W . WESTON , P . J . G . W ., also responded .

"The Visitors" was next given , and replied to by Bro . W . W . LEE , I . P . M . 23 Sr . l y ' The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed "The Prov . Grand Treasurer and Prov . Grand Secretary , " and said that no one could realise more than he did , the great amount of work that fell upon the two permanent officers . He had two advantages in their Prov . Grand Secretary .

First in Bro . Bowen he had a great personal friend who was always ready to co-operate with him in everything for thc good of the province , but the chief part of his gratitude consisted in the fact that there was another pair of shoulders to take all the blame that fell upon his own . It was a great pleasure to him that all the little criticisms , which were made in a friendly spirit , were taken by the Prov . Grand Secretary in the spirit in which they were meant . He knew how Bro . Bowen never spared himself , how willing

he was to take any trouble and expend any amount of energy to make the wheels go smoothly , and he was confident every brother credited him with that desire . He could not speak too strongly of the unwearied duties and great energy Bro . Bowen had shown in thc extremely difficult task of making this new province a successful one . The Prov . Grand Treasurer had shown extreme carefulness , and he hoped he would long continue in that good work .

Bro . WILLIAMS , Prov . G . Treas ., having replied , Bro . J . E . BOWEN , Prov . G . Sec , said that great credit was due to the Assistant Secretary , Bro . Woollett , who conducted the financial affairs so far as thc Secretarial duties were concerned . Every brother could rel y upon him ( Bro . Bowen ) to do what he could to make things go peacably and smoothly , which was particularly necessary in Masonic bodies . There was one thing they could

congratulate themselves upon and that was the excellent way in which the local business was conducted . When he became Prov . Grand Secretary he saw the desirability of brethren taking responsibility for local affairs , and he had never found that fail . They were always managed in a way to satisfy everybody , and he was sure in no place had they received a belter reception , or been better satisfied , than in Wolverton . Entire credit was

due to the W . M . and brethren of the Scientific Lodge , and he asked thc brethren to acknowledge in the warmest way the efforts made for their comfort . He trusted that future years would show a great deal of prosperity for that lodge , which preserved a large amount of excellent Masonic spirit , and he was rejoiced to hear that the Prov . Grand Master had determined to recognise the claims of that lodge by meeting there that day .

Bros . HiPi'SLKY , Prov . G . D . C , and KING briefly replied , after which the Tyler ' s toast closed a very successful gathering . Bro . A . W . Briggs carried out the musical arrangements in an excellent manner , and was ably assisted by Bro . G . Stubbs , of St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK .

The annual meeting of thc Prov . Grand Lodge of Suffolk was held at Clare on Wednesday , the 19 th ult ., under the banner of the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 1823 . Mr . J . Rand kindly placed the Priory at the disposal of the entertaining lodge , and thc spacious refectory , decorated in a most tasteful manner , made an excellent lodge room . The members of the Provincial Grand Lodge were hospitably received by the Royal Clarence Lodge , and all the arrangements for the meeting were highly satisfactory . There was a large attendance of the brethren . Amongst thc Prov . Grand Officers

present were—Bros , the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C England , Sic , D . P . G . M . ; Hamon LeStrange , D . P . G . M . Norfolk ; G . Cornish , P . M . 1008 , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . J . H . Pilkington , S . W . 555 , P . G . Chap . ; Rev . L . D . Kenyon Stow , 376 , P . G . Chap . ; N . Tracy , P . M . 376 , P . P . J . G . W ., P . G . Secretary ; D . Alston , P . M . 1224 , P . S . G . D . ; A . Boa , P . M . 1823 , P . G . S . of W . ; H . I . Wricht . P . M . 036 , P . G . D . of C . ; C . G .

Havell , P . G . Org . ; Fred . C . Atkinson , P . M . 376 , P . A . G . Sec . ; A . F . Penraven , VV . M . 1 14 , P . G . Stwd . ; P . W . Syer , 37 6 , P . G . Tyler ; H . Vincent , P . M . 1873 , P . P . G . Reg . ; R . W . Saul , P . M . 71 , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Russell , P . M . 71 , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . J . Wilton , P . M . 71 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Chas . Cooke , P . M . 1823 , P . P . J . G . D . ; C Sparke , P . M . 1592 , P . P . J . G . D . ; H . C . Pratt , P . M . 1224 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Chas . H . Downes , W . M . 2371 , P . G . Stwd . ; Thos . B . Ardley , P . M . 1224 , P . P . S . G . D . ; Thos . StokoeP . M . and Sec . 18 73 P . P . G . P . ; las . Napier ,

, , P . M . 275 , P . P . J . G . D . ; G . Powell Price , P . M . 225 , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . F . Hills , P . M . ' = 24 , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . B . Marchant , P . M . 1663 , P . P . G . Stwd . ; J . M . Franks , P . M . 376 , P . P . J . G . D . ; Harris Hills , P . M . 1224 , P . J . G . W . Essex ; Rev . Barrington B . Syer , 1823 , P . P . G . C ; L . I . Woodard , P . M . o / i 6 \ P . P . S . G . D . ; I . Sedgwick ,

' 823 , P . G . C Eng . ; J . C . Norman , P . M . 332 , P . P . S . G . W . ; C . S . Goodchild , P . M . 18 73 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; J . M . Harvey , P . M . 93 6 , P . P . J . G . W . ; A . J . Grimwade , P . M . 332 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Gen . Cecil Ives , P . M . 1823 , P . P . S . G . W . ; B . H . Hurst , 1224 , P . P . G . O . ; William Chapman , P . M . 1592 , P . P . S . G . D . ; VV . Inglis Marorr , P . M . 1224 , P . P . S . G . W . ; and a large number of representatives of lodges m the province and visitors .

In the absence of thc Prov . Grand Master , Lord Henniker , the Prov . Grand Lodge was presided over by the D . P . G . M ., Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn ; Bro . A . J . Grimwadc acted as D . P . G . M ., and Bro . J . M . Harvey •'s P . J . G . W . Before proceeding with the business of the meeting , thc DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER expressed his great regret that Lord Henniker was unable to be with them . He had written to say that as he was suffering from a severe attack of gout his medical man had absolutely forbidden him to be

Present . Thc brethren would also , he was sure , be sorry to hear of the illness ° l Lad y Henniker , and they would join him in thc expression of the hope lhat both mi ght speedily be restored to health . The P . G . Secretary , Bro . TRACY , announced letters of apology from h o . ' Drel : ' lrcn wno werc "" able to be present , including the P . G . M . and '' ¦ P . G . M . of Cambridgeshire and thc P . G . Secretaries ot Cambridgeshire , '' •ssex , and Norfolk .

Bio . General IVES said he had been requested by thc Prov . Grand Master I'f I ' -ssex , Lord Brooke , to express his very great regret that , owing to thc ["' less of his father , the Earl of Warwick , he was unable to be present , as "e hoped and fully intended to be .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

The reports from the lodges in the province were all of a satisfactory description . Three lodges—the Doric , Prudence , and St . Margaret ' s—were not represented , and it was resolved that , in accordance with the by-laws of the -, Prov . Grand Lodge , they should each be fined the sum of £ 2 2 s .

On the motion of Bro . C . H . VINCENT , seconded by Bro . H . C . PRATT , ' Bro . W . R . Barnes , P . M . 1823 , was unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treasurer .

The D . P . G . M ., amidst loud applause , announced that the Prov . Grand Master had been kind enough to confer upon him once more the office of Deputy Prov . Grand Master . The Prov . Grand Officers for the year were then invested as under :

Bro . J . M . Harvey , P . M . 100 S ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ R . B . Wrightson , P . M . 936 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . J . Hodges , 100 S ... ... ¦¦¦\ t > r r \ „ Rev . II . Saunders , 81 ... ... ... j Prov " G > Cha P ' „ W . R . Barnes , P . M . 1823 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ F . W . W . Gross , P . M . St ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ N . Tracy , P . M . 376 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . , „ C . F . Freeman , P . M . 1 S 23 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . ' „ J . LeggeCurrie , P . M . 920 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . Campbell Smith , P . M . 1592 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ H . J . Wright , P . M . 936 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ G . T . Pick , P . M . 959 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ I . M . T . Anderson , P . M . 516 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ II . O . Hinton , P . M . 305 ... ... \ „ W . T . Brunger , P . M . 555 ... _ ] I rov . G . Std . Brs . „ Charles Cooke , 959 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Fred . C . Atkinson , P . M . 37 6 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Sec . „ H . Leach , P . M . 376 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ J . B . Marchant , P . M . 166 3 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst . „ W . J . Ward , P . M . 1 S 23 ... ... •) „ J . Bardwell , W . M . 1 S 23 ... ... ( Prov . G . Stwds . „ C . C . Vincent , J . W . 1 S 23 ... ... j „ B . W . Syers , 37 G ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler

Immediately after the investing of thc officers the telegram was received from Lord Henniker : "Hearty good wishes to you and all thc brethren present . Truly sorry not to be amongst you . —HENNIKER . " Thc report of the Board of General Purposes showed that there had been an increase of 17 in the number of members in the province during the past year , the total now being 991 against 974 last year . The province has lost some distinguished Past officers , notably , Bro . Abbott , P . P . G .

Chap ., and Bro . Newson Garrett , P . P . J . G . W . The Treasurer ' s statement showed a balance of , £ 45 after providing for all liabilities . The Board recommended that £ 21 should be voted to the Benevolent Institution . The Board further recommended " that a Special Committee be appointed to consider a proposition that in future thc province should present the Charity Jewel to all brethren who should qualify for it from 1894 , and a bar for each Stewardship the brethren might afterwards fill . "

Thc report was adopted , the question of the Charity Jewel being , on the motion of Bro . J . M . HARVEY , seconded by Bro . J . NAPIER , referred to thc Charity Committee . Bro . J . M . HARVEY read the 12 th annual report of the Committee of the Suffolk Masonic Charity Association . The Committee thanked the brethren who had acted as Stewards , and those who had contributed to the Masonic

Institutions during the past year . Thc large amount sent by the brethren of thc province last year to the Benevolent Institution had doubtless affected in some degree thc extent of the sums collected this . For the Benevolent Institution this year one Steward only went up , viz ., Bro . J . George , of the Stour Valley Lodge , whose list amounted to £ 79 16 s . For the Girls' Institution there wcre four Stewards with lists amounting to X 187 is ., viz ., Bros .

Capt . Cobbold ( Doric ) , £ b 6 s . ; Rev . S . Maude ( Virtue and Silence ) , £ 21 ; J . George ( Stour Valley ) , £ 70 ios . ; and J . Campbell Smith ( the Abbey ) , £ Sg 5 s . For the Boys' Institution there were five Stewards with lists amounting to £ 235 7 s . 6 d ., viz ., Bros . T . Thwaitcs and George Turner ( Perfect Friendship ) , £ 78 15 s . ; A . R . Trew ( Prince of Wales ) , / 70 ; T .

George ( Stour Valley ) , . £ 64 is . ; and S . Carlton ( Stour Valley ) , , £ 22 1 is . 6 d ., making a total to the three Institutions for the year of £ 504 4 s . 6 d . from the lists of 10 Stewards . After referring to thc success which had attended the application of Suffolk candidates , the . Committee , in conclusion , impressed upon thc brethren the importance of forwarding their votes to Bro . Harvey as early as possible .

Bro . A . J . GRIMWADE proposed the adoption of the report , and a vote of thanks to Bro . Harvey lor the admirable manner in which he had conducted thc case during the past year . Bro . J . M . FRANKS seconded the motion , which was supported by the D . P . G . M ., and carried unanimously .

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , in his address to the brethren , having congratulated the province upon the advance which had been made during the past year , referred to the loss which had been sustained by the death of Bros . Abbott and Newton Garrett . For very many years the latter brother was a prominent figure at Prov . Grand Lodge , and he was sure they all deeply regretted that he had been removed from amongst them . Having

expressed the opinion that the suggestion contained in the report oi the Board of General Purposes , that a Charity jewel should be presented by the province to those brethren who qualified for it , was well worthy of consideration , the D . P . G . M . again alluded to the much regretted absence of Lord Hennikcr ; and then went on to speak of his own position in relation to the province . Now that he had removed to a distant part of the country , he

could not help feeling that he could not undertake the duties of the office which thc P . G . M . had kindly conferred upon him with so much satisfaction and pleasure as he had done in the past , and he sometimes hoped that before long some other brother would be appointed to the office . At the same time , as long as it was thc P . G . M . ' s pleasure to appoint him , and so long as it was the wish of the brethren that he should occupy that position , he should be only too pleased to continue in the position he now held .

The Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . TRACY , proposed a vote of thanks to Mr . Rand , who had so kindly placed the Priory at the disposal of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and also to the rector of Clare for allowing them the use of thc church . Bro . thc Rev . B . B . S YER seconded thc motion , which was carried

unanimously . Thc brethren then marched in procession to the parish church of St . Peter and Paul , where a special choral service was conducted . The Long Melford choir rendered the musical portion of the service with admirable