Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

mass of grey clouds , and mists hung heavy along the tops of the Downsthe streets were full of townspeople , mingled with not a few visitors from neig hbouring towns and villages , and the Duke was heartily cheered at all points of the route to and from the station . His Royal Hig hness seemed , indeed , greatly pleased by his reception , which struck the right note throughout , being cordial and enthusiastic as a display of loyalty , without intrusion of a kind which might be resented . The arrangements made for the

occasion were as nearly perfect as possible , and worked with a smoothness which reflected credit on those responsible . The local volunteer corps provided smart guards of honour , and the singing of the National Aithem by a number of school children at the Central National Schools was a hippy idea , the effect of the young fresh voices heard amid the gay surroundings and all the circumstances of the Royal visit being one not soon to be forgotten . The luncheon was held at the Town Hall . The ent'ance had a most

attractive appearance , with groups of palms and other foliage plants on either side of the magnificent oak staircase . The band of the Buffs was stationed in the Gallery , and on the arrival of the Prov , G . Master played the Nati nal Anthem . The Duke was supported on his right by Bros . Sir W . T .

Marriott , Q . C ., Gen . Randolph , J . Strachan , and J . C . Parkinson , and on his left by Bros , the Mayor of Lewes ( Councillor W . Gates ) , the Very Rev . E . R . Currie , Rev . W . O . Thompson , J . S . Eastes , and F . West . The vice-chairs were occupied by Bros . Dr . Irwin Scott , Bullock , and G . W . 'E . Loder , M . P .

Owing to the short time at the disposal of the brethren the speeches incidental to the toast list were necessarily short . The PROV . G . M . gave "The Queen and the Craft , " and , after that toast had been duly honoured , he submitted "The M . W . Grand Mister , his Roval Highness the Prince of Wales . "

The DUKE then proposed " The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of Lathom ; the R . W . the Deputy Grand Alaster , the Rght Hon . the Earl Amherst ; and the Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and and Past . " He made a graceful allusion to the bereavement sustained by

the Earl of Lathom , and said it would be gratifying to the brethren to hear that that esteemed brother was fast recovering his accustomed health . ( Applause . ) Personally , he was glad to see Bros . J . Strachan and J . S . Eastes and other Grand Officers present . Bro . I . STRACHAN , Q . C ., G . Reg ., responded .

Bro . Sir W . T . MARRIOTT submitted " The R . W . Provincial Grand Master , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . " He said he was sure he rightly interpreted the thoughts and feelings of the brethren throughout Sussex when he stated that they believed no county in Great Britain was so fortunate as Sussex in possessing such a Provincial Grand Master as the Duke of Connaught . ( Applause . ) The inhabitants of Lewes had given the Duke a right hearty welcome , and the brethren throughout the province where always delighted to have him among them . ( Applause . )

The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTF . R m responding , said he was grateful to Bro . Sir W . T . Marriott for so proposing the toast in such kind terms , and to the brethren for receiving it so cordially . He highly valued their kindly feelings , and was pleased to note the steady progress of Freemasonry throughout the county . It gave him special pleasure to meet with such a hearjy reception at the hands of the people of Lewes , and he wished to warmly thank the Mayor ( Bro . Gates ) , and those who had assisted him , for

giving him such a cordial welcome . ( Applause . ) He then proposed " The \ V . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C ., P . G . Deacon ; and Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " Bro . Marriott was well known , he said , to all the brethren , who warmly appreciated his zealous work on behalf of the province , and he , himself , owed him a deep debt of gratitude for taking his place whenever he was called upon to do so . ( Applause . )

Bro . Sir W . T . MARRIOTT , in reply , said he was proud to act as Deputy Prov . G . Master , and his labours were materiallyligruened by the admirable way in which the other Provincial Officers , and particularly the Prov- G . Secretary , carried out their duties . ( Applause . ) Bro . the Very Rev . E . R . CURRIE gave " The Visitors , " and Bro . J . C PARKINSON , P . G . D ., responded .

On the termination of the luncheon the brethren proceeded to ths Assembly Room , where the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge was held . The room , one of the handsomest in the county , had been elaborately decorated . The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . the Duke of Connaught , presided , and was supported by the following Grand and Provincial Grand Officers :

Bros . Sir VV . T . Marriott , P . G . D ., Dep . P . G . M . ; ] . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; J . Strachan , Q . C ., G . Reg . ; Gen . Randolph , P . G . D . ; Rev . Currie , Dean of Battle , P . G . C . ; J . S . Eastes , P . G . D ., Dep . P . G . M . Kent ; F . West , P . G . D ., Dep . P . G . M . Surrey ; V . P . Freeman , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Sec ; J . D . Langton , P . D . G . D . C ; R . Russell , P . A . G . D . C . ; jas . Terry , P . G . S . B , Sec . R . M . li . I . ; H . Lovegrove , P . G . S . B . ; R . Clowes , P . G . Std . Br . ; Dr . King , G . Org . ;

E . J . Budd-Budd , P . S . G . D . ; H . Balean , i' . G . D . C ; W . C . Blakcr , P . G . S ; 15 . liurfield , P . P . J . G . W . ; T . Bullock , Prov . G . S . ; W . H . Brodie , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Harold Brown , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Billinjrhurst , 1821 , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . Berry , 1821 , P . P . G . P . ; A . H . Bevan , W . M . 1383 , P . P . G . R . ; H . J . Capon , P . G . P . ; P . Crick , P . P . G . C ; E . C Burric , P . G . C . ; Goorge Cole , P . P . G . O . ; G . E . Chapman , P . P . G . P . j W . M . Caffyn , 1110 , P . P . A . G D . C ; A . Stanley Cooke ,

P . P . G . O . ; E . Collings , 56 , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . Clark , P . M . 1178 , 2246 , P . A . G . D C . ; A . J . Carpenter , P . M . 1829 , P . P . A . G . S . ; B . W . Drury , P . J . G . ; W . II . Dunn , W . Dawes , P . P . S . G . W .. ; O . Embling , P . P . G . D . C ; | . H . Every , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Eberall , P . P . G . P . ; F . O . Edwards , P . M . 40 , P . P . G . S . B . ; H . W . H . C . Elwes , P . M . 1452 ; P . P . G . J . W . ; A . J . Freeman , P . A . G . S . ; J . Farncombe , P . G . W . ; 1 . B . Foster , P . M . 1184 , P . P . A . G . P . ; E . W . Franklyn , P . D . G . S . B . ;

J . Easter , P . P . G . O . ; R . Gallier , P . S . G . D . ; G . H . Gaze , P . G . D . C ; W . H . Glass , 732 , P . Prov . G . S . ; H . G . Giles , P . G . S . ; G . S . Godfree , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . E . Hughes , P . J . G . D . ; F . D . Hotham , P . G . S . ; C . H . Haine , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; A . J . Howard , P . Prov . G . S . ; T . Henson , P . G . S . D . ; J . H . Hawes , 38 , P . P . G . S . B . ; R . B . Hi gham , P . P . G . P . ; E . A . Head , P . P . S . G . D . ; H . W . Ingledew , J . W . 1821 ; W . Insell 1829 ; W . T . Jordan , 1184 , 2602 P . P . G . S . B . ; J . M . JenkinsP . G . S . B . ;

, , , L . Jeffrey , P . M . 916 , P . G . R . ; K . King , P . G . D . ; R . Kearns , P . M . 1884 ; R . W . Kingswood , 311 ; Gerald Loder , M . P ., Prov . S . G . W . ; A . Lloyd , P . P . S . G . W . ; M . Lelew , P . P . G . S . W . ; A . T . Long , P . P . A . G . D . of C ; A . Lambert , P . P . G . W . ; R . Lunn , P . P . G . P . ; J . H . Longman , 56 , P . Prov . D . G . D . of C ; T . J . Lyne , 851 , P . P . G . D . of C ; C Nye , P . P . G . S . of Wks . ; C . T . Naylor , P . G . S . ; W . E . Nash , W . M . 315 ;

. !• Piper , P . P . G . D . ; J . J . Ponting , S . W . 2032 ; J . Pearce , P . P . S . G . B . ; H . Pearce , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . Puttick , P . P . G . Chap . ; S . Penzer , P . P . G . Chip . ; J . M . Reid , P . G . T ., A . Routh ; P . G . S . ; J . P . Slingsby Roberts , P . P . GS . W . ; G . Randell , P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . Stone , P . S . G . W . ; F . Bolton Sutton , P . A . G . D . C . ; W . H , Sangster , P . G . O . ; G . T . Shaft , P . M ., P . P . G . R . ; E . Irwin Scott , 8 n , Pruv . G . S . ; and many others .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

The report of the Board of Finance , with the Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s accounts and the report of ths Charities Committee , were submitted and adopted , when the PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER addressed the brethren as follows : Brethren , —It is with great pleasure I attend here to-day to hold the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in the celebrated town of Lewes , the antiquity of which is exemplified "b y the remains of the Castle , the ruins of the Priory and other

associations which are a matter of history . I was also pleased to note your handsome and convenient Temple , of which the foundation-stone was laid more than one hundred years ago , and a second stone , laid within the memory of many of you , was the commencement of the handsome building since erected , which I understand is practically free of charges and dedicated to the purposes of Freemasonry for ever . This is the only town in the province which hitherto-has had a building specially appropriated as such . I am also more glad to be here

because I was unable to attend any of your centenary celebrations . I should have rejoiced to participate in your festivities , but the claims of my profession prevented me . I was glad to hear that all went well , and that you had most successful meetings . Since we last met a warrant has been granted for a new Iodce at Hastings , which was consecrated by the Very , Rev . the Dean of Battle in February last . I am glad to find that , although they have had 12 initiations , this has not in any way affected the other lodges in the town . The Derwent has

had 12 initiations , and , as regards numbers , ftands first in the province . It is also pleasant to know that the addition of the Royal Connaught Lodge to the town of Eastbourne has not interfered with the other lodges , as they all have a fair share of initiates and joining members . With regard to the other lodges , they all seem prosperous ; only two have been without an initiate , but they have both had joining members , so that the increase in numbers after deducting resignatio .- . s , & c , amounts to 116—a larger addition than has been made in any one year . Tre following Prov . Grand Officers were appointed for the ensuing

yeir , and were invested with the insignia of their respective offices , viz .: Bro . Rev . J . Puttick , P . M . 40 , 2591 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ C . H . Haine , P . M . no ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . Seymour Penzer , S . W . Si 1 ... ... } r > ^ r- \ . „ Rev . F . W . Pawson , S . W . 24 S 3 ... j Prov . G . Chaps . „ . ] . M . Reed , P . M . 732 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, F . W . Hotham , P . M . 11 S 4 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ V . P . Freeman , P . M . 315 , 732 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . J . Scott , P . M . Sn ... ... ... 1 / - r * „ C . J . Naylor , P . M . 1 465 ) Prov . S . G . Ds .

., W . C . blaker , P . M . 1726 ... ... 1 n . , „ A . C Routh , P . M . 1842 ... J Prov . J . G . Ds . „ J . Bullock , P . M . 1821 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ Albion Russell , P . M . 311 ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ T . H . Challis , P . M . 315 ... ... Prov . D . G . D . of C . „ E . M . Ffennell , P . M . 1829 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ W . Flint , P . M . 311 , 2450 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ E . Yorke , P . M . 56 ... ... ... „ . „ „ E . Smith , P . M . 7 . t j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ F . D . Carnell , P . M . 851 ... ... Prov . G . Org . ' , A . J . Freeman , S . W . 2201 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ G . " Masters , P . M . 1707 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ W . W . Welling , P . M . 218 7 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ D . M . Ross , P . M . 271 ... ... ... „ W , Bennett , P . M . 732 ... ... ... | „ J . H . Ewart , P . M . 915 ... ... ... I D „ , „ C . R . Foster , P . M . 1466 ... ... fProv- G- Stwtk ' „ W . Potter , P . M . 1947 ... ... ... 1 „ F . Lawson Lewis , P . M . 2 434 ... ... J

At the request of the D : kc of Connaught , who , with Bro . Sir W . T . Marriott and other brethren left the Prov . Grand Lodge shortly before five o ' clock to catch their trains , the chair was taken during the remainder of the meeting by the Bro . E . R . Currie , the Very Rev . the Dean of Battle .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

The annual meeting of the above Prov . Grand Lodge was held on the 25 th ult ., in the Masonic Hall , North Shields , under the presidency ol the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . the Rt . Hon . Sir Matthew White Ridley , Bart , M . P . There was a large assemblage of brethren , including Bro . Alderman Richard Henry Holmes , J . P ., P . G . D . Eng ., Deputy Prov . G . M ., and the following , who have also attained Provincial Grand Lodge honours :

Bros . Seymour Bell , Ralph Carr , Fred H . Corder , Thomas Purvis , T . J Armstrong , J . Straker Wilson , J . Gibson Youll , F . Turnbull , J . H . Richardson , William Bell , M . Murray , John G . Cole , John T . Heslop , J . V . Simpson , J . Hewitson Walton , Y . Terry , H . W . Walton , W . F . Croxton , [ os . J . Holme , Geo . C . Coates , T . Appleby , Jas . Ferguson , N . H . Martin , Robert Weddell , Ralph Thompson , John Page , J . D . Gillespie , T . Brudson , William Green , J . Arthur

Forbes , John Spearman , J . M . Crow , Thomas Kidd , G . H . Heslop , John T . Dove , E . W . Middlemast , R . Brand , William Reed , G . F . Charlton , Herbert Butt , Rev . W . M . O'Brady-Jones , W . G . Reynolds , A . T . Aitchison , W . Fawcett , W , E . Harker , Isaac Black , M . J . Cohen , J . H . Heywood , A . Barker , Jno . Calvert , E . J . Gibbon , Wm . Spicer , Adam P . Scott , Thos . Ellis , E . Purvis , E . Dunford , F . W . Sykes , John Joel , Thos . Gillespie , T . S . Hudson , Robt . Elwes , H . E . Hollis , Geo . A . Allan , L . Winstone , and E . Forster .

After the transaction of the ordinary business , three lodges were duly consecrated , the Lodge of Swinburne , No . 2680 ; the Wallsend Lodge , No . 2703 ; and the Heaton Lodge , No . 2723 . The Prov . Grand Master next proceeded with the appointment and investiture of the Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year , which were as follows ;

Bro . T . Pickering , 24 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ T . Young , 2327 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . J . Fairbrother , 1879 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Ralph Carr , 24 ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Trea « . „ R . F . Kidd , 186 3 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ F . H . Corder , 1664 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sac . „ W . C . Beatley , M . D ., 166 4 ... ... } ., < , „ . „ A . P . Farthing Holmes , 2571 ... ^ I rov . b . G . U ... „ Ralph Allan , jun ., 431 ... ... - \ v ifin-„ H . Geipel , 1427 ... ... ] Prov . J . G . U 3 .