Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

were three rules that should influence men and were the conditions that governed those who held high office . During the last few years he had the honour conferred upon him of being asked to accept the office of Prov . G . Master . He afterwards found himself the biggest Schoolmaster in the world , and he found that a little consideration for other people ' s feelings and a due allowance for their opinions , tended to make things easier . He was

now in another position , but in that position he thought the governing traits of Freemasonry would actuate him . Her Majesty ruled over a large portion of the human race , and she in her supreme position knew , so far as justice was concerned , no difference of colour or race—and that was the governing principle of Freemasonry . AH persons were in a position of equality so

long as they performed their various functions under supreme authority , and on these conditions he had ; endeavoured to perform his functions . If he could attain the ideal which was undoubtedly presented in the principles of Freemasonry he could not but feel that his success was due to association with the Craft .

Bro . his Honour Judge LUMLEY SMITH , Q . C ., responded on behalf of " The Prov . Grand Officers , " and said it was ~ well known that possession of office in the province was highly esteemed , and rightly so . A meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge was a most interesting gathering , because one saw that every brother was one who had been , or was , a centre of Masonic influence in his own district . In this province office was a high position

in consequence of the great number of brethren found in it and the consequent difficulty of selection . The compliment paid to each brother put into office would be shared by the lodge to which he belonged . Bro . J AMES TERRY , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I ., replied for " The Masonic Charities , " and referring to the Chairmanship of the Prov . Grand Master at the next Festival of the Benevolent Institution , said there were

at present 23 brethren from the province who had sent in their names as Stewards . That was not one half the number that would be enrolled by the time the Festival came round . He hoped that on the 26 th February 1 S 96 , the Prov . Grand Master would have the privilege of presiding over one of the largest meetings ever held in connection with the Institution . When the Prov . Grand Master consented to act as Chairman he did not

anticipate being able to announce that the Secretary of State for India would preside , and he was proud to think his duties would not compel him to visit that far-off country , and thereby deprive the Benevolent Institution of his presence . Whatever had been accomplished in Middlesex would be beaten in 1896 . It was easy to do so if every member in the province put down 10 guineas , for this would enable them to place 10 additional annuitants

on the Fund . They might call them Hamilton or Middlesex annuitants , or whatever they pleased , so long as they sent in the money . Since he had been in office the number of annuitants had increased from 180 to 475 ; and the amount required each year was now about £ 20 , 000 . They had thus endeavoured to meet that glorious thing that so many statesmen had

attempted—providing pensions for old age . Masons had solved that problem , and Masonry had guided them to what they should do . He hoped that at the next Festival the Provincial Grand Master would be as gratified with the result as the province would be at being presided over by so distinguished a brother and so illustrious a statesman . The Tyler's toast closed the proceedings .

Bro . J . W . Hinton , Mus . Doc , P . P . G . Org ., presided over the musical arrangements , which included an original Masonic song , " Friends and Foes , " by Bro . Hinton , which should speedily prove popular with the brethren , both for the excellence of the words and the melody of the air . Bros . E . Roberts , D . James , and Davies also assisted .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BERKSHIRE .

The annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Berkshire was held in the large Town Hall , at Reading , on Tuesday afternoon , the 25 th ult ., when there was a numerous attendance of members , a large proportion of whom were Provincial Grand Officers , who wore their handsome and distinctive collars

and badges , as well as an array of jewels , which more or less bore evidence of the valuable services rendered to the Order by the respective possessors . The Council Chamber was appropriated to the use of the Provincial Grand Officers , while one of the Committee Rooms was set apart for the ordinary members .

Notwithstanding the multiplicity of engagements which press upon most people of any position at this season of the year , there was a very fair contingent of visitors , including eight or nine brethren from Gloucester , who thus returned the compliment extended by some of the Reading Masons who recentl y made a fraternal visit to that city . The hall had been admirably fitted up , and the assembling of the

Provincial Grand Lodge was preceded by a special lodge of emergency held by the three Reading lodges , under the presidency of Bro . W . J . Maurice , W . M . of tie Union Lodge , the Wardens' chairs being respectively filled by Bros , the Rev . J . M . Guilding , W . M . of the Greyfraics' Lodge , and A . S . Cooper , W . M . of the Kendrick Lodge . At about half-past four o ' clock the members of the Provincial Grand

Lod ge entered the hall in proper Masonic order , and were accorded the accustomed honours , after which the transaction of the usual business proceeded under the able and genial direction of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master in Charge , Bro . John Thornhill Morland , wearing the handsome gold braided collar of Past Junior Grand Deacon of England . There were a large number of brethren present .

B . o . J . W . MARTIN , the indefatigable and much esteemed Prov . Grand Secretary , first read the roll of the lodges , when it appeared that all , with one exception , were represented . The names of the Prov . Grand Officers or tiie year were also called . The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read letters of apology for

non-attendance from a number of distinguished brethren , including Bros . Viscount valentia , M . P . ; Sir Lionel Darell , C . T . Murdoch , Keyser , and others . The general financial statement for the year showed total receipts of * 58 15 s . 3 d ., and a balance in hand of £ 120 us . ud ., which was rather fnore than the previous gear ' s balance , The Charity account was of a similarl y satisfactory character , and the finance report was unanimously aaoptedon the motion of Bro . F . J . FERGUSON , seconded by Bro . R . CMOONT .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

The Secretary's report upon the lodges in the province was likewise of a gratifying nature , snowing a total of 622 members , and 171 Past Masters . The regular lodges held during the year had numbered 100 , and nine lodges of emergency had also heen held . There had been 23 joining members in the course of the twelvemonth , and 33 initiations .

Bro . E . MARGRETT , Secretary to the Provincial Charity Committee , presented an interesting report , which recorded the success of the candidate put forward by the province on this his first and last chance . The DEPUTY PROV . G . M . complimented Bro . Margrett and the

Committee upon the satisfactory result of their strenuous and untiring efforts to promote the success of the deserving case in question , and urged the great importance of the brethren sending all their votes to the Committee , who would exercise the voting power of the province to the best advantage , as they had done in the instance referred to .

The report was unanimously passed on the proposal of Bro . E . HORNE , seconded by Bro . S . KNIGHT . Bro . J . TOMKINS proposed , and Bro . S . G . KIRCHHOPFER seconded , in complimentary terms , the re-appointment ot Bro . Charles Stephens as Provincial Grand Treasurer , which was cordially agreed to , and Bro . STEPHENS briefly returned thanks .

The Prov . Grand Secretary reported that Bro . Margrett had been elected on the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , a well deserved recognition of his labours in the cause of Masonic Charity . The Deputy P . G . M . then invested Bros . E . Prince , P . M . 2091 , and J . S . Liddle , W . M . 574 , with the Provincial Charity Jewel ; and Bros . Captain A , Tupman , P . M . 414 ; G . H . SMorland , W . M . 945 ; and F . Kedge , 24 60 , with the Charity Bar .

The Deputy P . G . M . next appointed and invested the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bro . William Ferguson , 1101 ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ Alex . C . A . Higerty , 2437 ... ... Prov . G . J . W . ,, Rev . A . E . Farrar , 1887 ... ... ¦)„ n „ , „ Rev ; W . Muirhead Hope , 574 ... ... \ Prov- ° - Cna P s-

„ Charles Stephens , 4 r 4 ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ A . E . Preston , 945 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ John W . Martin , 414 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Dr . J . B . Isaac , 1899 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Harcourt Lee , 209 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Wm . Powell , 1770 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks .

„ Henry Ponking , 1887 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C „ Frederick Hunt , 771 ... ... ... p . A . G . D . C „ A . S . Cooper , 2043 ... ... ... p . G . S . B . ,, Lieut . T . G . W . James , 7 gs ... ,.. ¦) _ ^ 0 , 1-. „ G . S . Gait , 414 ... i .. ... j Prov- G- Std ' Brs ' „ T . W . Walford , 2460 ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ D . Manders , 1 S 79 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ Edwin Hewett , 1566 ... ... ... p . G . Purst . „ C . L . Lovett , 945 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ W . J . Maurice , 414 ... ... ,., " ] „ E . A . C Bouquet , 20 9 ... ... ... 1

„ G . H . Morland , 945 ... ... ... V-Prov . G . Stewards . „ Dr . C E . Peterson , 1899 ... ... j 11 Bernard Ruddock , 414 ... ... ... J „ W . Hemmings , 1101 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The newly-appointed officers having been saluted the P . G . Lodge was closed in due form .

The annual banquet was subsequently partaken of in the small Town Hall , when over 100 brethren assembled ; a recherche repast being served by Bro . W . G . Flanagan , of the Great Western Hotel . At the close of the repast ,

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER ( in charge ) proposed " The Oueen and the Craft" and also "The M . W . Grand Master of England , HTR . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G . ; the M . W . the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; the R . W . the D . G . M . the Earl of Mount Ed gcumbe ; and the Grand Officers of England , Present and Past . "

Bro . KrRCHHoiTER having responded , proposed " The Deputy Prov . Grand Master ( in charge ) and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . " They had , he said , at the head of the province a gentleman whom they honoured as a distinguished Mason and loved as a friend . The Grand Officers , Present and Past , were also well deserving of the distinctions conferred upon them .

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER ( in charge ) remarked that he was pleased to do anything he could to promote the interests of the Craft , and if his humble efforts met with the approbation of the province , he was amply repaid . Bro . Morland concluded by thanking the Mayor and corporation of Reading for granting the free use of the halls for Provincial Grand Lodge , and requested the Prov . Grand Secretary to convey the thanks of the province to them for their kindness .

Bro . CHARLES STEPHENS submitted " The Health of the Visitors , " and Bro . BURTON , P . P . S . G . W . Gloucestershire , and Bro . BOWEN , P . G . Sec . Bucks , responded . Bro . Canon GARRY , in giving " The Charities , " said the real meaning of the word Freemasonry was Charity . The three M asonic Charities had developed very largely of late years , and as the Charities had grown so had

the Craft grown in strength and stability . He coupled with the toast the names of Bros . Terry and Margrett . Bro . J AMES TERRY , Sec . R . M . B . I ., thanked the Province of Berks for the generous assistance it had given to the Benevolent Institution , ^ 450 having been taken to the last Festival by the five brethren who attended from Berkshire lodges .

Bro . MARGRETT also responded . He said he was very proud of what the province did in regard to the Charity votes . The D . P . G . M . proposed " The Worshipful Masters of the Union , Greyfriars , and Kendrick Lodges , " and Bros . O . MAURICE , the Rev . J . M . GUILDING , and S . COOPER replied . " The Health of the Prov . Grand Treasurer and Secretary" was also enthusiastically drunk , their valuable services being highly praised .

THE INSTALLATION MEETING of the Lodge of Rectitude , No . 335 , took place on Tuesday , the 25 th ult ., at Corsham . There was a good attendance of brethren , and the meeting was a very pleasant one . Bro . M . St . John Maule was installed into the chair of K . S . by the retiring W . M ., Bro . C . IS . Oliver , who received the congratulations of the brethren on recovery from his long and serious illness . The officers invested were as follows : Bros . C . R . Oliver , I . P . M . ; Col . Gwynn , S . W .: Rev . J . Dunlop , J . W .: Rev . 1 . McConnell . S . D . ; Basil A . Dyer , J . D .,- K . Noke , Sec . ; B . H . Watts , Treas . ; W . B . Gregory , I . G . ; and S . Bigwood , Tyler .