Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somersetshire.

The solo in the closing anthem was taken by Bro . J . H . Stafford , Bro . K . Davey presiding at the harmonium . The banquet was held subsequently at the Royal Hotel , the Prov . Grand Master presiding . ,,, „_„„ ; „ .. , „ . the

« The Q ueen and the Craft" and " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . Prmce of Wales , ' ' 7 ' were proposed from the chair and loyally honoured . Bro . RICE gave " The M . W . Pro G . M ., the R . W , Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Bro . ELSE briefly responded , and

Bro . BRAMBLE followed with some reminiscences of Eastern Freemasonry , expressing the hope that brethren visiting the East would attend Freemasons' lodges there , which they would find extremely interesting . The DEP . PROV . G . M . gave ''The R . W . Provincial G . M . of Somerset , the Rig ht Hon . Viscount Dungarvan . " He had no doubt many of the brethren were surprised to find the P . G . M . presiding on that occasion . In

South Africa , Viscount Dungarvan had experienced numerous difficulties and dangers , and he was echoing the feeling of every person present when he-said they were delighted to see him amongst them in good health and spirits , and without a single scar about him . ( Applause . ) Sometimes his lordship had had a tent to sleep in , and sometimes he had not . But he had been doing his level best to serve his Queen and country . ,

n „ The PROV . G . M . replying , said he considered it a very great piece of good fortune to be able to be there , because it was only on his return two days ago that he knew of the meeting . He proposed " The V . W . D . P . G . M . Bro . R . C . Else , P . G . D . of England , " remarking that when he left this country he was not anxious as to how the Province of Somersetshire would

fare . He knew the affairs of the province would be ably conducted by Bro . Else . ( Applause . ) The DEP . PROV . G . M ., in reply , mentioned that it was 40 years since he entered the Craft , and 38 years since he became an officer of the p rovince He had never from that time been out of office .

Bro . MCK ENZIE , Coleridge Lodge , No . 1750 , gave "The Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " Bro . C . P . BILLING , P . J . G . W ., first replied , and said that the honour which had been conferred upon him that day was reflected on the Eldon Lodge , with which he was proud to be connected . Bro . V . T . ELWORTHY proposed " The Visiting Brethren . "

Bros . J . PARKER , P . P . J . G . D . Wiltshire , and Dr . MONCKTON , Royal Hampton Court Lodge , replied . The PROV . G . M . proposed "The W . M ., Officers , and Brethren of the Eldon Lodge , No . 1755 . " Bro . TEDDER , the W . M ., responded , and said that the honour of the visit of the Provincial Grand Lodge was enhanced by the fact that a collar had been conferred upon one of their Past Masters . ( Applause . )

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Buckinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

A meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the National Schools , Hendover , on Thursday , the 28 th ult ., at 4 . 30 p . m ., and was presided over by the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Lord Addington , assisted by the D . P . G . M ., Bro . J . E . Bowen , and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers and brethren to the number of about 110 , including Bros .

J . C . F . Tower , Dep . G . D . C ; J . Stephens , P . D . G . D . C ; J . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . L ; J . J . Thomas , P . G . S . B . ; and others . Prov . Grand Lodge having been opened , the roll of lodges in the province was called by the Prov . G . Sec , Bro . VV . WooIIett , when it vvas found that every lodge was represented .

The minutes were then read , and the various reports taken , a special appeal being made to the brethren by the Charity Secretary of the province , Bro . J . Stephens , that the votes might be sent to the Charity Committee of the province . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . E . H . Wagstaffe , 94 S ... ••••••Prov . S . G . W . „ Dr . E . G . Woollerton , 2492 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ the Rev . C . E . Roberts , 2 492 ... ... \ p r ,.. , Sir Borradaile Savory , Bart ., 631 ... ... j ^ r 0 Vl ° - Cna P ' „ R . H . Hill , 1 S 94 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ H . W . Clemow , 2262 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Woollett , 1894 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . H . Bridgman , 591 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ F . J . Harding , 24 J 1 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . " Birch , 1501 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ J . O'Dea , 2683 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ G . C . Tricker , 2-130 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ S . E . Hipwell , 22 44 •••••••••P ^ . G . S . B . " kPjK , 639 Q ] Prov . G . Std . Brs „ VV . Carter , 17 S 7 ... ... ... ) „ G . Jameson , 2683 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ A . Rose , S 40 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ C . Colgrove , 2435 •••••••••Prov ' G . Purst . „ F . Perkins , 245 S ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst ,, A . Simpson , 1410 ... ... ... ~ 1 ,, S . Gale , 2262 ... ... ... 1 „ E . D . Everard , 2309 I p G Stwds _ ,, H . lurnham , 2420 ... ... ... | „ W . Yeo , 2421 ... ... ... I „ A . A . Waltord , 1 787 ... ... ,.. J „ F . Payne , 591 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . „ S . G . Gallop , 1 S 94 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Tyler

An interesting presentation was then made to the Prov . Grand Master by Bro . J . TERRY , on behalf of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , consisting of a very handsomely-prepared and bound album of address , containing the copy of a resolution pissed by the Committee in grateful appreciation of Lord Addington's services as Chairman of the Festival in February last .

The brethren subsequently dined together under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master , when the usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured . Deli ghtful music was discoursed during and after dinner by thc private band of Mr . Alfred de Rothschild ( by kind permission ) , which was highly

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Buckinghamshire.

appreciated by all present , as was also the excellent singing of Bros Whitworth Mitton ( tenor ) and R . Radford ( bass ) , and Bro . Alex . Waton , P . M . 591 , gave a good recitation . In the course of the evening , the PROV . G . M . most cordially thanked

the receiving Lodge Concordia , No . 249 2 , for the hearty reception given to Provincial Grand Lodge , especially associating with the toast the names of the W . M .. Bro . the Rev . C . E . Roberts , P . G . Chap ., and F . J . Hubbard , P . M ., P . P . G . Treas ., who both suitably acknowledged the compliment .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SURREY .

An emergency meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , London , W . C , on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., at 4 o ' clock p . m . Present : Bros , the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow , G . C . M . G ., P . G . M . ; J . A . Braik , P . S . G . W . ; Ralph Nevili , P . J . G . W . ; F . Lockett , P . J . G . O . ; Rev . C . E . Wright , P . G . Chap . ; Arthur H . Bowles , P . G . Sec . ; G . H . N . Bridges , P . G . D . C ; R . J . Maitland Coffin , P . A . G . D . C .: S . F . Mackway , P . S . G . D . ; Francis

Dowse , P . J . G . D . ; E . J . Packington , P . G . Org . ; A . W . R . Sowman , P . A . G . Sec . ; Robert Jackson , P . G . I . G . ; G . A . King , P . G . S . B . ; C . S . Rogers , P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Potter , P . G . Tyler ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec . ; J . A . Farnfield , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Leach Barrett , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . H . Mosse , P . P . S . G . W . ; Alfred Lambert , P . P . G . M . O . ; Thomas F . Easterbrook , P . P . S . G . W . ; William Shaw , P . P . J . G . D . ; G . W . Fortescue , P . G . Stwd . ; A . H . ' Salter , P . P . S . G . O . ; E . Apelt , P . P . G . M . O . ; and others .

The P . G . Sec . having read the summons convening the meeting , The PROV . G . M . rose , expressing the deep regret the news of the loss of their Prov . G . Treas . had caused , who had filled the office with ability and distinction and never done otherwise than give the greatest satisfaction . He then asked that a resolution , which he was about to propose , might be coupled with an expression of the deepest sympathy with his family . The resolution was as follows :

" That this meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Surrey desires to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered to it by the late Col . Bircham , who has been the Treasurer of the Iodge since its formation in 1 S 92 , and to express the deep regret experienced by every member of Grand Lodge at the loss which has been sustained by Freemasonry generally throughout the province by the death of Colonel A . H . Bircham . "

This was seconded by Bro . J . A . FARNFIELD , who in doing so remarked that Bro . Colonel Bircham had so devoted himself to his duties that he had earned the esteem of the brethren . Carried unanimously . The next resolution , proposed by the PROV . G . M ., seconded by Bro . J . A . FARNPIELD , and carried unanimously , was as follows :

" That a letter be addressed to Mrs . A . H . Bircham expressing to her the great sympathy the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Surrey feel in her recent bereavement , and enclosing a copy of the resolution passed by the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge . " Bro . A . H / BOWLES then proposed the nomination of Bro . Alfred Lambert , P . M . 19 S , P . P . G . M . O ., to fill the vacant post of Prov . Grand Treasurer .

The nomination was seconded by Bro . J . A . BRAIK . . No other nomination being made , Bro . Alfred Lambert was unanimously elected . Bro . LAMBERT thanked the brethren for the honour conferred upon him . There being no other business , the Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

Scotland.

Scotland .

INITIATION OF THE LORD PROVOST OF GLASGOW .

A special meeting of the Progress Lodge , No . 873 , was held on the 29 th ult ., in the Masonic Chambers , Glasgow . There was a very large gathering , the fact that Mr . Samuel Chisholm , the Hon . the Lord Provost of Glasgow , was to be one of the candidates having been made known attracting a

number of visitors . The Provosts of Glasgow have hitherto sought " the light " in the Princes Lodge , but with new men old customs pass away , and the Progress Lodge , being in harmony with the temperance principles of the present Lord Provost , it is not surprising that he should turn to the Progress for admission .

The attendance included Bros . John Graham , of Broadstone , Prov . G . Master ; W . Phillips , P . G . B . T ., Treasurer ; Nicholson Haydon , W . M . 2128 ( E . C ); W . S . Reid , R . W . M . 87 ; Thos . Lindsay , R . W . M . 553 ; James Moffatt , R . W . M . 332 ; Cowan , P . M . 3 bis ; Richmond , P . M . 362 ; Dick , P . M . 27 ; Dr . J . Devon , P . M . S 73 ; P . Brownlie , P . M . 8 73 ; the Wardens ( Bros . J . D . M'Neill and W . Pnillips , jun . ) ; and others .

Bro . W . NICOL , R . W . M ., presided , and intimated the lodge excursion , for which arrangements have been made , welcomed Bro . Haydon , from the English Constitution , and gave the O . B . of honorary membership to Bro . Graham , P . G . M . There were six candidates for initiation , including the Lord Provost , and the R . W . M ., with the other officers , performed the ceremony most creditably and impressively , while the closing lecture was delivered by the Prov . G . M .

Reference was made by the R . W . M . to the reception of Bro . Chisholm as a member , and its possible effect not only to the lodge , but to the Craft in general . Bro . CHISHOLM , who was enthusiastically received , spoke in appreciative terms of his impressions of Freemasonry . He was pleased to realise that that consciousness was more than confirmed , and that Masonry had a sure and solid foundation .