Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BERKSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge vvas held on 'Thursday afternoon , the 29 th ult ., in the Town Hall , Maidenhead , when there vvas a large and influential attendance , the whole of the lodges in the county being represented . Bro . John Thornhill Morland , D . P . G . M . ( in charge ) , presided , and the brethren present also

included—- Bros . W . H . Gardner , Rev . J . M . Guilding , Rev . A . T . Morland , T . Cooke , jun ., ] . W . Martin ( Mayor of Reading ) , H . ] . Stollery , E . T . Biggs , C . Dearing , T . P . ,, Stewart , iJ .-Morty , H . T . Hobbs , A . W . Parry , F . J . Harrold , E . Prince , R . C . 1 'Davy , VV . Hemmings , S . G . Kirchhofler , Rev . Canon Garry , A . Welch , J . O . Carter , G . W . Dixon , J . Tomkins , E . L . Shepherd , E . Margrett , G . Milward , M .

'"' Wheeler , C . D . Hume , H . J . Mount . A . H . Apted , R . Nicholson , C . W . Cox , VV . 'Fenton , Rev . A . W . N . Deacon , Rev . F . R . Harnett , A . H . Simpson , C . D . Akdin , .. Col . Jopp , G . H . Morland , G . J . Cosburn , E . C . James , J . Rolle , J . T . Ransley , W . :.. E . Beal , C ' . ' F . * Dyson , F . A . Wells . C . Spackman , Ernest Gardner ( Mayor of , Maidenhead ) , C . E . Hewett , W . Goulden , F . Morford , W . Boutcher , and many . '' others .

' " ' The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened in due form , and the usual preliminaries gone through , V The Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . J VV . MARTIN , reported that since the last Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Windsor , the Downshire Lodge ' had , been consecrated at Wokingham , with Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., as

^ y .. M ., and that a lodge had also been consecrated nt Ascot , with Bro . . Fendick as W . M . . •. The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY announced that he had received letters of , apology from Bros , the Earl of Radnor , Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart ., Lord , , . Carrington , VV . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Col . Noel Money , Viscount Valentia , .. R :-V . J . Studholme Brownrigg , E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; and others .

. Bro . the Rev . Canon GARRY , Past Prov . Grand Chap ., then moved that an address of congratulation be presented to the M . W . the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , on the betrothal of H . R . H . the Duke of York , K . G ., with H . S . H . Princess Victoria Mary of Teck . In the course of , an eloquent and feeling address , Canon Garry said every event that

.. ' appertained to the Royal House gained additional interest with every additional year her Majesty reigned over us , and probabl y few events con-. nccted with the Royal Family had excited more genuine interest than the ceremony at Kensington on the previous day ( Thursday ) , when the Oueen unveiled , on the 55 th anniversary of her coronation , the statue of herself

.. which had been executed by her own daughter , Princess Louise , and was , erected in sight of the palace in which her Majesty had passed her childhood : and , girlhood . It must be a great satisfaction to all Englishmen that an : event was about to take place vvhich they hoped would , by the blessing of 1 Almighty God , produce a long line of kings to succeed to that throne which

the grandmother of the Royal bridegroom occupied so long with so much xredit to herself and advantage lo her subjects . They Irusted that il would 1 , 'l ) e ' a long time before thc Duke of York would become king ; still they must .: 'hdpe that in God's providence his Royal Highness would some day be called upon to occupy the most ancient throne in the world . Princess May was

beloved by all who had the privilege of her acquaintance , and there could " he no doubt that she and her husband would do their best to promote all those philanthropic schemes which had done so much to knit the people of this country together , and relieve , as far as possible , distress and poverty . . These feeble words vvere addressed by him as an Englishman to England , : but he was also speaking as a Mason to Masons , and they must remember

that their Order was really one of the most loyal and truly national bodies ¦ •* that existed . They had the great privilege of being presided over by H . R . H . * the Heir Apparent , and they , as Berkshire Masons , in looking forward tothe ' coming auspicious event , could scarcely do so without certain feelings of regret ¦ and mourning for the young prince who was their first Prov . Grand Master in the Province of Berkshire . There could be no doubt that as Freemasons

•they would be very neglectful of their duty if they allowed the present gathering to pass without noticing the Royal Wedding , and he felt it to be agreat pleasure and privilege to propose the resolution he had read . He felt sure that all the brethren from the bottom of their hearts wished the Royal couple all possible happiness and prosperity , and would rejoice in their joy , and also sympathise vvith them in their sorrow , which they would doubtless be called upon to bear in common with others .

Bro . KIRCIIHOI'FER , Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , seconded the resolution . The proposal was carried b y acclamation . The P . G . SECRETARY then presented the financial statement of the P . G . " ' Treasurer , Bro . Charles Stevens , who was unfortunately prevented from attending .

: The statement , vvhich was highly satisfactory , was adopted on the motion of Bro . CARTER , seconded by Bro . MOUNT . : The DirruTY P . G . MASTER then referred to the "Berkshire Masonic Reg ister and Calendar " as being of the greatest utility as a work of reference , and acknowledged the indebtedness of the province to Hro .

Cosburn , of Newbury , for having , during the past two years , borne the risk of publication , but it was felt that the time had novv arrived when thc province itself should undertake the responsibility of the publication , and he therefore suggested that the matter should be referred to the Board of General Purposes with that object in view .

Bros . KiRCiiiioi'i'irit and DIXON also bure testimony lo the great value of the work , and cordially supported Bro . Morland ' s suggestion , vvhich vvas unanimously agreed to . The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read his report on the lodges in thc province , showing that the whole of them vvere in a healthy financial state . Bro . E . MARGRETT , Secretary to the Charity Committee , also presented a . satisfactory report , showing that the candidates for the Masonic Institu-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

tions , whose cases had been supported by the ; Charity Committee durinnthe past year , had each been successful . The report was passed , on the motion of Bro . TOMKINS , seconded b y Bro . KtRCinioFi'ER . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , in appropriate terms , then moved

That the fraternal thanks of the Provincial Grand Lodge be presented to Worshipful Brother G . W . Dixon for his valuable services as Charity Steward to the province during 45 elections extending over nine years , and that the best wishes of the Provincial Grand Lodge be offered to him . "

Bro . K . L . SHEPHERD seconded the motion , which was unanimousl y adopted , and Bro . DIXON gracefully tendered his thanks . Bro . Charles Stephens was unanimously re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , on the motion of the S . G . W ., Bro . GARDNER , seconded b y Bro . SHREWSBURY .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master then invested Bros . F . J . Harrold , LP . M . 574 , and Charles Batting , J . D . 1566 , vvith the Provincial Charity Jewel ; R . C . Mount , P . M . 414 , R . Maples , P . M . 574 , E . W . Allen , P . M . 795 , C . Dearinsr , P . M . 795 , E . L . Shepherd , P . M . 945 , and S . G . Kirchhoffer , P . M . 1 S 99 , with the Charity Bar ; and H . S . Hannington , P . M . 574 , with the tri-coloured Charity Ribbon . The Deputy P . G . M . then appointed and invested the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . Col . S . M . Jopn , 1899 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Robert C . Davy , 1566 ... ... . ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . A . T . Morland , 945 * prov . G . Chaps . „ Rev . J . Sevvart , 414 ... ... ... ) ' ,, C . E . Hewett , 2043 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ J . W . Martin , 414 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . G . Millar , 414 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . ,, A . H . Simpson , 945 ... ... .... Prov . J . G . D . „ E . Prince , 209 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ J . B . Clarke , 2228 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ H . G . Sherwin , not ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ J . T . Champion , 188 7 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " rA w ^"' "" "'•••¦] Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ K A . Wells , 2 437 ... ... ... ) „ W . B . Biddies , 1101 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ E . W . Allen , 795 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ J . Harding , 771 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ C . Spackman , 1770 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, W . Goulden , 1366 ... ... ... " ] ,, ] , H . Custance , 79 ^ ... ... ... | „ 11 . Ponking , 1 S 87 ... ... ... f-Prov . G . Stwds . ,, Ernest Gardner , 1566 ... ... ... I , , F . Morford , 200 ... ... ... J

This concluded the business , and Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren sat down to a banquet , at which the customary Masonic toasts were proposed and honoured , and thc officers wild brethren of the Ellington Lodge were warmly thanked for the excellent arrangements made for the reception of the Provincial Grand Lodge . Much credit is also due to the able and indefatigable Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . J . W . Martin , vvho courteously carries out his responsible duties .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of.Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF . CHESHIRE .

The annual meeting vvas held at the Town Hall , Chester , on the 24 th ult . This meeting vvas highly interesting to all Mark Masons , inasmuch as it was on this occasion the Hon . Alan Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W ., vvas installed Provincial Grand Mark Master of Cheshire in the place of Lord Egerton of Tatton , who resigned on account of his many public engagements .

The installation ceremony vvas admirably performed by the Earl of Euston , Pro Grand Master . Bro . James Salmon , P . G . I . G ., was also installed as Deputy Provincial Grand Master . After each had been saluted respectively , the Prov . Grand Master proceeded to invest his ollicers as follows :

Bro . J . Deakin ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ William Ramsden ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ W . Marston ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ J . S . Warren ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . ,, James Cookson ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . J . W . Tanner ... ... *** '( Prov G Chaps . ,, Rev . C . Chetvvynd Atkinson ... ... ) ,, T . Stephenson . ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, Fred . Broadsmith ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Richard Newhouse ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . ,, Capt . Cooper ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . ' ,, John Armstrong ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ C . N . Stewart ... ... ... Prov . G . L of W-„ Harry G . Small ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Hugh Lowndes ... ... ... Prov . G . S-B-„ W . J . Hoskyn ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ S . Smith ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Geo . Poole ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ ( . Clarke ... ... ... . A „ A . Ingram ... ... ... . A Prov . G . Stwds . •> . 1- f-if-rK ' -ir ... -. ... —J

It is anticipated that the newly-installed Prov . Grand Master will ' very popular , as he displays great interest in Mark Masonry , and vve si cerely wish that with the valuable assistance of Bro . Richard Ncvvh ° * ' Prov . G . Sec , that Mark Masonry may go on and flourish throug h t ' province .