Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex

Bro . II . Clark , 1 777 ... ... ... 1 „ S . Hague , M . D ., 2105 ... ... ... | » ? . ' 'V ? . ^'' o 8 . - " " ' iProv . G . Stwds „ Lieut .-Col . W . Ruston , 1871 ... ... f „ H . F . Stewart , 1460 ... ... ... | ,, T . Tidmarsh , 216 3 ... ... ... J

,, "j . Gilbert , 1194 ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Ty ler

The DEPUTY P ROV . GRAXD MASTER in charge then moved the following resolution : That Provincial By-law No . 21 be altered as follows , the words in parenthesis to be erased and those in italics to be added—21 . There shall be a Charity Committee ( shall be appointed each year at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , which Committee shall consist ) consisting of the Deputy Provincial Grand

Master , who shall be President of such Committee , the Provincial Grand Treasurer , the Provincial Grand Registrar ( and six Masters or Past Masters of lodges in the province ; three to be appointed by the Grand Master , and three to be elected by the Provincial Grand Lodge ) the Provincial Grand Secretary , the Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary , and a representative from each lodge in the province : the full Committee todenl -with and assist cases for election to the

Masonic Institutions , and the ex-officio members , viith the representatives of the lodges concerned ( Its duty shall be ) to consider petitions for assistance , etc ., etc . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER in charge said that in many Provincial Grand Lodges there was a Committee to look after thc election of candidates to thc Masonic Institutions , instead of the provincial votes going indiscriminately they were devoted to particular cases in the province . That

was to be one of the duties of the proposed new Committee , and the other duty was to look after applicants for charity , and in order to ensure the performance of these duties it was necessary they should have a larger and more representative Committee . He thought if this resolution was carried it would be for the good of the province and especially of the cases put forward by the province for election to the Royal Masonic Institutions .

Bro . I . TICKLE , P . P . G . Reg ., seconded the motion , which he said should meet with the support of every member . In the larger Masonic provinces there was a Committee similar to the one suggested , and the result was that the cases were invariably carried for election to the Institutions . Bro . C . E . KEYSER , as the Secretary of the Charity Committee of

Hertfordshire , asked to be allowed to say a word or two in support of the proposition , which was a most important one . Since a similar suggestion had been adopted in Hertfordshire , although a small province—and therefore not numerically with a large number of votes—they always carried their cases at the elections . After a short discussion thc motion was unanimously carried .

On the proposition of the DEPUTY P ROV . GRAXD MASTER in charge , seconded by Bro . STEDWELL , P . P . G . W ., a sum of 15 guineas was voted to each of the Masonic Institutions . A sum of five guineas was also voted to the local Cottage Hospital , and a cordial vote of thanks was passed to thc Sir Charles Bright Lodge for the use of furniture , and to Bro . R . W . Forge for his very great assistance in the arrangements for the meeting and the subsequent banquet at the Town Hall .

Bro . W . II . P REECE , F . R . S ., P . P . S . G . W ., then rose and said lhat as the Prov . S . G . W . for the past year he had been called upon to perform a duty which however unworthily he might discharge , no one could undertake with greater pleasure and gratification . They all knew that this ysar their Deputy Provincial Grand Master had entered upon his 10 th year in that office , and had performed the duties for a longer period than any previous

Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex . It was thought that as Bro . Thrupp had entered on his ioth year of office , the brethren of the province could not do less than present him with something representing their great appreciation of his services . On the 5 th October last a small meeting was held , and at a representative meeting of lodges and chapters a Committee was formed consisting of the principal executive officers of the province ,

which was subsequently added to by the Worshipful Masters of the oldest and the youngest lodges in Middlesex . The brethren would learn with some satisfaction that the last Masonic function performed by their late Provincial Grand Master was to preside over the Committee when it was decided when and where this presentation was to be made . They had collected together a sum extremelv small in its intrinsic representation of the services of the

Deputy Provincial Grand Master , but it was one that would enable them to perpetuate for all time the memory of Bro . Raymond H . Thrupp . They desired to recognise his services in his trip le capacities of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , a brother Mason , and a man . As Deputy Provincial Grand Master , they all knew the invaluable , assiduous , and honourable way in which he had discharged his duties . There was not the smallest detail in

thc working of the smallest lodge in the province that he had not at his finger ' s end , and no brother could have performed his duties with greater eclat than he . The brethren desired that Bro . Thrupp should see that they appreciated his services as a Mason . They all knew that one of the principal signs of a good Mason was geniality , and who was more genial when they met inside a lodge than Bro . Thrupp ?

There were many who at times had required services rendered , and could say that there was no one who more cheerfully rendered those services in a fraternal way than he . His name had already been perpetuated in the province by thc Raymond Thrupp Lodge . They had at all times marvelled at the gifted memory nature had bestowed upon him , and he had known him without the least preparation work the Three Degrees at one sitting . The

third capacity in which they wished to honour him was as a man . His charming ways and manners made them feel that as a Mason he was a loveable man . At Bro . Thrupp ' s own desire 130 guineas of the amount collected had been invested , and the interest of that sum would be devoted to the annual prizes of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Thc prizes would be competed for , and thus every year his name would be

perpetuated in a good Masonic work . In addition to that sum devoted to prizes , he ( Bro . Preece ) had the greatest satisfaction in handing to Bro . Thrupp a silver tea kettle , in order that those surrounding him at home should be reminded of this presentation . The brethren also desired that Bro . Thrupp should carry with him on his own person something that would recall the love of the members of thc province , and for this purpose they

asked him to accept a gold locket . In addition to an album in which an address had been illuminated , and which bore the names of the subscribers , on behalf ol Bro . Fchrenbach he hail to ask Bro . Thrupp ' s acceptance of a likeness which had been faithfully reproduced of their late Provincial Grand Master . In conclusion , Bro . Preece asked thc D . P . G . M . to accept these presents , and ever to remember that in the province he had grateful hearts and staunch friends . Bro . R AYMOND IL T IIKUPP , Deputy Prov . G . Master , thanked Bro . Preece , who had spoken very flatteringly of what hc had done . He had

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex

earnestly endeavoured during the past 10 years to carry out his duties to see that the directions and orders of Sir Francis Burdett were dul y obeyed and that the landmarks of the Order were observed and maintained , H <» thought he might say without egotism , that the working of the lodges durin <_ the ten years had increased very much . A spirit of emulation had arisen- ^ not each wanting to be a better or larger lodge—but each striving to be one that was pointed out in the province as the best for working . That spirit

he had endeavoured to foster , and that spirit was not only due to the Worship ful Masters , but to the Wardens and officers . He sincerel y hoped that spirit would continue for many years to come . Whenever he had gone amongst the brethren he had always received a hearty greeting that had made his visits a great pleasure . It was said that " out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh . " His heart was very full that day and he could not find words to express his great gratitude for the kindness which had culminated in the testimonial they had presented to him .

The testimonial consists of a silver tea-kettle , a gold locket , 130 guineas invested to form a prize fund for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , a three-quarter length platinotype print , finished in Indian ink , of the late Col . Sir Francis Burdett , contributed by Bro . Fehrenbach , and an alburn bound in morocco leather , with Bro . Thrupp ' s monogram embossed on cover , and containing the following address , beautifully illuminated : " Provincial Grand

Lodgeof Middlesex . —Tothe Worshipful Brother Raymond Henry Thrupp , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of the United Grand Lod ge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of England , Past Grand Standard Bearer of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , Deputy Grand Master and Grand H . of the Province of Middlesex , etc ., etc ., etc . The brethren of the Province of Middlesex desire to take the opportunity

afforded by the occurrence of the Decennial celebration of your appointment as Deputy Provincial Grand Master of expressing to you their appreciation of the manner in which you have always upheld the dignity of that exalted position , and of the uniform courtesy and firmness with which the duties appertaining thereto have been discharged by you . They cannot but feel that the high standard that the various lodges and chapters

m this large province have attained is due , in no slight degree , to your unswerving steadiness in showing , by precept and example , the aim which all should keep before them . In commemoration of this event a sum of money has been subscribed in the province , of which one hundred and thirty guineas have , in accordance with your expressed wish , been handed over to the Trustees of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the interest arising from which is to be devoted for ever to the

purchase of " Raymond Thrupp Prizes , " thus intimately associating your name with an Institution , the good of which you have always had so much at heart . At the same time they beg you to accept this album and also a piece of plate as mementos of the occasion . Your brethren trust that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to grant you many years of health and happiness . Teddington , 25 th June , 1892 . " Then follows the list of subscribers .

Letters of regret at inability to attend were received from Bros . Fenn , P . B . G . P . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg . ; F . Richardson , P . G . D . ; Col , Noel Money , C . B ., P . G . M . ___ rrey ; F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Secretary R . M . I , for Girls ; J . M . McLeod , Secretary R . M . I , for Boys ; Col . Blunt , and many other distinguished brethren .

An oration was delivered by the Prov . G . CHAPLAIX , after which the anthem— "Behold how good and joyful" was sung b y Bros . Schartau , Dalzell , Bradford , and Johnson . Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . The brethren then proceeded to thc Town Hall , where a substantial repast was enjoyed , and the customary toasts duly honoured .

In giving " Ihe Grand Officers , Present and Past , the DEPUTY PROV . GRAX » MASTER said they had with them that evening the Grand Secretary , to whom they would offer a hearty welcome on his first visit in that capacity . Bro . Letchworth was an old Middlesex man , being a Past Master of St . James ' s Lodge . Bro . Keyser was also a P . P . G . Officer of that province , and a Past Master of the Abereorn Lodge .

Bro . C . E . KEYSER , G . D ., expressed the great pleasure it afforded him to respond , as he had been connected with the province many years . Hc returned hearty thanks for thc kind way in which the toast had been received . Since he had had the honour to be a Grand Officer he had been associated

with Lord Lathom , Pro Grand Master , on many occasions when he had done good work , and they hoped their Pro Grand Master would be sparetl for many years to continue the work which he had performed in a splendid manner in the past . In the Deputy Grand Master , his Royal Hi g hness had made a wise choice , and with regard to the rest of the Grand Officers , he would only say they were brethren who had done something for the benefit of the Craft , and appreciated the honour conlerred upon them . He trusted that on all occasions that toast would be well received .

" The Memory of Sir Francis Burdett having been drunk in silence , Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , Grand Secretary , said that as one of the oldest Past Provincial Grand Officers he had been permitted to propose the next toast , and he could assure them he undertook that duty with the greatest possible p leasure , because it was the toast of the evening . He asked thc brethren to drink " The Health of their Deputy Provincial Grand Master . "

After the admirable speech to which they had listened with so much p leasure in Provincial Grand Lodge from Bro . Preece , it would be superfluous for him to attempt to give expression to what he knew was the feeling of the brethren in the province towards their Deputy Prov . Grand Master . As a Grand Officer he might be permitted to say that the feeling expressed so admirably was shared by every one of Bro . Thrupp ' s colleagues , the

Grand Officers , and as a member of the profession to which the Deputy Prov . Grand Master belonged he might also be permitted to say that no one was better known as a man of honour and integrity than he . I ' ' brethren would heartily wish their Deputy Prov . Grand Master health aiw happiness for many years to come , and hope that the province would have the benefit of his services and assistance .

Bro . RAYMOND H . THRUPP , Deputy Prov . G . M . in charge , thanked the brethren for the kind reception given him that day . It was a day thawould long be dear to him and would not be forgotten , and one which j * should look backward to with gratitude for the kindness he had received . I " Provincial Grand Lodge he broke down because his heart was too full . " . ? afraid he inadequateltried to his gratitude to them for a Wiiilllrl llllllt ^ Ll l lll t

was y express , n - _ _ _ U _ HL ______ , __ . LL . ___[ . / l L __»_» _> 1 / lilLilUUl . LU , <_» . » - I their great kindness , but he only sincerely hoped that if he was spared a " appointed again as their Deputy Prov . Grand Master they would g ive n " the same hearty support , the same greeting , the same hearty grip of " ' , hand as they had always done . He relied on their support in ruling an governing this province so as to make it one oi the best in the King dom'