Old Warrants.

McAlester James Moore and Joseph Deane and their successors . Full power and lawful Authority from Time to Time , to proceed to election of a New Master and Wardens , to make such Laws , Rules , and Orders , as they from Time to Time shall think Proper and Convenient for the well-being and Ordering of the said Lodge . Reserving to Ourselves and Our Successors , Grand Masters or Grand Wardens of

IRELAND , the sole Right of deciding all Differences which shall be brought by Appeal before Us , and our Successors , Grand Masters , or Grand Wardens of IRELAND . IN WITNESS whereof , WE have hereunto set our hands and Seal of Office , this Fifth of April in the year of Our Lord God , 1 7 , 55 and in the year of Masonry 5759 . G . M . Entered b y me , G . S . W . No .

3 i 7-Jno . Fulder , Secry . I may explain that the left-hand corner of the document has decayed away , and taken with it the autographs of the Grand Master and Senior Grand Warden , likewise the autograph and

title of the Junior Grand Warden . I am also not particularly positive as to the correctness of the Grand Secretary ' s autograph , it being very indistinct . The Christian name of the Master designate I have left blank after the initial , because it appears to have been obliterated in each of the four places ,

possibly in consequence of an error by the Grand Secretary . The warrant itself is parchment , and no larger than a sheet of note paper opened out . It is in the letterpress of the period , and the manuscript lines I have marked in italics . How this old warrant travelled all the way from Ireland to Australia is the next problem .

The intelligent old Tyler of the Golden and Corinthian Lodge , informed me that many years ago the parchment was found in a tin case amongst the effects of a deceased brother , a colonist . In the case with the warrant were two certificates , one Royal Arch , and the other Knights Templar , both dated in 1842 . W . F . LAMONBY . Melbourne , June 28 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

On Wednesday , the 30 th ult ., the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge vvas held at Walton-on-Naze , under the presidency of the P . G . M ., Bro . Lord Brooke , M . P . His lordship , accompanied by Bro . Fred . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg . ( Recorder of Colchester ) , and Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . of England , left Liverpool-street Station by the ordinary noon train in a special

saloon carriage , kindl y placed at his lordshi p ' s disposal by the Great Eastern Railway Company . On reaching the station at Walton-on-Naze soon after two o ' clock , the party vvere met b y Bros . J . M . Scarlett , I . P . M . 1 799 ; E . Dorling , P . M . 1 799 , P . P . G . Sec . Suffolk ; and W . E . Sutton , J . W . 1799 , and at once eonducted to the Clifton Hotel , where Provincial Grand Lodge vvas opened .

The minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge , held last year at Easton Lodge , having been read and confirmed , letters expressing their inability to attend vvere read from Bros . Lord Henniker , P . G . M . Suffolk ; Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart , P . G . M . Middx . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , D . P . G . M . Suffolk ; James Round , M . P . ; G . Cooper , P . M . 214 , P . G . D . ; Richard Clowes , P . M . 650 , P . P . S . G . W . ; R . Hedges , Sec . Girls' School ; J . M . McLeod , Sec . Boys' School ; Rev . W . Morgan Jones , Rev . H . j . Hatch , and others .

The roll of lodges was then called over , and it vvas found that all of the 31 lodges comprising the province were duly represented . The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY then read an abstract of the lodge returns for 1890 , which showed that there were 1440 subscribing members , as against 1300 last year , an increase of 140 . The report of the Auditors showed a balance in the hands of the Provincial Grand Treasurer on the General Fund of ^ 84 os . id ., and on the Charity Fund of £ 24 3 s . 3 d .

The report of the Charity Committee gave a resume of the work done at the Elections for Boys and Girls in April and the Old People in May last , and thanked the brethren for the support given to the Committee , vvhich had enabled them to secure the election of one aged brother on the funds of the Benevolent Institution , and considerably help forward two widows for the same Institution . The report alsp congratulated the province on being entirely out of debt , and the representatives held I . O . U . ' s for 136 Girls' and 200 Benevolent votes .

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY reported that the Calendar had been more successful this year , a portrait of his lordship therein having proved very popular , and he trusted that there would be a good balance in hand after paying expenses of publication . The D . P . G . M . said he vvas glad that this little venture , of vvhich some of them had been guarantors , now seemed to be gaining in popularity , and he made a suggestion , which he thought would add to its usefulness .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren . He vvas , he said , very pleased to meet the members of the Provincial Grand Lod ge , and also gratified at the large attendance . Time went b y so quickly that it seemed only the other day that they so kindly came to Easton Lodge and took part in their annual festival , and the meeting which they had there would not soon fade from his memory , because nothing could have given more pleasure to him as Provincial

Grand Master than the able and excellent support he received on that occasion . He thought it would be only right for him to allude to a matter which had caused them very deep regret , namely , the death of Lord Carnarvon , whose removal from amongst them he feared was almost irreparable , because he was a man who gave his heart to the Craft , and devoted a very considerable amount of his time towards furthering its interests . He paid a warm tribute to the kindness , courtesy , and

skill with which the late earl had conducted the business of the Grand Lodge . This loss would be felt throughout the the country , but most deeply in the Province of Somersetshire , with which he ( Lord Brooke ) was at one time connected , and where he knew that the late earl , both as a citizen and a Mason , was regarded with the deepest veneration . It must be a source of satisfaction to them all , as it was a pleasure to himself , to notice the prosperity of the Craft

in the Province of Essex . The report just given by the Provincial Grand Secretary , showing an increase in their strength of 140 members , was most pleasing , as he was quite sure that all those brethren were good Masons , and would be true to the Craft . During the year two new lodges had been added to their roll , viz ., the Mistley and Easterford—both of which , he felt sure , would add

strength to the province , and he had only a few days since recommended to the favourable consideration of the M . W . G . M . another lodge—the William Shurmur Lodge—which would commence its Masonic life with a strength of about 80 members . With regard to the Mistley and Easterford Lodges , his lordship said it was a matter of great regret to himself that , in consequence partly of ill-health and partly the pressure of business , he had been unable to attend the consecrations ;

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

but those vvho were there , he was sure , had a Masonic treat in witnessing the excellent working of his esteemed Deputy , Bro . Philbrick . Another source of gratification to them all was the assistance that had been given in the cause of Charity , for he found that since they last met the handsome sum of . £ 977 ios . had been contributed to the three great Charities of the Craft , against . £ 650 last year .

One important matter of business they would have to deal with that day was the revised by-laws , which the Committee appointed last year , had—under the guidance of the Grand Registrar—evidently bestowed great pains upon . In conclusion , his lordship repeated the pleasure he felt at once more meeting the brethren in Provincial Grand Lodge .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , then announced , amidst much applause , that Bro . Fred . A . Philbrick had kindly consented to act as his Deputy for another year ; and his lordship thanked Bro . Philbrick for the assistance he had been to himself in carrying on the work of the province . His LORDSHIP having called upon the brethren to elect a Prov . G . Treasurer , and drawn attention to the fact that notice had been given that Bros . E . J . Acworth and William Shurmer would be nominated ,

Tbe PROV . GRAND SECRETARY announced that just before the opening of Provincial Grand Lodge , a letter was put into his hands from Bro . Acworth to the effect that he vvas anxious to promote Masonic harmony in the province , and with that view would prefer his name to be withdrawn rather than divide the brethren on the question .

Bros . William Surmur and Mark Gentry were then nominated for the office of Prov . Grand Treasurer ; and on a show of hands Bro . Shurmur was elected by an overwhelming majority . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows .-

Bro . John C . Turner , P . M . 51 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . M . Scarlett , I . P . M . 1799 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . T . S . Raffles , S . W . 2333 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ W . Shurmur , Treas . 2256 , & c . ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . B . Heagerty , I . P . M . 1343 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., P . M . and Sec . 51

( 14 th year ) ... ... ... ... Prov . G . bee . „ T . Rymer Jarvis , W . M . 276 ... ... ) Prov S G D ' s „ T . Scoresby Jackson , W . M . 2318 ... ) l rov' *' U'U s ' " R H > M W M' ! f 543 } Prov . J . G . D's . ,, R . C . Lyle , W . M . 1543 ... ... ) J „ Mark Gentry , I . P . M . and Treas 2154 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . Lucking , P . G . P . Eng ., P . M . and Sec . 1000 ( 17 th year ) Prov . G . D . C . „ W . W . Barber , W . M . 2006 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . .. H . T . Skinelev . I . P . M . 607 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ W . E . Bridgeland , W . M . 1000 ... Prov . G . S . B . " I w M i 437 < . ] Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ M . W . Meade , I . P . M . 1977 , Sec . 2342 ... ... j „ C . J . Dale , Org . 2005 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ E . T . Moore , W . M . 2077 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ F . C . Lake , I . P . M . 1312 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . „ E . C . Sparrow , I . P . M . 1734 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . P .

„ W . Finer , P . M . 1799 „ G . Canler , I . P . M . 1799 „ F . C Dixie , WM 453 Prov . G . Stewards . ,, J . H . Vaux , S . W . 650 ... ... ... [ „ F . [ . Nunn , W . M . elect 2063 ...

„ M . H . Page , Sec . 2063 ... ... ... J „ A . W . Martin ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . On the motion of the PROVINCIAL J UNIOR GRAND WARDEN , Bro . W . B . Heagerty , Provincial Grand Registrar , was elected a member of the Charity Committee , in the place of Bro . James Salmon , P . P . G . R ., who retired by rotation .

The DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER then brought forward the revised bylaws . He said the Committee had taken a great deal of trouble over the matter , and had spent many hours in looking through the laws in force in neighbouring provinces , and in preparing the revised code which would be put before them that day . He specially mentioned the assistance vvhich Bro . Lucking had been to the Committee . Bro . Philbrick then went through the laws seriatim , mentioning the salient points in each , and they were eventually , with a few verbal amendments ,

adopted , subject to the sanction of the G . M . Bro . the Rev . W . QUENNELL , Past Prov . G . Chap , ( for Bro . G . Cooper ) , proposed "That the sum of . £ 13 be voted from the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge to place a memorial in one of the lights of the windows , or on the wall framing of the new Centenary Hall of the Girls' School , the arrangements to be left to a Committee , consisting of the D . P . G . M ., the Prov . G . Sec , and Bro . G . Cooper . " Seconded , and carried unanimously .

The following grants were made -. _ £ io ios . to the Walton-on-Naze National Schools ; _ £ io ios . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; ^ 10 ios . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; and _ £ io ios . to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; and ^ 15 to the Arnold Lodge towards the expenses of the day . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then , in the name of the Provincial Grand Lodge ,

presented to Bro . Andrew Durrant a handsome 18 carat gold oval Past Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s jewel ( manufactured by Bro . George Kenning ) , remarking that Bro . Durrant had occupied the position of Prov Grand Treasurer for the long period of ten years , and would carry with him into his retirement the good wishes of them all .

Bro . ANDREW DURRANT , who spoke with much feeling , said he had endeavoured to do his duty in the position the brethren had placed him ; but he never antici . pated that he should be in the position he was that day , as the recipient of that handsome jewel , the value of which was greatly enhanced from the fact that he had received it direct from the hands of their beloved Prov . G . Master . In the course of some further remarks , Bro . Durrant said that he was the originator of the Charity Fund of the province , which had been of great assistance to the province in supporting the three Institutions .

The jewel bore the following inscription : "Presented to W . Bro . Andrew Durrant , P . M . 276 , by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex , in recognition of his services as Provincial Grand Treasurer , 1879-1889 . Walton-on-the-Naze , 30 th July , 1890 . " Bro . G . J . WESTEIELD , P . P . G . S . B ., then asked his lordship to accept a

watercolour drawing of flowers , surmounting an oval containinga portrait of his lordship in full Masonic regalia , remarking that the drawing was his own work . The PROV . GRAND MASTER said he had much pleasure in accepting the picture ( for which his lordship expressed much admiration ) , and said he was most gratified at the kind and Masonic feeling that had prompted the gift .

Votes of thanks to the directors of the Great Eastern Railway for the facilities they had given and to the Arnold Lodge for the ample and elaborate arrangements they had made for the reception of Provincial Grand Lodge having been passed , the proceedings closed , and nearly 150 brethren afterwards dined together at the Clifton Hotel , the catering of Bro . Dorling calling forth the highest encomiums . The P . G . M . presided , supported by the D . P . G . M ., the G . Secretary , and other distinguished Masons .

In proposing "The Health of the M . W . G . M ., " Bro . Lord BROOKE reminded the brethren that his Royal Highness had lately paid a visit to Essex , and though he had not come Masonically , still the visit of his Royal Highness had been of much benefit to the county .