Reviews.

Reviews .

"FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF SOMERSET , 1900—njor . —Bath : Printed at the Chronicle Office , 1900 . "—This is a very useful publication , and carefully edited by Bro . C . L . Fry Edwards , P . G . D . of England , its issue being sanctioned by the Prov . G . M ., the G . Superintendent , and Prov . G . M . M . M . of the Province . The frontispiece this year is devoted to Bro . W . B . Gregory , the esteemed S . E ., and one of the most respected Craftsmen in the Province . There are 26 lodges in the Province , returning 1263 members , being an average of

nearly 49 per lodge . The votes for the Central Masonic Charities total 47 S 8 , all of which are well arranged and described under the lodges . The chapters number 11 , and the Mark lodges nine . There are also several K . T . preceptories and Rose Croix chapters . About all these and the lodges the information is ample , and details so systematically dovetailed , that the particulars are easily found for reference . These annuals are becoming quite a feature in the Provinces , and are of the greatest utility , especially for Prov . Grand Masters and Prov . Grand Secretaries , as they k eep them in touch with all the brethren of the Provinces , officially and generally .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire took place on the 2 nd instant at the Christ Church School Room , Stone , when upwards of 300 brethren were present under the banners of the following lodges , all of which were represented , a circumstance which speaks volumes for the vitality of Staffordshire Freemasonry , and the respect in which the Earl of Dartmouth , Provincial Grand Master , is held by the

Craft : Staffordshire Knot , St . Giles , St . Augustine , Gordon , Sutherland , St . James , St . Matthew , Abbey , Marmion , Josiah Wedgwood , St . Martin , St . Peter , Sutherland Lodge of Unity , Honor , Portland , Dartmouth , St . Bartholomew , St . Edward , Tudor , Tudor Lodge of Rifle Volunteers , St . Thomas , Minerva , Smith-Child , Hatherton , St . Michael , Noah ' s Ark , Menturia , Foresters , Etruscan , St . John , Earl Shrewsbury , I . ewisham , and

Legge , 33 in all . These lodges have 1813 members , the St . Matthew , No . 539 , scoring highest with 114 ; the Menturia , No . 418 , running close with 112 ; the Etruscan being a good third with 98 . The oldest lodge would seem to be the St . Martin , No . 98 , which has 56 members , and the youngest the Legge , No . 2784 , with 15 . Other strong and flourishing lodges are the Noah ' s Ark ( 65 members ); the Sutherland Unity , with 77 : the Honor

with 79 ; the Portland , with 72 ; the Dartmouth , with 78 ; the Josiah Wedgwood and the St . James , each with 66 ; and the Staffordshire Knot , 65 . The scene in the lodge room was very brilliant , and the work was very smartly done , the Provincial Grand Master especially eliciting universal admiration . Addressing the lodge as P . G . M ., The Earl of DARTMOUTH , referring to the substance of his speech at the

Provincial Grand Lodge at Handsworth on May 9 th last year , which had been read by the P . G . Secretary as part of the minutes , said that it had occurred to him during the reading that his words had been mellowed and improved by time . ( Laughter . ) In any case , he thought he could not do better than repeat that part of his address which referred to the satisfactory condition of Masonry in the Province of Stafford . Referring to the attack

on the M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Prov . G . M . said one shuddered to think what might have happened if the bullet had been otherwise directed . They heartily joined in the resolution of congratulation passed by Grand Lodge . Referring to the P . G . Secretary , the P . G . M . said that all would congratulate Bro . J . DunbarSteen on his return from abroad ,

whither he had journeyed on account of ill-health . He trusted that he might prove to be permanently restored . Referring to the Masonic Girls' School , he said that the 190 Stewards would bear with them something like £ 3000 , which was highly creditable to the province , which had had many calls of late . After allusion to Freemasons engaged in the war , the P . G . M . proceeded to invest his officers as follows :

Bro . Colonel J . B . Morgan , V . D . ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ T . H . Spencer ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,. -the Rev . W . G . Mayne , M . A . ... ... In c n \ . / . Jlthe Rev . W . Solly j Prov . G . Chaps . ,, -tC . A . Newnham ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ E , Hallam ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ | . Dunbar Steen ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . :-aS : ::: ¦ ::: : >^ . ..

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

rG ^ ewniis ::: ::: ::: ] - J - - DS - „ S . Mear ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ J . Carver ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ G . L . Biron ... ... ... Prov . Dep . G . D . C . „ H . J . Steele ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ J- E . Mitchell ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . :: ? : & cffi ? d ::: ::: : ;> - 0 . ^ . 3 * .

„ John Copeland ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, Lieut . T , E . Lowe ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ John Allerton ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ T . Wolverson ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ I . P . Watton ... ... ... 1 :: F . GiS rabin ::: ::: ::: p-G . stwds . ,, W . Perry J „ W . Davies ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Bro . the Rev . G . W . Mayne , M . A ., Prov . Grand Chaplain , delivered an address . On the proposition of the PROV . G . TREASURER it was decided "That a sum of 200 guineas be paid from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls at the festival to be held on May 16 th next . " The Prov . Grand Lodge then was closed in harmony and brotherly love , and a number of the brethren concluded with a banquet after the excellent and ancient Masonic custom .

The balance sheet of the Prov . Grand Lodge showed a prosperous state of affairs , and it was stated that the Foster-Gough Lodge , No . 2706 , membership of which is only permitted to Masters and Past Masters of lodges , numbers 126 . This feature of Staffordshire Freemasonry is , therefore , successful in a very high degree .

Opening Of A New Lodge At Cockington.

OPENING OF A NEW LODGE AT COCKINGTON .

CONSECRATION OF THE LODGE OF THE THREE PILLARS , No . 2 S 06 .

On the 8 th instant , another lodge of Freemasons was added to the Provinceof Devonshire , and Torquay's newest suburb , Cockington , will now have its name inscribed on the roll of this world-wide Fraternity under the title of the Lodge of the Three Pillars , No . 2806 , For some time past it has been felt that there was room for a lodge holding meetings in the afternoon , where . brethren of leisure , or comparative leisure , could meet and

promote the grand principles of the Order . Bro . the Rev . J . Henning , vicar of Cockington , is not exactly a gentleman of leisure , for his time is pretty fully occupied already ; nevertheless , his love for the principles of Freemasonry has induced him to add another tie to the place where he works so hard , and , with the assistance of Bros , the Rev . T . H . I . Child , P . A . G . C . Somerset ; F . J . W . Crowe , P . P . G . O . ; and others , to found anew lodge

in the parish where his energies are devoted . So , on the 8 th instant , the lodge at Cockington was duly dedicated and consecrated in the Parish Room by Bro . G . C . Davie , P . G . D . England , acting Prov . Grand Master ( in the absence of Bro . Lord Northcote , now in Bombay ) , assisted by Bros . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . England , acting as D . P . G . M . ; F . B . Westlake , P . D . G . D . C . England , Prov . S . G . W . ; S . Jones , acting as Prov . J . G . W . ; the

Rev . W . E . Windle , acting as P . G . Chap , j John Stacker , Prov . G . Sec ; and J . R . Lord , Prov . G . D . C . There were also present—Bros . Judge Woodfall , 2022 , P . G . D . Eng . j Lord Churston , 248 , P . P . S . G . W . F . J . W . Crowe , 328 , P . P . G . O . ; F . A . Davson , 2641 , P . P . S . G . D . ; Geo . H Hoarder , 1138 , P . G . O . ; John Olver , 1138 , P . P . G . Std . Br .: P . J . Dunn , 120 5

P . P . G . Std . Br . j W . E . Warren , 1358 , P . P . G . Org . ; W . L . Jones , 112 . P . P . G . Std . Br . ; John Taylor , 1402 , P . P . G . Reg . j R . Harris , 406 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Col . James G . Chillingworth , P . P . G . Reg . Kent ; E . Richards , 328 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; W . S . Wakeham , 328 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; E . C . Atherton , 328 , P . P . G . C . ; W . A . Gregory , 1254 , P . P . G . Treas . ; T . H . Wills , 1 4 , P . D . G . D . C . ; Herbert Martin , 1138 , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Bovey , 797 , P . P . G . P . ; J . H . Blackell , 1099 , P . G . S . ; W . M . Forty , 1222 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; R . E . Drew , 1358 ,

P . P . A . G . D . C . ; F . R . Hearn , 1254 . P . G . Treas . ; Mark Whittle , 597 , P . P . J . G . D . ; T . A . Blackler , 328 . P . G . Stwd . ; Wm . Allsford , 202 , P . P . G . T . ; F . B . Westlake , 70 , P . S . G . W ., P . D . G . D . C . Eng . ; M . Fortescue , 444 , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . C . Oldrieve , 797 , P . A . G . D . C ; J . James , 248 , P . P . A . G . S . ; H . J . Coachafer , P . P . G . C . Warwick ; F . C . Frost , 303 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; H . L . Friend , 1443 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; J . H . Westlake , 666 , P . P . G . P . ; W . Vigar Harris , 230 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; T . W . Payne , 954 , P . J . G . D . ; W . J . Pearce , 2655 , P . A . G . Purst . ; W . Winget , P . M . 1402 ; J . G . Turle , l . P . M . 1402 ; C . Hill ,

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ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . THE 112 ™ ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL Will be held on WEDNESDAY , the 16 th MAY , 1 9 00 , THE RIGHT HON . THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH , R . W . PROV . GRAND MASTER STAFFORDSHIRE , IN THE CHAIR , Brethren willing to acl as Stewards arc earnestl y solicited to send in their names to the Secretary , as earl y as convenient Stewards are much needed , and their services will be "Tatel ' ull y received . Fc R , W . HEDGES , Secretary . Ollice—5 , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .