Early Chester Masonry.

Lodge at its last meeting . Bro . Tombs in the 17 years during which he filled the office of Secretary for that province had , in that capacity , secured the goodwill of every Wiltshire Mason . His work had been arduous , and he had performed il in such a way as to be of the greatest assistance and

benefit to Masonry , and doubtless it was owing to his untiring efforts , to a great extent , that the number of brethren in the province had increased from about 200 , when he took office , to nearly 450 , when he resigned . He asked Bro . Tombs to accept that little gift , not for its intrinsic worth , but to remind him and his family of the appreciation and goodwill of the brethren .

The piece of plate , which consisted of a silver salver , weighing 133 ozs ., dating from the reign of George I ., and which bore the following inscription : — ' « Presented to W . Bro . Henry C . Tombs , P . G . D . Eng ., P . P . G . S . VV ., and Prov . G . Secretary Wilts , by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Wiltshire , 5 th Nov ., l 8 a 4 , "—was then handed to Bro . Tombs .

Bro . T OMBS warmly expressed his acknowledgment of the kindness of the brethren—a kindness , he said , which he should ever remember . Masonry had ever , from the time of his initiation , possessed for him a great charm ; he looked upon it as a bulwark against the infidelity and discontent which were now more than ever showing themselves in various quarters , and he assured those present that , so far as lay in his power , his best efforts would always be available to further the inlerests of the Craft . He asked the

brethren to accept and believe in his warmest gratitude , though he could not find words to express how fully he appreciated their kindness . He could not refrain , before sitting down , from expressing his high opinion of the exquisite taste which had been shown by the Prov . G . Treasure rand the other members of the Committee appointed for the purpose , in their selection ' of the beautiful work of art now before ihem . The following investments of Prov . Grand Officers for the year ensuing

were made : — Bro . W . Nott , 663 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ George Lopes , 626 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . T . J . Heard , 1478 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ F . H . Goldney , 626 ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ H . Merrick , 1271 ( reappointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ H . Bevir , 355 ( reappointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ A . J . Bevan , 1271 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ T . Reeves , 147 S ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ W . Dean , 120 5 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ J . Chandler , 355 , P . P . G . S . W . ( reappointed ) ... Prov . G . D . C . „ H . I . VVard , 66 3 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ J . Green , 355 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ H . Millington , 632 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ F . I . Hannan , s 86 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ W . Pullin , 147 8 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Purst . „ T . S . Hill , 632 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ G . North , 12 95 ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd . „ H . How , e , 66 3 ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd . „ J . Savory ( re-elected ) .,. ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of North Wales.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTH WALES .

By direction of Bro . Charles Hunter , the R . W . P . G . M . M . of the Province of North Wales , a Prov . Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday , the 25 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Llandudno , being preceded by a quarterly meeting of the St . David ' s Lodge of Mark Masons . The R . W . P . G . M . M . presided , and the various lodges in the province were fully represented . The R . W . P . G . M . M ., in opening the Grand Lodge , said that he was glad

to inform the brethren that the G . M . M . of England ( Bro . the Earl ot Kintore ) had been pleased to reappoint him as head of the province for the next three years . He had to announce ,: with a feeling of regret , which he was sure would be shared by the brethren , that , owing to to increasing age and infirmity , the D . P . G . M . M . ( Bro . Dr . Roden ) , who wisn

had served the province so ably during a long period , nao . expressed a to retire . The selection of a successor had caused great anxiety and much consideration , but he was glad to inform thebrethren that he had succeeded in finding one whose appointment would be generally satisfactory throughout lhe province , and who would bring to the discharge of his duties al 1 those excellent qualities which had characterised the Masonic career of Bro . Roden—and that was Bro . Gordon Warren . The Prov . Grand Officers were appointed as follows : —

Bro . Major Hunter ... ... ... Prov . G . M . M . „ Lieut .-Col . Gordon Warren ... ... Prov . D . G . M . M . „ VV . H . Foulkes ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ W . O . Thomas ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ Dr . T . Davies ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O .

„ G . F . Felton ... ... ... l ' rov . U . J . U . „ Rev . H . Thomas ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . H . Lloyd ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ W . D . Henderson ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ G . L . Woodley ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ R . Owen ... ... ... ... Prov . G . A . S . 1

„ R . S . Chamberlain ... ... ... rrov . u . reas . „ C . H . Deburg , 606 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ D . J . Pritchard ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ | . Burton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of Wks . „ ' Wynn Williams ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ H . G . Utile ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . of C

„ G . L . Clewes ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ Donald Cameron ,,, ... ... Prov . G . Sid . Br . „ J . Williams ... ... ... ... Piov . G . Org . „ H . Steer ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ T . A . Powell ... ... ... Prov . G . S . S .

Amongst others present were Bros . C . Davies , W . Woodley , W . L . Banks , Dr . R . Roberts , H . Summervill , F . C . Watkins , K . M'Ewen , L . Hazeldine , and others . Following the lodge proceedings a banquet was held at the Imperial Hotel , Bro . Chantrey catering .

Bros . Sir T . Brassey , K . C . B ., M . P ., Alderman Sir R . N . Fowler , Bart ., M . P ., tlie Kiyht Hon . G . J . Shaiv-Lefevre , M . P ., and Karon H . de Worms , M . P ., are among those who have subscribed or promised subscription to a window proposed to be pi iced in St . Ma'garet ' s , Westminster , as a memorial to the late Lord Farnborough , so well known to our readers as Sir T . litskine May , who survived but a very short time his retirement from the Clerkship of the House of Commons ,

Early Chester Masonry.

EARLY CHESTER MASONRY .

( Front the Grand Lodge Records . ) BY BRO . H . SADLER . Chester seems to have been amongst the first of the Provincial Cities to come under the influence and protection of the Grand Lodge formed in London in 1717 , having been preceded only by Bath , Bristol , Norwich , and Chichester . It is , however , undoubtedly in connection with Chester Masonrv that the term

Provincial Grand Master is first used in the records of Grand Lodge . The first written list of lodges in the Grand Lodge books begins in 1723 , and is very incomple te ; out of 52 lodges mentioned only 3 6 have the names of the members recorded . It contains only three lodges meeting out of London , viz ., at Acton , Edgeworth , and Richmond , in Surrey . The second list is thus headed : —

A list of the Regular Constituted Lodges together with the names of the Masters and Wardens and Members of each Lodge as by account deliver'd at a Quarterly Communication held 27 th November 1735 . The 49 th lodge in this list is the " Sunn in Chester ; " it numbers 28 members , as follows : ' Coll . Ffa . Columbine , Provincial Grand Mar . Samll . Smith Deputy

Coll . Herbt . Laurence 1 ,,, , Captain Hugh Warburton J Wardens Hezekiah Hall Batchelor of Phisick , Mar . Edwd . Clege ? w , _ , Kiffin Willilms $ Wardens John Tristram Captn . John Vanberg John Nichols Albertus Burnaby John Duneld Roger Cumberbach Esqr .

Solomon Tovey Chas . Clayton Esqr . VVm . Wightiran Captn . Robt . Ffrazier Alderman Edwd . Burroughs VVillm . Dance Esqr . Captn . Chas . Crossley Lieut . William Tong Lt . Coll . John Lee Ensign Chas . Gordon Richd . Clark Walter Warburton , Cornett of Horse Chas . Young Thos . Hales . Thos . Lee

the next lodge , the 50 th on the list ( for at this period the lodges were not known by any particular number , as in the present day ) is the * ' Spread Eagle " in Chester , which also comprises 28 members , as under : Mr . Wm . Glauer , Mar . Thomas Davis Mr . Rich : Gough 1 w , VVm . Pulford Mr . Joseph Dennis j VVardens Thos . Ffoulkes Coll . Wm . Probey Jno . Cross John Brook Marmaduke Spence

Wm . Normington VVm . Taylor Thos . Vause Jams , Peacock Jno . Heycock Ralph Dutton Thos . Mulleney Joseph Sewell VVm . Milton Ensign Par , Donough Wm . Ledsham Wm . Selbey Thos . Rawley Chas . Whitehead Robt . Biggs Victor Osborne Thos . Leech

The 51 st on the list is also a Chester Lodge , held at the " Castle and Faulkon , in Chester , " and numbers 24 members , viz : — Mr . John Coleclough , Mar . Jno . Ffoulkes Mr . Hugh Jones ? . , iffn 0 Saml . Dennall Mr . Thos . Garnullj waraens Henry VVinstanley Richd . Ormes Thos . Steel Benjn . Williams Robt . Massey Richd . Benjamin Wm . Smith

Peter Robinson Richd . Jennison Dan Okell Jno . Taylor James Ordes Andr . Middleton John Briscoe Thos . Kettle Chas . Cottingham Benjn . Worrall Wm . Williams Jno . Crane

It will thus be seen that in the year 1725 three different lodges were meeting in Chester , although only two appear in the Engraved List for that year ; this list , however , only professes to give the lodges " Constituted till March 25 th , 1725 " and the information with regard to the Chester lodges is provokingly meagre , neither the sign of the houses in which they were held nor the day of meeting being given , nothing in fact but the words" City of Chester " in boih instances . How long they had been working

prior to 1725 , we have here no means of ascertaining , but from the number of members on the books of each lodge it is but natural to conclude that they had been in existence several years at least . Unfortunately , we have no Engraved List of Lodges between the one last mentioned , 1725 , and the one dated 1720 , really published in 1728 , in which , as in the former list

only two Chester lodges are mentioned , viz ., No . 32 , at the Pyot Bull , Northgate Street , and No . 33 , at the Castle and Falcon , Watergate Street . Perhaps Bros . Hughan or Lane can tell us what has become of the third lodge . The oldest document given verbatim in the Records of Grand Lodge is the letter from Chester , mentioned in my communication on " Early Deputations " of the 3 rd of April , and is as follows : — A Copy of the Lre from Chester .

Rt . Worshipfull Grand Master . At the request and in the name of the whole ffraternity ot Masons in this Province , vve are to express to your Worship , as far as we are able , the full sense vve have of the great honour done us by your Worships most affectionate Lre and the kind visitation of our lodges by your most acceptable Deputy , which likewise Brother Comberbach , Provincial Grand Warden ( the bearer hereof ) , is authorized and required to do in person . Were it possible for Masonry to receive an additional lustre , it could never have greater advantages than under the Influence and Protection of two such Eminent and industrious Ornaments of it .

Our whole ffraternity are resolved in our strenuous endeavours to deserve such high compliments , by improving ourselves in all Masonlike accomplishments and by shewing our most Chearfull obedience and extensive Gratitude to our Superiors in London and Westminster . For ourselves in particular vve shall in our respective Stations contribute our utmost efforts towards thc well-ordering and advancement of Masonry amongst us , for which purpose we shall make the Great application and other perfections in Masonry which are transcendent in your Worship thc most Conspicuous pattern of our imitation .

We are with hearts as full of integrity as Alasonry can inspire , My Lord , Your Worships most obliged , most obedient , and most faithful brethren , H . WAKBURTOK , P . G . M . SAML . SMITH , D . P . G . M , ROGER COMBKRBACH , P . G . W . J COLHCLOUGH , P . G . W . From the Castle and Falcon Lodge in Chester , 15 th April , 1727 .