Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE .

The above Provincial Grand Lodge was held under the auspices of the St . Wilfrid's Lodge , No . 209 , in the Masonic Hall , Alford , on the 5 th inst . The R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Jack Sutcliffe , J . P ., presided , and the following brethren were also present : The V . W . Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Anderson Bates , Bros . H . E . Cousans , P . P . G . W . ( Sheriff of

Lincoln ); J . Williamson , P . S . G . W . ; Hasten Clark , P . J . G . W . ; Mark Smith , P . J . G . O . ; J . B . Morton , Prov . G . Chap . ; Charles Scorer , P . G . Treas . ; Alfred Wykes , P . G . Reg . ; W . R . F . Morton , P . G . Sec ; W . H . Roberts , P . G . D . C . ; J . M . Read , P . P . G . M . O . ; J . A . Robinson , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . Staniforth , P . G . I , of W . ; and a large gathering of Past Officers and brethren .

Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the roll of lodges and of Provincial Grand Officers was called and letters of apology were read from a number of brethren . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Lincoln in November , 18 S 6 , were then read and confirmed . The PROV . GRAND TREASURER next presented his report , which showed a balance in hand of £ 81 17 s . gd .

The Prov . G . Registrar s report stated that the total number of members of the five lodges in the province was 171 , being the same as last year . Bro . H . E . COUSANS proposed , and Bro . J . WILLIAMSON seconded the re-election of Bro . Chas . Scorer as P . G . Treas ., which was carried

unanimously . The Grand Tyler , Bro . M . Lancaster , was also unanimously re-elected . The two acting Wardens , Bros . J . M . Read and Geo . Green , with Bro . H . E . Cousans , J . A . Robinson , and W . VV . Smith were appointed Auditors and Committee for the ensuing year . The following brethren were then appointed and invested by the Master as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensiling year : —

Bro . Anderson Bates ... ... ... Dep . P . G . M . „ J . M . Read ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ G . Green ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Jas . Duke ... ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ Thos . Staniforth ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ J . Davis ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . ,, R . 1 . Tonge ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap .

,, C . Scorer ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ A . Wykes ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ VV . R . F . Morton ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ A . F . Curtis ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ W . N . Mason ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . H . Roberts ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . Scorer ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ N . R . Taylor ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . .. WI . eTall ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br .

,, C . Woolnough ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . ,, J . C . Dickinson ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ R . N . Brunyee ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ,, W . Hurst ... ... ... ,.,-s ,, W . Mortimer ... ... ... •¦•/?„ n e . J ' ,, ,. y Prov . G . Stwds . ,, John Mawer ... ... ... ... f " ,, Hy . Christian ... ... ... ... ,, M . Lancaster ... ... ... ,,. Prov . G . Tyler , In accordance with notice given at the last Provincial Grand Lodge ,

Bro . J . WiLLtAMSON , P . P . S . G . W ., proposed , and Bro . ANDERSON BATES , D . P . G . M ., seconded , that the sum of 60 guineas be voted from the lodge towards the Sutcliffe Memorial Fund for aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . The motion was carried by acclamation , and Provincial Grand Lodge

was then closed . The banquet was afterwards held at the White Horse Hotel , a large number of brethren sitting down to the elegant and sumptuous repast provided by Bro . B . Hibbitt . The usual loyal , patriotic , and Masonic toasts were drunk , and a very pleasant afternoon passed by all present .

The Duke Of Connaught And Indian Freemasons.

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND INDIAN FREEMASONS .

Never before , perhaps , has the universality of Freemasonry been so thoroughly demonstrated as recently , when a great gathering of Freemasons of all creeds and conditions assembled to assist at the installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as District Grand Master for Bombay . Hardly a lodge that works under the English Constitution of Freemasonry in Bombay

was unrepresented on the occasion , and all , Parsees , Hindoos , Mahomedans , and Europeans met with but one idea , the furtherance of the great tenets and principles of the Mystic Brotherhood . H . E . the Governor of Bombay certainly conferred a favour on the whole body of Freemasons when he kindly placed Government House , Pare ] , at their disposal for the ceremony ,

for no other building could have been so convenient for the reception and accommodation of the brethren , who came from far and wide to do honoor to the occasion , it was a matter of some regret that the retiring District Grand Master , Right Wor . Bro . Tyrrell Leith , was not present , but in his absence the ceremony of installation was carried through by his deputy , Wor . Bro .

Harold King , in a most dignified and impressive manner , and great credit is due to him for the way in which he organised and arranged the details , though is sayingso we must not omit to mention the help that was given him by the District Grand Secretary , Bro . VV . H . Hussey , and by Bro . J . W . Smith , who acted as Grand Marshall . All went well , and the success that attended the evening was only one more evidence of the feeling that

The Duke Of Connaught And Indian Freemasons.

animates true Freemasons—who , sinking all party differences and forgetting all social distinctions , meet solely with the aim of making each other happy , and , in the act , being happy themselves . This is the keynote of Freemasonry , and it is this feeling that has kept the Craft so long together and enabled it to weather many a storm that has shaken monarchies and devastated

countries . In India Freemasonry has , perhaps ! a more important mission than in any other part of the world . It is only in lodge , and in the banquet afterwards , that the distinctions of race , creed , and caste are forgotten . Among the 300 Masons who took part in the installation of His Royal

Highness there were men of almost every race in India , representing some 15 lodges in Bombay , lodges in Sind , the Central Provinces , Baroda , Rajpootana , the Grand Lodge in the Punjab , and the Grand Lodge in Bengal . " Brethren , " said the Duke of Connaught , "there is a no more unique district anywhere than the district of Bombay . In this district

there are Masons of all nationalities and of all creeds , but imbued with the same spirit of devotion to the Craft and loyalty to their Sovereign . " In another speech his Royal Hig hness said " I feel the honour the more deeply , both from its coming from his Royal Highness the Grand Master of England , and from the brother at whose wish it has been conferred . "

In India , far more than is possible or necessary in England , Freemasonry is a potent instrument for the preservation and propagation of loyalty to the Throne . We saw this on the occasion of the Jubilee , when , as W . Bro . King said , " from far and wide Masons gathered together to present an address to her Majesty the Queen-Empress , the daughter of a Freemason ,

and the mother of a Most Worshipful Grand Master . Nearly all the speakers touched on this subject , which , indeed , it was impossible to avoid . But of equal , if not greater , importance are the services that Freemasonry is likely to render here in social reform , and in breaking the barriers of caste . Men who meet without restraint and in perfect equality in lodge will

soon come to meet in the same wav outside . To Masons themselves the change is already visible . In India , where the population is so large , the movement is still a small one , but on this side of India , at all events , it has the hearty support of the leading men in the different communities . When his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales became Grand Master of

England , Freemasonry was at a low ebb . But his appointment gave it an immense impetus at home ; and it is for the native gentlemen themselves to see that the same impetus should distinguish the rule of his brother in Western India . Brotherly goodwill is the real mystery in Freemasonry all the world over , and nowhere is it more needed than in India , where the

objection to social intercourse comes far more from the natives with their traditional prejudices and their cast-iron rules than from the Europeans . Freemasonry is a useful tie also between Europeans , whether they rich or poor , whether foreigners or British , and whether they belong to the English or Scotch Constitutions . " It has , " said Sir Henry Morland , " been our

happiness , brethren , for some years to meet under the same roof . We have had the same hall , and the President of the Masonic Hall Committee is a Past Deputy District Grand Master under England , while the Secretary is a Substitute Grand Master under Scotland . " After VV . Bro . Harold King , amidst a fanfare of trumpets , had installed his Royal Highness in the chair

of District Grand Master of Bombay , there was another interesting feature that must not go unrecorded—the investiture of H . R . H . the District Grand Master by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master of all Scotland Freemasonry in India of the insignia of an Honorary Past Grand Master of

that Order , an honour which shows the harmonious feeling which prevails between the two Constitutions which are working in Bombay , while the presence of Sir Henry Morland , the Grand Master of Scottish Free , masonry , with his officers , added an additional eclat to a scene the like of which will probably never again be witnessed here .

The ceremony itself had , perhaps , only a personal interest for the brethren of the Mystic Order ; but we think that there are other considerations which must not be lost sight of , and among the more important of these is the evidence that such proceedings afford of the progressive interest which is taken in the concerns of Freemasonry by the general public , its greater

popularity with the world at large , as well as the steady and determined consolidation of its strength within its own borders . And we do not think we are wrong in saying that these excellent results are due to the fact that English Freemasonry is presided over by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and that even her Gracious Majesty the Queen-Empress is known to regard

Freemasonry with a kindly favour . Only a few years ago the influence of the Craft was but lightly felt in the outer world , and now the evidence of an everyday life attests the enormous power that lies in Freemasonry . Peace , good-will , Charity , and brotherly love , such are doctrines preached and practised by many within the Craft , and with such a gospel it is small

wonder that all creeds and all degrees of men flock to its standard . The heathen may rage and the socialistic people imagine a vain thing , but beneath the calm shade of universal Brotherhood Freemasons may rest secure , and , while looking back on the fall of principalities and change of social demarcations through which Freemasonry has struggled with unshaken

strength , may look forward with confidence to a glorious future lor their doctrine of peace and brotherly love . Such are the general lessons to be learned from the recent ceremony . And with his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught to preside we think there is a great future for English Freemasonry in India . He is an enthusiastic Mason , and , besides , knows well

the art of gaining the hearts of all men . Easy , then , will it be for him to rule over those whose first principles are obedience to the Craft and loyalty to the throne , and under his rule an additional lustre will be thrown upon the body of Freemasons to which everyone—be he prince or peasant—may belong , and whose highest ambition is to win the sympathy of the world by its benevolence and good works—Times of India ,.