Provincial Grand Chapter Of N. And E. Yorkshire.

. auspices we meet to-day . These annual assemblies are very charming , for they bring together old friends , and we have the opportunity thus afforded of making new friends amongst those who have more recently joined our ranks . At the same time , we miss alas I many who were once our companions and fellow-workers who have been called from us , and retired behind the dark veil which hides immortal from terrestrial life . Death , the grand leveller of all human institutions , has been busy of late , and his dread arrows have stricken down several of our

distinguished companions , who proved their great value in this province , and whose loss is , and long will be , keenly felt . Our E . Comps . W . H . Cowper , P . A . G . S . Eng ., P . P . G . J . ; Col . R . G . Smith , P . P . G . H . ; and Andrew Farmer , P . P . G . S ., held the highest places in respect to their Masonic work ; whilst the sudden death of E . Comp . G . W . Speth , the Secretary of the famous Lodge Quatuor Coronati , will be severely felt all over the Empire . These were true brothers of the acacia , and their memories will remain fresh and green in the hearts of

their sorrowing friends . In Supreme Grand Chapter the principal event of the past year has been the retirement of our M . E . First Grand Principal , King Edward VIL , on his Majesty ' s accession to the throne . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught succeeds his Royal brother as our illustrious chief ruler , whilst the Earl Amherst , the Earl of Warwick , and M . E . Comp . Beach retain their several offices . It was intended to hold the annual meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge on the 19 th

July , but as it is reported that H . R . H . the Dukeof Connaught will be installed M . W . Grand Master in the Albert Hall , London , on the 17 th July , I have considered it desirable to alter our annual meeting to Friday , 26 th July , when I hope to meet a large assembly of brethren at Scarborough . There has recently been added to Freemasons' Hall , London , a fine Library and Museum , which is

admirably adapted for the purpose , and will well repay a visit . Before I sit down I must express my best thanks , and those of the members of Prov . G . Chapter , to the Principals and companions of the Britannia Chapter for their kind hospitality , which has rendered our meeting so enjoyable . I may point out that invitations for next year ' s meeting of Prov . G . Chapter may be sent to the Prov . G . S . E ., and will be duly considered .

The G . SUPERINTENDENT then proposed that letters of condolence be sent to the families of the late Comps . Cowper , Smith , and Farmer , which was seconded by the P . G . S . E ., and carried . The closing hymr . having been sung , the Prov . Grand Chapter was then closed . The annual dinner was held at the Crown Hotel , when Comp . E . Fox-Thomas , P . P . G . J ., presided , and was supported by the Prov . G . Officers , and a select number of companions . The customary loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and an agreeable evening was spent .

A Masonic Jubilee.

A MASONIC JUBILEE .

HENGIST LODGE , No . 195 . * The Hengist Lodge , No . 195 , Bournemouth , which was established at Christchurch in 1770 , and transferred to Bournemouth on May 9 th , 1851 , celebrated its Jubilee as a Bournemouth lodge on the 9 th inst . There has , we understand , been no festive celebration of the interesting event , but it is one , nevertheless , on which members of the lodge may be heartily

congratulated . A brief reference to the lodge ' s growth and development will not , therefore , be out of place in these columns . The history of the lodge was fully chronicled by Bro . C J . Whitting during his Mastership in 1897 , and referring to the pages of that interesting volume , we note that as far back as the 24 th June , 1841 , there was a Masonic gathering at the Belle Vue Hotel , members of the Hengist Lodge assembling with a number of brethren from

Poole to celebrate the anniversary of St . John . Ten years later there was another meeting at the Belle Vue . The lodge had been in a condition of " suspended animation , " but the sanction of the Provincial Grand Master , Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Bart ., was obtained for its revival and transference to Bournemouth ; in the words of the historian , " it emerged from obscuration , " and entered upon a new career which , practically speaking ,

has been one of uninterrupted prosperity . Of those who were present at that revival only two brethren now survive—Bros . D . Sydenham and G . H . Gutch ( of Poole ) . The oldest member of the lodge , however , is Bro . J . Druitt , sen ., of Christchurch , who was initiated into Masonic mysteries in 1839 , occupied the chair in 1844 and 1845 , and is the only surviving link with the old days at Christchurch . Next on the roll of seniority is Bro . W . B .

Rogers , whose admission was 17 years later . The first initiate in Bournemouth was the late Bro . W . E . Rebbeck , and the roll of members includes most of the names that will be best remembered as pioneers of local prosperity . The last Mason initiated in Christchurch was the grandfather of the present Earl of Malmesbury , who was himself the first candidate to join this lodge in the new century a few months ago .

The Lodge of Hengist , we may add , is now the proud mother of two vigorous daughters in Lodge Boscombe and Lodge Horsa , and a third offshoot is a practical certainty of the near future . Our readers will , we Know , join with us in the hope that when the Hengist Lodge celebrate their centenary in the borough ( an epoch which , as a lodge , was duly honoured over 30 years ago ) they will be in a still more prosperous condition .

The Art Galleries.

The Art Galleries .

Some very fine specimens of art are now on view at the Summer Exhibition of the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours at 5 A , Pall Mall East . The following include some of the most noteworthy exhibits : " Dawn , " by H . Clarence Whaite , P . R . C . A . ; " Rainsborrow Crag Kentmere , " by Cuthbert Rigby * "Tree P .-eonies " and " A Garden near the Thames , " by Alfred Parsons , A . R . A . "The Princess out of School , " by E . R . Hughes ; " Goatfell from the Sea , Arran , " by Sir Francis Powell , P . R . S . W . ; " Gudvangen , Sogne Fjord , " by W . Matthew Hall ; " Holy Trinity Church , Stratford-on-Avon , " by E . F .

Brentnail " A Sunny Morning , " by Wilmot Pilsbury ; " Welcome Visitors" and "The Firjt Primroses , " by Norman Tayler ; "A Song of the Olden Time , " by F . Smallfield ; "A Study , " by Edwin Alexander ; "A Turn ofthe Wey" and " Under the Greenwood Tree , " by Charles Gregoiy ; " Daphne " and " Carina , " by G . L . Bulleid ; " In Arcady , " by Miss Constance Philloti ; " Quiet Evening , " by Walter Field ; " Begone , Dull Care , " by W . J . Wainwright ; " Springtime in the Midlands . " by T . J . Watson ; "Canterbury" and " Durham , " by Albert Goodwin 1 " Primroses , " by J . J . Hardwick .

The Art Galleries.

At the Grafton Galleries , off New Bond-street , a very fine collection of South African pictures by R . Gwelo Goodman are now on view . The collection comprises pictures of the principal battlefields in the Boer War , including Colenso , the Tugela , Mafeking , Kimberley , Ladysmith , Majuba Hill , and Spion Kop . Of the remaining pictures special attention may be directed to those numbered in the catalogue as follows : 6 , 8 , 10 , 15 , 20 , 29 , 30 , 43 , 57 , 61 , 73 , 78 , 81 , 8 3 , 86 , 93 , 97 , 99 , 115 , and 118 .

The latest addition to the Dore Gallery is " A Festival , " painted in honour of Catherine de Medici by the celebrated Dutch painter , David Vinckenbooms . This picture is about 300 years old , having been painted between the years 158 7 and 1623 , and is one of the artist ' s best known works having been in the family of the Marquis Spero for upwards of 200 years , and has only just arrived from Naples . The scene which the painting depicts is exceedingly quaint—a . fete in a

garden of Dutch appearance , the enormous artificial hedges of which encompass an Italian villa . There is a lake in the centre , and groups of merrymakers in antique costumes disport themselves among the trees . The colours , especially the vermilion , appear as fresh as when laid on by the artist ' s brush ; while the foliage of the trees would do credit to Claude himself , and the sky effects are also wonderful . The care bestowed by the painter on the complicated minutiie of his great work is truly marvellous .

Everyone who can possibly do so should make a point of seeing the real stone face of Christ , which is now on view at the Doru Gallery . This little stone , magically wrought by the hand of Nature alone into a simulacrum of the face of our Lord , with the crown of thorns on his head and great drops , as it were of blood , on thc face , was casually picked up on Mount Kopfel , overlooking the

Bavarian village of Ober Ammergau , where the celebrated Passion Play is enacted , by Mrs . E . J . Bacon , of Atalanta , Georgia , U . S . A . For eight years this lady had the little stone in her possession before she discovered anything remarkable about it , until one evening , under the light of a lamp , the wonderful portrayal ot the likeness of Christ was accidentally discovered . Since then Mrs . Bacon , who has been a great traveller , has shown the stone to many in various parts of the world , but it is now , for the first time , on view at a public exhibition . Dr .

Garnett , of the British Museum , and several leading geologists , guarantee that the impression on the stone is the wotk of Nature alone , unaided by art ; indeed , the resemblance to the traditional appearance of our Lord is only perceptible when the light strikes it at a certain angle ; at other times it seems quite an ordinary stone . The tiny projection which forms the eyebrow casts a shadow which resembles human eyelashes shading the eyelbeneath . The nose , beard , moustache , and contour of the face generally , are perfect . The stone itself is not more than an inch square .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . JOHN BRIGGS , M . A . The installation meeting of this important lodge—one of the most ancient in the Craft—was held at the Holborn Restaurant on Monday , the 6 th instant . There was a large gathering on this occasion , among the visitors being several G . Office rs and Prov . G . Officers . A few facts relative to the Strong Man may prove of interest . The chief founder of this lodge was the celebrated Thos . Topham , the original "Strong Man . " the

" Sandow of the period . He was the landlord of an inn which stood on the site of the present Sadler ' s Wells Theatre . It is related that one morning as Topham was attending to his garden in front of the inn , a traveller on horseback drew near , who asked him the way to some place adjoining . Topham gave him the direction ; the inquirer , however , did not understand it , so he repeated his question in a most offensive manner . Topham quietly approached the traveller , with both hands he lifted the horse from the ground , and pitched it and the rider into a field close by . We may mention ,

by the way , that an interesting article from the pen of Charles Dickens apoeared in " Household Words " many years ago . The lodge jewel worn by the W . M ., and transferred annually to his successor , represents Thos . Topham as an athlete , supporting the globe on his shoulders , as Atlas is fabled to have done . We cannot go into further details save that it has an unbroken record from 1733 , when it was founded , up to the present time . The lodge was opened on the 6 th instant by the W . M ., Bro . Thos . J . Burgess , those present included Bros . W . G . Mills , P . M . ; William Briggs , P . M . ; L . S .

Fountaine , P . M . ; C . Cordingley , P . M . ; T . H . Roberts , P . M . 2502 , P . P . G . Treas , Surrey ; J . H . Beeny , P . M . 1797 , P . P . A . G . Purst . Sussex ; G . Masters . P . M . 1707 ; A . Cawley , W . M . 1797 ; R . Fairclough , P . M . 155 ; C . J . Ashdown . P . M . 1427 ; W . Vincent , 1194 , Past G . Std . Br . ; W . Purchas , P . M . SS , P . P . G . Reg . Cambs . ; W . F . Wilkinson , P . M . 742 ; B . Chennell , SS , P . P . S . G . W . Cambs . ; E . M . Money , P . A . G . D . C . ; T . Steer , W . M . 12 S 7 ; M . Meier , P . M . 2502 ; G . J . McKay , P . G . S . B . ; and A . Dutton , P . M . 34 .

The report of the Auditors was received , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . Bro . Bond was raised to the Third Degree by the W . M . The W . M . elect was presented by Bro . Wm . Briggs , LL . D ., P . M ., to the Installing Master , Bro . Thos . John Burgess , who installed Bro . Briggs as W . M . of the Strong Man Lodge , who was pleased to instal Bros . Thos . John Burgess , as I . P . M . ; E . I . Vidler , S . W . ; Fredk .

Bristow , J . W . I ; W . G . Mills , P . M ., Treas . ; Wm . Briggs , M . A ., LL . D ., Sec . ; Henry Dutell . S . D . ; Arthur Hall , J . D . ; D . A . Langdon , P . M ., D . C . ; E . M . Hall , I . G . J S . W . Heaton , Org . ; J . H . Selmes , Bromley Hall , 'I . J . Berry , Arthur Davies , G . J . Ward , and A . G . Peckham , Stwds . , * J . George Powell , A . D . C . ; and Thomas Williams , Tyler .

The brethren adjourned to the Caledonian Room , and after a sumptuous banquet , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to , and an elaborate musical programme was gone through before the Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close .

Albany Lodge , No . 151 .

AN INTERESTING CELEBRATION . The brethren of the above lodge celebrated their centenary on the 7 th instant , at Newport , the occasion being made specially interesting by the attendance of a large number of Past and Present G . Ollicers of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , though , unfortunately , the Prov . G . M ., Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., was prevented from attending , and his place was filled by his Deputy , Bro . E . Goble , P . G . S . B . Eng .

The brethren assembled at the hall in Lugley-street at one o ' clock , the roll being signed by the following : Bros . E . Goble , D . P . G . M . ; F . M . Burton , LL . D „ P . M . 559 . P . G . C . Eng . ; II . G . Giles , 257 , 1903 , P . G . Sec . ; J . W . Gieve , P . G . Treas . ; E . !'• King , W . M . ; H . E . Sharpe ( vicar of Newport ) , P . P . G . C ; H . F . Grant ; E . A . Swayne , J . D ., * T . E . Porter , P . M . ; E . Gibson Paris ; H . Tait ; G . Cox , P . M . 804 , P . G . D . ; W . D . Hutton ; E . Herbert Morris ; T . W . Faulkner , P . M ., P . P-J * G . W . ; F . C . Taylor ; G . W . Bali ; J . W . Divis ; G . D . Dsrban ; W . Thompson ;

G . Brown , P . M ., P . S . G . D . ; G . T . Shepard ; G . J . Brady , P . M . 1037 , P . P . J . G . W . Dorset ; W . H . Long , P . P . J . G . D . ; A . E . Marlow ; F . W . Sargent ; C . W . Buckland ; J . H . Wavell , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C ; B . Dicks , P . G . Std . ; J . G . W . Jordan . P . G . Purst ., * H . Lashmore , P . P . S . G . D . ; H . H . Wheeler , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . U . Allen ; D . Chant , S . W . ; Rogers , P . P . G . D . ; F . Pinnock , * Roach Pittis J J » Alderslade , I . G . ; J . W . Williams ; P . W . Hardy ; E . J . H . Wetherick ; T . Ford ; W . Garland , P . M . ; H . Shepard ; John Herbert ; A . H . Brown ; Lewis Colenutt , 1884 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; A . Greenham , P . P . J . G . D . ; and many others .