Provincial Grand Lodge Of Monmouthshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MONMOUTHSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Thursday , the r / . h instant , under the banner of the Isca Lodge , No . 6 S 3 , at the Masonic Hall , Newpoit . Bro . Col . Charles Lyne , P . G . M ., presided . There was a large attendance of members from the various lodges throughout the province , and Bro . Marmaduke Tennant , D . P . G . M . of the Eastern Division of South Wales , also honoured the Prov . Grand Lodge with his

presence . The general business of the Prov . Grand Lodge was taken , and the reports of the Prov . Grand Lodge Committee and the Charity Committee were approved . The Prov . G . M . then appointed the following as his officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . Lieut .-Col . C . R . Lvne ... ... ... Dep . P . G . M . „ Hartley Feather , 125 S ... ... ... P . P . S . G . W . ,, Joseph Jones , 47 r ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ " D . F . Pritchard , 2226 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W .

„ Kev . Dr . VVilks , 083 ... ... - Prov G Chaps . ,, Rev . Watkin Davies , 21 SO ... ... ) ' ' v ,, Charles Cullum , 1429 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ L . J . Phillips , 68 3 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, ] . C . Brook , 1429 ... ... ... Prov . G . See . „ " William North , 109 S ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ E . James Price , SiS ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . ,, Thomas Acland , 1562 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ N . S . Wilputte , 2556 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ 1 . A . Grove , 1429 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, A . Ernest Jones , 471 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ H C . Groyes , 457 \ Prov , G . Std . Brs < ,, Sidney J . Jones , 2186 ... ... ... ) „ A . Willoughby Thomas , 6 S 3 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ M . J . S . Lyons , 2 ^ 56 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . .. T . C . Fothereill . 68- { ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ S . Cutforth , 457 ... ... ... " 1 „ Henry W . Jones , 471 ... ... ... | „ W . H . Le Grand Chambers , 683 I „ Q s rfs ,, Walter E . Harrison , 818 ... ... | ,, C . H . Gillard , 1 429 ... ... ... | ,, John Randall , 2221 ... ... ... J „ E . W . Evans , 6 S 3 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The banquet was held at the Weslgate Hotel .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HERTFORDSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire was held at the Great House , Cheshunt , at the invitation of the James Terry Lodge , No . 2372 , on Tuesday , the 14 th instant . Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov . G . Master , presided , and prominent among the brethren present were Bros . G . E . Lake , J . G . D ., Dep . Prov . G . Master ; Thomas

Fenn , Past Pres . of the Board of General Purposes ; C . E . Keyser , J . P ., P . G . D ., P . P . G . W . ; F . Sumner Knyvett , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Treas . ; G . Mickley , B . A ., M . B ., P . A . G . D . C , P . P . G . W . ; James Terry , P . G . S . B ., P . P . G . W ., Prov . G . D . C , Sec . R . M . B . I . ; Charles Bullock , Prov . G . Sec . ; T . S . Carter , P . P . G . W . ; and others , the total number being considerably in excess of 100 .

Prov . Grand Lodge having been opened and the minutes of the annual meeting held at St . Albans on the 13 th November , 1895 , read and confirmed , the roll of Prov . Grand Officers and lodges was called . Bro . F . Sumner Knyvett was unanimously re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer . The following brethren were appointed and invested as Prov ., G . Officers for the ensuing year , namely :

Bro . F . R . Webster , P . M . 1479 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . P . Warren , W . M . 2372 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Heibert Hughes , Chap . 201 : 4 ... .., ) D ~ r , , ; E . T . Clark , Chap . 1757 j Prov . G . Chaps . „ F . Sumner Knyvett , P . M . 404 ... ... Prov . Treas . ,, J . D . S . Sim , P . M . 404 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Chas . Bullock , P . M . 504 ' ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ K . H . F . Lander . I . P . M . 208 G ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ C . N . Coini h , P . M . 2323 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ H . Trask , P . M . 2372 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . Wks . „ las . Teiry , P . M . 2372 , Sec . R . M . B . I . ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, VTydtrran . P . M . 1327 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ j . F . Bell , P . M . 227 S ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ A . f . WilMarrson , I . P . M . 2218 ... ... 7 ., ~ C ( , „ E . ] . Giitiins , P . M . 23 _> ... ] Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, J . F . Haskins , Org . 13 K 5 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Alfred Prudames , P . M . 504 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ S . Gordchild . P . M . 19 S 4 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ G . B . Wcod , I . P . M . 1580 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ Jas . Farley , S . W . 403 ... ... ... ~ ) ,, G . A . Sims , S . W . 504 ... ... .. | „ C . E . Eveiett , I . P . M . 8 G 9 ... ... I „ ,. „ , , „ A . Spicer , W . M . 22 S 1 . „ ... .. . ( "' rcv > G- Slwds-„ J . H . Gum , P . M . 2331 ... ... ... I „ H . E . C le , S . W . 2372 ... ... .. . J A Prov . G . Tyler and Asst . Prov . G . Tyler havirg been appointed

and invested , the P . G . M . was pleaded to confer past rank on the following brethren , ramcly : Bro . Thorras Fenn , P . G . D ., Past Pitsident of the Board of Geneial Purposes , who was made Past Prov . Grand Warden , and Bro . G . Bli / ard Abbott , P . M . 1385 , who was made Past Prov . Grand Deacon .

The report of the Board of Finance , showing a balance in the hands of Prov . Grand Treasurer amounting to £ H , 4 s . Sd . and ^ 343 10 s . id . invested in Consols , having been submitted and adopted , the following grants were made from the funds of Prov . Grand Lodge : /^ 2 i to the Royal

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hertfordshire.

Masonic Institution for Boys , to be included in the lists of Bros . F . Q , Lane , P . M ., Steward for the Berkhampstead Lodge , No . 504 . and A . J , Williams , I . P . M . Charles Edward Keyser Lodge , No . 2518 , in equal parts ; . £ 10 to the James Terry Lodge , No . 2372 , towards the expenses of entertaining Prov . Grand Lodge ; £ 10 10 s . to the Cheshunt Cottage Hospital ; and £ 10 103 . to the Scholarship Fund of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

On the motion of the PROV . G . TREASURER , it was agreed to invest £ 30 in Consols , in addition to the existing fund of Prov . Grand Lodge ; and on that of the PROV . G . SECRETARY to continue the publication of the Prov . Calendar ; and Bro . KEYSER having read a very interesting report of the proceedings of the Hertfordshire Masonic Charity Association during the past year , Prov . G . Lodge was closed and the brethren , to the number of about 60 , dined together under the genial presidency of their chief . The arrangements of the James Terry Lodge gave the utmost satisfaction .

The Loss Of The Drummond Castle.

THE LOSS OF THE DRUMMOND CASTLE .

Wc have been " requested to publish the following particulars concerning an informal meeting of Freemasons on board the Tantallon Castle in relation to the sad loss of the Drummond . Castle off Ushant : " Minutes of an informal meeting of Freemasons held on board R . M . S . S . Tantallon Castle , at 8 p . m ., on Wednesday , June 24 th . Bro . Wartski , P . M ., was voted to the chair , and Bro . Poynton . appointed Secretary .

" Bro . WARTSKI , P . M ., having stated the reason for calling the meeting , viz ., the sad loss of life in the recent wreck of the Drummond Castle , and the sending of letters of condolence to the relatives of the deceased passengers and crews as from the Freemasons on board the s . s . Tantallon Castle , "Bro . BENNETT proposed , and Bro . MURGATROYD seconded—' That Bros . Wartski , P . M ., Aitken , Wallenstein , Poynton , and the mover be elected as a Committee to draft a letter of condolence to the relatives of the deceased passengers

and crew of the Drummond Castle , and a separate letter to the wife of the late commander , Bro . Pearce . ' " Carried by silent vote . " A vote of thanks was passed to Captain Duncan for kindly , placing the use of his cabin at the disposal of this meeting . " The mf eting then closed . " The following is a copy of the letter of condolence :

" Tantallon Castle , ' Edward Letchworth , Esq ., " 25 th June , 1896 . "Grand Secretary , " Freemasons' Hall , " London , " Dear Sir and Brother ,

" At an informal meeting of Freemasons held on board the ' Tantallon Castle , ' on the 24 th instant , it was unanimously resolved ' That the sympathy of the Craft be conveyed through your honourable lodge to the relatives of those who lost their lives through the dire disaster which has befallen the ' Drummond Castle , ' and especially do we urge this request in the case of those who have suffered bereavement in the irreparable loss of members belonging to our Ancient and Honourable Order . —We are , dear Sir and G . W . Brother , yours fraternally ,

"Bros . P . Wartski , P . M . ; James Barclay , P . M . 2299 ( E . C ); W . F . Wallenstein , P . J . W . ; J . H . Aitken , M . M . ; Thos . T . Poynton , M . M . ; J . H . Hirshler , M . M . ; Thos . Screech , 18 ° ; Thos . Murgatroyd , M . M . ; R . Perring , M . M . ; J . Tippett , M . M . ; G . C . Tyack , M . M . ; A . B . Knowles , M . M . ; Joseph Buchner , M . M . ; L . E . Hank , M . M , ; W . O . Lean , S . W . ; F . J . Weatherhead , M . M . ; Chas . W . Clucas , M . M . ; M . Bennett , M . M . j James Payne , M . M . ; J . Jenkinson , F . Taillaide , Chas . R . Witherell , M . M . ; Gerald Barclay , M . M . No . 97 ( S . C . ); J . G . Davies , MM . 1 946 ; A . Lohse , M . M . ; and F . Whitehead , M . M . "

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

The . annual meeting of the above Prov . Grand Mark Lodge was held on the 7 th instant at the Central Masonic Hall , Pilgrim-street , Newcastle . The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., presided , and was supported by—Bros . R . B . Reed , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; J . Straker Wilson , Dr . C . D . Hill Drury , Richard Luck , T . M . Barron , C . B . Ford , W . F . Carmon , G . W . Bain , Prov . G . Treas . ; Capt . J . A . Forbes , R . N . j T . J . Armstrong , P . G . Sec . ; H . S . Bird ,

P . G . Reg . ; W . E . Moffett , J . C . Moor , J . D . Todd , W . M . Lyon , Jas . Sedcolc , C . F . SutclilTe , John Heppell , W . Weston , E . Dunford , the Rev . R . M . Ilderton , W . Barlow , P . G . D . C ; R . Ferry ; F . L . Dodds , P . G . O . ; Geo . Harland , W . Urown , J . K . Wilkes , G . E . Macarthy , T . E . Biddlecombe , Robt . Whitfield , T . R . Short , Hy . Palmer , John Robinson , James Shaw , the Rev . J .. H . Heywoodi W . Swales , the Kev . R . A . Waters , E . Shewbrook , John Deans , John Holt , and John Abbey .

The teport of the Committee of General Purposes was satisfactory , and was adopted on the motion of Bro . R . B . REED , D . P . G . M ., and seconded by Bro . H . S . BIRD , P . G . R . M . The roll of lodges was called , when the several Worshipful Masters gave reports , which showed an increase in members generally . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , D . D ., brief !/

addressed Prov . Grand Lodge . He congratulated the brethren upon the steady and quiet growth of their numbers . The whole of their lodges showed an increase of members , and there was a total increase of 45 members . He was also pleased that they were to again give 30 guineas among the three Masonic Charities , the Mark Bsnevolent Fund , the Mark Educational Fund , and the Durham Masonic Educational Fund . ( Applause ) .

I he following Prov . Grand Officers were duly invested for the year : Bro . R . B . Reed ( re-appointed ) ... ... D . Prov . G M . „ T . M . Barron ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,, E . Shewbrooks ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . A . Waters ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap .

„ G . W . Bain ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, T . J . Armstrong ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Geo . Harland ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M-„ Jas . Shaw ... ,.. ... ... Prov . G . M . O .