Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

Bro . Sir CHARLES B . GRAVES-SAAVLE referred to the able and genial way [„ which the Ea ' I of Mount Edgcumbe presided over them . . . The Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE , in reply , said through the illness of the | , ; arl of Lathom , Pro Grand Master , heavy responsibilities had been thrown nn his shoulders , for the task of supervising the great Institution of

Freemasonry , which extended all over the world , was no light one . He was pleased to say that the relations which had existed between him and the officers jpd members of the province were as cordial and as pleasant as ever . Other toasts followed . Trie W . M . and officers of Molesworth Lodge were heartily congratulated on their arrangements whereby the day ' s gathering was such a success .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was held at the Drill . Hall , Basingstoke , on Tuesday ; the Sth inst ., under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W-\ V . B . Beach , M . P ., who was supported by the . Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , and a number of Present and Past Prov .

Grand Officers and distinguished visitors . The lodges of the province were well represented by their respective Masters , accompanied by officers and members in fair numbers . The usual routine business was carried through , including the adoption of the report of the audit of the Provincial Grand Treasurer's accounts , showing a balance credit of / 121 5 s . 7 d ., and the

report of the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge Committee , by which it appeared that the total membership of lodges was 54 in excess of the total of the previous year . The Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . J . W .

Gieve , J . P ., was unanimously re-elected , and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master was nominated to represent the province on the Management Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The following were appointed and invested as Provincial Grand Officers ,

.: lira . Major G . H . Newcome , 1971 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ H . Durrant , 175 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . F . Whyley ,. 20 i 6 ... ... .,. )„ « , „ Rev . Cedri ^ E . Crowley , 257 ... J Prov . G . Chaps . „ John W . Gieve , 309 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Dr . F . D . Miller , 694 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Edgar Goble , 309 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ R . W . Lees , 130 ... ... ... \» c r * « „ G . Ward , 18 S 3 j Prov . S . G . Ds . „ W . M . Outridge , 4 S 7 ... ... ... ) Prnv , . ,,. „ H . Lehmann , 723 ... ... ... ) Prov ' J G-Ds . „ G . W . Wyatt , 2158 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ Dr . E . T . Crouch , 1705 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . LeRoy , 3 t 9 , ... ;¦ . ; . ' ... Prov . D . G . D . C . ,, J . G . Garnham , 151 ... ... ... "> „ F . S . Shaw , 1373 . ... ... ... £ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . „ J . Mitchell , 142 ... .. ' ... ) „ R . Hodges , 195 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, H . T . Deacon , 2169 ... ... .. r ~ C . J « „ J . . S . Wickens , 20 74 ... < Prov . G . Std . Bra . „ S . Round , 343 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . , „ G . F . Lancaster , 903 , P . P . G . R . ... ... Prov . A ^ st . G . Sec , „ J . Miles , 1428 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ R . W . G . Stokes , 1958 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst „ J . Howarth , 1776 „ T . Greener , 1331

; : iiOTJSU ::: ::: ::: ftw-G-Slwd'-„ W . F . Blake , 2016 „ E . R . Fisher , 2068 ... ... ... J „ J . Exell , 487 ... ¦•¦ ... Prov . G . Tyler

The subsequent proceedings included a cold collation at the Town Hall , ; 'l which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and the health of the Mayor of Basingstoke ( who was present ) was drank , with thank * for the u « c of the hall .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF ESSEX .

The tolh annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was neld at Colchester on Wednesday , 9 th inst ., the Grand Superintendent , Comp . Frederick A . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Registrar , Recorder of wlchester , presiding , supported by the following Provincial Grand Officers Comps . Richard Clowes , P . Z . 51 , P . P . G . H ; , as acting H . ; William Shurmur , Prov . G . J . ; Thos . J . Railing , Prov . G . S . E . ; Andrew Durrant , . . . . ¦ . . L .. .

j , ' rov . G . Treas . ; George Graveley , Prov . Asst . G . Soj . ; Harris Hills , 'V . G . S . B . ; R . Haward Ives , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; A . Lucking , Prov . G 'D . C ; John Hutley , Prov . Asst . G . D . of C . ; E . H . Inman , Prov . As st . G . Scribe E . ; and A . W . Martin , Prov . G . Janitor . Ihe meeting was held in the Board-room of the Coin Exchange , whxh , * vith the help . of Hags and plantshad been transformed into a very handsome

, Chapter room by Comp . Bailey , P . Z . 51 , P . P . G . R . Ihe minutes of the last annual meeting ( held at Halstead ) having been ^ 'a and confirmed , letters regretting their inability to attend were read ru m several distinguished companions . A letter was also read from Comp . ' ' . M . McLeod , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , "closing the following resolution passed by the Board of Stewards of the

ecc » l Festival at Brighton : lhal a cordial vote of thanks be aceurded to the V . W . Bro . [•' . A . Philbrick , ^ - 1 Grand Registrar , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of lissex , for his services in a '" ' * President of the Board , and especially for his eminent services re ndered aj Province of Essex , resulting in the splendid list of £ 2235 9 s . being add ed from at Province to the funds of the Institution . " ¦ was decided that this resolution should be entered on the minutes .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Essex.

The roll was next called , and ' the 11 chapters comprising , the province were all found to be represented . The report of the Board of General Purposes , which had been previously printed and circulated , was taken as read , alld ordered to be received , adopted , and entered on the minutes . The Board reported that the roll of

chapters at the present time consists of 11 , with a membership of- 286 , as : ¦ . against 218 last year . There have been 11 resignations , two deaths , and one exclusion during the year . The statement of accounts appended to this report showed that there was a balance in hand , after paying all expenses , including ^ 21 to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , of ; £ i 4 i 9 s-5 d .

The next business was the election of three members of the Provincial Board of General Purposes , in accordance with By-law V ., and only the requisite number having been nominated , they were elected as follows : Comps . G . H . Finch , P . Z . and S . E . 2005 , P . P . G . J ; John J . C . Turner , P . Z . 51 , P . P . G . J . ; and Francis A . White , P ; Z . 1437 , P . P . G . J .

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then addressed the companions , expressing his " pleasure at meeting so many of his companions that day , and his thankfulness that such a large number of esteemed and honoured friends had beenspared to be present at this annual gathering . It was a matter for congratulation for them all that another chapter , attached to one of the oldest lodges , had been added to the roll . There were 33 lodges in the

province and n chapters , a proportion which was fully tip to the average , and compared very favourably with the Province of Sussex , the Grand Superintendent of which had honoured them by attending the meeting that day . Then as to numbers , they commenced the year with 218 , butwere now 280 , which was a large increase—between 25 and 30 per cent , at least .

He thought that the province might fairly gather from these figures that there was a general desire to extend its usefulness , and that their progress , if not by leaps and bounds , was a steady progress , and that' this branch of Freemasonry was appreciated by the very elite and cream of the Crail Masons . The year through which they had just passed had been an untroubled one as far as their Order was concerned . It had not been , in the

country districts , he feared , one of general prosperity , though , adverting to the resolution they had received from the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , he began to think there was a perennial spring in the hearts of the Freemasons of Essex which ensured so much liberality to the Charities of the- Craft and exemplified the words of King Solomon : " There is ' that scattereth and yet increaseth . " The year had been an untroubled one

because it had been one of unity and prosperity -a prosperity which was only to be obtained by unity . He had had the pleasure of visiting some of the chapters , and had been pleased to see the work so perfectly rendered , He trusted he might see the province continue to grow—he and some of those present had seen it rise from small beginnings ; and he only hoped that it might always be not the last or least of R ' . A . provinces ; '

Comp . Andrew Durrant , P . / .. 276 . was , on the motion of Comp . GRAVEI . EY , seconded by Comp . TURNER , elected , for the nth time ,, as Provincial Grand Treasurer .

Ihe officers of the Provincial Grand Chapter for the year were then appointed and invested as follows : Comp . W . E . Dring , M . E . Z . 453 ... ... Prov . G . H . ,, E . Hennemeyer , P . Z . 51 ... ... Prov . G . J . „ T . J . Railing , P . Z . and S . E . 51 , P . G . S . B ., ( eleventh year ) ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ R . Haward Ives , J . 51 ... ... Prov . G . S . N .

,, Thomas Hood , H . 1000 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ F . P . Suthery , I . P . Z . 276 ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ W . F . Darnell , H . 214 ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S . „ Rev . T . S . Raffles , M . E . Z . 2005 ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ T . Scoresby Jackson , M . E . Z . 2256 ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Francis Bird , H . 1024 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . ,, A . Lucking , P . Z . and Treas . 1000 , P . A . G . D . C . Eng , ( eleventh year ) ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ G . Copus , H . 2154 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ George Corbie , S . E . 453 ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ A . W . Martin ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the members of the Patriotic Chapter for the excellent arrangements they had made for the reception of Provincial Grand Chapter , and tne Grand Superintendent announced that

in reply to a cordial invitation he had received he proposed to hold the next meeting at Chelmsford . Provincial Grand Chapter was then closed , and between 30 and 40 companions adjourned to the Cups Hotel , and partook of an elegant dinner , well served by the host and hostess , Mr . and Mrs . Brown . Amongst those who attended the meeting , besides those already mentioned , were Comps . General Randolph , Grand Superintendent Sussex ;

George Cooper , P . A . G . S . Eng . ; Vero W . Taylor , P . P . G . H . ; Thomas Rix , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . H . Finch , P . P . G . J . ; F . A . White , P . P . G . J . ; Alfred Welch , P . P . G . J . ; J . Boulton , P . Z . and Treas . 933 ; James Speller , J . 2256 ; J . P . Lewin , P . P . G . S . N . ; J . T . Bailey , P . P . G . R . ; and A . S . B , Sparling , I . P . Z . 51 , P . P . G . Std . Br . Amongst those unable to attend . were Comps . E . Letchworth , G . S . E . ; Millner Jutsum , Prov . G . H . ; J . H . Salter , Prov . G . P . S . ; R . D . Poppleton , M . E . Z . 51 ; C . Egerton-Green , Percy Clowes , and others .

HARNOUESTER . —Who Lord Harnouester really was is now difficult to say , and the actual personage is very hard to realise , under what is clearly a travesty of his proper name . He plays a conspicuous part in the history of the French Grand Lodge , and is said to have succeeded in 1736 Lord Derwentwater as Grand Master . Besuchet tells us that he was elected by the four lodges that then existed at Paris , and that the Chevalier Ramsay was the Orator on the occasion . Besuchet

also declares that in 1737 , being about to return home , he convoked the lodges in a general assembly to elect his successor , and that the King , hearing of it , said he would send any Frenchman so elected to the Bastille . They elected , it is stated , nevertheless , the Due d'Antin . . There seems to be a good deal of uncertainty about the early history of Freemasonry in Paris and in France—Kcnniug ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .