Provincial Grand Lodge Of Worcestershire.

Stourport , 9 ; Perseverance , No . 573 , Halesowen , 18 ; St . Michael's , No . 1097 , Tenbury , 16 ; Royds , No . 1204 , Malvern , 9 ; Lechmere , No . 1874 , Kidderminster , 8 ; Masefield , No . 2034 , Moseley , 2 ; and Godson , No . 23 S 5 , Oldbury , 20 . The PROV . GRAND MASTER called upon the Worshipful Masters present to make a statement of the affairs of their respective lodges , and in each case the lodges were shown to be in a satisfactory condition .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s audited accounts having been presented , were adopted , and Bro . J . Joseland was , on the motion of the PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , unanimously re-elected Prov . Grand Tieasurer . Bro . GEO . TAYLOR , P . G . S . B . of England , Prov . Grand Sec , read the annual report on the state of Masonry in thc province , in which it was shown

that , irrespective of the new lodge at Oldbury , there was an increase of 12 in the number of subscribing members in tlie province , which is now 474 . During the year there had been 45 initiations and joinings , and 33 deaths , resignations , and erasures . Tlie report concluded with the observation that the state of Masonry in thc province was very satisfactory , and that the membership was reliable . The report was adopted .

Bro . E . J . CHAMBERS presented the report of the Charities Committee , in which it was stated that they received in October last year 396 girls' and 695 boys' votes , and in April this year 449 g irls' and 651 boys' votes . At the October election the } ' were successful in securing the election of one boy by an expenditure of 3080 votes . Thc Province of Cheshire , being interested in the success of the boy , the Committee made an arrangement with the

representatives of that province to contribute 900 votes towards his election . At the April election this year the Committee were unable to carry a candidate owing to thc small balance of votes which vvere standing to their credit . The balance of votes now standing to the credit of the Committee for the Schools were 1453 , Avhich was 11 more than last year , but that number , the

Committee regretted , was very inadequate to the demands which were being made upon the province . There were 1 045 votes for the Benevolent Institution standing to the credit of the province , all of which were wanted to secure the election of several widows of worthy and deceased brethren ofthe province . During the year the sum of ^ 403 os . 6 d . had been subscribed in the province for the three Charitable Institutions .

The adoption of the report was moved by the PROV . GRAND MASTER , who , in doing so , expressed his high appreciation of the splendid work done in the province by Bro . Chambers , the Charities Secretary , and informed thc Provincial Grand Lodge that the Committee had fallen in with a suggestion thrown out by Bro . Chambers that an Assistant Secretary should be appointed . The report was adopter ] , and Bro . Duncan Jones Shedden was unanimously appointed Assistant Charity Secretary .

The report of the Library and Museum Committee was presented by the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY . The report stated that the new descriptive catalogue of the George Taylor collection of Masonic antiquities and curios was now ready . It was agreed to present handsomely-bound copies of the volume to the Prov . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., and the Prov . G . Secretary , the latter being the editor of the volume .

Various sums of money were voted from the Benevolent Fund of Provincial Grand Lodge for the maintenance of distressed widows and brethren pending their election as annuitants of the Benevolent Institution , and the sum of 50 guineas was voted from the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge for

the purpose of forming the nucleus of a fund to commemorate the memory of the late Bro . Masefield , P . D . P . G . M ., by placing a tablet in St . John ' s Church , Dudley , and by the investment of a sufficient sum for the presentation of a prize annually to the Masonic Girls' and Boys' Schools , to be called the " Masefield Prize . "

1 he Provincial Grand Master afterwards appointed and invested the following as the Provincial Grand Officers for the year : Bro . G . R . Godson , 1097 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,, Edwin Turner , 252 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . W . J . Down , 252 ... ... ... ) p p n „ Rev . A . C . L . McLaughlin , 1097 ... ... jf 1 10 v' ° - Uia Ps '

,, J . Joseland , 529 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, John Mossop , 1874 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Geo . Taylor ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Enoch Wood , 23 S 5 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ D . McKay , 377 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . ,, Reginald Woodward , 377 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ J . Fisher , 398 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

,, J . Slade , 1097 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, A . Onnc Fraser , 1204 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, Ios . Bellingham , 408 ... ... ¦¦¦! -n r c . i * ¦ •> „ H . Parry , 573 j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ W . C . Box , 529 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ B . Robinson , 564 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ las . Warham ... ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst .

Ihe Provincial Grand Master appointed the next meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge to be held under the banner of the Harmonic Lodge , No . 252 , at Dudley . At this stage Provincial Grand Lodge was called off , ancl the brethren marched in procession to the parish church of St . Mary , where Divine service took place .

Thc sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . W . J . DOWN , the Provincial Grand Chaplain , who took for the text St . Paul ' s words — "Bear ye one another ' s burdens , and so fulfil the law of Christ " —from that apostle ' s epistle to the Galations , chap . VI ., v . 2 . In . opening his discourse , the reverend brother defined St . Paul as a practical Christian , in which respect his was a character upon which the lives of

Christians of to-day might well be modelled , because men could not be ruled by tsvo overmastering forces . The burdens that practical Christians had to bear , were not merely those of the fallen or the erring . St . Paul , certainly , must have had a wider held in view when hc penned the words of the text . He must have been thinking of the burdens vvhich sooner or later fall upon every shoulder ; the burdens which come to them as men—those burdens which seemed to be a necessary part of man ' s present life of

probation . Those , also , were thc burdens vvhich their own Brotherhood of Freemasonry took knowledge of , and sought in the measure of its capacity to remove . Proceeding , he quoted the words of a Masonic writer who said"The love the true Mason was ever ready to bestow was by no means confined to his own Brotherhood . He delighted to whisper peace to the troubled time wherever he found it ; to mourn with those who mourned as well as to rejoice with those who rejoiced was to him the hi ghest of all possible enjoyments . Where allliction needed his aid , and the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Worcestershire.

oppressed his interference , then the best feelings of his life were called out . Those words , he said , were so true that they almost warranted them in taking them as the motto of their Craft . If it be said that no true Mason could either be an atheist or impure , surely it could with equal truth be said of the true Mason that benevolence was the guiding star he sought to follow , and his ruling desire to bear his brother's burden . There vvas a

burden which was man's necessity , without which he could not become that which the Grand Architect of the Universe desired him to be . They had wondered at its presence as St . Paul had ; they had prayed for its removal as he had done . It was a necessity to them , it was the very fire by which the silver in them was refined . He was certain , he said , that there were chords

within those of the brethren he addressed which would vibrate to the touch of that truth . It must be their desire that Christ should make their body whilst on earth the lodge of His abode , that when its building was taken clown they might enter triumphantly with another body into the Eternal Lodgeof His own manifested presence , so that the common brotherhood of men might be built up by his Grace into the brotherhood of God .

On the resumption of Prov . Grand Lodge , Bro . W . B . WILLIAMSON , P . P . S . G . W ., reported that hc had just returned from a visit to Canada and thc United States . During his sojourn in the United States he vvas invited to visit thc Quinsegamund Lodge in Worcester , Massachusetts , where he met vvith the kindest and most cordial of greetings , and where the brethren did him the honour to elect him an honorary member . He was charged on behalf of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Worcester , Massachusetts , to convey

fraternal greetings to that assembly of Prov . Grand Lodge . He might inform that meeting that the brethren of the Quinsegamund Lodge had a special medal struck vvhich they presented him with as a token of their fratcrnal good wishes and a reminder of their pleasant acquaintance . This was accompanied by a kindly worded letter signed by Bro . A . F . Earle , Prov . Grand Master , and other officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Worcester , Massachusetts .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER thanked Bro . Williamson , and asked him to convey his thanks and fraternal greetings to the Province of Worcester , Massachusetts . Prov . Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the Swan Hotel , where the customary banquet took p lace . The following brethren were in attendance :

Bros . Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . Grand Master ; A . F . Godson , M . P ., D . P . G . M . ; W . B . Williamson , P . M . 529 , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . E . Bloomer , P . M . 573 ; G . W . Grosvenor , P . M . 377 ; A . Green , P . M . 49 S , P . P . S . G . W . ; Rev . W . J . Down , 252 , P . G . Chap . ; W . S . Davies , P . M . 1097 ; F . G . Russell , P . M . 1204 , P . P . G . R . ; E . Turner , P . M . 252 ; G . Taylor , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br . England , Prov . G . Sec ; H . E . Preen , P . M . 577 ; G . F . Grove , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; G . H . AVilliamson , P . M . 252 and 280 , P . P . G . D . ; A . B .

Rowe , P . M . 2 S 0 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; ] . Mossop , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C . ; W . T . Page , P . M ., P . A . G . D . of C . ; J . Slade , P . P . G . D . of C . ; T . Nole , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Waring-, P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; VV . AVood , P . M ., P . P . G . Purst . ; A . Cookson , P . M ., P . P . G . Purst . ; G . R . Green , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; L . G . Green , W . M . 1204 ; G . T . Owen , P . M . 252 , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Hagues , 1204 , P . P . G . O . ; J . A . Daggs , 1297 ; E . C . L . McLaughlin , 1097 ; A . Davenport , 1097 ; G . W . Webster , 1097 ; T . Taylor , I . P . M .

1097 ; H . Humphreys , 573 ; G . Blenkarne , 573 ; E . Collins , J . W . 560 ; F . Connop , 573 ' . R- Woodward , I . P . M . 377 ; G . F . Old , 2385 ; W . S . Shepley , j . W . 498 ; E . Gould , 252 ; VV . Jones , 573 ; A . Morton , 252 ; C . Burford , 5 ^ 9 > A . Marsh , W . M . 573 ; Trevor Webster , 1874 ; James Jones , 252 ; Wm . Buttock , 1 S 74 ; John C . Perren , 252 ; A . O . Fraser , P . M . 1204 ; W . F . Nesvton , J . W . 1204 ; J . H . L . Thompson , S . VV . 1204 ; W . C . Box , 529 ; H . H . Hughes , 573 ; M . Smith , P . M . 252 ; Arthur

R . Taylor , 252 ; Fred . S . Turner , 252 ; J . M . Clement , 253 ; W . Hanson , J . W . 252 ; James A . Fullsvood , 252 ; Thomas Williams , 252 ; P . Spencer , 23 S 5 ; John Jordan , 2385 -, J . A . Deeley , J . W . 564 ; Walter Somers , P . M . 573 , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; Charles Dakin , 573 ; J . Sharman Wood , W . M . 2 S 0 ; C . E . Cole , 252 ; Charles Hatfield , 49 S ; G . J . Sadler , 23 S 5 ; H . Richardson , 23 S 5 ; H . F . Isaac , 23 S 5 ; J . A . Partridge , 1097 ; John Hall , 252 ; Thomas S . Insall , 573 ; James Warham , P . M . 252 ; W . J . Davies ,

23 S 5 ; Thos . H . Forrest , 23 S 5 ; Thos . Jones , 23 S 5 ; Charles Tomlinson , 23 S 5 ; George AVood , 2385 ; Edsvard Johnson , 23 S 5 ; Charles Micklejohn , 2385 ; John Round , 2385 ; Thos . Clulee , AV . M . 564 ; Robert Rhodes , 5 64 ; E . Rudland , 5 64 ; Timothy Cramer , 49 S ; John Hollins , 252 ; H . Jennings , 2034 ; H . McKean , 23 S 5 ; James Billingham , 573 ; A . J . King , 49 S ; James B . Davies , 49 S ; R . Undersvood , 573 ; J . VV . Roberts , P . M . 49 S ; Thomas Robinson , 5 64 ; George Foster , 252 ; J . E . Jones , 252 ; H . Hardsvick

Langston , 1097 ; Robert Preece , 252 ; G . F . Thompson , P . M . 2 S 2 and W . M . 498 ; AVilliam Stansfield , 252 ; j . Dugard , 377 and 1 S 74 ; W . Gsvyem , 1204 ; Otho Scott , 564 ; Abraham Timmins , 49 S ; John Smith , P . P . G . J .,- Jas . Stesvard , W . M . 2034 , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . B . Rosve , P . M . 2 S 0 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . Adkins , 377 ; Henry Wilcox , 564 ; G . Holland Smith , 377 ; R . S . Blundell , P . M . 5 60 , P . P . G . S . B . ; D . J . McLeod , P . M ., P . P . G . W . of Derbyshire , Sec . Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; Mackay , P . M . 377 ; J . Mason , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Middx . : W . Dorsett , P . M . - . So , P . P . G .

Purst . ; D . Dawes , VV . M . 1 S 74 ; J . Green , 1 S 74 ; T . Chambers , W . M . 252 ; J . Hobson , 529 ; Chas . Mytton , P . M . 5 G 0 , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Lascelles Southwell , P . M . 1621 , P . P . G . AV . Salop ; Samuel Spittle , 252 ; W . Myers , 573 ; W . S . Langford , VV . M . S 92 ; P . J . Salsvay , 611 ; Rev . H . Brosvn , P . M . 1097 , P . P . G . C ; Henry Parry , P . M . 573 ; Alfred Link , 529 ; J . Hollins , 252 ; J . Wade , 560 ; Jos . Foster , 2385 ; H . E . Smith , 5 G 0 ; F . W . Knott , 280 ; Herbert A . Jones , 49 S ; J . M . Harlosv , 520 ; W . R . Higgs , 529 ; J . Bridger , 1926 ; Thomas Hodgetts , 573 ; R . G . Venables , P . G . D . C . England , P . P . G . M . Salop ; E . J . Chambers , S . W . 252 ; R . Stevenson , P . M . 252 , P . P . G . Std . Br .

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN . —The well-known American statesman , vvho was also , as our readers knosv , emphatically a self-made man , and as such deserves the commendation of all who value and believe the upward and onward movement of human self-elevation . He was born at Boston in 1706 , and died in Philadelphia in 1790 . We need not follow the course here of his social struggles or his political career , as they are beside and beyond our svork . As a Freemason he vvas a zealous

and devoted member of our great Order . When he vvas made a Mason is not quite clear ; indeed , there seems some little confusion , at any rate uncertainty , as to the exact position of early American Freemasonry , especially in Pennsylvania . It does clearly appear that at the time when Price received his patent from England , about which questions have been raised by Bro . Jacob Norton , a Masonic lodge existed at Philadelphia . A lodge vvas working in Philadelp hia

in 1730 . F ' rankhn himself is said by some to have been made a Freemason in England , but vve are not aware that any evidence of the fact has so far turned up . Whether Franklin set up the lodge in Philadelphia on the authority of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts organised by Price , or on the authority of some other existing body , is not to us quite clear , though it is said that he was appointed its first Master on a petition in June , 1734 ., by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts .

But in November , 1734 , Franklin calls himself Grand Master of Pennsylvania , and applies to Price for friendly recognition . Franklin svas clearly , according to Bro . C . P . McCalla , Master or member of a lodge at Philadelphia before 1734 * When in France , as Ambassador of the United States , he bscame affiliated to the famous '' Loge des Neuf Sceurs , " and during his stay at Paris he was present at the reception of Voltaire , February 7 , 1778 , and acted as warder in the Funeral who

Lodge of November 30 , for the new brother only admitted in February , and died in May that same year . The Lodge of the " Nine Sister Muses" also received Franklin in a Lodge of Adoption at Auteuil , in the house of Sister Helvetius , which vvas made the occasion , Besuchet tells m , of a brilliant fete . We are glad to think that Franklin belonged to our Order . Hs reprinted the English Constitution of 1723 in 1734 . —Kenning ' s Cyclopedia of Freemasonry .