The Grand Lodge Of New York, U.S.A

M . W . Grand Master , his Deputy being Bro . WILLIAM R . S UTHERLAND , while Bro . E . M . L . EHLKRS retains the post of Grand Secretary , in which he has acted so capabl y for many years . We trust that under the auspices of the new chief the Craft in this jurisdiction will continue to progress as it has done under those of his predecessors .

Freemasonry In The West Indies.

FREEMASONRY IN THE WEST INDIES .

We are indebted to the courtesy of Bro . R . J . Chnckett , Past D . S . G . W . of Barbados , for the following report of the presentation of an address and testimonial to Bro . Col . John Elliott , C . B ., C . M . G ., Dist . G . M ., on his retirement from office . The District Grand Master of Barbados , Rig ht Wor . Bro . Col . John Elliott , C . B ., C . M . G ., having intimated to the brethren

of the district his intention to retire from active service in the island where he held the important office of fnspector-General of Police , a Special Communication of the District Grand Lodge was held on the evening of the 16 th of May last , under the banner of the Albion Lodge , No . 1 96 , at the Masonic Hall , in

Sprystreet , Bridgetown , when , 111 the presence of a large number of brethren of the Albion , Victoria , and St . Michael ' s Lodges constituting the district , and of unattached brethren and brethren of the Scotia Lodge , No . 34 0 ( S . C . ) , he was presented with an address and a purse containing 50 sovereigns .

The presentation was made b y Wor . Bro . JOHN LOCKE , the Dep uty Dist . G . M ., in a few well-chosen words , in which he reviewed the District Grand Master ' s services to the Craft in the

island , and expressed their regret at losing his g uidin g hand and influence which had worked so well and satisfactoril y to the brethren , and called on Wor . Bro . JAMES J . WARNER , P . M ., Past D . S . G . W ., to read the address ( the brethren being upstanding ) which having been done , the purse and address , which bore

about 70 signatures , was handed to the Right Wor . BROTHER , who replied in feeling and grateful terms , and cordiall y thanked them for the kindness he had invariabl y experienced from the officers and members , both of the District Grand Lodge and the private lodges .

The purse was a miniature M . M . apron , of kid-skin , lined with white silk , complete , with rosettes and silver tassels , & c , and is an elegant souvenir of the occasion . The brethren then marched in procession round the lodge , individually shakin g the hand of the District Grand Master as they passed the chair , whilst " Auld Lang Syne" was lustil y sung , accompanied b y the organ .

The brethren then retired to the lower floor and p artook of refreshments , followed by a smoking concert , thus p leasantl y terminating an event that will long be remembered b y the brethren . The following is the address : To Colonel John Elliott , C . B ., C . M . G ., P . G . D ., and District Grand Master of Barbados .

Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , — The brethren of this district over whom you have so worthily presided since the re-founding ot this District Grand Lodge in 1889 , have learsed with unfeigned regret that you are about to retire from the civil service of this island in which you have held with dignity to yourself and great usefulness to the community , the high and important position of Inspector-General of Police .

They cannot allow this last opportunity to pass without expressing in the strongest terms their hearty appreciation of the interest you have always taken in freemasonry in this island , which has given a powerful , and we believe , permanent impulse to it , and this is evidenced by the founding of the two Lodges Victoria , No 2196 , and the St . Michael , No . 2253 , the coping stone of the Masonic edifice being the re-foundation of District Grand Lodge after an abeyance of nearly 5 ° years .

While testifying to your worth , Right Worshipful Sir , both in your official and Masonic capacities , it would be wanting on our part if we did not acknowled ge the benefits wo , as Freemasons , have received at your hands in connection Wl 'h the impressive rituals and ceremonies of our Order which you have so often rendeted effectively in our hearing , whether in bestowing light on an initiate or in consecrating our lodgesenabling us to appreciate more than ever their dignity

, and beauty , at the same time inspiring each lodge with a happy and fraternal rivalry in doing their work in perfect order and completeness . It affords to us great pleasure to express to you , Right Worshipful Sir , our jearly valuation of your courteous and urbane manner when presiding over irict

. cirand Lodge , as well as when paying visits to the several lodges from * to time , and also on those occasions when refreshment succeeding labour ca " tor general geniality , to which you have always and readily responded . We need not say that your influence for good in Masonry will long be renumbered in this District , and have no doubt that the name of Brother John iiott will descend with happy traditions to many generations of Freemasons in

It affords much gratification to the undernamed brethren to ask your acceptf ( of this address , also of this purse of £ 50 , as a sincere token of our Dlat " * ' esteem a "d regard . We should be glad if you will purchase a piece of Pa 'ewith it , in memory of the close ties of Masonic work with which we have , 1 / " bound for so long , and have engraved on it , " Presented to the Right Worp "P' « l District Grand Master of Barbados , Colonel John Elliott , C . B ., C . M . G ., > ee ' '»^ " Brethren of that District , as a token of their fraternal esteem and kind ? ^ would also give us pleasure if you would have the article photographed , 7 sending one copy each to the three lodges .

Freemasonry In The West Indies.

Finally , Right Worshipful Sir , we commend you and your dear wife to the care of the Most High , and may the work you have done among us be to you a crown of joy and rejoicing , not only in this life , but when time to you shall be no

more . Dated at Masonic Hall , Spry-street , Bridgetown , Barbados , this 16 th day of May , 18 95 , A . L . 4895 . J LOCKE , Dep . D . G . M . ' IAMES J . WARNER ")

ROBERT HAYNES | J AMES GIBBON J-Past D . G . Wardens . R . J . CLINCKETT I F . N . A . CLAIRMONTE J And about 70 other signatures .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of The Isle Of Man.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF THE ISLE OF MAN .

The annual meeting- of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , Loch Parade , Douglas , on the 27 th u ! t . The preceding meeting was held in December ; but this year , in consequence of a generally expressed opinion , that visitors , being Masons , might wish lo visit the province , the brethren were summoned in a summer month . The attendance

was larger than at the last gathering , but not what mi ght have been expected under the special circumstances . The absence of the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Major J . S . Goldie-Taubman , P . M ., P . Z ., Speaker of the House of Keys , through illness , was much regretted , and his place was filled by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . T . H . Nesbitt . Bro . G . C .

Hercn , P . M ., P . / ., a Past Deputy Prov . Grand Master and a Past Grand Officer of England , acting as Deputy . Most of the other officers were in their places , and all the Insular lodges were seen , on roll call , to be represented . Bro . John Craine , Prov . J . G . D ., was at the organ , in the absence of the Prov . Grand Organist , Bro . J . A . Mylrea , J . P . The usual formalities having been carried out ,

The DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER said : I have to announce lo you lhat I occupy the chair to-day owingito the very much-regretted absence of the R . W . Prov . Grand Master through illness . I have received telegrams from him , expressing his regret that , owing to the state ol his health , his London medical adviser had forbidden him to travel to the Island at present .

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and signed , the report of the General Purposes Committee was read and adopted . Ihe Charity Committee recommended a vote of £ 10 to the widow of a deceased brother , and that was unanimously approved . The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY next read his annual report . It showed generally that the lodges were in fair condition , but the statement

which gave rise to the most satisfaction was one to the effect that the Charity Fund now amounted , including this year ' s fees of honour and the collection of £ 3 made at St . Thomas' Church , to just over ^ 500 . The Provincial Grand Secretary added that he had often said that he would retire from office when the fund reached that sum , and he intended to do so , as he thought the time had now arrived when he mi ght make room for another member to occupy the office .

The DErUTY PROV . G . M . retorted , amidst applause , that the Provincial Grand Lod ge would not second that , and congratulated the province upon having attained such a satisfactory ^ result . He suggested the appointment of a Committee to invest at least £ 400 of that money . This suggestion was adopted , and Bros . J . A . Brown , G . C . Heron , Dalrymple Maitland , H . K ., J . P ., and T . H . Nesbitt were appointed to see to that being done . Bro . G . C . Heron was then , for the second time , unanimousl y elected , by ballot , to the post of Prov . Grand Treasurer .

Bro . HERON , in acknowleding the compliment , said that as long as he was spared he would do all he could in behalf of the Charity Fund . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER then said that he had received a letter from Bro . the Rev . T . A . Taggart , vicar of St . Matthew ' s , calling attention to the fact that a new church was to be built in that parish in place

of the old church in the Market-place . The Rev . T . A . Taggart , who was a Freemason of some years' standing , was anxious that the foundationstoneof the new church should be laid with Masonic honours . Personally , he ( the Deputy ) thought that the proposition should have the favourable consideration of the brethren .

Attached is a copy of the letter .-St . Matthew ' s Vicarage , Douglas , 2 isi June , 18 95 . Dear Sir and Brother , — My Committee and myself would deem it a great kindness if you would bring the following request before the Masonic brethren , and obtain , if possible , their co-operation .

The time for laying the foundation-stone of our new church will be coming on apace . We cannot as yet fix the date , but that will be done as early as practicable . We are daily awaiting the specifications . But we should like above all things the co-operation of the brethren , and as grand a function of them on the occasion as can be arranged . I hope they would be agreeable to help us in this way .

May I add that if the time ever comes when my life is less laborious and anxious than it has been tor many years , I shall deem it the greatest pleasure to be a lodge member 2 nd a monthly attendant , as f was 30 years ago—of Merchants' Lodge , 241 , Hope-street , where I was made . Accept the assurance of my fraternal regards . — -Yours most truly

J . A . Brown , Esq . -r . A . TACUART . The PKOV . GRAND SECRETARY moved the formal resolution , that in the opinion of the province it was desirable that the foundation-stone of St . Matthew ' s new Church be laid with Masomc honours . The Prov . Grand Chaplain , the Rev . R . B . BARON , in seconding the motion , said that they ought to assent readily to Bro . Taggart ' s leuuest . Bro . Taggart was appreciated int only by the brethren , but by the people of the Island . r r

The PROV . J UNIOR GRAND WARDEN supported the motion very cordially . Bro , Taggart being an old Mason , they should give the movement every possible help . The PROV . GRAND TREASURER suggested that some of the officers of