Ar00200

being so successfully administered . He gave an adverse opinion in connection with the initiation of minors , a practice which he considered should be confined to our University lodges , and he pleaded urgently in favour of the Sussex Masonic Calen-• dar , which he regarded as a most useful and , indeed , necessary publication ,

and the issue of which he hoped would be continued annually . The brethren afterwards dined together , and in the course of the evening many kind and encouraging things were said by Bros . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . Sec , Sir W . T . MARRIOTT , Q . C ., M . P ., and others , as to the

fortunate condition of Masonry in Sussex , and the admirable manner in which Bro . FORD was administering its affairs . We trust we may be permitted to add our compliments and congratulations to theirs , and we express the hope that its annual Provincial meetings may be always attended with the same success .

* * * The United IT will be seen from an article in the Sydney Freemason , Grand M ' odge of which we have much pleasure in transferring to our pages , South Wales , that the Union of the various lodges in that colony under the English , Irish , and Scotch jurisdictions is now an accomplished fact , and

those lodges will now , in conjunction with the recently constituted Grand Lodge of New South Wales , form a United Grand Lodge . This Union has been brought about by the unwearied exertions of those who have placed the true interests of the Order before personal advancement or ; private interest ,

and is a splendid example of what may be accomplished by perseverence , tact , and true Masonic spirit . We shall refer more fully to this event , and give a full report of the meeting , at which the terms of the Union were discussed , in our next . In the meantime we heartily congratulate our colonial brethren on the result of their labours ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Thursday afternoon , the nth inst ., in the Music Room , Royal Pavilion , Brighton . Bro . Gerard Ford , P . G . D . ( Deputy Prov . G . M . ) , presided . The Prov . G . Officers present included Bros . Rev . F . F . J . Greenfield , P . G . C ; R . Pidcock , P . G . Reg . ; C Bampfylde Warre , P . S . G . D . ; S . H . Soper ,

P . J . G . D . ; T . C Woodman , P . G . D . C ; H . Kent and B . Lomax , P . G . Std . Bearers ; F . H . Hallett , P . G . Org . ; B . Burfield , P . A . G . Sec . ; T . Hardy , P . G . Purst . ; W- H . Barrett , J . Adames , J . Dennant , H . H . Jordan , G . Lockwood , L . Hawken , and Col . Mortimer Hancock , P . G . Stewards ; and H . H . Hughes , P . G . Tyler . The following Past Prov . Grand Officers of Sussex and other provinces

were present , viz .: Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; the Right Hon . W . 1 . Marriott , Q . C ., M . P ., S . W . 2201 , P . G . Steward Eng . ; S . Tanner , P . P . G . S . B . ; Sir F . C . Knowles , Bart ., P . P . J . G . W . ; C . Briscoe , P . P . A . G . P . ; W . R . Wood , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Dawes , P . P . S . G . W . ; F . Eberall , P . P . G . P . ; W . Marchant , P . P . S . G . W . ; C . C . Cook , P . P . G . S . oF W . ; W . Lanham Thomas , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; E . A . Head , P . P . G . D . ; W .

A . Tooth , P . P . G . C ; E . Collings , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; T . H . Crouch , P . P . J . G . D . ; H . Davey , P . P . ) . G . W . ; W . H . Hallett , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . M . Reed , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Towner , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . T . Whatford , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Campion Coles , P . P . G . D . ; O . Lloyd , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . St . Clair , P . P . J . G . W . ; C . H . Haine , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; F . Binckes , P . G . S . B . Eng . ; J . T . Musson , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . D . McCarrogher , P . P . G . C ; Ios . Farncombe , P . P . G . S . B . ( Mayorof Lewes ); R . EUman , P . P . G . P . ; Very Rev .

E . R . Currie , P . P . G . C ; J . Puttick , P . P . G . C . ; R . S . Blessley , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . T . Long , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; L . D . Dowdall , P . P . G . C . ; L . W . Poynter , P . P . A . G . D . of C . Monmouth ; C . Warwick Tomes , P . P . G . S . of VV . ; E . Broadbridge , P . P . G . D . ; W . Smith , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Roe , P . P . G . O . ; S . R . Legg , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . R . Lockyer , P . P . G . S . of W . ; H . S . GUes , P . P . G . O . ; J . M . Kidd , P . P . S . G . W . ; and a large number of visitors and brethren from different lodges in the province .

The Provincial Grand Lodge having been formally opened , the PROV . G . SECRETARY read the minutes of the last annual meeting . These were confirmed . The roll of the lodges in the province was called , and it was found that every lodge was represented . The report of the Board of Finance , the Treasurer ' s account , and report of the Provincial Charities' Committee were read and adopted .

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read a report relative to the presentation of two pictures to the Provincial Grand Lodge in commemoration of the installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , as Prov . Grand Master . The largest of these contained no less than 600 photographic portraits of brethren present on that occasion ; the smaller one , the principal officers and brethren taking part in the ceremony .

On the motion of the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , seconded by Bro . W . SMITH , P . P . G . S . B ., a vote of thanks was accorded to the brethren of the lodtres for the generous efforts they had made in the purchase of the pictures , and to Bro . VV . Marchant , P . P . S . G . W ., particularly , for his exertions as Honorary Secretary of the Committee .

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read statistics giving the numerical and financial strength of each lodye , and showing the present number of brethren to be 1179 , an increase of 38 on the year . The DEPUTY P ROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren . He said—The Masonic year , with its many engagements and interests , goes by so rapidly from month to month that the annual provincial meeting takes

us somewhat by surprise when it comes round . The past has been an eventful year for Sussex Masons . Though we have not had the pleasure of seeing our Prov . Grand Master since July , 1887 , we have the satisfaction of knowing that , while he is in India attending to his very important military duties , his Royal Highness takes the greatest interest in affairs relating to the provinces he rules in England , and he has accepted a high post in the

Craft in India , where he keeps up the active performance of Masonic duties . It seems hardly probable that the year we begin to-day will be g laddened by his presence here , but we have his good wishes and kind remembrance , and look forward with keen pleasure to the time which will bring him back to Sussex , for however brief a visit . We cannot , of course , expect at any period , even when his Royal Highness's vocations permit of

his residence in England , that we could have extensive claims upon his time , but how gladly he comes when he can , and how well he performs the office of Prov . Grand Master we had ample and gratifying proof when , during a very short stay in England for the Jubilee festivities , he gave a day to us here in Brighton , and by the questions the Duke asked and the remarks he made , showed plainly that he is not Prov . Grand Master only in name ; Before entering on a new period of our existence in

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

Sussex , it would be well to look back and note the various events which like milestones , have marked our journey through the last twelve months ' Retrospect can never be without its shadows , and , casting our thought " back upon the past , we find , alas , that many good men and true have been taken from our ranks—men whom we could ill spare , and whom to-day deeply mourn . Old P . M . ' s like Bros . Payne , Willard , and Fletcher , Brno

Major bergison , D Albiac , laaffe , Luttman Johnson , Bennett , and others to the number of more than a score , are no longer inscribed on our roll o ' f brethren on earth . We must fill up the vacant places and stand shoulder to shoulder , still cherishing in our hearts the memory of those brethren who have been summoned by the Great Architect of the Universe to the Grand Lodge above . Sickness , too , has visited many of us heavily . Bro .

Crosskey , our respected and well-beloved Treasurer , is obliged to seek health in a warmer climate during our turbulent English winter . Bro . Trollope , one of the pillars of Sussex Masonry , has been dangerously ill , but I am glad to hear of his partial recovery . Many other names might be added to the list , my own among them . For three months I was compelled to take complete rest , so complete that even writing was forbidden me ; but I am

rejoiced to be able to meet you all again to-day in good , though somewhat weakened , health . It is satisfactory to reflect that , notwithstanding an unusually high death-rate and some withdrawals , we number more than we did last year at this time . The retrospect , however , is not all dark and sorrowful . Laughter and tears , sighing and singing , clouds and sunshine are mingled together in the Masonic record as in the domestic . It is one

of the highest privileges of a Mason that he gives his sympathy not only to those in tribulation , but to those who are happy . Two I great occasions of universal rejoicing have arisen since I last I addressed you . The golden light of the Jubilee of our Most Gracious Queen , the Patroness of our Order , had hardly set before there dawned the soft radiance of the Silver Wedding of the Most Worshi pful

Grand Master . It was our happy lot to greet him , and the gentle lad y who has been his helpmeet for a quarter of a century , with our very warm congratulations . The brightness of the occasion was somewhat clouded by the news which arrived of the death of the Emperor William , but that event had been so long expected , and the Kaiser ' s years had lengthened themselves out so much beyond the usual span of human life , that his death

, though it tempered the brilliancy of the festivity , did not darken it altogether . We kept it here in a good old English fashion with music and dancing . The old Pavilion was made gay by Masons in their insignia , : who brought with them their wives and daughters , not to mention their i sisters , their cousins , and their aunts . I do not think that anywhere in - ' England was "God bless the Prince of Wales" sung more sweetly or

more heartily than it was here on that March evening . The second joyful ; event was the Centenary of the Girls' School , which was kept , with literall y I Royal honours , for almost a whole week . Day after day the huge space of ; the Albert Hall was filled with brethren , and on some days with sisters , I to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the great Charity . One day the children themselves were brought to receive from

the Princess the prizes they had gained . It was such a si ght as can scarcely be witnessed again by those of our generation , a sight which could not have been given by any other body of men than Masons . Between two and three hundred bright , happy , healthy children were gathered together in that huge building , that the many men and women who have their interest at heart , and have helped to make them healthy and happy ,

might have the unalloyed pleasure of seeing their pleasant young faces and witnessing their wonderful evolutions in their graceful exercises . I know no sight at once so pretty and so touching as that of these fatherless children , rosy-cheeked and smiling , dressed in their dainty costume of dark blue and white , moving like fairy soldiers in exact time to the word of command , and every time I see it 1 am astonished afresh at the skill of the

teachers and the beautiful disci pline of the children . King Oscar of Sweden , in whose kingdom the Prince of Wales was made a Mason , was present , and expressed , as indeed everyone did , the greatest admiration of the scene . It will ever be a matter of deep regret to me that , owing to severe illness , 1 could not be present , though I was , as I have often been before , a Steward , and , by the kindness of my brethren , was enabled to

take up a not inconsiderable sum . The Centenary Festival will ever stand out in the history of Masonry as a period as yet unsurpassed in brilliancy and pleasant sensations . It is cheering to reflect that one ' s guineas are spent to such good purpose that we can see the actual and most delig htful result of our gifts , and 1 trust that the centenaries of the other two Masonic Charities may prove equally successful when their turns come . Reviewing

the work of the year and the various questions which have been raised in the course of it , and have received special attention , there is one I feel compelled to touch upon particularly , namely , the initiation of minors into our brotherhood . It is a question upon which I have not myself the shadow of a doubt . I most unhesitatingly give my opinion against it . In this I am glad to find myselt follovvine in the footsteos of our

Most Worshiplul Grand Master , whose eldest son , his Highness Prince Albert Victor , was not initiated until he was twenty-one years of age . His Royal Highness ' s younger son has not yet entered the Craft . An exception is made at the Universities for very special and well-considered reasons , but it should be at the Universities alone . For my own part I do not think that the solemn obligations of our Craft should be lightly and thoug

htlessly raKen . A youtn wno nas not reached the age of twenty-one has seer . too little of life to realise or appreciate either the duties or the privileges ot . ; our Order . It is onl y after a young man has for a term felt his feet , as it ; were , in the path of life that he is able to understand what is meant by \ "the right hand of fellowship , " and to grasp it with heartiness and lasting ] sincerity . It is after one or two disappointments among so-called friends that he begins to feel that it is well to build UD friendshiD on a substratum

of something less frothy than mere words . It must also be borne in minfl that not only does a man on entering Masonry receive the cheering assurance of help in difficulty , sympathy in distress , and encouragement > labour , but he is also called upon to give this support to his brethren , need hardly remind you that Masonry is not all receiving ; in f act , reci procity is one of the chief features of our Order . It may be that 1 have oldfashioned notions about the sanctity of a promise and the obligation * incumbent on every man to carry out his engagements not only in . " ?

letter , but in the spirit . It may be , as I say , that I am old-fashioned » this , but my feeling on this point is very strong , and I do not tnink ^" u mere minor should undertake such responsibilities , the meaning of whic he cannot quite understand until his experience is more extended . I " 1 j > j add that it was with very deep regret I became aware of a case in vvni 1 j some very young Masons , instead of accepting their " solemn obligation ; with those feelings of reverence which are Becoming , . and whicn , to j