Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF ESSEX .

The first anniversary meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at Brentwood on Tuesday , the 12 th inst . ; excellent arrangements for the same being made by the Brentwood Mark Lodge , No . 377 . In the unavoidable absence of Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Warwick ,

Prov- Grand Master , the duties of the chair were ably fulfi'led by Bro . Col Lockwood , M . P ., Dep . Prov . Grand Master , who was supparted by Bros John J . C . Turner , P . P . S . G . W ., acting as D . P . G . M . ; Claude E . Egerton-Green , Prov . S . G . W . ; Frank Landon , Prov . J . G . W . ; James Speller , Prov . G . M . O . ; Canon Quennell , Prov . G . Chap . ; Thos . J . Railing ,

P . G . D ., Prov . G . Sec ; R . Clowes , P . G . O ., Prov . G . D . C ; J . G Mackenzie , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; G . M . E . Hamilton , Prov . G . S . B . ; R

Haward Ives , Prov . A . G . Sec . ; John E . Cheese , Prov . G . Stwd . ; A . Wright , Prov . G . Tyler ; John Ramsey , P . A . G . D . C ; J . P . Lewin , P . G . Std . Br . ; George Graveley , P . G . S . B . ; and other brethren . The minutes of the inaugural meeting of the province at Colchester in May last year , having been read and confirmed , a telegram of regret at his inability to attend , owing to his duties as an officer of the Warwick Yeomanry , was read from Bro . the Earl of Warwick , and apologies for non-attendance were received from several brethren .

The report of the Board of General Purposes was presented for adoption by Bro . Col . Landon , Prov . J . G . W . It stated that there had been seven advancements and 10 joining members ; whilst five brethren had resigned ; two had died , and four struck off , leaving the strength of the province 1 S 5 . One new lodge , the Dunmow , had been consecrated , making the roll of lodges eight . The accounts showed a balance in hand of £ 20 4 s . yd .

The motion for the adoption of the report was seconded by Bro . R . CLOWES , Prov . G . D . C , and carried unanimously . By-laws for the government of the province were next brought forward , and on the motion of Bro . CLAUDE E . ECJERTON-GREEN , Prov . S . G . W .,

seconded by Bro . Col . LANDON , Prov . J . G . W ., were unanimously adopted , and ordered to be printed and circulated . The DEI * . PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren . Referring to the absence of the Prov . G . Master , the gallant colonel said they missed his lordship ' s presence very much , as he was sure they all felt that no important gathering of Essex Masons was complete without him .

( Applause . ) They , however , recognised that he was fulfilling a patriotic duty , and he ( Colonel Lockwood ) should ask the Prov . Grand Secretary to write in their name to Lord Warwick , and express a hope that at thc next meeting he would be with them . ( Hear , hear . ) There was one matter which he knew had exercised the minds of many brethren since the division of the province , and that was thc position of the Past Piovincial Grand Officers of East Anglia belonging to the Essex lodges . ( Hear , hear . )

Well , he was glad to be able to tell them that as long as they continued to be subscribing members of a lodge in the new province , they retained the rank , dignity , and precedence which they held whilst belonging to East Anglia . ( Applause . ) He thought they must all feel gratified at the excellent Report the Board of General Purposes had been able to present that day , and he had not the slightest doubt that as time went on thc province would grow , and share in the prosperity that had characterised the working of the Craft province for so many years .

The next business was the election of four members of the Board of General Purposes , and only the requisite number having been nominated , they were declared elected as follows : Bros . F . W . Imbert-Terry , P . M . 377 P . P . J . G . O . ; James Speller , W . M . 4 61 , Prov . CO . ; John J . C

, Turner , P . M . 145 , P . P . S . G . W . ; and A . J . H . Ward , W . M . 413 . P . P . S . G . W .

On the motion of Bro . R . GAUMN , W . M . 14 s , seconded by Bro . J . P . LEWIN . P . G . Std . Br ., W . M . 527 , Bro . J . II . Salter , P . M . 125 , P . P . G . D . C , was unanimously re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer . On behalf of Lord Warwick , Col . Lockwood then appointed and invested the officers for the ensuing year as under :

Bro . J . Ramsey , P . M . 377 , P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Richard Galpin , W . AI . 145 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Charles E . Garrard , W . M . 413 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ J . H . Retallack-Moloney , P . M . 46 7 ... Prov . S . G . O . „ G . M . E . Hamilton , W . M . 20 s ... ... Prov . J . G . O .

,, Rev . Canon Cjuennell , W . M . 377 ( second year ) Prov . G . Chap „ Col . Burgess , J . W . 377 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . J . Railing , P . M . and Sec . 145 , P . G . D .

Eng . ( second year ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Thomas Humphreys , LP . M . 377 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ John E . Cheese , S . O . 145 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ ' William A Greene , S . W . 203 ... ... Prov . G . L of W .

„ R . Clowes , P . M . 413 , P . J . u . O . Eng . ( second year ) ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C „ H . Barrow , W . M . 4 6 7 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ M . A . Mclnemey , J . W . 205 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ F . B . Townend , M . O . 377 ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ Walter Fisher , S . W . 407 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ John Wright , W . M . 342 , M . O . 527 ... Prov . G . I . G . " \ V H . Roscoe S . O . 377 { Prov . G . Stwds . 1 , I * . England , J . O . 205 ... ... ... ) ,, Arthur Wright , Tyler 14 *; ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the W . M . and brethren of the Brentwood Lodge for the excellent arrangements they had made for the meeting . This was duly acknowledged by Bro . Canon Q UENHKI . I ., W . M . of the lodge . "" the proceedings then terminated .

Between 31 / and 40 brethren afterwards dined together at the White Hatt Hotel , an excellent repast being well served by Bro . and Ms , Bolton .

In the course of the evening Bro . Col . LOCKWOOD announced that the annual meeting of the Craft Prov . G . Lodge would be held at Clac on-on-• Sea on Tuesday , the 17 th prox .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC , SOUTH AMERICA .

' 1 he quarterly meeting of the above District Grand Lodge was held at Prince George ' s Hall , 1230 Calle Cuyo , Buenos Ayres , on Monday , the 23 rd April ( St . George ' s Day ) . The District Grand Lodge having been opened in due form , the following were present : Bros . C . T . Mold , D . G . M . ; H . S . Chappell , D . D . G . M . ; W . G . Hodge , D . S . G . W . ; W . J . Corrales , as D . J . G . W . ; F . ] . Morphy , P . D . D . G . M . ; Rev .

W . E . Hodgkinson , P . D . G . C . Singapore , as D . G . Chap . ; F . R . Hancock , D . G . Treas . ; E . J . Klix , as D . G . Reg . ; J . Russell , as Pres . B . G . P . ; J . C . Clark , D . G . Sec . ; E . M . Simpson , as D . S . G . D . ; P . Cowper , as D . J . G . D . ; Rev . C . F . Managen , P . D . G . C . Cornwall , as D . G . S . of W . ; T . B . D . Fowler , D . G . D . C ; F . W . Salmon , as D . A . G . D . C . ; A . R . Leighton , D . G . Std . Br . ; W . F . Savin , as D . G . Org . ; J . Miller , as D . G . P . ; F . Bradbury , as D . A . G . P . ; A . Grant , E .

Hicks , and A . Eaton , D . G . Stewards ; E . S . S . Couturier , D . G . Tyler ; E . C . Edwards , W .. M ., A . Eccoti , S . W ., and A . Macdonald , J . W ., of 617 ; N . E . Davis , S . W . 1025 ; G . H . Clarke , W . M ., E . Danvers , S . W ., and E . L . Wilson , J . W ., of 2329 ; H . H . Ritchie , S . W ., and E . Jeffries , J . IV ., of 2459 ; W . C . Weight , W . M . 2517 ; T . L . Chubb , E . W . White , E . L . Thomas , M . Pearse , H . P . Gunn , S . A . Soley , ard G . L . Macmorran , of 617 ; T . L . Gray , J . Hardman , P . R . Walsh , S . Ivay , E . C . Nunes , W . A . Harper , R . Scott , F . E . Jennings , and A . C . Cuneo , of

102 ¦;; W . Graham , M . F . Gilderdale , W . G . Marr , C . H . Manson , T . Griffith , R . B . Gregg , E . H . Theobald , G . B . Pearson , G . F . Willmott , F . H . Green , E . A . Froggatt , J . H . Kidd , f . H . Sutton , A . E . Charlton , W . M . Smithcrs , T . K . Mace , M . N . Wjird , P . H . Vargas , R . Mackern , W . G . Cassini , and W . McEwen , of 2329 ; E . E . Cordner , H . A . Jacobs , J . Robinson , and A . G . Lovett , of 2459 ; Rev . E . G . Cocks , J . Skinner , G . Simpson , J . Banham , P . L . G . Bridger , J . O , Anderson , E . Luck , A . W . Ayton , L . J . Boyer , and J . H . Wall , of 2517 ; C . W . Bolleart , 32 , Arg . Or . ; G . Ruberr , 32 " , Arg . Or . ; and others .

After the minutes of the preceding meeting of the 22 nd January had been confirmed , the R . W . D . G . M . called the brethren to order , and proposed that a telegram be sent to the M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , congratulating him on his recent providential escape from an assassin , and also on the completion of 25 years' beneficent rule as Grand Master of thc Grand Lodge of England .

This was seconded by the D . D . G . M ., and carried unanimously and enthusiastically . A committee was named with reference to the South African Masonic Relief Fund . After the usual routine business had been gone through , the Dist . G . Lodge was closed in due form .

The brethren then adjourned to the banqueting hall below , where a special committee had arranged a supper on thc same lines as previous years . The R . W . D . G . M . and 107 brethren were present , the usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and with songs and music an agreeable evening was spent .

' 1 his is the third year in succession that the April meeting of the Dist . G . Lodge has been so celebrated , and with increasing success , so that it is now hoped and expected that these social gatherings will in future be held every year .

31 AS 0 NIC SERVICE AT GRAUAMSTOWN , S . A . On Sunday afternoon , thc 20 th ult ., the three Masonic lodges in Grahamstown , viz ., St . Andrew ' s ( Scotch Constitution ) , with St . John ' s , No . 82 S , and Albany , No . 389 ( li . C ) , met under their respective banners in thc Masonic Temple at three p . m . The object of the meeting was for the purpose of holding Divine Service in St . George ' s Cathedral at Ai-2 ° P-m .

After the lodge was opened the Masons , in full regalia , formed in order for proceeding to the cathedral . First came the Tyler with drawn sword ; immediately after him came Ihe members and petty officers of St . Andrew ' s Lodge ; then the members and petty ofiicers of St . John ' s Lodge ; then thc members and petty officers of the Albany Lodge ; immediately behind them the District Grand Chaplain , and after him the Masters of the three lodges , viz ., Bros . Dr . Eii / gcrald , Sampson , and Youngson .

The service was most impressive , and special Psalms were sung for the occasion , vi * ., Psalms viii . and xxiii . The preacher , Bro . the Rev . A . ANNETT , D . G . Chap ., made a most eloquent appeal forthe sick and wounded Masons at the front , and also for their wives and little ones . In his discourse hc showed : ( i ) The advantage offered by different societies—if il were not for association we would

have little or no material , social , or political progress . ( 2 ) Hc defended Freemasonry against certain charges which he knew had been brought against the Order . ( 3 ) 1 Ie besought them not to let the joyful news of the relief of Maleking , or the thought of a speedy termination of the war in any way hinder their benevolence , because there were other means of death besides bullet and steel—there was disease .

After the collection the DISTRICT GRAND Cir . wr . AiN offered up a prayer on behalf of the English nation , H . M . the Queen , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , and the Masonic Onder , after which was sung the National Anthem . On coming out of the Cathedral the Freemasons formed up in order and proceeded Io the Masonic Temple , and closed the lodge . We understand that the collection in aid of their benevolent object amounted to / A .

It has been held officially that by Law 255 of the Book of Constitutions two Pasl Masters of thc same lodge cannot be elected as members of the tame lodge . It follows that Bro . Robert Manuel , P . M . of the Urban Lodge , No . 1196 , retains his seat at the present Board , while Bro . Japheth 'I icU . lt ; . also a P . M . of thc Urban Lodge , No . 1196 , retires in favour of ilro . John Robertson Keep , P . M . or the Cordwainer Ward Lodge , No . 22 4 1 , who has now been declared to have b : en dul y elected on the Oth instant .