Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

Mutten , 1550 , P . G . Treas . ; \ V . Pierpont-Roberts , 2806 , P . G . Res ? . ; John Qtnrker 19 , P-G . Sec . ; Russell Coombe , 112 , and T . Wellesley Kendle , 421 , p S G . Ds . ; T . A . Blackler , 328 , and A . Hope , 39 , P . J . G . Ds . ; G . F . Watson , ' co pG Supt . of Works ; J . R . Lord , 1247 , P . G . D . C ; W . Ferguson , 1212 , P D . G . D . C . ; H . S . Hill , 223 , G . Miiford , 1 S 47 , and G . W . Hancock , 202 , Prov .

A G . D . C . ; H . S . Best , 2258 , P . G . S . B . ; J . H . Blackell , 1099 , and Jas . Clift , 666 , P G . Std . Br . ; W . J . Joint , 251 , P . G . Org . ; G . Perkins , 1205 , P . Asst . G . Sec . ; W I Pearce , 2655 , P . G . Purst . ; H . Warren , 159 , P . A . G . Purst . ; H . Shooter , iV * . P . G . Tyler- W . Sweet , 70 , II . Skinner , 282 , F . W . Harding , 444 , W . H . Puddicombe , 489 , W . II . Evans , 11 S 1 , ancl C . Barrett , 2595 , P . G . Stwds .

There was a very large attendance of Past Provincial Grand Officers and other brethren . The Prov . G . Sec , Bro . STOCKER , presented his report , showing the number of members in the province to be 4149 , and the amount received in dues and fees ^ 459 iSs . The names of 300 members were removed from the reg ister during the year , and there were 384 new admissions . The number of Past Masters was 929 . He desired to thank the whole of the

lodges and brethren for the generous support accorded to his Stewardship to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which enabled him at the recent Festival to hand in a list of no less a sum than £ lA ~ > ios ., the largest sum on the list of any individual Steward . Two new Masonic Halls have been erected during the year , viz ., at Tavistock and Okehampton . The former was dedicated yesterday , and the latter will be dedicated on Monday , the 26 th of the present month .

The PROV . G . SECRETARY said the Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . Mullen , regretted that he was quite unable to attend , and had asked him to present his repoit . The report showed that the year began with a balance in hand of ^ 354 , and ended with a balance of £ 328 , the total sum being £ 877-

_ „ .. „ ., . ., „ . Bro . C R . M . CL / UT , Secretary , presented the report of the Fortescue Annuity Fund , which showed steady progress . In 1895 the income was £ \\ i 13 s ., last year it was ^ 338 10 s . ; £ 450 was paid in annuities during the

year . Bro . Ii . H . SHORTO , in moving the adoption of the report , said he had a very p leasing announcement to make . They bad a sore distress at Exeter at the beginning of the ycir , when a most worthy citizen , a young man blessed with good heart and large means , was suddenly called to his rest . But his reason was preserved to the last , and he was able to settle his affairs before he died . One part of his bequest of his great wealth was to

put a sum of ^ 50 , 000 , free of legacy duty , at the disposal of his executors to be devoted to charities in whicb he had taken an interest . It did not at first come into their minds that any of the money would come to the Masonic Charities , but Bro . Richard Bowerman West was initiated in Apo [ lo Lodge at Oxford , and was an earnest member of St . George ' s

Lodge , Exeter . It was suggested lhat he ( Bro . Shorto ) should give the executors such information as was necessary about the Masonic Charities , and the result was that on Saturday morning he had an intimation that the Fortescue Annuity Fund would benefit to the extent of , £ 500 free of legacy duty .

Bro . GEORGK DUNSTERVILLE seconded the adoption of the report , and afterwards a vote of thanks to the executors of thc late Bro . R . B . West was proposed and carried by thc Prov . Grand Lodge . Bro . J . B . GOVER , in the report of the Committee of Petitions , stated that at the last election all the lodges sent in their votes , which was most gratifying . During the year they had succeeded in electing a widow and a

a boy . Too much credit could not be given to Bro . Westlake for the admirable manner in which he conducted the business . ( Applause . ) There had been of late years a large increase in the voting power of the province . Some years ago it was only about 700—the votes last year were 5022 . But inthe former days an election could be carried with 7 C 0 votes ; now it

required 5000 ; and , without neglecting their local institutions , a strenuous effort should be made to support more largely the grand Masonic Charities . Last year their contributions bad been exceptionally good , amounting to £ 1100 , and approaching more nearly to the amount the province received annually .

Bro . S . J ONES proposed the election of Bro . R . D . Renwick , 33 S , as Prov . G . Treasurer .

Bro . J . R . LORD seconded , observing that no one was belter entitled to the office , and no one would fulfil ils duties more worthily . Bro . Renwick , who was unable to attend , was unanimously elected . Bros . Henry Stocker and Frederick Sanders were elected Auditors . The acting Prov . G . M . then proceeded to invest the Prov . G . Officers for the ensuing year as follows :

'i ji . Andrews , 303 ... ,. ' . "' j " " - Shooter , 112 ... ' .. . ' . ' . Prov . G . Tyler . Th e . ACTING PROV . G . MASTER said that among the many who had , .. .

Bro . R . Peck , 39 ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . > . H . Bulteel , 12 55 ... ' ... ... Prov . J . G . W . 11 Rev . T . H . T . Child , 2 S 06 ... ,., 1 „ - . . n „ Rev . T . Ward Brown . i 7 « Pr 0 V G * ChapS *

> , R . D . Renwick , 328 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . t » W . Forward , 494 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . 11 John Stocker , 39 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . 11 P . W . Harding , 444 ... ... ... *) 0 „ c n i \ Wu | 7 b ' : ¦ " \ Prov . S . G . Us . . H . Iivans , 1181 ... ... ... j •11 li . W . Hellier , S 47 ... ... ... )„ , ~ .. » C . J . Jeffery , 2 , 8 9 j Prov . J . G . Ds .

11 j . C . Revell , 1855 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . 11 J . R . Lord , 12 47 ... ¦ " ... Prov . G . D . C . .. H . Banfield , 847 ... ... ... Prov . Dep . G . D . C . n W . Sweet , 1212 ... ... ... " ) 11 H . Skinner , 282 ... ... ... [ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . 11 C Barrett , 2 595 ... ... ,. J 11 W . A . Staton , 1099 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . J

••vv H . luddicombe , 489 ... ... " ) „ n c , , „ .. W . Farrant , 164 ... ... j Prov . G . Std . Brs . " T , , * Griffin < 372 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . " u \ 2 . H 02 ... ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Sec . 11 H . Warren , 159 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . .. C . b . Matthison , 20 J 5 .. ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst . 'i J . R . Gibbard , 1254 ... ... ... - * 'i b . Hubber , 12 S 4 ... ... ... 1 11 G . Leach , 70 ' ' •. > i T- G . Taylor , 2725 ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . "" j-Prov . G . Stewards . •1 R . Chase i 486 ' " ' " 1

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

recently received the honour of office in the Grand Lodge of England , no one had better deserved it than their Secretary , Bro . John Stocker . ( Applause . ) He knew something of the work of this province and of the duty that devolved upon the brother who filled the office of Secretary . But they knew how Bro . Stocker loved the work , and a very high authority in England said to him ( Bro . Davie ) that he looked upon Bro . Stocker as one

of the best , if not the best , Provincial Secretary in their vast Order . ( Applause . ) He had to ask Bro . Stocker to accept from them some small mark of their esteem for him , and their gratitude for the labour he had performed . It was particularly pleasing for him ( Bro . Davie ) to be the mouthpiece of the brethren and the channel through which this testimonial should be given to Bro . Stocker , for his work in connection with the province

as well as the work of Lord Northcote had been materially lightened and made pleasant by the admirable way in which Bro . Stocker had discharged his duties . The foundations of the work of Secretary of that province were laid by Bro . John Brewer , who had passed away , but it was an office which required both business habits and tact . That testimonial had been subscribed to by 781 brethren and 39 lodges as such , which showed the g neral estimation in which Bro . Stocker was held . He would ask Bro . Gould to

read the inscription on the vellum which was part of the presentation . Bro . GOULD read as follows : The brethren and lodges in the Province of Devonshire whose names are inscribed herein desire to offer to W . Bro . John Stocker , P . M . 39 , Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies England , Past Prov . Grand' Treasurer Devonshire , Past Prov . Grand Warden and Prov . Grand Secretary of Devonshire , their

hearty congratulations on his having been appointed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master to the distinguished office of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Grand Lodge of England , and desire to present him with his Grand Lodge regalia , together with a cheque for one hundred guineas , as a further mark of their regard , and a grateful recognition of the valuable services he has rendered to Freemasonry in general and to the Province of Devonshire in particular .- — F . W . HARDING , 444 , Hon . Sec ; J OSEPH GOULD , 39 , Hon . Sec .

'Ihe ACTING P . G . M . then formally made the presentation , expressing the hope that Bro . Stocker would be spared to serve them for many years to come . Bro . STOCKER , who was enthusiastically received , replied . He said their kindness would encourage him , if possible , to do even more than he had in the past . Their goodwill and affection was not shown only there that

day ; he had often experienced it , and words failed him to express the gratitude he felt for their now giving it to him in this tangible shape . He thanked them especially for the support they gave his Stewardship last January to which he had alluded in his report . It was that wonderful list they enabled him to make that brought him more prominently before those in authority and brought about his appointment in April last . Letters of congratulation then poured in upon him from all parts of the province . As

long as God gave him health and strength , and he was acceptable to the brethren , he hoped to continue the work of Secretary . The cheque of io *) guineas was a valuable gift , but he hoped they did not think he intended keeping it for himself . He thought at first to divide it among the three provincial Charities , but the acting P . G . M . had gi / en him a better idea , and he was going to pass it over to the Treasurer ol the Devon Educational Fund—( applause)—on conditions which W . Bro . Davie would name .

Ihe ACTING P . G . M . said his proposal was that it should constitute not a life governorship but a perpetual governorship , Bro . Stocker holding the votes as long as he lived , and that afterwards they should be held by the Provincial Grand Secretary , and be known as " The Stocker Votes . " Bro . Stocker ' s name being thus kept green among Devonshire Freemasons in perpetuity .

Bro . LORD , in accepting the cheque as Treasurer of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund , said the gift proved once more W . Bro . Stocker ' s great interest in their local institutions . On the proposition of Bro . S . J ONES , seconded by Bro . J . R . WILSON , a vote of thanks was passed to the Master , Bro . H . ICey , and the Wardens of Lodge Fortescue for their excellent arrangements and hospitality .

General Committee Of Grand Lodge And Board Of Benevolence.

GENERAL COMMITTEE OF GRAND LODGE AND BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

the General Committee of Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . J . H . Matthews , President of the Board of Benevolence , in the chair . The paper of business ol Grand Lodge of September 41 b was submitted to the brethren , and Scrutineers for the porch were appointed . The Board of Benevolence was next opened , Bro . J . H .

Matthews , President , in the chair . Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . Henry Garrod , Junior Vice-President , were in their respective places . Bros . W . Lake , Assistant Grand Secretary , W . Dodd , G . S . Recknell , and Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary ' s department .

the other brethren present were Bros . W . Fisher , F . W . Hancock , Jamas Block , A . W . Duret , R . W . Ker , Charles Henry Stone , S . I . Notley , E . W . Nightingale , Charles J . R . Tijou , W . Kipps , S . H . Goldtchmidt , W . F . Lamonby , William St . Clair , Thomas Jones , J . Leach Barrett , George Simonds , Thomas Taylor , Major Henry Wright , Thomas

W . Heath , Robert B . A . Lodge , R . AL Crompton , C . H . Webb , G . J . Brooker , W . Willshire , J . Brown , H . Massey , Alfred H . Trewinnard , Arthur C . T . Boileau , ' J . Brown , S . H . Pearsall , Thomas Taylor , George J . Freame , W . H . Gardener , Ernest Marshall , F . W . Middleditch , S . J . Cowley , and Charles R . Valentine . The brethren first confirmed the recommendations to the Grand Master

made at the July meeting to the extent of , £ 240 . There were only 20 cases on the new list , qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Klerksdorp , Dursley , Kingston-on-Thames , Riverhead , Southampton , Windsor , Croston , Yokohama , Ramsgate , Walmer , Holmfirth , Dagshai , Cawnpore , North Walsham , Landport , Valparaiso , and Ilminster . Four

petitions were deferred , and one was dismissed . The remainder were voted a total of , £ 515 . One case was recommended to Grand Lodge for for £ ioo , and two lor £ 50 each . Three cases were recommended to the Grand Master for ^ 40 each , live for £ 30 each , and one for £ 25 , One grant of Aio , and two grants of £ _ each , were also made .

MR . W . T . LOVELL , recently returned from Australia , has joined the cast of Mr . Weedon Grossmith ' s play " . The Night of the Party , " at the Avenue Theatre .