Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire .

The Very Rev . the Dean of York , Bro . A . PUREY-CUST , D . D ., P . G . Chap , of England , was the preacher , and delivered an eloquent and exceedingly appropriate discourse from the text , Luke xix ., v . 42 . A collection vvas taken for the Masonic Charities , which realised £ 2653 . 7 d . At the conclusion of the service the procession re-formed ,

and returned to the Masonic Hall , the route taken being Pottergate , New-road , Silver-street , and Guildhall-street . On leaving the Cathedral the head of the p rocession vvas very successfully photographed by Mr . R , Slingsby . The business of the lodge was then resumed , nnd on the motion of the R . W . P . G . M ., seconded by the DEP . P . G . M ., it was resolved unanimously "That the following address

be presented to her Majesty the Queen , on the occasion of her Jubilee : "May it please your Majest } -, —VVe , the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire , consisting of the Prov . G . M ., Dep . Prov . G . M ., Officers and brethren of 22 lodges of Antient Free and Accepted Masons , now assembled in Provincial Grand Lodge , humbly approach your Majesty

as the Patroness and Head of our Order . As representatives of 1000 members of this province , we tender most sincerely our loyal and dutiful congratulations on the happy attainment of the 50 th year of your Majesty ' s prosperous and glorious reign . And vve earnestly pray that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to long spare your Majesty to reign over your vast Empire and over the

various races of mankind , who have greatly enjoyed your Majesty ' s beneficent rule . ' ' Other business vvas transacted , and the P . G . Lodge vvas then formally closed . At five o'clock the annual banquet was held in the Corn Exchange , and vvas attended by about 360 ladies and gentlemen . The R . W . P . G . M . presided , and vvas supported

by the D . P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M . of Sussex , Bro . Gerard Ford ; the Very Rev . the Dean of York , Bro . A . P . Purey-Cust , D . D . ; Bros . Binckes , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Rev . J . G . Bayles , P . G . C . ; Rev . W . H . Mills , P . P . G . C . ; R . Hall , P . P . S . G . W ., P . P . G . Sec ; C . Scorer , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . M . Wilkinson , P . P . S . G . W . ; G . H . Shipley , P . P . S . G . W . ; and others .

There were also present at the principal table , as invited guests , the Rev . the Precentor and Mrs . Venables , the Rev . the Chancellor and Mrs . Leeke , the Rev . the Subdean and the two Misses Clements , Mrs . R . Hall , the Rev . F . and Mrs . Bird , Mr . J . M . W . and Mrs . Young , and others . The repast vvas served by the Coffee Palace Company , the wines being supplied by Bros . Pitcher and Ellis . The

Volunteer Band occupied the orchestra , and played selections at intervals . During the banquet complimentary telegrams were exchanged with the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northampton and Huntingdon , which was then being held . At the conclusion of the repast , The R . W . P . G . M ., in felicitous terms , proposed the toast

of " Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , " which was drunk with enthusiasm . The R . W . P . G . M . next gave "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and especially alluded to the great interest his Royal Highness took in Freemasonry , and to the great developments that had taken place since the Prince had become

their Grand Master . The V . W . Bro . GERARD FORD , D . P . G . M . of Sussex , then proposed "The R . W . the Prov . G . M . of Lincolnshire , and the Prov . Grand Officers , " in which he said he must exclude himself as being a P . Prov . G . D . amongst them . He could almost ask their excellent chief to consider himself temporarily absent , as it was impossible to do

justice to this toast without the risk of causing him a blush , seeing that his personal and Masonic excellences must be touched upon . Bro . Fcrd eulogised the untiring efforts of the Prov . Grand Master in the furtherance of Masonry , by means of which , and thc able assistance of his officers , the Province of Lincolnshire had been brought lo a posiiion second to none in the kingdom . It went without saying

that any organization which worked smoothly , harmoniously , and usefully must be under skilful and assiduous control . If they saw a great locomotive engine bright and clean speeding along with regularity and safety , they would like to know who vvas the driver . If Ihey witnessed a brave ship flying through the waters , with every yard truly braced and each sail adjusted with that grace which ,

perhaps , could only be found in one of tho . 'e noble vessels , which seemed to walk the waters like a thing of life , ihey felt impelled to enquire—who is the Master in command ? And so it vvas with Masonry . When they found a province which , according to the statistics they had that day listened to , had considerably increased its number of brethren , and ¦ which stood in so prosperous a condition financially , to sav

nothing of the three separate local Charities they had founded in their midst , viz . — "The Oliver Memorial Fund , " "The Smyth Scholarship Fund , " and " The Sutcliffe Memorial Fund "—when they contemplated the gond which had been and is being done for the support of the aged and infirm —the education of girls to become good and useful members of society and helpful wives in the future , as also that

boys vvere well educated and instructed how to obtain their livelihood , usefully and honourably—when these excellent results were found under the rule of so greatly a respected Mason and gentleman as their Prov . Grand Master , it ¦ was surely no undue praise to ascribe much of this success to his untiring efforts . Bro . Fcrd added that he had had the pleasure cf a personal friendship with the Prov . G . M .

well nigh from boyhood , and it was iherefore w . th delight that he found himself in a position to propose hi ? hearty good hea ' th , accompanied by every blessing in life . ( Loud applause ) . The speaker regretted that another of bis oldest f liends , their well-known and respected Dep . Provincial Grand Master , had been obliged to leave , so lhat he could not ask him to join in the response

for the toast with which his name vvas so prominentl y connected , and who he wou'd have been glad , as all present would have been , to hear fim reply for himself and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers . ( Applause . ) Bro . Ford concluded with some remarks upon his own connection with Masonry in Lincolnshire , where an ancestor of his had ( according to Dr . O'iver ) introduced it nearl y 100 years

since ; and in allusion to the Province of Sussex , where during the abserce of H . R . H . the Dukeof Connaught he had viitually to perform the duties of Prov . Grand Master , he assured his hearers that what he had seen and heard that day vvould always be regarded by him as an example to be emulated . Bro . Ford then called on those present to drink lhe toast with all enthusiasm , and this was most heaitilv responded to .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire .

The R . W . P . G . M . replied , and said that although the province had developed very much since his connection with it as Deputy Provincial Grand Master , he felt that more credit vvas due to the officers by whom he was surrounded than to himself . In the first place many of them vvould remember their esteemed Bro . Lucas , who had done more for the province than any man living—( hear , hear ) j

he it vvas who prepared the by-laws , and first started a regular system of Charities , besides giving him ( the Chairman ) every possible assistance . Since Bro . Lucas ' s time he had been worthily supported by his two successors , Bro . Marsden and Bro . Vickers —( applause)—and he felt deeply indebted to them for the excellent way in which they had assisted him . He must also acknowledge the kind support

of the Past Grand Officers . ( Hear , hear . ) They had been told that day that the province had very largely developed in Masonry . He had been connected with the province as Deputy Prov . Grand Master for 22 years , and at the commencement of that period there were only 11 lodges in the province and 400 brethren . Now there were no less than 22 lodges and iooo brethren , a circumstance

which vvas one forsincere congratulation . ( Hear , hear . ) At the same time it had always been his endeavour to impress upon Masters of lodges the necessity of being very particular as to who they admitted—not to admit a man on account of his wealth or station , but to admit him on account of his worth , and his worth only . ( Applause . ) And , moreover , that a worthy man should have nothing

put in his way to prevent him rising in office . ( Hear , hear . ) By appointing a wrong person they might easily get a man who vvould beanything but a blessing to Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) He believed those principles had been acted upon by nearly if not all , the lodges in the province , and that vvould probably account for the friendly feeling which had characterised all their proceedings that day . He might

say here that there was not a single hitch in the province , and it was satisfactory no doubt for them to know that he had been able to tell them that for a considerable number of years . ( Hear , hear . ) He thanked them for their numerous attendance , and he also thanked the ladies for their presence . ( Applause . ) lt was not the first time they had had the ladies amongst them , but they ought not to be relegated to the cold precincts of the gallery , and he

sincerely hoped it vvould not be the last time they sat down with them at the tables . ( Applause . ) The Chairman went on lo propose "The Bishop and Clergy of the [ Diocese , " and took the opportunity of personally thanking the Dean and Chapter for the kindness and cordiality with which they had received his application for the service in the Cathedral . ( Hear , hear . ) He also announced that the Dean of York had consented to publish his admirable sermon , in response to the unanimous request of the lodge . ( Applause ) .

The Rev . Precentor VENABLES responded to the toast . Bro . C . SCORER , P . P . S . G . D ., proposed "The Army , Navy , and Auxiliary Forces , " to which Bro . II . E . COUSANS , P . J . G . W ., replied . Bro . R . HALL , P . P . S . G . W . and P . P . G . Sec , gave "The Dean and Chapter cf Lincoln . " ( Applause . ) He said he vvas old enough to remember what was very often

called the " good old times . " He had a great respect for those good old times and the members of the chapter who existed then , but if 50 years ago the Freemasons had asked for the great privilege of a special service in the Cathedral , he questioned very much whether it vvould have been granted . ( Hear , hear . ) It was the times and not the men that vvould have been the cause of the refusal . ( Hear ,

hear . ) That day they had had an opportunity of rendering praise to the Great Architect of the Universe in one of His grandest buildings , and it must have been gratifying to the chapter—he vvas sorry the Dean was unable to be present—to see so large and , if he might say it , so highly influential a congregation assembled for worship in that edifice . ( Applause . ) They heard a great deal of the

progress made during the last 50 years in various matters , but he ventured to say nothing had progresstd so much as had the improvements in the Cathedral cf Lincoln . ( Hear , hear . ) There was now a Dean and Chapter—and there had been for a long time—who were anxious to do everything in their power to promote the convenience and the welfare of those who attended worship in that building .

( Applause . ) Ihere was a service he ventured to say second to none in any Cathedral in the kingdom , which was owing in great measure to his friend , Mr . Young , who sat upon his left . ( Applause . ) Wilh the toast he begged to couple the name of the Rev . Chancellor Leeke . The Rev . the CHANCELLOR , in responding , said it vvould

have been an abuse of their trust if they had not heartily welcomed the Freemasons to the Cathedral . He hoped that they , as well as others , were fully alive to the fact that the Cathedral vvas entrusted to them not for their own use , but for lhe use of ail . ( Hear , hear . ) He agreed with the rpmarlf nf Mr . Hall that the success nf the service lhat

day was due in a great measure to Mr . Young , and he hoped they might take it that his name was included in the expression cf thanks that had been tendered to the Dean and Chapter . ( Applause . ) Bro . CLITIIEKOW , P . G . Purst ., proposed "The Witham and St . Hugh Lodges . " ( Cheers . ) He alluded to the kindness and generosity which lhe visiting brethren from

the province had received from the oflicers and brethren of those two lodges , and which had contributed so much to their comfort and enjoyment lhat day . He wished them health and prosperity and a continued increase of members . ( Applause . ) Bro . W . MANSELL , W . M . of the Witham Lodge , said that , speaking for the brethren cf that lodge , and he might

also say for the brethren of the St . Hugh Lodge , they considered it a great honour to have been able to entertain the visiting brethren at Lincoln . ( Hear , hear . ) What they had done had been in a free Masonic spirit , and if their efforts had been successful they felt amply repaid . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . H . COTTINGHAM , VV . M . of the St . Hugh Lodge ,

also replied in similar terms . Bro . BARRELL , P . P . A . G . D . of C , in proposing "The Masonic Charities , " said that in a company of Masons few words were needed to commend such a toast to their notice . The Masonic Charities were the natural outcome of their principles j they vvere the pride and boast of their Order .

( Hear , hear . ) Bad as were the times , depressed as vvere trade , commerce , and agriculture , and difficult as money was to earn , and still more difficult to retain when earned , yet the receipts of their Masonic Charities showed no substantial diminution . ( Hear , hear . ) The enormous amounts collected from lhe brethien throughout the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England vvere such as to astonish the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire .

outside world , and the good that was done with the money was absolutely incalculable . ( Hear , hear . ) During the past year a sum of nearly , £ 47 , 000 vvas contributed and disbursed on behalf of the three great Central Charities , and , although that was a trifle less than the amount of the year before , it was a noble sum , and such as to make every Mason proud of the organisation to which he belonged .

( Applause . ) That vvas the Jubilee year , and they had been urged to look back on several matters at the time when her Majesty began to reign . If they looked back upon the state of Masonic Charitable Institutions for that period , they vvould find a wonderful difference . The Benevolent Institution for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , which held its anniversary a few days ago , was not then in existence ,

yet at that festival no less a sum than £ 19 , 229 vvas contributed , a truly noble figure . ( Applause . ) Last year there were 375 recipients of the benevolence of that Charity , and in fhe present year there were to be 400 . During the past 50 years the Grand Lodge had contributed no less a sum than £ 12 , 000 to objects altogether outside Masonry , such as famine and earthquake relief funds ,

explorations in Palestine , the establishment of lifeboats , and everything of that kind which tended to add to the sum of human knowledge and to diminish the aggregate of human misery . ( Applause . ) The brethren had great reason to be proud of those Charities , to which he trusted they would liberally subscribe , and the funds of which he hoped , let the times be what they might , vvould never show any signs

of diminution . ( Applause . ) Bro . BINCKES , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , in responding to the toast , said that the success of the Masonic Charities had been to him one of most endearing interest for the best portion of his life . Their attention had been called to the insignificant condition of lheir Charitable Institutions on the accession of her

Majesty , in 1 S 37 . Now , happily , they were great and magnificent Institutions , giving relief to nearly a thousand persons of both sexes who looked to Masons , and Masons alone , for the support necessary to maintain them in the decline of life , after labours well spent , and to prepare their children for the tasks they would have to endure in after years . ( Applause . ) He hoped Masons vvould always be

found to be sincere in all they professed , that they would show loyalty to the Queen , allegiance to the Grand Master , devotedness to their Charitable Institutions , and that faith they should have one in another as a body bound together by close and peculiar ties . ( Applause . ) In retaining those Institutions let them show to the world at large that they had one boast on which they could fall back in answer to

all cavils and all attempts to cast ridicule and censure upon them—that there was no body like their own which did so much in the great cause of practical Charity . ( Applause . ) He dwelt on the enormous benefits which could be conferred by a vast body like theirs , numbering something like 100 , 000 Masons under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , if each member realised to the fullest extent his initiatory obligations . In the Province of

Lincolnshire their attention might have been diverted from the central Charities by local efforts , but he vvas delighted to hear that their labours in that direction vvere nearly consummated , and that the time vvas rapidly approaching when those who represented the principal Masonic Institutions would have reason to express their gratitude for the support rendered from this county . ( Applause . ) "The Ladies , " proposed by Bro . GAMBLE , concluded the toast list .

A Masonic Es .-. cmbly , restricted to Masons and their families , took place in the Masonic Hall in the evening . There was music , singing , and dancing , and the gathering , which vvas well attended , passed off most pleasantly .

China.

China .

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF THE EASTERN ARCHIPELAGO . At the regular Communication , held at the Masonic Hall , Singapore , on Thursday , 5 th May last , the District Grand Master , Bro . Col . S . Dunlop , C . M . G ., appointed the following oflicers for the ensuing year : Bro . Hon . J . P . Joaquim ... ... Dist . D . G . M .

„ J . C . B . Baal ... ... Dist . S . G . W . ., A . Knight ... ... Dist . J . G . W . „ Wonnaci . tt ... ... Dist . G . Chap . „ W . C . Hooper ... ... Dist . G . Reg . „ J . T . Leask , M . B . ... ... Dist . G . Sec . „ VV . A . Parker ... ... Dist . S . G . D . Jennings ... ... ... Dist . J . G . D .

„ „ Goldham ... ... ... Dist . G . S . of VV . „ E . A . Thomson ... ... Dist . G . D . C „ S . C . Hodges ... ... Dist . A . G . D . C . „ J . S . Sturrcck ... ... Dist . G . Swd . Br . „ C . F . McKie ... ... Dist . G . Std . Br . .. Daudo ... ... ... Dist . G . Std . Br . ... ... ... _^ . __ .. ^ . —

,, G . Thompson ... ... Dist . G . Org . „ J . D . Stuart ... ... Dist . G . Purst . „ J . G . Koch 1 „ VV . Allen ... ... [ Dist . G . Stwds . „ C . D . H . Currie ... ... J „ J . Lannon ... ... Dist . G . Tyler .

The Freemasons Of Bristol.

THE FREEMASONS OF BRISTOL .

On Tuesday afternoon the Freemasons of the Province of Bristol , together with many visiting brethren from a distance , attended a special service in the Cathedral , an as a long number of years have elapsed since the "_ bf ' etr > re of the mystic tie" have appeard in public in their full Lra taken

clothing and jewels , considerable interest was w event , and the procession from the Masonic HaU , .. street , to the mother church of Bristol , was watched via keen curiosity by large numbers of spectators , H ' '? ° > » . „ . unable to interpret the significance of the richly broidered aprons , gauntlets , and collars , and the g '' tte" " jewels which adorned the breasts of many of the ftlas ° £ could not but admire Ihe gorgeousness and beauty 0 ^ regalia upon which by a special dispensation they vy

once able to gaze . Outside the Masonic nan > displayed the banners of the Clarence , Beaufort , . . Colston , Jerusalem , Royal Sussex , St . Vincent , Canynges Lodges . . , _ . in The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due ' ° the Masonic Hall . Amongst the officers in attendance * Bros . VV . A . F . Powell , Past G . D ., D . P . G . M . ; J-