Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

Bros . W . E . Dring , T . Lloyd , J . H . Salter , and John C . Turner were elected members of the Provircial Biard of General Purposes . The Prov . G M . then appointed and invested his officers as follows :

Bro . F . H . Bright , I . P . M . 1024 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ A . R . Meggy , I . P . M . 214 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Donald Gotto , I . G . 1024 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ E . Gowers , P . M . 24 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ C . E . Garrard , I . P . M . 2330 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Th . imas J . Railing , P . M ., Sec . 51 , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., ( 20 th year ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Robert Cook , W . M 276 } Prov . S . G . Ds . ,, Harold Gumey , P . M . 650 ... ... j „ Edward Hobbs , P . M . 453 ... ... ] „ T G D „ Chas . Lewis , I . P . M . 250 S ... ... j l rov ' l - - „ F . J . Eedle , P . M . 2143 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . Lucking , P . M . 1000 ( 23 rd yesr ) , P . G . P . Eng . Prov . G . D . C . „ A . G . Shenstone , P . M . and Treas . 2377 ... Prov . D . G . D . of C . „ Charles Westwood , I . P . M . 1343 ••••••Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ C . W . Bamaid . P . M . 1000 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . D . Child , P . M . 1437 - ' ^ Prov G Std Brs „ Turner Ennew , W . M . 2477 ... ... rr 0 V > ^ ita - Brs ' „ Val . Mason , Org . 1000 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ E . A . Basham , P . M . 1977 ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ G . J . Booth , P . M . and Treas . 697 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ F . Gooderham . P . M . 1 S 17 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ B . Orttewell , W . M . 1024 ... ... "| „ VV . Howard-Flanders , S . W . 1024 ... ... |

„ J . W . Moss , S . W . 2342 ... ... )¦ Prov . G . Stwds . „ W . J . Butler , S . W . 1977 ... ... j „ T . J . Grant , 1 977 ... ... ... J ,, A . W . Martin ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

In commemoration of the P . G . M ., his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , having presided over the Order for 21 years , four brethren had past rank conferred upon them , as follows : Bros . A . J . Ward , W . M . 650 , P . S . G . W . ; J . R . Johnson , I . P . M . and Sec . 2005 , P . S . G . D . ; C . Salter , P . M . 2255 , P . S . G . D . ; and G . A . Eustace , P . M . and Sec . 1977 , P . A . G . D . of C .

Bro . F . H . Bright , P . S G . W ., was elected on the Charity Committee , in the place of the retiring member . The PROV . GRAND MASTER announced that the next Provincial Grand Lodge would be held at Colchester . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

The annual banquet which followed was held in a large marq lee on the Recreation Ground , the Prov . G . M . presiding , who was supported by the D . P . G . M . ( Judge Philbrick , Q . C . ); the Mayor of Maldon ( Councillor Bentall ) ; Bro . T . Railing , P . G . Sec . ; and others . An innovation at the feast was the presence of ladies introduced by the brethren , the company numbering about 200 .

The toast list was a brief one . "The Qaeen , " and "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " were given from the chair , The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in submitting the latter , remarking that it would be received by all Masons with the greatest cordiality , because they were all loyal to their Grand Master . They knew what an excellent Grand

Master they had in the Prince of Wales . Amongst the many duties his Royal Highness had to perform in that country , he spared the time very often to come amongst them . Other members of the Royal Family before him had held distinguished positions in the Craft , but he ( the Chairman ) ventured to say that none had held it with greater honour to himself and with greater honour to the Craft than the Prince of Wales .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER next proposed " The Earl of Lathom , Pro G . M . ; Earl Amherst , D . G . M . ; and the rest of the G-and Officers , P . esent and Past , " coupled with the name of Bro . Tijou . Bro . Tuou responded . The PROV . GRAND MASTER , diverging from the toast list , gave " The

Mayor of Maldon , " which , he said , he regarded as the toast of the evening . Though the Mayor was not one of them , he ( the speaker ) was glad to see him with them on that occasion . They hoped that the fact of his being so was proof that some day or other either some Mason or some lady imbued with Masonic instincts would induce him to join them . The MAYOR of MALDON suitably acknowledged the compliment .

The Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . his Honour Judge PHILBRICK , G . Reg ., in proposing the toast of " The Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master for Essex , the Earl of Warwick , " remarked that the ladies would agree with him that they knew how to esteem him who ruled over them . ( Laughter . ) All he could say was that the Freemasons emulated the ladies in knowing when they had a good Master . ( Renewed laughter . ) The alacrity of their

obedience was only equalled by their pride in their possession . ( Applause . ) He thought it did not need a word from him to the wives and sweethearts of Essex Masons to exhort those whom they cared for to stimulate their fidelity to the great cause of Masonry . He thought the presence of the ladies that day justified him in the remark that they in their lodges reverenced their Grand Master , and that they had spread a good report of their distinguished

brother in their own family circles ; and the splendid gathering of that day graced by the presence of the fairer sex , was an echo of that which had been carried home by many Masons . It was not necessary for him to say with regard to their Prov . Grand Master more than that they had known him for many years . They had seen the province increase and multiply under his beneficent rule ; they had seen the great principles of fidelity adhered to and promulgated with the utmost success ; they saw their lodges increasing and

prosperous ; they saw the province maintaining a distinguished position amongst the supporters of the great boasts of the Order—the Charities ' . ( Applause . ) In conclusion , he made a graceful allusion to the Countess of Warwick , who , in consequence of ill-health , was unable to be present , and for whose speedy restoration to health he knew they all prayed . ( Loul applause ) . The toast was enthusiastically received .

The PROV . GRAND MA STER , in returning thanks , assured the brethn n that he looked forward with the greatest pleasure to the annual gatherings at which ht could meet his Essex brethren . He only wished that he coul 1 meet them oftener , and he tendered them on that occasion his very humble

and sincere apolcgies in that respect . Turning to the presence of the ladies , whose attendance they were all gra ' ef il for , he remarked that they were not able to initiate them into all the mysteries of Freemasonry , but ha informed them that they were a very harmless-body of men - ( laughter )—and that they did their best , as no doubt the ladies did—and as they had often

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

encouraged them out of lodge to do—to support their poorer brethren and others in all good and charitable works to the best of their ability . It was not often that they were able to extend their hospitality to ladies ; they would like to do so oftener , but those mysteries which they guarded over most jealously would not permit it ; and beyond that the occasions on which they met together as brothers were for the purpose of Masonic business of a most

serious nature , and which would not allow them for one moment the attraction which he had no doubt the ladies would offer them to get quickly through their business and join them outside the lodges . ( Laughter . ) In conclusion , the P . G . M . proposed " The Health of the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Judge Philbrick , " and referring to his honour ' s recent judicial appointment , said that , in offering their congratulations , they could only regret that the position was not a very much higher one .

The other toasts were " The Worshipful Masters of the Province of Essex , " and " The Ladies . " The arrangements in connection with the gathering were admirably carried out by a Committee composed of Bros . F . H . Bright , chairman , F . G . Green , J . Hutley , R . Orttewell , H . J . Sanson , E . A . Basham , G . Brown , G . A . Eustace , T . O'Neill , S . Shawyer , with E . Gowers as Secretary .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

A meeting of the Charity Committee of this province was held in t reemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Friday , the 17 th instant , when there were present : Bros . J . H . Sillitoe , Chairman ; C . D . Cheetham , Vice-Chairman ; James Newton , Secretary ; and a large number of representatives of lodges from the various parts of the province .

Amongst the business transacted was the consideration of the contemplated sale of the building and site of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at Wood Green , and the erection of new buildings on some other site . After numerous brethren had expressed their views on the question , the following resolution was unanimously adopted :

" That this Provincial Grand Lodge Charity Committee protests against the proposed removal and sale of the Boys' School from Wood Green to another site until the Donors and Subscribers have been consulted and their opinions recorded by voting papers . "

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .

7 he summer meeting was held under the presidency of Bro . Lieut .-Col . William Newton , P . G . D ., D puty Prov . Grand Master , as Prov . Grand Master , at the Old Meeting House School , Mansfield , on Wednesday , the 8 th inst ., when there were present , among others—Bros , his Honour Judge W . Masterman , P . G . D . England , as Deputy Prov . G . M . ; Thomas Salisbury , Prov . S . G . W . ; G . H . Hibbert , Prov . J . G . W . ; the Rev . H .

T . Hayman and tne Rev . W . F . Boot , Prov . G . Chaplains ; R . A . M . Webster , Prov . G . Reg . ; Arthur Stubbs , P . P . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec . ; Captain W . H . Tomason , Prov . S . G . D . ; H . E . Wilson , Prov . J . G . D . j John Hewitt , Prov . G . S . of W . ; Jacob Levy , Prov . G . D . C . ; W . J . Lazenby , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; J . G . Carver , Prov . G . Org . ; J . P . W . Marx , P . P . G . D . C ., Prov . A . G . Sec . ; F . W .

Fine , Prov . G . Purst . ; J . J . Turner and T . Mallender , Prov . G . Tylers ; J . Wil . ford , W . J . Rooke , J . Greenwood , ard J . D . Fidler , Prov . G . Stewards ; H . J . Hobson , P . P . G . R . ; W . F . Sanders , P . P . G . D . ; J . H . White and R . F . Vallance , P . P . G . D . Cs . j W . Sibley , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . G . Bonser , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; T . Fisher and John Allsopp , P . P . G . Pursts . ; and the representatives of the great majority of the lodges in the province .

The roll of Prov . Grand Officers and lodges having been called , the minutes of . the last Prov . Grand Lodge , held at Nottingham on the 12 th December , 1895 , were taken as read and confirmed . Bro . G . H . Hibbert was invested as Prov . J . G . W ., vice Bro . John Sansom , deceased , while , in commemoration of the 21 st anniversary of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales's installation as M . W . Grand Master , the rank of P . P . S . G . W . was conferred on Bros . Arthur Slubbs , Prov . G . Sec , and the Rev . W . F . Boat , Prov . G . Chap .

The ACTING PROV . GRAND MASTER called attention to a circular issued by the Prov . Grand Lodge of N jrth and East Yorkshire relating to the purchase of another site lor the Royal Masonic I istitutian for Bjys , bit as the informa * ion in possession of the brethren was insuffi ; ient to enable them to form a correct opinion on the question , he earnestly deprecated the adoption of any resolution on the present occasion .

Bro . THOMAS SALISBURY , Prov . S . G . W ., Sscre ' ary to the P . ov . G . L . Benevolent Committee , having explained that the Bjard of Management of the B > ys' School were at present engaged in drawing up a statement of the position of affairs , which would , in due course , be submitted to all the lodgis and to the subscribers to the School , the matter was deferred ; and , there b .-ing no further business , Prov . Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren entertained at a banquet in the Town Hall by the members of the Forest Lodge , No . 1852 .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Buckinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

CONSECRATION OF THE WYCOMBE CHAPTER . On Thursday , the 9 th inst ., the above Prov . Grand Chapter was held at High Wycombe , under the presidency of the Grand Superintendent of the Province , Comp . the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg . Additional interest was lent to the proceedings by the fact tint the opportunity was taken to consecrate the

new chapter which has been formed in connection with the Wycombe Lodge . No . 1501 , the founders of which are the following : Comps . Joseph Bliss . M . E . Z . 1804 , & c . ; Rev . O .. J . Grace , P . Z . 591 , and P . G . Soj . Eng . ; >*' Nicholson , P . Z . 771 , ike . ; 6 . T . James , 591 ; W . Scott Miller , i 3 ° 5 i