Masonic Notes.

11 is scarcely necessary to say that the annual meet ing of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire and Rutland , which was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Wednesday , the 15 th instant , proved , as it invariably does , a great success . There was the

usual full attendance of Prov . Grand Officers , present and past , of the representatives of lodges , and of visitors , and the proceedings passed off most satisfactorily . We shall publish a full report next week , but in the meantime we may mention that the proceedings

included the reading and confirmation of sundry reports , in which the result of the past year ' s labours were clearly set forth . Among these was the 12 th annual report of the Leicestershire and Rutland Masonic Charity Association , from which it appears that of the

21 Life Subscriberships which were drawn during the year , 20 were placed to the credit of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and the remaining one to that of the Girls' School . The next meeting of this Association vvill be held in December , when a fresh drawing for Life Subscriberships will take place .

* * * It is gratifying to know that our brethren in Port Elizabeth—which is included in the District Grand Lodge of South Africa , Eastern Division—have sliced ded so well in their Mascnic Educational Scheme .

We have been favoured with a report of the directorate for the p 1 st year , and we find that including the balance in hand at the close of June , 1 SS 9 , the receipts to July , 18 90 , amounted to ^ 242 ios . nd ., while the expenditure vvas ; £ I 8 I is . 1 id ., leaving a balance to be carried

forward to the new year of £ 61 gs . We are further told that there is a sum of . £ 50 , which has been already voted by the lodges and chapters in the town , but which had not been received in time to be included in the

report , so that the assets in hand are , in fact , in excess of ; £ iio . There is likewise an Endowment Fund , which has been made up during the past year to ^ 200 , so that there can be little doubt as to the present stability of this organisation .

* * * Two features in this report are especially to be commended . The expenses of management for the year are within £ 3 , the precise amount disbursed in " printing and sundries " being £ 2 14 s . The amount spent

in educating 18 children vvas ^ 103 7 s . 1 id ., and ^ 75 was added to the Endowment Fund , so that it vvill be difficult for even the most searching criticism to find anything blameworthy in the policy and conduct of the directors of the fund .

* * * The reports received respecting the children assisted by the fund must also be regarded as satisfactory . Of three perpetual scholarships at the Grey Institute , to which the Governors and subscribers have the right of

nomination , one is vacant , because the boy who held it during the past year has gained the Municipal Scholarship , in addition to passing the Government elementary

Examination . Another pupil has succeeded in gaining a scholarship at the Northend Branch of the Grey Institute , while one of the girls passed the last Government Examination with Honours .

We may state that the Board of Management of this fund consists of the Masters , Immediate Past Masters , and Senior Wardens of the local Craft lodges ; the Master and Immediate Past Master of the Mark Lodge ; the First Principals and Immediate Past First

Principals of the local chapters ; together with six subscribing members ( Masons ) , who must be elected annually at the general meeting in June b y the subscribers . But however it may be constituted , the Board

or Directorate which is responsible for the administration of the fund does its work admirabl y , and we trust that future reports which may reach us of this distant Colonial educational institute will be as admirable in all respects as this has been .

* * * A correspondent , who signs himself " Prov . Grand Officer , " is anxious " to obtain , if possible , information as to the principle or basis adopted in selecting Provincial Grand Officers . " He adds that he has obtained

a . nd compiled atabulated statement showing the various officers appointed during the past 10 years—from 1880 to 18 S 9 inclusive—b y the Grand Master of a province which has 25 lodges on its roll . From this statement it appears " that some lodges during that period have

received as many as 10 provincial collars , whilst others during the same period have received onl y four or five " one lodge having been so unfortunate as to obtain only three collars . He adds that the number of collars

distributed annually is 16—those of the Provincial Grand Treasurer and Provincial Grand Secretary not being included in the reckoning—and " in the absence of any special reason for such an inequalit y he considers the distribution of honours is on the face of it unfair . "

Masonic Notes.

We cannot presume to speak on behalf of the distinguished brethren—some 40 or 45 in number—who have been appointed by the Prince of Wales and his predecessors in the office of M . W . G . M . to the high office of Provincial Grand Master . But we hardly

think our correspondent is justified in assuming that all the lodges in a province furnish an equal number of brethren who are worthy of being appointed to provincial office . Some lodges are certain to have more good men in their ranks than others , while certain

other lodges will have a preponderance of brethren not so well qualified for office . Again , some lodges are numerically strong , and others weak , so that we are unable to suggest any general principle or basis for the appointment of Provincial Grand Officers beyond that

of merit , which , so far as our experience goes , is the principle which , as a rule , actuates Provincial Grand Masters in their distribution of provincial honours . It is impossible to expect that all the appointments they

make vvill g ive general satisfaction , but we are convinced that our heads of provinces do all they can to bestow their appointments on brethren who deserve them .

* * * We are informed that Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , Provincial Grand Master nominate of Somersetshire , has decided to postpone his installation till the spring of next year , by which time he vvill have been installed

W . M . of the Craft lodge ( the Pegasus ) of which he is now S . W . This announcement has been received with satisfaction everywhere throughout the Province of Somersetshire , and there is little doubt that the spirit of harmony which prevailed among the brethren in

this county under their late lamented ruler—Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon—will be maintained under his successor . We understand that the ceremony of installing the new Provincial Grand Master vvill probably take place in Bath .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion , ]

FESTIVAL BOYS' SCHOOL . Tothe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , At the final meeting of the Board of Stewards a vote of thanks was passed to Bro . the Right Hon . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., P . M . 2012 , P . G . W ., for his services as Chairman at the recent Festival . A

copy of the resolution has been engrossed and presented by me to him . His lordship desires me to convey to the members of the Board of Stewards his thanks for their appreciation of his services , and the satisfaction he feels in hearing that the Boys' School

will be permanently placed on a satisfactory footing . — Yours faithfully and fraternally , GEORGE GARDNER , P . M ., P . G . S . B . Bucks . October 18 th .

THOMAS DUNCKERLEY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In my letter of December , 1887 , respecting the painting of this luminary , the Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , that hung over the fireplace

at the Bell Inn , Gloucester , in 1792 . The lodge having been removed in 1802 , no satisfactory account has been given of what became of it in your valuable paper . Notes and Queries refer to it Nos . 719 , 721-2-3 , in which Bro . Goldney informs us there is a painted portrait of Thomas Dunckerley at the Masonic Hall ,

Bristol ; this may be the one from Gloucester . I find that Bro . H . Sadler is now publishing " The Life , Labours , and Letters of Thomas Dunckerley , " and hope the letters in Notes and Queries in your valuable paper , the Freemason , have not escaped his notice , and

he will be able to inform us what became of the portrait referred to . I shall look forward with some pleasure to read the book that is now being published by our worthy and much respected Bro . H . Sadler . —Yours fraternally , THOMAS LAMB SMITH .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

91 GJ MARK MASONRY IN 17 C 9 . If Bro . Alexander Howell , the author of the interesting article on ' * Rose Croix Masonry in Portsmouth , " will kindly furnish a copy of the minute which " supplies the evidence of the Mark Degree having been worked iu 1760 , " there vvill be an end of all question . Meanwhile we prefer the opinion expressed by Bro . Hughan

in his " Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry , 186 S ; " and the statement made by Bro . W . Logan Langley Park , Durham , that the earliest references to that ceremony are dated during the eighth decade of the last century , and not the seventh , as Bro . Howell declares . We shall be onl y too pleased to alter our view as to this point on the production of actual evidence , but not until then . EDITOR F . M .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft m > a 0 onn > .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Ranelagh Lodge ( No . S 34 ) . —A meeting was held on Tuesday , the 14 th inst ., at the Criterion , Piccadilly , when there were present Bros . VV . J . Coplestone , I . P . M ., as VV . M . ; F . Craggs , S . W . ; H . F . Williams , J . VV . ; H . Purdue , Sec ; A . Williams , S . D . ; VV . VV . Williams , J . D . ; Hans Scharien , D . C . ; A . Walkley , P . M ., Tyler ; K . J . Oliver , P . M . ; 1 . G . Doncaster , P . M . ; Jas . Sims ,

P . M . ; H . Shaw , P . M . ; C . Barker , P . M . ; W . E . Barker , E . D . Richards , T . Jobson , J . Worth , R . Philips , H . Hewitt , W . G . Boyes , H . Pinn , C . J . Chambers , H . S . May , R . Shaw , R . Collins , W . Pullan , H . W . Dyne , G . E . White , VV . lredale , J . Stehr , H . Stokes , A . M . Segar , J . Banks , H . R . Spooner , C . Southwood , Edwd . Lucas , A . J . Hardwick , A . Pauchin , R . Gerbert , and VV . J . Bowles . Visitors * . Bros . G . McCrow , 1714 ; R . W . Walker , P . M .

1107 ; J . VV . Brooks , 172 ; H . VV . Coplestone , 704 ; and E . Smith , 1336 , P . P . J . G . W . North Wales . The VV . M ., Bro . Edwin Lucas , being absent , Bro . W . J . Coplestone , I . P . M ., presided . Bros . VV . Pullan and R . F . Collins were raised to the Third Degree in a most able manner . The by-laws having . been read , two gentlemen were proposed for initiation , and after other lodge business had been transacted , the brethren adjourned to refreshment and concluded a very enjoyable evening .

Eclectic Lodge ( No . 1201 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge vvas held at Freemasons' Hall , on Friday , the 10 th inst ., when Bro . Richard Glasspool , P . M ., was elected a joining member . A letter was read from Bro . G . VV . Saul , P . M ., in response to a vote of sympathy forwarded to him a short time previously on hearing that he had for the third time suffered the misfortune to fracture his

kneecap , thanking the brethren for their kindness . After some routine work of no general interest , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the adjoining premises to receive a large company of guests to dinner , the lady friends of the members attending by special invitation of the W . M . The company numbered S 4 , and included , amongst

others , the following : Bro . C . H . Chauffourier , W . M ., and Mrs . Chauffourier ; Mr . Chauffourier , sen . ; Bro . Capt . R . Harvey Lyon , S . W . ; Bro . Le V . D . Anley , S . D . ; Bro . J . H . Haworth and Mrs . Haworth ; Bro . C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; Bro . and Mrs . Amsden ; Bro . Almeida ; Bro . J . Leach Barrett and Mrs . Barrett ; Bro . R . E . Baker ; Bro . Boden ; Bro . and Mrs . J . R . Davis ;

Bro . A . T . Foreman , P . M ., and Mrs . Foreman ; Bro . Goldspink , P . M ., and Mrs . Go'dspink ; Bro . and Mrs . Jourden ; Bro . Ur . S . Lloyd , P . M ., Mrs ., Miss , and Mr . F . Lloyd ; Bro . S . H . Lloyd ; Bro . J . Mander , P . M ., Treas ., and Mrs . Mander ; Bro . Munday , P . M ., and Mrs . Munday ; Bro . C . M . Pochin , P . M ., and Mrs . Pochin ; Bro . and Mrs . Pedlar ; Bro . Pallant ; Bro . and Mrs .

Reside ; Bro . C . J . Richardson , P . M ., Org ., and Mrs . Richardson ; Bro . Sheard ; Bro . A . E . Taylor , P . M ., Sec , and Mrs . Taylor ; Bro . and Mrs . E . A . Vv . Taylor ; Bro . J . H . Watts , P . M ., and Miss Watts ; Bro . Egbert Roberts ; Bro . Gartley , P . M . ; Miss Vincent ; Bro . and Madame Benoist ; Bro . F . Frye , C . C ; Bro . G . Mullin ; Bro . Fred VVood ; Miss Mary Melval ; and others .

After the usual loyal toasts had been duly honoured , Bro . J . Leach Barrett , I . P . M ., rose and said : Worshipful Master , Past Masters , Officers , and Brethren , —I am pleased that one of the last duties that devolves upon me in my official connection with this lodge should be to propose " The Health of the VV . M . " on an occasion like the present . W . M ., when 1 first proposed your health at our installation banquet I

ventured to prophesy that you would fill that chair vvith honour to yourself and credit to the lodge . It was a very difficult task to follow the W . M . ' s which have preceded you , for they have done their work sa perfectly that the Eclectic Lodge has obtained a reputation tor good working throughout the Craft , but 1 am quite sure that there is not a single brother present who does not say that my prophecy

has been more than fulfilled . But , Worshipful Master , we appreciate the earnestness with which you have carried out your work , and although ladies and visitors may not be able to appreciate the force ot my remark , you have rendered my post of I . P . M . a mere sinecure , for I have not had to prompt you in a single word since you first worked a ceremony . VVe appreciate also your cordiality ; it is not enough

tor a W . M . to be earnest , but he should also be cordial to every member of his lodge , and so cement that bond of good feeling and union which is our especial characteristic . So has it been always with you . If we have come to see you , your greeting has been " Well , old boy , how are you ? lam glad to see you . J ust the person 1 wanted to speak to ! " Or if a lady , " Mrs . you honour me with your visit ; I

am proud to meet you here . " VVe also appreciate your liberality—the magnificent pair of globes , which vvill adorn our lodge as long as it exists , will speak to this ; and on more than more occasion I , with other members of the lodge , have partaken of your hospitality . And now again to-night our wives , daughters , and sweethearts are here at your especial invitation . But without dwelling on these

points we would sum the whole matter up in saying that you have neither spared expense , labour , or trouble in promoting the interest of the Eclectic Lodge . Such exceptional services we feel ought not to be passed over , and it has been a question with the officers of the lodge how they could best mark their appreciation of them . We consider it a happy omen that a Frenchman should occupy our chair , it is an illustration of the universality of Freemasonry , and

knowing how gallant your motives are , and particularly how devoted you are as a husband , we thought you would appreciate a presentation to Madame Chauffourier more than one to yourself . Madame Chauffourier , 1 have therefore to beg that you will accept from the officers of the Eclectic Lodge this fan , as a mark of their esteem towards yourself , and in appreciation of the services your husband has rendered the Eclectic Lodge . It bears this inscription on the ribbon of the Order : " Presented to Madame Ctiauf-