Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Kelvedon , on Wednesday , the i , Sth inst ., and passed off most successfully . The arrangements for the meeting were made by the members of the Easterford Lodge , No . 2342 , whose Worshipful Master , Bro . Sir William Neville Abdy , Bart ., ably assisted by Bro . Jj . H . Salter , P . M . ; Bro . M . W . Meade , the hard-working Secretary and others , spared no pains or expense in providing for the comfort of the brethren . The new 1 nfant School was

kindly lent by the vicar of the parish , the Rev . E . F . Hay , for the business meeting and presented a very charming appearance , the walls being hung round with the handsome banners of the various lodges , while Hags and pot p lants added greatly to the effect . The Prov . G . M ., the Earl of Warwick arrived at Kelvedon Station from Easton Lodge at 12 . 30 , and was met by Sir William Abdy , Bro . Sailer and the Provincial Grand Secretary ( Bro . Railing ) who escorted his lordship to

the site of the Masonic temple , which is being erected for the use of the Easterford Lodge , through the munificence of Bro . Sir William Abdy . His lordship inspected the works with much interest , and congratulated the builder , Bro . C . T . Thorn , upon the progress which was being made . In the meantime the D . P . G . M ., Bro . F . A . Philbrick , O . C ., Recorder of Colchester , arrived from London , accompanied by Bro . Sir Wm . Marriott , Q . C , D . P . G . M . of Sussex , and Bro . Richard Clowes , P . G . Std . Br ., and luncheon was partaken of at Bi unswick House .

At two o'clock the brethren assembled at the infant School , which was filled to overflowing . On entering the room , his lordship was most heartily received . The Provincial Grand Officers present were : Bros . B . Hoddinott , P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Salter , P . P . J . G . W ., as Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . H . T . Armfield ,

P . G . Chap . ; Thos . J . Railing , l ' . G . Sec . ; Jas . Boulton , P . S . G . D . ; Jas Speller , P . J . G . D . ; G . R . Cobham , P . G . S . of ' W . ; A . Lucking , P . G . D . C . W . E . Sutton , P . D . G . D . C ; las . Bradbury and Walter Smith , P . G Sid . Brs . ; J . Fuller , P . G . P . ; C W . Barnard , P . G . Stwd . ; and A . W Martin , R . G . Tyler . ¦ -

Among the other brethren present were : Bros . Sir Wm . Marriott , Q . C , D . P . G . M . Sussex ; Rev . W . Cree , P . P . G . C . Cumberland and Westmorland ; Canon W . H . Cooper , P . M . 2098 , P . Dist . G . Chap . Canterbury , N . Z . ; fas . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; J . Morrison McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Andrew Durrant , P . P . G . T . ; F . M . Gration , P . M . 570 , P . D . S . G . W . Northern China ; and others .

The minutes of the last annual Provincial Grand Lodge ( at Southend ) having been read and confirmed , The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY stated lhat letters expressing regret at their inability to attend had been received from Bros . Earl Amherst , P . G . M . Kent ; Lord Henniker , P . G . M . Suffolk ; Lord G . Hamilton , M . P ., P . G . M . Middlesex ; the Rev . C . J . Martyn , D . P . G . M . Suffolk ; E . I . elchworth , G . Sec . ; Hamon Le Strange , D . P . G . M . Norfolk ; Sir Francis Boileau ; Col .

G . Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; F . R . W . Hedges , Sec . R . M . I . G . ; | . S . Eastes , D . P . G . M . Kent ; John E . Le Feuvre , D . P . G . M . Hants and the Isle ol Wight ; V . P . Freeman , P . G . Sec . Sussex ; R . H . Thrupp , D . P . G . M . Middx . ; N . Tracy , P . G . Sec . Suffolk j G . W . G . Barnard , P . G . Sec . Norfolk ; H . H . Room , P . G . Sec . Middlesex ; T . ] . D . Cramphorn ( Mayor of Chelmsford ); Wm . Shurmur , P . P . G . Treas . ; ' H . Hills , P . J . G . W . ; the Rev . T . S . Raffles , P . P . G . C . ; Vero W . Taylor , P . P . S . G . W . ; | . R . Kirby Johnson , I Ion . D . G . M . India ( S . C . ); and others .

The roll of the lodges was called by the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY , and il was found that all were represented . The report of the Board of General Purposes , a copy of which having teen sent to each member of the Provincial Grand Lodge , was taken as read , was presented by the D . P . G . M . The report commenced with the following paragraph : "Since the last meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , our beloved

Provincial Grand Master , as head of his family , has succeeded to thc historic Earldom of Warwick . In offering to his lordship our hearty congratulations on this accession of rank and dignity , the Board trust they may , on behalf of the province , express the hope lhat , under his new title , the reign of the Earl of Warwick over the Freemasons of Essex may be long continued , and be maiked by the same unanimity and prosperity of the Craft as will render

that of Lord Brooke ever memorable in the annals of Essex Freemasonry . " I he report further stated that the accounts , afler payments of all outstanding claims , showed a balance in hand of £ 192 8 s . Sd ., whilst the roll of the lod ges had been increased during the year by the addition of four new ones , the present strength of the province being 1 S 02 members as against 1725 last year . The Board recommended payment of the following grants : 211 guineas

M ^ ° >' ' Masonic Benevolent Institution , 10 guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , i <> guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution 'or Girls , m guineas to the " George Cooper Memorial Fund , " and five guineas to the funds of the Kelvedon Schools . After recommending that the portrait of Sir William Neville Abdy , Bait ,, should be placed in the calendar ¦ or 18 95 , the report concluded by expressing rrgret at the loss the province ¦ 'ad sustained in the deaths of several prominent Masons .

Some discussion took place upon one paragraph in the report which recommended that two lodges which had failed to comply with the by-laws ¦ > noujd be fined . Eventually it was decided to remit the fine in one case . I I A ^ . " GRAND MASTER then addressed the biethren . He nek nowetl ged , with gratilude , the kindness with which his accession to his new title

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

had been received , and he felt thankful that it had bsen his fortune—for it was a matter of fortune—to succeed to so honoured a name as that of Warwick . He was glad that there was still a Lord Brooke in lhe county , and he had no doubt that the young man who bore that title would , when the proper lime arrived , see what an excellent thing it would be for him to become a Mas in . Referring to the continued growth of the province , his lordship

expressed his great pleasure at the success that had attended the Colne Lodge , and he congratulated his friend , Bro . Claude Egerton-Green , on the excellent work he had been doingfor Freemasonry as the first Master of that lodge . It had been a very great regret to him that , owing to an extremely sudden call to America , he was unable to attend two of the consecrations that had taken place during the past year , particularly that of the Thomas Railing Lodge . He knew how highly they all honoured their Prov . Grand Secretary ,

and he knew that they would have wished him , as their representative , to have taken his proper place at the formation of a lodge bearing that honoured name . It was quite unavoidable , however , and he trusted that thc members of that Ldge would , on the first opportunity allow him to pay them a visit . In conclusion , his lordship said , anticipating their wishes , he had written to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York , conveying to their Royal Highnesses the congratulations of the Freemasons of Essex on the birth of a Prince .

1 he next business was the election of the Board of General Purposes for the ensuing year . There were seven nominations for the four vacancies , and on a ballot being taken , the old members were re-elected , viz ., Bros . Alfred Buck , Rev . Thomas Lloyd , W . D . Merrritt , and John J . C . Turner . For the post of Provincial Grand Treasurer there was but one nomination ,

Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green , 2477 , and he was unanimously elected . The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER th-11 annouwed amidst hearty applause that Bro . F . A . Philbrick had kindly consented to act as his Deputy , and he leartily thanked him for the . great assistance he was in the work of the province . His lordship then appointed and invested the ollieers for the year as under :

Bro . Sir W . N . Abdy , Bart ., W . M . - 'U 2 l ' rov . S . G . W . „ - K . C . Wills , I . P . M . 214 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . W . Linton Wilson , Chap . 14 ^ 7 ... Prov . G . Chap . „ F . C . H . Jones , P . M . 51 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Thos . I . Railing , P . M . and Sec . = ; i , P . A . G . D . C .

England ( iSth year ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ A . Vandervord , I . P . M . 1000 .. ... ) n . „ . c r 11 , T wr 'i- 1 n \ t : I rov . S . G . I . 's . „ J . W . lyler , P . M . 2077 ... ... . ) „ ' I- * . A . Renshawe , P . M . 453 ••¦ } p ..,., 1 r , D < . „ W . Adams , W . M . 1280 ... j I io \ . j . U . Us . „ W . Maxwell Butcher , W . M . 2318 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

,, A . Lucking , P . M . moo , P . G . P . Eng . ( 2 ist year ) Prov . G . D . C . „ G . W . King , I . P . M . 14 ^ 7 ... ... Prov . Dep . G . D . C „ J . T . Bailey , P . M . 6 97 , Sec . 2477 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, Geo . Brown , W . M . 1077 ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

" u r u inCh , , : , P-N p \ i ' ¦ " 1 I '~ v . G . Std . Brs . ,, H . C . Borradaile , P . M . 134 ' , ... ... ) „ Fred . C . Bevan , I . P . M . 250 S ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . M . Welch , W . M . 1543 ¦•• Prov . A . G . Sec . ,, I . L . Otrier , P . M . 21 . 12 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ G . F . Golding , I . P . M . 160 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, ] . G . Hammond , jun ., W . M . 2184 ... ... " ) „ G . | . Booth , I . P . M . 6 97 ... ... I Wm IJ ,, rlr ,, m 1 > AT inn I _ __ ^ u ..... // ...

„ „ .... ...,., . , y " WProv . G . Stwds . ,, S . S . Parsons , W . M . 2 ^ 9 ... ... f „ CT . Thorn , S . W . 2 ^ 42 ... ... | „ R . Galpin , J . W . - ' 342 ... ... ... J ,, A . W . Martin ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . Sir Wm . Abdy was elected a member of the Charity Committee , in

thc place of Bro . Heagcrty , who retired by rotation . The Puov . GRAND MISTER having announced that the meeting next year will be held at Grays , the proceedings ended . Miss Philbrick , sister of the D . P . G . M ., kindly sent a large number of

" button-holes , which were much appreciated . A banquet was afterwards held in a spacious marquee at the back of Braiswick House , the catering of Messrs . Wright and Son , of ( olchester , giving universal satisfaction . After dinner a few toasts were drunk .

Bio . F , A . I ' lin . iiiiicK , O . C , Deputy Provincial Grand Masler , in submitting " The Health of their beloved Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , " said he used the word "beloved" in no common sense . ( A VOICE : Lord Brooke ) . The D . P . G . M ., raising some roses from a vase in front of him , observed : A rose by any other name would smell as sweet . Whether it was as Lord Brcoke ihey had learned to love him , or as the F . atl

of Warwick thai they would continue their affection to him , the man was the same for " a that . " "The rank , " if his lordship would pardon him for saying so , " was but the guinea stamp , " the true gold was there . There was an eloquence far higher than the tongue of the speaker ; it was an eloquence of accomplished facts , of a record of continued prosperity

and success , a record of a province united and happy and at one wilh it self , and which might , therefore , legitimately congratulate its head upon the success of the promulgation of true Masonic principles in the province . Such had eminently been the case during the sway of their l'rov . Grand Master , It was very little in one aspect to tell thein that the lodges since