Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

the Prov . Grand Master began to reign over them had practically doubled in number , and Ihe ni . mber of brethren in the lodges had correspondingly increased . During his lordshi p ' s office they had not been disturbed by any burning question , they had been agitated by no great difficulty , and they had had as much Home Rule as they wanted and as had been good for them .

He expressed the feelings of all when he said that it was their earnest wish that the province mi g ht long be favoured with having to preside over it a Grand Master who united in himself so many Masonic virtues and so many Masonic qualifications which had contributed in no slight degree to the success and popularity of his reign over them . The toast was received with full Masonic honours .

The Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of WARWICK , in reply , remarked that it was a good many years since he first had the honour of ruling them , and he thought he might say , without any presumption , that the depth and warmth of Masonic feeling towards him in the province did not seem ti diminish on their side , and he could assure them most cordially that it d d not in any way on his . He hoped in the future to be able to attend—to use

a sporting phrase—the fixtures of their Masonic gatherings oftener than he had done in the past . He had no longer to sit as a representative of his country ; he was now , as ihey knew , in the House of Lords , and he took the precaution to take his seat before he went to America . He did not think it a misfortune to be in the House of Lords . He thought it was a position of which any man mig ht be proud . He had had some experience of popular

representation , having been a representative of the people in the House of Commons , but he felt that , although he was in the Hou ; e of Lords now , nnd only represented his own views , there was all the more responsibility attaching to him , and he should always well weigh his vote when he was called upon io give it . He concluded by proposing " The Health of Bro . Philbrick , Q . C , " whose advice , he said , was of such great assistance to him in matters connected with the province .

Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , O C , having suitably acknowledged the compliment . Bro . the Rig ht Hon ? Sir W . T . MARRIOTT , O . C ., responded for " The Vistots . " Bro . Sir W . T . ABDY . Bart ., responded to the toast of " The Worshipful Masters of the Province of Essex . "

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodgeof Middlesex was held at the Parish Room , Teddington , on Wednesday , the 18 th inst . Bro Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., P . G . W .. Provincial Grand Master , was supported by Bros . Raymond H . Thrupp , P . A . G . D . C , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; Sir H . Trueman Wood , P . A . G . D . C ; Capt . T . C . Walls , G . S . B ., P . P .

G . W . ; Howard H . Room , Prov . G . Sec . ; \\ . hisher , Prov . G . Treas . ; Stewart Brown , Prov . | . G . W . ; Geo . R . I . angley , Prov . S . G . D . ; | . Tickle , P . P . G . Reg . ; W . A . " Scurrah , P . P . G . S . of \ V . ; A . H . Scurrah , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Dr . S . Hague , Prov . G . D . C ; and a good attendance of other Provincial Grand Officers and members oi the province .

Prov . Grand Lodge was opened , and the Prov . Grand Master salu ed according to ancient form .. The minutes were read and confirmed , and the Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s accounts were presented and accepted , a cordial vote of thanks being accorded to Bro . W . Fisher , Prov . G . Treas ., on the proposition of the D . P . G . M ., for his efficient services during the past year .

The report of the Charity Commiitee , which was unanimously adopted , showed that four cases had been assisted to the amount of _ £ (> o . The total amount contributed to Charitable purposes , including the three Masonic Institutions , was £ 117 , or well over half of the available income . The Elections' Committee reported that one boy and one girl were elected

last October , and that there was a probabil ty of two more cases being brought forward ; 3 6 lodges had appointed representatives , and in conclusion , the Committee tendered especial thanks to Bro . Geo . K . I . angley , l ' rov . S . G . D . ( the Secretary of the Committee ) , for his unremitting efforts which had mainly conduced to the success attained .

lhe PROV . GRVND MASTER announced the re-appointment of Bro Raymond H . Thrupp , P . A . G . D . C , as Deputy Prov . G . AL , and Bro . K . \\ Bilby was elected Prov . Grand Treasurer , on the proposition of Bro . I TICKLE , P . P . G . Reg . The following Prov . Grand Officers were appointed and invested :

Bro . Jabez Church , 2024 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Dr . N . Goodchild , 1637 ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . Hugh B . Chapman , 2 ios • •• ) ___ . V- _ ~ L , Rev . P . H . Aitken , . VI 7 Prov - G < Cha P '

„ R . W . Bilby ... ... ... l'rov . G . Treas . „ W . Clowes , 1494 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Howard H . Room ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . H . Matthews , 1423 ... ... ... } „ „ A . Toulmin , jun ., 1503 ... ... ... j ' ' »•<¦ ' ' ¦»•'>•

„ I . Brown , 1597 ... ... ,.. )„ , ... I ! H . Wilson , 1293 j Prov . J . G . Ds . „ T . J . Cusworth , 1579 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of VV . „ J . Adams , 1194 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . Taplin , 382 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C

,, E . Clare , 865 ... ... ... " ) „ J . H . Tomlinson , 1238 ... .. ,.. [ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . ,, A . J . R . Simmonds , 1793 ... ., ) „ W . H . Rohrs , 94 6 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, C . T . Tolman , 1549 ... ... ... ) „ ,, _ , ,, T . Covill . - | 7 « ' ' rov- G- Std'

Brs-„ J . W . Hinton , Mus . Doc , 1512 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . H . Lee ... ... ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Sec „ C T . Lynn , 1310 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ E . Clark , 1512 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ W . H . Glynn Smith ... ... .. /) „ T . Barlow ... ... ... ... |

„ His Honor judge Lumley Smith , O . C . ... ID < - c . 1 „ W . D . Milner .. . " . j-Prov . G . Stwds . „ T . Angel ... ... J 1 , C . E . Cassal ... ... .. 1

„ J . Gilbert , 1194 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tvler . On the proposition of the PROV . GKANU MASTER , the sum of is guineas was voted to each of the three Masonic Institutions . Votes of thanks were heartily given to the Sir Charles Bright and Kpyal Hanover Lodges , for use of furniture , and to Bros . R . \ V . Force lor liL great assistance in arranging for the comfort of the brethren .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

A s milar compliment was paid to the Vicar of Teddington for his kindness in allowing lhe use of rooms . An eloquent oration was delivered by Bro . the Rev . H . B . Chapman , Prov . G . ( nap ., after vv ' iich a collec' . ion was made , realising about £ 10 , t'i be handed to the Vicar for local charitable purposes . Provincial Grand I . odj . e was then formally closed . An adjournment was made to t' e Town Hall , where dinner vvas provided , and lhe customary toasts were afterwards honoured .

The toast of " The Queen and the Craft" was given by the PROV . GRAND MASTER , who remarked that he always considered it a happy one , because her Majesty was the best of Constitutional monarch ? and they were all convinced that M isons were the best of the subjects she ruled . Her M . ijesty , after 53 years rule , stood in lhe uirque position of having three generations in the direct line living at the present time .

In referring to " H . R . I I . the Prinre of W . i'e =, M . W . G . M ., " the PROV G . M . said the anxious time expe-iencod by his Royal Highness som : time ai » o had now been effaced by the pleasing event of the last few months . Tney should never ignore the great obligation the Craft wa ? under to their M . W . CM ., who by temperament and inclination illustrated thalbeiuvolence and Charity , was the foundation of ihe Institution .

The PROV . G . M . then proposed "The Pro G . M . and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and , referring to the Earl ol Lathom and the Ea 1 of Mount Edgcumbe , said it vvas a great advantage for any institution such as Freemasonry to have at its- head men who duly appreciated the importance , dignity , solemnity , and grandeur of it . Bro . Sir H . Trueman Wood , who was present , had been kind enough to

allow him to associate his name with a later toast . That would enable him to couple with that toast the name of one of the most notable of Middlesex brethren , who was distinguished for his ubiquity , and who held offi . e in Grand Lodge—Captain Walls . Bro . Capt . T . C . WALLS , G . S . B , in reply , said that although a young Grand Officer he had had opportunities of being present at many grand functions in London and the provinces , where distinguished Masons had taken prominent patts . A few weeks ago he was invited to a ' . tend ihe

ceremony of the installation of the Prov . Grand Master of Staffordshire , when Lord Lathom received a -plendid ovation . On behalf of the Grand Officers he would say that since his Royal Hig hness had honoured him by an appointment , he had been inundated with letters from Middlesex brethren congratulating him on his preferment . It would be his duty and pleasure to continue to exert himself for the cause of Freemasonry , not only in Middlesex , but in the large Metropolis of London .

Bro . RAYMOND H . TIIRUPI ' , Deputy Prov . G . Master , said they next came to what was certainly the toast of the evening , "The Health of their Prov : Grand Master . " When a' out 14 months ago they heard the first intelligence that Lord Geoige Hamilton had been appointed by his Royal Highness to be their Prov . Grand Master , he met a friend in Masonry who said "Well , you Middlesex Masons have got an ornamental Mason . I

suppose yt u will not see much of him . " He replied that they had got the man they wanted . They had a Middlesex man , and if they knew anything of the Hamilton family they knew he would do his duly , as his father did , and as his brothers were now doing . He ( the Deputy P . G . M . ) appealed to the brethren whether their Prov . Grand Master had not done all they expected . Those behind the scenes like Bro Room and himself knew the

great interest he took in the working of the province , lor there was scarcely a question arose but the Prov . Grand Master made it his business to know all the ins and outs , and advised on ( he merits of the case . Those who had the privilege last week of being present at the consecration of the Roll Call Lodge would know what their Prov . G . M . could do when called upon . That consecration was done in a most splendid manner , for there was not

a hitch from start to finish , and the ceremony must have impressed itself on the minds of the new members . They did not see as much of their Prov . G . M . as they wished and desirtd , but there were other and greater things that had a claim upon him , and they were the exigencies of the Stale . As one of the leaders of the Opposition , Lord George Hamilton had to be in his place in

the House , and those who read lhe pipers knew what a task he had to perform . He asked them could they expect the Prov . G . M . to give up the only three days' holiday he had in the year lo come among them . That work vvas a great strain and they would all join in the hope thai good health would be given him for the ensuing year .

Bro . Lord GEO . HVMII . TON , M . P ., Prov . G . Master , returned thanks , and said he accepted the position subject to the fact that he could only attend if not wanted in lhe I louse of Commons . When it vvas suggested to him by the M . W . G . M . lhat he should be Prov . Grand Master , he knew the state of efficiency which the province had reached , and should have had great reluctance in accepting , had he not ascertained that he would have as

a pillar of support , a far more deseiving brother than himself , Bro . Thrupp , and also the Prov . G . Sec , whose efforts , ability , and tact had brought Middlesex to its present condition . He had received most cordial invitations from the lodges with which he hoped to claim comradeship , but he had never known when questions relating to the hig hest State mbjects might not necessitate his appearance elsewhere . He was conscious of h s own

defects , and in consequence vvas not disposed to exhibit to other brethren in the discharge of their duties , the same tolerance . He belonged to a family that performed to the best of their ability anything they undertook . When any brother was appointed to office in the Prov . Grand Lodge and was to be invested by the Prov . Grand Mastcr , he ought to attend , and unless he could send some valid excuse he would bc liable to lind himself supplanted .

At the same time they must not go too far in that direction for the most efficient Masons were those who in other occupations were the mo > t busily worked . As he lived in London , he hoped the lolges would renew their invitations in the autumn , when he hoped to participate in their ceremonies and of their hospitality . He congratulated the province on the consecration ol another lodge , which gave them two extra collars in Prov .

Grand Lodge . That lodge was local in its o . igiu and in ils support . The authorities who ruled over M isonry had wisely divided the Craft into provinces , and if Freemasonry was to txist , each province should be self supporting . As Middlesex surrounded London , ihey were always ready to welcome the brethren from London , and if these brethren joined the lodges in the province they vvould meet with kindness . It was not in the true interests of Masonry lhat a number of lodges should be created which were

mainly supported liy London Masons , for that extraneous support would compete with the legitimate and local inlcrest of Middlesex . Wherever a petition was promoted by brethren in a locality he vvould forward the idea , but would not entertain any application from brethren outside the province . I le knew lhe ( raft had been brought to a high state of efficiency in the province , and he was desiroii' ; that they should show the ( Jraft that Middlesex vvas a model province .