Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

Bro . Sir H . TRUEMAN WOOD , P . A . G . D . C , replying for " The Visitors , " said he remembered the Provincial Graud Master when he vvas one of the most popular boys of the school whicli hid sent so many distinguished statesmen tothe country—a school in the county of Middlesex . It had been a source of great satisfaction to watch his career , as an old schoolfellow , and he congratulated the province in its Provincial Grand Mastcr , and also upon the distinguished position it had attained .

" I re Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Officers , Present , and Past , " was tH last toast proposed by the PROV . GRAND M ASTER , who remarked thai no brother had done more for Freemasonry than the distinguished Mason , l !~ e Deputy Prov . Grand Master . For 12 years Bro . Thrujjp had been indefatigable in lhe province , and that was not his first connection with Masonry . Bro . Thrupp was one of the greatest

masters of the ntual lc had met wilh ; his word w ; is law upon questions of ceremony , and he c nveyed his authority in so kindly a manner that every brother felt he was indebted for a suggestion rather than that he had been reproved for ignorance . Of the Prov . Grand Secretary , he could say , speaking with a long public experience , that it was a real pleasure to be associated with two gentlemen who gave so much zeal in the performance of voluntary duties in order to promote the interests of lhc greatest Order to which the ) '

belonged . These brethren upon whom he relied , had obtained from the various Secretaries information respecting the attendance of the officers , so that they could ascertain th ^ se who habitually undertook duiics , and who vvere not prepared to discharge them . If such brethren came lo that province for honours they made a mistake , for they would be put on one side . There being a high standard in Middlesex , it vvas their endeavour ra'her to try and improve that standard , and he was glad thai in the l ' rov . S . G . W . and the Prov . J . G . W . they possessed two brethren who had well earned their distinction .

Bro . RAYMOND H . THKI ' IT , D . P . G . M ., in response , said he had endeavoured during the years he had been in the province to do his duly in seeing that the Prov . Grand Master ' s orders were c ; irtitd out . The Prov . Grand Officers always received a hearty greeting , and appreciated that kindness . That had been an incentive to him in his work , for there was no man in the province who had its interest and welfare more at heart than he had . Twelve

years ago it was the exception to see a Mastcr install his successor ; now the exception was the other way , and he hoped in a year or two there would be no exceptions whatever . Whenever he or the Provincial Grand Secretary visited a Iodge there was " a chiel amang ye takin' notes , " and if they did not do right they would repent il . They made a note of every brother who did his

work , and he would receive the reward due to . industry and merit . He hoped the Provincial Grand Officers who had been appointed would not think they could now leave their lodges , but that they vvould stick to the province , and g ive the Provincial Grand Master that support he so richly deserved . The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

1 nder the direction of Bro . H . D . ivan Wetton , Mus . Bac , P . I ' . G . Orix . a selection of music vvas rendered , in which the following assisted : Bros . \ V Shiner , E . Branscombe , Lovett King , and Wingrove Ives .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY .

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey was held at lhe Public Hall , Croydon , on Tuesday , the 24 th inst ., under the presidency of the l'rov . Grand Master , Bro . Col . G . Noel Money , C . B . Thc arrangements for the meeting were entrusted to lhe lodges meeting in Croydon , and resulted in a very successful gathering . The lodge room and banqueting hall were

tastefully decorated with flowers , the former being further adorned with the banners of the respective lodges . Amongst the numerous brethren who were energetic in securing a success , special mention should be made of the services of Bro . Woodward , to whom in a large degree the satisfactory result was due .

The Prov . Grand Master was supported by Bros . F . West , P . G . D ., Dep . Prov . G . M . ; E . Letchworth ,. G . Sec ; W . W . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; Dr . H . J . Stiong , P . A . G . D . C ; | . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; R . Clowes , P . G . S . B . ; C . Bellon , P . D ' . G . D . C ; H , I . Dumas , C Greenwood , P . G . Sec . ; T . T . Bucknill , O . C . M . P .,

Prov . J . G . W . ; Dr . Gibbs , l'rov . G . Treas . ; Alderman S . L . Rymer , Mayor of (' ro ) don ; V . Freeman , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Sec . Sussix ; Twador Nachez Stevenson Hoyte , G . Org . ; | . D . Langton , P . P . J . G . W . ; H . M . Hobbs , P . P . G . W . ; Rev . J . Houndle , P . P . G . Chap . ; F . Cambridge , P . P . G . Org ., and many others .

lhe Prov . G . Lodge was opened , and , the minutes having been confirmed , a letter was read from His Royal Hi ghness the M . W . G . M . thanking the province tor the vote of congratulation passed on the occasion of the m image of H . R . M . the Dukeof York . The roll of lodges was called , the Weyside Lodge being the only absentee . In moving lhe adoption of the report of the Finance and Audit Committee , Bro . Dr . Strong referred to the enquiry instituted into the method of

keeping the provincial accounts . Everything was now in proper order , and the Committee specially appointed for the purpose had concluded its labours . The report , which was unanimously adopted , recommended the following grants : 10 guineas to each of the following Institutions : Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , Widows' Fund , and Male Fund , and five guineas to the Croydon Hospital .

lhe report of the Charity Committee was then considered . The DEI 1 . PROV . G . M ., in proposing its acceptance , urged upon the brethren the necessity of recognising the importance of thc work done . The organisation had been in existence two years and four candidates had been elected . He

hoped they vvould cordially support the case of the daughter of Bro . Mauley for the Girls' School . Bro . J . I ) . LANGTON , P . P . G . W ., Secretary to the Committee , endorsed the remarks of the Dep . Prov . G . M ., and said they possessed a fund , which was increasing , to assist deserving cases wailing for election to one or other of the Institutions .

On lhe proposition of Bro . Dr . STRUM ; , Bro . Gibbs was unanimousl y rc-el pctcd Prov . Grand Treasurer , and the Prov . Grand Master appointed and invested the following olliccis : Bro . Frederick Flocd , 1149 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . .. Frank W . Leaver , 2096 ... ... Prov . j . G . W .

1 . Rev . Herbert Wilson , 370 ... ... ) ,, ' ,. ... u Kev . Thomas Bentham , 11 , 10 ... j I rov . G . Chaps . 1- Dr . C C . Gibbs , 1872 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . « P- H . Hall , 2095 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . 11 Chas . Greenwood , 410 .., ... ... Prov . G , Sec .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

Bio . Chas . Cheel , 77 / ¦ ... ... ... ' . n c „ .. „ ILJ . Levett , 452 ... ... j Prov . SG . Deacons . ,, T . T . Phillips , 1920 ... ... ¦ IT , , f- r , „ J . R . Mosse . 46 .-i ... ... 3 Prov . J . G . Deacon ,,

,, I' .. G . Feild , I 3 ( . J ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . ,, A . J . Harris , 1356 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, Fredk . Jacob , 1851 ... ... ... Prov . Dep . G . D . C . „ II . D . Aslelt , 1892 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, Edward Miles , 2234 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

,, Daniel Hughes , 2222 ... ... ... i 0 <~ C _ . J r > „ Samuel Hewett , 2146 ... ... ... i ™ ov' ° - - Brs - ,, Edward Branscombe , 1929 ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, W . A . Latham , 410 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ J . W . Chapman , 1981 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ W . S . Jackson , 1364 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

,, Dr . Scanes Spicer , 410 . ... ,.. " ] ,, Dr . Joseph Pollard , 1826 ... ... | ,, W . H . Ransom , 1892 ... ... ... ! „ ,. .. . . , ; K . T . Madeley , 2120 J-Prov . G . Stwds . ,, E . 1-1 . Lewis , 2444 ... ... ... I

,, Chas . O . Burgess , 2473 ... ... J ,, Robert Potter ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . J . D . Langton , P . P . G . W ., was re-appointed Secretary to the

C hanty Committee . The PNOV . GRAND MASTER then said that since they last met at Croydon they had added five lodges and another was about to be consecrated , which would bring the total up to 40 . If they took into consideration the number of lodges and the extremely small number of Piovinciil appointments , they would see what a difficult task it was to give worthy recognition of the

services of all the brethren . It was absolutel y impossible for each lodge to receive a collar every year , and it must come to that in Surrey , as it did in other provinces , that a simple appointment to the Purple was a recognition of a brother ' s merits , and could not be gauged by lhe actual grade . He hoped in future that brethren vvould not look so much to the figure on their aprons , but to the fact that they were Provincial Grand Officers . There vvas

one point he wished to mention . It was a warning to some breihren , and should always be borne in mind , that Freemasonry was not a benefit society , but a Charitable society . Grand Lodge had very wisely named the sum of five guineas as the lowest for initiations , so that no candidate should be initialed who was not in a position to exercise that first and greatest characteristic of every Mason—Charity . When lodges went out of their

way to make it easy for brethren to pay the fee , they were going against the first principles of Masonry , and were defeating thc object of the rule of Grand Lodge . He had heard of cases—he would not say in that province —where women had said they were provided for , because lheir husbands were Masons . Their aim should be to assist others , and not to want to obtain assistance .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was then form illy closed , and about 150 brethren subsequently dined together in the smaller hall , where the customary toasts were afterwards acknowledged . " The Queen and the Craft " and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " having been honoured , The PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed " The Grand Officers , " and

welcomed the Provincial Grand Master of Hants , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., whom he hoped would be induced to repeat his visit . Sussex was also represented by Bro . Freeman , P . G . D ., the Prov . G . Sec . Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wi ght , having returned thanks , said that the Provinces of Surrey and Hants were so closely allied and connected , that they should pay frequent visits , if possible , to each

other . He knew the late Provincial Grand Master of Surrey for some years , and was glad to continue the friendship with his successor , who was an energetic Mason , ever ready to perform any Masonic duty . He was glad to hear the great strides Freemasonry was making in Su rey , and it was of the greatest importance that they should not forget those grand princi ples upon which Masonry was founded , and that every M ason had a responsibility

attached to himself to make himself worthy of the Craft . L"t each brother not think lightly of the Order , but let him feel that in his own individual capacity he had a duty to perform , and let the outer world know that he was a worthy scion of the Craft . They should never act in a manner to g ivij some truth to the aspersions of the outer world , but act so that the finger of

scorn was never pointed at them . The words of their Prov . Grand Master were well worthy of their attention , and he hoped they would be acted up to in the future . He thanked them heartily for the kind way in which he had been received , and should not forget the words of Colonel M jney , when he had an opportunity of repeating his visit on same future occasion .

Bro . Alderman S . L . RYMER ( Mayor of Croydon ) , proposed " The Health of the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , " and said he esteemed it a great honour to have been invited to take part in the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodgeof Surrey on that occasion , and he had been extremely impressed with the way in which the work was conducted . He was sure it would be their desire to join with him right heartily in drinking to the Prov .

Grand Master ' s very good health . Surrey was to be congratulated on having such a Prov . Grand Master . His name as a distinguished officer was a household word , for they knew how he served his sovereign and country in India in the grand profession of which he was so distinguished a member , and , in regard to the Craft in India , he had worked most admirably and with great effect . Returning to this count , y after his labours , Col . Money might

very well have rested upon his well-earned laurels , but he was ready to go heart and soul into the grand work of Freemasonry . Under these circumstances , he was sure it would be the pleasure of the brethren present to drink Col . Money ' s very good health , and wish him long life to fulfil the duties he now so ably performed . The PROV . GRVND MASTER , in reply , said he felt at a loss to properly return thanks . AH his life long , whatever he had tried to do , he had tried to

do with all his might , and as he had tried in the past so he hoped to try in tho future . He wished to take that opportunity of thanking the province for the ex remely noble and energetic way in which they supported him at tlie last Festival for the Benevolent Institution . The Province of Surrey did credit to itself and to its Provincial Grand Master . He thanked them all most heartily , and vvas certain that as long as Masonry flourished , Surrey would

always be one of the foremost in the support of the three Institutions lor which they existed as Masons . As time was passing , he would only say he thanked tnem all from the bottom of his heart , and go on to a more pleasing duty , that of proposing another toast— " The Health of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the Prov . Grand Officers . " It was difficult to express in a few words what he felt as to the value of Bro . West ' s services , for a