Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

I should like , if possible , to do some justice to my feelings , but I am so overcome that I am quite unable to give adequate expression to them in words . I assure you that this is one of the happiest moments of my lifeto feel that I have so far succeeded in my humble efforts to do my duty as to gain the goodwill of my brethren . It was only a short time ago that I heard that something secret was going on ; and I must say that those who

had the matter in hand kept the secret very well . When I first heard of it I thought it was only a purely local affair , as I had told the brethren of the priory Lodge that 1 intended to resi gn the office of Secretary . But I afterwards heard it was to be a provincial affair , and when I was told that there was likely to be a very large sum I could not understand it . 1 did not feel that f deserved such a recognition . It looked almost as if the brethren

wanted to get od of me , and that this was to be a sort of retiring allowance . When Bro . Railing told me that I could chose what I like , my firstthought was that as in 1877 1 was madeaLife Governor of the Boys'School , I shouldliketo become a Vice-Patron of that Institution , and thusshow my practical sympathy with Masonic Charity . Naturally , I thought of the Boys' School , not only because I knew that . Bro . McLeod , the Secretary , would be glad of the

money , but also because I knew that it would swell the list of Lord Brooke , who this year presided over its annual Festival . It is now a quarter-of-acentury since I entered Masonic life , and I need hardly say that I have never regretted it . I have always sincerely endeavoured to do my duty , and one of the highest honours I have had has been to accept office under fhrpe successive Hrnv fJranrt lVTacf * . rc I fti-i .-. ! - ., « ,. ., « ,- -U : « j—A f—1 - - * j j ICVII vtiUJUlll

, ... ^ . _ _ .. v ..... u .-. u .... _ . » » ... I-V y \ j \ i y -IIIUCCU IUI this beautiful testimonial . I should like to express my thanks to each individual subscriber , and also to the Committee , amongst whom , I think , my good friend Bro . Railing stands out conspicuously . I feel that I can never repay him for all he has done . I should like to say how much I owe to Bro . Railing , who is at all times ready to give me his kindly advice and assistance . I shall value this testimonial for the remainder of my daysnot only

, intrinsically , but as a reminder of the regard and good feeling which has been shown to me by my bret * ren of the Province of Essex . I am very grateful also to the Prov . Grand Master for making the presentation . I must apologise for having so imperfectly expressed my thanks —( cries of " No , no" )—and in conclusion I can assure you that so long as I Vive 1 shall ever remember this occasion with the greatest pride and satisfaction .

On the motion of the Prov . GRAND MASTER a hearty vote of thanks was accorded lo the brethren of the Priory Lodge for the great trouble they had taken to provide for the reception of Provincial Grand Lod ge , and to the Gieat Eastern Railway Company for the special facilities they had afforded , and his lordship then announced that the met ting for next year would be held under the banner of the Easterford Lodge , No . 2342 , Kdvedon . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed .

After the close ot the lodge the brethren adjourned to the Old Ship Hotel , where between 150 and 160 sat down to an excellent banquet well served by the host . Lord Brooke presided , and was supported on his ri ght and left by the distinguished visitors already mentioned .

The proceedings were characterised throughout with great heartiness , and the brethren of the Priory Lodge were most assiduous in their attention to the comfort of their guests . In the course of the evening ' s proceedings , Bro . MCLEOD , Secretary of the Boys' School , took occasion to very heartily thank the Province of Essex for the noble support they had given the School that year .

It should be mentioned thai the presentation to Bro . Lucking consisted of a Vicc-Patronship of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; a cabinet containing an assortment of all the necessary knives , forks , and spoons for the table ( 203 articles ); and a specially handsome silver tea and coffee service and tankard . These last articles were engraved with Bro . Lucking ' s monogram , while a brass plate , surmounted with the arms of the county ,

was placed on the cabinet containing the cutlery , engraved as follows : "Province of Essex . The Ri ght Hon . the Lord Brooke , R . W . P . G . M . At the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Southend , July i 8 th , 1893 , this cabinet , together with a Vice-Patronship of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , a silver tea and coffee service and tankard ,

were presented to W . Bro . Albert Lucking , P . M . 160 , P . M . and Sec . 1000 . P . G . P . Eng ., and Prov . G . D . C . Essex , P . Z . and Treas . 1000 , and P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., in recognition of his eminent services to the Provincial Grand Lodge and Freemasonry generally in Ess x during the past twenty-five years . "

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY .

A meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Surrey was held on Friday , the -nst instant , at St . Nicholas Parish Hall , Guildford , when there was a numerous attendance of brethren . Bro . Col . Gerald Noel Money , C . B ., Provincial Grand Master , was supported

by—Bros . Fred West , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; the Rev . H . Houndle , Prov . G . Chap . ; Dr . C . C . Gibbs , l ? iov . G . Treas . ; Chas . Greenwood , Prov . G . Sec ; R . F . Gould , P . G . D . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . S . B . ; H . J . P . Dumas , P . G . D . ; Dr . H . J . Strong , P . G . S . B . ; S . G . Kirchhoffer , D . G . D . of C . ; Gordon Smith , P . G . Stwd . ; J . D . Lanjfton , P . P . J . G . W . ; H . E . Frances , P . P . G . D . ; F . A . Bowles , P . D . G . S . W . Punjab ; W . H . Brereton , P . G . O .,- Fountain Meed , P . P . G . O . ; G .

J- aarnett , W . M . 1929 ; the Rev . H . W . Turner , P . P . G . Chap . ; C . Pulman , l . S . G . D . Northumberland ; H . J . Thompson , P . P . S . G . W . ; David Hughes P . D . G . D . of C . ; J . E , Street , P . S . G . W . ; F . A . Guimaraens , P . S . G . W . ; Jas . Nightingale , P . P . G . Reg . ; H . C . S . Dumas , P . P . J . G . W . ; H . Summers , P . P . G . £ . B . ; A . Wilson , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; F . Flood , P . P . G . i . of W . ; A . F . Asher , P . G . P . H . M . Hobbs , P . P . J . G . W . ; F . S . Smyth , P . D . G . D . of C ; and many Others .

Prov . Grand Lodge was opened , the Prov . Grand Master saluted , and oie minutes confirmed . On the roll ol lodges being called over , every lodge " 1 the province was found to be represented . The Report of the Finance and Audit Committee was received showing balances on the General and Charit y Funds of £ 169 os . gd . and £ 15 13 s . respectively , and recomniend-Ul g that the sum ot 10 guineas should be voted to each of the two funds in

wmnection with the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The report was ; " ! opted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The Prov . Grand Master appointed several brethren to serve on the ¦ utdit Committee for the ensuing year , and ,

On the proposition of Bro . Dr . STRONG , the Committee were instructed jo inquire into the mtthod of keeping the accounts and report to the Prov . "rand Lodge . The report of the Charity Committee was next read by the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY , showing that 27 out of 38 lodges had sent representatives .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

The number of votes collected had been 2279 Girls , 303 Boys , 493 Widows , and 586 Male ( R . M . B . I ) . The PROV . GRAND MASTER said it was a matter for sincere congratulation that they should be successful in their first cases for the Girls' School and Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The report , on the motion of Bro . LANCASTER , was adopted .

A notice of motion by the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY was next considered and agreed to , referring to certain alterations in the Provincial By-laws with reference to the returns to be submitted to Prov . Grand Lodge . Bro . Dr . C . C . Gibbs was unanimously re-elected Prov . Grand Treas ., and the following Prov . Grand Officers were appointed and invested :

Bro . Major F . A . Bowles , 1395 ... ... Prov . S . G . VV . „ T . T . Bucknill , Q . C ., M . P ., 2422 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . Chichester A . W . Reade , 1920 . ... ) ,, „ ~ , „ Rev . H . Wilson , 370 ... ... j Prov . G . Chaps . „ Dr . C . C . Gibbs ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ b . C . Morrison , 416 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Chas . Greenwood , 410 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ C . J . Barnett , 1 929 ... ... ¦¦¦! r , c / - 11 „ Dr . W . Hai g Brodic , 1046 j Prov . S . G . Ds . ,, Geo . H . Chapman , izz 6 ... ,.. ) ,, T ~ ... „ W . J . Mason ,-46 j Prov . J . G . Ds . „ T . Aitken , 777 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ H . J . Bidwell , 2120 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ Dr . F . Sydney Smyth , 19 S 2 ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ C . A . Hardwick , 1347 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, Major Geo . Collins , 2317 ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

,, Geo . Wall , 22 ^ 4 ... ... ... Ir . / -- c- ^ 1 ¦> „ J . Hodgkin , , 872 j Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, A . Briscoe , 1929 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . A . Latham , 410 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec .

„ 1 . Montague , 1638 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ B . Colbron , 889 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, Harold J . Levett , 452 ... ... ... ~ j ,, Fredk . Jacob , 1851 ... ... ... I „ H . D . Aclett , 1802 ... ... ... I „ ^ ^ .

„ Percy H . Hall , 20 9 s ... ... _ r rrov . u . otwas . ,, Frank W . Leaver , 2096 ... ... I ,, Daniel Hughes , 2222 ... ... ,.. J „ R . Potter .:. ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed . A banquet was afterwards held at the Constitutional Hall , High-street , the necessary arrangements having been undertaken by the Royal Alfred Lodge , No . 777 , and Onslow Lodge , No . 2234 . Special praise is due to Bro . Aitken , Prov . G . S . of W ., for his exertions in securing the comfort of the brethren .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were subsequently honoured . " The Queen and the Craft " having been given , The PROV . GRAATD MASTER proposed "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and said became there that day with the full intention of proposing in Provincial Grand Lodge that an address should be sent to his Royal Highness in connection with the late marriage . It was not , however ,

too late , for they wished with all their hearts to render all honour to the Prince of Wales , and wish him every happiness for his son and daughter-inlaw . As the brethren were all with him on this subject , they would remedy the omission , and send their M . W . G . M . a congratulatory address on the marriage of his son . If they would leave in his hands the carrying out of the address , he should be happy to do what he was sure was the wish of every single Mason present .

In giving" I he Grand Ofiicers , " the PROV . GRAND MASTER said he was sorry to say the Earl of Lathom had been very ill from influenza , but was now sufficiently recovered to go to sea for the benefit of his health . It was the hearty wish of all Freemasons that the Pro G . M . would return thoroughly restored in health . There had never been a Pro G . M . who bad

done more to deserve the gratitude and respect of every Freemason , and the same could be said of the Deputy G . M ., who worked hard in the interest of Freemasonry . There was a very distinguished member of Grand Lodge with them on the present occasion—Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . S . B . —whose name he would couple with the toast .

Bro . C . F . MATIER , P . G . S . B ., said it gave him a large amount of pleasure to be calied upon to respond for a body of brethren , among whom he thought they might fairly claim to reckon some of the hardest working brethren in the Cralt . The Grand Officers were those who had been promoted to what had been called the House of Lords of Freemasonry . He was happy to say that those who were so promoted , did not retire upon their laurels , but still continued to do the best they could in the interests of the Order . Of this he was forcibly reminded that night . Some few years ago he had the

pleasure of being present at the installation of their Prov . Grand Master , and the happy auguries of success and prosperity which were then indulged in had been amp ly fulfilled and more than fulfilled . He had to congratulate the Province ot ijurrey in being in possession of a most energetic , most hard working , and most popular Prov . Grand Master . In the name of all the Grand Officers , who were happy and who felt it an honour to number the Prov . Grand Master among their colleagues -he thanked them most heartily .

Bro . b . WEST , Dep . Prov . G . M ., then said it was his duty and pleasure to propose a toast which he was sure would be received as it always had been in that province , with enthusiasm , and enthusiasm in this case which was certainly deserved . They had Jieard from Bro . Matier -and none knew better than he the value of a Mason—that the Prov . Grand Master

was appreciated for the services he had rendered lo the Craft . They , of course all remembered the time referred to by Bro . Matier , when they had the grand meeting at Croydon , and when Col . Money was introduced to the Province of Surrey by Lord Lathom . As they all knew , the Provincial Grand Master not only took a deep interest in the Craft at large , but he had taken a very active part in promoting the welfare of the great Charities of their Order . He was not out of place in telling them that Col . Money was about to lake the chair at a Festival in a Degree of Masonry with which

they were not actually connected , but with which they were in deep sympathy , and that showed them that his Masonic interest was not confined to the Craft over which he so excellently presided in Surrey . The present occasion was not one lor making long speeches , and nothing he could say would add to the popularity of the toast , and he would , therefore , ask them to join him most heartily in Wishing long lilc , happiness , and prosperity lo their Provincial Grand Master , and might he live for many years to reign over the affections of a large and happy province .