Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales.

Bro . Lord LLANGATTOCK proposed the toast of "The Queen , " which , having been drunk with musical honours , he followed up by proposing " The Health of the Prince of Wales , the M . W . Grand Master of England , " remarking that it was almost impossible to conceive that any one section of

F . nglishmen could drink this toast more enthusiastically than another . Still they , as Freemasons , felt that they were bound to him by other ties , for he was not only heir to the throne , but he was more than a brother Freemason . ( Applause . )

Bro . Lord LLANGATTOCK , the Provincial Grand Master , then gave the toast of "The M . W . the Installing Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Pro Grand Master . " He described it as the toast of the evening . He was quite sure the toast would be heartily received . ( Applause . ) He

could say a great deal about the Earl of Lathom , as he had known him for about 40 years . He had won the hearts of all English Freemasons , and had taken the place of his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales on many noteworthy occasions .

Bro . the Earl of LATHOM , responding , said he thanked them sincerely for the hearty way in which they had received the toast . He pointed out that it had been his duty to go about the country visiting the various provinces for a number of years , but he was bound to say that in the eastern province the work of the province was admirably performed . And , as far as the banquet

was concerned , he would go farther and say that they must have had an efficient and excellent committee , and a most capable caterer to have provided a hot dinner for over 400 persons . It was no mean achievement , and he heartily congratulated the Stewards and the caterers for the way in which they had performed their work . He only wished that he could have found it

as good wherever he went . He was going next week into Westmoreland , which adjoined his own province , and where he knew he would receive a hearty welcome . Yet he knew it could not be better than the welcome they had given him in Cardiff , and for which he thanked them from the bottom of his heart .

Bro . Colonel LYNE , in appropriate terms proposed the toast of " The Officers of the Grand Lodge , " coupled with the name of Lord Kensington Bro . Lord KENSINGTON , in response , said it ought to be a great encouragement to the brethren to look forward to the time when they might hope to attain the office of Grand Lodge , and hold office in London , for he could

assure them that they could learn a great deal of the working of Masonry there . He could echo the words of Colonel Lyne in saying what an addition to the Grand Lodge had been gained by the installation of Lord Llangattock . Like the Earl of Lathom , he had had the pleasure of knowing Lord Llangattock for more years than he cared to remember . They were all three

at Eton together , and he deeply regretted to say that he was the oldest of the three . Their Worshipful Pro Grand Master had paid his second visit to Wales . Ten years ago he had visited the neighbouring province , over which he ( the speaker ) had the honour to preside . He understood that a most cordial invitation had been given to the Earl of Lathom that he should

visit them again . He hoped they would give him a most cordial reception . Nevertheless , he hoped the time would be far distant when he ( the Earl of Lathom ) would have to enter the eastern province to install another Provincial Grand Master , and , perhaps , without being considered selfish , he migh t express the same with regard to the western division .

The Right Hon . the Earl of LATHOM , Pro Grand Master , then proposed " The Health and Long Life of their Newly-Installed Prov . Grand Master , Lord Llangattock , " and in doing so he again referred to the pleasure it had

given him to be present that day to perform the installation ceremony . He knew Lord Llangattock was a true Mason at heart , and that he would do his duty by the province , and from the cordial way he had been received in Grand Lodge he knew he would be well backed up by the brethren .

The Right Worshipful Bro . Lord LLANGATTOCK , who was received with continued cheering , in responding expressed his hearty thanks for the welcome given him , and said the remarks of the Pro Grand Master had touched him pretty closely , and they had brought back to his mind the days of his youth . He eugologised the efforts uf the late Dep . Prov . Grand Master

for Monmouthshire with regard to the Masonic Charities , and continuing , slid he wore on his breast the magnificent jewel which had been presented to his ( the speaker's ) father over 3 o ] years ago in consideration of services which he so freely and heartily gave to the Masons of Monmouthshire , and he ( Lord Llangattock ) hoped , when his work was done and when he had

crossed the bar , he might leave this province with a name as beloved and respected as that of his father . He rejoiced in such a magnificent gathering as that of that day , and , referring to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master

( Bro . tennant ) , he said it was owing to his assistance and advice that he had been able to make such a good selection of Grand Officers , and he felt sure that with the assistance of those officers the Masonic work of the province would be satisfactorily performed .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , the Grand Secretary , then proposed "The Masonic Charities , " and referred in high terms to the admirable way in which those Charities were supported and distributed . Bro . J . MCLEOD , responding on behalf of the Boys' School , complimented the Eastern Division on having sent them such excellent Stewards

from that province , and pointed out that their new Prov . Grand Master had si o . vn his interest in the Institution by taking , not only a Stewardship , but by becoming a Vice-President of the Institution . Referring to the Charities generally , he said they were maintaining , if not in luxury , at least in competence , no less than 500 aged and impoverished men and women , about 238 bays , and about the same number of gir / s .

Bro . W . G . DAVIES also responded , and at the same time appealed for the same sympathy and support on behalf of the Girls' School during the current year .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales.

Lord LLANGATTOCK then proposed " The Health of the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . Marmaduke Tennant , " a toast which was received with quite an ovation , the whole gathering joining in the well-known chorus , " For he ' s

a jolly good fellow . " His lordship remarked that Bro . Tennant s name was a household word amongst the members of the Eastern Province , and he hoped his respected brother would accompany him in visiting every lod ge in the province .

Bro . TENNANT , who was again heartily received , said he could not for the moment realise that he was again the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Eastern Division . For many years past he had made up his mind that when a vacancy occurred in the office of Provincial Grand Master it would be a convenient opportunity for him to slide out of office and retire

He thought it was time after serving 17 years that he should make way for a younger and more energetic brother in the province , and , secondly , in consequence of the increased duties pertaining to the office since he became their Deputy Provincial Grand Master . The lodges in the province had nearly doubled , and his own professional duties had also increased , and he

felt that he could not devote that time to the work of the province which it demanded . They might ask him under the circumstances why he was again in the position of Deputy Provincial Grand Master . He could not explain it better than by explaining how he became a married man . He had never proposed to his wife and she had never proposed to him , but , somehow , they

were married , and he thought that was exactly the case between himself and their Most Worshipful Provincial Grand Master . In conclusion , he hoped that as long as he occupied his position he should do his dut y faithfully and conscientiously , not only to the satisfaction of the Provincial Grand Master , but to the satisfaction of the brethren generally .

Other toasts followed , the proceedings being most harmonious throughout . It should be mentioned that during the course of the evening a capital programme of music was supplied by Mr . Matthews' string band , which a dded greatly to the enjoyment of those present .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 25 th instant , in the Assembly Hall , Darlington , at which / there was a very large attendance of Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , and of the Masters and brethren of the several lodges . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., presided , and was supported by—Bros , the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., D . P . G . M . ; Dr . C . D . Hill Drury , P . P . S . G . W ., as P . S . G . W . ; G . W . Jennings , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . R . Crookall , P . G . C . ; I .

Thompson , P . G . T . ; J . Hanby Holmes , P . G . R . ; Robert . Hudson , P . G . S . B . Eng . P . G . Sec . ; John Holt , P . S . G . D . ; T . J . Johnson , P . S . G . D . ; Jas . Shaw , P . J . G . D . Thomas Dunn , P . G . D . C ; John Teasdale , P . D . G . D . C ; Henry Tomkins , P . A . G D . C . ; J . P . Daley , P . G . S . B . ; R . W , Wraith , P . G . Std .. Br . ; John Joel , P . A . G Sec . ; W . J . Brown , M . D ., P . G . P . ; Tweedy , as P . G . Org . ; E . Micklethwait , H Dowdeswell , G . Middlemiss , John Barnet , and C . H . Toomer , P . G . Stewards ; T Grieve , P . G . Tyler ; a large number of P . P . G . Officers , and others .

The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the P . G . M . and the D . P . G . M . were saluted with Grand honours .

The minutes of the Fund Committee were read by Bro . R . HUDSON , P . G . S ., and the Committee ' s recommendations were adopted , namely , that jo guineas be given to each cf the following Charities : The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons ; 50 guineas to the Durham Masonic Education Fund , and grants of ^ 20 each to the widows of two deceased brethren .

Bro . the Rev . Canon TRISTRAM ) D . P . G . M ., moved the adoption of the report , which was agreed to . The Standirg Orders were agreed to be suspended in order , under very exceptional circumstances , to relieve the widow of a brother just recently deceased , and a grant was accordingly made ..

The new rules and regulations ot the Chanties Committee of the province were approved , on the motion of Bro . W . C . BARRON , seconded by Bro . \ V , B \ RLO \ V . The P . G . M . expressed his thanks to Bro . R . Luck for the valuable

assistance given to the Charities Committee , and acknowledged the great interest taken in the work of the Committee by the Provincial Grand . Secretary , and the members of the Committee generally . The roll of lodges was called , when the whole of the lodges were represented by the W . M . or other officers .

The W . M ., Bro . RIGHV , of the Bede Lodge , Jarrow , gave an invitation to the Prov . Grand Lodge to hold its next annual meeting at Jarrow . . - .. The PROVINCIAL GRANU-JMASTER , addressing the brethren , expressed h ' regret , which he was sure would be shared in by all present , that during the year they hsd lost by death a number of most excellent Masons , and not only so , but personal friends . He specially mentioned Bros . B . Lew and \ V .

I . iddell , of Sunderland ; Canon Cundill , Mr . J . L . and Mr . C . E . Barnes of Durham . The roll of lodges , he remarked , showed that Masonry . in the province was in a very satisfactory condition . There was , after making deductions on account of deaths and other causes , an increase of 13 members this year , the whole number being 26 95 , which was the largest number 0 ' contributing members they had ever had reported to Grand Lodge . Alluding

to the fact that he was about to confer the office of Senior Warden upon Loro Barnard , he expressed the pleasure he felt that his lordship was showing such zeal and activity in Masonry , and his wish that other men o » prominence in the county would take similar interest in the Craft . The Prov . G . Master then appointed the following brethren as officers f " the ensuing year :

Bro . H . B . Tristram , D . D . ... ... ... Prov . D . G . M . „ Lord Barnard , 1650 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ T . C . Mabane , 2418 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . " * -1- M . Thompson , 1932 ) Prov . G . Chaps . ,, Rev . E . W . Drage , 48 ... ... ... ) „ Fred . Wade , 1389 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas ,