Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

only . One lodge had removed from Shore'ham to Brighton to secure suitable rooms and more convenient accommodation . The contributions to the Masonic Institutions had been liberal and satisfactory . In view of the jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons , many of the Masons in Sussex had offered themselves as Stewards at the next Festival , ancl a considerable

amount of contributions had been promised to that Institution before it was announced that he , the Provincial Grand Master , would preside at the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . Many brethren had , however , volunteered to serve as Stewards , but he was afraid the donations would not be so good as they should be in consequence of the previous arrangements . Still , he did hope the brethren would support him , so that

the Institution mig ht not be the loser . Applications had been made at different times for three new lodges in the province , but as , upon due consideration , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master could not recommend the petitions to the favourable consideration of the M . W . Grand Master they were not forwarded to the Grand Lodge . It gave him great pleasure

to find that he had been able to arrange to pay the Provincial Grand Lodo-e a visit at their annual meeting . The returns from tlie various lodges had been completed , and he was very glad to find a perfect Unanimity among the brethren and a sincere wish on their part to continue a straightforward and united province .

The following" were appointed Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuingyear , and were invested by his Royal Highness -with the insignia of their respective offices , viz .:

• Bro . F . Bellingham , P . M . 341 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . Wright , W . M . 311 , P . M . 1303 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . . ; f . Puttick P . M . 40 | Prov . G . Chaplains . ,, Rev . P . Crick , S . W . 851 * ... ... ) r „ J . M . Reed , P . M . 732 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ G . T . Shaft , P . M . 811 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ V . P . Freeman , P . M . 315 , 732 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ "f . Cook , P . M . 1842 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . C . Couldwell , P . M . 1465 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ G . B . Simpson , P . M . 1141 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ W . Gill , P . M . 1829 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Rawlinson , P . M . 1797 ... ... ' ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ J . H . Wright , P . M . 1110 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " " IY £ V , ""™ / P fIV r r 1 Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ H . R . Edwards , P . M . 1636 .... ... j „ A . King , P . M . 271 ... .... ... Prov . G . Org . „ B . Burfield , P . M . 1821 ... .... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . .. C . W . Temmett , P . M . 851 . ' .. ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ J . Terry , P . M . 315 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ H . E , Breach , P . M . 38 ... „ H . Langton , P . M . 271 ... „ R . T . Davison P . M . 1184 L Prov . G . Stewards . „ J . P . Slingsby Roberts , P . M . 1400 ... „ E . Medcalf , P . M . 1947 ... „ J . C . Buckwell , J . W . 1797 , P . M . 2187 ... J ,, H . H . Hughes ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room , where they sat down to an elegant banquet . H . R . H . the Duke of CONNAUGHT presided , and opened the toast list by proposing " The Queen and the Craft , " which was duly honoured . In submitting "The MAV . G . M ., H . R . H . the Princeof Wales , " he said he was sure no words were required from him to recommend the toast . They were all well acquainted with the M . W . Grand Master , and had often expressed

their admiration of the manner in which he had carried out his duties as the head of the Masonic Craft . For 16 years his Royal Highness had occupied the position of Grand Master , and , looking back , it would be acknowledged that the Craft hacl experienced great prosperity and advancement . Among the Grand Masters who had ruled none ever had Freemasonry more deeply at heart than his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales . They had already occupied some time at the banquet , and as there was a concert to come , he would content himself by asking them to cordially accept the toast .

H . R . H . the Dukeof CONNAUGHT next proposed "'Ihe Pro G . M ., the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Lathom ; the Deputy G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He said he had an easy task in presenting the toast . They were honoured by the presence of several members of Grand Lodge ; on other occasions they had been indebted to members of Grand Lodge for their . presence and assistance , and the Sussex brethren cordially welcomed them .

There were present Bros . Money , Oswell , Thompson , Eastes , West , Currie , Burney , Terry , Clowes , and Matier . He gave them a hearty welcome , and wished to thank them for their attendance . They were all proud to see so many present . The members of Grand Lodge worked hard and took a deep interest in the Craft , and they were deeply indebted to them for maintaining by their zealous efforts the purity , simplicity , and integrity of the Craft .

Bro . MONEY , in responding , congratulated the province upon being presided over by such an able Provincial Grand Master . It had given him great pleasure in being present , and he wished to thank them sincerely and heartily for their kind reception .

Bro . THOMPSON also acknowledged the toast . I he Prov . Grand Master had said that the province was honoured by the attendance of the Grand Officers . He himself thought the honour was quite the other way , for the members of the province had done them great honour in receiving them with a cordiality which was not surpassed in any other province .

Bro . the Right Hon . Sir W . T . MARRIOTT , Deputy Prov . G . M ., next proposed " The Prov . Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught . " It was a toast which was always received , he said , with enthusiasm . The Prov . Grand Master was present , or he would say more respecting him . His Royal Hig hness was regarded by the Masons of Sussex not only with respect but affection , and the oftener he came amongst

them the more delighted they were . An occasion was approaching when they could give substantial proof of their attachment , and he trusted they would rally round their Prov . Grand Master and render him great support when he presided at the Girls' School Festival . Each lodge would , he hoped , send a Steward , and all would , he believed , do their utmost to make the occasion a magnificent success .

After the toast of "The Prov . Grand Master , " Bro . Fielder sang in splendid style the last verse of " The Lines of Masonry , " both the words and music of which are from the versatile pen of a very worthy Sussex Mason , Bro . St . Clair , P . P . J . G . W .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

H . R . H . the Duke of CONNAUGHT , on rising to respond , was enthusiastically received . He said he thanked them from his heart for the kind and cordial welcome they had extended to him . It had been a source of great regret to him that , owing to his social and professional engagements , he could not visit them more often . He had always met with kindness at their hands , and was deeply sensible of their esteem . He felt they had , in their

Dcptity Prov . Grand Master , one who entered into his own feelings ancl gave him every support . He had experienced much pleasure in spendinoa few hours with the brethren , ancl should long remember their cordial welcome . Before sitting down he said he had great pleasure in proposino" The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott

Q . C , M . P ., Past Grand Steward . " When a short time since they lost their respected ancl beloved D . P . G . M ., the late Bro . Gerard Ford , it gave him great satisfaction to find Sir W . T . Marriott ready to accept the duties of the hi gh office . Personally , he was grateful to him , for he was a true Mason at heart , and all the brethren in the province valued him deeply , feeling that he did his utmost to promote the cause they all loved .

Bro . Sir W . T . MARRIOTT was heartily applauded on rising to respond . He said he was deeply sensible of his own shortcomings , but with man y other obligations surrounding him he carried on the duties of his office to the best of his ability . His labours were materially lessened by the excellent work of the Provincial Grand Officers , and he could not allow the opportunity to pass of speaking in the warmest terms of the zeal and earnest work of their Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . V . P . Freeman .

Bro . 1-r . BELLINGHAM , P . S . G . W ., responded , and said his own lod ge would appreciate the honour which had been conferred upon him . Bro . W . WRIGHT , P . J . G . W ., also acknowledged the toast , remarking that he deeply felt the great honour of being invested by his Royal Highness .

His own lodge , the good old South Saxon , No . 311 , felt also that a great compliment had been paid them . As the Provincial Grand Officers they begged to assure him of their unflinching fealty , and their earnest endeavour would bc to promote the highest interests of the Craft they all loved so much , and of the Royal Province of Sussex in particular .

H . R . H . the Duke of CONNAUGHT next proposed " The Visitors . " He trusted the visitors would carry away pleasing recollections of the good feeling shown to them . Bro . EASTES responded . He said it was an excellent thing for brethren of one province to visit those in another , for they increased their circle of friends and carried away many good ideas , which assisted them in their lodge work . His Kentish brethren would be delighted to hear of the hearty reception extended to the visitors .

Bro . WEST also replied , and expressed the hope that the good feeling existing between the brethren of the neighbouring provinces would long continue .

Bro . R . CLOWES proposed " Prosperity to the Masonic Institutions . " The brethren of the Craft had always , he said , been loyal to their Charitable Institutions . He gave interesting particulars of the development of each Institution , and urged even greater support for them . Bro . J . TERRY , Sec . R . M . B . I ., in an able speech , alluded to the efforts that were be ' iner made on behalf of the Girls' School . Sussex had come to

the front at the various Festivals , but pleading feelingly for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , he hoped the brethren in their anxiety to support the Girls' School would first think of the fathers ancl mothers in Freemasonry . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught here left the banqueting room to attend the concert in the Music Room , and retired amidst hearty applause .

I he DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER briefly proposed " The W . M . 's of thc Lodges in the Province" and "The Stewards . " Bro . BRADFORD responded to the former , and Bro . SHAFT fo the latter . The Tyler ' s toast completed the list . Thc brethren then adjourned to the Music Room , where a concert was ably sustained by the Alzando Glee Singers ( Mr . Harold Koblcch . Mr .

Clifford Hunnybun , Mr . George Felder , ancl Mr . Seymour Kelly ) , Miss Sussanah Pierce , and Miss Mary Reeve , vocalists ; Mr . Alec Smith ( clarionet solo ) , and Bro . A . King ( organ solo ) , the programme also including selections . Ladies were admitted to the concert , and the large audience fully appreciated the various items . Bro . J . P . Slingsby Roberts was Hon . Secretary to the Concert Committee , the duties of accompanist being in the able hands of Bro . W . N . Roc , P . P . G . O .

Consecration Of The Hampstead Lodge, No. 2408.

CONSECRATION OF THE HAMPSTEAD LODGE , No . 2408 .

The Hampstead Lodge , No . 2408 , was consecrated on Tuesday , the 27 th instant , at the Hampstead Conservatoire , Hampstead , by Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , Grand Sec , in the presence of a large number of brethren . The new lodge starts under very favourable auspices , having an excellent habitation , a good body of founders , ancl a brother to fill the office

of first W . M . who has distinguished himself in a similar capacity in another lodge . The Consecrating Master u ; as assisted by Bros . Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D ., as S . W . ; Lieut .-Col . Somerville Burney , P . G . D ., as J . W . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; and Thomas Fenn , Pres . Board of Gen . Purps ., as I . G .

The founders are Bros . Andrew Miller , M . D ., P . M ., W . M . designate ; Nicholas Hanhart , S . W . designate ; T . Sansome Preston , J . W . designate ; T . J . Barratt , P . M . ; G . Low , P . M . ; G . Haynes ; N " . J . West , P . P . G . Treas . Cornwall ; A . Lamb , P . M . ; H . Harben , P . M . ; C . W . P .

Dyke , P . P . S . G . D . Dorset ; and H . Haynes . The other brethren present included Bros . R . Loveland Loveland , P . S . G . D . ; Col . C . Harding , P . A . G . D . C ; Lennox Browne , P . P . G . W . Essex , Vice-President Board of Gen . Purps . ; T . Burne , W . M . 1726 , P . M . 162 ; W . IT . Causton , M . D ., W . M . 162 ; G . J . Wood , P . M . 1028 ;

H . Slade , W . M . 60 ; W . A . Satchell , 7 ; D . Watson , P . M . 328 , P . P . G . W . Devon ; J . W . Roy , S . W . 12 ; R . Greenwood ; J . E . Lane , 2123 ; F . C DWood , 1 S 1 ; T . Carter Wegg , P . M . 1024 ; E . Abram , 1 S 20 ; H . J * - *' »

2 ° 33 i I- G . Cornish , 11 ; G . Jealous ; P . G . Shaw ; J . Hart , 130 ; Claud Scott , W . M . 2362 ; A . H . Robinson , P . M . 1537 ; F . Higgins , P . P . S . G . D . Lincolnshire ; A . ' W . Orwin , W . M . 1491 ; J . C . Herbert , W . M . 2108 ; D . Baynes ; H . W . Birks , 3 ; H . J . Dutton , 1706 ; A . L . Fryer , 6241