Freemasonry In The Province Of Norfolk.

time , said : "We intend to have a lodge open and setting the whole of the day preceding to re-obligate those invited Brethren who may not yet have received the Union , not being members of any lodge . We have many country gentlemen in that situation . " But ill-luck baulked the object of this new enthusiasm . Sir Jacob Astley died in

1817 , before be Avas installed , and it became necessary to again proceed to selection . Choice fell upon a man of world-wide fame , Bro . Coke , of Holkham , whose masterly management of the Holkham estates has earned his undying reputation as an agriculturist . The effect of the . installation of a popular Provincial

Grand Master , after so long an interval of apathy , Avas most pronounced . An energetic Deputy Avas elected , the minutes of Provincial Grand Lodge were for the lirst time properly recorded , and much interest in the work of the Craft Avas aroused throughout the province . The installation was undertaken , at Norwich , by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex ,

G . M ., who was received at the Assembly Rooms , at Chapel Field House , by about 320 brethren . The whole assemblage afterwards marched through the streets in full Masonic clothing to the Cathedral , where they Avere met at the Western door by the Dean and Canons , and a special service was held . There was a magnificent banquet in the evening , presided over by the Grand Master , in St . Andrew ' s Hall , the

liltO . AV . If . . IONICS , I'liOV . . I . G . W . tables being ornamented b y the Corporation plate . The proceedings were of a most joyous character , and Avere graced by the presence of many ladies who were permitted

to witness the banquet ; the Royal Duke , in response to an appeal from the Provincial Grand Master that he would gratify the Ladies with a song , complying at once by singing " Precious Goblet . " The management of the lodges of the province principally devolved , at this time , upon the Deputy Provincial

Grand Master , and the province was quickly brought up to a state of proficiency and order . The custom was instituted by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of examining the Master of each lodge Avho attended Provincial Grand Lodge , and interviewing him separately respecting the

condition of his lodge . It was in 1831 that Provincial Grand Officers were first appointed annually ; previously they had been permanent officers , vacancies through death being filled b y the promotion of the lesser officers . It was at lirst the custom for the Provincial Grand Master , or the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , to declare all offices vacant and then to proceed to re-appoint them , this ceremony taking

place in the ante-room , after which the Grand Ollicers entered the lodge room and opened Provincial Grand Lodge . In 18 34 , however , and always afterwards , Provincial Grand Officers were appointed and installed in open lodge .

Subsequent Provincial Grand Masters of the province have been the late Lord Sufiield , Avho was installed in 18 45 ; Bro . Benjamin Bond-Cabbell , - M . P ., in 18 3 6 — the long term of

whose office and his admirable rule of the province being perpetuated by an inscription upon a portrait by O'Neill , R . A ., which occupies the premier position in the lodge room of the province ;

the Hon . Frederick Walpole , M . P ., in 1875 , who retained his office for only four months before

his decease ; the present Lord Sufiield , K . C . B ., who was installed in 1876 and resigned the office ] im ,. . w ,. BARXA 11 I , i in 18 9 8 ; and Bro . Hamon I-. A . G . D . C ., I-UOV . <; . SKI-I .- K - I -JUV Le Strange , who was installed in November , 1 S 9 8 , having occupied the office of Deputy

Provincial Grand Master since July , 1891 . The circumstance of His Most Gracious Majesty the King , Patron of our Order , and formerly , whilst Prince of Wales , its Grand Master , being a resident in the province , has conferred much distinction upon local Freemasonry . As

Prince of Wales , H . R . H . Avas a frequent visitor to Provincial Grand Lodge . The lirst occasion Avas for the purpose of installing Lord Sufiield in the chair of the province , as a mark of regard for a member of his own household . This was upon the 20 th November , 18 7 6 , the ceremony being

performed in the presence of several Grand Officers and the Masters of other provinces . Bro . Hamon Le Strange , the present Provincial Grand Master , was on that occasion placed in the Junior Warden ' s chair of the province . In 1883 .

IN . SCltlllL'l ) A . SIILAIt IX l'O . SISKSSION OK TIIK FIIIIOXDSIIIl' LOIKIK , Xo . Km , ( iltKAT YAliMOL'TJI . H . R . H ., the Grand Master , again attended Provincial Grand

Lodge which was held at King ' s Lynn , driving over front Sandringham for the purpose , remaining during the trans-