Annual Excursion Of The Quatuor Coronati Lodge.

tastes . If lovers of scenery , they would revel in the Shropshire streams , fertile valleys , and lovely hills affording grand and extensive views . If , on the other hand , the taste of the visitor Avas more inclined to the works of manof those who had in the past ages occupied that country—he Avould find within easy reach of Shrewsbury a large number

of such objects , extending through manv different ages ; beginning with the Druidical circles upon the AVestern borders and passing on to the many earthworks of different ages . Or should he allude to the works of the Romans—their great road , their important city of Uriconium , alas ! still buried

beneath the soil . Or , coming to more modern times , what about the ruins of stately abbeys , some of them almost in sight of Shrewsbury ? What about the numerous parish churches , nearly every one of which carried in its stones the history of the generations who had preceded us ? A ^ i ' . if seemed to him , the county was especially rich in those small

manor houses which were found not only in their great roads , but even in the by-lanes , scattered about almost throughout Shropshire ; many of a very interesting character , and once the residences of the gentry , but now for the most part existing as farmhouses . Then , from a more historical point of view , there were many evidences to be found of the peculiar

position of Shropshire on the borders of what was once the troublous Principality . All along the Welsh border Avere to be found the remains of fortified places , besides , of course , the great earthwork known by the name of King Off a . As the visitors went down to Ludlow , on either side of the

railway were different camps marking the place in which the Roman army was kept stationary by the army of Caractacus , according to local tradition . Again , he might mention what was known as the Council House in Shrewsbury—for many years the place of assembly of the Council of the Marches , and also the great castle at Ludlow , the official residence of

the President of that body . Or , if their hypothetical visitor confined his attention to the printed programme , he would find in Shrewsbury many lecords—architectural , ecclesiastical , and documentary of a not inglorious past . And when he went to Ludlow he would see there one of the most picturesque English towns nestling beneath its castle and the

shadow of its great church . Both that castle and that church AY ere objects of great interest , and in the town and also other towns in the province they would find many trusty brethren who would join in the hearty welcome he now , on behalf of the Shropshire brethren , gave to them .

Bro . Higginson , W . M ., offered a hearty welcome from Salopian Lodge , No . 262 . They were honoured , he said , by the presence of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , and they wished their visitors thorough enjoyment , and also that they would find in Shropshire much useful information .

The Master of the Salopian Lodge of Charity , No . ii 7 ) extended a similar hearty welcome to the beautiful and interesting old town of Shrewsbury . He trusted that the weather would be genial , and give them as warm a Avelcome as that offered to them by the brethren of his Lodge .

Bro . Shackles , W . M ., expressed the grateful and sincere thanks of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge for the very hearty Avelcome accorded to them . He thought they were going to have one of the most interesting meetings they had ever held , and they had the largest number of members who had ever come to the summer meeting .

Canon Horsley , Grand Chaplain , also voted the thanks of the visitors . He said , the last meeting at Chester excelled all they had ever had , but this promised to be even more delightful . Afterwards , Bros . W . E . Harding and R . J . Irwin gave an exhibition of limelight views of Old Shrewsbury .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devon.

Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon .

THERE was a very large attendance at the annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon , on June 20 th , at the Alexandra Hall , Newton Abbot . The business included the election of a child , nominated by the St . John's Lodge , Plymouth , on the education fund and grants to six brethren

or their widows in needy circumstances , by the Committee of Petitions . Right Worshipful Bro . G . C . Davie presided over the Provincial Lodge . W . Bro . Cover reported that during the past year the

lodges and subscribers in the provinces had , with few exceptions , sent in their votes for the great Masonic charities in good time , but it was a matter for regret that some of the votes Avere not received until near the day of the election , and after repeated applications by the Secretary . It should

be borne in mind that votes sent in early had an higher A alue , because they enabled the London representatives to arrange for exchanges and loans to much greater advantage . The number of votes received was—2 , 258 for boys , 1 , 052 for girls , 1 , 332 for men , and 1 , 425 for widows .

W . Bro . Clapp presented the report of the Fortescue Annuity Fund , and bore testimony to the valuable assistance he had received from W . Bro . J . Stocker , who , in spite of his many other engagements , was always ready to do

everything in his power to promote the best interests of Freemasonry . The Prov . G . Secretary ( W . Bro . John Stocker ) reported that the number of subscribing members in the province Avas 4 , 902 , an increase of 211 over the previous year , and that the

amount received in dues and fees was ^ 573 7 s ., an excess of £ 30 18 s . over the previous year . The names of 309 brethren had been removed from the register by death and otherwise . There had been 406 initiations and 114 joinings . The number of Past Masters was 1 , 006 . A Devonshire boy , being

trained in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , had shown such marked ability and good conduct that the Board of Management had specially retained him for the purpose of higher education . Applications had been received from thirty-one lodges for supplemental grants to acquire life

governorships in the Great London Charities . The Provincial Grand Treasurer presented his report , which showed a balance in hand of ^ 429 2 s . 5 c ! . Sympathetic references were made to the late Bro . E . H . Sliorto , of Exeter . W . Bro . F . Maitland , of Lodge

" Fortitude , " was elected Prov . Grand Treasurer , and W . Bros . J . W . Cornish and W . Allsford were elected auditors . The Prov . Grand Master then invested his officers for the ensuing year .

Ar00602

The Grand Lodge of Ireland will entertain the Masonic members of the Institute of Journalists who visit Dublin for the annual conference . It has been arranged that on September 3 rd a special meeting of the Grand Lodge of Instruction will be held in the Masonic Buildings , Molesworth Street , Dublin , when the visiting brethren will be afforded an opportunity of seeing Irish working . Subsequently they

will lie entertained at a banquet , at which the R . W . Bro Sir James Meredith , LL . D ., Deputy Grand Master , will preside , and will be supported by the Grand Treasurer and other Grand Officers . Brethren who intend being present at the conference are requested to communicate at the earliest moment with Bro . F . H . Wayland , M . J . I ., No . 8 , Garville Road , Rathgar , Dublin .