Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey .

Jnsfattafion of Mr . Justice ^ Buckn ill as Pro vincial Srand Master .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey was held at the Public Hall , Croydon , on Tuesday , July 14 th , when the Hon . Mr . Justice Bucknill , P . G . W ., was installed as Provincial Grand Master . The Right Hon . the Earl of Warwick , Deputy Grand Master ,

performed the ceremony , and there was an unprecedented attendance of the brethren . The Provincial Grand Master , re-appointed Bro . Frederick West , P . G . D ., as Deputy Provincial Grand Master .

Bro . the Earl of Warwick , Deputy Grand Master , in . addressing the brethren , said they were assembled that clay on a very interesting occasion—the installation of a new Provincial Grand Master in the ancient Province of Surrey—¦ . and he need hardly say how much pleasure he felt at the honour and privilege afforded him of taking part in the

interesting ceremony , and of making the acquaintance of a province which he had often heard spoken of in the highest terms . To those brethren who were strangers there he might perhaps speak of one or two points of interest in ¦ connection with the province . In 1871 General Brownrigg

was Provincial Grand Master , and was succeeded in 18 91 by Colonel Noel Money . In 18 95 his friend , Lord Onslow , was . appointed , and in 1900 , Colonel John Davis , whose loss they so much deplored , was Provincial Grand Master . It was his privilege about two years ago to be sent to Berlin by

-Grand Lodge on a deputation to the inauguration and opening of a new Masonic building , and amongst those who accompanied him was their late Provincial Grand Master , Colonel Davis , and he was struck by his courtesy and kindness , and

he thought then how fortunate Surrey was in possessing such ; a Provincial Grand Master . Alas ! he had gone from them ; lamented , he was sure , by all . That clay they had the pleasure of welcoming—not a stranger , but one much esteemed—Bro . Sir Thomas Bucknill , whom they hoped -soon to place in the chair , and who he earnestly wishedas

, they all did , would live long to rule over them . Sir Thomas Bucknill was not only a distinguished Judge and a distinguished Mason , but what appealed to him also , and perhaps to a good many of the younger brethren , he was a thorough good sportsman , too . It reminded him of the old hunting

song , where the Judge cleared the court in order that they might " all go a-hunting to-day . " He was sure it did a man no harm to be associated with the old pastimes and sports of their grand old country . It was said that a busy man found time for everything , and Sir Thomas Bucknill would find

time to do full justice to the province . It would be unnecessary to detain them longer , but he was sure they -would welcome with the greatest cordiality the Provincial 'Grand Master elect , and wish him many years of health and prosperity in the province .

A deputation of seven brethren then escorted the Provincial ? Grand Master into Provincial Grand Lodge , and he was duly installed with the usual ceremonial . The Provincial Grand Officers for the year were then appointed . The newly installed Provincial Grand Master , Mr . Justice Bucknill , said a few words of thanks at the conclusion of the

proceedings , to the Earl of Warwick , Sir E . Letchworth , : and the other Grand Officers . He felt deeply grateful to the Earl of Warwick for his attendance . It was an . occasion which , as far as he was concerned , would make an indelible mark on his memory . It was one of the greatest

. events of his life that the Earl of Warwick and Sir E . Letchworth , whom he was sure would allow him to call a very old friend , had attended upon the occasion of his installation . The Grand Secretary was always smiling , but upon this occasion it was nicer than usual . With regard to the rest of the Grand Officers he tendered his most grateful -ihanks for their attendance .

The Deputy Grand Master , on behalf of the Grand Officers ,, said they appreciated the privilege of being present to take part in the interesting ceremony . They felt that in installing Sir Thomas Bucknill into the chair , their duty had not only been a pleasant one , but they had conferred a benefit upon Freemasonry in general and especially on the Province of

Surrey . It was the duty of the Grand Officers to officiate upon these occasions , but such occasions were not very frequent in their occurrence . Since his installation as Deputy Grand Master he had not known a more interesting event than the present . He thanked them again on behalf of the

Grand Officers . At the banquet which followed , the Provincial Grand Master , in proposing " The King , " said he had the wonderful faculty of remembering faces . Some seemed to think that his was a life of play , but that was a mistake ; he had a great

deal of very responsible work to do . If one were to ask him if he had still the same interest in the Craft as of yore , his answer would certainly be " Yes . " He had passed through dangerous times , but God had answered their prayers and restored him to health . In proposing " The Grand Officers , " the Provincial Grand Master said he should like to know what Lord Warwick felt

when he was in the same position as he had been that day . At any rate he had succeeded in frightening him when installing him His lordship was a brother who was not afraid of work . This was proved by his twenty years ' Provincial Grand Mastership of Essex , but he could not look forward to that , as he would then be eighty years of

age , and he hoped to have easier work to do at that time ot life . Bro . the Earl of Warwick said he found it impossible to reply in any new or novel manner to the toast . The Grand Officers were all animated with the desire to do their

duty . Masonry knew no politics , they could sit on the fence and look on . Its responsibilites were very great . They were not divided as to how they should worship the Deity ; they found more to ' agree upon than to disagree . He was particularly glad to congratulate the Provincial

Grand Master on his advancement . If he ever got into trouble he could not wish to be dealt with by a more faithful judge . The Provincial Grand Master , in a witty reply , said a man was the creature of at least two moods , " one happy , the other difficult to define . " They said that lawyers were

never nervous ; they did not know . That judges were hard hearted ; that they were not . He was first installed Worshipful Master cf Lodge No . 136 in 1873 . It looked a long time back . He could conscientiously say he had worked hard in Masonry since he was twenty-one . It was his father ' s wish that he should do so . His son , who was

present that clay , was in the same lodge . He was quite sure he had never heard his father spoken of in such a good way before . He should like to hear what he said to his brothers when he got home . Probably he would say , " well , the old man can't be such a bad chap after all . " He felt like a master

taken from a small trader and put on a large liner , who , when on the bridge for the first time , asked what sort of ship it was and officers he had got . He looked to them to work together for Masonry in general and the province in particular . He then proposed the toast of " The Deputy

Provincial Grand Master and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers . " He was glad they met at Croydon , the home of Bro . West . He had the province in his charge on the deaths of General Brownrigg , Colonel Money , and Colonel Davis , and was always ready to carry out the work . He was one on whom he could rely , and he was proud to have him as his Deputy . In Bro . Tyler , who had occupied his present