Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

position since 18 95 , he had a capable Provincial Grand Secretary , who would carry out his duties as he had done in the past , backed up as he was by the Assistant Secretary , Bro . W . A . Lathom . Bro . Under-Sheriff Langton , the energetic Secretary of the Charity Committee , was safe to look after his department . He finally assured the brethren he intended

to be a working Provincial Grand Master and not merely a figure head . He looked forward to them to say whether the skipper had been a duffer or not , and if he had been successful in keeping the province up to the mark . Bro . West , in reply , said they very much appreciated the

kind way their health had been proposed by the Provincial Grand Master . They were greatly encouraged to go on and do the best they could to support him . He had the honour to instal the Provincial Grand Master as Worshipful Master of the Evesham Lodge , and afterwards as Senior Grand Warden of the province , and now he bowed to him

as his superior . As a Mason he was one of themselves . He had set a very high standard and hoped they would all live up to it . Bro . Colonel Clifford Probyn briefly replied for " The Visitors" and the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex was held at Romford , the Liberty of Havering Lodge , No . 1437 ; the Royal Victorian Jubilee Lodge , No . 2184 ; and the Seven King ' s Lodge , No . 2749 , combining to give the Provincial Grand Lodge a hearty reception . The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Col . Lockwood , M . P ., P . G . D .,

presided , and was supported by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Claude E . Egerton-Green , P . D . G . D . C , P . P . S . G . W . There was a crowded attendance of Provincial

Grand Officers and other brethren . The minutes of the last annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge at Chelmsford , and the especial Provincial Grand Lodge at Dovercourt were read and confirmed , the Provincial Grand Master expressing regret at being prevented from attending the last-named meeting . Bro . Pizey , P . M .

2374 , was , after a ballot , declared duly elected to the office of Provincial Grand Treasurer . The Board of General Purposes reported upon the presentation to the Earl of Warwick of his portrait and a present of books to the Countess of Warwick , and while

referring to the luncheon held in London on that occasion , said : " The Board desire to place on record their sincere appreciation of the excellent arrangements for the presentation made by the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Railing , to whose admirable organisation the great success of the

function was so largely due . " The returns from the lodges showed an increase of the membership , and the Board also reported that during the year four new lodges had been added to the roll .

1 he Deputy Provincial Grand Master moved the adoption of the report , which was agreed to . The Provincial Grand Master addressed the brethren . He had , he said , to congratulate his province for the interest it had shown and the efforts it had made to maintain Masonry in the high state of efficiency in which he received it from the hands of their late Provincial Grand Master . He had

seen no signs of retrogression , but continued signs of advancement , and especially in that worthiest line that Masonry had—that of Charity . The speaker mentioned that there were 2796 members , as compared with 2630 last year , and that the number of lodges was now forty-nine , a number that would shortly be made up to fifty . That he considered

extremely satisfactory . Touching upon the consecration of a Masonic hall at Colchester last October , Colonel Lockwood said in large centres of Masonry , where brethren could afford the subscriptions necessary for providing such a place of assembly , it was highly desirable that such places should

exist . The new licence laws added slightly to the difficulties of finding proper places for their assembly , and he thought all the brethren would agree with him that , should the funds be forthcoming , they were very well spent in the reception of those who were anxious to follow the Craft with the

ceremony which they believed to be an integral portion of their system . Having thanked those who attended the Provincial Grand Lodge at Dovercourt , and expressed his acknowledgments to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for being present on that occasion , Colonel Lockwood alluded

with sorrow to the death of Bro . Andrew Durrant , who for nearly fifty years took a most active interest in Freemasonry in the province . He was appointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1859 , and for ten years ( 1879 to 188 9 ) was Provincial Grand Treasurer . Colonel Lockwood concluded with a few happy sentences of congratulation on the

continuously satisfactory state of the province . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed his officersfor the ensuing year , and after the election of members to serve on the Provincial Board of General Purposes and the appointment of committees , the Provincial Grand Lodge

was closed in due form . At the banquet which followed , the Provincial Grand Master proposed without speeches the usual loyal toasts , which were duly honoured . In giving that of " The Grand Officers , " he said he could not mention Lord Warwick ' sname without touching upon that interesting ceremony recently held in London , at which a presentation was made .

They admitted ladies on that occasion and the proceedings were in every way successful . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , in giving the toast of " The Provincial Grand Master , " referred to the admirable manner in with Colonel Lockwood carried out his duties in the province . He reminded them that the Colonel had

followed Lord Warwick , and went on to say they could , congratulate themselves on their Provincial Grand Master . He was always cheery , and always gave them good advice . Not only so , but he had shown that he knew what Masonic work was , and meant to have his province conducted

properly . They hoped he would continue to rule the province with an iron hand in a velvet glove , and might assure him that he would always have their unfailing support . They most thoroughly appreciated Colonel Lockwood ' s Grand Mastership , congratulated him on the increase in the

number of lodges , and hoped he would long be spared to rule over the province , which should go on from strength to strength .

The Provincial Grand Master , who was cordially greeted ,, regarded the presence of so many as a compliment to himself ,, to Masonry , and to the province . It seemed to him that there had been no laches in the province for him to castigate , and with their own virtues they were perfectly well acquainted . Alluding to a reference to the increase in the number of

lodges , he said he had had a singularly pleasant and happy year of office . Following a happy allusion to some distinguished visitors , the Provincial Grand Master complimented the Senior and Junior Wardens of the past year . He paid a high compliment to the effort of the Deputy Provincial Grand

Master , and concluded by proposing " The Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Officers ,. Present and Past . " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master responded , as did also Bros . Ball and Bodilly .

During dinner , Shirley Phillips' Band played selections , and a very pleasant time was passed . The proceedings ended with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne" and " God save the King . "