The Province Of Durham.—(Continued.)

A ring , inserted in the coronet above the medal , is ¦ attached to a silk ribbon of dark green , bordered with crimson , one and a half inches wide , the lower portion being arranged in the form of a bow and rosette . I gave full particulars , with an illustration of the medal , in "

Transactions of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge" ( 18 95 ) , from information kindly supplied me by the indefatigable Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Robert Hudson , whose assistance in many ways I most gratefully acknowledge . The engraving has been kindly lent by the Quatuor Coronati

Lodge for reproduction . Several others of the modern lodges are named after local and general Masonic celebrities , such as the Fawcett , No . 661 , Seaham Harbour ; the Williamson , No . 949 , Sunderland ; the Barnard , No . 1230 , Barnard Castle ; the

Earl of Durham , No . 1274 , Chester-le-Street ; the Marquess of Ripon , No . 1379 , Darlington ; the Fenwick , No . 1389 , and the Londonderry , No . 2039 , Sunderland ; the 'Tristram , No . 2415 , Shildon ; the Hedworth , No . 2418 , South Shields ; the Hudson , No . 2791 , Wolsingham ; and the Lord Barnard , No . 2935 , South Shields .

THE LAMBTON" ARMS , CHESTER-LE-STREET .

It is a remarkable fact that notwithstanding the rapid increase in lodges , the average membership is still maintained , being now just one hundred per lodge , probably the largest in the Kingdom . This proves that the new warrants have not lessened the interest in the old lodges , as they , happily , are as well supported as ever .

The transactions of the Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter are published annually , and there is also an excellent directory issued for the province ; two most creditable annuals that are real boons for the brethren . Bro . Hudson has also favoured me with the report of the work

of the province for the financial year 1902-3 , just completed . For the Durham Education Fund the investments are now ^ 503 8 , and for the Hudson Benevolent Fund they have risen to . £ 4391 . The latter most useful society has been started quite recently , and is generously supported in appreciation of the invaluable services rendered to the province by the courteous Provincial Grand Secretary . It

is a well deserved tribute to Bro . Robert Hudson , a zealous and capable Craftsman , who has for twenty-one years been the honorary Provincial Grand Secretary ( and previously for a dozen years at least , was the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies ) , his connection with his beloved province

extending over a period exceeding forty years , and under the rule of four Provincial Grand Masters . The report also states that there are fourteen children on the Education and Maintenance Fund , five annuitants on the Hudson Benevolent Fund , and a number of grants have been

made during the year to local and general necessitous cases ; besides which £ 550 have been subscribed for the Central Masonic Charities , £ 350 for the Provincial Institutions , and £ 1922 at the special Raby Festival , held at Raby Castle . The votes for the London trio of Charities amount to fully

4000 ; so that Durham is ever mindful of the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemasons' heart . The Provincial Grand Lodge , as already stated , was started in 1734 , and so was one of the earliest in this country , sharing that year of institution with Lancashire and Northumberland . Strange to say , not another Provincial Grand

Master was appointed until 1787 , though in the interim there were the elected Provincial Grand Masters of the Swalwell Lodge . Bro . Logan states that of the twelve lodges on the register in 1778 , " eleven were unaware that there was a Provincial Grand Master . " The same brother is not sure that this old lodge had continued the annual election of such

dignitaries after 1763 . After the action , however , of the " Marquis of Granby , " in 1778 , when a resolution was agreed to on the subject ( their zeal , however , outrunning the facts of the case , wherein they declare " there is not now , nor has there ever been , a Provincial Grand Master for this county" )

the Swalwell brethren elected their Worshipful Master " to that most honourable office during his life ; " this was in 1781 . In 178 7 Bro . William H . Lambton , M . P ., was appointed the second Provincial Grand Master by the Most Worshipful Grand Master , in response to a petition sent in his favour by the " Granby , " and the ten other lodges in the county , who