Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham .

r Y \ - \ K annual meeting of the Freemasons of the Pnuincial I Grand Lodge of Durham was held in the Town Hall , Gateshead , on the 26 th September , the R . W . Bro-Lord Barnard , P . G . W ., D . C . L ., Provincial Grand Master , presiding over a large attendance of brethren . His lordship supported b Fenwick dSW

was y Bros . George Boy , .. ; Robert Whillield , " j . W . ; H . 1 ) . Parsons , Treasurer ; D . D . Smith , Registrar ; j . C . Moor , Secretary ; T . R . johson . S . D . ; W . Wallace , J . D . ; T . E . Campbell , J . D . ; R . " w . Salkeld , S . of W . ; C . T . Johnson , D . of C . ; W . S . Passman . Dep . D . of C . ; C . V . Howard , Asst . D . of C . ; J . B . Hudson ,

Swd . Br . ; Philemon Gaudon , Std . Br . ; T . 13 . Watson , Std . Br . ; Win . J . Moor , Assistant Secretary ; W . Chapman , Burst . ; W . Can * Allan , Burst . ; Thomas Grieve , P . G Tyler ; and a large number of Past Provincial Grand Officers and brethren representing the lodges in the province . Reports from the various lodges in the province showed

them to be improving in membership and financially . Bro . H . I ) . Parsons , Provincial Grand Treasurer , presented the accounts , which showed a balance of £ 439 J 7 - 9 < h On the motion of the Provincial Grand Master , seconded by Bro . Dr . C . I ) . Hill Drury , the accounts were adopted .

Bro . J . C . Moor presented the report of the Provincial Fund Committee . The Provincial Grand Master explained that in 1903 and 1904 the Provincial Grand Lodge had made grants amounting to - £ ' 288 towards the 1906 Fund , and it was proposed after

making certain payments that the whole of the remaining balance ( his year should be added . The committee also proposed that sufficient stock to bring the total to a thousand guineas should be sold , and the amount given to the 1906 Fund . They had got a large sum of money invested , and

thev could not , therefore , do better than apply the amount suggested by the committee . He moved the adoption of the report . Bro . F . H . Bennett seconded the motion , which was tgreed to .

Bro . Colville Smith , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Fund , returned thanks . The report of the Provincial Charities Committee was presented and adopted , on the motion of Bro . F . ll . Bennett , seconded by Bro . Wm . Gray .

W . Bro . John Wood , P . M ., Secretary St . Bede , Xo . 1119 , was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , and Bros . A . Dancaster and P . Wolherspoon were elected auditors .

The R . W . Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested the officers for the ensuing year . Bro . John Whitfield , on behalf of fifty-six Provincial Grand Officers , asked the Provincial Grand Master lo present to Bro . | . C . Moor , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., Provincial Grand Secretary , a set of Grand Lodge of England clothing .

The Provincial Grand Master , in making the presentation , referred to Bro . Moor ' s unwearied devotion to Freemasonry , and to the esteem in which he was held in the Province of Durham . He trusted that Bro . Moor would wear the Grand

Lodge clothing for many years as a record of faithful service and the high appreciation in which he was held . Bro . Moor returned thanks . Invitations to hold next year ' s meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge was received from Durham , Darlington , and Consetl lodges .

The Provincial Grand Master , on rising to address the brethren , was cordially received . He said one of the most important events in the course of the year was the deaths Unit had occurred . In enumerating Ihe names of these , the speaker specially referred to the late Bro . Robert Hudson ,

the kite Bro . Charles Perkins , the late Bro . Rev . D . W . James , and others . It would be almost impossible to add anything to their knowledge of Bro . Hudson ' s value to Freemasonry . His zeal , industry , geniality , kindness , and courtesy with , at the same time , firmness and knowledge of nieu , made Bro .

Hudson one whom it would be difficult to replace . The next important matter he Intel to allude to was the foundation of new lodges , two having been recently consecrated , and he believed there were two or three others in course of preparation . The new lodges were at Bishop Auckland and Birtley . He believed there was sometimes room for two lodges in a

town , one especially for the brethren resident in it , and the other for those who lived in the neighbourhood . He believed it had become more and more common in the South of England for lodges representative of trade bodies and one or other of the professions to be formed . The number of subscribing members in the province was huge , and he

appealed to them to remember that it was a great honour to belong to Freemasonry , that it was a select society , and that great care should be displayed in selecting candidates . With regard to the progress of the Craft in the province , he said in 18 94 the number of lodges was thirty-six , and in 1904 forty-four . The subscribing members in 18 94 was 2 749 and

, , in 1904 it reached 4 , 497 . The inauguration fees in 18 94 amounted to £ 2 "/ , and in 1904 they reached . £ 492 , while the dues lo Provincial Grand Lodge in 18 94 amounted to X 336 , and in 1904 lo £ S ) 7- After giving some advice with regard to persons initiated at short notice , emergency lodges ,

etc ., ( he speaker asked the lodges to guard jealously the ancient records in their possession , and said he intended to begin a museum where such treasures could be given over to the custody of the province , and which would enable history to be written of how Freemasonry flourished in the Province

of Durham a hundred and a hundred-and-lil ' tv years a"o . He urged lodges to investigate their rights of tenure to lodge rooms and not to allow uncertainty to exist . In conclusion , he urged upon the brethren the claims of charity , and asked them to support the efforts he was putting forth for the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . 111 the efforts they were organising £ 1 , 600 had been already collected and invested , and he asked them again to allow him lo go ( o ( he festival in February with the knowledge that every brother had done what was in his power to help . The Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form . Subsequently the Provincial Grand Officers and brethren dined together , and the usual Masonic toasts were honoured

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