Provincial.

supported right and left bv the R . W . Bros . Augustus Smith , P . G . M . of Cornwall ; L . P . Metham , D . Prov . G . M . ; W . J . Meymott , P . S . Steward of England , and P . S . W . of Surrey ; Rev . J . C . Carwithen , P . P . S . C . ; and in the vice-chairs bv R . W . Bros . Col . Elliott , R . M ., S . P . G . W . ; and II . Waldron , J . P . G . W . The party included also nearly the whole of the officers of the Grand Lodge for the past and present years , and a large number of its past officers for previous years , and Masters and

Wardens of the lodges of the province for the present years . After ample justice had been done to the dinner the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed from the chair . In the course of the proceedings the P . G . Master urged upon the officers of the lodges to send in their returns as soon as possible after the close of the Masonic yeiu in December . It was very important that the returns should be in early , because without them he was unable to give information to the Grand Loclge

which it was so desirable they should possess . The making up of the returns for each lodge would only take the secretary two or three hours , and masters of the different lodges should see that the work was done . He then adverted with pleasure to the fact that the name of no candidate for the Annuity Fund this year had been sent from the Plymouth district , so that they should be able to allow that fund to an old and deserving Mason who had formerly been in good circumstances but was

now much reduced , and for whom very great respect was entertained . It was exceedingly gratifying to find that brotherly feeling evinced , and at another time when the brethren of Plymouth ancl its neighbourhood were desirous of forwarding the interests of any invalidated Mason in their district their generous conduct on this occasion would not be forgotten . On the health of P . G . M . of Devon being proposed from the chair , the R . W . Augustus Smith responded , and reciprocated the cordial and kind feeling which has always prevailed between the two provinces of Devon and Cornwall .

The D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Metham , m the course of a speech , subsequently referred to the Masonic charities , and said thathe thought £ 3 , 000 per annum was given in the shape of jewels to Past Masters by the lodges of the kingdom , and he suggested that if that money were bestowed iu making such Past Masters life governors of the different Masonic charities , the circumstances would be a pleasure to them personally , and would be an immense benefit to the Craft . The possession of

the jewels , of course , was very gratifying , but most of the Past Masters would find still greater gratification in being able throughout their lives to contribute in some way to the happiness of their fellow-creatures . The other toasts were responded to by different brethren in appropriate and excellent speeches , and a very agreeable afternoon was spent .

HAMPSHIRE . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The Grand Lodge for this province was held at Fureham on Monday last . In the absence through illness of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Sir Lucius Curtis , Bart ., Admiral of the Fleet , the D . Prov . G . M ., Charles Ewens , Deacon of Southampton , P . G . D . of England , occupied the chair , having , as acting D . Prov . G . M .,

Bro . Joseph Rankin Stebbing , of Southampton , P . G . D of England . There were about 130 brethren present . £ 3 , £ 10 , aud £ 20 were respectively granted and confirmed to brethren , and to relatives of deceased brethren ; and a motion to grant an annuity to the widow of Bro . Lockyer , P . Prov . G . Tyler , was remitted for consideration to the Committee of Benevolence . The subject of the Masonic Charities , with the view of a more perfect organization in the province on their behalf , was brought under the notice of Grand Lodge by Bro . Charles Sherry , P . M ., of Winchester , who handed in the following tabular statement , shewing : —

[ For Tabular Statement see next page . ] He said that he had endeavoured to obtain for publication in this statement , from Bro . Farnfield , Secretary to the Benevolent Institution , the details of the subscriptions to the men's and women ' s institution , but he saicl he could not give them . Quoting the figures supplied by these returns he expressed an opinion that if there were an organization among the 19 lodges of which the _ province is composed they would contribute a larger sum than is now given—one more in keeping with the

benefits received by the four children in the schools from the province . To this end he proposed three resolutions . The first —That this Grand Loclge recommends the W . M . of every lodge in the province to exert himself and make it their imperative duty to gain subscriptions to the Masonic Charities ; the second—That to this end a printed form be supplied by this Provincial Grand Lodge , and forwarded to every W . M . in the province , to be returnable annually to the Committee of

Benevolence ; and the third—That a sufficient number of copies of these resolutions be printed and forwarded to each lodge . There were about 1 , 100 members in the province , he concluded by saying ; " if every one would contribute only a shilling we should at once obtain 50 votes for the boys' and girls' schools . " Bro . Stopher , W . M ., of Winchester , in seconding the resolutions expressed an opinion that the province was not now contributing to the charities in proportion to the benefits received

and the ability of the province . The Grand Master said that although it was true the subscription to the girls' school was but small , yet £ 150 had been contributed to the boys' institution , and therefore the province did not stand in so bad a position as might at first sight appear . He cordially supported the principle aimed at by the resolutions .

. Bro . Frost , G . Treas ., said that if they went a few years back it would be found , too , that the contribution to the girls' school was larger than appeared in this return . Bro . Furber , P . M . ( Southampton ) , said the statement would have been more perfect and put the subject in a clearer light if it bad shown the life governorships possessed by the province . The acting D . G . M . suggested the reference of the subject to the Committee of Benevolence , who would be able to carry out

more details than could be accomplished by Provincial Grand Lodge . His own feeling-was in favour of encouraging brethrea to serve the office of Steward , and if the subject went before the committee it might lead to some system being adopted which would as well increase the stewards as the funds , and , at the same time , secure the votes of the province for its candidates , the want of which , he was sorry to say , had been too often felt of late . The subscriptions to the girls' school were

so comparatively low in consequence of their having property upon which to fall back , and the pressing emergency on tha pare of the boys' institution . This suggestion was then adopted and the resolutions referred to the Committee of Benevolence .

The Treasurer s account then read showed a balance in hand of £ 153 4 s . lid ., in addition to a bond for £ 100 of the Southampton Pier Board , which had been mislaid by the past Grand Treas , and in reference to which the G . M . saicl he and the G . Sec . had corresponded with the board , and they had promised to give a duplicate , on a proper indemnity being given to them , which would be done . It was then resolved to invest £

100-more . . The acting D . P . G . M . then said he was sure the Grand Lodge deeply sympathised with the G . M ., in his illness , and he doubted not that it would afford him some consolation if they gave expression to these views in some manner by which it could be conveyed to him formally . He therefore proposed for adopting the following resolution . "That the Grand Loddesires to record its deep sorrow that

ge the V . W . G . M ., Admiral of the fleet , Sir Lucius Curtis , Mart , is unable to attend this clay on account of ill health , which is a cause of great grief to the brethren here assembled , and will be to the province generally . That this Grand Lodge embraces the occasion to offer to the R . W . Bro . the assurance of its great attachment to him personally , and admiration of his long Masonic rule and government , viewing with very high satisfaction the successful

progress of Masonry during the lengthened period in which he has held office , and prays very earnestly for his restoration to health , and early return to his Masonic duties , which have been so long , so greatly , and so courteously discharged . " Bro . Hayward , P . M ., ( Lymington ) , having briefly seconded this resolution , it was carried unanimously , and the G . Sec . requested to forward it to the R . VV . P . G . M .

The acting D . P . G . M ., then called attention to the fact that a committee had been appointed by the Grand Lodge of England , in order to celebrate the attainment by the most worshipful the G . M . of England of his jubilee year . It has always been his own opinion that great injury resulted from the office of G . M . being kept in the hands of one brother , however distinguished as a Mason , be is , however high as a nobleman . Still ,