Masonic Mems.

Cheltenham ( 82 ) , with a timepiece and a purse of gold , as a token of their appreciation of his services . We knew Bro . Phillips , whohad we known of the proposed action on the part of the Lodgewould have obtained and merited our mite . * * *

Mrs . Cutt , of Belfort House , Harrogate , has , in memory of her husband , qualified herself as a patroness of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and contributed a donation of one hundred guineas to the charity . By this act she holds during her life eighty votes at every election of the Institution .

* * * The annual demonstration of Freemasons belonging to St . John ' s Lodge ( 450 ) , of Crossgates and Cowdenbeath , and of the Minto Lodge ( 385 ) , Lochgelly , took place on the night of the 24 th of June . The brethren of St . John ' s proceeded to Lochgelly and joined the

members of the Minto Lodge , where a procession was formed , arid headed by the Lochgelly band , the members of the Craft marched to Cowdenbeath , where the procession was witnessed by a large number of onlookers . The brethren afterwards met in a social capacity in the Lodge-room of St . John ' s ( M'Lean ' s Hall ) , where Bro . Wm . Riddie was presented with a Past-Master ' s jewel .

* * * Bro . James Hatch , P .-M . of the Lodge of Fortitude ( 281 ) , Lancaster , has been presented by the brethren of his Lodge with a massive silver salver . Bro . Hatch has fulfilled the duties of Treasurer to the Lodge for twenty-three years , which speaks much for the zealous manner in which he must have undertaken his duties . Bro . J . B . Shaw , the W .-M ., made the presentation .

* * * Bro . Robert Titlow has been installed into the chair of the Lodge of Prudence ( 388 ) , Halesworth . The Lodge has many Past Provincial Grand Officers filling various positions , and actively working towards making it one of the most successful in the provinces .

* * # •Positively the oldest Mason in the world has been discovered . He is Robert I . Chester , of Tennessee , one of the Cleveland electors in 188 4 . He was born in Tennessee , in July , 1793 , and , therefore , completed his ninety-sixth year last month . He joined the Masonic

order in Tennessee in 1814 , when he was twenty-one years of age , and is still an enthusiastic member . Bro . Chester served in the War of 1812 . He was a slaveholder , and he and his sons owned 115 negroes ; he carried the Presidential vote of Tennessee , in 188 4 , to the President of the Senate at Washington ; he is still strong find energetic , and has rheumatism frequently .

# * * The annual summer excursion of the Hundred of Elloe Lodge of Spalding , which has now fairly developed into an institution , took place on Friday , the 5 th ult ., and was attended with the usual success , although a much-frequented place of resort , Yarmouth , was

the point selected as a "happy hunting-ground , " with just a peep at the delightfully picturesque and romantic broads at FVitton , some ten miles distant . The railway company provided saloon carriages , and by the time the train reached the Beach Station , the W . M ., Bro . Kingston , found himself surrounded by a large group of

brethren from various Lodges of his own province , together with a fair muster of their lady friends . Following precedent , Bro . Kingston presided at the banquet held in the evening at the Royal Aquarium , the vice-chairs being filled by Bro . E . Hancock , S . W ., and Bro . H . H . Harvey , J . W . During dinner , a well-selected

programme of operatic and other music was played by the orchestra of the theatre . Although time did not permit of much speechifying , the toasts were enthusiastically received . " The Visitors , " proposed by Bro . the Rev . R . G . Ash , was responded to by Bro . Wherry , W . M . Hereward Lodge ; whilst Bro . Watkinson , the popular and clever editor of the Spalding Free Press , proposed with faultless grace the health of the ladies present .

At the month ! } ' meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , at the Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , June 27 , the Joint Committee of the House , Finance , and Audit Committees recommended : — 1 . That die Audit and Finance Committee be resolved into a Finance Committee only , and meet monthly , or oftener if necessary ; that their

number be increased to twelve ; three to form a quorum . 2 . That in future the accounts be audited , and the annual balance-sheets prepared by a firm of chartered accountants . 3 . That cheques for all payments ordered by the General Committee be signed by two members of the House Committee and countersigned by the Secretary ; that the signatures be given to the bankers , who are to be instructed accordingly . There were fifty candidates for the eleven vacancies which will be filled up at the October election .

* * * At the annual Installation of St . Peter ' s Lodge ( 1024 ) , Maldon , Essex , the Mayor of the borough , Bro . J . Sadler , was install ; d as the W . M . The Provincial Grand Master , Lord Brooke , M . P ., and several Past Provincial Grand Officers were present . * * *

The dear old sleepy hamlet of Battle , in Sussex , possesses a Masonic Hall in which the Abbey Lodge ( 1184 ) held its Installation Meeting on June 20 , at which Bro . R . T . Davidson , M . D ., was installed into the Master ' s Chair . The Very Rev . E . R . Currie , D . D ., P . M ., Prov . G . C . is appointed Chaplain of the Lodge .

* * * Lord Carnarvon presided at a meeting recently held at Burghclere , for the purpose of providing a memorial of the late Canon Portal , Rector of the Parish , and Past Grand Master of Mark Masonry . Speaking in eulogistic terms of the late Canon ,

and reviewing the long friendship and great esteem that existed between them , his Lordship proposed to the meeting that the memorial should take the form of a stained-glass window in the Parish Church of Burghclere , which was unanimously agreed to . The meeting consisted principally of the local gentry and eminent fellow Masons of the deceased .

* * * The annual meeting of the Provincial Priory of Knights Templar for Kent and Surrey was held at the Bridge Hotel , London Bridge , on Friday , June 21 . Among the members present holding provi icial honours were Sir Knights Col . Somerville Burney , Col . Hartley ,

Col . Ramsay ( Malta ) , Frank Richardson , Dr . Penfold , Col . Blane , Dr . Fletcher Beach , and Capt . Purchas , the Great Sub-Prior of England . Sir Knight Col . Shadwell Gierke , the Grand Secretary was also present .

* * * On the 20 th June were consecrated the Cecil Chapter ( 449 ) and the Sterndale Bennett Chapter ( 2182 ) , the former by Comp . Thos . F . Halsey , M . P ., Grand Superintendent of the Province of Herts , and the latter by Comp . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , G . S . E . In each instance the ceremony of consecration was carefully and

impressively performed , and at the subsequent banquets the array of toasts was attacked and defeated with the usual energy of the brethren .

# # A new Masonic Hall has been opened at Sittingbourne by the Earl of Amherst , Prov . Grand Master of Kent , who was accompanied by most of the Provincial Grand Officets . * * *

The Freemason , under date 6 th ult ., says : — " We understand that a petition has been presented to the M . W . Grand Master for a warrant for a new Lodge , to be named the ' Centurion , ' to be composed exclusively of officers of the auxiliary forces . It is intended to establish the Lodge in Manchester , so that the name will be

appropriate , not only on . ccount of its military character , but , if granted , the Lodge will be the one hundredth on the roll of the province of East Lancashire . " * * * Dr . Danfoid Thomas has been inducted into the Order of the Zacharie Conclave ,