Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

AN INTERESTING FUNCTION . PRESENTATION TO BRO . LIEUT .-COL . T . A . BINDLEY , V . P ., J . P ., P . G . D . ENG ., P . D . P . G . M .

An interesting Masonic function was associated with the holding of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire at Handsworth , on Tuesday , the pth inst . The gathering was perhaps the largest ever held under the provincial-banner , nearly every lodge in Staffordshire being represented , in some instances by as many as 3 $ brethren . The proceedings were

characterised by a warmth and enthusiasm , which was indicative of the elation the brethren have felt in being able to place on record the high esteem in which they hold Bro . Lieut .-Col . T . A . Bindley . Always an ardent Mason and ever a generous gentleman , with a geniality as general

as it is sincere , he has entwined himself into the affections of the whole province , and it can safely be said that there is no more popular figure in Masonic life in Staffordshire to-day than the reci pient of Tuesday ' s presentation .

It is over 20 years since St . James' Lodge had the honour of receiving the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , and it is 15 years since the last Grand Lodge meeting was held at Handsworth . At half past one , the brethren having assembled under their various banners in the Wretham Road Masonic Rooms , the Grand Lodge procession entered , headed by

Bro . Lord Dartmouth , P . P . G . M ., and followed by Bros . Lieut .-Col . G , Walton Walker , D . P . G . M . ; Lieut .-Col . Bindley , P . D . P . G . M . ; Major Murray , P . G . Treas . Eng . ; J . F . Pepper , P . Prov . G . Warden ; Geo . C .

Kent , P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ; Jas . T . Mason , P . S . G . W . ; T . Payne Hall , P . J . G . W . ; Byron Holland , P . G . Chap . ; Jno . Wright Wilson , P . G . Chap . j F . Thompson , P . G . Reg . ; C . A . Newnham , P . G . Treas . ; T . Dunbar Steen , P . G . Sec ; Thos . Barker , P . S . G . D . ; Geo . Shread ,

P . S . G . D .: Wm . A . Davis , P . J . G . D . ; F . Gnosill , P . G . S . of W . ; Alex . Smith , P . G . D . C . ; Thos . Edwards , P . G . S . B . ; Edwin Hall , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Jackson , P . G . Org . ; T . W . Morrif , P . Asst . G . Purst . ; Jno . Edwin Evans , A . E . Hart , Frank Hughes , and Jno . Salter , P . G . Stwds . ; J . Bodenham , P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ; and W . Davis , P . G . Tyler . The Past Provincial Officers were Bros . Ralph Dain , yS , P . P . J . G . W . ; John Mason , 98 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; W . G . Gothard , 625 , P . P . S . G . W . ;

F . Brandon , 2457 , P . P . G . R . ; Geo . Wormall , 726 , P . P . S . G . D . ; Jas . Powell , 347 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; W . J . J . Heath , 2149 P . P . J . G . D . ; D . Jones , 418 , P . P . G . S . B . ; Geo . Wilson , 662 , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Edwards , 418 , P . P . G . O . ; E Jones , 418 , P . P . S . G . P . ; Geo . Baker , 526 , P . P . J . G . D . ; W . Mould , 662 , P . P . G . S . B . ; Alfred Caddick , 662 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Geo . Bennion , 54 < 5 . P . P . G . R . ; VV . F . Bradley , 482 , P . P . G . C . ; Arthur Reeve , 426 . P . P . G . R . ; J . Taylor , 2147 . P . P . S . G . W . ;

John Warrillow , 482 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Francis Arkmstall , 662 , P . P . G . S . B . ; Samuel Jenkins , 482 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; E . R . Kimpton , 4 S 2 , P . P . G . R . ; E . M . Scott , 696 , P . P . G . S ' . d . Br . ; T . J . Basnett , 526 , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . G . Warburton , 1914 , P . P . A . G P . ; W . H . Bamba , 637 , P . P . S . G . D . ; Joseph Newman , 539 , P . P . J . G . W . ; F . G . F . Bailey . 539 , P . P . A . G . S . ; Geo . Vaughtor , 4 * 9 . P . P . J . G . D . ; John Hackett , 1941 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; J . M . Wood , 24 S 7 , P . P . G . R . ; and F . VV . Williams 539 and 2474 P . P . J . G . W .

, , . Amongst those who had assembled to salute the P . G . M . and his offi : ers as became their dignity and station were—Bros . A . Hulmc , P . M . 1792 ; E . W . Bradley , I . P . M . 1792 ; F . Ames , W . M 726 ; Levi Marshall , W . M . 1942 ; F . Barlow , W . M . 1792 ; J . Pashfield , I . P . M „ ..,. 17 r . ni \ ,-, r , \ PM fr > . t . I . I * . Mitchell . I . P . M . 2 Z . S 2 : H . Strantre . P . M

' 1942 ; C . T . Baker , P . M . 418 ; S . T . Bott , P . M . 1914 ; S . Nicklin , W . M . 539 ; F . W . Lawrence , V / . M . 2474 ; J . Smith , P . M . 1520 ; W . Lister , P . M . 482 ; C Carter , I . P . M . 677 ; R . Freer , P . M . 194 1 ; J . A . Lloyd , P . M . 526 ; J . Griiliths , W . M . 460 ; R . C . Davis , I . P . M . 4 C 0 ; E . Bennett , W . M . 637 ; J . Carver , P . M . , 539 ; W . Alliman , W . M . 4 S 2 ; A , S- Holdsworth , ; P . M . 4 S 2 ; R . Mason , P . M .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

347 ; C . H . Phillips , P . M . 2149 . ' W . Hard , W . M . 456 ; J . Harding , P . M . 2487 . J . Steel , W . M . 1914 ; S . B . Turner , P . M . 1914 ; J . Baker , W . M . 98 ; W . Norton ' P . M . 301 ; J . Radner , P . M . 419 ; H . Wilkins , W . M . 696 ; J . Lester , W . M . 419 . R . M . Lord , I . P . M . 419 ; W . H . Jones , W . M . 2114 ; T . W . Salter , I . P . M . 662 ' ¦ S . B . Reed , W . M . 662 ; W . T . Govier , P . M . g 66 ; and J . P . Wallin , I . P . M . 1066 .

The routine work of the Prov . G . Lodge having been entered upon , the roll of the lodges of the province was called , and it transpired that there were 32 lodges , with 1763 members . The minutes were received with much animation , and the accounts , showing a satisfactory balance , were also heartily passed . Bro . Newnham was re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER congratulated the province on its progress in Masonry , and referred , in complimentary and well-merited terms , to the valuable services rendered by the Prov . G . Officers . An excellent oration was delivered by Bro . WRIGHT WILSON , P . G . Chap ., who took as his text , " Let there be light , " and in the course of his address made most appropriate references to the Masonic light .

The Provincial Grand Officers for the year were appointed as follows : Bro . Surg . Lt .-Col . W . G . Lowe , 624 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . Percy Smith , 1038 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ C . W . G . Mayne , M . A ., 1587 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ C . A . Newnham ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Lister , 482 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ T . Dunbar Steen , 526 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ T . G . Evans , 726 ... ... •• lr , o / -r > „ A . S . Walters , 546 j Prov . S . G . Ds . ,, T . E . Lloyd , 526 ... ... ... ) D T ^ r , „ W . Torrance , 456 j Prov . J . G . Ds .

„ T . W . Salter , 662 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . ,, John Mills , 347 ... ... ,.. * ) „ T . P . Yorall , 639 ... ... ... C Pr 0 v . G . D . Cs . ,, C . H . Phillips , 21 49 ••¦ ... J „ Major Harding , 2487 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, P . N . Cox , 2064 ... ... ... ) r , ^ o , r . „ C . W . D . Toynson , 696 ... ... } Prov G - Std Brs

-Bro . C . F . Baker , 418 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ., J . Bradney , 419 ... ... ... Prov . G . ,, G . Freer , 1941 ... .,, ... 7 n r- n . „ W . T . Govier , 9 66 j Prov . G . Pursts . ,, A . Boulton . 451 and 98 ... ... .., "\ „ ' H . R . Strange , 1042 ... ... ... 1 0 < - c . J „ R . C . DownesI 460 ^ Prov . G . Stwds .

„ S . J . Bot 1-, 1 914 ... ... ,., ) The PROV . G . M . then rose to perform the most interesting ceremony of the afternoon . Addressing Bro . Bindley , he said that it was a pleasure to be able to participate in a function which had for its object the recognition of the great services to the Masonry of the Province which Bro . Bindley had rendered . The esteem in which he was held was shown by the

unanimous manner in which the brethren had contributed to the testimonial . They all knew Lt .-Col . Bindley —( hear , hear )—and it was hardly necessary to give even a slight resume' of his services . He was Master of his mother lodge as long ago as 1867 . He was Past Grand Deacon of England , and for nine years had been D . P . G . M . of Staffordshire . As Deputy Provincial Grand Master of

Staffordshire he had had a more difficult task to fulfil than usually fell to tne loV of Masons . He had to carry out the duties of Deputy and Provincial G . Master as well . There was an interim between the appointment of the speaker and the late Prov . G . Master , and everyone could readily understand how very difficult was the position in which Bro . Bindley had been placed -, but his success had been achieved by that tact and good humour

which they all admired . He congratulated the Committee on the success of their efforts in the management and getting-up of the testimonial . It had been decided to limit the subscriptions to 5 s . in order that everybody in the province might contribute if they chose to join in . Of course , there were a great many brethren who would have been willing to give a much larger sum . He was pleased to know that every lodge in the province was repre-