Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire & Herefordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE & HEREFORDSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Gloucestershire J Herefordshire was held on Tuesday , the 16 th inst , at the Green Dragon Hotel , Hereford , under the banner of the St . Ethelbert Lodge , No . 243 . There was a hrg-e attendance , the meeting being one of the most successful yet held in the rovince . It may be remembered that the union of Hereford with Gloucestershire took place two years ago , during the term of office of the late Bro . J . Walker ,

M A . as Prov . Grand Master , and that on his retirement from othce last year , Bro . the Baron de Ferrieres , a Past Officer of Grand Lodge , was appointed , under uatent of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Grand Master , to succeed him . The installation of the Baron de Ferrieres in July last b y the Marquess of Hertford , Deputy Grand Master of England , was the occasion of a meeting of the Mark Grand Lodge at Cheltenham , the distinguished visitors being entertained

with much eclat by the new Prov . G . Master . During the year that has since elapsed the province has had to deplore the loss of its former head , Bro . Walker , and of the brother who then accepted the post of D . P . G . M ., the late Bro . Henry Jeffs , of Gloucester . Bro . Jeffs ' s place was filled at a special meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge , at Cheltenham , in December last , by the appointment of Bro . O . Shellard , ex-Mayor of Hereford , in some measure as a

comp liment to the Hereford lodge ; and the meeting on Tuesday was the first held in the Hereford section of the Province . The St . Ethelbert Lodge having been opened , Provincial Grand Lodge was received and duly constituted , those present being—Bro . the Baron de Ferrieres , PGMO ., Prov . G . M ., and Bro . 0 . Shellard , D . P . G . M . ; Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , G . M . O . ; Bro . Forth , P . D . P . G . M . ; Bros . J . Balcomb , Prov . J . G . W . ; W . R . Porcher , M . A ., Prov . G . M . O . ; J . Marchant , Prov . S . G . O . ; Dr . E .

Gregory , Prov . J . G . O . ; J . Davies , Prov . G . Reg . ; G . Norman , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Sec ; G . C . Caldwell , Prov . S . G'D . ; E . Lea , Prov . J . G . D . ; W . C . Ferris , Prov . G D . C . ; W . C . Heane , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . R . Felton , G . Stwd . England , Prov . G . Stwd . ; T . Blinkhorn , P . P . J . G . D . ; H . Clark , P . P . J . G . D . ; T . Milligan , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Naysmith , P . P . G . M . O . ; C . Caldecot , W . M . 243 ; E . Stephens , I . P . M . 243 ; E . George , S . O . 243 ; J . Barnes , P . M . 243 ; C . Roberts , J . W . 340 ; and others .

The business of Provincial Grand Lodge included the election of a Treasurer in succession to Bro . Bain , who had occupied the office since the formation of the province , but was now compelled by ill-health to resign . Bro . Balcomb , Prov . J . G . W ., was unanimously elected to succeed him , and a cordial vote of thanks to Bro . Bain was passed . The nomination and investiture of officers were then made as follows : —

Bro . M . F . Carter , W . M . 340 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Naysmith , P . M . 218 ... ... i ... Prov . J . G . W . „ W . R . ' Porcher , M . A ., S . W . 10 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . 0 . „ H . Clark , P . M . 340 ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ R . T . Hughes , P . M . 218 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . Dr . Lynes , P . M . 340 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ J . Balcomb , P . M . 10 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ G . Norman , P . G . D ., P . M . 10 ... ... ... Prov . G . R . & Sec „ J . Owner , W . M . 218 ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Barnes , P . M . 243 ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . R . Felton , G . Stwd ., P . M . 10 ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ W , C . Ferris , P . M . 218 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ J . Davies , P . M . 243 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ C . Roberts , 218 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ C . Caldicott , 243 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . . „ E . George , 243 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd . ,, T . G . Chance , 243 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Henry Phillips ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

After lodge , the brethren dined together at the Green Dragon , the chair being filled by the Prov . G . Master , the Baron de Ferrieres . ' The toast list was necessarily a brief one . In proposing the toast of " The Grand Mark Lodge of England , " the PROV . G . MASTER referred to the fact that of the members who took part in his installation last year three had since died , including Canon Portal , whose death was a heavy blow

to the Order . He also spoke of the especial recognition the Province of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire had received in the appointment of officers of Grand Lod ge this year . Three members of the Cheltenham and Keystone Lodge tad received office in Grand Lodge , viz . : Bros . R . Vassar-Smith , as G . M O . ; the Kev . Dr . Kynaston , as Grand Chaplain ; and W . R . Felton , as one of the Grand Rewards . Last year Bro . Norman , a member of the same lodge , was one of the Grand Deacons .

I he toast of " Grand Lodge " was responded to by Bro . VASSAR-SMITH . During the proceedings , the Hereford brethren were especiall y thanked by the KOV . G . MASTER for the excellent arrangements made for the reception of the 1 ruvincial Grand Lodge .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Hants And Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

INSTALLATION OF THE M . W . BRO . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., PAST GRAND MARK MASTER .

Hillr VlnClal Grancl Lodge was held on Friday , the 19 th inst ., at the Masonic charo- \ ° mmercial-road . Portsmouth . Bro . R . Loveland Loveland , D . P . G . M . ( in Plav ? i entered > accompanied by the Prov . Grand Officers , the march being by R ° u organ ( during the temporary absence of the Prov . Grand Organist ) Provi ° ' - 1 Pi ' J '> P-P . G . Org . The D . P . G . M . then proceeded to open the tran ^ Grand Lodge , after which the ordinary business of the province was was w ° tv , ' having been given that Bro . the Most Hon . the Marquess of Hertford was it Ut desirin £ admission , a deputation , consisting of Prov . Grand Officers , The n ° % api ) ointedto receive the De P- G . M . and the Officers of Grand Lod ge . Rohpr / ri' , M - ' ° mpanied by Bros . C . F . Matier , P . G . W . ( G . Sec . designate ); P almi cA dge ' P-G-M . O ., G . D . C . ; J . E . Le Feuvre , P . G . M . O . ; the Rev . J . N . others ^ 7 •, Cha P- ' F Newman , P . A . G . D . C ; G . J . Tilling , P . G . S . ; and n ^> entered the lodge .

1 , 0 assunT ' ^ 1 ' ' P resented tne De P . G-M . with the emblem of office , whereupon G -M d •throne . and was saluted . Report was then received that the Prov . stalled j fgna'e ' - . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., was without , and requested to be in-The p ' p ^ fSj " naving been given that he should also be received in proper form . shortl y ' . T ' . the Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , left the lodge , and The G n p P rocession > accompanied by the P . G . M . designate . l ° vinC p A I' Br 0 ' BERRIDGE . then read the memorial from the brethren of the After Grand Master ' s assent thereto . an due n Prayer from the Chaplain , an ode , played by the Prov . G . Organist , Presentation b y the D . P . G . Master , the Dep . G . Master obligated , invested ,

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Hants And Isle Of Wight.

and inducted Bro . Beach into the chair , whereupon Bro . Berridge , G . D . C , proclaimed him as follows : " Be it known to all that the Most Worship ful William Wither Bramstone Beach , Member of Parliament , Past Grand Mark Master of England , Prov . Grand Master , Superintendent , and Prior of Hants and the Isle of

Wight , Justice of the Peace for the County of Southampton , & c , & c , & c , has been installed Right Worship ful P . G . M . M . of the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wi ght , for the next three years , & c , & c , " and he was saluted accordingly , and addressed the brethren , thanking them for having recommended him to the Grand Master to be appointed as P . G . M . M .

The Prov . G . M . M . then appointed Bro . R . Loveland Loveland his Deputy , who , after being duly obligated , invested , and inducted into his seat , was proclaimed by the G . D . of C , as follows : " Be it known to all that Bro . Richard Loveland Loveland , P . P . S . G . Warden , P . Prov . 3 rd Principal and Sub-Prior for Hampshire and the Isle of Wi ght , Justice of the peace for the Counties of London and Middlesex , & c , & c , & c , has been appointed and invested as Dep . Prov . Grand Mark Master for the Province of Hants and the Isle of Wight , for the year ensuing , & c , " and the customary salute was duly given .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . R . J . Hooper Rastrick , having sent in his resignation , Bro . T . W . Faulkner , No . 140 , P . G . Swd . Br . Eng ., was duly elected in his stead . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested the following as his Officers :

Bro . R . J . Turney , 2 ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ F . " Rutland , 140 ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ J . A . Nethercote , 125 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ J . T . Thackara , 17 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ Dr . J . G . Harwood , 349 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . A . M . Walker 6 3 1 Prov . G . Chaps . „ Rev . J . H . Chadwick , 37 ... ... ... ) r „ N . Solomon , 54 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ C . W . A . Jellicoe , 63 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . Jenkins , 62 ... ... ... ••¦ Prov . S . G . D . „ W . H . Jacob , 52 ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ F . D . Miller , 37 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ A . J . Blackman , 63 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . Farrance , 3 81 ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . H . Humphry , 125 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . Beuttell , 2 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ W . Townsend , 125 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Richardson , 54 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ,, H . T . Holmes , 62 ... ... ... ... ) „ C . H . O . Curtis , 381 ... ... ... ( Prov . G . Stwds . „ F . P . Ansle , 320 ... •... ... ¦¦¦) „ ' J . Exell ... . ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Letters of apology regretting unavoidable absence were reported as having been received from Bros , the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of Euston , P . S . G . W . ; the Right Hon . Viscount Valentia , Rig ht Hon . Lord Cremorne , Alfred Williams , Past G . M . O . ; C . H . Driver , Past G . M . O . ; G . Cooper , Past J . G . O . ; Frank Richardson , Past Grand Reg . ; Gordon Miller , Past G . Stwd . ; and numerous other Grand and Prov . Grand Officers .

On the proposition of the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , a donation of ten guineas was voted to the Mark Benevolent Fund . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Deputy Grand Master for his kindness in coming to Portsmouth to install him , which was seconded by the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , and carried with acclamation .

The Most Hon . the Marquess of HERTFORD , in returning thanks for the cordial way in which the proposition had been received , alluded to the pleasure it had afforded him to have been present and taken part in such an interesting ceremony , He spoke at some length on the valuable services which had been rendered to Freemasonry in all its branches by the P . G . M . ( Bro . Beach ) , and concluded by ex . pressing a fervent hope that he might long be spared to rule over the province to which the Grand Mark Master had appointed him , and to assume that throne into which he had that day had the pleasure and privilege of installing him .

A hearty vote of thanks was then proposed to Bros . C . F . Matier and Robert Berridge for their kindness in coming from London to assist at the ceremony . Bro . MATIER returned thanks for himself and Bro . Berridge in suitable terms . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet hall , where the P . G . M ., Bro . Beach , presided , and was supported by the Most Hon . the Marquess of Hertford , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , the Grand Officers , Prov . Grand Officers , and representatives of every lodge in the province . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , and the brethren dispersed .

HURE . —Said to be an English hotePkeeper , at whose house , in 1725 , in the Rue des Boucheries , the first assemblies of the Freemasons in Paris were held ; but , as we have before said , the earl y history of Freemasonry in Paris is involved in much obscurity , and the " textus receptus " of the French Masonic annals will have , we think , to be yet much altered . We do not at all feel satisfied with the evidence as regards Lord Derwentwater and Lord Harnouester or the French

account generally of the early state of Freemasonry at Paris . Bro . W . J . Hughan , in his indefatigable industry , has disentombed from the dusty pages of the " St . James ' s Evening Post , " where they have long lain unnoticed and unknown , because forgotten , the following passages , which throw quite a new light on the French Masonic chronicles . "St . James' Evening Post , " September 7 , 1734— " We hear from Paris that a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was lately held there at

her Grace the Duchess of Portsmouth's house , where his Grace the Duke of Richmond , assisted by another English nobleman of distinction there , President Montesquieu , Brigadier Churchill , Ed . Yonge , Esq ., Registrar of the most honourable Order of the Bath , and Walter Strickland , Esq ,, admitted several persons of distinction into that most ancient and honourable society . " September 20 , 1735 . — " They write from Paris that his Grace the Duke

of Richmond and Dr . Desaguliers , formerly Grand Master of the ancient and honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , and now authorised by the Grand Master ( under his hand and seal and the seal of the Order ) , having called a Lodge at the Hotel Bussy , in the Rue Bussy , his Excellency the Earl of Waldegrave , his Majesty ' s Ambassador to the French King ; the Right Hon . the President Montesquieu , the Marquis de Lomuren , Lord Dursley , son to the Earl of Berkley ; the Hon . Mr . FitzWilliams , Messieurs Knight , father and son ; - Dr . Hickman , and

several other persons , both French and English , were present ; and the following noblemen and gentlemen were admitted to the Order : namely , his Grace the Duke of Kingston , the Hon . the Count de St . Florentin , Secretary of State to his most Christian Majesty ; the Rig ht Hon . the Lord Chewton , son to Lord Waldegrave ; Mr . Pelham , Mr . Armiger , Mr . Colton and Mr . Clement ; after which the new brethren gave a handsome entertainment to all the company . " All this is quite new to Masonic students . —Kenniner's Cyclopedia of Freemasonry .

BERKELEY HOTEL ( late St . James ' s ) , 1 , Berkeley-street , and 77 , Piccadilly , London , W . First-class accommodation for residents , with a restaurant newlyattached for hi gh class luncheons and dinners , at fixed prices and a la carte . —C . DIETTE , Manager . [ADVT . J