Provincial Grand Lodge Of Derbyshire.

possible for him to respond to the very pointed invitation of Bro . Fit / . Herbcrt Wright and to devote more time to Freemasonry in the future than he had done in the past . Still , he felt that when the time came for him to bid them farewell , he should like to do so on an occasion when he could address them at greater length than was possible that

night . Since he first became P . G . M . a great change had come over Freemasonry . In those days it was more of a social , he might perhaps say of a somewhat festive character , but since then it had developed into a great benevolent agencv . Its Girls' and Boys' Schools , its Benevolent

Institution for Widows and Aged Freemasons were unequalled of their kind in the country . During his Provincial Grand Mastership Freemasonry had made great strides , and in nowhere more than in Derbyshire . The number of lodges had increased from seven or eight to twenty-eight , and large

sums of money had been subscribed in pursuance of their benevolent aims , but for all this , as he had said on many previous occasions , he took no credit to himself . The honour was entirely due to the able men who had been associated

with him in the capacity of Deputy Provincial Grand Master First there was Bro . C . R . Colville , a gentleman known to but few of those present , but a very gcod Mason , and very active in the discharge of his duties . Then , forty years ago there came Bro . Okeover , a very devoted Mason , and a man of whom he could not speak too highly in any sense of the

word . Me ( the Duke ) was under a peculiar obligation to Bro . Okeover , for with so much of his time occupied in other matters he had been most grateful to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the way in which he had relieved him of all responsibility in connection with his important

office . Though he was retiring his name would always be remembered with the deepest respect , affection , and veneration by the whole of the Freemasons of Derbyshire . The Provincial Grand Master concluded by paying a warm tribute to thc new Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . FitzHerbert

Wright , who , he was sure , was a sincere Mason , and devoted to thc welfare of the Craft . It was in the confident belief that he would prove a worthy successor to Bro . Okeover that he asked them to drink the ( oast of his health . Bro . FitzHerbert Wright , who took the chair on the

Duke ' s departure , made a genial response . He alluded to the deep respect he had always felt for Bro . Okeover from the days of his boyhood . At that time , when he lived at

Osmaston Manor , he was frequently in the habit of meeting the Okeovers , and was filled with awe at the spectacle of Bro . Okeover—a splendid man , six feet seven inches high . Masonically speaking , it would be his aim to follow as far as he could in the footsteps of his predecessor . He should never have accepted the office had he not felt confident of the support of the brethren , and especially of Bro . Xaylor , who

liHO . FITZUKHIiKllT VlUCiUT . for many years had acted as their Provincial Grand Secretary to the great advantage of the Province as a whole . He hoped in the course of time to visit every lodge in the Province . They could depend upon it that as far as lay in his power he

would fulfil the duties of his office without fear , favour , or partiality of any kind . Other toasts followed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nottinghamshire.

Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire .

/¦ pHE Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of j Nottinghamshire was held in the Albert Hall , Xotlingham , on Thursday , Dec , 2 Cth . There was a veiy large gathering of members of the Craft . In the absence < i the Provincial Grand Master , Rt . Wor . Bro . His Grace the Duke of Portland , the Dcputy-Prov . Grand Master the

WW . the Rev . II . T . Haymau presided , and was supported by Rt . Wor . Bro . Lord Henry Benlinck , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master of Cumberland and Westmoreland . The Depulv-Prov . Grand Master made touching allusions to the loss .-s the Craft had sustained by Ihe deaths of ( he late Bro . Alfred Page and other brethren . The Prov . Grand Secretarv

reported that there were now 921 Freemasons in the province , a slight increase over last year . Provincial Grand Officers lor the ensuing year were then invested as follows : Bros . Colonel [ oseph Wright , P . S . G . W . ; ( . _ . Thompson , P . J . G . W . ; the Revs . II . J . Griffin and W . W . Gawn , Chaplaii . s ; J ) NicholsonPGTreas WoodwardPGRegistra

C . . , .. . ; J . W . , .. r ; : . P . W . Marx , P . G . Sec . ; " Geo . Essex , P . S G . IX ; L . Rocklev , P . f . G . D . ; II . Heath , P . G . S . of W . ; II . Dawes , P . G . D . " of C . ; V . B . Foottit , P . D . G . D . of C . ; T . Castle ,

P . G . Swd . B . ; G . S . O'Rorke , P . P . G . S ., and W . Cooper , P . P . G . S . ; J . Ii . Lyddon , P . G . Organist ; F . Ii . Whillv , P . Assist . G . Scc . ; J . T . Whitehern , P . G . P . ; W . E . Buckler , P . P . G S ; J . Moody , P . G . Txler ; G . A . Greenhill , T . Bell , W . E . Hardy , J . G . Allsopp , and C . Hemsley , P . G . Stewards .

An invitation was received from Retford , to hold the summer meeting under the banner of the Vernon Lodge . The large hall of ( he Bodmin Public Rooms , on Tuesday

evening , January 2 nd , was transformed into a representation of " The Temple of King Solomon , " on the occasion of the Grand Masonic Charily Ball , which teas held under the auspices of the One and All Lodge , Xo . 330 ( Bodmin ) . Much time had been spent by Bro . T . R . Hards and the committee

in the work of decoration , and they are to be congratulated on the admirable laste displayed . The stage was titled up as a drawing room , the band being situated in one comer of the room on the left of llie entrance . The scene , when dancing was in full swing , was a truly delightful one . The

brethren wore their regalia , and the lad y friends were attired in some exquisite gowns , which were much admired . The proceedings opened with the Masonic March , in which all present joined . Dancing was kept up with much vigour until about four o ' clock-. The whole of the arrangements were admirably carried out .