Untitled Article

— Wilson , J . D . ;* George Joicey , S . S . ; Thomas Jenkins , J . S . ; William Bichard * son , I . G ; John Trotter , Tyler . The Brethren then proceeded to the Boyal Exchange Hotel , Grey Street , where Bro . Tomlinson had prepared for them a most sumptuous banquet . Nearly fifty Brethren dined on the occasion . Bro . Berkley , W . M ., presided ; the vice-chairs were ably filled by Bros . Harrison and Fenwick , the S . and J . Wardens .

OXFOBDSHIRE . Provincial Geand Lodge . —The Prov . Grand Lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , Oxford , on Tuesday , 22 nd April . The business was commenced about halfpast eleven o ' clock by the opening of the Alfred Lodge , No . 425 , by the W . M ., Bro . Hester . Shortly afterwards the B . W . Prov . G . M . and his Officers entered the room , and the Grand Lodge was opened in due form , there being present the Bros . B . W . H . A . Bowyer , Prov . G . M . ; B . W . B . J . Spiers , P . G . S . B .,

D . Prov . G . M . ; J . Wyatt , No . 25 , Prov . S . G . W . ; T . Joy , P . M . No . 702 , as Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . Sedgwick , B . D ., No . 460 ; Bev . Jr-S . Sidebotham , M . A ., W . M ., No . 702 , Prov . G . Chaps . ; . J . T . Hester , W . M ., No . 425 , Prov . S . G . D . ; and a large number of other Brethren . The W . M . expressed the great gratification he felt that he was enabled to hold the Prov . Grand Lodge under the auspices of the oldest Lodge in the Province ; and expressed his gratification at the flourishing state of Freemasonry'in the Province . The greatest amount of

business during the year had been transacted in the University Lodge , the Apollo , No . 460 , as might naturally be supposed would be the case . In that Lodge , during the past year , there had been forty-one initiations , forty passings , and twenty-four raisings . The next in importance was the Alfred , in which there had been eleven initiations , nine passings , and eight raisings . In the Churchill Lodge , No . 702 , there had been an addition of seventeen members by joining ; and in the youngest Lodge , the Cherwell , No . 783 , there had been two initiations , three passings , and four raisings . The R . W . Prov . G . M . then proceeded to invest his

Officers for the ensuing year , as follows : —Bros . J . T . Hester , W . M ., No . 425 , Prov . S . G . W . ; T . Joy , P . M ., No . 702 , Prov . J . G . W . ; Bev . J . G . Wood , M . A ., and Rev . T . Russell , M . A ., No . 425 , Prov . G . Chaps . ; Codrington , S . W ., No . 460 , Reg . ; T . Randall , P . M ., No . 425 , Treas . ; H . Barter , No . 460 , Sec . ; Hayward , W . M ., No . 873 , S . G . D ,. ; Cooke , No . 873 , J . G . D . ; Bainsford , No . 425 , Cox , No . 460 , G . Dire , of Ger . ; Dr . Eivey , No . 460 , Org . ; Bossom , Pursv . ; C . Park , W . A . Bryden , W . Vincent , J . C . Farmborough , W . H . Hutton , and Walrond , as Prov . G . Stewds . ; and Tipton , Prov . G . Treas .

The Prov . G . Treas . read a balance-sheet , showing the funds to be in a very satisfactory position , and it was resolved to present the following sums to the Masonic Charities : —The Boys' School , £ 5 . 5 s . to the Building , and £ 2 . 2 s . to the General Fund ; Girls' School , £ 2 . 2 s . ; Old Man ' s Annuity Fund , £ 2 ; Widow ' s Fund , £ 2 ; and Asylum , £ 1 . The following sums were also voted to the Local Charities , showing that the Oxfordshire Brethren do not forget the distinguishing characteristic of the Craft : —The Radcliffe Infirmary , £ 3 . 3 s . ; Medical Dispensary , £ 2 . 2 s . ; Blue Coat School , £ 1 . Is . ; Anti-Mendicity Society , £ 1 . jU . ; and Oxford Lying-in Charity , £ 2 . 2 s . ; the total amount voted away being £ 23 . 12 s .

Bros . Tyssen Amherst , of Didlington Hall , Brandon , Norfolk ; Wyndham Portal , of Malshanger House , Basingstoke , Hants ; and P . M . Beach , of Oakley Hall , Basingstoke , Hants , all of the Apollo University Lodge , expressed their desire to become Stewards at the Festivals of the Girls' and Boys' School , and also of the Benevolent Fund for decayed Freemasons and their widows , and the Grand

Lodge was pleased to accept the offer , viz ., one Steward for each Charity , in the following order : —Bro . Amherst for the Girls' and Bro . Portal for the Boys ' School , whilst Bro . Beach , who has had the honour of acting as Steward for each of these Charities , undertook the Benevolent Fund . From the known liberality and earnest zeal of these Brethren we predict a considerable advantage to the Charities . The Grand Lodge was then closed in due form with solemn prayer .

After a short adjournment , the Alfred Lodge reassembled , when the W . M . Bro . Hester passed two Brethren to the 2 nd Degree , thus making the initiations and the passings for the year equal in number . At the conclusion of the business