Masonic Mems.

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire was held on Wednesday , the 5 th inst ., at Tewkesbury . An interval of eleven years had elapsed since a similar meeting had been held in the old town , the occasion then being the re-opening of the Abbey Church after its extensive restoration , in which the Masons

of the province had taken part by contributing to the repair of the Chapter House . Among the brethren present were Sir Edmund Lechmere , the Prov . G . M . of Worcestershire , and a great number of provincial officers , including the Prov . G . M . the Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., who appointed the Right Hon . the Lord Fitzhardinge , W . M . of 270 , Prov . G . W . A recital on the Abbey organ was afterwards conducted by Bro , Hemingway .

* * * The foundation-stone of the new Masonic Hall , which is being erected in Edward-street , West Bromwich , by the brethren of the Dartmouth Lodge , was laid by the Mayor , Bro . E . Heelis , W . M . of the Dartmouth Lodge , assisted by the P . G . M ., Col . Foster Gough , LL . D ., and a large number of brethren from the Province of Staffordshire .

# # # Bro . F . H . Rooke , whose recent letters to the Freemason have attracted some attention , is a Past Grand Steward , having served that office in 1872 . Pie is P . M . of the Old Union Lodge ( 46 ) , and of the Alexandra Palace Lodge ( 1541 ) , and P . Z . of the Old Union Chapter ( 46 ) . He is a member of the 30 and has acted for some

years as Recorder of the Holy Sanctuary Rose Croix Chapter ( 52 ) , of which he is at present M . W . S . He is a Life Governor of all the Masonic Charities . By profession Bro . Rooke is a solicitor at Barnes , Surrey , and Lincoln ' s-inn-fields , W . C , and he is well known in Church circles , especially as Chairman of the Free and Open Church Association .

* * * The annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Norths and Hunts was held on Thursday , the 13 th inst ., under the banner of the Socrates Lodge ( 373 ) , Huntingdon . The Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , D . L ., P . G . M ., assisted by Bro . Butler Wilkins , P . G . M ., P . G ., Std .

Br ., presided . The Grand Lodge was opened at the Town Hall , at 1 . 45 , Bro . H . T . Smith , W . M . 374 , being appointed P . G . S . W . for the ensuing year . Later in the proceedings the brethren formed in procession , and , preceded by the P . G ., Sword Bearers with the Masonic emblems and symbols , visited All Saints' Church , where

Bro . the Rev . F . S . Thornton , Prov . G . C , had been announced to preach . An interesting feature in the procession was that of four Lewises ( younger sons of Bros . Thackray , Hodgson , and Davis ) , dressed in white serge , and carrying a Bible resting on a prepared bier elegantly decorated with choice white flowers and acacia-leaves .

The first portion of the church service was read by the Rev . J . Pycock , the Rev . T . Hodgson taking the lesson . Mr . A . A . Mackintosh presided at the organ for the greater part of the service , Bro . Vialls , P . G . O ., Org . of the Eleanor Cross Lodge , playing the voluntaries . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . S . Wathen

Wigg , P . P . G . C . The reverend gentlemen , taking for his text 1 Kings , chap . , part of the 32 nd verse— " He is my brother "eloquently discoursed upon the connection Masonic belief had with the Christian religion .

* * * The installation of Bro . Robert Titlow , W . M . Elect of Lodge Prudence ( 388 ) , took place at the Masonic Hall , Halesworth , last week , when the following brethren signed the presence-hook : — Bros . P . M . Canova , W . M . ; J . Oakley Green , I . P . M . ; R . Titlow ,

S . W ., W . M . Elect ; R . W . Flick , J . W . ; J . M . Canova , P . M ., P . P . G ., S . W ., Treasurer ; A . E . Smith , P . M ., P . P . G . J ., W ., Secretary ; E . W . Moore , S . D . ; A . Caton , P . M . ; C S . Pelgriff , P . M . ; R . Barker , P . M ., P . P . G . Asst . D . of C . ; C . H . White , P . M . ; W . Chappell , Acting Tyler ; P . W . Kendall , George

Andrews , W . P . Gale , P . S . W . ; Pryce Morris . The visiting Brethren included Bros . George Abbott , P . M . ( 285 ) , P . P . G . S . B . ; Herbert Buckingham , jun ., J . W . ( 85 ); J . W . W . King , P . M . ( 376 );

E . M . U . Adnams , W . M . ( 1983 ); T . Sergeant , S . W . ( 1983 ); W . D . Merrith , P . M . ( 1000 ) , P . P . G . S . W . ; Jno . E . Sales , J . D . ( 929 ) . Bro . P . M . Canova , the retiring W . M ., ably performed the duty of Installing Master , his skilful work pointing him out as an accomplished craftsman . The W . M . Elect having been duly and according to ancient custom installed in the Master ' s chair , he

appointed his officers : —Bro . R . W . Flick , S . W . ; Bro . E . W . Moore , J . W . ; Bro . J . M . Canova , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W ., Treasurer ; Bro . A . E . Smith , P . M ., P . P . G . J . W ., Secretary ; Bro . Pryce Morris , S . D . ; Bro . W . E . Baylie , J . D . ; Bro . P . W . Kendall , I . G . ; Bro . R . Barker , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C , Steward ; Bro . James Miller , Tyler .

The annual banquet subsequently took place at the Angel Hotel . * * * Bro . William Marwood , who is well known in Liverpool , has been installed into the chair of the Croxteth United Service Lodge ( 786 ) .

* * * Councillor and Mrs . W . Botting , of Brighton , have just become the recipients of a much-valued souvenir of their silver-wedding . The gift came from the Royal Brunswick Lodge , of which Bro . Botting has for many years been an esteemed member . It

consisted of an address , enclosed in a massive oak and gilt frame , and most artistically illuminated , amongst the adornments being a beautiful floral border , a facsimile of the banner of the Lodge , consisting of a white horse upon a blue ground , with the motto , " Nex aspera terrens , " a circle containing Mr . Betting ' s family crest , consisting of a swan , with the motto , " Floreat qui Lahoret . " The wording of the address is as follows : —

Royal Brunswick Lodge , No . 732 . Antient Free and Accepted Masons , England . To Bro . WILLIAM BOTTING , P . M . " We , the Worshipful Master , Officers , and Brethren of the ' Royal Brunswick Lodge , ' assembled at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , desire to offer you and your Wife our sincere and hearty felicitations and congratulations upon your Silver-Wedding Day .

" May the Great Architect of the Universe bless you and your Wife and Family with health , happiness , and every blessing , for many years to come . " SAMUEL DENMAN , W . M . T . P . HARKER , S . W . HORTON LEDGER , P . M ., J . W . W . ALFRED FIELD , S . D .

W . BENNETT , J . D . GEO . J . CLEMENTS , I . G . CHARLES NVE , P . M ., D . ofC . WALTER SMITH , P . M ., Std . HENRY DAVEV , P . M ., Std . RICHARD WILLARD , I . P . M . W . H . HOLI . IS , Secretary . And the Brethren of the Lodge .

The presentation of the address was made at a Lodge meeting , and was accompanied by hearty felicitations . * * * It is proposed by the members of the National Liberal Club to establish a new Lodge , to be called the " Whitehall Lodge , "

exclusive , of course , to any brethren but what are members of the Club . # * # A distinguished company will probably be present at the " Masonic" garden party that Bro . PI . Clarke , C . C . ( W . M . of the Alliance Lodge ) , purposes giving on Saturday , July 13 , at his residence , Cannon Hall , Hampstcad . Invitations have been sent to all the members of the County Council who belong to the craft .

¦ if * * Since the dissolution of St . James's Lodge ( 713 ) , at Keith , nearly fifty years ago , the charter and books of the Lodge have been missing . No trace of them could be found until recently , when the charter turned up rather unexpectedly . It has been for many years in the possession of an old resident , who had forgotten all about the missing document in his possession until it came to light the other day . It was generally believed that the last Secretary to the Lodge ,