Provincial Grand Lodges And Chapters.

The ACTING PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , after commenting on this affecting address , remarked that the least they could do was lo pass a vole of condolence with Mrs . Ford in her terrible bereavement , and accordingly he proposed the following resolution , a copy thereof to be transmitted to her : — We , the Freemasons of the Province of Sussex , in Provincial Grand Lodge assembled , elcsire to lender to Mrs . Gerard Ford the expression of

our respectful and sincere sympathy with her in the distressing and heavy bereavement with which it has pleased the G . A . O . T . U . to visit her . They further desire to testify their deep and lasting gratitude to their late and much lamented Brother and Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( whose death has filled the hearts of all Sussex Masons with grief ) for the full and well-nigh perfect manner in which , with firmness , discretion ,

and impartiality he discharged the onerous duties , and maintained in undiminished lustre the honor of the high office to which H . R . H . the Right W . Prov . Grand Master had been graciously pleased to appoint him , and for the general courtesy and kindness he , at all times and on all occasions , evinced and showed to his brethren in Freemasonry . They desire also to thank Airs . Ford for her truly Masonic letter , and the opportunity she has given them of

hearing the touching words which he had prepared with the hope of reading them in Lodge to-day . They form a fitting farewell to his earthly labours , and a record that the interests of Freemasonry occupied his last moments . And they pray that the G . A . O . T . U . will , of His infinite mercy , grant to those nearest and dearest to him grace and consolation in the hour of this , their heavy affliction . Dated this 12 th day of October , 1 SS 9 . Algernon Gordon-Lennox , acting Prov . Grand Master in the chair , R . Pidcock , Prov . G . Registrar , V . P . Freeman , Prov . G . Secretary .

the motion having been seconded by Bro . W . MARCIIANT , and supported in a very eloquent speech by Bro . W . DAWES , was unanimously passed . The investiture of officers for the following year was as follows : —Bros . Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Prov . S . G . W . ; T . Billing , W . M . 271 , Prov . J . G . W . ; Very Rev . E . R . Currie . P . M . 11 S 4 , Rev . J . Puttick , W . M . 40 , Prov . G . Chaps . ; W . IL HallettP . M . 271 Prov . G . Treas . ; R . PidcockP . M . 916

, , , , Prov . G . Reg . ; V . P . Freeman , P . M . 732 , Prov . G . Sec . ; W . H . Causlon , P . M . 1726 , Prov . S . G . D . ; W . Seymour Burrows , P . M . 811 , Prov . J . G . D . ; W . L . Wallis , P . M . 916 , Prov . G . S . of W . ; W . Balchin , jun ., P . M . 1636 , Prov . G . D . C . ; H . Beaumont , P . M . 315 , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; A . M . Betchlcy , P . M . 1619 , Prov . G . S . B . ; T . W . Dean , P . M . 1110 , B . Hughes , P . M . 1184 , Prov . G . Std . Brs . ; F . J . Sawyer , Mus . Doc , 271 , Prov . G . Org . ; 15 . Burfield , P . M . 1821 , Prov . A . G . Sec . ; T . Berry , P . M . 1 S 21 , Prov . G . Purst ; G . E . Chapman ,

P . M . 311 , Prov . A . G . Purst . ; W . Bolting , P . M . 732 , E . T . Cooksey , W . M . 851 , W . E . Morrison , W . M . 916 , A . Brazier , P . M . 1829 , J . Graham Edwards , P . M . 1466 , L . R . Slyer , W . M . 315 , Prov . G . Stwds . ; H . Hughes , Prov . G . Tyler .

Provincial Grand Lodge being closed the Brethren dined together under the presidency of the newly-appointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden . * * * Under the banner of the Greta Lodge , the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmoreland held its annual meeting at Keswick , on

Tuesday , under the presidency of the Provincial Senior Grand Warden of the province , Bro . Colonel F . R . Sewell , who was supported by a great number of Brethren . The following Brethren were then nominated and invested as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year , viz . : —

Bros . Geo . Dalrymple , P . M . S 72 , 1660 , Prov . S . G . W . ; John Paterson , P . M . 9 62 , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . T . W . Melrose , Chap . 371 , and Rev . J . S . Ostle , Chap . 1073 , Prov . G . Chaps . ; R . J . Nelson , P . M . 129 ( elected ) , Prov . G . Treas . ; J . Slack , P . M . 310 , Prov . G . Reg . ; Geo . J . McKay , P . M . 129 ( reappointed ) , Prov . G . Sec . ; B . C . Waller , P . M . 1074 , Prov . G . S . D . ; Edwin Jackson , P . M . 1073 , Prov . J . G . D . ; Wm . Hodgson , W . M . 1073 , Prov . G . S . of W . ; W . D . P . Field , P . M . S 72 , Prov . G . D . C . ; Thos . Ormiston , PAL 310 , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; John NelsonP . M . 1267 Prov . G . Swd . Br . ; Wm . Lawrence

, , , P . M . 1390 , and W . C . Johns , P . M . 119 , Prov . G . Std . Brs . ; P . T . Freeman , Org . 1073 , Prov . G . Org . ; Wm . Middleton , P . M . 129 , Prov . A . G . Sec . ; Maurice Williams , P . M . 1532 , Prov . G . Purst ; Wm . Bradley , P . M . 1390 , Prov . A . G . Purst . ; James Beaty , P . M . 310 , Jos . Abbott , P . M . 371 , W . S . Ponton , W . M . 327 , Isaac Dickinson , W . M . 962 , Henry Hartley , W . M . 1660 , and John Bewley , P . M . 1989 , Prov . G . Stwds . ; Thos . Usher , P . M . 1073 , Prov . G . Tyler .

The Grand Lodge attended service in Crosthwaite Church , where a sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . H . D . Rawnsley , P . G . C ., and was eventually closed . * # * The annual convocation of the Provincial Grand Chaptei of Leicestershire and Rutland was held at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Tuesday , the 1 st ult .,

by invitation of the St . George ' s Chapter , No . 1560 . Comp . S . S . Partridge , P . G . S . B . England , Prov . Grand II ., presided in the absence of the Grand Superintendent , Comp . William Kelly . The Grand Superintendent having selected the following as his Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year , they were duly invested by the Prov . G . H . : —

Comps . S . S . Partridge . P . Z . 279 , 1560 , Prov . G . H . ; T . Worthington , P . Z . 279 , Prov . G . J . ; J . G . F . Richardson , Z . 1560 , Prov . G . S . N . ; Rev . C . Hunton Wood , P . Z . 279 , Prov . G . S . E . ; J . Tuckfield , Z . 779 , Prov . G . Treas . ; F . Amatt , P . Z . 1007 , Prov . G . Reg . ; J . D . Harris , P . Z . 279 , Z . 1130 , Prov . G . P . S . ; J . H . Marshall , H . 1007 , Prov . 1 st A . G . S . ; Carl Lowenstein , 1007 , Prov . 2 nd

Provincial Grand Lodges And Chapters.

A . G . S . ; j . H . Thompson , Z . 279 , Prov . G . S . B . ; 15 . A . Smith , J . 1560 , Prov . G . Std . Hr . ; Miles J . Walker , P . Z . 1130 , Prov . G . D . C . ; J . Webb , J . 779 , Prov . A . G . D . C ; T . A . Wykes , 1560 , Prov . G . Org . ; Jas . Tansar , 279 , Prov . G . Janitor . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of West Yorkshire was held at Bradford on the 2 nd ult ., under the banner of the Old York Time

Immemorial Lodge , under the presidency of Provincial Grand Warden Bro . C . Letch Mason . The following officers were appointed and invested : — Bros . II . J . Garnett , 53 , Past G . D ., Prov . S . G . W . ; Robert Craig , 111 , Prov . J . G . W . ; C . W . Finckcn , 127 , Prov . G . M . O . ; Thomas Gaukrogcr , 14 , Prov . S . G . O . ; II . T . Bellerby , 39 S , Prov . J . G . O . ; Rev . J . H . Evans , 374 , Nornianton of elected

Prov . G . Chap . : Geo . , 58 , P . G . I , W . ( ) , Prov . G . Treas . ; J . P . Hewitt , 53 , Prov . G . R . ; W . Cooke , 58 , Past G . O ., Prov . G . Sec . ; R . E . Collinson , 352 , Prov . S . G . D . ; A . F . McGill , 374 , Prov . J . G . D . ; J . J . Green , 58 , Prov . G . L of W . ; A . F . Fitzpatrick , Old York T . I ., Prov . G . D . C . ; R . D . Kendal , 14 , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; Alfred Gill , 137 , Prov . G . S . B . ; C . J . Schott , Old York T . I ., Prov . G . Std . Br . ; C . F . Carr , 111 , Prov . G . Org . ; E . BHHngton , 127 , Prov . G . l . G . ; Wm . Haigh , 14 ; Isaac Eyre , 53 ; Freelk . Simpson , no , Alfred Parkin , 39 S , Prov . G . Stwds .

Colonial And Foreign.

Colonial and Foreign .

Sir J . R . Somcrs Vine has completed his tour of the Colonies , on behalf of the Colonial Institute , and has returned to England , where he has been missed by his Masonic friends . Sir Somcrs has done wonderful work during his absence . The oldest records of any Masonic Lodge in the world as yet discovered are

the minutes of one established at La Haye , in Holland , in 1637 , under the title of the Valley Frederick ( Frcdriks Dal ) . The founders were wealthy burghers living at Amsterdam , who announced themselves to have been affiliates of the Lodge Valley of the Peace ( Vreedendal ) , previously existing in that city , but disbanded in consequence of the troubles and war then disturbing the Netherlands . Discovering Prince Frederick Henry , the Stadthokler , to have been

initiated into the fraternity , and desirous of its rcvhal under his patronage , the Seigneur of Opdam and the Seigneur of Beverweide invited the four Amsterdam ancients to visit La Haye and to form the Lodge . Consequently they and other initiates convened in Chapter January 29 , 1637 , at four o'clock in the afternoon , and elected his Highness the Prince Frederick to be Grand Master and Supreme

Master-Elect , for it appears that the " Confraternity of St . John , or Free Masons , ' ' 'as they were then styled , conferred four degrees . Upon arrival of his Highness the Lodge was opem . il in the Master ' s degree and proceeded to election of a Venerable Master , two Wardens , and other officers , who were duly installed . This done the Lodge closed and was re-opened in the second degree to admit two Fellow Crafts , and again closed to re-open in the first degree to receive two Apprentices . Then five visitors , all men of rank , were announced and admitted , in whose presence two noblemen were admitted as Apprentices . The labors ceased with a fraternal banquet at Prince Frederick's expense .

* * * The Merry Monarch , as Prince of Wales , was undoubtedly raised in ibis Dutch Lodge , whose recovered minutes unfortunately terminate with an account of the festival held December 27 , 1637 , 111 honor of St . John , which was presided over by the Prince Frederick and attended by Prince William of Orange , the Marquis d'Estampcs , the Counts de Solms , de Bredovode and de

Donha and John of Nassau , the Earls of Northampton and of Thanct , and other noble brethren . * * * From the minutes of the session held December 2 , 1637 , it is officially declared that this Dutch Lodge owed allegiance to the Lodge in London , as mother or Parochial Lodgein accordance with letters of constitution granted

, to the Amsterdam by John Allen , Grand Master in London , March 8 , 1519 . As this date is in advance of that on which was signed the famous Charter of Cologne , its accuracy may be questioned , while the authenticity of the minutes has been closely established by experts of the University of Leyden and other Hollandish authorities . Governor Jonathan Belcher , of Massachusetts , is known to have been the first American ever made a Mason , and that long

anterior lo 1717 . As he was a mourner , wearing a . Masonic jewel at the funeral of William of Orange , they were undoubtedly created in Holland yeais prior to 16 SS . * . -: <¦

* A finding by the R . W . and D . G . Master of Queensland \ ii . Q . ) on the law referring to filling the chair in the absence of the Master is entirely at variance with the Grand Lodge laws of Scotland . " It appears from the ruling that a Warden may not work the Lodge in the absence of a P . M ., neither may he open a Lodge or proceed with any business . " The finding does not seem to give satisfaction in Queensland . It certainly does seem strange that Wardens should be prohibited from acting , to the hindrance of business .