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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Provincial.
the finances of that fund , from which it appeared that there was a total of funded and other property brought down to the end of last month of £ 1 , 315 13 s . 4 il . Bro . Denis Moore proposed Bro . James Peard Ley for the office of Grand Treasurer . He was W . M . of Bideford Lodge , and the honour could not be better conferred . Bro . Capt . Tanner Davey seconded the motion , which was cordially agreed to .
The Committee of Petitions had under consideration a petition from Bro . Rabey , and one from Mrs . Martha Stone , widow of Bro . Stone , and they recommend that the sum of £ 10 be awarded to each . The case of Mary Gribble , wife of a Freemason who was killed in the Devonport Dockyard was brought forward , and Bro . Dr . Hodge , . of Sidmouth , also spoke of the distress of Mrs .
Mary Porter , the widow of Bro . James Porter . Iu both of these cases , the merits of which were well known to the principal officers of the Grand Lodge , there had been no time to present petitions to the committee , aud Bro . Denis Moore proposed as they were both very urgent , that £ 5 should be voted to each of the distressed applicants . Bro . Bellerby seconded the motion , and it was carried nem . con . The Committee of Petitions was re-electedthe P . G .
Secre-, tary being added . The E . W . P . G . Master then adverted to a notice of motion whicli had been given by Bro . V . Bird , P . M ., No . 954 , of which this is a copy : — " That any Brother desiring to nominate a Brother for the office of Prov . Treas . may send his name and the number of his Lodge to the Grand Sec , not later than the last day of May . That the P . G . Sec , shall send with the summons
calling the Provincial Meeting a list of such names as he may have received as candidates . And that the Treasurer for the Province shall be elected by Scrip or Ballot from among the Brethren so nominated . " As Bro . Bird was not present the proposal must fall to the ground , but the G . Master observed that it would be an unconstitutional thing to carry such a resolution , as it would deprive the brethren in Grand Lodge to select any brother for the office that they might feel disposed to elect . It would be taking away a right of which they ought not to be deprived . He also commented upon the resolution
itself , and the difficulties it might throw in their way for an election at all , and therefore even if Bro . Bird had been present , lie could not have allowed it to be put . The proposal was , therefore , struck out . The P . G . M . then proposed that the last G . Purst . should have the power of wearing his past rank during life—carried unanimously . Bro . Metham , D . P . G . M ., said that it was proposed to give
some honour or testimonial to the Grand Master of England , who had now served that office for 25 years . He trusted that it would be a testimonial of a practical character—that it would connect his name with some enduring institution , that it would not take the form of a piece of plate , which would pass into the hands of his family after his death . But he trusted that the testimonial would be something that would be beneficial to the Craft and an honour to the Craft . He ( Bro . Metham ) had had
the honour done to him of being placed on the committee , and ag he would be in London to-morrow he should like to be able to report that the Province of Devon had been the first in Grand Lodge to contribute to the testimonial . He proposed that they should vote a sum of ten guineas as their contribution . Bro . Denis Moore said it was quite clear from the state of their funds that they would not be able this year to contribute
anything to tbe Fortescuo Annuity Fund and the Widows ' Fund . He then eulogised the object proposed by the previous speaker , and that it should be a larged sum , moving that it be twenty guineas . Bro . W . Tanner , of Exeter , concurred in thinking that this would more become the dignity of theProvince and the merits of the Earl of Zetland , and seconded the motion , which was most cordially agreed to by all the lodges .
Bro . Dr . Hopkins rose to remark the fact that this province is one of five only which do not subscribe to the Masonic schools , and to propose donations to them , but was told that the balance in hand had already been disposed of . This closed the business for the present of the Grand Loclge . The members then formed in procession and proceeded in column , two and two , to the Masonic Hall , where many of the brethren filed off , the hall not being large enough for their accommodation . The customary ceremonies of the dedication of a
new hall were proceeded with , and the ceremonial was conducted with that solemnity whioh marks all those important duties when they are performed bv the Rev . the G . M . of Devon . At the request of the Prov . G . M ., the V . W . Bro . Metham , D . Prov . G . M . of Devon , delivered an address which will be found on another page . On the return of the Grand Lodge , the Grand Master spoke of a laint that had been made of lodges receiving
candicomp dates from a distance without due enquiry of the local lodges as to the character of the candidate proposed for admission . Such a case had occurred recently from Cornwall—a candidate obtaining admission in Devon when he could not have obtained it in a lodge in his own district . He > vould request his R . W . brother to tell them something of this case . The R . W . Prov . G . M ., of Cornwall , Bro . Augustus Smith ,
was , on rising , received with loud applause . He said he merely wished to draw attention to what had taken place to prevent a repetition of it . At the Provincial Meeting in Cornwall it was mentioned in general terms that a candidate who would not have been elected in their province had been able by coming into Devon to get initiated , and then he could return and force himself into a loclge where his presence might be most
undesirable . He thought it necessary to mention this matter , as it would be seen at once how very undesirable it would be for objectionable persons to be able to pass from one province into another where they were not known . He thought that the matter might be remedied by circulars being addressed to the masters of the different lodges , and that the circular should be a joint one from his R . W . brother and himself , and that the matter thus complained of might be prevented in future .
APPOINTMENT OP OEFICERS . The R . W . Prov . G . M . then proceeded to appoint the officers of the Grand Lodge for the ensuing year , and in doing so made allusions to the various circumstances whicli rendered each brother so appointed desirable for office . His commendations to tbem were received with the marked applause of the Grand Lod The following is a list of the officers so appointed : —
ge . lieutenant-Colonel Elliott , P . M . and W . M ., 1 , 205 , Stonehouse , S . G . Warden ; Henry Walrond , W . M . ( 4 times ) , 303 , Teignmouth , J . G . Warden ; Rev . John R . Nankivell , W . M ., 248 , Brixham ; Rev . John Dickinson , 1 , 125 , Tiverton , Grand Chaplains ; James Peard Ley , P . M . and W . M . 489 , Bideford , G . Treas . ; Walter G . Rogers , P . M . and P . Prov . G . Sec , 112 , ExeterGRegIsaac Latimer 189 StonehouseG . Sec . ; J .
, . . ; , , , Ingleby Mackenzie , \ 3 LD ., W . M ., 372 , Budleigh Salterton , S . G . Deacon ; Charles Elphinstone , P . M . 202 , Devonport , J . G . Deacon ; Walter H . Maddock , P . M ., 189 , Stonehouse , G . D . Supt . of Works ; William Browning , P . M ., 223 and 156 , Plymouth , G . Dir . of Cers . ; Henry Bartlett , P . M ., 710 , Totnes , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; G . G . Nicholls , P . M ., 70 , Plymouth , G John SaddlerW . M . 189 StonehouseG . Sword
. Org . ; , , , , Bearer ; George Perkins Ward , P . M ., 303 , G . Purst . ; W . H . Geachsias , S . W ., 39 , Exeter ; William Easton , P . M ., 39 , Exeter ; Major G . H . Yates , P . M ., 1 , 138 , Newton , W . Oram , P . M ., 421 , Southmolton , George Warren , P . M ., 159 ; Josiah Austen , P . M ., 1 , 099 , G . Stewards . This concluded the business of the Grand Lodge , which was then formally closed .
THE BANQUET . The dinner was provided in the ball-room adjoining by Bro . Bartlett , of the Queen ' s Hotel . About 130 of the brethren sat down to dinner , which was an excellent , and had been provided by host Bartlett on the most liberal scale . It was a dinner a la Susse , and this kind of entertainment requires that there should be a good lof waiterswe think this a mistake
suppy ; , unless that supply can be ensured . Bro . Bartlett had a body of waiters from Plymouth , but his Exeter engagement failed him , and threw the work therefore on a lesser number than he had intended . It would be much better for these dinners to be thoroughly English , and good joints on the table , with ready carvers to assist the brethren , which would always prove more satisfactory than Russianised attempts to supply a good dinner .
We say this in the interest of Englishmen , whether they be Freemasons or not ; what they like in the cuisine , as our French neighbours term it , is progress and not delay . This could always be ensured when a supply is on the table . In the present case the tables were very nicely decorated , displaying good taste and an abundance of all the fruits in season . The R . W . Bro . the Rev . J . Huyshe , M . A ., P . G . M ., presided ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
the finances of that fund , from which it appeared that there was a total of funded and other property brought down to the end of last month of £ 1 , 315 13 s . 4 il . Bro . Denis Moore proposed Bro . James Peard Ley for the office of Grand Treasurer . He was W . M . of Bideford Lodge , and the honour could not be better conferred . Bro . Capt . Tanner Davey seconded the motion , which was cordially agreed to .
The Committee of Petitions had under consideration a petition from Bro . Rabey , and one from Mrs . Martha Stone , widow of Bro . Stone , and they recommend that the sum of £ 10 be awarded to each . The case of Mary Gribble , wife of a Freemason who was killed in the Devonport Dockyard was brought forward , and Bro . Dr . Hodge , . of Sidmouth , also spoke of the distress of Mrs .
Mary Porter , the widow of Bro . James Porter . Iu both of these cases , the merits of which were well known to the principal officers of the Grand Lodge , there had been no time to present petitions to the committee , aud Bro . Denis Moore proposed as they were both very urgent , that £ 5 should be voted to each of the distressed applicants . Bro . Bellerby seconded the motion , and it was carried nem . con . The Committee of Petitions was re-electedthe P . G .
Secre-, tary being added . The E . W . P . G . Master then adverted to a notice of motion whicli had been given by Bro . V . Bird , P . M ., No . 954 , of which this is a copy : — " That any Brother desiring to nominate a Brother for the office of Prov . Treas . may send his name and the number of his Lodge to the Grand Sec , not later than the last day of May . That the P . G . Sec , shall send with the summons
calling the Provincial Meeting a list of such names as he may have received as candidates . And that the Treasurer for the Province shall be elected by Scrip or Ballot from among the Brethren so nominated . " As Bro . Bird was not present the proposal must fall to the ground , but the G . Master observed that it would be an unconstitutional thing to carry such a resolution , as it would deprive the brethren in Grand Lodge to select any brother for the office that they might feel disposed to elect . It would be taking away a right of which they ought not to be deprived . He also commented upon the resolution
itself , and the difficulties it might throw in their way for an election at all , and therefore even if Bro . Bird had been present , lie could not have allowed it to be put . The proposal was , therefore , struck out . The P . G . M . then proposed that the last G . Purst . should have the power of wearing his past rank during life—carried unanimously . Bro . Metham , D . P . G . M ., said that it was proposed to give
some honour or testimonial to the Grand Master of England , who had now served that office for 25 years . He trusted that it would be a testimonial of a practical character—that it would connect his name with some enduring institution , that it would not take the form of a piece of plate , which would pass into the hands of his family after his death . But he trusted that the testimonial would be something that would be beneficial to the Craft and an honour to the Craft . He ( Bro . Metham ) had had
the honour done to him of being placed on the committee , and ag he would be in London to-morrow he should like to be able to report that the Province of Devon had been the first in Grand Lodge to contribute to the testimonial . He proposed that they should vote a sum of ten guineas as their contribution . Bro . Denis Moore said it was quite clear from the state of their funds that they would not be able this year to contribute
anything to tbe Fortescuo Annuity Fund and the Widows ' Fund . He then eulogised the object proposed by the previous speaker , and that it should be a larged sum , moving that it be twenty guineas . Bro . W . Tanner , of Exeter , concurred in thinking that this would more become the dignity of theProvince and the merits of the Earl of Zetland , and seconded the motion , which was most cordially agreed to by all the lodges .
Bro . Dr . Hopkins rose to remark the fact that this province is one of five only which do not subscribe to the Masonic schools , and to propose donations to them , but was told that the balance in hand had already been disposed of . This closed the business for the present of the Grand Loclge . The members then formed in procession and proceeded in column , two and two , to the Masonic Hall , where many of the brethren filed off , the hall not being large enough for their accommodation . The customary ceremonies of the dedication of a
new hall were proceeded with , and the ceremonial was conducted with that solemnity whioh marks all those important duties when they are performed bv the Rev . the G . M . of Devon . At the request of the Prov . G . M ., the V . W . Bro . Metham , D . Prov . G . M . of Devon , delivered an address which will be found on another page . On the return of the Grand Lodge , the Grand Master spoke of a laint that had been made of lodges receiving
candicomp dates from a distance without due enquiry of the local lodges as to the character of the candidate proposed for admission . Such a case had occurred recently from Cornwall—a candidate obtaining admission in Devon when he could not have obtained it in a lodge in his own district . He > vould request his R . W . brother to tell them something of this case . The R . W . Prov . G . M ., of Cornwall , Bro . Augustus Smith ,
was , on rising , received with loud applause . He said he merely wished to draw attention to what had taken place to prevent a repetition of it . At the Provincial Meeting in Cornwall it was mentioned in general terms that a candidate who would not have been elected in their province had been able by coming into Devon to get initiated , and then he could return and force himself into a loclge where his presence might be most
undesirable . He thought it necessary to mention this matter , as it would be seen at once how very undesirable it would be for objectionable persons to be able to pass from one province into another where they were not known . He thought that the matter might be remedied by circulars being addressed to the masters of the different lodges , and that the circular should be a joint one from his R . W . brother and himself , and that the matter thus complained of might be prevented in future .
APPOINTMENT OP OEFICERS . The R . W . Prov . G . M . then proceeded to appoint the officers of the Grand Lodge for the ensuing year , and in doing so made allusions to the various circumstances whicli rendered each brother so appointed desirable for office . His commendations to tbem were received with the marked applause of the Grand Lod The following is a list of the officers so appointed : —
ge . lieutenant-Colonel Elliott , P . M . and W . M ., 1 , 205 , Stonehouse , S . G . Warden ; Henry Walrond , W . M . ( 4 times ) , 303 , Teignmouth , J . G . Warden ; Rev . John R . Nankivell , W . M ., 248 , Brixham ; Rev . John Dickinson , 1 , 125 , Tiverton , Grand Chaplains ; James Peard Ley , P . M . and W . M . 489 , Bideford , G . Treas . ; Walter G . Rogers , P . M . and P . Prov . G . Sec , 112 , ExeterGRegIsaac Latimer 189 StonehouseG . Sec . ; J .
, . . ; , , , Ingleby Mackenzie , \ 3 LD ., W . M ., 372 , Budleigh Salterton , S . G . Deacon ; Charles Elphinstone , P . M . 202 , Devonport , J . G . Deacon ; Walter H . Maddock , P . M ., 189 , Stonehouse , G . D . Supt . of Works ; William Browning , P . M ., 223 and 156 , Plymouth , G . Dir . of Cers . ; Henry Bartlett , P . M ., 710 , Totnes , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; G . G . Nicholls , P . M ., 70 , Plymouth , G John SaddlerW . M . 189 StonehouseG . Sword
. Org . ; , , , , Bearer ; George Perkins Ward , P . M ., 303 , G . Purst . ; W . H . Geachsias , S . W ., 39 , Exeter ; William Easton , P . M ., 39 , Exeter ; Major G . H . Yates , P . M ., 1 , 138 , Newton , W . Oram , P . M ., 421 , Southmolton , George Warren , P . M ., 159 ; Josiah Austen , P . M ., 1 , 099 , G . Stewards . This concluded the business of the Grand Lodge , which was then formally closed .
THE BANQUET . The dinner was provided in the ball-room adjoining by Bro . Bartlett , of the Queen ' s Hotel . About 130 of the brethren sat down to dinner , which was an excellent , and had been provided by host Bartlett on the most liberal scale . It was a dinner a la Susse , and this kind of entertainment requires that there should be a good lof waiterswe think this a mistake
suppy ; , unless that supply can be ensured . Bro . Bartlett had a body of waiters from Plymouth , but his Exeter engagement failed him , and threw the work therefore on a lesser number than he had intended . It would be much better for these dinners to be thoroughly English , and good joints on the table , with ready carvers to assist the brethren , which would always prove more satisfactory than Russianised attempts to supply a good dinner .
We say this in the interest of Englishmen , whether they be Freemasons or not ; what they like in the cuisine , as our French neighbours term it , is progress and not delay . This could always be ensured when a supply is on the table . In the present case the tables were very nicely decorated , displaying good taste and an abundance of all the fruits in season . The R . W . Bro . the Rev . J . Huyshe , M . A ., P . G . M ., presided ,