WINCHESTER.
FREEMASONRY.—The annual Grand Lodge of the Pronvince of Hampshire was held at St. John’s House, on Thursdsy. In the absence, from illness, of the provincial grand master (Sir Lucius Curtis, Bart., K.C.B.) Mr. C. E. Deacon, of Southampton, deputy provincial grand master, presided, and Br. W. W. B. Beach, M.P., was the deputy grand master. Br. T. W. Fleming, M.P., provincial grand master of the Isle of Wight, visited the lodge, attended by his officers. Among those present were Br. Stebbing, senior grand deacon of England, and the worshipful the master of the Winchester Lodge, Br. Douglas, senior grand warden; Br. J. Naish, acting junior grand warden; Br. Rev. T. A. Willes, the grand chaplain; Br. Rev. Dr. Bradshaw, past grand chaplain; Br. A. Heather, grand treasurer; Br. A.Smith, grand registrar; Br. Charles Sherry, acting grand director of ceremonies; and Br. Lieutenant Cox, 60th Rifles, grand pursuivant; Br. Hicksham, grand secretary; Br., J. Lamb, Basingstoke, senior grand warden. The lodge was attended by upwards of 120 of the brethren from various parts of the county; and after the business of the day had been transacted the deputy provincial grand master proceeded to invest his officers for the following year as follows:—Br. Charles Sherry as the senior grand warden; Br. Baker, Portsmouth, junior grand warden; Br. Rev. T. A. Willes, Wincbester, grand chaplain; Br. Heather, Portsmouth, grand treasurer; Br. Hickman, Southampton, grand secretary; Br. Collis, Southampton, senior grand deacon; Br. Taber, Portsmouth, junior grand deacon; Br. Figgins, Basingstoke, grand director of ceremonies; Br. Finley, Petersfield, assistant grand director of ceremonies; Br. Purnell, grand sword bearer; Br. Rossley, Aldershott, grand pursuivant; and six grand stewards. Nearly 100 of the brethren sat down to a banquet at five o’clock, at St. John’s House, provided by Mr. Chick, of the White Swan, and to which the worshipful the grand master of the Winchester Lodge, Br. J. R. Stebbing, presented two fine haunches of venison.