Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

r T"lHE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Chapter JL will be held at the Mechanics Institution , Stockport , on Saturday , 30 th inst , under the presidency of the Prov . Grand Superintendent Companion the Hon . A . de Tatton Egerton , M . P .

Aldershot Masonic Hall.

ALDERSHOT MASONIC HALL .

npHE "Aldershot News" of last Saturday gives an J _ illustration representing the future home of the Brethren of Aldershot . The Masonic Hall is to be built in New Station Road , on the land adjoining that at the corner of Victoria Road and New Station Road , on which the new Post Office is to be built . With the object of having the Hall

in keeping with this building the Directors of the Masonic Hall Company communicated with the Postmaster General , who sent down plans for their inspection . The frontage of the Hall will be in New Station Road , and the building will go back as far as Pickford Street .

With the view of obtaining a thoroughly serviceable building the Directors advertised for plans , offering a prize of £ 30 for the best design , embodying the requirements of a Masonic Temple , Club Room , and Public Hall . Twentytwo answers were received , sixteen competitors sending

plans . After careful consideration that of Messrs . Clarence and Wallis , architects , of York Buildings , Adelphi , London , was awarded the prize , and the Directors have also placed the supervision of the building in their hands , feeling that they will have a natural interest in undertaking the work .

The assessor , Mr . Edwin O . Sachs , of Waterloo Place , Pall Mall , to whom the designs were submitted , made the following report on the accepted plan : —

" Of the sixteen designs submitted I have selected the one marked 'Labour and Befreshment , ' which in the practicability and compactness of the plan , with due regard to the necessary isolation of the different sections of the building and the excellence of the architectural rendering given to the facade , is hy far the best piece of work presented , and does great credit to the designers .

" I wish particularly to call attention to the lines of the Masonic Temple , which should be very effective , and further to the way in which the Club is kept quite distinct from the Public Hall , and to the serviceable arrangement of the Club itself .

"In fact , if you take this design you will certainly be getting something quite unique , and , as I have indicated , it is seldom that one meets with such a good design in a competition of this description . "

The building , which is an adapted style of Renaissance , is to be of red brick with stone dressing . The imposing central entrance will lead into a large entrance hall provided with cloak rooms and lavatories . On either side of the entrance there will be an office , which may be used for Club

purposes or let off . The Preparation Room , opening from the entrance hall , will be fitted with moveable partitions to enable three candidates to be prepared separately and simultaneously . The Lodge Room , opening from the Preparation Room , is to be built east and west in order that

the Principal Officers may take their proper positions . A store room for the Lodge furniture is also provided , opening from the Preparation Room . A dining hall , with service room , has also been designed , with accommodation for 150 . The kitchen , with which there will be communication by lift

with the dining hall , will be placed at the top of the building . The staircase leading to the first floor will be fitted at the base with double doors , thus enabling that part of the building to be shut off when necessary , and allowing the floor to be

ground let for public purposes . To this end the Preparation Room , side rooms , and dining hall are so arranged that they can be converted into a suite , including a large hall , capable of seating 400 people , with a separate entrance from New Station Road .

On the first floor will be the Masonic Club , comprising a large reading room , card room , and bar , communicating by lift and staircase with the kitchen , service room and wine cellars . There is also a large billiard room for two tables .

On the second floor will be the caretaker ' s apartments , the kitchen and scullery . A store room is provided in the gable . The basements will be fitted with cellars , and will have a tradesman ' s entrance from the street . A lift communicates with the upper parts of the building .

The building , in a word , has been designed to the best advantage . Of its usefulness as a home for the Craft there can be no doubt , and it will also meet a much-needed public want in supplying a hall for meetings , balls , dinners , and other gatherings . The great need that exists in the town for such a building was shown in a striking manner only a few

Aldershot Masonic Hall.

weeks ago , when a battalion stationed there had to go to Woking at considerable expense and inconvenience to obtain a hall with suitable accommodation for a ball . The Directors intend to push forward the building as

soon as possible , and it is hoped that the bills of quantities will be got out shortly . The cost was to have been about £ 2 , 500 , but it is expected that the building selected will exceed that sum .

It is hoped that at the stone-laying ceremony a member of the Royal Family and the Provincial Grand Master Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., ' with his official entourage , will be present . It is expected that about eight months will be

taken in the building . The Hall should therefore be opened in the spring or early summer of 1900 . As both the Panmure and Aldershot Camp Lodges are increasing in numbers the institution will , no doubt , become an attractive and convenient centre of the Craft , as well as a financial

success . The following Lodges , & c , will be worked at the Hall : — The Panmure , No . 723 ; Aldershot Camp , No . 1331 ; Army and Navy , No . 1971 ; Military Mark , No . 54 ; Army and Navy Mark , No . 349 ; Panmure Royal Arch Chapter , No . 723 ; Aldershot Camp Royal Arch Chapter , No . 1331 ;

Connaught Royal Arch Chapter , No . 1971 ; William Stuart Preceptory , No . 76 ; and Royal Military Rose Croix Chapter , No . 89 . The latter has been specially reconstituted in order that the Hall may be the very centre of all grades of the Masonic body , from the "Entered Apprentice" to the illustrious 33 rd Degree .

The Masonic Institution , while in harmony with the conditions of to-day , says a writer in an exchange , reaches back into the achievements of the past , and forward into the possibilities of the future . It was not created for any one age , and will always command the admiration of mankind .

Colonel le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , of Huntroyde , Padiham , Lancashire , J . P ., D . L ., formerly M . P . for Clitheroe , Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons for East Lancashire , who died on 13 th April , appointed as executors of his will the Rev . Henry Arthur Starkie , of Pendleton , near Clitheroe , brother ; Mr . Henry Worsley Taylor , Q . C ., of

Moreton Hall , Whalley ; and Mr . Robert Heath Jary , of Bitteswell , Lutterworth . Under the provisions of his marriage settlement his wife will become entitled , on his decease , to a rent charge of £ 1 , 500 per annum during her widowhood and afterwards of £ 1 , 000 per annum . He now

gives to her a further rent charge of £ 500 , part of his wines and household furniture , and £ 500 ; to his agent , Daniel Howsin , £ 150 ; to his gardener , Lindsay , £ 100 ; and his coachman , Rutter , £ 100 . By the powers of the indenture of re-settlement of the family estate he appoints £ 10 , 000 to his

son Cecil Piers , in addition to £ 25 , 000 to which he will become entitled by his marriage settlement , and £ 25 , 000 on trust to follow the disposal of his residuary estate . He devises

to his eldest son , Edmund Arthur , all his real property , and leaves to his son , Cecil Piers , the residue of his personal estate . The estate has been valued at £ 80 , 761 . — "Morning Post . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

r |~ mE death is announced of Bro . George R . Barrett , a J _ zealous member of the Fraternity , who was one of the founders , as well as the first Master of the Lodge of St . George , No . 2025 , warranted on 22 nd December 1883 , and constituted on 23 rd April ( St . George's day ) following , at St . George ' s Hall , East Stonehouse . The distinctive feature

of the Lodge , as with several others , is the elimination of intoxicants from the festive gatherings . It is one of the largest Lodges in the county , having fully 100 members on the roll . Bro . Barrett was subsequently appointed to the

office of Provincial Senior Grand Deacon , and much appreciated the compliment . A funeral service held at the Unitarian Chapel , Plymouth , was very largely attended by Brethren of the Craft and other friends of the deceased .

REFERENCE has been made in very many of the Hampshire papers to the death of our late Brother Asher Barfield , the general expressions of regret at his decease testifying to his wide popularity in the district with which he has been so long associated . His remains were removed to London , and interred at Kensal Green Cemetery ,