Old Acquaintances.

members , and at once feel that he is at home , with friends around him as enthusiastic in their regard as ever , and apparently quite oblivious of the fact that a long period has passed since last they met the Brother whose visit has been the cause for special reioicinsr .

This feature of Freemasonry does much to ensure the solidity of the Craft and cement its membership . Its chief supporter is , perhaps , the principle of visiting which prevails in Freemasonry and which , as we have recently observed , is not only specially enjoined by the

rules of the Craft , but is generally endorsed and practised by its Lodges and individual members . This general desire to be courteous to visitors not only enables a Brother to go to his former Masonic home and resume acquaintance with his old friends

there , but being so general it often leads to meetings which would not have been brought about if the two old acquaintances had not each enjoyed and practised the privilege which belongs to all members of the Order alike , to enter a Lodge as a visitor at nny of its gatherings .

Freemasonry is particularly useful in this respect to the Brother whose business or pleasure has taken him abroad or far from his old homo for a number of years . Such a Brother may return to find all his old fViprwls nnd n . ermnintfi . nrtPH ( mtiA nnd rmnrm nrmn . rAntlv \> ¦¦ Vt t bWl \ l ¦¦ k % W ^ f VV JW 4-1

*** V «* U •« ... »* - » VVUM » AUVI . | IU vvu WUJUV - _* .. - * V \* * .- » W | ^ . . W * J knows him or is able to inform him as to the whereabouts of his former companions . As a last resource he determines to revisit the Lodge of the district , and in many cases the whole aspect is changed a few minutes after his admittance . If he does not there

actually find his old friends he is sure to meet with Borne who knew them , and they in their turn take upon themselves the duty of entertaining the friend of their old member just as they would a friend of their own , and seem to vie with each other in making

ihe reminiscences of the past interesting and enjoyable all round * It must always remain that friends will lose sight of each other for lengthy periods and almost forget their old acquaintances , but so long as Freemasonry continues we shall have one very strong

means of bridging over the period of separation and re-opening the pleasurable memories of the past .

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

nnHE annual meeting of this Grand Lodge was held on JL tho 20 th nit ., under tho presidency of the Earl of Lathom Prov . G . M ., at the Botanical Gardens , Old Trafford , Manchester . There was a numerousand brilliant assemblage , tho attendance being between 700 and 800 . The roll of Lodges , numbering 107 , was called ; all were represented

save one . Bro . W . Savage Prov . G . Treas . presented the financial statement . Receipts for the year : —Charities Fund , £ 263 ; Prov . G . Lodge Fa ' nd , £ 568 ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 807 :

a total of £ 1 , 639 . Payments : —Charities Fund , £ 84 ; Prov . G . Lodge Fnnd , £ 300 ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 338 ; leaving a balance in hand of £ 921 . The accounts were adopted .

The Prov . G . Sec . ( Bro . W . Goodacre ) , in his annual report , stated ifc was only to be expected that in so large a Province , with so many brethren , differences would arise occasionally , but he was happy to say that any such had

been peacefully arranged . Two new Lodges had been consecrated during the year—viz ., St . Annes , No . 2457 , at St . Annes-on-the-Sea , and the Bootle-Wilbraham Lodge , No . 2463 , at Knotty Ash . Tho roll of members of tbe 107

Lodges was 7 , 160—an increase of 403 during the year , and an increase of 2 , 572 during the past nine years . The Provincial Charitable Institutions were in a flourishing condition and were now worth considerably over £ 30 , 000 ,

of which the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution owned £ 22 , 000 , and the Harner aud Alpass Benevolent Institutions nearly £ 5 , 000 each . He suggested that by

means of some readjustment of their educational system they might extend tbe usefulness of those institutions . They were meeting that day at a place closely bordering

West Lancashire.

upon Manchester , the heart of tho sister Province of East . Lancashire . A subject whioh had occupied much time and rare during the past year was that of tho revision of tho boundaries between the Provinces of East and West Lancashire . The two Provincial Grand Masters ( Colonel

Starkie , of East Lancashire , and the Earl of Lathom ) had nominated Brothers J . H . P . Leresche P . P . G . Registrar of last Lancashire , and J . J . Lambert P . P . G . Registrar of

West Lancashire , to consider and settle in terms clear nnd applicable to tho present circumstances a definite boundary line , and an arrangement had been como to to the entire satisfaction of all concerned .

The Provincial Grand Master said it was pleasant to find everything going on FO happily in that great Provinco . They had increased tho nnmber of Lodges by two , but ho must say he was not anxious to see a largo increase , although now that the new boundary was established thero

might bo an opening for one or two new Lodges . The roport as to the increase of members was most gratifying , us showing" that , notwithstanding tho bad times through which they had passed , so many were forthcoming to join fheir brotherhood . He was glad to hear a good report of

their Charitable Institutions , and hoped that tho approaching festival in connection with the Alpass Benevolent Institution would be productive of good results . With reference to the remarks of the P . G . Secretary as to their Educational Institutions , he suggested the formation of a

Committee to go thoroughly into the question . They knew that under the Education Act every child could bo educated free , or nearly so , and in that state of things it was possible that some of their funds might be wasted . He desired to thank Bros . Lambert and Leiescho for their labours in connection with the fixing of the boundary .

Bro . George R . Lloyd , TJrmston Lodge , No . 1730 , was elected Treasurer . The thanks of the Provincial Grand Lodgo were tendered fo Brothers Lambert and Leresche . Auditors for tho

ensuing year were appointed , and upon the motion of tho Provincial Grand Master , seconded by Brother R . Wylie , a message of congratu ' ation was adopted to the Prince of Wales , upon the marriago of his son ; and it was resolved that it be duly engrossed and sent to His Royal Highness .

Brother Wylie moved , Bro . J . de Bels Adam P . P . G . W . seconded , and the Provincial Graud Master supported a resolution , which was passed , increasing the salary of the Provincial Grand Secretary from £ 250 to £ 400 a year , including travelling expenses .

Brother Wylie moved : — ' That the sum of one hundred and fifty guineas be voted from the Provincial Grand Lodge Charities Fund , to the three local institutions , viz .: — Fifty guineas to the W . L . Alpass Institution ; fifty , guineas to the W . L . M . Edncatioual Institution , and fifty guineas

to the W . L . Hamer Benevolent Institution ; and Lord Skelmersdale having kindly consented to preside at tho forthcoming festival of the Alpass Benevolent Institution , on the 5 th October next , the sum of one hundred guineas be voted from the Provincial Grand Lodge Fund of

Benevolence to that institution . Brother Forrester P . G . S . B . seconded the resolution , which was passed unanimously . Brother J . Houlding proposed that the thanks of the Province be given to the retiring Prov . G . Trea ? ., Brother

Savage . Bro . J . J . Lambert P . P . G . Registrar seconded tho motion , which was agreed to . The Provincial Grand Master then invested his Officers for tho ensuing year , first of all appointing and installing Brother R . Wylie as Deputy Provincial Grand Master in the room of the Earl

of Crawford resigned . Subsequently a meeting of P . G . Chapter was held , the Earl of Lathom Grand Superintendent presiding . The whole of the 41 Chapters in the Province were represented .

The financial statement showed a satisfactory balance in hand . The sum of 50 guineas was voted to the Alpass Benevolent Institution . The P . G . Superintendent appointed the Officers for the ensuing year .

Warwickshire.

WARWICKSHIRE .

r J ^ HE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge 1 _ was held at the Machpn Lodge , Swan Hotel , Coleshill , 0 'i Wednesday of last week , under tho presidency of Lord Leigh , Lord-Lieutenant of tho county , who was sup-