Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

how it was that while the number of initiates was over 700 , the increaso in the number on the rolls was less than 250 . The reason of this was tbat in several Lodges a large number of brethren in arrears had been struck off the rolls . For instance , oue Lodge bad initiated SO candidates , and

the members now numbered 18 less than in the previous year . It was to be regretted also that the Lodges who had the largest number of initiates were not always the largest contributors to the Funds of Benevolence . As a fixed rule , the net amount received for initiation fees

should be devoted to benevolent purposes , and if current expenses could not be met by other means , oither the subscription should be increased or the expenditure decreased . He earnestly recommended this subject to tbe attention of those who had at heart the best interests of the Craft . He

congratulated the Province on tbe glorious result of their efforts for the Boys' School , the sum of £ 6000 subscribed by them never having been previously reached by this or any other Province . On behalf of the brethren he congratulated the R . W . Prov . G . M . on his appoiutmeot as the

Pro Grand Master of the Freemasons of England , in succession to tho late Earl of Carnarvon . The Earl of Lathom , replying , said he considered it a very good thing that only one Lodge had been conseorated during the year , for in his opinion there had been too rapid an increase .

There were plenty of Lodges if they were but well supported and kept up . He cordially endorsed everything Bro . Goodaore bad said about the initiation fees . He alao , he might say , thought that much greater care should be taken in the selection of candidates , for brethren who were

admitted into tho Fraternity should be brethren capable and willing to help the Masonio Charities , and not brethren who would soon go upon the Benevolent Fund themselves . Although he thought that the initiation fees should all be devoted to charitable purposes , yet he by no means com *

plained of the brethren of this Province ^ for they had indeed showed how thoroughly they were imbued with the true spirit of charity . He now took the opportunity of thanking them for the support the whole of the brethren of West Lancashire gave him the other day , when he took

the chair at the Boys' Institution meeting . In conclusion , ho might say that he should endeavour to perform his duties as thoroughly and as Masonically as possible ; he

would follow in the steps of the late Earl of Carnarvon , who was a good man and a good Mason . Bro . W . Piatt was unanimously elected P . G . Treasurer and subsequently invested . The P . G . M . appointed his Officers , as follow : —

J . de Bale Adam Senior Warden Jthu Bickerataffo ' Junior Warden W . H . Baynea ) rn . „„ i .,: „ n W . L . Apfleford j * , aiM Herbert Kidaon Registrar W . Goodaore Seoretary J ^ SSg } Senior Deacons W . w ! m , on J unior Deacons R . T . Britten •Superintendent of Works J . Winn Director of Ceremonies W . Corner Deputy Dir . of Cers .

J . M . Smythe Assist . Dir . of Cers . Andrew Kirkpatriok Sword Bearer C . Wadsworth 1 Standard Bearers A . Cotter J C . W . Fisher Organist W . Fonlkea Assistant Seoretary O . Cooper Parsuivant J . Barrow Assistant Pnrsnivant W . Deau " 1 W . DwerryhonBe ££K£[«¦* W . E . Coxon P . Heaton J Peter Pall Tyler

Tho P . G . M . presented tho following brethren with Charity jewels in view of their services as Stewards to the London Institutions : —Bros , de Bels Adams G . S . W . ( Vice-Patron collarette ) , Bickerstaffe G . J . W ., Corner D . G . D . C ., Cross

P . P . G . D ., Gardner P . P . G . Sword Bearer , Forrester P . G . Standard Bearer ( Vice-President ' s rosette ) , Hatnpson J . W . 2349 , Hubbard 1032 ( jewel and Vice-Patron collarette ) , Kilboy . 2360 , Layland P . M . 178 , Margerson W . M . elect

2269 , Marsh J . W . 1730 , Robinson P . P . G . D . C ., Smith W . M . 2269 , Smythe P . G . A . D . C , Sutton P . P . G . A . D . C ., Wells P . M . 2109 , Edwards P . M . 1013 , Burgess P . P . G . P . ( six Charity bars ) , and Murray P . P . G . D . C . ( six Charity bars ) . The sum of 100 guineas was voted from the Charities Fund to tbe West Lancashire Masonic Edacatiouai Institution ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

50 guineas to the Hamer Benevolent Institution , and 50 guineas to the Alpass Benevolent Institution . Other charitable votes were made , and the proceedings were closed . Before business commenced Bro . W . Goodaore

P . G . Secretary was presented with a silver salver , address , aud a pnrso of £ 350 , the P . G . M . referring to the excellent services the recipient had rendered to the cause of Masonry io the Province .

At tho meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter the following appointments were made : —Comps . the Earl of Crawford Prov . 2 nd G . P ., E . Segar 3 rd G . P ., Rev . — M'Nally G . S . N ., George A . Harradon Grand Treasurer ,

T . Clarke G . Registrar , J . Preston P . G . S ., C . Fothorgill 1 st A . G . S ., T . Westwood 2 nd A . G . S ., J . Woolfenden G . Sword Bearer , W . H . Robinson , G . Standard Bearer , H . Tobias G . Dir . of Cers ., G . Kelson Assist . G . D . of Cers ., R . Bowker G . O ., H . Crosby A . G . S . E ., and Peter Ball Janitor .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of North Wales.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF NORTH WALES .

BY command of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , Lord Harlech , the Grand Lodge of tho Province of Worth Wales assembled at Mold , on Monday , the 26 th ult ., the town boing gaily decorated ill honour of the occasion . The R . W . P . G . M . was supported by Bro .

Colonel Henry Piatt P . G . D ., the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and a goodly attendance of Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers . The Provincial Grand Lodge wag opened in due form at 1 ' 30 p . m ., and the brethren marched

in procession from the Masonio Hall to the Town Hall , which , owing to the largeaess of the attendance , had been admirably arranged fop the pnrposes of a Lodge . room . The usual formal business having been attended to , the

Wor . P . G . Secretary ( Bro . Edward Roberts ) read letters apologising for unavoidable absence . The R . W . P . G . M . afterwards appointed and invested his Officers for 1891-92 as * follows : — T . E . Harris Senior Warden 0 . K . Benson Junior Warden Rev . E . Tudor Owen ) . ,. ¦ Rev . D . Edwards j Chaplains T . Roberta Registrar of Works E . Roberta Secretary H . Kneesbaw Seour Deaoon

D . Wynn Williams Junior Deaoon-Major T . W . Best Snpt . ofWorka T . Ashbrook Foster Dir . of Cere . O . R . P . Owen Assist . Dir . of Com \ Y . Price Jones Sword Bearer L' epTBarton } Standard Bearers H . Hard man Assist . Seoretary ' J . Williams Organist H . G . Little Pursuivant Gwilt Cathrall Assist . Pursuivant

G . D . Dew " } T . Adams | ilLSnmmerhill " j- Stewards G . Pritohard | J . J . Lewis J

The R . W . P . G . M . presented Bro . T . E . Harris , Bangor , P . P . G . Secretary , with a jewel in recognition of his long and faithful services to the Provincial Grand Lodge ;

Bro . Harris returned thanks in suitable terms . It was announced that the next annual Provincial Grand Lodgo would be held at Welshpool . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

The Provincial Grand Lodge Officers and members subsequently banqueted at the Black Lion Hotel . The after-dinner proceedings were enlivened with choico selections of music by a quartette of Chestor Cathedral singers , consisting of Bro . E . Robinson and party .

Prov. G. Lodge Of Oxfordshire.

PROV . G . LODGE OF OXFORDSHIRE .

FT 1 HF annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free . JL and Accepted Masons of Oxfordshire , was held ou Thursday , 22 ud ult ., in the University Masonic Hall , at Oxford . The whole of the Lodges in the Province were represented , there being upwards of a hundred brethren present . Tho Roll of the Lodges was called , and tho