New Lodge At Chester.

NEW LODGE AT CHESTER .

A DECISION has been come to at Chester to petition for - the establishment of a new Lodge , to be called the Travellers' Lodge . There are at present three Lodges in the city—the Cestrian , No . 425 ; the Independence , No . 721 , which is the strongest Lodge in the Province , though it is run very closely by a Birkenhead Lodge ; aud the Clarence , No . 2386 ,

which is largely a military Lodge . The new Lodge will meet on Saturdays , and consequently will be a convenience to commercial travellers , especially those who are or wish to be Masons . The petition for a Charter will be presented through the Lodge of Independence , and there is every probability that tbe Lodge

will be opened within the next two months by Lord Egerton Prov . G . M ., or Sir Horatio Lloyd Deputy Prov . G . M . It is proposed the first Master of the new Lodge shall be Brother W . Peers P . M . 721 ; the first Senior Warden Brother Thomas Owen

721 and P . M . of the Oswestry Lodge ; and the first Junior Warden Bro . Hugh Roberts 425 and P . M . of the Caradoc Lodge , Rhyl . Thirty members have already handed in their names , says the " Liverpool Mercury , " and as many more are waiting to be admitted as joining members or initiates .

The Graft In India.

THE GRAFT IN INDIA .

EE VIE WING the " History of Freemasonry on the Coromandel Coast" by the Rev . C . H . Maiden Past District Grand Chaplain of Madras , the " Madras Weekly Mail " says : " The number of Lodges now working in the Presidency is twentythree , numbering some 800 Brethren , in addition to what are

called the non-affiliates . We learn with some surprise that the Civil Orphan Asylums in Madras were the outcome of a scheme of Masonic Benevolence initiated by Lodge Perfect Unanimity , and the foundation stone of the building now used as the Industrial School at Black Town was laid by the District Grand

Lodge . Mr . Maiden , however , has been Chaplain of the Asylum , and ought to know . Other buildings associated with Freemasonry are the Capper House on the Beach , and the building which gave its name to the Pantheon Road . The Craft seems to have flourished in Madras on its own merits , and to have been less dependent than is sometimes found to be the case on great

names . We notice , however , what an attraction the Craft has for the legal mind . In fact , it is not long ago since every Judge on the High Court Bench and some nine Districts Judges adorned the District Grand Lodge with their names and occasional presence , whilst at tbe present moment about thirty eminent lawyers and vakils are members of different Lodges . "

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FIDELITY PRECEPTORY K . T ., No . 114 . AT a meeting held on Tuesday , 28 th ult ., in the Carlton Hill Booms , Leeds , Brother William Flockton was installed as Preceptor ior the ensuing year , the ceremony being performed by Bro . D . B . Glover .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

W ITH many tokens of esteem , the funeral of Brother John Leonard , R . N ., took place on Saturday , at the Plymouth Cemetery . As an active and prominent Freemason , and in his professional career as vnessinan for many years of the Eoyal Naval Engineers' College , deceased had by his genial manner and sterling qualities won the regard of a very wide circle of

friends , and his popularity in both naval and Masonic circles was demonstrated by the large attendance at the funeral . On arrival at the cemetery the cortege proceeded direct to the grave , where the Rev . W . Mantle officiated . At the close of the service Bro . Lord read an address , in which he dwelt on the

deceased ' s estimable personal qualities and services to Masonry , remarking that their hearts went forth to the Almighty in gratitude for having so long spared a life of such noble devotion to Masonry , and of such unselfish zeal for the welfare of others . Like a beacon on a rock-girt shore tbe light of Freemasonry had

shone in their Brother ' s career , not only warning his Brethren of the shoals and quicksands of life , but in times of trouble and adversity , giving relief in distress . The secrets of their Order were confided to the individual care of every Brother , but its teachings and results could not be kept within the limits of the

Brotherhood . In the family circle , in social intercourse , and in the Church itself its influences were felt . Great responsibility , therefore , rested upon the Brethren , not only to avoid the neglect of the active principles of Freemasonry , but above all never to

pervert those principles to individual selfishness and pride , but ever to present their system to the world as a beneficent angel of light , robed in charity , and winged with blessing . Subsequently the Brethien present dropped sprigs of acacia into the grave , and the procession re-formed and returned to Stoke .

Liverpool Masonic Hall.

LIVERPOOL MASONIC HALL .

AT the first meeting of the newly-constituted House Committee of the Hall , in Hope Street , Liverpool , Bro . P . Armstrong P . M . P . G . S . was elected chairman , and Brother G , Morgan P . P . G . D . vice-chairman , Bro . T . J . Jarman P . P . G . D . D . C .

being the Hon . Secretary , and Bro . J . H . Tyson P . M . 241 Hon . Treasurer . The Committee will shortly be engaged in the selection of a hall-keeper , in succession to the late Brother R . Burgess .

A fourth Benevolent Association in connection with the Eoyal Standard Lodge of Instruction , No . 1298 , was commenced in October last , with even better prospects than its predecessor , albeit that resulted in a substantial sum of £ 1 , 013 being handed

over to the Masonic Institutions . This popular method of securing Life Governorships is too well known to need much explanation here , although there may be a few who are unaware that it is intended to provide Life Governorships by payments of

Is weekly over a period of four years . The Royal Standard Association is under the management of such well-known Brethren as Past Masters Thos . Cull and John Glass , with Bro . P . M . Black ( 4 Elliscombe Eoad , Old Charlton , Kent ) as the

Secretary , and he will be pleased to enrol any new members who may wish to join . The subscriptions are payable at the meetings of the Lodge , at the Castle , 81 Holloway Eoad , the second Friday each month , at 7 - 30 p . m .

It is gratifying to learn that the Brethren of Staffordshire are busy at work collecting funds for the establishment of a foundation in the Orphan Asylum , at Wolverhampton , for

children of Masons of the Province , and that of the 700 guineas required close upon £ 500 has already been subscribed . We join the Provincial Grand Master in the hope that the requisite amount will be in hand before the close of the year .

The Eoyal Standard Lodge of Instruction , No . 1298 , last week celebrated its 1 , 100 th meeting , a coincidence tbat is worthy of record in connection with tbe fact that to-day ' s is the 1 , 100 th number of the FKEEMASON ' CHKONICLB , and we hope the two

may go on side by side helping each other to compile many more " centuries . " The Eoyal Standard Lodge meets every Friday evening , at 8 p . m ., at the Castle Tavern , Holloway Eoad ( near Highbury Station ) , under the direction of Brother T . Cull P . M .

Preceptor , who , we are convinced , will be pleased to welcome any of the old members of the Lodge or extend a hearty greeting to new ones . Bros . J . Stone and S . H . Pearsall act as joint Secretaries .

The annual ball of the Selwyn Lodge , No . 1901 , took place on Wednesday , 29 th ult ., at the Surrey Masonic Hall . Arrangements had been made for a large company , and as a matter of fact a considerable number of tickets were disposed of , but

unforeseen circumstances , including an unfortunate prevalence of illness , prevented many from attending . However , a thoroughly happy and hearty company did honour to the occasion , and they received a characteristic welcome from Bro . T . W . Gay W . M ., who was congratulated on his recovery from recent indisposition .

The twenty-fifth annual ball and re-union under the auspices of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge , No . 1182 , of which Bro . David Lowthian is W . M ., was held on the 30 th ult ., in the Masonic

Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool , there being an attendance of about 150 ladies and Brethren ; the proceedings were in every way pleasant and successful . The proceeds will go in aid of the Provincial Masonic Charities .

The annual ball in aid of the Masonic Charities was held in the Bootle Town Hall on Thursday , 23 rd ult . Each Worshipful Master is ambitious to make the ball which falls in his year of

office a conspicuous success , and Bro . Wm . Taylor W . M . of the Bootle Lodge , No . 1473 , made the usual effort to achieve distinction in this respect , the result being in every way satisfactory , says the " Bootle Times . "

A ball in aid of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution was held in the St . Helens Town Hall , on Thursday , 30 th ult ., when about 250 persons were present . The arrangements were made by the Prince of Wales Lodge of Mark Masons , No . 466 .