Freemasonry In Blackpool.

FREEMASONRY IN BLACKPOOL .

THE Craft has made great progress in this popular Lancashire watering place during the past few years . One of the special architectural features of the town is the Masonic Hall , Adelaide Street , the foundation stone of which was laid by Lord Skelmersdale in 1808 . The ground

floor of this Hall is occupied by the Blackpool Masonic Club , which is one of the best appointed institutions of its kind in the Provinces . The other portions of the building are used as the " habitat" of Craft Lodges , Royal Arch Chapter , Mark

Mason ' s Lodge , K . T . Preceptory , and Rose Croix Chapter . It has been decided to establish another Craft Lodge , and the- Provincial authorities are said to look upon the project with favour . The Masonic Hall at South Shore is the home of the West Lancashire Century Lodge , No . 2340 .

Staffordshire.

STAFFORDSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire took place on Wednesday , 2 nd inst ., at the Christ Church School Room , Stone , when upwards of 350 Brethren were present under the banners of the different Lodges , all of which were represented , a circumstance which speaks volumes for the vitality of Staffordshire Freemasonry , and the respect in which the Earl of Dartmouth

Provincial Grand Master is held . These Lodges have 1 , 813 members , the St . Matthew , No . 539 , scoring highest with 114 ; the Menturia , No . 418 , running close with 112 ; the Etruscan being a good third with 98 . The oldest Lodge is the St . Martin , No . 9 8 , which has 56 members , and the youngest the Legge , No . 2784 , with 15 . Other strong and

flourishing Lodges are the Noah ' s Ark ( 65 members ); the Sutherland Unity , with 77 ; the Honor , with 79 ; the Portland , with 72 ; the Dartmouth , with 78 ; the Josiah Wedgwood and the St . James each with 66 ; and the Staffordshire Knot , 65 . The scene in the Lodge room was very brilliant , and the work was very smartly done , the

Prov . Grand Master especially eliciting universal admiration . Addressing the Lodge as Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of Dartmouth , referring to the substance of his speech at the P . G . L . at Handsworth on 9 th May last year , which had been read by the Prov . G . Sec . as part of the minutes , said that it had occurred to him , during the reading , that his

words had been mellowed and improved by time . In any case , he thought he could not do better than repeat that part of his address which referred to the satisfactory condition of Masonry in the Province of Staffordshire . Referring to the attack on the Grand Master of England , the Prov . G . M . said one shuddered to think what might have happened if the

bullet had been otherwise directed . They heartily joined in the resolution of congratulation passed by Grand Lodge . Referring-to . the Prov . G . Sec , the Prov . G . M . said that all would congratulate Bro . J . Dunbar Steen on his return from abroad , whither he had journeyed on account of ill-health .

He trusted that he might prove to be permanently restored . Referring to the Masonic Girls School , he said that the 190 Stewards would bear with them something like £ 3 , , which was highly creditable to the Province , which had had many calls of late .

After allusion to Freemasons engaged in the war , the Provincial Grand Master proceeded to invest his Officers : — Bro . Colonel J . B . Morgan , V . D . - - Senior Warden T . H . Spencer - Junior Warden Eev . W . G . Mayne , M . A . - - ¦ | n , .. Bev . W . Sollv - . - - Chaplaans

0 . A . Newnham - - - - Treasurer E . Hallaro - Registrar J . Dunbar Steen .... Secretary F . J . Pyatt - - - - - 1 a T , A . E . Hart ----- Senior Deacons

A . Boulton - - - - - 1 _ . _ George Wilks .... j Junior Deacons S . Mear - . . . . - Superintendent of Works J . Carver - Director of Ceremonies G , L . Birch -- --- Deputy Dir . of Cers . H . J . Steele -- - -- Assistant Dir . of Cers .

J . E . Mitchell - - - - Sword Bearer B . C . Downes - - . . ( T . W . Garland - - - . J Standard Bearers John Copelaud - - - - Organist Lieut . T . E . Lowe - - - . Assistant Secretary John Allerton

.... Pursuivant T . Wolverson - Assistant Pursuivant I . P . Watton - - - . . ) J . J . H . Horabin - - - ( E . Gothard f Stewaras W . Perry - - - . . 1 \ V . Davies - Tyler .

Staffordshire.

The Rev . G . W . Mayne , M . A ., Prov . G . Chap ., delivered an address ; and on the proposition of the Provincial Grand Treasurer it was decided " that a sum of 200 guineas be paid from the funds of this Provincial Grand Lodge to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ,. at the Festival to be held on 16 th May next . "

The Lodge was then closed in harmony and brotherly love , and a number of the Brethren concluded with a banquet . The balance-sheet of the Provincial Grand Lodge showed a prosperous state of affairs , and it was stated that

the Foster-Gough Lodge , No . 2706 , membership of which is only permitted to Masters or Past Masters of Lodges , numbers 126 . This feature of Staffordshire Freemasonry is , therefore , successful in a very high degree .

A Cinderella dance will be held in connection with the Wandsworth Lodge , No . 1044 , in the Battersea Town Hall , on Thursday , 24 th inst .

The Grand Lodge of Scotland recommends its subordinates to make a regular collection , on the occasion of their * annual meetings , on behalf of the Annuity Fund of the Grand Lodge .

The Waltham Abbey Lodge , No . 2750 , will hold its regular meeting on Thursday next , 17 th inst ., at the Cock Hotel , Waltham Abbey , and as there are five candidates for

initiation and one joining member to ballot for we may venture the prediction that Bro . James Graham , the W . M ., will be fully employed . We hope to report the proceedings in due course .

The annual meeting of the Bishopsgate Lodge , No . 2396 , was held last month at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall Street , Bro . T . Robinson S . W . being elevated to the chair by Bro . Gilbert E . Mead W . M . of the past year . The

outgoing Master was presented with a handsome P . M . jewel , and later on in the evening , when responding to the toast of his health , referred to his approaching Stewardship for the Girls School , on behalf of which his list at the time amounted to seventy guineas .

Bro . Thomas Cull P . M ., for many years Secretary of the Royal Standard Lodge , No . 1298 , and well known as one of the best Preceptors of the metropolis , especially in the north and north-east districts , has lately taken up his residence at

Margate , and as a consequence many of his old haunts know him no more . He gave up the Secretaryship of the Royal Standard Lodge at the last installation meeting , on account of his removal , and for the same reason is seldom seen at the

Lodges and Chapters of Instruction he used to frequent , but , applying the old argument—if the mountain will not come to Mahomet , then Mahomet must go to the mountain—we may point out that Bro . Cull will be very pleased to see any of

his old friends in his new quarters : " Cullholme , " 23 a Dalby Square , Cliftonville , which he has fitted up as a very comfortable and convenient private boarding establishment . Liberal terms are offered to guests , and we believe anv of

our friends who decide on paying a visit to " Cullholme " will be satisfied with the fare and arrangements of our esteemed Brother . We do not see Masonic Instruction included on

the tariff , but from what we personally know of Bro . Cull we do not think it would be very difficult for a seeker after Masonic knowledge to secure from him careful and efficient help .

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

THE funeral of the late Bro . John Watson took place at the West Cemetery , Darlington ,-on the 25 th ult . At one time the deceased took a great interest in the Craft

and held the office of W . M . of the Restoration Lodge , Darlington . The Rev . C . H . Rolt , vicar of Holy Trinity Church , conducted a memorial service in the church prior to the sad procession going to the cemetery .

SOUTH London Masons will hear with regret of the death of Private E . Pearce , of the 2 nd Battalion Essex Regiment . Private Pearce , wh © was killed in action , was a popular member of the Prince of Wales Lodge .