Critical Condition Of The M.W. Pro Grand Master.

CRITICAL CONDITION OF THE M . W . PRO GRAND MASTER .

A T the moment of going to press we learn with - * *¦ profound regret that the condition of the Earl of Lathom is very critical . Lord Skelmersdale P . G . W . and most of the other members of the family of our Pro Grand Master are with him at Lathom House ,

Ormskirk , and we feel sure our readers and members of the Craft generally will anxiously await any news from there , as to- the progress of our distinguished Brother . We trust the alarming symptoms may

speedily pass away , and that Lord Lathom will be spared to the Craft and the country for many years yet to come , to continue the career of usefulness which has won him respect and esteem on every side .

We are very pleased to publish the following telegram , sent to us by Lord Skelmersdale , at 11 . 15 a . m . to-day ( Saturday ) :

" Lord Lathom passed good night . No further loss of strength . SKELMERSDALE . "

Charity In West Lancashire.

CHARITY IN WEST LANCASHIRE .

THE annual Court of Governors of the Hamer Benevolent Institution was recently held at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool . Bro . Dr . J . Kellett-Smith P . P . G . R ., one of the Trustees and Honorary Medical Officer of the Institution , occupied the chair .

Grants of annuities to candidates were confirmed , and all the honorary officials of the Charity were re-appointed , Bro . George Duxfield P . M . P . P . G . R . being added to the Committee for the purpose of representing the Southport district .

Charity In Durham.

CHARITY IN DURHAM .

ON the occasion of a recent Lodge meeting at Stockton it was announced that a Masonic Festival would be held in Durham , in the spring of 18 99 , on similar lines to the

London Festivals , in aid of the Durham Masonic Charity , the occasion being the celebration of the twenty-first anniversary of the foundation of the Charity , and a hope was expressed that a sum of 2 , 000 guineas would be raised towards the fund .

Upon the proposition of Lord Cottesloe , Bro . John Francis Sykes Gooday has been nominated one of the three Commissioners to represent the London and Brighton Railway Company on the Newhaven Harbour Board .

We are pleased to note our respected Bro . J . L . Toole was so far recovered from his recent operation as to occupy a box at the Royalty Theatre on Saturday evening , to witness the performance of his old friends , George and Weedon Grossmith , in "Young Mr . Yarde . "

West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

THE half-yearly meeting of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held on Wednesday , in the Freemasons ' Hall , Huddersfield . The present is the Centenary year of the Prosperity Chapter , No . 290 , under whose auspices the meeting was held , and Wednesday was also the day appointed for its ordinary meeting .

The Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Provincial Grand Superintendent was unable to be present , and the Provincial Chapter was presided over by Comp . J . C . Malcolm Prov . G . H ., who congratulated the Prosperity on attaining its Centenary . He pointed out that several cases of fraud by

persons seeking relief had been detected , not only in that , but other Provinces , and advocated that West Yorkshire should adopt a recognised mode of dealing with the system of'fraud which had been going " on . He referred to the great

disproportion which existed between the . members of the Arch and the Craft , and urged that young Freemasons should be encouraged to take the former degree , and pointed but several methods by which a greater interest might be awakened in the members themselves with-respect to it . .

Comp . W . L . Wilmshurst , in celebration of the Centenary of the Prosperity Chapter , read ah interesting paper on its history . He said the White Hart Lodge , which was the original title of the present Huddersfield Lodge , was opened ' in 1793 . * On the 13 th May 1798 six

members of the Bacchus Lodge , Halifax , and six of the Royal Halifax Lodge took coach and horse from Halifax , They were received by eight members of the White Hart Lodge ,

and proceeded to open and constitute the Chapter whose Centenary they were celebrating that day . The meetings had never ceased to be held , although in the early days—up to 1816—they were somewhat irregular .

The Acting Superintendent then presented to the First Principal of the Prosperity Chapter the Centenary Warrant , which had been granted by Grand Chapter , and remarked that , there were only three older Chapters in the Province . He also presented the Centenary jewels to the Companions of the Chapter .

An invitation to hold the next meeting at Slaithwaite was given by the Colne Valley Chapter , No . 1645 . '

Thursday ' s "Yorkshire Evening Post" confirms the statement that Bro . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., has benefited by a bequest of £ 20 , 000 , made by a lady as a tribute of the respect of a political admirer . The lady referred to was the widow

of a Leeds doctor . When Bro . Jackson some years ago became aware of the bequest which the lady had inserted in her will in his favour he represented to her the claims of a surviving relative . The testatrix , however , would not have her will altered .

Not content with invading the Inns of Court and the hospitals , says the "Daily Telegraph , " Freemasonry is turning its benevolent and festive attention to those sympathetic institutions , the City Companies . At the Cutlers' Hall , in Warwick Lane , has been consecrated the

Cutlers' Lodge , No . 2730 , with all the attendant ceremony that is customary on such occasions . Those officiating were Bro . E . Letchworth the Grand Secretary , Sir John Monckton and Sir Reginald Hanson Past Grand Wardens , the Rev . J .

S . Brownrigg Past Grand Chaplain , and Bro . Frank Richardson Past Grand Deacon . Alderman Vaughan Morgan Past Grand Treasurer was installed as the first Master of the new Lodge .