The Outlook.

THE OUTLOOK .

ALTHOUGH the month of August is usually regarded as a very quiet period in Masonic affaics * we think it is more so than usual just now , little or nothing of an interesting character occurring to break the monotony of the recess , or

give employment to the active Mason who , even at this season of the year , does not seem happy if he is not busy ¦ with the ceremonies or the ritual of the Craft .

This condition of affairs naturally causes some trouble to the Masonic Editor who desires to supply his usual quantum of news and information , but on the other hand it provides him an opportunity for " easing down , " and enjoying a small share of the rest that is so essential ere the extra work of

the winter season is started upon ; and that being so we this week take the opportunity of shortening our labours in connection with the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . In a very few days we shall be brought face to face

with direct evidence that this period of rest is abruptly drawing to a close , the arrival of the Agenda for the September Communication of Grand Lodge being usually

regarded as the call to activity for the Masonic Season—and this will be issued early next week , to be immediately followed by Installation and regular meetings of many Lodges that have been in recess since March or April last .

We may , then , pause for a moment , and ask what is the position of the Craft at the present moment , and what its prospects for the immediate future ? For answer , we may say the outlook is favourable , and we may fairly anticipate a

continuance of prosperity during the coming season , with a steady expansion of the Order whose interests we have so deeply at heart . This view certainly applies to the Craft Degrees , but as we pointed our last week there is nothing much to boast

of in the way of likely expansion of the Eoyal Arch , which has long appeared to be somewhat under a cloud in this country . We publish elsewhere in this issue letters from two correspondents in reference to this subject , and anticipate it

will receive further attention at no very distant date , as it seems to present many points on which free and full discussion is desirable , even if not absolutely necessary . But if we are

to go fully into this subject just now we shall depart from our original intention of making the present a holiday issue , therefore we leave it in the hands of our correspondents , who may , however , rely on us again taking up the subject . But even under the conditions we have referred to we

must not pass unnoticed the few events that are occurring in our midst . Since writing the above we have details of the successful meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire , held on Wednesday , and attended by upwards of four hundred

Brethren , and the gathering of the Board of Masters whose duty it was to arrange the Agenda of business for the Grand Lod ge of Wednesday week . The assembly at this was large and evidenced considerable interest among those who may be said to at least direct the business affairs of Grand Lodge .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE August meeting of the Board of Masters and the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , in the Board Eoom , Freemasons' Hall . Brothers Eobert Grey , C . A . Cottebrune and D . D . Mercer occupied the chair of President ,

and Senior and Junior Vice President , while the Grand Secretary ' s office was represented by Bros . E . Letchworth , W . Lake , W . H . Lee , Henry Sadler Grand Tyler , and Frank Palmer .

Other present and past Grand Officers who attended were Brothers E . Loveland Loveland , the Eev . J . S . Brownrigg , W . M . Bywater , Henry Garrod , S . V . Abraham , S . Vallentine , Thos . Webb Whitmarsh , J . H . Matthews , and William F . Smithson , and elected members of the Board Bros . George B . Chapman ,

Charles Dairy , George E . Langley , W . Fisher , E . H . Evans George Graveley , Eobert A . Gowan , William Vincent , Walter Martin , and Joseph Mansfield . There were also present Bros . John L . Bewsey , W . F . Lamonby , George W . Mitchell , James Joseph Hall , E . W . E . Smith , C . H . Webb , H . S . Timpson , H .

K . Cheese , H . Wilkinson , D . H . McGowan , Stephen Eichardson , J . W . Binyon , G . H . Newington Bridges , J . George W . James , E . T . Whaites , H . Hooper , H . Keeble , Sidney W . Larkin , W . E . Boswell , 0 . E . Lyne , W . W . Butcher , Thomas Easterbrook , Eobert Eobinson , H . Massey , Henry S . Windsor , John K . Gwyn ,

John E . Pells aud Paul J . Kilby . The Board of Masters , or General Committee of Grund Lodge , had submitted to them the programme of business for Grand Lodge of 4 th September , and after the Board was closed , and the Board of Benevolence opened , the Brethren took up the cases of distress before them .

The long list of recommendations at the July meeting were confirmed to the extent of £ 480 , and the Brethren then dealt with the new list , which consisted of twenty cases . They deferred till the September meeting two of these , and

dismissed one . Two they recommended to Grand Lodge for a grant of £ 100 each , and one for £ 50 ; recommended to the Grand Master two for £ 30 each , and granted seven of £ 20 each , four £ 10 each , and one £ 5 .

Two of the cases were from the Metropolitan district , and two from Liverpool . Others were from Shepton Mallet , Dartford , Ventnor , I . W ., Wallsend , Paignton , and Gainsborough , Port Melbourne , Vict ., Newcastle-upon-Tyne , Croston , East Looe , Birkenhead , Bristol , Wincanton , Newport , Mon ., and Mottram .

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday , at the Central Hall , Northwich . Lord Egerton of Tatton Provincial Grand Master presided , and there were also present Bros . His Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd

P . G . D . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., P . P . G . W ., J . McLeod P . P . G . W . Derbyshire and Secretary of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys ,

and a large number of present and past Provincial Officers and members of Lodges in the Province , the total being about 400 . After the Provincial Officers had answered to their names

and apologies for absence had been announced , the roll of the forty-six Lodges in the Province was called over , and it was found that all were represented . The minutes of the last meeting , held at Birkenhead , having been adopted , on the motion of Sir Horatio Lloyd , seconded by

Bro . J . Clayton P . P . G . W ., Bro . T . H . Annett P . P . G . Treasurermoved the adoption of the Auditor ' s Eeport , which showed that the balances standing to the credit of the Province were as

follow : —Fund of general purposes £ 114 , as against £ 98 last year , an increase of £ 16 ; fund ol benevolence £ 188 , as against £ 167 last year , an increase of £ 20 ; Cheshire Masonic Benevolent Fund £ 303 , as against £ 167 last year , an increase of £ 135 .