Lodge Of Peace And Unity Centenary.

includes in its ranks and Officers a large number of M . P . ' s , including Bro . Colonel W . E . M . Tomlinson , M . P ., Sir Matthew White Ridley , & c , and also leading men in various ranks of society . In England Masonry has gone hand in hand with religion , and it numbers among the Grand

Chaplains of England , Bishops like the Bishop of Perth , W . A ., whom we shall rejoice to see once more in his Mother Lodge , the Bishop of Bath and Wells , the Bishop of Landaff , and the Bishop of Barrow ; Deans—like the Dean of York , the Dean of . Goucester , and other well-known dignitaries and

clergymen . And I do think our Lodge of Peace and Unity may be congratulated on the fact that among its members who were initiated in it are two Past Grand Chaplains of England , for I scarcely think that any Provincial Lodge can say the same .

The number of Lodges was not very great in 1797 , but it had risen to 6 43 in 1837 , when our gracious Queen , whom God preserve , came to the throne . It still continues to grow , and now numbers ( 18 97 ) 2 , 214 Lodges , while the number of subscribing Brethren is 110 , 700 . With regard to our

Province , West Lancashire has greatly grown . In 1797 the whole of Lancashire formed one Province , the late Bro . John Allen being Prov . G . Master . In 1826 Lancashire was divided into the two Provinces of West and East . The late Bro . Le Gendre Starkie , father of Bro . Colonel Le

Gendre Starkie Prov . G . Master of East Lancashire , was the first Prov . G . Master of West Lancashire . He was followed in 1865 by the late Bro . Sir Thomas Hesketh , Bart ., M . P . for Preston , and upon his death , in 1875 , by the M . W . Bro . the Earl of Lathom , and long may he live to rule over this

Province and the Craft . Our Province began with a small number of Lodges , but it gradually increased in numbers while under the able and efficient rule of the Earl of Lathom , our beloved Prov . Grand Master . It grew rapidly , and

especially has it greatly increased since his lordship ' s admirable appointment of Bro . Goodacre , our energetic and popular Prov . G . Secretary , so that now we have 116 Lodges and over 7 , 600 subscribing members .

There has been a great growth in the Charitable Institutions of our Order and of the Province since 1797 . I need not dwell on this point , for if is so well known to you , except to remark that the three London cosmopolitan Charities received in 18 9 6-97 / " 6 r , 668 , while in addition the

Board of Benevolence expends about £ 10 , 000 a year on the relief of distressed Freemasons , their widows and orphans . In addition several of the Provinces have their own Charitable Institutions , while in this Province of West Lancashire we have the West Lancashire Educational

Institution , the Alpass , and the Hamer Benevolent Institutions , and now a new one has been formed called the Victoria Jubilee Institution . Freemasonry has grown in members , in wealth , and in influence during the last hundred

years . In England there are , as I have said , 110 , 700 subscribing Brethren drawn from the upper classes of the country , while in the world it is said that there are more than 1 , 000 , 000 subscribing Brethren , in additition to the immense number who are Masons but who do not now

subscribe to a Lodge . Smaller societies with less influential members have made themselves a visible power , and no wonder Masonry , with its spirit of Brotherhood , has a great influence in this land of ours and in the world . But though the Order is so

prosperous and powerful now compared with what it was when our Lodge Warrant was signed , still let us always bear in mind that our continued prosperity depends upon each Brother doing his individual duty . We must be true Masons , and the true Mason is not the one who is a Mason merely in

form and ceremony , but the one whose inner spirit and daily life shows the principles and tenets of our Order are founded on the basis of religious virtue . His motto must be " Goodwill to man . " He ought not to be ill-natured , or impolite , or unsympathetic , or hard-hearted , or one who would slander his Brother Mason . He is one who should be

actuated by the words of the Lord Jesus Christ , " It is better to give than to receive . " But as we think of our Centenary celebration and the great growth of Masonry in England and in West Lancashire

during the time our Lodge has been in existence , let us rejoice and be glad . May this Lodge of Peace and Unity long continue and prosper , and may it hand down the genuine principles and tenets of our Order , pure and unsullied , throughout all generations .

The presentation of a very handsome banner by the W . M . to the Lodge followed , after which came a vote of congratulation to the Rev . Dr . Riley , Bishop of Perth , on

Lodge Of Peace And Unity Centenary.

his having the rank of Past Grand Chaplain conferred upon him . A very interesting and pleasing event came next , that of

the presentation of a piece of plate to Brother Bee P . M . P . P . G . S . B ., on the occasion of his resigning the office of Almoner of Lodges Unanimity , Peace and Unity , Royal Preston , and Concord .

A banquet served in the style for which the Bull Hotel management is noted was served at six o ' clock , and after this toasts and music were given . — " Preston Herald . "

Masonic Lights.

MASONIC LIGHTS .

IT is always interesting to know '' Who ' s Who" in Freemasonry , and we shall at all times be glad to continue the sketches which have appeared under this heading , if we receive Masonic information respecting Brethren who have distinguished themselves in the Craft .

This week ; we have the pleasure to introduce to our readers Bro . William Russell , J . P . —one of the present Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies . Although Bro . Russell made his Masonic reputation as a Provincial Mason in Kent ,

by initiation he is a London Mason , having been admitted in the Lodge of Friendship , No . 206 , in 1866 . In the following year he joined the Lodge of Freedom , No . JJ , Gravesend , where he served the office of Master in 1877 , and of which he is still a subscribing member .

In 1868 he joined the Union Lodge , No . 767 , at Karachi , and served the office of S . W . Returning to England in 1870 , he was present at the conferring of the degree of P . G . M . on H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . In 1871 he assisted in the founding of the Lome Lodge , No . 1347 ,

Sutton , Surrey , and was its first Secretary , which office he held for two years . In 1873 he became one of the Founders of the Erasmus ¦ Wilson Lodge , and was its second Master , in 1875 , following its illustrious Founder whose name it bears . He is still a member , and was Master a second time

in 18 95 . . Until within the last two years he has been its Secretary from the time of his first Mastership , but resigned that post on being elected Treasurer , which appointment he still holds . In 1875 he joined the Lodge of" Sympathy , No . 483 , Gravesend , and is still a member thereof .

In 1877 the Prov . G . M . of Kent Lord Holmesdale ( now Earl Amherst D . G . M . ) appointed him Prov . S . G . Deacon ; in 1887 he appointed him Past S . G . W . ; and in 188 9 he was elected Prov . G . Treasurer , which post he still holds . For eighteen years he has represented his Province at the Charity Elections , having been elected originally in 1880 .

In April 1893 he was elected on to the Board of Management of the Boys School , in place of Bro . J . S . Eastes D . P . G . M . of Kent , who retired , and at the present moment is Chairman of the Finance Committee of that Institution .

He was exalted m the High Cross Chapter , No .. 754 , Tottenham ( now 829 , Dartford ) , in March 1868 , and was its first Principal in 1877 . He has been Scribe E . or Treasurer almost continuously since 1877 . He is now Treasurer . In 1882 he was appointed Prov . G . Registrar , and in 1886 he was

promoted to the Office of Prov . G . J . In 1889 he was elected Prov . G . Treasurer , which Office he still holds . In 18 9 6 he was a Founder and the first Z . of the Chapter of Sympathy , No . 4 8 3 , Gravesend . He joined Mark Masonry in the Southwark Lodge , No .

22 , in 1867 . In 186 9 , at Karachi , he joined the Knight ' s Templar , and the Priory of Malta , Scottish Mark Masonry , and Scottish Royal Arch . He is now W . M . of the Gordon Lodge , No . 364 , Gravesend . He is a Founder and present J . of the Gordon Royal Ark Mariners Lodge , consecrated in the same town this year .

In 1870 he joined the Scottish Ancient and Accepted Rite , taking the 18 th degree in the Grand Metropolitan Chapter , No . 1 . In 1873 he took the 30 th , in 1879 tne 3 Ist > and in 1887 the 32 nd . As for the Charities , he is personally a Life Governor of

all three , and has served two Stewardships for the Girls School , and one for each of the other two , while in 1888 his elder son served as Steward , and became a Patron of the Girls School , and in 18 92 his younger son and his daughter

served as Stewards at the Jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and became Vice-Patrons . He also from time to time prepared the schemes by which the Province of Kent has purchased perpetual presentations to all three of the Central Charities .