Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

Bro . G RIFFITHS , in thanking the brethren for their kindness , assured them that the vote of that day would induce him to exercise even greater energy on their behalf in the discharge of his duty in the future than he had done in the past . The P . G . M . having announced that he would hold his next annual meetjno - at Northwich , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . The musical features of the meeting were greatly enhanced by the efforts of Bros . T . Batley , S 52 ; G . A . Batley , 1814 ; and H . Collier , P . G . O .

The brethren then formed in procession , and marched through the streets ( which were crowded by the residents of the town ) to St . Michael's Church , where an appropriate sermon was preached by the P . G . Chaplain , the musical portion of the ceremony being under the direction of Bro . Collier . A collection was made at the close in aid of the Provincial Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund and the Macclesfield Infirmary .

A banquet was subsequently served in the Town Hall , at which Bro . the Rig ht Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., D-P-G . M ., presided , and during the evening the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and cordially responded to . An excellent portrait of Bro . Lord De Tabley , painted by Mr . F . Holl , subscribed for by the brethren in the Province of Cheshire , was exhibited in the Drill Hall . The likeness , which was greatly admired , will be presented to his lordship on his birthday .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL .

The annual Provincial Grand Lodge and General Communication of the Province of Cornwall was held on Monday , the 26 th ult' at Liskeard . The town was en fete for the occasion . The church bells rang merrily , and rows of flags hung in gay festoons across the streets at several points . The handsome but small Masonic Hall of the local lodge , St . Martin ' s , No . cio , could not accommodate so large a gathering as was expected . The

Prov . Grand Lodge was , therefore , convened for business in the Parochial Schoolrooms , adjoining the church . Shortly after eleven a . m . the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form by R . W . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Provincial Grand Master of the Province . Over 350 brethren were in attendance , amongst whom were the following Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers :

VV . Bros . Sir Charles B . Sawle , Bart ., D . P . G . M . ; Philip F . Simcoe , P . S . G . W . ; John Hocking-, jun ., P . J . G . W . ; Bro . the Rev . E . S . T . Daunt , P . S . G . Chap ., vicar of St . Stephen ' s-by-Launceston ; VV . Bros , the Rev . P . II . Newnham , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap , of Hampshire , Dorset , and Devon , P . J . G . Chap ., vicar of Maker ; H . F . VVhiteford , P . G . Rep ; . ; VV . Tweedy , P . G . Treas . ; E . T . Carlyon , P . G . Sec . ; S . Serpell , P . S . G . D . ; Gilbert P . Pearce , P . G . S . Wks . ; J . Crossman , P . G . A . D . C . ; J . F . Hooper , P . G . Org . ; VV . H . Christoe , P . G . S . B . ; VV . Rooks , P . P . G . Purs ., P . G . Assist . Purs . ; J . Jose ,

331 ; Thomas H . Lukes , 49 G ; VV . Nettle , 510 ; J . II . Mitchell , 5 S 9 ; Richard John , P . P . G . D . C , Clerk Assistant to the P . G . Sec . Tbe following- officers were also among the brethren present : VV . Bros . E . J . Hext , P . P . S . G . W ; E . ' D . Anderton , P . P . J . G . W . ; C . G . Archer , P . P . J . G . W . ; T . Couch Stephens , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . F . Penrose , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Kempthorne , P . P . G . J . W . ; Dr . George " Kerswill , P . P . J . G . W . ; the Rev . F . B . Paul , P . P . G . Chap . ; the Rev . F . T . W . Wintle , P . P . G . Chap . ; T . Beale , P . P . G . T . ; P . Carroll , P . P . G . T . ; VV . Ough , Past G . Purs ., and P . P . G . D . C ; John F . Childs , P . P . G . Reg . ; Emra Holmes , P . P . G . Reg ., and P . P . G . D . C , Suffolk ; J .

Cardew , P . P . G . S . D . ; R . A . Courtney , P . P . G . S . D . ; G . P . N . Glencross , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . Denniss , P . P . G . J . D . ; H . S . Boyle , P . P . G . S . Works ; G . Rosevcarc , P . P . G . S . Wks . ; E . Aitken-Davics , P . P . G . S . Wks . Devon ; T . White , P . P . G . S . Wks . ; W . Rowe , P . P . G . D . C ; I . VV . Chegwidden , P . P . G . D . C ; ] . C . R . Crewes , P . P . G . D . C ; VV . Guy , P . P . G . D . C ; Dr . Bedford Kerswill , P . P . G . S . B . ; Charles Truscott , jun ., P . P . G . S . B . ; F . B . Williams , P . P . G . S . B . ; VV . E . Michell , P . P . G . S . B . ; Edwin Poor , P . P . G . Purs . ; H . Trembath , P . P . G . Purs . ; W . Pascoe , P . P . G . Purs . ; P . Gills , Samuel Mitchell , John Hill , Robert Coath , VV . Cawse , H . H . Kidd , and N . Henwood , P . P . G . Stewards .

Business commenced with the Assist . Secretary , W . Bro . J , reading over the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , which was held at St . Ives , September 28 th , last year . Those minutes were unanimously confirmed . W . Bro . TWEEDY read his report as Prov . Grand Treasurer .

W . Bro . J , as Assistant Secretary , read the Secretary ' s report , which stated that the number of lodges in the province was 28 . For the year 1 S 79 there were 9 6 initiations , 30 joining members , members from previous year 1481 , total for 1879 , ' 607 members ; for the year 18 S 0 there were 104 initiations , 25 joining members , 1592 total membership—a reduction of 15 . The report continued :

I have to report no great change in our numbers for the year 1 SS 0 , nor have we bad any new lodge established ; but I have received a petition for one at Wadcbridge , which the Prov . Grand Master has approved of , but as yet the warrant has not been granted . I have to thank our P . G . M . on behalf of the lodge for his lordship's kindness in sending us a photograph of the trowel used by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ( Grand Master ) on

the ceremony of the laying the foundation-stone of the Cathedral at Truro on the 20 th May , 1 SS 0 . In presenting this , my last report to the province , I take this opportunity of thanking his lordship and the brethren generally for their great kindness and courtesy towards me during the long period I have had tbe honour to bold office . —E . 1 . CARLYON , P . G . Secretary .

R . W . Bro . the P . G . MASTER , in reference to those reports , said complaints were again to be made at the dilatoriness of some of the lodges in making their returns and paying their dues . The returns were due on the 31 st of January , and the dues should he paid before March 31 st . Those delays caused great inconvenience . One effect , he regretted to say , was that it had contributed to the " Directory of the Province " having not been published this year . The returns had not come in in time . The brethren , he

thought , ought to consider the advantages of that little book . It was most desirable that it should be published . Then it had been arranged that payment should be made for that work by those who wanted it . The price was proposed to be 6 d ., and an application had been made to the lodges to know how many they would require . Fifteen lodges only had replied , and the aggregate number they asked to be supplied with was 239—that was not enough to meet the expense . The printing cost from £ 8 to " £ 9 . If the book was desirable , he thought each ledge should take a certain number of copies , and

should send in their returns in time to have the book printed . Without the book he was at fault to see who were the Past Masters unless he waded throug h the sheets before him ; and if the returns were not properly made ne might not be aware who were those that had claims for provincial honours . He hoped there would be an improvement , and the returns sent m more promptly by all lodges . There had been a larger number initiated this year than last year , and the decrease had arisen principally from brethren leaving the province . Their numbers remained nearly the same—about 1600 . J W . Bro . J . C . R . CREWES , as Assistant Secretary to the Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund , then read the reports of the Trea-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

surer ( V . W . Bro . W . Tweedy , P . G . T . ) and Secretary ( V . W . Bro . T . Chirgwin , P . P . S . G . W . ) of that Institution , as follows : — The donations and subscriptions for the year , balance in hand from last year , and the revenue resulting from invested funds amount to £ . 465 os . 6 d . receipts ; payments , £ 334 16 s . ; balance in hand , £ 130 4 s . 6 d . By the recent death of Bro . Wyatt , the number of annuitants is reduced to three . The vacancy cannot be filled until next year . There are at present four educational grants of £ 15 pounds a year each . No petitions for relief or other grants have been received . Since the last annual meeting the capital

account has increased by £ 152 6 s . iod ., and there is an increase of £ 7 5 s . in the annual , subscriptions as compared with the corresponding period of last year . The capital stands now— £ 910 , 4 V Debenture Cornwall Railway Stock ; £ 400 , Great Western Railway 5 per cent . Debenture Stock ; £ 300 , Railway Debenture 5 per cent . Trust Funds ; £ 200 , Pennsylvania Consolidated 6 per cent . Mortgage Bonds ; £ 600 , West Hartlepool Railway 4 per cent . Debentures ; £ 200 , Great Western Railway 4 per cent . Debenture Stock ; £ 300 , New South Wales 4 per cent . Bonds ; £ 200 , Victoria 4 i per cent . Bonds ; cost , ^ 3156 15 s . fid . Annual revenue therefrom , £ 140 19 s . With balance in bankers' hands of _ f , 130 4 s . 6 d ., the capital was X 32 S 7 .

These reports were received and adopted . * W . Bro . ANDERTON , in the absence through illness of W . Bro . William James Hughan , P . M . 131 , Past S . G . D . of England , and P . P . G . Sec . of the Province , read Bro . Hughan ' s report respecting his management of the votes for the London Masonic Charities on behalf of the province .

In presenting my twelfth and last report as manager of the votes for the great Masonic Charities , I have much pleasure in thanking the R . W . Prov . G . M . and the other subscribers , who promptly forwarded their voting papers . There are still a few who are either knowingly or carelessly defaulters . 1 refrain from mentioning their names . There have been five elections since the last report , viz ., the "Girls " and " Boys " in October , 1 SS 0 , and April , 1 SS 1 , and tbe Benevolent in May last . A brother of 450 , Hayle , was the accepted candidate by us for the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution , but the members of 977 , Fowey , were also anxious to have a brother of that lodge elected ( though the W . M ., Bro . Alfred Luke , handsomely refrained from unduly pressing bis claims ) . I felt that as the two brothers were strongly supported by their lodges , the better way out of the difficulty would be to get both elected , which I did accordingly , in Ma } ' , 1 SS 1 , on their first application , and without a printed circular being issued for eitber . It is the first time in tbe history of the province that such a result has been achieved , and it affords an apt illustration of the value of the system commenced

by me in 1 S 6 S , of uniting the votes for the general good of the province . There will be no charge for out-of-pocket expenses , as they were at once defrayed by the members of the Cornubian Lodge , No . 450 , Hayle . The brethren of that lodge and also of 977 were very kind in their expression of thanks to me and to my friends , Bros . Constable and Terry , who so ably assisted . There are now four annuitants of £ 40 per annum and two widows of £ 32 per annum on the funds of this institution from Cornwall , and another widow has half her late husband ' s annuity for three years from his decease . She is a

candidate for the £ 32 annuity in May , 1 SS 2 , and I hope that my successor will obtain her election , as I leave the management without owing a single vote on behalf of the province , though to secure these two brothers I polled a total of 2141 votes , and yet only received 150 votes from Cornwall for the institution . The balance was made up of loans repaid and exchanges , & c . Bro . Controller Bake , W . M . 1151 , acted as Steward for tbe Boys' and Benevolent this year , and is ready to do so again . Bro . John Coombe , P . M . 450 , Hayle , has engaged to represent the Province and lodges in Cornwall as Steward

for the Koyal Masonic'Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons in 1 SS 2 , and I hope that the Provincial Grand Lodge will vote the sum ' of 50 guineas to be placed on his list , so as to set a good example to the lodges generally . I wish much the funds would allow of 100 guiueas . Owing to the returns of some of the lodges being so late , some , 1 understand , only being completed this month , I have not been able to edit the Directory as

usual , so the table of the votes of the province for the Masonic Charities has not been printed . It is such a great pity that such a useful publication has thus been delayed by the neglect of a few brethren . I beg most positively to decline re-election as manager , and have the voting papers ready to hand to my successor for the ensuing elections on the Sth and 10 th October . I promise him all the aid in my power , and regret my absence to-day . —W . J . HUGHAN . Truro , 27 thSeptember , 18 S 1 .

Hie R . W . the PROV . G . M . said he had ascertained that Bro . Hughaw could not be induced to hold any longer the management of these votes for the London Masonic Charities . They were deeply indebted to him for his services in aiding them to acquire the many advantages they had obtained in connection wilh those Charities . He was very sorry that he was not present for them to thank him personally , for all must feel how much they owed to his exertions . He did not know exactl y how Bro . Hughan originall y

entered upon those duties—in fact , how he was appointed ; but , in consequence of his positive retirement , it was necessary that they should appoint a brother in his stead . It had occurred to him ( the P . G . M . ) that if it was left for a variety of suggestions to be made it might lead to some confusion , and he thought it would be best for him to express an opinion , and if that suggestion met the approval of the brethren he would do so , as he had some enquiries into the matter , and it must be some active , zealous brother who had the time to devote to the work .

A BROTHER suggested that he thought that in accepting Bro . Hughan ' s resignation they should express to him their thanks for his service , and add to it their extreme regret that he from illness was not able to retain the position . Lord MOUNT EDGCUMBE and the brethren generall y unanimousl y approved of the suggestion . The P . G . M . said the system , as they found it had grown up with Bro , Hughan , worked well , and met with the general approval of the P . G . Lodge , but he thought whoever they selected that would undertake the management

of those votes should , in some measure , have his responsibility shared . In the selection of candidates , & c , some representative body should take part to assist that brother in his duties . Now that proper body , he thought , should be the Committee of Relief . That Committee consisted at present of the Prov . Grand Treasurer , the Prov . Grand Secretary , ex officio , and three other brethren elected by the Prov . Grand Lodge . The brother that managed the votes he thought should be appointed one of those elective members of the Committee of Relief . He had consulted a brother whom he

thought suitable for the office and found him willing to serve . He had plenty of time to attend to the duties . That was W . Bro . Charles Truscott , jun . R . W . Bro . TWEEDY suggested that if the appointment of the Committee of Relief was adjourned the report of that Commitlee had , perhaps , better be read .

The suggestion was adopted . The report stated : Your Committee beg to report that they have already granted during the past year the following sums , viz ., to a brother of 1066 and a brother late of 131 £ 2 each . Your Committee also report that they have received petitions from a brother , late P . M . of 131 ; a widow of a brother late of No . 75 , Falmouth ; a widow of a brother late of No . 9 O 7 ; and a widow of a brother late of 6 99 ; and , finding that the bye-laws had been complied with , beg to say that they considered each of these cases deserving , and would recommend that a grant of £ S be made to the brother of 131 , and £ 5 to each of the widows .

Thc lodge was then adjourned . The brethren present formed in procession , and proceeded in full regalia , with banners and insignia displayed , and headed by a band , to the borough church . The formation of the procession was admirably carried out under some practical suggestions of the R . W . Bro . the Prov . G . M . The church was crowded . The preacher , the