The West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution.

Provincial Grand Mister , he was elected our President , which office he continued to hold with kindness , wisdom , and courtesy , to the end of his days . The loss of so noble a chief will be

keenjy felt , not only in this Province , but throughout the country , and wc can only express the fervent hope that his successor will follow the path he so worthily trod . "

The Hon . Secretaries , after expressing their regret at the resignation of Bro . J . H . TYSON , who had " laboured so long and faithfully as one of the Honorary Secretaries , " and " who will be sadly missed by his old colleagues , " go on to describe the

more important work done by the Institution during 1898 and the amount received in the way of income . The number of children who have received the benefits dispensed by the Charity is stated as 215 , and the amount expended in educating and

otherwise advancing their welfare is set down as £ 1535 4 s . gd ., while the number of those to be elected at thc Court of Governors , which will be held at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool ,

this ( Friday ) evening , is 17 , of which nine are to be elected on the Educational Fund , four on the Combined Fund , and four on the Advancement .

Turning to the Hon . Treasurer s statement of account for the past year we find that , including the balance brought forward from previous account , the total of the receipts reached in round figures , £ 2531 , the amount of the donations ,

& c , & c , being £ 1238 , of which £ 304 was the proceeds of the annual ball in aid of the Charity , and £ 834 represented the Donations and Subscriptions from lodges , chapters , brethren , & c . The interest on the invested

capital was £ 802 , or more by nearly £ 29 than the sum received under this head in the previous year . The expenditure amounted to a fraction over £ 1501 , of which thc only outlay incurred for management , & c , was £ 86 for Printing , Stationery ,

Postages , & c . ; the remainder , represented b y £ 1414 8 s . id ., having been paid for Education , Maintenance , and Advancement . To this has been added the year ' s proportion of thc cost of eig ht Presentations for Children possessed by the

Charity , amounting to £ 121 , making the total expended on thc children , as before stated , £ 1535 4 s . gd . Thc investments represent a total value of close on £ 23 , , to which must bc added ( he balance at bank and on deposit , making a grand total of nearly £ 24 , 000 .

We congratulate the Committee of Management on the very satisfactory condition of the Institution , and while we share with them in the regret they express that there are still many lodges which " have failed to realise the great importance of the

Institution and the part it plays in providing for the helpless little ones of those who ( but a short while ago ) were our boon companions ; " we also unite with them in the hope that "in next year ' s report the words ' no returns' may appear less frequently . "

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C , Bro . Earl Amherst , M . W . Pro G . M ., presiding . Bro . the Earl of Euston , R . W . Prov . G . M . of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire , acted as Deputy Grand Master , and Bro . Dr . Balfour Cockburn , Prov . G . M . of Guernsey , as Past Grand Master .

Grand Lodge was opened at two 0 clock in the afternoon to afford facilities for the election oi Grand Treasurer , the candidates for which oUice were Bro . Alfred H . Bevan ( London ) and Bro . Harry Manfield ( Northampton ) . After Grand Lodge [ had been formally opened , the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 7 th December , 1898 , so far as they related to the election of Grand Treasurer , were read and confirmed .

Bro . ERNEST FLOWER , M . P ., Most Worshipful Grand Master , in the chair : I beg to propose for election for Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year , Bro . Alfred Henry Bevan . It is not necessary to recall at any great length , or to detain Grand Lodge for any considerable time by giving in detail the qualifications for the candidature of Bro . Alfred Bevan , as the manner in which it has been received is , at all events , an indication of the sincere respect and regard in which he is held by the Craft at large .

But I may tell Grand Lodge that I had the pleasure ot laying belore it at ast Quarterly Communication a statement of his Masonic career , not only in London , but also in the provinces , and I spoke of the generosity with which he has assisted the great Masonic Charities . Most Worshipful Grand Master , such qualifications will , I am sure , commend themselves to the brethren at large ; they are qualifications which I am glad to think have always been maintained by those brethren who have held the office of Grand Treasurer ; they are those qualifications which bg | ongto that distinguished office .

United Grand Lodge.

But , Most Worshipful Grand Master , it is , I thtnk , within the limits of propriety if I add to Bro . Sevan's Masonic experience some brief words of review of that wider philanthropy known to the world without which has made the name of Alfred Bevan almost a household word in the Charitable world . Most Worshipful Grand Master , I think such qualifications in a

candidate render him worthy to be proposed for election , and if he secures election following on that proposition he will carry on the unlimited lustre of the office of Grand Treasurer which the provinces and the metropolis may require . I beg to propose Worshipful Bro . Alfred Henry Bevan , Past Prov . Grand Treasurer , for election as Grand Treasurer .

Bro . HAWKINS , P . M . 569 : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , I beg to second the proposition . Bro . J GLASS , P . M . 453 : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , I rise to propose for election as Grand Treasurer , Bro . Harry Manfield . I do not know , Sir , that I need take up the time of Grand Lodge by adding anything to what I said on the last occasion , but I am prepared to justify

every word I uttered then with respect to the candidate . I shall content myself by reminding the brethren that out of the last 21 Grand Treasurers who have been elected by Grand Lodge , 16 of them were London brethren and five only Provincial ; and I think that although we have splendid candidates , it is but fair to the Provincial brethren , as well as to the London brethren , that the Provinces should now have their turn at this present opportunity to be represented by a Grand Treasurer .

Bro . Dr . KNIGHT , P . M . 445 , Northampton : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master in the Chair , I rise as a member of the Province of Northamptonshire and as a Past Grand Officer of the Prov . Grand Lodge ol that Province to second the proposition for the election of Bro Manfield . What has been said with regard to his qualifications for the office is all true , and is all known to Masons , not only in that Province , but throughout the country . The

arguments , Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , with respect to the desirability , to say no more , of having Provincial Oflicers for Grand Treasurer of England , seem to me arguments that cannot be in any way gainsaid . They are tremendous in favour of Bro . Manfield ; there are no two opinions upon it . I beg to second his election . ( Loud applause ) The poll was then opened , and remai led open until a quarter past seven o ' clock .

At the meeting at seven o ' clock , Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., Prov . G . M . of Hants and Isle of Wight , took the chair , and called upon the Grand Secretary to read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 7 th December , 18 9 8 . ""' Bro . General Wimburn Laurie , M . P ., Prov . G . M . of South Wales

( Western Division ) , acted as Past Grand Master , and Bro . the < l _ arl of Euston , Prov . G . M . Northants and Hunts , as Deputy Grand Master . Bro . George Richards , District G . M . of the Transvaal , acted as S . G . W ., and Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C , as J . G . W . Bro . Thos . Fenn , P . G . W ., acted as G . D . C .

The minutes having been read and confirmed , The ACTING GRAND MASTER , at a quarter-past seven , declared the poll for Grand Treasurer closed , and then obligated the Scrutineers , of whom Bro . A . C Spaull was appointed Chairman . The Scrutineers then left Grand Lodge with the ballot boxes .

Bro . BEACH then said it had pleased the Most Worshipful Grand Master to appoint the Earl Amherst as Pro Grand Master of England . ( Applause . ) A deputation would retire in order to conduct his lordship into the hall for the purpose of his lordship taking the obligation and being installed in the chair .

The deputation , consisting of two Past G . Wardens , two Prov . G Masters , four G . Deacons , four G . Stewards , andthe Dep . and Asst . G . D . of C , was then formed and left Grand Lodge . They afterwards returned escorting Lord Amherst .

Bro . BEACH , addressing his Lordship , said the Most Worshipful Grand Master had been pleased to appoint him to the position of Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , and he now had the pleasure of placing him in the chair , but first he must call on him to take a solemn obligation with regard to the discharge of the duties of his office .

Earl Amherst then took the obligation and was invested by Bro . Beach with the insignia of his office . By the direction of Bro . Thomas Fenn , acting G . D . C , the brethren saluted the Pro G . M . with the honours of Grand Master .

Earl AMHERST : Brethren , I greet you well . Bro . BEACH , addressing his lordship , said he now placed him in the chair not doubting that his conduct in the discharge of the duties of his office would be such as to justify the confidence which the Grand Master had placed in him and also to merit the approbation ofthe brethren . ( Applause . ) Bro . Beach then took the seat of Past Grand Master .

Earl AMHERST then said : Lord Warwick , it has pleased H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . to appoint you to the office of Dep . G . Master . Before you take your ' seat as Dep . G . Master I must ask you to take the obligation applicable to the duties of your office .

lhe Earl of Warwick was then obligated , invested , and installed by Earl AMHERST , who said : I now place you in the chair of Dep . G . Mister , nothing doubting that you will so discharge your duties as Dep . G . Master as to justify the confidence which the G . Master has placed in you , and also to merit the approbation of the brethren .

Led by Bro . Thomas Fenn his lordship was saluted by the brethren with the honours of Deputy Grand Master . Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , then read the following communication from the M . W . G . M . with reference to the Grand Lodge of Peru :

The Most Worshipful Grand Master having had before him certain resolutions of the Grand Lodge of Peru , reversing its former action respecting the removal of the Volume of the Sacred Law from the altars of lodges and the suppression ol the word " Bible" in the ritual ; and having satisfied himself that the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Peru has , in pursuance of such resolutions , issued a decree abrogating the decree of June 17 th , 18 97 , his Royal Highness is of opinion that the Grand Lodge of Peru , having ordered the restoration of the

Volume of the Sacred Law to its place upon the altar and in the ritual , is entitled to recognition as a true and lawful Masonic body , so long as it conforms to the landmarks and beliefs common to pure Masonry , and that this recognition should be extended to all lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of Peru , which faithfully carry out the true principles of the Craft as endorsed by the later decree . His Rojal Highness , therefore , desires that the sense of Grand Lodge betaken upon the following resolutions : ist . That this Grand Lodge hails with the greatest satisfaction the reversal by the Grand Lodge of Peru of its decree of the 13 th of June , 18 97 ,