Provincial Priory Of Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL PRIORY OF LANCASHIRE .

The annual meeting of this important province was held on Thursday , the 19 th ult ., at the Public Hall . There was a very large assembly of distinguished sir knights from all parts . The sir knights having assembled , the Faith Preceptory was opened by the Eminent Preceptor . The Grand Officers were received

and the Grand Priory was declared open by Sir Knight Sir Clement Robert Nuttall Beswicke-Royds , G . C . T ., Grand Prior of the County of Lancaster . At this stage of the proceedings the members of Great Priory were announced and received with honours . The muster roll was called and it was satisfactory to learn that all the preceptories in the province were present ,

including Northumberland and Cumberland . The minutes of the Grand Priory held at Preston in April , 1893 . were read and confirmed . The report of the General Purposes Committee was received . Sir Knight W . J . Thompson was again elected Treasurer . A vote of thanks was proposed and passed to the Earl of Euston , G . Sub-Prior , G . C . T . ' , for his attendance .

Ten guineas were voted to the East Lancashire Systematic Educational Institution , and an equal sum to the West Lancashire Benevolent Institution and the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys The latter was gracefully acknowledged by Sir Knight J . M . MCLEOD . The following were present : Sir Knights the Earl of Euston , G . Sub-Prior , G . C . T . ; Major-General Hay .

Vice-Chancellor , K . C . T . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . P . Banner Bearer , K . C . T . ; Charles Chamberlain , P . G . Chamberlain ; C . R . N . Beswicke Royds , Prov . G . Prior , G . C . T . ; Henry Thomas , P . G . Sub-Prior ; A . B . Beaven , P . G . Prelate ; William Tyrer , P . G . Chancellor ; F . N . Molesworth , P . G . Reg . ; W . J , Thomson , P . G . Treas . ; James Heelis , P . G . Marshal :

Charles F . Garnett , P . G . Constable ; W . W . Alton , P . G . 1 st B . ; A . VV . Siddall , Chamberlain ; E . G . Harwood , P . G . Herald ; W . Halliwell , P . G . Con . stable ; Edward Pike , P . G . Vice-Chancellor ; H . Halbrook , P . G . Aide-de-Camp ; Joseph Clafton P . G . Org . ; J . M . McLeod , P . G . Banner Bearer ; Abraham Clegg , P . G . Constable ; C . E . Hindley , P . G .

Banner Bearer ; H . B . Brown , Herald ; E . Pierpoint , P . G . Constable ; R . T . Sutcliffe , ist Aide-de-Camp ; Arthur Bowen , 2 nd Aide-de-Camp ; H . Spalding , P . G . Capt of Guards ; Edmund Ashworth , P . G . Constable ; F . W . Lean , P . P . V . C . ; John Booth ( Mayor ) , P . G . P ., P . G . Sub-Marshal ; S . Fisher , E . P . ; James Lord , E . P . ; James Townsend , P . E . P . ; F . VV . Bromley ,

P . E . P . ; Walter Newton . P . E . P . ; S . Warburton , P . E . P . ; H . J . Robinsjn , EP . ; John Murray , P . E . P . ; J . T . Booth , E . P . ; R . A . ffarington , P . C . ; P . H . Robinson , P . E . P . ; G . S . Smith . E . P . j R . R . Seddon , P . E . P . ; A . W . Edmington , E . P . ; Fred . R . Sewell , P . E . P . N . Simpson , P . E . P . ; T . H . Duckworth , P . E . P . ; and many other sir knights .

Subsequently a Priory of the Order of Malta was held , when there were 28 candidates , Sir Knight Beswicke-Royds performing the beautiful ceremony , the Earl of Euston taking part . At the close of the proceedings a banquet was held ,

at which there were 76 knights present . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were g iven and responded to . The whole proceeding was a great success , and tends to show the great interest taken in the illustrious Degree of Knighls Templar .

Whitsuntide Railway Facilities.

WHITSUNTIDE RAILWAY FACILITIES .

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY CO . MPANV announce that an excursion to Gloucester , Cardiff , Newpott . Swansea , New Milford , Waterford , and other stations in South Wales and the South of Ireland will be run on Friday , May nth , and that a fast excursion train for the West of England will leave Paddington at 7 . 55 a . m . on Saturday , May 12 th . reaching Exeter in 5 ^ hours and

Plymouth in 7 , hours . Excursions will also run on the same day to Bath , Bristol , Dorchester , Weymouth , Worcester , Malvern , Hereford , Oxford , Leamington , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Shrewsbury , Chester , Liverpool , Manchester , Sic Return tickets at 25 s . will also be issued to Guernsev and Jersey . On Whit Sunday a cheap train will run to Swindon , Stroud , Gloucester , and Cheltenham , having Paddington at 8 . 20 a . m . At midnight

on Sunday an Excursion for one or five days will leave Paddington for Oxford , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Sic On the Bank Holiday cheap trains will be run to Reading , Hath , Bristol , Stroud , Gloucester , Cheltenham , & c . Excursions will be run to London from most of the principal stations , and crobs country trips have also been arranged . Cheap tickets ore now issued dail y from London ] and many suburban stations to Staines , Windsor , Taplow ,

Maidenhead , Henley , Goring , Wallingford , and other riverside resorts . 'These tickets can be obtained throughout the Whitsuntide holidays , and in fact during the whole of the summer months . To meet Ihe expected additional traffic by the ordinary trains tin Saturday , May 12 th , the Company will run in d ip'icate the 3 . 0 , 5 . 0 and 9 . 0 p . m . trains from London to the West nf England the 12 . 0 noon , 3 . 15 and 9 . 15 p . m . train lo Weymouth , Hereford and South

Wales . 'The first portions of the 5 . 0 and 9 . 0 p . m . trains will leave Paddington at . 4 55 andS . 55 p . rn . respectively , but the lirst parts of the other trains will leave at their advertised times , and the second a few minutes afterwards , the long distance passengers being as far as possible taken in the first portion , but with a few exceptions both trains will stop at the odvi itited stations to take up and set down passengers . Ordinary and excursion tickets are issued at the company ' s

City and West-end ullices , viz .: 193 and 407 , Oxford-street ; j St . 'Tottenham Court-mad , W . j 23 , New Oxford-street ; Camb idge-circus , Shaftesbury-avenue , W . C ; "The Piazza , " Covent Gaiden ; 269 , Strand ; 20 , Regentstreet , Piccadill ) -circus ; 29 , Charing-cross ; 17 , Urompton-r"ad ; Hollmrn-circus ; Minories ( opposite Goadmin ' syard ) j 5 , Aitliur-street East , London Bridge , E . C . j 82 , Oueen Victoria- ' . treet ; 67 , Gresham-street ; 4 , Cheapside j

Whitsuntide Railway Facilities.

and at the L . B . and S . C . Company s excursion office ( under Grand Hotel ) , Trafalgar-square . ' 1 ickets can also be obtained at Victoria , L . C . and D . Railway ; Kensington ( Addison-road ) j ¦ Uxbridge-road j Hammersmith , and other stations . The booking offices at the Paddington Statio . i will be open all day on May 9 th , 10 th , nth , and 12 th , so that passengers wishing to obtain tickets for any destination on the Great Western Railway can do so at thtir convenience . Ordinaiy tickets will be dated to suit the convenience of passengers .

THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY announce that the ticket offices at Euston , Broad-street , Kensington , and Willesden Junction will be open throughout the day , from Monday , May 7 th , to Whit Monday , May 14 th , inclusive , so that passengers wishing to obtain tickets for any destination on the London and North-Western Railway can do so at any time of the day prior to

the starting of the trains . Tickets , dated to suit the convenience of passengers , can be obtained at any time ( Sundays and Bank Holidays excepted ) at the following town receiving offices of the Company : Cross Keys , 1 , Woodstreet , Cheapside , E . C . ; 15 , Queen-street , Cheapside , E . C . ; 22 , Aldersgate-street , E . C ; S and 9 , Clerkenwell-Green , E . C ; Swan-with- Two-Necks , 65 , Gresham-street , E . C . ; 30 , West Smithficld , E . C . ; Bolt-in-Tun , 64 ,

Fleetstreet , E . C . ; Palmer s , 79 , Knightnder-street , E . C . ; Spread Eagle , 3 , Whittington-avenue , Leadenhall Market , E . C . ; 13 , Eistcheap , E . C . ; 116 , Holborn , E . C . ; George and Blue Boar , 2 S 3 , High Holborn , W . C . ; Atlas Office , 16 7 , Tottenham Court-road , W . C . ; Golden Cross , Charing Cross , W . C . j 70 , St . Martin ' s-lane , W . C ; 43 , New Oxford-street , W . C . ; 3 , James-street , Covent Garden , W . C ; Spread Eagle Universal Office , Piccadilly

Circus , W . ; 34 , Parliament-street , Westminster , S . W . ; Hotel Windsor , Victoria-street , S . W . ; Griffin's Green Man and Still , 241 , Oxford-street , W . j 49 G , Oxfordstreet , W . j 231 , Edgware-road , W . j Lion , 10 S , New Bond-street , W . j The Eclipse , 169 B , Fulham-road , S . W . ; 33 , Hereford-road , Bayswater , W . j 34 , Albert Gate , Knightsbridge , S . W . j 33 , Hij , h-street , Kensington , W . j ° 5 » Aldgate , E . j Royal Albert and Victoria Docks

Canning Town Goods Station , 41 , Barking-road , E . ; 233 and 234 , Blackfriars-road , S . E . j 117 , High-street , Borough . S . E . ; Surrey Railway Office , 13 S , Newington Causeway , S . E . j 194 , Westminster Bridgeroad , S . E . j "Angel , " Islington , 5 , Pentonvilleroad , X . j L . B . & S . C Office , 8 , Grand Hotel Buildings , Charing Cross , W . C Tickets can also be obtained at Gaze & Son ' s Tourist Offices , 140 , Strand , W . C ; 4 ,

Northumberland-avenue j and 18 , Westbourne-grove , W . j and at ihe Army and Navy Co-operative Society ' s Stores , 105 , Victoria-street , Westminster at the same fares as at Euston Station . Un Friday , May nth , a special train will leave Euston Statiun at 6 . 25 p . m . lor Holyhead and Ireland ; a special train will leave Manchester ( Exchange ) at 12 . 55 P- - and Liverpool ( Lime-street ) at 1 . 5 p . m . for Rhyl and Llandudno . On Saturday , May 12 th ,

a special train will leave Willesden Station at at 2 . 57 p . m . for Bletchley , Wolverton , Blisworth , VVeedon , Kugby , principal stations on Trent Valley Line , and Stafford ; a special express train will also leave Euston Station for Birmingham at 4 . 25 p . m . ; a special train will leave Manchester ( Exchange ) at 12 . 55 p . m . for Rhyl and Llandudno ; and relief trains will leave Birmingham at 2 . S p . m . and 4 . S p . m . for Coventry , Rugby , and Northampton , and pastengersfor

those places will not be conveyed by the 2 . 0 an . l 4 . 0 p . m . trains respectively . On Whit Monday , May 14 th , the 4 . 30 tram from Euston Station to Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Walsall , & c , will not run . Passengers will be conveyed by the 5 . 0 p . m ., except those tor Peterboro' Line , Market Harboro ' , Melton Mowbray , Nottingham , and the Great Northern Line , who on this date will travel by the 3 . 15 p . m . train from Euston j the S . 10 a . m . train , Wolverhampton to London will not run . On Whit Monday , May

14 th , numerous residential trains will not be run . The company also announce that they will run excursions to and irom London , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Leamington , Coventry , Walsall , Leicester , Macclesfield , Stoke , Stone , Liverpool , Manchester , Chester , North VVales , Snrewsbury , Hereford , Oswestry , Preston , Wigan , Blackpool , Morecambe , Carlisle , the Lake District . Excursions will also be run from London and other principal towns to Scotland and Ireland for the Whitsun holiday week .

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY have arranged , with a view to the greater convenience of the public , for the Booking Offices at St . Pancras and Moorgate-street Stations to be open for the issue of tickets all day on Friday and Saturday , May nth and 12 th , when tickets to all principal stations on the Midland Railway can be obtained beforehand at their offices , a list of which can be had on application . 'The tickets obtained at these offices

will be available from St . Pancras Station , and will be issued at the same fares as charged at that station , and dated to suit the convenience of passengers . —Cheap Excursions from London . —Cheap excursion trains will be run from London to Dublin , via Morecambe , on Friday , May nth , to return May 15 th , 17 th , 19 th , 22 nd , 24 th , or 26 th j to Dubin , via Liverpool , on Thursday , May loth ; to Belfast , Londonderry , and Portiush for Giant ' s Causeway , vid Barrow ,

on Saturday , May 12 th , for 16 days ; to London , derry , vid Morecambe , on Saturday , May 12 th , to return May 14 th , 17 th , 21 st , or 24 th , as per bill ot sailing ; to Leicester , Nottingham , Newark , Lincoln , Birmingham , Walsall , Wolverhampton , Burton , Derby , Manchester , Liveip-iol , Blackburn , Bolton , O . dham , Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , Scarborough , Newcastle , the Furness District , Carlisle , Sic , Sic , on Saturday , May 12 th

, returning the following Monday or Thursday ; to Carlisle , Castle Douglas , Dumfries , Helensburgh , Edingburgh , Glasgow , Sic , on Saturday , May 12 th , returning the following 1 uesday or Saturday j to St . Albans , Harpenden , Luton , bedloid , and Birmingham , on Whit-Monday , May 14 th , lor one day j and to Manchester , for the races , on Ihursday , midnight , Alay 18 th , returniog Saturdiy , May

21 st , and tickets for these trains for starting from St . Pancras Station can be obtained on the two pievious days to the running of the trains at the Company ' s City and West-Knd booking offices . Cheap excursions to London—Cheap excursion trains lor five or eight days will also be run tu Lonuon fruin Carlisle , Bradford , Leeds , Sheffield , Liverpool , Manchester , Blackburn , Burnley , Bolton , Bury , Rochdale , Oldham , Lincoln , Newark , Burton , Derby , Nottingham ,

Whitsuntide Railway Facilities.

Birmingham , Walsall , Wolverhampton , Leicester , & c , on Saturday , May 12 th , and for six days , on Monday , May 14 th . Passengers will be booked by these trains at cheap fares to Brighton , Hastings , St . Leonards , Eastbourne , & c ; and to Paris and other places on the Continent , having the privilege of returning by any ordinary train within 16 days .

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY announce that on Saturday , May 12 th , cheap three or six days' excursion trains will be run from Londin ( King ' s Cross ) to Cambridge , Wisbech , Lynn , Cromer , Norwich , Yarmouth , Lincoln , Leicester , Nottingham , Derby , Burton , Stoke , Newark , Sheffield , Barnsley , Huddersfield , Manchester , Stockport , Warrington , Liverpool , Wakefield , Leeds , Bradford , Keighley , Halifax , Hull , York ,

Scarborough , Whitby , Bridlington , Darlington , Newcastle , & c . A cheap four or eight days' excursion will also be run to Edinburgh and Glasgow . Cheap fast excursions will also be run on Saturday , 12 th , and Monday , 14 th , from Moorgate , Farringdon , King ' s Cross ( G . N . ) , and Finsbury Park to Skegness , Sutton-on-Sea , and Mablethorpe . Three or four days' tickets will be issued by the excursion on Saturday , available for return by the excursion on

Monday , or by any ordinary train on Tuesday . On Whit Monday , May 14 , cheap excursion trains will be run from Victoria ( L . C . & D . ) , Moorgate , King ' s Cross ( G . N . ) , & c , to St . Albans , Her ford , Wheathampstead , Harpenden , Luton , Dunstable , Hitchin , Royston , and Cambridge . Manchester Races . —On Thursday night . May 17 th , a fast excursion for two days wi 1 be run from Moorgate , King ' s Cross ( G . N . ) , & c , to Manchester .

Io prevent inconvenience from crowding at the Company s principal terminal station—King ' s Cross—tickets dated in advance , will be issued at King ' s Cross ( G . N . R . ) , Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Ludgate Hill , Moorgate , Aldersgate , Farringdon and Finsbury Park Stations ; also at the following ticket offices : 90 , I ottenham Court-road j 2 S 5 , Oxfordstreet ; " Star " Office , 13 S , Victoria-street , Pimlico ; 139 and 141 , Brompton-road , S . W . ; "Albert Gate" Office ,

1 , William-street , Lowndes-square j 16 9 , Edgware-road j " Royal Oak " Office , 6 , Porchester-road , Westbournegrove j Cambridge-circus , Shaftesbury-avenue j 328 , Strand j 29 , Bow-street , Covent Garden j " Bee Hive , " White Cross-street ; 43 and 44 , Crutched Friars ; So , Bishopsgate-street Without ; Charles-street , Farringdohstreet ; 230 , Essex-road , Islington ; 264 , High Holborn ; lG , Fish-street-hill j 75 , High-street , Borough j 230 ,

Highstreet , Borough j 44 , Bread-street , Cannon-street j 1 , Whittington-avenue , Leadenhall-street j 3 , King Edwardstreet , Newgate-street ; 22 , Wood-street ; 217 , Old-street j 190 A , Westminster Bridge-road j 7 , Beresford-square , South Woolwich j Royal Victoria and Albert Docks , G . N . Co ' s Offices j at the Office of Messrs . Swan and Leach , 3 , Charing Cross and 32 , Piccadilly Circus j at W . Whiteley ' s ,

151 , Queen s-road , Ba > swater ; at the Army and Navy Stores , 105 , Victoria-street , S . W . j of Messrs . Hernu , Peron and Co ., gS and IOO , Queen Victoria-street ; of A . Jakins , and Co ., 99 , Leadenhall-street ( Leadenhall House ) , E . C ; "Red Cap , " 6 , Camden-road , N . W . ; " Empire , " 30 , Silver-street , Notting Hill Gate j and at Robertson ' s " Castle" Office , 191 , Fulham-road , S . W .

Lodges Of Instruction .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .

Chatham 20 Ventnor 554 Liverpool ... 116 4 R ) de 175 Newbury ... 574 Heme ilay ... 2099 Bingley 439 Middlcsboro ' ... 001 Beckenham ... 3306

THURSDAY , MAY 10 . CRAFT Lnuut .. ; Abingdon ... 945 Wtstbury ... 2337 Cowes , I . W . ... 35 Wallsend ... 991 Guildf rd ... 3334 Hinckley 50 l . ytham 1001 Milnsbridge ... aa 6 i Sunderland ... 97 Tredegar iogS Whitchurch ... ajn Southampton .. 130 Denbigh 1143 Bedford 3343 Sheffield 139 Accrin ^ ton ... 1145 WalthamCross 337 a Liverpool 210 Malvern 1204 K . A . CHAPTERS . Preston m Plymouth ... 1347 CjJchester ... Si Kadclilfe 344 Sittingbourne .. 1273 Devun ^ ort ... aoa

Llttlieroc 309 Cliurlton-cura- Coventry 354 Darwen 381 Hardy ... 1387 Shipley Gate ... 500 Peterborough ... 443 Tliirsk 1410 Wisbech eo ) Birkenhead ... 477 Matlock Bath ., 1493 Sal ford 935 Uuisborough ... 501 Towyn 151 ) 3 Barnsley 15 ' 3 Sali bury ... 586 Cardiff 199 , Pontypcidd ... 1578 SleAlord 58 j Alton 3016 A „ uot . o * s . Coventry 735 Languor ! ... 3038 Darling o 1 .., ajo Brighton 732 Seacombe ... 3132 Brentwood ... 377 Deal 784 Windermere ... 3217 Frodsham ... 396 Littlcborough .. 816

LODQII or INSTRUCTION . Canterbury ... 31 Rochester ... IOJO Wallingford ... 188 7 Liverpool ... 203 Sudbury 1324 Ci . rshalton ... 1893 Batley 364 Komford 1437 Carshalton ... 1973 Uxbridge ... 383 Sar . down ... 18119 Bradford ... ... 3321 Hyde ' s Cross ... < 8 i Shanklin ... 1884

FRIDAY , MAY 11 . CRAFT LODOIS . Mirfield 1103 R . A . CiiAPrsns . Cardiff 36 Ne \ vark-on- Leeds 308 Woodbridge ... Si Trent ... 1661 Harro \ vj ; ate ... 100 ' Weymouth ... 170 Southwold ... 1 983 Chingl ' ord ... 300 J Hulme 815 iW-RK LOUUB . Old livet ... ... $ 0

LODOII OF iNITRtlCTIOH , Richmond ... 133 Leeds 306 Liverpool < 39 J Uristol 187 Bristol 326 Bristol — Province Keighley a 6 j Saltash ... ... 10 7 1 SATURDAY , MAY 13 . CRAFT LODOSS . Portishead ... 1755 Hampton Court aioj Cheshunt Park 869 Purllect jo ., 0 St . Mary Cray 2147 Leyton 1085 Rlckmansworthaoj 4 Didsb ^ ry 2 JS 9 LUDOK or INklKUOIloN . wirfcrnfiMd «*< ¦

Ad01004

tSiQHTH EDITION 6 a ., POST FKB . R . HINTS ON SPECTACLE ; By W . AOJKLASTD , Surgeon and Optician to trie Guaon . Especially addressed to sufferers from weak or defective light , or those requiring the aid of spectacles . The Rev . C . H . Spurgeon , in icvieffing tins pamp hlet in the " Sword and Trowel" lor September , 1887 , says . — _ " Most wise innts . The author of this od . treatise is a master of nis art . We would trust hira with . JU . eyes in preference to any other oculist . Spectacles bought at random may prove a serious injury , a littlecaic * riv expense in due cime may save sight , and this is more pren ous than mines •( gold- " , dOME & THORiiTHWAITE , 416 , Strand , London .