Provincial Grand Chapter Of Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF LINCOLNSHIRE .

The annual convocation of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Grimsby , on Thursday , the 26 th ult ., Comp . William Harling Sissons , j . P ., D . L ., Grand Superintendent , presiding over a large assemblage of companions . The G RAND SUPERINTENDENT delivered an interesting address , in the course of which he alluded to the excellent work done by the late Comp . Kirk , as Prov . Grand Treasurer .

The P ROV . GRAND REGISTRAR reported an increase in the number of companions , and the ACTING PROV . GRAND TREASURER a balance in hand . Comps . F . J . Sowby and Wormald were nominated for the Prov . Grand Treasurership , and Comp . Sowby was elected , being seconded by Comp . SISSONS . Ten guineas was voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and the Prov . Grand Officers were invested as follows :

Comp . Jas . B . Morton ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ W . H . Moore ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ B . Vickers ... ... ... Prov . G . Scribe E . „ W . Hirst ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Scribe N . ,, B . Beeson ... ... ... Prov . G . Prin . Soj . „ F . Barrett ... ... ... Prov . G . 1 st A . S . " „ W . W . Sowby ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S .

„ f . j . _ owDy ... ... ... prov . _ . lreas . „ J . L . Reyner ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ H . J . Atkinson ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ R . G . Pearson ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ W . H . Gane ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C „ G . H . Gregory ... ... ,.. Prov . G . Org .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Somerset.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SOMERSET .

The above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 24 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Bath , under the banners of the Royal Cumberland and the Royal Sussex Lodges . Bro . R . C . Else , Prov . Grand Master , presided , and among those present were Bros . Viscount Dungarvan , Deputy Grand Master of England ; Baron De Ferrieres ; and C F . Matier , Grand Secretary .

Bro . Col . W . Long was re-appointed Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the following were appointed and invested as the Prov . Grand Officers for the year :

Bro . Col . A . T . Perkins ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ C J . Baldwin ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ G . M . Wilson ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O .

,. F . Bendle ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ G . R . Wilson ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . T . E . Thomas ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ C W . Radway ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . Bevir ... ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ F . T . Elworthy ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ E . E . Baker ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ E . W . Loveless ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ H . Davis ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of VV . „ F . W . Bishoo ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ T . Bamfield ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . Cogan ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ A . G . Milborne ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ T . Colenutt ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ A . J . Salter ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

A very successful entertainment was given at the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , Croydon , on Wednesday , the 25 th ult ., by Bro . Horace G . Banks , W . M . xSijj , and friends . The room was well filled with old folks and visitors , the brethren having been courteously received and heartil y welcomed by Bro . J . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Secretary of the Institution , and Miss Norris , the Matron .

The proceedings opened with a pianoforte solo , after which Professor Hernard gave a clever exhibition of slei ght of hand , which completely mystified the audience . Bro . Horace Banks then gave his well-known lecture , entitled , " From England to America , " in which he was assisted by a powerful triple lantern — one of the finest in the kingdom — through

which over 100 views of the principal sights were shown . Starting from Southampton , the lecturer proceeded in a lucid manner to give interesting details of the ocean trip , and thence onwards through New Ycrk , Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Washington , Chicago , Niagara , ( including some exceptionall y fine views of the Palls ) , the Hudson River , and then back to New York .

The lecture , which was interspersed with amusing anecdotes , contained a ¦ nassof information , carefully compiled and condensed with remarkable brevity , and proved Bro . Banks to have been a careful and accurate observer during h 's travels , whilst the excellent views he has succeeded in obtaining , and which are probably unsurpassed , made it clear lhat he is as much at home with ln

e camera as he is on the platform as a public lecturer . A novel feature , wl "th will doubtless ere long attract attention and approval , was the introduction of illustrations to well known songs . Thus the old ballad , " Sally " } our Alley , " effectively rendered by Bro . R . Evans ( who also gave " The "ojy City " with great effect ) , and " The Naval Brigade , " b y Bro . Frank ? . ord , were amply illustrated with excellent pictures . Mrs . Banks * mdl y contributed " The Three Beggars , " and Miss Agnes Walker and Hro - Lee also assisted in the musical items .

Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Bro . J NEWTON , at the conclusion of the programme , said he did not think it would bs proper to let the evening pass without passing a vote of thanks for the splendid lecture and entertainment . As a membsr of the House Committee , he was sure all present would give Bro . Banks their warmest thanks in the manner usual on such occasions —by clapping the hands . He would in their name also tender their best thanks to those ladies and gentlemen who had rallied round to help Bro . Banks .

Bro . HORACE BANKS , who met with a hearty reception , returned thanks on behalf of himself and those who had assisted him . He sincerely thtnked the two ladies who had g iven their services , also Professor Bernard , B-o Swinford ( always to the front in Masonic work ) , Bro . Richard Evans , and Bro . Lee , the I . P . M . of his mother lodge . It had been a pleasant evening

to them all , for they considered it a privilege to be allowed to give their services , and they would be all willingtocomedown againonsome future occasion . Whilst he had been at work on the platform there had been an assistant silently at work at the other end of the room manipulating the lantern—Mr . Leonard Greaves—to whom their sincere thanks were due for arduous duties exceedingly well performed .

A telegram having been read from Bro . John Mason who had been away on duty at Durham , a cordial vote of thanks was accorded Bro . Terry for his ready assistance in the evening ' s enjoyment . Bro . J AMES TERRY , in reply , siid he had very little to say . He happened to be present at the installation of Bro . Banks as W . M . of the Citadel

Lodge when he received the promise of a Steward ( Bro . Davison , P . M . ) for the festival in 1896 , and the conversation turned on the entertainment with the result they had seen . The Citadel Lodge started their Steward ' s list with 100 guineas and if any brother in the room that evening had any guineas to spare , Bro . Banks would be delighted to receive it to add to the list , which he hoped would be one of the largest it would be his privilege to

announce . The proceedings then terminated , the visitors leaving well pleased with an enjoyable evening , the pleasures of which were considerably enhanced by the kindly welcome received from the officers of the Institution .

Mi-Eau.

MI-EAU .

( French—Half water . ) Our milkman , when he milk would sell , Unwittingly , the truth does tell—He cries aloud " Mi-eau ! " Water and milk thus—half and half , He little thinks while he does laugh , This fact some people know !

Teeth.

TEETH .

In infancy , of pain afraid , We cut our teeth by coral ' s aid , Or loving mother ' s thumbs ; But hastening to life ' s closing day . Our teeth cut us , and , sad to say , We ' ve nothing left but gums . F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M . 62 , Lancaster Road , Notting Hill , W .

Masonic Service At Birkenhead

MASONIC SERVICE AT BIRKENHEAD

On the afternoon of the 29 th ult ., a special Masonic service was held at St , James ' s Church , Laird-street , North Birkenhead , where a collection was made on behalf of the Cheshire Masonic Educational Fund , founded for the purpose of giving education and maintenance to children of deceased Freemasons in the Cheshire division . The service was choral , the musical arrangements being under the direction of Bro . Millward Hughes , 2496 , P . P . G . Org ., assisted by the choir of

St . Anne's Church , Birkenhead , and brethren from various lodges , and during the collection the solo " Crown ye with palms " ( Faure ) was impressively sung by Bro . Walter Baker . The brethren , numbering about 200 , assembled in St . James ' s Schools , Miriam-place , Laird-street , from whence they marched in procession to the church , wearing the clothing and insignia of the various Craft offices which they held .

The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . G . J OHNSON , P . M . 1289 , P . P . G ; Chaplain , who took his text from Exodus ii ., v . 9— " And Pharaoh ' s daughter said unto her , take this child away and nurse for me , and I will give thee thy wages , " In the course of his sermon the preacher referred to the many benevolent and charitable schemes which existed in the nineteenth century for the care and education of children , speaking in high terms of the great good which had been accomplished by the Cheshire Masonic Educational Fund . Its special object was

to give education and maintenance , as well as afford means for advancement in life , of the children placed on the foundation of the institution , and especially commended the plan pursued of not removing the little ones from their mothers' care , in order that they might still enjoy home influences which were so beneficial to them . After alluding to the benefits of education , Bro . Johnson said that the income of the fund during the past year had been „ 34 I , and that 49 children had been cared for at a cost of £ 363 . He concluded by making an appeal to the brethren for liberal contributions on that occasion .

The collection amounted to the sum of £ 1 $ 12 s . 2 d . Amongst those present in the church , where there was a large congregation , were the following representatives of the Order : Bros . Thomas Shaw , P . J . G . W . ( Mayor of Birkenhead ); T . Vernon , P . G . D . C . West Lancashire ; L . Ellis , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . C Robinson , P . P . G . D . C West Lancashire , acting D . C ; R . Powell , P . P . G . Stwd . ; A . C . Gibson Wallace , P . P . G . S . ; J . Gamlin , P . G . D . ; W . S . Cromar , P . P . A . G . D . C . ;

J . Armstrong , P . P . G . S . of W . ; F . Fothergill , P . P . G . D . West Lancashire ; R . Olive , P . P . G . Stwd . ; O . Jones , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Clarke , P . P . G . D . ; G . Bird , P . P . A . G . Sec ; P . Duff , P . P . S . G . D . ; G . H . Brown , P . P . G . W . ; J . R . Simm , P . P . G . Treas . ; j . H . Wild , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . S . Jolly , P . P . G . Stwd . ; T . A . Jackson , P . G . S . ; J . W . Evans , P . M . 1576 ; D . Lowthian , W . M . 1182 ; J . B . Mackenzie , P . P . G . D . West Lancashire ; along i ^ ith a large number ot W . Ms ., P . Ms ., Wardens , subordinate officers , and members of about 20 lodges in the province ,