Transactions For 1895-6 Of The Lodge Of Research, No. 2429, Leicester.*

At the next meeting the Worshipful Master read a paper on " The Masonic Degrees of 1723 , " in which , after quoting the opposite opinions of tiros- R- F- Gould and W . J . Hughan on the subject , and after carefully " sideling the whole matter , Bro . Staynes is reported to have stated " that if found it impossible to adopt either of the two views , and feared that r , -iher investigation is necessary before all the difficulties are cleared away . "

U this meeting the Secretary exhibited a very rare " ' Grand Orient de France' certificate , " which was granted in 177 S to Bro . Roettiers de Montaleau , to whom belongs the honour of having revived Freemasonry in France after the Revolution . The certificate was made the subject of a very nteresting paper by the Secretary , who furnished a good deal of information \ , nut this eminent French Mason , and sundry of those whose signatures

•ere appended to the document . At the meeting in January of this year , Bro . ]•J- Knowles read a paper on "Gilds—their Origin and Development , " which , we are told , was based on a work entitled " English Gilds , " which was published in 1 S 70 , but more particularly on the " History and Development of Gilds , " by Mr . L . Brentono , which forms a part of the said work . The other papers are on " The Masonic Apron , " a rare collection of

which , including the Moira Apron , ' was exhibited in lodge ; and on 1 he Worship ful Master ' s Levels and some Obsolete Symbols of the Craft . " The first of these was compiled and read by Bro . J . T . Thorp , P . M . and Secretary , and the second by Bro . R . B . Starkey . Both are well worthy of being carefully read and studied . We cannot close this notice without offering a few words of commendation on the manner in which Bro . Thorp has fulfilled his part as Editor , and rnnirratulating him on the amount of information relating to the Lodge of

Research itself which he has incorporated in his pamphlet , and the evident pains he has taken that these Transactions shall form a complete epitome of the important work which the lodge is engaged in carrying out , namely , that of arousing the interest of the brethren in Leicestershire and Rutland in the study of the laws and customs , ceremonies , symbols , & c , of the Craft . We trust the lodge may be enabled to continue to work even more successfully , and that it may be the lot of Bro . Thorp to exhibit the same care and judgment in the editing and compilation of many more volumes of Transactions .

North American Statistics.

NORTH AMERICAN STATISTICS .

The Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar for the State of Maine is always an annual pleasure to peruse , especially the " Report on Correspondence " by Bro . Stephen Berry , the Recorder , who is the courteous Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge . His Reports are noted for their accuracy and excellence , and they are also of statistical value .

In Ins " Comparison of North American Statistics , " there are some very startling figures , especially in relation to the annual increase of the Knights Templar Organisation , both generally and relatively . Some 30 years ago the percentage of Templars to Master Masons was five , it is now considerably over fourteen per cent ! The totals are thus calculated , based upon actual Returns . ( 1896 ) .

Master Masons , R . A . Companions , K . Templars , 781 , 670 . 200 , 000 . 111 , 8 94 . The ^ e are most extraordinary and suggestive totals , for during the period named—less than 30 years—the Craft in North America has increased from 4 ^ 3 i 535 to 781 , 670 ; the Royal Arch , from 96 , 275 lo some 200 , 000 ( quite double ); and Knight Tcmplary , from 25 , 844 to 111 , 894 ( more than four

limes ); thus proving the ever extending character ot this chivalnc Society . In three jurisdictions there are over 10 , 000 Knights Templar in each , vi / .: Pcnn ' a , 10 , 549 ; New York , 10 , 420 ; and Mass . and Rhode Island , > 0 M $ 4 ; Illinois also carries near the five figures , with 9109 ; but after that the other States rapidly lessen , the next heading the remainder with

i ^ m ( Ohio ) ; followed by 5373 ( Michigan ) ; and then two with over 4000 ( viz ,, / o ™ and Missouri ) . Bro . Berry estimates that there are 4901 in all the world besides—i . e ., subscribing members—thus some 3000 to England and Wales ; 130010

Ireland ; 525 to Scotland ' , and 76 to Australia . Some ol the totals are for 1895 , and others for 1 S 9 6 ; so that the grand total will be still more , but surely these statistics arc important illustrations of the popularity of Freemasonry in North America , and particularly so of Kni ght Templary , with its most efficient organisation and ever-increasing

A curious enquiry is easier started than answered as to the causes of such an enormous growth of chivalric Masonry in the United States . The Ancient and Accepted Rite " also still holds its own in that great country , a » d would have a greater hold still of the American Fraternity if that Body were united and free from rivalry as its more fortunate , but not so distinctly , Masonic Organisation . VV . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

I he annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at ' acdesfield , on Wednesday , the 30 th ult . The inhabitants gave a kindly elamie to tl ) e members of the Craft , for in the centre of the town ( he aways had been swept and sanded and the buildings gaily decorated for

"Ltajion , and large crowds witnessed the procession of brethren from tl I ^ " ' wnere lhe meeting was held , to the ancient Parish Church in J Market-place . Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , Prov . G . Master , was ., : " t 0 attend owing to the effects of his recent accident . In bis absence icinren

" were presided over by Bro . his Honour Judge Sir Horatio ^ ° >' i Deputy Prov . Grand Master , who was suppoited by Bro . the Hon . ^ tton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W . England , as acting Deputy Prov . Grand \ y ? ' a ' S number of Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past . The ens' chairs were occupied by Bros . H . Bratt and Thomas Shaw , Prov .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

Grand Senior and Junior Wardens respectively . There was a large attendance , all the lodges of the province being well represented . Bro . J CLAYTON , P . P . J . G . W ., submitted the report of the Committee of Benevolence of the province . It stated that the funds of the province were in a healthy condition , and that the fees and dues payable by the lodges showed an increase over last year . The balance outstanding to

the credit of the fund amounted to ^ , 1 S 2 us . sd . Grants had been made during the year in six cases , amounting to £ 40 . The Election Committee attended the election of boys and girls in London last October , and again in April , 1 S 96 , and in May for Aged Freemasons . As directed by the Committee of Benevolence , the Election Committee expended their votes in favour of two girls from the province , being successful in both cases with

3658 and 3561 votes respectively . At the election in April , although Cheshire had one g > rl on the list , it was decided not to run the case but to pay oft borrowed votes . In May , 1 S 96 , at the election of Aged Freemasons , the Committee were directed to elect a candidate , which they succeeded in doing with an expenditure 4052 votes . For October Cheshire had one boy and one giil on its list , but as the friends of the boy had withdrawn him from

this election in favour of the girl , it was hoped the election in her case would be successful . With reference to the paragraph in last year ' s report as to the joint management of the two local Institutions , the Committee thought , judging from the great success of the joint festival at Knutsford , the accomplishment of the scheme must be gratifying to everyone concerned . About . £ 1200 was realised , which would go to the benefit of the two Institutions when the accounts were made up in the proportions which the donors had

specified . The interest on the invested capital of the Benevolent Institute was now sufficient to grant annuitants to four women and two men , which would absorb £ ij 6 . One ol the annuitants having died this year , the Committee would be able to add two other annuitants to the four already on the funds . Besides what the local fund was doing for the ¦ poor aged people ol Cheshire , grants had been made from the funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution of London during the last year to the Province of Cheshire amounting to ^ 165 .

Bro . ANN-KIT , P . P . G . Treas ., read a report of the Cheshire Masonic Benevolent Institution , which spoke of the great success of the festival at Knutsford in July last , and mentioned that as a result of it , and including £ 303 balance . left oyer from last year , there was now at the bank on behalf of the various provincial Charities A 1244 .

The DEPUTV PROV . GRAND MASTER gave expression to his regret , in which he was sure he should be joined by the brethren present , at the enforced absence of the Prov . Grand Master . That absence was due to the unfortunate carriage accident which happened a short time ago , from the effects of which Lord Egerton was to some extent still suffering . His lordship desired him to express ( o the brethren the great disappointment which

it was to him lo miss the opportunity of meeting them . On behalf of the Provincial Grand Master , he ( Sir Horatio Lloyd ) was glad to be able lo congratulate the brethren on the progress and position of Masonry in Cheshire during the past year . A new lodge , the Travellers ' , at Chester , had been added to the roll of the province , having been duly consecrated a short time ago , and , in addition , his Ro \ aI Highness , the Grand Master ,

had already granted the petition of the brethren of New Brighton for a lodge lo be consecrated there . These lodges would bring the roll of the province to the number of iS . The membership of the lodges still continued steadily to increase . During the last five years the numbers of subscribing members of lodges had been 1 S 56 , 1963 , 21 4 1 , 2233 , and in the year 1895 had reached 2275 , making an increase of 419 in the five years .

Even of more consequence than the figures were the facts which he had learned from those whose duty it was to investigate these matters , that all the lodges were really working well , and that the Provincial Grand Offi ; ers appointed to examine the minute books of the several lodges reported that , without exception , they were most satisfactory . ( Hear , hear . ) There was also , he thought , much ground from what they had already heard at that

meeting for congratulation . Ihe Charity Council ' s report was eminently encouraging with regard lo the two Benevolent Institutions . During the past 12 months , , £ 165 had been granted from the funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution of London , and the festival held this year for the joint benefit of the two had been so successful as to call for their warmest congratulations . ( Hear , hear . ) Nearly . £ 1203 was subscribed in

connection with that festival , and that would enable the Committee to place two more annuitants on the fund . ( Hear , hear . ) It was exceedingly gratifying to notice the manner in which ihe brethren generally supported the festival . Every lodge in the province contributed , and the signal success which had attended their efforts would constitute their best reward . ( Hear , hear . ) They had already heard what had been done and what was

proposed to be done by the Election Committee , and he need do no more than commend those Institutions and the Charities generally to the continued solicitude and attention of the brethren of the province , knowing well that they would take care never lo forget that the key-stone and the mainspring of their Masonic Fraternity was brotherly love . ( Applause . ) One of the principal events of the year bad been the installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master of the Order for the 21 st lime , and in commemoration of

the event , his Royal Highness had been pleased to give rank in the Grand Lodge of England to their Acting Deputy Provincial Grand Master and their Provincial Grand Secretary , whom the brethren of the province heartily congratulated upon Ihe distinction . ( Hear , bear . ) In further commemoration , Lord Egerton had been permitted to give Past Provincial Grand rank to five other of their brethren in the province . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Sir Horatio Lloyd concluded his remarks by proposing the following resolution , which was unanimously adopted :

" that this Provincial Grand Lodge has heard with much regret of the accident which has deprived the lodge of the pleasure of meeting their Provincial Grand Master on the present occasion , and earnestly trusts he may soon be restored to his usual health , " Bro . Thomas Brougli was , on the motion of Bro . VV . RICHMOND , seconded by Bro . WALTER BLOWN , unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treasurer .

The Auditois having been te-elccted , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master duly invested the following Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing

year : Bro . Col . Dean ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ H . Jackson ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . C . Chelwynd Atkinson ... ,., )„ n r , „ Rev . Robert Edwards j Prov . G . Chaps . „ C . A . Bradley ... ,., .. Prov . G . Reg . ,, T . Brough ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .