Annual Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

After "The Health of the Queen" had been duly honoured , The P . G . M . propesed "H . R . H . thc Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., the Princess of Wales , and thc other members cf the Royal Family . " He observed that not only was the Prince of Wales a most anient Mason , but Prince Leopolel was also , for His Royal Highness , in his own

Province of Oxford , took an active part alike in Craft and Royal Arch Masonry . ( Loud applause . ) Thc toast of "The Earl of Carnarvon and the other Ofiicirs of the Grantl Lodge" was proposed by Bro . Col . Stanlev , P . D . G . M ., and responded to by Bro . Dr . Moore . "The Health of the R . W . D . G . M . and R . W . P . G . M . of West Lancashire" was received most enthusiastically .

Lord Skelmersdale , in responding , said Masonry was in a most flourishing condition in this province , for there were somewhere about 5000 members , and this year there were upwards of 600 initiations . ( Applause . ) Hc thanked thc brethren most cordially for attending in such large numb rs that day . ( Loud applause . ) Bro . Davis , P . M ., proposetl " The Right Hon .

Fredcrick Stanley , R . W . D . G . M ., and thc Prov . G . Wardens . " ( Louel applause . ) Bro .. Colonel Stanley , M . P ., who was loudly cheered , responded . He said he thanked them most sincerel y foi the manner in which they had reccivetl the least , and he was happy to find that , notwithstanding the bad times .

Masonry in West Lancashire was in so gootl a position . That showed that Masons were determintd to put a cheerful face on matters , and that , whatever might be the ups antl downs of life * , they werc determined to hold together . ( Applause * . ) Several other toasts were proposed and most cordially received , and a vcry pleasant evening was spent .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

By command of Comp . the Right Hon . Lord Skelmtrsdale , Second Grand Principal of England and Grand Supt . ol the Western Division of Lancashire , thc annual P . G . Chapter of West Lancashire , was held on Wednesday , tlie 1 st inst ., at thc Masonic Rooms , Morecambe ,

immediately preceding the P . G . Lodge meeting . There was a large and influential gathering of P . G . Officers and others . The P . G . Chapter having been opened in elue antl solemn form , the minutes of the previous P . G . Chapter were read anel confirmee ! . The M . E . Superintendent appointetl thc following as his

ofliccrs for the ensuing year : — Comp . Robert Wylie Prov . G . H . „ H . R . Robertson Prov . G . J . „ 11 . S . Alpass Prov . G . t-. E . ,, Wm . Tyrer Prov . G . S . N . „ R . II . Evans Prov . G . P . S . W . VV . Guam Prov . G . A . S .

„ J . Wainwright Piov . G . 2 nd A . S . „ R . Robinson Prov . G . R . „ T . Clark Prov . G . S . B . „ P . J . Edclston Prov . G . Std . B . „ John Wells Prov . G . D . of C „ Joseph Skeaf Prov . G . O . The usual business of the P . G . Chapter was transacted

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX .

On Monday last thc annual Provincial Grand Lotlge of Sussex was held in the Royal Pavilion , Brighton . Bro . Sir VV . W . Burrell , Bart ., M . P ., Provincial Grantl Master , occupied the throne , and he was supported by a large number if Present antl Past Provincial Grand Officers ,

including Bros . J . H . Sceitt , Prov . Deputy G . M . ; Warden Sergison , Prov . G . S . W . ; J . St . Clair , Prov . J . G . W . ; R . Crosske •) -, Prov . G . Treas . ; C . A . Woolley , Prov . G . Reg . ; V . P . Freeman , Prov . G . Sec ; VV . Hale , Prov . G . S . D . ; M . Tanner , Prov . G . J . D . ; C . Tomkinson , Prov . G . Supt . i-f Wks . ; J . M . Kidd , Prov . G . D . of C . ; W . G . Sharp , Prov . G A . D . of C . ; Jos . Farncombe , Prov . G . S . ; A .

King , Prov . G . Org . ; W . T . Nell , Prov . G . Purs . ; G . T . Evcrshed , A . J . Hawkes , F . J . Ruble , F . Holford , antl S . B . McWhinnie , Prov . G . Stewards . At one o ' clock the Prov . Grand Stewartls entertained the Prov . Grand Master and a number of distinguished Masons 0 luncheon , after which the Board of Finance assemhlnf

antl transacted a considerable amount of business in readiness for tlie general meeting at three o'clock . The Prov . Grand Lodge having been opened in due form , ihe minutes of the last meeting were read antl confirmed . A very satisfactory report was then presented from the Board of Finance antl adopted .

The Charities Committee presented a report showing that all the lodges in thc province had subscribed , and that one election in the Girls' School , ami one election r-f a widow to the Royal Masonic Benevt-lent Institution , had been secured . This report was also adopted . The Provincial Grant ! Sec . then read statistics , showing that new lodges had been established during the year at

Bognor , Murstpierpoint , Brighton ( Atlingworth ) , antl Shi-rcham . That the number of brethren at the last meeting was 82 S ; that during thc year sixty-five had been initiated , forty-seven joined , thirty-eight resigned , twelve died , and six had withdrawn , leaving thc present number S 84 .

Bro . Sir Walter Burrell congratulated the brethren on the satisfactory state of the province , as evidenced by thc statistics just ic-ad . In 18 77 there wnc 784 members , since which time there hail been an increase of one hundred . During the past year three new lodges hatl bien opened , and in the course of next n . onth another was to be

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

added to the roll . He congratulated the province that thc scheme brought forward last year of subscriptions by lodges to the Masonic Charities had worked out successfully , antl he threw out some practical suggestions for fuithcr development of this movement hy subscriptions from individual members . If Ibis were fully carried out the province might make pretty sure of the election of their

candidates . He uige . l upon them the desirability of making good antl sufficient inquiries into the character of those who wish to become members of the Craft . The object was not so much to increase the number as that those initiated should be men of the highest respectability . He trustee ! that honour antl success would attend the Institution in the future as in thc past . ( Applause ) . He tlie-n appointed thc following brethren as his officers for

the year ensuing : — Bro . C . Raymond Burrell Prov . G . S . W . „ H . Davey ( Mayor of Brighton ) Prov . G . J . W . „ R . Adams Prov . G . Chap . „ R . Crosskey ... Prov . G . Treas . „ C A . Woolley Prov . G . Reg . . . V . P . Freeman ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ E . Brig ht Prov . G . S . D . „ S . Evershcd Prov . G . J . D . „ A . Wyalt Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ | . M . Kidd Prov . G . D . of C .

„ R . B . Croucher . „ Prov . G . A . D . of C „ A . J . Hawkes Prov . G . S . B . ,, A . King ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, F . J Ruble ... ... ... Prov . G . Purs . Bros . J . T . Whatforei , T . Morris , ~ \ C . K . Chandler , G . Stone , ( „ r- o . 1 S . W . D . Williams , and C . J . f Prov G Steward *

Smith J Bro . T . Hughes Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . Dawes ( P . P . G . Reg . ) proposed " That thc sum of one hundred guineas be voted from the funds of this Prov . Grand Lotlge to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , thc privileges accruing therefrom to be conferred on Bro . John Scott ,

Prov . D . G . M ., antl to be exercised by him and his successors in office in perpetuity . Bro . Walter Kirkland seconded , and the proposition was carried unanimously . 'Ihe Deputy Prov . Grand Master thanked the brethren for ihe handsome sum which they had thus added to his list , as one of tlie Stewards to the Benevolent Institution for

thc present year , and expressed a hope thc brethren would individually help to swell the amount . After some formal business , the lodge was closetl iu tluc form . Thc banquet took place in thc biuqucting room at five o ' clock , the services of Messrs . Sayers and Marks having been secured to carry out this important part of the day ' s

programme . About 1 . 10 were present . Ihe H . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Sir VV . W . Burrell , Bart ., M . P ., presided , sup . portctl by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master anil his Provincial Officers , the Masters of thc various lodges in the province , the Mayor of Brighton , Bro . Marriott , Q . C , Bro . Kuhe , and others . Grace having been sung , the usual loyal and Masonic

toasts were given by the Prov . Grand Master antl heartily received . Bro . Rev . R . Adams proposed " Thc Health of the Right Hon . Lortl Skelmersdale , Deputy Grantl Master , and Officers of the Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " eulogising the eminent services of Bro . Kuhe , who , as Grand Organist of England , had done his duty , and who was

not only a true Mason , but a gootl man in every sense of thc word . ( Applause . ) Bro . Kuhe responded . Bro . J . Henderson Scott gave " The Health of Sir Waller Burrell , " and said it was a happy day for Masonry in Sussex when he ( Sir Walter ) was appointed to the high position in the Craft whicii he now

occupied . 1 heir Provincial Grand Master was most popular in the province , antl he devoted considerable lime and attention to the duties of his ofiice . He desired to rrtake himself familiar with the working of every lotlge-, and hc had visited each one during the short time he had presided over them . He trusted Sir Walter might long be spared to occupy the proud position of Provincial Grantl

Master of Sussex . ( Loud applause . ) Thc Prov . Grantl Master replied in a happy manner amid frequent applause , especially thanking his Past Officers for the assiduous discharge of their various duties . Bro . Marriott proposed "The Health oi the Deputy Prov . Grantl Mastir . " In lining so hc saitl that Bri * . Scott was a tower of strength in the Craft , and his einrgy

in well doing knew 110 bounds . He had to couple wilh the toast " The Health of the Present and Past Provincial Officers , " and in eloing so spoke of the p ipularity of the appointment of Sir Walter Burrell's eldest son to the post of Senior Warden . As the next officer in rank none was more popular than Bio . Davey , the respected Mayor of Brighton . ( Applause . ) The either appointments he had

no hesitation in saying met with general approval . Bro . J . H . Scott replied . He said it was very gratifying that those who held office tlid so with the hearty approval of the brethren . He wished to point to his own career as an example to young Masons . He had been every round of the ladder , and all woultl attain honours if they only threw energy into their work and weie content to hide their time * .

Bro . II . Davey also acknowledged the compliment . Bro . Marriott , Q . C , responded to the toast of "The Visitors . " Bro . C . A . Woolley gave "The W . M . ' s - of the Province , " a body nf men who held very responsible positions in the Craft , and who discharged their duties -with great zeal and ability . Bro . W . Curtis replied . The Prov , Granu Master asked the brethren to drink

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

" Success to the Masonic Charities , " urging upon them love and charity as their watchwords . ( Applause . ) Bro . Gerard Ford gave " Tne Health of ' the Stewartls " who hatl catered so well for their comfort on that occasion . Bros . McWhinnie , Hawkes . Holford , antl Ruble , expressed their appreciation of the compliment .

The Tylei ' s toast brought thc proecetlings to an end . During the evening Bro . Kuhe favoured thc brethren with a brilliant pianoforte pciformance . The musical arrangements were ably carrietl out by Bro . King , Prov . G . Organist , the vocalists being Bros . Large , G . T . Carter ' I " . Distin , and L . Conti , all of whom discharged their allotted parts with considerable ability .

A Ten-Minutes' "Oration."

A TEN-MINUTES' "ORATION . "

The following oration was delivered on September 18 th and 19 th , at the conscemtton of Portmadnc and Hol yhead Lodge Rooms , by Bro . the Rev . J . Sidney Boucher , P . G . C . and P . VV . M . Strontium , 6 ofi , Carnarvon : —The appearance of a new house , whose site , style , or surroundings are of special beauty and appropriateness , naturally leads the beholder to sneculatc uunn the character ami cnnrfii-mn r . t

the owner . Antl thc consecration of a new lodge-room seems equally to call for remark upon the time-honoured Institution which is here to have its home . What then , briefly , is Freemasonry?—originally , no doubt , a Guiltl of Artificers , dating from thc reign of King Solomon , and organised b y his marvellous wisdom ; with valuable trade

secrets to keep close among themselves , and a careful system of passwords , signs , and tokens for their preservation ; a regular classification of the brethren into convenient groups or lodges ; orderly arrangements for govi rnment a * id discipline ; pt riodical examinations of junior workmen , to ascertain the progress they were making ; solemn forms antl ceremonies for admitting new

members into the brotherhood , passing successful candidates to higher degrees of proficiency , and investing them with conspicuous bad ges of merit ; special times anil places for liiseussing business matters , with a rigid exclusion of all exciti . ig topics of debate , such as religion and politics , so as not to disturb the harmony . « o essential to thc successful accomplishment of the grantl work of temple-building ,

which was being carrieeloti hy thc diverse nationalities of liulia and Phieuicia in conjum-tiun . With the prestige of a lofty origin like this , and its necessary connection with the libera I ails antl sciences , such as painting , sculpture , and the rest , the Masonic association rapidly developed , and extended to every quarter of the civilised worltl . A powerful organisation of this kind , wiih itsever accumulat ' inrr stores of know .

ledge and experience , coultl not fail to produce cxtenshe and important results . Antl , accordingly , we cannot be surprised to learn that to Freemasonry we are indebted for the wonderful structures , beautiful even in iheir ruin , erected under Greek and Roman auspices before the Christian era ; and in especial for the magnificent mansions , castles , churches , and cathedrals that sprang up

everywhere in Great Britain and the Continent during the comparatively quiet period of the eleventh and four following centuries . Nor can wc wond .-r that men of other trades and professions , even kings and princes , eagerly sought admission into an Order of such hi gh renown for the sake of compinionshi p with thc illustrious Masters of art antl science who ennobled it , and whose splendid .

labours did so much to enhance the national pride antl glory . By degrees , however , these " speculative" Masons , who by special favour wereadnvtteil to the freedom of the Craft , so far outnumbered feir " operative" brethren , that , cuckoo-like , they oustetl the original owners from the Masonic nest , antl stayed in it themselves ; retaining the outward shape ami form of the Ancient Guild , with

its working tools and badges ; its stringent vows of secrecy , fidelity , and obedience ; its elaborate and impressive ritual , anil its oral triatlic instruction—but turning all into parable and metaphor , so lhat , as we have it now , it is simply a " beautiful system of morality , veiled iu allegory , and illustrated hy symbols ; " a system possessing many important secrets ami valuable privileges , and

a history of unquestionable fact , embroidered with a variety of curious myths or legends to furnish a plausible explanation of passwords , signs , ami tokens , whose real origin antl primitive significance have in all probability passed away from us for ever . Such is Freemasonry in the past . What then are its claims upon us in thc present ? And why arc we here

today doing our utmost to perpttuale it in the Suture ? Now to answer these inquiries wc must call to mind that Masonry may be viewed unthr two aspects , a lower and a higher ; viz .: ( 1 ) as connected with lodges here on earth , ami their members as citizens of thc world , and ( 2 ) as connected with Grant ! Lodge above , where the world ' s G . A . lives and reigns for ever . In its lower aspect it has three

special claims upon our attention antl regard , viz .: as ( a ) a bond of union antl brotherhood between all the widely separated families and classes of humanity ; ({•) a central ground of meeting for free antl social intercourse among less widely separated neighbours antl acquaintances ; ( c ) a universal letter of introduction to entire strangers , and a special medium for assisting the neetly and distressed . In

its higher aspect it is still more worthy of the eulogies and encomiums that have been lavished upon it by the brethren in every age . As one of our fraternal charges well expresses it : " 'Tis not mere blind fanatic zeal that prempts the brethren of the mystic tie to speak thus highly of the Masons' Craft . For well they know that it is the best and truest handmaid to reli g ion that ever man

devist-d , and admirably fitted to assist him in his search for light antl knowledge through all thc various stages of this mortal life , trom the cradled help lessness of infancy to the final darkness of the grave . It is founded on a triad of deep mysterious truths connecting earth with heaven : theiternal existence of a triune God , the resuircction of