Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

Jackson , P . P . G . A . D . C ; W . Bowelen , P . P . G . S . B . ; W Laidlaw , P . P . G . S . of W . ; and others . There were also present about rooo other brethren repre ^ senting the various lodges , in this and neighbouring pro .

vinces . The Craft lodge was opened according to ancient form , Bros . Sper . ce , Lodge 32 , being the W . M . ; W . J . Chapman , I . P . M ., 1609 , acting as P . M . ; W . W . Elton , 113 , as S . W . ; Jowett , 281 , as J . W . ; and R . H . Evans , 292 , as

J . D . The Provincial Grand Lodge being announced , entered in processional order , and the P . G . Lodge was opened in due form and with solemn prayer . The P . G . Secretary ( Bro . H . S . Alpass ) then read the roll of lodges in the

province , when it appeared that the whole of the 79 lodges in the division were represented with two exceptions—the Ellesmere Lodge , No . 730 , Chorley , and the Arthur Joan Brogden Lodge , No . r 7 r 5 , Grange-over-Sands . The P . G . Secretary also read the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge meeting held at Southport , which were confirmed

nem . con . The P . G . Treasurer ' s report for 1877-8 , which was taken as read , showed that the balances from last year were as follow : —Charity Fund , £ 308 ris . 6 d . ; Provincial Granil Lodge Fund , £ 369 2 S . lid . ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 1637 3 s . gd . —total £ 2314 18 s . 2 d . The income during the year with these balances amounted to the following sums

—Charity Fund , £ 472 5 s . 91 ) . ; Provincial Grand Lod ^ e Fund , £ 719 os . 2 d . ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 1962 19 s . lod . —total £ 3154 5 s . gd . The disbursements included votes of £ 200 for the Indian Famine Fund , £ 100 to the Royal Masonic Educational Benevolent Institution , and £ 105 to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . It was also stated that up to the last report the sum of £ 1829

5 s . had been paid to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . It also appeared that £ 1000 was now invested in a bond in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board , £ 773 8 s . rd . in the Savings' Bank , and £ 757 10 s . sd . in the National Bank of Liverpool . The balances at the close of the present ] financial year were—Charity Fund , £ 472 5 s . 9 d . ; Provincial Grand Lodge Fund , £ 719 os . 2 d . ;

Fund of Benevolence , £ 1962 19 s . iod—total £ 3154 51 . gd . Bro . Dr . j . K . Smith , P . P . G . Registrar , then rose , and said it would still be in the recollection of many brethren present that not many years ago the appointment of P . G . Treasurer was , along with the other officers , vested in the hands of the P . G . M ., but through the kindness of the

P . G . M ., that trust had been placed in the hands of the brethren , and he ( Bro . Dr . Smith ) felt certain that that trust would ever be exercised as it ought . ( Hear , hear . ) He had now to propose that Bro . James T . D . Callow , P . M . of Lodge 673 , and also of Lodge 1505 ( Emulation ) , should be elected to fill the office of Prov . Grand Treasurer .

( Loud applause . ) He was well-known to almost all who were present , and certainly well-known to Masons in Liverpool as a very hard-working and assiduous brother for many years . Independent of being the P . M . of two lodges , he had been Secretary of the Relief Committee for nearly five years , and as Treasurer of that fund he ( Bro . Dr . Smith ) had had many opportunities of seeing The zeal and

ability he had shown in the discharge of his duties . Bro . Callow had also been for three years Secretary of the Masonic Hall Committee , and there , as Chairman , he ( Bro . Smith ) had likewise good opportunities of seeing his excellent qualities . Bro . Callow was a hard-working anil zealous Mason , and he was sure the brethren would do themselves an honour in unanimously selecting him to fill

the position of P . G . Treasurer . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D ., seconded the motion , and said that a more hard-working Mason could hardly be found in Liverpool than Bro . Callow—one who not only did his duties well in the lodge and chapter , but one who was not afraid of the drudgery of Masonry , which too many were rather apt to shirk .

The motion was carried unanimously and by acclamation , and the P . G . M . subsequently invested Bro . J . T . Callow as the P . G . Treasurer , in room of Bro . Major G . Turner , who retired after two years' service . The newly-elected P . G . Treasurer then said—Brethren , permit me to thank you most heartily for the very high honour which you have confeired by electing me to the

office of Treasurer of this Provincial Grand Lodge . I shall endeavour to discharge its duties to the entire satisfaction of every brother , and trust that when my successor shall be appointed I may retire with the good wishes of this Provincial Grand Lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) The P . G . M . next proceeded to invest the following brethren as his Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year : — W . J . A . Baldwin ( Dalton-in-Furness ) Prov . G . S . W .

H . R . Robertson ( Liverpool ) Prov . G . J . W . Rev . J . Rees Jenkins , 216 Prov . G . Chap . Ralph Robinson , 1502 Prov . G . Reg . F . W . Serjeant , 203 Prov . G . S . D . W . Archer , 1086 Prov . G . J . D . J . E . Jackson , 667 Prov . G . S . of W . J . Wells , 580 Prov . G . D . C J . Wainwright , 613 Prov . G . A . D . C .

E C . Cooper , 484 Prov . G . S . B . J . Skeaf , 216 ( re-appointed ) Prov . G . O . E . Simpson , 281 Prov . G . Purs . Joseph Bell , 1609 ; Captain W . J . Newman , 786 ; R . H . Evans , 139 . 1 ; H . Williams , 1264 ; J . Hayes ; 249 ; and D . W . Finney ,

1250 Prov . G . Stewards . Bro . P . Ball was re-appointed P . G , Tyler , and Bro . W . H . Ball , P . G . Assistant Tyler . The Prov . Grand Lodge then considered a number of applications for relief from distressed brethren and relatives of deceased brethren , and the sum of £ 60 was voted in response to these applications . The P . G . Secretary ( Bro . Alpass ) then said—In making the customary annual report of the province it affords me

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

much pleasure to state that Masonry continues to make very satisfactory progress , both as regards the number of lodges and subscribing members . Since our last meeting warrants of constitution have been granted for the Wilbraham Lodge , No . 1713 , Walton ; the Urmston Lodge , No . 1730 , Urmston ; the Kirkdale Lodge , No . 1756 , Kirkdale ; and the Ashton Lodge , No . 1140 , has been removed

from Cheadle , in the province of Cheshire , to Withington , near Manchester , in this province . It is gratifying to report that the lodges generally are in good working order , and with one exception brotherly love and harmony prevail amongst them . My attention is frequently directed to the circulars of lodges ^ and the improper manner in which the names of candielates for initiation are inserted in them .

For instance , in a circular just received , two candidates are thus proposed : Mr . A . B ., Southport ; Mr . C . D ., Manchester . This surely is not a compliance with the " Book of Constitutions , " which , besides requiring the name of every candidates , also requires the addition of profession and place of abode to be sent to all members . At the last election of the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution the widow of a brother , a Past Prov . G . Officer , was elected to the benefits of the fund . There are three children of widows of Freemasons , whose mothers are desirous of obtaining their admission into the Masonic Schools in London ; but it will be very difficult to ensure their election , in cor . sequence of the few votes held in the provinctrfor these Charities . Brethren should recollect that

when a widow is left with a large family dependent upon her , something more than paying for the education of her children should be done for her . She should at least be relieved of the clothing , maintenance , and education of one child , by its being elected into the schools above referred to . According to the last report of the Boys' School which has reached me , only twenty-seven lodges in this province

possess votes for the School . And I am reminded by the consideration of this fact that it has become an annual custom for some of the Liverpool lodges to expend so large a portion of their funds on a pic-nic , that they are unable to support the Charities with the liberality we have a right to expect from them , and which , from the great number of their subscribing members , they ought to be able to

evince . All the lodges in the province have sent in their annual returns and paid the fees due from them . During the past year fifteen dispensations have been issued . At the commencement of this year the Skelmersdale Masonic Hall , Westminster-road , Liverpool , was completed . The Prince of Wales and the Walton Lodges meet there ; and the Kirkdale Lodge , when consecrated , will be held there .

The erection of this convenient building is due to the zeal of the brethren at the north end of this town , and will add to the prosperity of the lodges meeting there , anel the comfort and convenience of their members ; and it has pleased the R . W . P . G . M . to acknowledge the service thus rendered to the Order by appointing Bro . W . Archer , who has been one of the most active in the cause , P . G . J . D . for the

ensuing year . The P . G . M . said it had been his intention to make a good many remarks upon certain points , but as these had been referred to very fully in the P . G . Secretary ' s report , he would content himself with remarking that at the end of another year he hoped to see a matked improvement in the direction of larger amounts voted for the Masonic

Charities and a smaller sum expended in pic-mcs in connection with the various lodges . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought it was rather a disgrace to that province—the second largest in the kingdom—that it should be so poorly represented on the lists of the London Charities , and he hoped these few words would be taken to heart by the brethren , and that there would be a marked improvement . He trusted

that each individual brother would do something on his own behalf as far as he could . He ( Lord Skelmersdale ) did not want to bribe any one , but he desired to intimate that in future he intended to carry out the plan adopted in several other provinces , viz ., that when a brother served the office of two Stewardships in connection with the London Charities he should be entitled to wear a charity jewel .

( Hear , hear . ) On the motion of Bro . R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D ., seconded by Bro . J . R . Goepel , P . P . G D . C , the sum of 100 guineas was voted from the charity fund to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls in the name of the R . W . P . G . M ., and another sum of 100 guineas from the same fund to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution .

On [ the motion of Bro . Wylie , seconded by Bro . G . Broadbridge , . P . P . G . D . C , it was also resolved that the sum of £ 25 be voted from the Prov . Grand Lodge fund to promote the election of the daughter of the late Bro . Mott on the foundation of the Girls' Institution . Bro . Major Turner , P . P . G . Treas ., moved , and Bro . Callow , P . G . Treas ., seconded , the following resolution , which

was carried : — " That the ninth bye-law of the Provincial Grand Lodge do in future apply only to such moneys as shall be appropriated to the Funel of Benevolence , and that all other moneys belonging to Provincial Grand Lodge be deposited in some other bank , approved by the Piovincial Grand Master , to an account entitled ' The Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire . ' All payments thereout

to be made by cheque signed by the Provincial Grand Treasurer , and countersigned by the Provincial Grand Secretary . " On the motion of Bro . J . R . Jenkins , P . G . C , seconded by Bro . J . T . Callow , P . G . Treas ., a vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Major Turner for his services a » P . G . Treasurer , a compliment which he briefly acknowledged .

Bro . R . Wylie , Secretary of the Hamcr Benevolent Fund , read the fifth annual report of that institution , which stated that one case had been relieved , and the report further appealed for the continued support of the brethren . The officers and Committee of the fund were appointed , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . The Annual Court of Governors of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , Lord Skelmersdale pre-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

siding , was afterwmls held to r .-ceive and tletermine the several recommendations of the General Committee , and for the transaction of the general business of the institution . Bro . Richird Brown , P . M ., 241 , Honorary Secretary of the institution , read the minutes of the last court , and r 6 children were elected on the foundation of the institution .

Grants were mide to three for their advancement in life , and a vote was taken for the eelucation of 81 children for the ensuing year , there being now 115 chiletren receiving the beneRts of education from the funds of this charity . Bro . G . Broadbridge , P . P . G . D . C , on the motion of Bro . R . Wylie , seconded by Bro . Alpass , P . G . Secretary , was appointed joint Secretary with Bro . Brown in connection

with the institution , in consequence t > f the great increase in the work of the charity . The various officers and Committees were appointed , and the proceedings terminated . The Ctaft Loelge was then closed in due form . A banquet was served shortly after five o ' clock at Eberle's Restaurant , Eberle--treet , at which there were about 300 brethren present . Lord Skelmersdale presided during ' the

evening , supported by a large and imposing array of his P . G . L . Officers and the leading representatives of the lodges throughout the province . After proposing " Tne Queen , " Lord Skelmersdale gave " The Health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., the Princess of Wales , anil the other Members of the Royal Family . " His lordship said it was the

intention and object of the Prince of Wales to carry out the main objects and principles of Freemasonry , and his recent enthusiastic reception in Grand Loelge was an evidence t , f the appreciation in which he was held by the brethren . ( Hear hear . ) Speaking of His Royal Highness's efforts in connection with the Paris Exhibition , his lordship said he might safely say that had it not been for the great zeal

and energy shown by the Prince the Exposition would not have had half the success which it had enjoyed . His lordship , in coaclusion , spoke of the Duke of Connaught and Prince Leopold as being both enthusiastic and devotee ! Masons , The former was really a hard working brother , although he had not been much in their lodges , and H . R . H ' s . intention at the present time was one rather

towards the higher degree . ( Laughter and loud applause . ) The P . G . Chaplain ( Bro . the Rev . J . Rees Jenkins ) next gave "The Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro G . M ., and the other Officers of the Grand Lodge , ' and in doing so spoke in high terms of the position which the G . L . had taken with respect to ftie Grand Orient of France . —The toast was acknowledged by Bro . Bannister , P . G . S . B .

Bro . II . S . Allpass , P . G . Secretary , next gave " Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , R . W . D . G . M ., and R . W . P . G . M ., " a toast which was received with tremendous enthusiasm , the cheers lasting for several moments . Bro . Alpass spoke of the great amount of time and attention which his lordship devoted to his Masonic duties , and said there were many good and faithful P . G . Ms .

throughout the country , but none who took so much interest in his province as his lordship . ( Loud and prolonged applause . ) Lord Skelmersdale , in acknowledging the toast , referred to the pleasure which it had given him to be present that day , and although Masonry took up a large amount of his time , he looked upon the elay spent in connection with

that P . G . Lodge as one of th « most pleasant of the year . ( Hear , hear . ) His lordship again expressed a hope that at the end of the year there would be a great improvement in the province as to the support of the Lonelon Charities . Bro . Dr . Smith , P . P . G . R ., gave "The Right lion . Colonel Frederick Stanley , W . D . P . G . M ., and the P . G . Wardens , " which was responded to by Bro . Baldwin ,

P . G . S . W . Lord Skelmersdale stated that Bro . Colonel Stanley would have been present that day but for the fact that he had received an urgent summons to London to attend certain imperial business with the importance cf which

everyone was conversant . The P . G . M , in giving " The Provincial Grand Masters of the Adjoining Provinces , " coupled the toast with the name of Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , Past Grand Chaplain of England , and Deputy Grand Master of Suffolk , of whom he spoke in the highest terms as a man , Mason , and

minister . Bro . Martyn , in response , thanked the brethren for the hearty reception which they had given him that day as a stranger , and he felt bound to say , as an old Mason , that he had never witnessed so great and enormous a gathering of Masons as he had seen that day . ( Applause . ) It had

been to him a special source of pleasure to see the working of the lodge that day , and he would carry with him into his distant province pleasant recollections of his visit to West Lancashire . Bro . Spence , W . M . 32 , gave " The P . G . Officers , Past and Present , " which was responded to by Bro . R . Robinson ,

P . G . Reg . The P . G . Sec . proposed the toast of " The Worshipful Masters of the Lodges in the Province , " and spoke in high terms of the excellent working which prevailed in every section of this Masonic division . Bro . Spence , W . M . 32 , and Bro . Goodacre , W . M . 1730 ( Urmston ) , responded to the toast , the latter stating that

as the result of the remarks made by Lorel Skelmerselale that diy , he had pleasure in stating that his lodge had determined to vote the sum of 50 guineas to one of the London Charities . ( Louel Applause . ) Bro . R . Wylie , P . P . G . G . D ., gave " The Charities of the Province , " which was responded to by Bro . R . Brown , the

Honorary Secretary of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . Bro . Robertson , P . G . J . W ., gave " The Ladies , " which was responded to by Bro . J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C . A capital musical programme , which , in consequence of its excellence , secured numerous encores , was supplied