Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Lancashire.

time to speak . " Thus the royal sovereign Solomon would have us learn " there js a time for every purpose and for every work . " In consecrating this Mark Masons' lodge to the honour and glory of the G . O . O . T . U ., it is ever to be associated with the sacred memory of that Royal brother on whom the hopes of the brethren were set as a keystone of our Order , and the future worthy successor 0 [ his Royal father , our Royal and Grand Master . Our sincere condolence and sympathy has been expressed , offered , and accepted . Our mourning had its place .

He who was planted in our midst was plucked away so full of youth ' s bright promise , within the scent of orange flowers , and joy's bright wreath to deck the brows of bridegroom and of bride . With sorrow and disappointment we have been broken down . The time has come when we may " build up " on the shattered ruin of our pride , and " gather together the scattered stones" of our hope for mutual profit and instruction . On our initiation we immediately learn that our system is a continual course of instruction as to man ' s walk through life , that

its aim is discipline to be maintained by patient continuance in well doing , that its end is the glory of the Great Architect and O . O . T . U . By solemn obligation every Mason ought to be a better man , and the more he studies the mysteries of our Order by Jthe Divine light of the volume of the Sacred Law , the more will he endeavour to practice every moral and social virtue . Humanity and obedience are inculcated by our ritual , precepts , and constitution s , and ought to reign in every Mason ' s heart . Upon these virtues depend that perfect unanimity

which ought to adorn and mark our Order . Ah , how often are we tempted to forget , to overlook , that harmony in our zeal for this or that matter . Disappointment rancours in our breasts , submission to others may arouse discordant sentiment , when , in due time we may find that what has been ordered has been for the best , and that which we may have considered was man ' s designing , proves to be the perfect wisdom and perfect love of the G . O . O . T . U . working for the best . Mark Masonry illustrates the severe training by disappointment . Many of us assembled

here to-day have experienced the humility and disappointment of presenting the rejected stone . It is good to be humbled , but not pleasant . We may picture that careful Mason of ancient times , whom we then personated , taking the rough stone from the quarry , gradually , with sharp and cutting tool and gavel , shaping it according to the curious pattern . As it shaped under his skilful hand , admiring , when completed , comparing it with his fellow workmen's handicraft , proudly shouldering it , advancing to the gate , there to receive his first lesson in humility

by disappointment ; humbled and dejected , casting longing eyes on the well worked stone rejected and heaved over . His submissive conduct and obedience received merited reward . Can we not see the wisdom of our degree in this instruction given of the dealings of the G . O . O . T . U . with the children of men ? The world is His stoneyard in which He prepares man to be built up into a Spiritual House meet for His habitation . For by nature he is not fit for the Builder's hand . There must be the shaping , the squaring , the polishing . Under the hand of time the gavel of pain and

anguish smites ; the cold piercing chisel of sorrow , afflictions , and dissapointments shape the rough stone to the pattern of the Great Architect of the Universe . By this process man is beautified and perfected , and by the exercise of every social virtue he may become the choicest work of the Master Builder . Under the great and the severe blow of disappointment that the G . O . O . T . U . has laid upon our noble and Royal Grand Master , felt by every Mason , and throughout the nation at large , let us with all reverence and humility bow

our heads and say to Him— " Smite as Thou seest best , make every blow , and biting sculpture remove from us that which may unfit us for living stones to be built in Thy Spiritual Habitation and Temple . " In consecrating this Mark lodge , to be for ever associated with the name and memory of our late Royal brother , let us remember that he who flings his hand across the harp and snaps the string , respects not the stages of man , and each will have to present himself at the narrow wicket . How soon who can say—No impostor

can pass detection is certain . The wicket will be warded by the All-seeing Eye of the G . M . O . Trials and disappointments are the dealings of the G . M . B . to work in us those virtues of obedience , humility , and patient endurance which will pass us through the wicket . In every grade of life they must be acquired , under every circumstance of life they must be cultivated and practised . May we all , having marked well the dealings of the G . O . O . T . U . with us , be found as worthy of His great reward , and present our mark as unblemished , as he whose

sacred and Royal memory we perpetuate to-day . Committing the charge of this lodge to the rule and guidance of the Worshipful Master designate and the Founders , we all feel assured that he , and they , and their successors will always maintain that high integrity of character and principle , that purity of action , which will ever be associated with the name this lodge shall for ever bear of " Clarence . " The lodge having been duly constituted , the Prov . Grand Master delegated to Bro . J . Murray the duty of installing as the first W . M . of the

Llarence Lodge , No . 447 , Bro . James de Bels Adam , Mayor of Liverpool , and he in his turn proceeded to invest his officers as follows : Bros . G . A . Harradon , S . W . ; E . L . Lewes ,, J . W . ; R . R . Bevis , jun ., M . O . ; G . R . Marsden , S . O . ; H . Pretty , J . O . ; W . A . Cleve , R . M . ; W . Webb , S . D . ; E . Holt , J . D . ; the Rev . J . Master , Chaplain ; W . Wiggins , 1 ' reas . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . D ., Sec ; J . D . Murray , D . of C . ; J . Hodgson , I . G . ; and W . H . Ball , Tyler .

Before closing the lodge the W . M . made the gratifying announcement that H . R . H . the Prince ol Wales had consented to become an honorary member of the Clarence Lodge . This exceptional honour conferred on the lod ge was received with much enthusiasm , which was renewed when the W . M . proposed that Bro . the Earl of Lathom , P . G . M ., Prov . G . M ., and oro . Colonel Le Gendre Starkie , Dep . Prov . G . M ., also for honorary membership of the lodge ; whilst the son and heir of the Prov . G . M ., Lord Skelmersdale , was proposed for advancement and membership .

It cannot often have fallen to the lot of a Mark lodge to commence its career under such brilliant auspices , and its course will be watched with nitich sympathetic interest , whilst the striking proof given by H . R . H . the I rince ot Wales of the keen interest which he takes in Mark Masonry in '• ancashire can hardly fail to give it a considerable stimulus in the province . Afterwards at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge the following appointments were made : " 10 . J . de Bels Adam ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W .

-, J . H . Carter ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . .. A . Hall ... ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . 1 , F . Powell ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . ., R . Phillips ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . » Rev . J . M . Harris ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ., J . S . Scott ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . n J . Chadwick ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . .. J . Williams ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . " J . Hilton ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . -1 J . Betley ... ,.. ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . » W . S . Weeks ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . 11 Bristowe ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . 'I T . Milton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " J . H . Shellield ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . . 1 W . Piatt ( re-appointed ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . 'I W . Crossley ... ... ... ... Prov . G . LG . ' John Fletcher ... ... ... ... ) i- > ^ o , ' « G . A . Henser ... ... ... _ j Prov . G . Slwds .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Lancashire.

The sum of 30 guineas was voted in aid of the Masonic Charities . The Prince of Wales and others were elected honorary members of the new lodge . After business the brethren adjourned to the Bear ' s Paw , Lord-street , where a banquet of exceptional excellence was served , under the personal direction of Bro . Fletcher , whose catering and attention again elicited general approval .

At the banquet "The Health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales" was received with great cordiality , whilst " the Earl of Lathom , who presided , and Col . Le Gendre Starkie , who supported the Provincial Grand Master , on rising to speak , were received with such ovations as must have proved to them , if proof were needed , what a firm hold they have obtained of the affections of all the Mark Masons of Lancashire . The clothing for the new lodge was manufactured b y Bro . George Kenning .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Durham And Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Toward-road , Sunderland , on the 4 th inst . Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., Prov . G . M ., presided , and there was a very large attendance of the brethren from the two counties . The Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was opened in due form by thcP . G . M ., Bro . Rev . Canon Tristram , and after some formal business , the report

of the Committee of General Purposes was read by the Secretary , Bro . C . B . FORD , and was adopted . The nomination of Bro . Rev . Canon Tristram ( for re-election a « P . G . M . ) to be submitted to the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , w . is moved b y the D . P . G . M ., Bro . J . STRACIIAN , P . P . S . G . W ., seconded , and the motion was carried with great acclamaiion .

The P . G . M ., Bro . Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , D . D ., then address ^ I the Provincial Grand Lodge , and acknowledged ihe honour which die olli viand brethren had shown . He spoke of the progress in the numbers of the members reported , and of the satisfactory state of the lodges in the province . He announced that the Provincial Grand Lodge would be held next year it West Hartlepool , under the banner of the Eclectic Lodge . He ag tin

appointed Bro . R . B . Reed as his Deputy amid applause , and then appointed and invested the following officers for the ensuing year : Bro . C . D . Hill Drury ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Hans B . Holsen ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ J . D . Dodd ... ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ John Heppeli ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O .

„ William Bell ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . Dr . Swaby ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Thomas Purvis ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Henry Lamb ... ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ Charles B . Ford ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . J . H . Ryder ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ William Richardson ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ William Wcathcrhead ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ T . D . Marshall ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . ,, Jacob Barker ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Duncan Macdonald ... .., ... Prov . G . LG . )

„ J . H . Bentham ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Fred . S . Cooper ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . Appleyard ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The annual banquet was subsequentl y held at the Grand Hotel , Bridgestreet , Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., P . G . M ., presiding . The evening was spent in harmony .

During the evening an eloquent and historical address upon Masonry was delivered by Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , which was appreciated very highly by those present .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , Zetland-street , Wakefield , under the banner of the Integrity Lodge , No . no , on Wednesday , the 5 th inst ., the P . G . M ., Bro . Charles Letch Mason , presiding . The P . G . Treasurer and Registrar having made their annual reports , Bro . G . F . Carr , W . M . m , P . P . G . O ., was unanimously elected as the P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year .

The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as ( oiiows : Bro . Rev . Dr . Smyth , 374 ... ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M . „ T . W . Emblcton , 127 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ C . J . Schotts , Old York , T . I . ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, W . D . Shoebridge , 58 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ W . Flockton , 111 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . ,, J . Stenson Webb , 374 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . W . Wilkinson , 374 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, G . F . Carr , 111 .. . ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Tudor Trevor , 111 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ G . H . Parke , no .. . ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ R . Hodgson , 58 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ B . Smith , 127 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . ,, Herbert King , 14 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Dr . P . G . S . Dearden , 5 3 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ J . J . Martin , no ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ S . Jacob , 352 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . ,, George Carbert , no ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ T . Robertshaw , 58 ... ... ... Prov . G . LG . ,, W . S . Blackburn , 374 ... ... ... ) „ T . Norfolk , Old York , T . I . ... ... ( ,- > r-c , „ W . Cockcroft , 14 ... ... f Prov . G . Stwds . „ F . D . Walker , 398 .,. ... ...

Amongst the visiting brethren were Bros , Henry Smith and Henry Wilson , P . M . 59 . P . P . G . W . Worcestershire , P . G . D . England . The brethren were afterwards most hospitably entertained by the members of the Integrity Lodge , No . no , the present W . M . of which is Bro . H . G . K . Green , the popular Provincial Grand Secretary of Craft Masonry in West Yorks ,