Provincial Grand Chapter Of Essex.

In the course of the evening the usual toasts were duly honoured . In proposing that cf " The Grand Superintendent , " Comp . Canon Q UENNELL said they as Royal Arch Masons were very glad that Judge Philbrick when resigning the pest of D . P . G . M . of the Craft had not found it necessary to give up his position as Grand Superintendent . ( Applause . ) He assured his Honour that they valued very highly the work he had done as a Mason , and trusted that he would continue to preside over them for a long time to come .

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT was heartily received on rising to respond . He said he had carefully considered whether he ought to give up the position he held amongst them , but had come to the conclusion that the position of things was different in the Royal Arch , and till he felt that his retention pf the position of Grand Superintendent was disadvantageous to the interests cf the Order , they might count on his best services . ( Applause . )

Provincial Grand Mare Lodge Of Devonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARE LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE .

The above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Plymouth on Wednesday , the 5 th inst . In the absence of Bro . the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , C . B ., M . P ., Bro . G . S . Strode , D . P . G . M ., presided . Bro . Sholto Hare forwarded a cheque for io guineas to enable the Provincial Grand Lodge to become a Vice-Patron of the Devon Aged Widows' Fund . The PROV . G . SECRETARY reported that during the year 43 new members had been admitted , and the number of subscribing members in the province

was 495 . The PROV . G . TREASURER reported a balance in hand of £ 27 9 s . 3 d . On the recommendation of the Committee of General Purposes , 15 guineas were voted to the Mark Benevolent Fund , five guineas to the Fortescue Fund , and five guineas to the Devon Aged Widows' Fund . The 15 guineas is to be placed on Bro . F . B . Westlake ' s list as Steward . Bro . J . R . Pastfield was elected Prov . G . Treasurer , and Bros . T . H . Seymour and Andrew Hope , Auditors .

The following were appointed on the Committee of General Purposes : Bros . J . Lane , P . S . G . O . England ; F . B . Westlake , P . J . G . D . England ; J . Cover , P . P . J . G . W . ; and F . Crouch , P . J . G . D . England . It was unanimously resolved , on the motion of the D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . LANE , that Bro . Sir Stafford Northcote , M . P ., be again recommended for appointment as Prov . Grand Master . The officers were invested as follows :

Bro . Rev . R . Peek , P . G . Chap . Eng . ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ F . J . W . Curtis , 64 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ J . Brooks , 50 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . ,, T . J . Grossman , 319 ... ... ,., Prov . S . G . O . ,, Chas . Hunt , 91 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . ,, Rev . E . C . Atherton , 3 *; ... ... Prov . G . Chap .

„ J . R . Pastfield , 15 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, R . Hambly , 21 5 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ H . Stocker , 15 , P . G . D . Eng . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . ,, Munday , 187 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ H . Skinner , 2 * ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ T . G . Taylor , 383 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ J . Gould , 15 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Oswald Reade , 16 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ J Pittuck , 69 ] Prov . G . S . Bs . ,, W . J . Baston , 48 ... ... ... ) ,, F . ] . W . Crowe , 319 ,., ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ C . B . Gale , 76 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . ,, Chas . Small , 91 .,, ,,. ,,. Prov . G . I . G .

„ I . yampton , 35 | Prov . G . Stwds . ,, v . Henwood , 100 ... ... ... ,, J . Gidley , 1 C 9 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . It was unanimously resolved that Bro . F . B . Westlake , P . P . J . G . W ., having been nominated by tho Province of Devonshire for election on the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , be appointed the representative of tli 2 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge . A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Plymouth brethren for the excellent reception of the Prov . Grand Lodge .

Masonic Festival At Southport.

MASONIC FESTIVAL AT SOUTHPORT .

THE ALPASS BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . The caie and education of children are the primary objects of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution ; generous help to aged Freemasons is the basis of the Hamer Fund j and thoughtful consideration for the necessities of the widows of deceased members of the Order is the object of the Alpass Institution , which bears a name universally honoured in the Province of West

Lancashire . Generous support is given to each of these charitable and educational schnnts by the brethren in West Lancashire , individually and collectively , and in aid cf the " Alpass " section of the schemes another of a series of successful festivals was held on the 6 th instant , at Southport , where there was a gathering of more than 150 ladies and brethren who have the " poor widows' " interests at heart .

The festival took place at the Prince of Wales Hotel , the post of President being held by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool ( Hro . Alderman John Moulding , P . P . G . W ., G . D . Eng . ) , who was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress ( Mrs . W . Moulding ) . Aii" . ngsl other ladies and brethren present were the Mayor of Bootle ( Bro .

Dr . M . Murray . P . G . D . ) and Mrs . McMarray j Bros . R . Wylie , P . G . D ., Deputy P G M . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec . ; W . E . Tomlinson , M . P ., P . G . D . ; G . Harradon , P . P . G . I ' ., Hon . Treasurer of the Institution ; J . A . Brown , 231 ( 1 , Hun S < crelnry uf the Festival ; | . D . Murray , P . G . Treas . ; P . Armstrong , P . P . GlY M . Alexander , P . P . G . D . ; Dr . Crawford , P . P . G . T . j W . Bowden , P . P . G . R . ; h . Cross , P . P . G . D . ; G . Duxford , P . l' . G . R . ; T . Salter , P . P . G . D . ; A , King , P . P .

Masonic Festival At Southport.

G . R . ; j . Milne , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . Platt , P . P . G . D ., Hon . Treasurer of the Festival ; W . Platt , P . P . G . Treas . ; I . Tarbuck , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; C . A . Trevitt , P . P . G . D . ; and C . Watson , P . G . Treas . In the course of the pleasant proceedings , music of an enjoyable character was furnished by Madame Marie Meunier , Bro . G . Platt , Bro . T . Shaw , and Madame Theresa Burnett ( accompanist ) . The President for the evening proposed the usual toasts . Bro . TOMLINSON submitted " The Health of Lord Lathom , the President of the Institution . "

Bro . J . D . MURRAY responded . Bro . WYLIE , D . P . G . M ., in proposing "The Health of the President of the Festival , " referred to the earnestness with which the Lord Mayor had entered into the carrying out of the arrangements in connection with the Festival , adding that it was largely due to his influence and interest that success had been secured .

The LORD MAYOR , in responding , gave interesting details with respect to the inception and progress of the West Lancashire Masonic Charitable Institutions , and expressed a hope that the " Alpass " would be able to continue the good work for which it had been established . Charity was the essential principle of Masonry , and they were only illustrating that fact in the fullest sense when they gave liberal support to the Charity in whose interests they had gathered that day .

The LADY MAYORESS , in a brief , pointed , and graceful speech , also acknowledged the compliment . Bro . GOODACRE , in proposing " The West Lancashire Alpass Benevolent Institution , " said it had been established some 14 or 15 years ago as a monument to the memory of his immediate predecessor as P . G . Sec . ( Bro . H . S . Alpass ) ,

and the importance of the scheme was shown by the fact that at present they had on the foundation no fewer than 63 annuitants , whose grants involved an annual expenditure of about . £ 1000 . The yearly income from subscriptions only realised about / 250 , and hence the necessity for the festival which was taking place that day .

In reply to the toast the Hon . Secretary ( Bro . J . A . BROWN ) , after referring to the most valuable s ervices rendered by the Lord Mayor , the ladies , and many brethren , announced that the subscription list up to date totalled , £ 850 , the announcement being received with loud applause , Bro , HARRADON , Hon . Treas . of the Charity , also responded ; and "The Ladies , " submitted by Bro . PLATT , responded to by the MAYOR of Bootle , was another toast which was duly honoured .

Halifax Freemasons' Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

HALIFAX FREEMASONS' DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS .

A special meeting of the St . James's Lodge , No . 441 , Halifax , was held in the Masonic Hall , on the 5 th inst ., when the brethren assembled to celebra ' e the 60 th anniversary of the formation of the lodge . A large number of brethren from the sister Lodge of Probity and other lodges in the town and district and severa ' Provincial Grand Oflicers were also present to pay honour to the occasion . After a substantial repast , a small toast list was gone through .

" The Queen " was proposed by Bro . A . E . SPENCER , W . M ., whilst " His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " was given in due form , as was that also of "The Right Hon , W . L . Jackson , Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire . " Bro . KAYE , P . Prov . G . D ., responded on behalf of "The Provincial Grand

Lodge . " Bro . W . G . MONK submitted the toast of "The Newly-Initiated Candidate , Bro . Dr . Finlayson , " and of " Bro . Edward Lord , " who had been raised , in very eulogistic terms . The two BREIHREN responded in a few well-chosen words .

"The Visitors" was given by Bro . SPENCER , W . M ., and responded toby the REPRESENTATIVES from the different lodges present . In proposing the toast of " St . James ' s Lodge , " Bro . R . M . KERR , P . M . 1000 , remarked that it was , indeed , the toast of the evening , It gave him very much pleasure in submitting it . In his opinion it was a grand thing that two such important lodges as the St . James and the Probity should be able to dwell together with such amity in the same building . He hoped that that good fellowship would continue .

Bro . C . T . RHODES , P . Prov . G . D ., responding , agreed with Bro . Kerr , that it was the toast of the evening . He supposed that as the oldest Past Master present he had been selected to tell their friends a little about what he knew ol the doings of the lodge during its existence . He thought he could not do better than give them a resume of what appeared in the Freemason of 18 95 . The history of the lodge had been prepared by Bro . Austin Roberts , P . P . A . G . D . C .

West Yorkshire . What he gave them was an amplification of the account the author had given of their origin and progress at the Jubilee Commemoration Festival on the 23 rd October , 188 S , in the presence of a large and influential gathering of members and visitors , prominent among whom was the late respected Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire . It was a notable occasion in the annals of the lodge , which , like most other lodges , had experienced its

vicissitudes of fortune during the 50 years of its existence , but , which at all events , during the latter part of that period , had been uniformly strong in numbers , and exemplary in the discharge of its appointed duties . The petition for a charter of constitution for the proposed lodge bore date 24 th December , 1837 , and was transmitted by the then Deputy Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , Bro . C . Lee , but it was not until the 27 th August of the next year that Bro . Lee was in

a position to announce to the W . M . designate and his brother-founders that the charter had been received . More delay followed , but finally on August 27 th the long-looked for warrant was in the possession of the D . P . G . M . The lodge was consecrated the 29 th October , that is to say , 10 months after the petition was sent , and more than seven months subsequent to the actual date of the warrant . The ceremony was performed by the D . P . G . M . in the presence of 50 brethren ,

of whom 14 were members , the style and title being the Royal Ancient St . James's Lodge , No . 656 . The place of meeting was a private room in Thornton . There , after a few years , the lodge suffered from a paucity of members , and at length it became manifest , that unless something was done , it would pass out of existence altogether . It was therefore resolved to move the lodge to Halifax , and on the 6 th July , 1856 , the members held their first meeting in the town . The change

proved so beneficial that in the first six months a large number of names was placed on the roll . In i 860 it joined with the Lodge of Probity—now No . Clin entertaining Prov . G . Lodge , while the year following it obtained the sanction of the authorities to change its name to St . James ' s . A few years later it became a question , not as at Thornton , as to how , considering the paucity of its members , it should continue to meet and fulfil its duties , but where , in consequence of i '

increased numerical strength , it could find premises large enough to accommodate the lodge . It was ultimately decided to purchase a site and erect on it a building of their own . The Lodge of Probity expressed a wish to join in the erection ot the premises , and arrangements having been agreed upon between the two bodies the lirst stone was laid by Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Hire ., M . P ., P . Prov . G . W-, ( and a member of the two lodges ) , and on the 26 th August ot the following year the