Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

One of the largest gatherings of Freemasons which have hitherto been witnessed in connection with the Province of West Lancashire , which embraces no fewer than Si lodges , with a total brotherhood of between 4000 and 5000 , assembled on the 6 th inst ., at noon , at the National School , Chorley , where Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom ,

Deputy Grand Master of England , Right Worshiptui urana Master of West Lancashire , " commanded" his annual Provincial Grand Lodge to be held . There were altogether about 500 brethren present , and the importance and imposing character of the meeting were greatly increased by the attendance of an exceedingly large number of past and present Provincial Grand Lodge Officers . 1 he popularit y of his lordship , as the head of the strongest Masonic division the warmth of his

in England , was clearly established by reception ; and the spirit which marked the entire proceedings demonstrated the progress and unanimity which continue to distinguish the whole of the lodges within the province . The P . G . meeting was held under the banner of the Townley Parker Lodge , No . 1032 , the members of which gathered in strong force . Amongst the Principals present were Bros , the Earl of Lathom , P . G . M . ; J . P . APArthur , P M . mRfi CMavor of Bootlel -. I . Newell , P . G . S . W , ;

W . B . Ackerley , P . G . J . W . ; J . T . Callow , P . G . Treas . ; H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec ; R . H . Evans , P G . S . D . ; J . Bell , P . SI . D . ; T . Clark , P . G . S . of VV . ; H H . Whitehead , P . G . S . ; G . Sharpies , P . G . S . ; VV . Bowden , P . P . G . S . B . ; E . C . Cooper , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . L . Bowes , PP . G . I . W . ; I . C . Gilman , P . P . G . S . D . ; E . B . Harding , PPG . S . D . ; Dr . I . K . Smith ,-P . P . G . Reg . ; R .

Robinson , P . P . G . Reg . ; G . Broadbridge , P . P . G . D . C . ; S . E . lobs , P . P . G . S . B . ; VV . Vines , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Wells , P . P . G . D . C : J . Clayton , P . G . S . D ( Cheshire ); John Hayes , P . G . S . B . ; U Cook , P . P . G . J . W . ( Cumberland and Westmoreland ); R . Pearson , P . P . G . K . ; H . Williams , P . G . A . D . C ; W . C . Deeley , P . P . G . J . W . ; J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; G . D . Pochin , P . P . G . R . ; Chad

1 . VV . Ballard , P . G . P . ; VV . Leather , P . P . G . D . C . ; I . - wick , P . G . Sec . East Lancashire ; E . Simpson , P . P . G . P . ; VV . Goodacre , P . P . G . P . ( Cheshire ); J . Wainwnght , P P . G . A . D . C . ; J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C ; VV . Tyrer , P . P . G . S . of VV . ; VV . Benn , P . P . G . D . C ; VV . Newman , P . G . R ., and others . . . About 300 brethren started from Lime-street Station , manv of those nresent being the W . M . ' s and P . M . 's of

local lodges . A " special " was provided for the occasion by the London and North-VVestern Railway Company , and the arrangements , thanks to the courtesy and attention of the officials in Liverpool , were exceedingl y satisfactory . The Craft lodge was opened by Bro . Parker , as W . M . ( Lodge of Unanimity , 113 ); assisted by Bro . H . Hatch , as I . P . M . ( W . M . 220 ); Bro . Preston , as S . W . ( W . M .

178 ) ; Bro . John Whalley , as J . W . ( W . M . 249 ); Bro . VV . C . Erwin , as J . D . ( W . M . 1393 ) i and Bro . P . R . Roe , ( W . M . 343 ) . Bro . the Rt . Hon . Lord Lathom , R . VV . P . G . M ., afterwards entered , attended by a brilliant array of his P . G . Officers , and after being received in due form the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened . The PROV . G . SEC ( Bro . H . S . Alpass ) read the roll

of lodges , when it was found that all were represented with the exception of the Lodge of Triumph , No . 1061 , Lytham , which was fined in accordance with the law of the Prov . Grand Lodge . The minutes of the last annual Prov . Grand Lodge , held at Morecambe , were read by the Prov . Grand Sec , and unanimously confirmed . Bro . T . T . CALLOW , P . G . Treasurer , submitted his

annual financial statement , from which it appeared there was now at thc | credit of the Charity Fund the sum of £ 54 6 us , lod . ; the Provincial Grand Lodge Fund , £ 7 62 iSs . 3 d . ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 2144 7 s - Sd . —total £ 3453 17 s . gd . The disbursements for the year 1 S 79-S 0 were as follow : Charity Fund , £ 202 10 s . ; Provincial Grand Lodge Fund , - £ 234 7 s . Gd . Fund of Benevolence ,

£ 742 Ss . ed . —total £ 1239 5 s . 1 id . Up to 1 S 7 Q there had been paid to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution the sum of £ 2039 5 - > and £ ' ° 5 had been given during the past year . The acoounts , which were taken as read , were unanimously passed . Bro . BROADBRIDGE , P . P . G . D . C , proposed that Bro . Richard Brown , P . M . 241 , should be elected Provincial

Grand Treasurer in room of Bro . Callow , who did not desire to hold the office longer . In making the proposal , Bro . Broadbridge referred to the valuable lUasomc work which had been done by Bro . Brown , especially in connection with the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . When he took office , in 1 S 71 , as honorary Secretary , there were only seventy-one children on the foundation of the fewer than

Institution , but during the last four years no 179 children were being educated by its means , thereby greatly increasing his labour in the office . ( Hear , bear , and applause . ) Bro . CALLOW seconded the motion , remarking that he knew no brother who was better qualified to fulfil the duties of the position . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . W . J . LUNT , P . M . S 23 , supported the resolution ,

which was carried unanimously and by acclamation . 1 he honour was briefly acknowledged by Bro . BROWN , the newlyelected P . G . Treasurer . Bro . R . WYLIE moved , and Bro . J . L . BOWES seconded a vote of thanks to Bro . Callow for his services as P . G . Treas . during the last two years . The P . G . M . testified to the value of the work performed by Bro . Callow , and the motion was

carried . The compliment was acknowledged in suitable terms by the P . P . G . TREASURER . . The P . G . M . next proceeded to invest the following as his officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . losiah T . Smith , 1021 Prov . G . S . VV . „ I . S . Beaufort , 32 Prov . G . J . VV . j , Rev . C . S . Hope , 155 Prov . G . Chap .

» Richard Brown , P . M . 241 Prov . G . I reas . j , John Houlding , P . M . S 23 Prov . G . Reg . „ James Piatt , 613 Prov . G . S . D . „ A . II . H . Whitehead , 113 Prov . G . J . D . 1 , H . Longman , 1051 Prov . G . S . of VV . >> VV . Harrison , S 97 Prov . G . D . C

» VV . Longmire , 1561 Prov . G . A . D . C . > i Henry Gardner , 703 Prov . G . S . B . » J . Skeaf , 216 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . O . » J . W . Burgess , 1325 ... ... Prov . G . P . Bros . J . Preston , 178 ; T . Salter , 241 ;" V W . Brackenbury , 673 ; VV . f r . „ r- ci ..., i < . Bath , 1021 ; A . C . VVylie . f Prov ' - Stwds > 1264 ; andT . Forrester , 730 J

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

Bro . P . Ball ( re-appointed ) Prov . G . Tyler . „ VV . H . Ball ... ... Prov . G . A . Tyler . The sum of £ 105 was voted in aid of distressed brethren and widows of deceaseel Freemasons . During the meeting the following brethren were invested with Charity jewels by the Earl of ' Lathom for having served the office of Steward to the Masonic Benevolent Institutions in London : Bros . H . A . Tobias , R . Wylie , T . Salter , 1 . Houlding ,

Deeley , H . F . Wright , J . VV . Ballard , J . W . Burgess , Piatt , and H . S . Alpass . Bros . Goepel , Wells , and Prescott were also entitled to the jewels , but as they had not been sent from headquarters the investiture of these brethren was postponed till next meeting . The P . G . SEC , in the courseof his annual statement , said he had much pleasure in reporting to the P . G . Lodge that the R . VV . P . G . M . presided at the festival of the Boys '

School in London in July last , and the Province of West Lancashire then contributed the sum of £ 2664 iSs . Fifty brethren served as Stewards on that occasion , but as there were eighty-one lodges in the province , he ( Bro . Alpass ) thought the number of Stewards might have been greater . All honour , however , was due to those who supported the P . G . M ., and represented the province on that occasion . The proceedings of two lodges in the province had been

under investigation , in one case by the Board of General Purposes , and the other by P . G . M . In each case the error would have been avoided had the " Book of Constitutions " received that frequent and careful perusal which was recommended to-the W . M . on his installation . He begged to remind the brethren that the Grand Lodge did not permit the appellation o £ "Honorary Secretary" to be used in Freemasonry . Only the word "Secretary" must be used to

designate the office . His warmest thanks were due to the lodges and brethren for sending him the votes for the April and October elections . Assistance thus given at the former secured the election of two widows on the funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Again , at the election next April , they already knew of two candidates

deserving of their support . Bro . F . BINCKES , Secretary of the Boys' School , London , cordially thanked the Earl of Lathom for taking the chair at the last festival , anel spoke in the highest terms of the unparalleled generosity of the brethren in that province in contributing so munificently to the lists sent in on that

. On the motion of Bro . II . WYLIE , seconded by Bro . COOPER , it was unanimously resolved to vote 100 guineas to the Masonic Institution for Aged Freemasons . Bro . WYLIE also proposed that 100 guineas shoultl be voted for the West Lancashire Masonic Education Institution in the name of the P . G . M . This was seconded by Bro . GOEPEL , and unanimously agreed to .

The business connected with the I lamer Benevolent Fund , which was of a routine character , was afterwards transacted . A Court of Governors of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution was subsequently held . From the report submitted by the honorary Secretaries ( Bros . R . Brown and G . Broadbridge ) it appeared that during no previous year had the donations and subscriptions from

lodges and brethren reached so large an amount ; and , on the other hand , in no former year had the amount paid for education , & c , been so large as in 1 S 79 . By the new byelaws the children woulel be placed upon the foundation at the age of six instead of eight , and might remain till fifteen instead of fourteen as at present . Several other advantages were secured to the children , which would no doubt necessitate increased expenditure in the future . The brethren

were therefore earnestly entreated not to relax their efforts on behalf of the Charity . Amongst the items of business , the resignation of Bro . R . Wilson as Treasurer of the Institution was announced , and , after a vote of thanks had been given to him for his services , it was resolved to appoint his successor at a future meeting of the Court of Governors . A large number of brethren dined in the evening at the Town Hall , Chorley .

Provincial Grand Lodge F Norfolk.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE F NORFOLK .

At 12 . 30 on the 7 th inst ., by command of the R . W . P . G . M ., the Craft Masons of this province met in Grand Lodge at the rooms in St . Giles ' s , but somehow there was not such a large gathering of the mystic brethren as might have been expected to support his lordship . The following

were the officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge present : Bros . Lord Suffield , P . G . M . ; Major J . Pcnrice , D . P . G . M . ; G . VV . Brittain , P . G . O . ; C . M . Montgomerie , J . W . ; C . Cubitt , Reg . ; IT . G . Barwell , Sec . ; L . Spence , S . of VV . ; T . Islcy , D . of C . j J . Stanley , A . D . of C . ; A . Berry , G . S . B . ; Dr . Gladstone , Org . ; VV . Provart , Purs . ; R . Gunn , T . ; VV . W . Lake , H . A . VV . Reeves , and Dr . Drury ,

Stwds . ; G . Brittain , P . P . G . O . ; F . Baillie Ouinton , P . P . A . G . D . C ; E . Orams , P . P . G . J . W . ; C . F . Browne , P . G . P . ; J . Dunsford , P . P . G . P . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , D . P . G . M . Suffolk ; and the following members of the local lodges Bros . F . A . Crisp , S . W ., G . Harper , T ., and C . H . Drury , 85 ; II . J . Martin , G . VV . Barnard , T . VV . Muskett , E . Baldwin , H . C . Riches , and ] . C . Chittock , 71 ; Col . Boileau

Col . Bignold , P . M ., P . G . R ., P . G . H ., J . P . Pitt , F . G . Gladstone , Mus . Doc , A . H . Sanly , Courtney Boyle , Sir Francis G . M . Boileau , Rev . C . R . Ferguson Davie , and Hanion Le Strange , 52 ; Geo . T . Plumbley , W . M . 1 S 0 S ; Edward Pugh , James Lovelace , and George Sharley , 1 S 0 S ; David R . Fowler , John Ethcridge , Charles J . Bullen , and E . I . Bonfellow , 100 ; John VV . Browne , GeorgeThirkettle

Arthur Berry , James J . Hunt , S . N . Berry , G . Green , T . Winks , VV . H . Provart , G . J . Berry , and A . Barnes , S 07 ; J . Weyer , Thomas Lord , VVilliam Amies , A . Bullard , D . Mannings , T . II . II . Cooper , G . B . Jay , Thomas J . Mackley , M . J . Bailey , B . S . Breese , Cheyne , S . J . Carman ( 2 ) , Robert IT . Gissing , VV . Snelling , James J . Hoskcn , and R . VV . McKelvie , 1500 ; John VV . Smith , W . M . 1114 ; R . G . Riches , P . M . 1114 ; VV . G . Sherrington , n 14 ; Jas .

Parker , W . M . 1193 ; William hlhot , Thomas J . Colman , and C . E . Cowell ; ] . C . Firman , P . M . ; Sydney A . Selwyn , 102 ; J . B . Bridgman , W . M . 93 ; Hugh Fox , J . nloore , VV . Holloway , J . H . Brockbank , VVilliam Waters , W . H . Smith , Robert Henry Fox , George Jewson , J . W ., G . J . G . Robertson , H . A . Pepper , and James B . Coleby , 93 5 W . J . Butler , R . J . Silburn , A . E . LeGood , James E . H . Watson , H . Blake , George Kersey , T . C . R . King , 0 . D . Ray , P . Soman , and Cabbcll , 213 ; G . S . Wood-

Provincial Grand Lodge F Norfolk.

wark and VV . IT . Ffolkes , 107 ; Joshua Morse and Wm . Murrell , Tylers . Prov . Grand Lodge having been opened by the P . G . M . in solemn and ancient form , " the P . G . Secretary called over the roll of the P . G . brethren and of the lodges in the province , and it appeared that all the lodges were represented except Sondes . The minutes of the previous Prov . Grand Lodge having

been read and confirmed , the P . G . M . said a few words on the progress of Masonry in Norfolk , cheering the brethren with the information that all was satisfactory , but that he should like to see the great Charities better understood in the province . His lordship also paid a slight tribute to the memory of the late Col . H . P . L'Estrange , and then appointed in his office , as G . Treasurer , Bro . Hamon Le Strange . The Treasurer ' s statement was passed

unanimously . The reports of the Finance and Charities Committees having been received , £ 50 was voted to the Girls ' Institution . The P . G . M . then invested the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . Major Penrice ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . D . G . M . „ Sir F . G . M . Boileau , Bart . ... Prov . G . S . W .

„ Sir VV . H . Ffolkes , Bart ., M . P . ... Prov . G . J . VV . „ Rev . Ferguson Davie Prov . G . Chap . „ Hamon Le Strange Prov . G . Treas . „ F . B . St . Ouinton Prov . G . Reg . „ II . G . Barwell ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec ^ „ John Moore Prov . G . S . D . „ D . R . Fowler Prov . G . T . D .

„ S . N . Berry Prov . G . S . of W . „ T . Isley p rov . G . D . C . „ J . E . H . Watson Prov . G . A . D . C . „ D . Mannings Prov . G . S . B . „ Dr . Gladstone Prov . G . Org . „ James Parker p . G . Purs .

Bros . H . 1 . Martin , George Jewson , " ) Captain Blake , J . VVeyer , A . {¦ Prov . G . Stwds . Le Good , and J . Etheridge J Bro . R . Gunn ( re-appointed ) Prov . G . Tyler . It having been resolved to print a second calendar for the province , with a general hope that it would he better patronised than the last , the lodge was closed in solemn form .

In the afternoon a choral service was held at the Cathedral and there was a goodly congregation , the noble pile when the brethren assembled presenting a truly grand appearance , and such as was worth y the occasion of a special worship of T . G . A . O . T . U . The brethren robed in the schoolroom half an hour before the service commenced , and marched in accordance with their respective Degrees in solemn procession . Most of the officers and brethren

who took part in the preliminary proceedings of the day were present , and the sight in the cathedral was most imposing ; the insignia sacred to the Order and worn by each member , contributing altogether to a grand tout ensemble . The lessons were read b y the Rev . Canon Nesbit , and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis ( Smart in F ) were well rendered , although we missed several well-known voices . The anthem was "God who commanded the light "

( Hopkins ) , with bass solo by Mr . Brockbank , choral response , chorus , and quartet ; and the hymn before sermon "O Lord how joyful 'tis to see" ( Ch . hymns , 453 ) was sung to the "Old Hundredth , " so that the congregation had an opportunity of participating in the harmony . The sermon was preached by the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C of England and D . P . G . M . of Suffolk , who selected as his text Luke viii . 17-18 : " For nothing is secret , that

shall not be manifest ; neither any thing hid that shall be not be made known and come abroad . Take heed therefore how ye hear . " The preacher observed that many might think this was an extraordinary text for a Masonic sermon , and perhaps at first sight it was . Freemasonry had always been considered to be a secret society , and a society , moreover , whose secrets that in all nations had been implicitly kept since it had existed , and his obiect was to show how

great and good and noble a thing Freemasonry was if properly and truly learned and carried out . The offertory he said would be devoted to the restoration fund of that glorious Cathedral in which at the hands of the priestbishop he had the honour twenty years ago of being ordained priest and deacon , and one of the objects of his ambition had been fulfilled that day , namely , to officiate in it . It was a question earnestly and sincerely asked bv some .

and sncenngly by others who sought perhaps to bring the craft into discredit— " What is Freemasonry ? what are its objects ? what good effect can be effected by all the mysteries with which it is connected ? " He would reply that the general principles upon which Freemasonry was founded were brotherly love , relief , and truth , and its objects were to render its members better servants of God , better members of society , and generally better men . He

showed how Freemasonry behoved the members to speak well of a brother as well absent as present , and if that could not be done with honour and propriety , to adopt that excellent and truly Masonic virtue , silence . Freemasonry too taught loyalty to the throne , and to follow out the golden rule of Christianity— " Do unto others as you would others do unto you . " It might be asked , " Does not Christianity teach you to do all this and much

more ? " and he would reply , " Most certainly , " but he maintained that anything that could be provided in the shape of help to live up to their obligations was commendable , and knowing that Freemasonry was such a help made him a devoted lover of it , not that by any means he would raise it into a religion , but he looked upon it as an excellent helpmate to religion , and moral and religious practices , and that was why he loved Freemasonry so much . They must

legislate for people as they were , and not as they ought to be ; for if people were as they ought to be no legislation would beneeded at all . Persons of all religious and political opinions might he showed meet on one neutral ground in Freemasonry . Atheists only were excluded , because they had no religion at all . Some people objected to their clothing and jewels , and said they were vain and foolish , but he pointed to the fact that other bodies ( army , navy , law

cicrgy , , ana uipiomatic service ) had their special distinctions , so that Freemasonry was not singular in this respect , and , therefore , no fault on this ground ought to be found with it . Then their dinners and banquets were by some objected to , but it must be remembered that such gatherings were proverbially characteristic of Englishmen , but in Freemasonry members were counselled and encouraged to guard against intemperance and excess in most measured terms . Speaking of the beneficial work effected by Freemasonry , the ' reverend brother pointed