Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

Institution 15 years ago had an annual income of ^ 49 ° < an ( * P ><* out t 0 distressed brethren £ 45 for the year . Last year ' s income was £ i 374 i and o \ distressed brethren received in grants and annuities ^ 408 , whilst the aoital account stood at ; £ 6 Soo . The Alpass Institution , which was formed F 18 S 5 . had last year an income of £ 3250 , and paid in grants and annuities and invested tunas in /

to 70 widows ; £ ii 20 , naa or £ 5900 . ioy , me Victoria Fund of Benevolence was founded for the assistance of those near and dear to deceased brethren , and who were not eligible to receive bene'its from previously existing funds . From this fund grants amounting to £ 100 had been made to 13 daughters of Freemasons . An instance of the breadth nf platform on which Freemasonry was based was afforded by the very ° erous response made to an appeal for help to build a church at Skelmersdale , and which had been of great assistance to a district which had

had a somewhat bitter experience . The P ROV . G . M . thought they could all congratulate themselves most heartily on the report , and that everything was so flourishing at the hprrinnine of the new century . He would thank them once again for the

testimonial of the work of his late lather which they had given him ; ana , in addition , he had to thank them all for the hearty support , amounting to / - „ . towards the building of a new church at Skelmersdale . When the time came he hoped they would assemble to see the foundation stone laid . He trusted that as the years went by their happiness , their prosperity , and their strength might increase , always remembering that strength did not

consist in numbers , but in loyalty to the Craft . Bro . J . J . LAMBERT paid a high compliment to Bro . I homas Edwards for his able discharge of the duties of Prov . Grand Treasurer during the oast vear , and proposed as his successor Bro . A . Pickford , Architect Lodge ,

No . 1375 , Chorlton-cum-Hardy . ... Bro . THOMAS EDWARDS seconded the nomination , which was supported by Bro . ' J . Slyman , P . P . G . D ,, and unanimously agreed to . Bro . L AMBERT next proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Bro . Thomas

Edwards , and it was heartily accorded . On the motion of Bro . R . WYLIE , seconded by Bro . J HOULDING , Bros . I . J . Lambert , P . G . D . ; J . Piatt , P . P . G . D . ; T . Callow , P . P . G . T . ; G . A . Harradon , P . P . G . T . ; and Thos . Edwards , P . P . G . T ., were elected

Bro . J H OULDING moved that the allowance to the Prov . G . Secretary be increased by ; £ 6 o per annum to enable him to provide assistance in the clerical work of his office . Bro . LAMBERT seconded , and Bro . WYLIE supported the motion , which

was carried unanimously . On the proposition of the D . P . G . M ., the sum of £ 100 was voted to the funds of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association , and 150 guineas to be divided equally between the Alpass , the Hamer , and the Educational Institutions . At this point a collection amounting to £ 26 was taken , and was devoted to the funds of the Leigh Nursing Institution . The Prov . Grand Master then invested the officers as follows :

Bro . R . K . Fenton , 1314 •¦• — Prov . S . G . W . „ W . Pierpoint , 148 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . " 1- h Pree " ' - - -1 Prov . G . Chaps . „ T . Stoney Bates , 1032 ... ... ... j „ A . Pickford , 1375 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . H . J . Jenkins , 1050 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ., W . W . lones , 786 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . Reg .

„ VV . Goodacre ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov G . Sec . „ Thomas Baxter , 1561 ... ... ... ~ ) „ A . J . Cunliffe , 1032 ... ... ... f Prov . S . G . Ds . „ Edward Wilson , 1061 ... ... ...J „ G . R . Johnson , 216 ... ... ...~ i „ H . D . M'Laughlin , 2514 ... ... ^ Prov . J . G . Ds . „ John Clayton , 2714 ... ... ... J „ Robert Green , 270 S ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ T . Bush , 2270 ... ... ... l ' rov . U . U . U . „ H . Bouchier , 1335 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ E . Bradshaw , 613 ... ... ...~ ) „ J . Plumpton , 1570 ... ... ... t Prov . A . G . D . Cs . „ W . M . Bailey , 2 324 ... ... ... J „ J . Matthews , 1384 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . .. I . T . Rradlev . 2671 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . S . B .

„ J . Hargreaves , 1398 1 Prov . G . Std . Brs . ; , 1 homas Bell , 121 3 ... ... ... ) „ J . Birchall , 897 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ R . Knowles , 178 ... ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Sec . „ John Bell , 2 525 ... ... ... Prov . G . Pursl . ,, jas . Iddon , 2376 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . 11 Edmund Tavlor , 2 _ U 0 ... ... ... '

n J . A . Muir , 2042 " p" S ! " T 7 T ' - * " " !¦ Prov . G . Stwds . n R . Shacklady , 2 49 ... ... ... | ti W . H . C . Trense , 594 ... 11 J . Dickenson , 1 354 ... ... ... J 11 W . J . Doran ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . the Mayor of LEIGH subsequently , on behalf of the Leigh Nursing

Institution , thanked the Prov . G . Master for the handsome collection , which , he said , would come as a very happy and very welcome surprise . This concluded the business .

So Very Human.

SO VERY HUMAN .

There are some transforming processes in nature and art which are wonderfull y rapid and radical . By the skilful employment of certain chemical agents the dyer gives his fabrics the richest and most varied colours , and after these colours have been fixed , he can as readily change red to black , or yellow to green . True , he has been styled the "devil's agent , " and some of his dyes " food for the devil , " for in Queen Elizabeth's reign an Act of Parliament prohibited the use of indigo as a " pernicious ,

ueceitful , eating , and corrosive dye . " His art , indeed , shows how white roay be made black , if not black white . So in the Church of God it is claimed that conversion and participation in certain ordinances work a Material change in the spiritual character of a man . Now Freemasonry is neither a d yer of men ' s characters , nor has it any theological power to

So Very Human.

cleanse from sin . Masters of lodges are no necromancers , nor masters of the " black art , " nor divinely commissioned agents . They are only men , and although educated , more or less , as Masons and Masters , after ail they are—so very human . Besides , every rough ashlar placed in their hands for shaping is at least as human as themselves . Freemasonry is a human institution . It claims no origin higher than that of King Solomon—which is high

enough . But someappear to fancy that it is not only a mystic , but a magic , society ; that everyone who is made a Mason is at once transformed by it intowe will not say an angel of light , but a pure-hearted right-minded , and selfsacrificing brother . They forget the material whereof we are made . In the language of Coleridge : " As there is much beast , and some devil in man , so is there some angel and some God in him . The beast and the

devil may be conquered , but in this life never wholly destroyed . " Certainly Masonry cannot destroy them . It is not a reformatory institution . It is merely an aggregation of men who claim to have a moral likeness and kindred aspirations . If a mistake is made in the admission of improper , material , no power that Masonry possesses can radically change its character . Masonry ' s power consists

primarily in refecting , subsequenlly in expelling , but never in renovating . The black-ball is the only omnipotent weapon possessed by every individual Craftsman , and even its use has been so modified by modern Masonic legislation , by increasing , in some jurisdictions , the number of black-balls necessary for rejection , or by multiplying , in others , the opportunities for the rejected to present a new petition , that even its power is sometimes materially abridged .

No one in the Craft needs to be told that Freemasons are not perfect men ; but then they are not , or should not be , very imperfect . Although they are human , like other men , it is fair to presume that the large majority of them were actuated [ by proper motives in seeking affiliation with the Fraternity , and that the lessons of initiation have not been taught them in vain . Certainly no trite Freemason will ever be guilty of the heartless

calumny of making defamatory accusations against a brother . He who has only the wet blanket of uncharitable words to throw around a brother Mason ; he who traduces and maligns him not only does a gross injustice to himself , and places a stain on the escutcheon of Freemasonry , but he restrains the zeal , chills the affection , and , it may be , effectually banishes from the Craft one who , it may be , is in every way his superior in moral worth , in mental

ability , and in general Masonic usefulness . The brother who is honest , earnest , and ambitious , although his zeal may at times outrun discretion , and his enthusiasm lead him to exceed propriety , should never be treated as a serious transgressor . There are not so many who at once have Alasonry at heart , and habitually uphold it with their ¦ voice and

hands , that their number can be presumptuously and carelessly lessened . The baseless is always graceless . No brother should be driven out , or kept out , of the Temple of Masonry by the lash of a misjudged evil report . Masonry is nothing if not charitable , and the place for charity is first in ivords , and afterwards in deeds . We wish none to come to us , as Wolsey did to his friends , saying :

" An old man , broken with the storms of state , Is come to lay his weary bones among ye ; Give him a little earth for charity ! " O ! that is the most empty , painful charity of all ! One kind word in life is worth a volume of mortuary eulogy . One gentle act to a brother when he is misrepresented is worth a whole graveyard of earth when he is food for worms .

Dickens introduces his " uncommercial traveller " by saying he " travels for the great house of Human Interest Brothers . " freemasons should represent not only his house , but also that other and greater house , " Masonic Interest Brothers . " Every brother encircled by the mystic tie

is a member of this firm and entitled to the kindliest consideration . But then we all are—so very human . Too true . Vet we may remember , and remembering practise , the admonition in those touching lines of Bro . Robert Burns—who himself , no doubt , was deeply conscious of the need of the charity he invoked for others :

" Then gently scan your Brother man , Still gentler , sitter woman ; Though they may go a kennin' wrang , To step aside is human . " —Keystone ( Philadelphia ) .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was hel 1 oi Wednes ; day evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . J . H . Matthews , President of the Bo rd , was i 1 the chair . Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . Henry Garrod , Junior Vice-President , weri in the r respective seats . Bros . VV . Lake , Asst . G . Sec , VV . Dodd , and G . S . Recknell , represented the Grand Secret 3 ry ' s department , and there were also

present—Bros . Ii . VV . Nightingale , W . Fisher , Charles J . R . Tijou , P . W . Hancock , Tames Block , R . \ V . Ker , Thomas Jones , S . J . Noble , W . Kipps , W . M . Bywater S H . Goldschmidt , G . M . E . Hamilton , J . S . Pointon , John Ellinger , j . M . McLeod ' P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; E . W . Pillinger , Charles Henry Stone , C . H . Webb , Faull 619 Alfred Collins

Lorenzo , W . M . ; , Arthur Thompson , William H . Stocks , Alfred H . Trewinnard , Richard Poore , J . W . Burgess , A G D C H ° Massey , T . T . Dibley , W . D . Child , Arthur S . B . Sparling , Frank Evans , A w ' . Moore , F . Stotzer , G . J . B . Thompson , H . J . Leroy , S . J . Cowley , Thomas Powell , and Thomas Wood .

The brethren first confirmed grants above £ 20 which were recommended at the May meeting for the Grand Master ' s approval , to the extent of , £ 740 and they then proceeded with the new list , which consisted of 30 cases qualified through lodges in the metropolitan area and at Liverpool , Derby Sidmouth , Horsham , Norwich , Southwold , Penarth , Exeter , Luton Exmouth , Harleston , Mossley , Halifax , N . S ., Colchester , Yokohama ' TientsinChorlton Hard

Klerksdorp , , -cum- y , Calcutta , Frome , Romford Plymouth , ilminster , Hong Kong , and Hulk ' Two of these were dismissed , and one was deferred . The remainder were relieved with a total of ^ 760 . Two cases were recommended to Grand Lodge for £ 100 each , three recommended for the Grand Master's approval for £ 40 each , and eight for £ 30 each ; seven cases were granted , £ 20 each , one , £ 15 , four , £ 10 each , and one £ 5 .