T He East Lancashire Provincial Charity Committee.

THE EAST LANCASHIRE PROVINCIAL CHARITY COMMITTEE .

The half-yearly meeting of this Committee was held the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Friday , the "J . . ' inSt . Bro . ]¦ H . Sillitoe presided , and was stip' led by Bros , j , T . Newbold , Vice-Chairman ; John rhadwick , Prov . G . Sec . ; and about ioo represeotain the

tives of lodges province . After reading the minutes of ihe previous meeting , netition was presented on behalf of a girl as a candidate for election on the Girls' School , who was dopted and p laced to follow the candidate already on the list . One male and two female candidates for the Rovai Masonic Benevolent Institution , who had already heen adopted , was placed in proper order fot election in May next-Bro . Sillitoe was unanimously re-elected Chairman , d 3 ro . Newbold Vice-Chairman , and these two brethren with Bro . Chadwick were appointed as a deputation to attend the Masonic elections in London . A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings .

East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational And Benevolent

EAST LANCASHIRE SYSTEMATIC MASONIC EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT

INSTITUTION . The usual monthly meeting of the Relief and Education Boards was held on Friday , the 16 th instant , at Freemasons' Hall , Manchester . Bro . J . H . Sillitoe presided , and was supported by Bros . ] . T . Newbold , Vice-Chairman ; VV . Jaffrey , Treas . ; James Newton , Sec ; T . J . Hooper , James Andrew , James Kershaw

C . D . Cheetham , C . Collingwood , Martin Thomas , E . Williams , J . Smethurst , S . Porritt , J . VV . Abbott , E . G . Harwood , N . Nicholson , and E . Halliwell . There were seven petitions for relief and one for advancement in life of an ex-pupil of the Boys' School . Six of the former were relieved in sums varying from £$ to / " 20 , and one was adjourned . The case for advancement was also postponed for further enquiry .

Centenary Meeting Of The Apollo Lodge, No. 301.

CENTENARY MEETING OF THE APOLLO LODGE , No . 301 .

The 100 th meeting of the above lodge was held in the Town Hall , Alcester , on the 26 th ult ., Bro . D'Arcy Power , M . A ., M . B . Oxon , F . R . C . S ., in the chair . Among the brethren present were Bros . F . Hnynes ,

P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; G . H . Fosbroke , P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; Sladden , P . P . G . D . ; Edwin Morton , M . D ., J . W . ; J / alcolm , I . G . ; Stephen Morton , Jackson , and other brethren . Letters of regret for their unavoidable absence were read from Bros . Lord Ernest Seymour , Hobbes , and H . Haynes .

The lodge was opened in the First and Second Degrees , and after the necessary questions had been put to ihe candidates , it was opened during their absence in the Third Degree . Bros . R . Harrison Galpin and Hugh Alexander Powere were each raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason . The lodge was iben closed .

The brethren then adjourned tor their banquet at the Swan Hotel . In the course of the evening the WORSHIPFUL M . ISTER gave the following brief account of the history of the lodge whose 100 th anniversary they had assembled to commemorate . " It was founded in Alcester on

February the 26 th , 1794 . At the first meeting there were present Joseph Brandish , Mr . ; Brandon Whissel . S . W . ; Abel Morrall . J . W . ; Stephen Hobbins , !> ecretary ; Wm . Manley , Steward ; and William sarsons , Tyler . The visiters were John Bishop , Samuel Porter , and John Clarke . Of these visitors

John Bishop attended nearly every subsequent meeting until October 4 th , 1797 . The first initiations took place at the second meeting of the lodge on March 5 th , ' 794 ' The candidates were James Wyatt and Arthur s r ^ 1 " 3 lod ge meetings were held fortnightly until "oi , after which they became monthly . They were

originall y held at the Angel Hotel , but on the 4 th " eccniber . " 849 , they were transferred to the Swan , « id of late years , owing to the kindness of Bro . Lord Hertford , they had been held in the Alcester Town Hall , enough the brethren dined together at the Swan , St . John ' s night , until 1848 , was regularly held in December , St

n . John the Evangelist ' s Day , but after that year it Da . ^ ra , ed 'i J "" o upon St . John the Baptist ' s . y- The lod ge was founded with the number 537 ; on Cv o 25 th ' ' h became No . 563 ; in 1840 it Th 1 37 ' and in l 86 3 il received its present No . 301 . until ' s Worsni P was not applied to the Master mi „ ,. 7 ' efore that vear he simply signed the nines as Mr . The Provincial Grand Lodo-fi of

1 S 1 R sh , re had met at Alcester on September 26 th , accent" ? V 30 th ' , 8 ( 5 9 ' and in l 8 79 ' and ! t had a Kin u lnvitation of the lod £ to honour them ot re '" ¦ c . ' £ September for the purpose w hicr | ° ! k mSlng '" ' orma ' manner that centenary The y Were that ni 8 celebarating privately . Pendtd r ^ Per ' ty ° f the , 0 dge a PP eared t 0 have de " en thusi- . { "Shout its career upon a succession of Ground Al asons belonging to families living in and look it * , 1 ter ' as one family disappeared another ..- ^ Place , sn thaf ;* ..- r ... ^ .. — ,.. ;* -.. 1—1 i , „— - „

, hoped rl" L rn ! P . a state of affairs which the VV . M . Tlie v t "g continue . Joseph n a , her . andfounder of the lodge was Bro . Dr . practice ra j dlsh > wn ° subsequently acquired a large ' ana who published in iSn ' a volume of

Centenary Meeting Of The Apollo Lodge, No. 301.

"Observations on the Use of Caustic Alkali in Scrofula . " He held the ollice of Master from ihe foundation of the lodge in 1794 to 1 S 0 S , when he appears to have left Alcester . His interest in the lodge , however , continued unabated , for he was a constant visitor , and he was again installed Master for the year 1814 . His place was taken by G . Jones , a Royal Arch Mason ,

who had been initiated on November 5 th , 1794 , and held office in 180 S , 1809 , 1 S 15 , arid from 1818 until 1829 . He in turn was replaced by Thos . Freer , who had been initiated at the age of 24 , on May 24 th , 1 S 15 . He and his son , Thos . R . Freer , aged 21 , on his initiation , January 22 nd , 1 S 45 , were repeatedly Masters of the lodge until 1 S 56 . The reins of government then

fell successively into the hands of G . Wyman , G . H . Fosbroke ( father and son ) , the Marquis of Hertford , and Lord Seymour . Bro . F . Haynes , M . D ., of Leamington , had rendered the lodge most essential service by acting for 16 years in succession as its Installing Master . The charter of the lodge for many years was lost ,

and in 1 S 63 a fresh charter was granted by Grand Lodge , and was dated April 28 th , 1794 . This was thought to fix the length of time it took for the information to travel at the end of the last century from Alcester to Warwick , from Warwick to London , and then back to Alcester . A few months since , however , the W . M . was fortunate enough to meet with the long

lost original charter , dated February 26 th , 1794 , and he now had much pleasure in handing it to the Treasurer for its future safe keeping . The W . M . concluded his observations by pointing out the remarkable way in which the office of Tyler apptared to conduce to longevity in perfect health . The lodge had only had four such officers , of whom the second , Bro . Abel Franklin , was initiated on December 27 th , 1808 , was

appointed Tyler on July 26 th , 1809 , in succession to Bro . William Sarsons , the original Tyler , and retained the office until July 19 th , 1848 , without missing a single meeting of the lodge during the whole of that long period , so that there exists a monthly record of his handwriting showing the slight changes by which it passed from the firm round hand of youth to the crabbed , shaky characters of age .

Israel Lodge Of Instruction, No. 205.

ISRAEL LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 205 .

The above lodge of instruction , which holds its meetings every Sunday evening , was the scene of a remarkable gathering on Sunday evening last , when nearly 60 brethren assembled to hear an address by Bro . L . Simmons , 1 S 5 , on the " Three Grand Principles of the Order . " The W . M . was Bro . F . Bromhead , P . P . J . G . W .: the S . W . Bro . L .

Levy , VV . M . 1 S 5 ; Bro . J . Berlyn , 205 , J . W . ; Bro . Romain , S . D . ; Bro . Gaskell , P . M . 1304 , J . D . ; and Bro . Haylock , I . G . Among those present were Bros . Kaufman , P . M . ; Seigenberg , Wilson , P . P . G . O . ; Strang , Friedlander , L . A . Da Costa , P . M . 1349 ; Stewart , Terney , Brown , Valentine , Fennel / , Yetton , Oxley , P . M .: Mordecai , Harris , H . and J . Davis , Hall , and others .

After the lodge had been opened in the usual manner , the WORSHIPFUL MASTER intrcduced the lecturer , Bro . Simmon ? , and mentioned that the evening ' s proceedings were oi a novel nature , as it was the lirst time an address had been given there which would be followed by criticism . They were all pledged to extend their researches into the " Hidden Masteries of Nature and Science , " and their

proceedings that night would be the lirst of the attempts that would be made to carry out that pledge . Bro , SIMMONS then gave his address , which was listened to in perfect silence only to be broken now and again when the brethren applauded some trite saying . The lecture was a dissertation on the " Three Grand Principles of thi Order . " showing that they were

sometimes honoured in the breach more than in the observance , and a strong exhortation to the brethren to act only in accordance with those teachings , as then they who were outside the Craft would have nothing but admiration for those who were Freemasons . The lecturtr was followed by Bros . SEIGENHEKG , LEVY , STRANG , HALL , VALENTINE , OXLEY , HAKRIL ,

BROMHEAD , BERLYN , and others , who criticised some of the opinions put forth by Bio . Simmois . The debate was of a high and far reaching nature , and throughout the whole of the proceedings was characterised by the greatest good feeling , and , Bro . SIMMONS , in his reply , expressed himself as deeply gratified .

A very cordial vote of thanks to Bro . Simmons for what was a most eloquent lecture , was passed with much enthusiasm , and ably responded to . The HONORARY SECRETARY mentioned that similar addresses would become a monthly feature of the Israel Lodge of Instruction , some ol the future events being

addresses by Bro . the Rev . Isidore Myers , B . A ., on the "Talmud and Freemasonry ; " Bro . Hall , " Ancient Sun Worshippers and Freemasonry ; " Bro . Oxley , " Golden Thoughts ; " Bro . Strang , "Masonic Celebrities , " & c . After various new members had been admitted , the lodge was closed t . ll Sunday next at 7 p . m .

District Grand Lodge Of Jamaica.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF JAMAICA .

The half-yearly Communication was held at Sussex Hall , Kingston , Jamaica , on Thursday evening , the 25 th January last . Bro . J . C . Macglasham , D . G . M ., presided . There were also present Bro . R . S . Haughton , D . D . G . M ., and the following Past G . Wardens : Bros . G . M . Duff , E . X . Leon , A . H . Jones , and L . C .

Hollar . The Masters , I . P . M . 's , and Wardens of the following lodges sat under their respective banners ; Royal Lodge , No . 207 ; Friendly Lodge , No . 239 ; Sussex Lodge , No . 354 ; Phoenix Lodge , No . 914 ; Hamilton Lodge , No , 1440 ; Collegium Fabrorum , No . 1 S 36 ; and Kingston Lodge , No . 1933 . The D . G . M . briefly addressed the District Grand Lodge .

District Grand Lodge Of Jamaica.

The report of the Board of General Purposes was read . Reports were received and read from the Committees appointed to audit the Treasurers' accounts and on lodge property .

A report from the Jamaica Masonic Library was presented , but it was withdrawn , owing to some misunderstanding . Bro . E . X . LEON , P . D . G . W ., in a graceful speech , nominated Bro . W . A . Feurtado as D . G . Treasurer , which was heartily seconded by Bro . D . I . Motta , D . S . G . W .

There being no other nomination , Bro . Feurtado was declared duly elected . The following administration for 1894 was then installed : Bro . C . L . Campbell D . S . G . W . „ H . Priest D . J . G . W . „ R . Harding ) ,,- „ .. „ G . C . Linton J D . G . Chaplains .

„ W . A . Feurtado D . G . Treas . „ W . B . Gray D . G . Reg . >• J- E . Lyons Pres . Bd . of G . P . „ W . Duff , P . D . S . G . W . ... D . G . Sec . „ C . A . Solomon D . S . G . D . „ Thomas Busere , jun . ... D . J . G . D . „ Isaac Brandon D . G . S . of W . „ G . H . Pearse D . G . D . C .

„ H . Barned D . A . G . D . C . „ T . J . Curphy D . G . S . B . „ H . D . Bogle D . G . Std . Br . „ A . R . Bogle D . A . G . Std . Br . „ Alon / . o Hart D . G . Org . „ F „ G . Sale D . A . G . Sec . „ A . C . Macmillan D . G . Purst . „ A . W . Smith D . A . G . Purst .

„ P . Ferguson * ) „ W . R . Ryder ( „ J . C . Bryant ^ D . G . Stewards . „ A . M . Hoyes )

„ George Maquire D . G . Tyler . Bro . C . L . CAMPBELL , D . S . G . W ., moved a vote of condolence to Bro . R . S . Haughton , D . D . G . M ., on the death of his wife , which recently took place in England .

On the motion of Bro . C T . BURTON , Bro . F . G . Sale was added as a member on the Committee of Management of the Jamaica Masonic Library . The District Grand Lodge was then closed .

St. Ambrose Lodge Ladies' Night.

ST . AMBROSE LODGE LADIES' NIGHT .

The annual ladies' banquet and entertainment of this lodge was held in the R : ^ enc and other rooms at St . James ' s Hall , Regent-street , on Tuesday , the 13 th ult ., under the presidency of the genial and popular W . M ., Bro . Hoggins , who , assisted by the Committee , succeeded in providing one of the most pleasant and enjoyable entertainments ever

held in connection with the lodge . Bro . J . C . CONWAY , I . P . M ., proposed * ' The Health of the VV . M ., " and expressed the particular p leasure it gave him in dcing so , as it was the only opportunity of proposing that toast in the presence of the ladies , except at the s immer outing , when the ladies would have another opportunity of observing how able and willing our VV . M . is to preside

and add to our pleasures . He congratulated the lodge on possessing such a Master , and felt sure his year < . f office would be continued and completed in every way eminently satisfactory . Bro . HOGGINS , W . M ., in reply , said that he felt very great pleasure and pride in occupying the position of Master of the lodge , and thanked them all heartily for

receiving the toast is such an enthusiastic manner . He would endeavour to the utmost to maintain their good opinion by exerting himself in anything that tended to the interest and welfare of the lodge . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER then proposed the toast of "The Ladies / ' assuring them that the brethren were delighted to see the ladies amongst them , and only

regretted that more opportunities did not occur . He would not detain them with a long speech , as he was sure that they would rather be listening to a good song or getting through the dance programme than listening to long speeches . Bro . J . HONE DYAS having responded for the ladies , The WORSHIPFUL MASTER then gave the toast of "The

Visitors , " offering them a cordial welcome , and expressed the wish that they would enjoy their visit to the St . Ambrose Lodge ladies' annual equally with ihe brethren at meeting them . Bro . A . F . SCHOLDING , P . M . 1512 , who may truly be said to be a past master in the art of arranging a Masonic ball or ladies' banquet , in responding for the v sitors , said

there could be no doubt the arrangements made ensured a successful evening ; and , in a few well-chosen words , thanked the W . M . and brethren , on behalf of the visitors , for the hearty reception of the toast , and for the opportunity of spending an evening with the members of the St . Ambrose Lodge . Alter an interval of 15 minutes , the concert and dance commenced , and was kept merrily going till about 1 . 30 , and

such was the excellence of the vocal artistes , that encores were the rule , which were in every case granted . 'I he musical arrangements were under the able direction of Hro . Stuart Walker , assisted by the following talented artistes : Miss Alice Motterway , Messrs . Paul Mill and Maidment , Bros . VV . E . Goodwins , R . A . M ., Herbert Emlyn , Will Edwards , and G . B . Spiccr . The menu card ( with portrait of W . M . ) and dance programme was printed by Bro . George Kenning .

The Lord Mayor has consented to take the chair at the Cannon-stteet Hotel on Tuesday , the lyth prox ., at the festival dinner of the City of London General Pension Society . An inlluential list of stewards has been secured , su that the gathering promises to be a most succeislui una from the point of view of the Chaiity .