Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

A meeting of this Provincial Grand Lotlge was held on Friday , the i 8 th icst ., at 3 o ' clock , in the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester , for the purpose of transacting special business . The R . W . Bro . Col . Le Gcndre Nicholas Starkie , Past Grand Warden of England and Grand Master of East Lancashire , presided , attended by tbe W . Bro . George

Mellon , Grand Deacon of England and Deputy Grant ) Jlastcr of East Lancashire . The following Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers were also present : — W . Bros . R . H . Hardman , P . M . 283 , P . S . G . W . ; G . Higgins , W . M . 62 , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . W . Chayter , P . M . 1504 , P . G . Chap . ; B . Taylor , P . M . 935 , P . G . Treas . ; J . E . Anderton , W . M . 407 , P . G . Reg . ; J . Chadwick , P . M . 44 ,

pG . Sec ; E . Brookes , P . M . 9 « , P . S . G . D . ; S . Crowther , W . M . Vt , P . G . S . of W . ; D . Towers , P . M . 345 , P . G . Dir . of Cir . ; H . Heys , P . M . i 6 u , P . G . A . Dir . of C . ; R . Caldwell , P . M . 1011 , P . G . Swd . Br . ; H . T . Robberds , P . M . 993 . P . G . Org . ; J . Arensberg , P . M . 1161 , P . G . Purs . ; E . Ratcliffe , P . M . 992 , P . G . A . Purs . ; E . Ashwotth , J an ., J . G . Smith , and W . O . Walker , P . G . Stewards ;

I . W . P . Salmon , P . P . G . D . C ; H . Smith , P . P . G . D . ; J . H . Sillitoe , P . P . G . D . C . ; H . Gtcenwood , P . P . G . Purs . ; A . Wolstenholme , P . P . G . J . D . ; E . Hartley , P . P . G . S . of W . ; C . M . Jones , P . P . G . D . of C ; John Tennant , P . P . G . A . D . ( , f C . ; J . Hall , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . Barker , P . P . G . Treas . ; C . H . Coates , P . l \| . G . W . ; E . Heywood , P . P . J . G . D . ; G . P . Brockbank , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . Grime , P . P . G . A . D . of C ;

E . Hardon , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . J . Hooper , P . P . G . Treas . ; N . Hargreaves , P . P . G . Org . ; J . W . Macluie , P . P . G . J . W . ; P . Hoyle , M . D ., P . P . S . G . D . ; Beswicke Royds , P . P . J . G . W .: and J . A . Birch , P . P . G . J . W . The following brethren were present as representatives ol seventy-one out of the ninety lodges in the province : Bros H . f . Cutter , W . M . 52 ; W . F . Parkinson , S . W . 52 ; J

MacMahon , J . G . 32 ; A . Merer , J . W . 1534 ; R . Collinge , P . M . 54 ; S . Clegg , W . M . 266 ; J . Andrew , P . M . 1219 ; G . Plitt , P . M . 1077 ; E . Jones , P . M . 1147 ; C . Wren , 3 6 7 ; | . E . Roberts , S . VV . 1218 ; J . Nuttall , P . M . 274 ; W . H . Rygrass , I . P . M . 3 81 ; II . lt . G . Bayley , P . M . 6 33 andSis ; 1 . Davis , W . M . 1147 ; T . Whitaker , W . M . 221 ; R . Ashworth , W . M . 286 and 16 97 ; G . Mullock , J . . 20 4 ; J ,

Santliford , W . M . 344 ; J . L-. ftus , W . M . 128 ; W . Bagnall , J . W . 204 ; E . Brookes , W . M . 26 9 ; C . Butterworth , W . M , ^ 6 ? ; T . Powles , W . M . 32 , 5 ; J . Dickson , VV . M . 1011 ; J , Bollard , I . P . M . 126 ; J . Roberts , VV . M . 204 ; G . Jackson , P . M . 1077 ; J . Brown , I . P . M . 37 ; A . Hopkinson , VV . M , 191 ; H . D . Marks , S . W . 179 S ; ' W . Hald-11 , 1147 ; II . E , Clausen , I . P . M . 1077 ; J . Sutcliffe , P . M . 283 ; S . Sykes ,

1 . Hindle , W . M . 462 ; T . Heap , W . M . 1077 ; J . Newton , P . M . Yt \ H . L . Rocca , S . W . 815 ; T . R . Penn , P . M . 1147 ; H . Walley , W . M . id } ; W . Brandon , W . M . 1219 ; J . A . Martin , W . M . 678 ; W . Hollins , VV . M . 152 ; R . Rushton , J . W . 1145 ; J . R . Lever , W . M . 317 ; J . Henleton , J . W . ion ; D . Morrison , ion ; J . Bridgfoni , P . M . 1077 ; R . Pilkington , P . M . 1 * 92 ; J . Gillagher , P . M . 14 : 9 ; W .

Nicholl , J . W . 317 ; T . Morris , P . M . 221 and 1723 ; W . H . Vaughan , I . P . ' M . 10 : 50 ; VV . Newton , VV . M . 1312 , P . M . 26 S ; G . Hughes , 1055 ; W . Parker , W . M . 993 ; C . Pearson , P . M . 10 ^ 0 ; P . Horrocks , P . M . 934 ; J . Andrews , W . M . 268 ; j . H . Bury , W . M . 1 145 ; S . Davies , P . M . 1052 ; R . Hughes , W . M . 1030 ; P . Lawton , J . W . 78 ; J , Hargreaves , P . M . 107 ? ; J . Aspland , W . M . 633 ; and R ,

lt . Lisscnden , 317 ( Freemason ) . A Ctaft lodge having been opened in the Three Degrees by the W . M . of the Friendship Lodge , No . 44 , assisted by his officers , the R . W . P . G . M . antl the Provincial Grand Officers entered , when the Prov . Grantl Lotlge was opened in due form antl with solemn prayer at twenty minutes past three o ' clock .

The roll of Prov . Grand Officers was called , and letters read , which were considered satisfactory , from the W . Bro . Rev . H . Cottam , Prov . Grand Asst . Chaplain , who was in Switzerland , and W . Bro . J . K . Hoffgaard , l'rov . G . S . Ueacon , who was in Denmark . The R . W . Prov . Grand Master then stated the special business of the meeting , and called upon Bro . J . A . Birch ,

P . P . G . J . W ., to move the first resolution . In proposing the resolution entrusted to him by the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Birch gave a clear and succinct hhtory if the fund in question , arising , as it did , from subscriptions and donations g iven for the purpose of maintaining and educating indigent female children , daughters of reduced and of deceased Freemasons of the province , in the

year 18 42 , amounting in tile fir .-. t instance to £ 93 15 s . This sum was increased from time to lime by other donalions , proceeds of two balls in 1851 and 1852 , by sermons " 1 18 50 , and by interest to a sum of £ 276 4 s . 3 d . in 18 54 , and at the time it was handed over to the late Bros . Blair

and Tunnah , as trustees , in June , 1864 , amounted to the sum cf £ 336 3 s . 3 d . This had been profitably invested , and at the present time Bro . J . Newton , as the representative and executor , was prepared to hand over a gross sum cf £ 6 95 ios . 2 d . He ( Bro . Birch ) , therefore , proposed

that"The funds subscribed about thirty years ago ( together w ) th the accumulations of the income thereof ) for the purpose of maintaining and educating indigent female child'cn of reduced ani of deceased Freemasons of this province , be , upon the receipt of the same from the executors Wide late Bro . John Tunnah , Provincial Grand Secretary , transferred , with the full consent of the Provincial Grand

Lod ge , to the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educa' ° nal and Benevolent Institution , upon condition that the P'lncipal sum , being the total amount so received , be accepted b y the said Institution , and separately invested , and " luture income arising theiefrom be applied exclusively ? . . ^ maintenance and education of girl * , who are 'gible for the benefits of the said Institution under its ts - f he said principal sum and futuic income arising

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

therefrom to be regularly brought into the annual or other accounts of the said Institution . " Bro . VV . O . Walker , Past Prov . G . J . Warden , had great pleasure in seconding the resolution so ably placed before them by Bro . Birch , and considered it unnecessary , after the lucid explanations just given , to trespass longer upon their time than cordially to second the resolution .

Alter a few remarks from the R . W . Prov . G . Master , the resolution was unanimously carried . Bro . James A . Bifch next proposed that a Committee , consisting of the R . W . Prov . G . Master , the Wor . Dep . Prov . G . Master , the Wor . Prov . G . Registrar , and the Past Prov . G . Registrars , with the Prov . G . Secretary , be appointed a Committee to receive the aforesaid amount of

£ 695 19 s . 2 d ., and to make arrangements for its investment . Bro . Geotge Parker Brockbank , P . P . G . D ., seconded the proposition , which was also carrietl , and W . Bro . Dr . Royle , P . P . G . D ., then proposed that Bro . Newton's name should be added to the Committee , and at the request of the R . W . Prov . G . Master , Bro . Newton

consented to act . Bro . J . Hargreaves next proposed : " That in consideration of the services rendered to Provincial Grand Lodge , and to evince its satisfaction with the conduct and ability of Bro . James Newton on all occasions while actings as Provincial Grand Secretary , pro tern ., from the time of Bio . John Tunnah ' s decease to the

appointment of VV . Bro . John Chadwick , the sum of seventyfive pounds be granted to him from the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge . " This was seconded by Bro . Thos . Grime , P . P . G . Asst . D . of C , antl unanimously carrietl . Bro . Jas . Newton , who had retired during the time the above proposition was being put and carried , now

reentered the lodge , and was received with applause by all present , antl on the R . W . Prov . Grantl Master informing him , in a few well-chosen words , of the slight return Provincial Grand Lotlge had made him for his valuable services , Bro . Newton , in a neat speech , thanked the R . W . P . G . Master and the Provincial Grand Officers for ths kind word . ; and feeling evinced by them all towards himself .

lt was also resolved "That the best thanks of the Prov , Grantl Lodge be given to Bro . Newton for his services . " This being all the business , Provincial Grand Lodge was closed with due ceremony and with solemn prayer , at five o ' clock .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

The Provincial Grantl Mark Lotlge of the province of Hampshireand thelsleof Wight was held at thcTown Hall , Cowes , on Thursday , the 17 th inst ., when there were piesent theM . W . P . G . M . M ., Bto . the Rev . G . R . Portal ; V . W .

Bro . W . Hi : kman , D . P . G . M . ; Bros . Gen . Hooper , P . P . f , GVV . ; R . L . Loveland , P . P . J . G . W . ; T . Giles , P . P . G , M . O . ; T . VV . Faulkner , P . G . St . B . ( England and Wales ) ; J . K . Le Feuvre , P . G . Sec ; H . Cawte , P . P . G . S . O . ; G . F . Lancaster , P . P . G . I . of VV . ; R . Osborne , P . G . J . D . ; T . G . Pulley . P . G . St . B . ; J . H . Askbam , P . G . I . G . ; T . Benham , P . G . S . D . ; J . Blount Themas , W . M . (>¦> ; J . G . Wheeler , W . M . 140 ; H . J . Gay , W . M . 2 ; VV . Sellwood , S . W . 54

VV . D . Parkhouse , Sec . 62 ; O . Hathausen , P . M 140 ; G . A . Mursell , S . O . 140 ; W . C . Ross , J . O . 140 ; W . J . Hurst , S . D . 140 ; J . G . Jones , I . G . 140 ; G . Westall , S . D . 54 ; J . C . Airs , 140 ; R . J . Turney , I . G . 2 ; R . Sullivan , 140 ; J . Winship , I . G . 6 3 ; J . GetclifTe , 140 ; G . VV . Munt , 140 ; H . Stone , 54 , and others . The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , the accounts of the P . G . M . Lodge were produced by the auditors , showing a small balance in hand .

The P . G . M . Master having completed a second period of three years' service , the D . P . G . M . Master , Bro . Hickman , proposed that his name should be again submitted to the Grand Mark Master for re-appointment to the office . This was seconded by Gen . Hooper , P . P . G . J . W ., and received the unanimous assent of the P . G . Lotlge , there being a general feeling of satisfaction that the lotlge should he

presided over by a Past Grand Mast r of England who took such an interest in the degree . It being the turn of this Prov . Grantl Mark Lodge to nominate a brother as Giand Steward , B . o . Li Feuvre , P . G . M . Sec , proposed that the name of Bro . R . L . Loveland , P . P . G . J . W ., should be forwarded 11 the Grantl Master for such an appointment .

This was second-id by Bro . Parkhouse , and resolved on unanimously . Some alterations in the bye-laws relating to the receipt and payment of moneys belonging to P . G . M . Lodge having been made , it became the melancholy duty of the P . G . Lodg ; to elect a successor to the present P . G . M . Treasurer , Bro . J . Lillywhite , of Portsmouth , who since his election

last year had been attacked with serious ill aess , which under existing circumstances gave no prospect of recovery . Tne D . P . G . Master proposed that Bro . R . L . Loveland should be elected Treasurer , and took the opportunity of diawing attention to the interest always taken by Bro . Loveland in the Order , and that , the appointment would be peculiarly appropriate consi icring the connection of that brother with London , Ryi . e , and the mainland .

Bro . G . T . Lancaster , P . P . G . I . of W . seconded the proposition , which was veiy cordially and unanimously carrietl . Tne P . G . Secretary read an abstract of the returns of the lodges f f tlie province , showing that they were in a fairly satisfactory state . A vote of £$ 5 s . having been made to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and a very sincere expression of sympathy having been ordered to be sent by the P . G . Secretary to

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

Mrs . Lillywhite on her husband ' s illness , the P . G . Master appointed his officers as follows : —¦ Bro . W . Hickman , 6 3 Prov . D . P . G . M . M . „ T . W . Faulkner , 140 Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Blount Thomas , 6 3 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ G . F . Lancaster , 2 ' Prov . G . M . O . „ W . B . Rosjers , 125 Prov . G . S . O .

„ T . J . Pulley , 54 Prov . G . J . O . „ Rev . G . R . Johnson , 17 ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, R . L . Loveland , 6 3 Prov . G . Treas . „ O . Hithausen , 140 Prov . G . Reg . Wks . ,, J . E . Le Feuvre , 6 3 Prov . G . Sec . „ J . G . Wheeler , 140 Prov . G . S . D .

,, G . Westall , 54 Prov . G . J . D . „ W . D . Parkhouse , 62 Prov . G . L of Wks . „ C . B . Whitcomb , 2 Prov . G . D . C . „ W . Sellwood , 54 Prov . G . A . D . C . „ J . Winship , 6 3 Prov . G . S . B . „ K . G . Westley , 63 Prov . G . O .

„ G . A . Mursell , 140 Prov . G . I . G . ,, R . J . Turney , 2 and H . Stone , 54 Prov . G . Stewards . ,, Watson ... Prov . G . Tyler . The minute books of the lodges were then examined , giving occasion t _> a few " admonitions" on the part

of the P . G . Master , after which an adjournment was made to the Fountain Hotel , where a very excellent dinner had been provided , and the brethren satisfied the wants ofthe inner man , whilst indulging in mutual congratulations on the success of the meeting , which the sun had favoured with its presence , making its appearance , it was said , for the first time this year .

Freemasonry In Suffolk.

FREEMASONRY IN SUFFOLK .

It was a pleasant task that devolved on us recently when we recorded the doings of our worthy Suffolk brethren in Provincial Gram ! Lodge assembled . Their chief and his deputy , who were both present , are deservedly popular , nor is their popularity confined to the province itself , while the energy and interest of the former in behalf

of Freemasonry are illustrated by the fact of the number of lodges having about doubled itself in the ei ghteen years and upwards of his reign . This week our attention has been again directed eastward , for Wednesday was the day appointed for the consecration of the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 1823 , of Clare . The present week , therefore , would appear to offer a favourable opportunity for noting ,

as we did recently in the case of the adjoining Province of Essex , the progress of the Royal Art in Suffolk . We may remark , in passing and in general terms , thai from the very earli .-st times Freemasonrv has found a welcome home in our Eastern counties . This is most appropriate , having regartl to the important part which the East has always been called upon to play in things Masonic

as in things mundane . At all events , even a cursory glance at the early authorised li , ts of English lodges will show that very few years had elapsed lrom the constitution of our London Grantl Lodge ere the Craft established itself in Norfolk , and a little later on in Suffolk and Essex . Almost the earliest list yet extant containsaNotwich lotlge , and reference to that for 1716 gives the date of its constitution as

1724 , which is the first year when lodges holding under the Grand Lodg .: in London were established in the provinces . Moreover , Preston in his " Illustrations" mentions that during Lord Level ' s Grantl Mastership an occasional lodge was specially convened at Houghton Hall , Norfolk , the seat of the then Prime Minister , Sir Robert Walpole , for the purpose of raising to the Third Degree Francis ,

Duke of Lorraine , subsequently Emperor of Germany , and Pelham , Duke of Newcastle , ancestor of more than one Provincial Grand Master bearing the same title . This is evidence that Masonry had firmly established itself in East Anglia . However , our present purpose is to follow up our recent sketch of Essex Masonry with a similar one of the Craft in Suff ilk .

To Bury-St .-Edmuntls belongs the honour of having been the first town in Suffolk to welcome the Royal Art , the list for 1732 containing two lodges , Nos . 78 and 81 , which , further inquiry shows , hatl been established the year previous ; while a third lodge was constitutetl the same year at Ipswich . By the renumbering oi Hit lodges in 1740 , the elder of the Buiy lodges had passed away , but

the junior , No . 81 , became No . 71 , and was not erased from the list till towards the end ofthe year 1754 ; a third Bury lodge , founded as No . 10 S , 15 th December , 1732 , meeting with the same fate in the sane year . The Ipswich lodge No 96 became No . 8 5 in 1740 , but it also must have died out before 175 6 , as there is no trace of it in the list for the latter year . However , the same year which saw the

extinction of the aforesaid Bury lodges witnessed the birth o l a lodge at Lowestoft , this being No . 251 , founded 29 th October , 1754 , which became No . 191 in 1756 and No . 151 in 1770 , between which latter year and 1781 it passed away . On the 21 st January , 17 G 2 , was founded Lodge No . 270 , held at the Green Man , Ipswich , and this is the oldest Suffolk lodge now in existence , that is , the oldest lodge

which has been continuously from its origin held within the limits of the county . This lodge became No . 214 in 1770 , No . 173 in 1781 , between which year and 1792 it took the name of the British Uiion , and was held at the Golden Lion . In 1792 it became No . 147 , after the Union No . 180 , No . 131 in 1832 antl No . 114 in 18 ( 13 . It is now held at the Freemasons' Hall in Ipswich , and has the honour of being the only purely Suffolk lodge , " Moderns , "

which can point to an apparently unbroken existence of 117 years . Of the two lodges which precede this on the roll of Grand Lodge , No . 81 , the Doiic , of Woodbridge , held under the Ancients , and according to the inform ilion now for thr first time published in Bro . Kenniug's "Cosmo" was warranted in ths year 1762 . At the time of the Union it was No . 9 6 , and was known as the Commercial Lodge , being held at