Provincial Grand Chapter Of Warwickshire.

E . Pajne , C Davidson , W . M . Boddington , R . B . Morgan , W . F . Tolladay , T . S . Harvey , Dr . Wright Wilson , W . Bate , J . G . C Graham , H . Stanley , J . Rooker , W . G . Hills , J . G . Stackhouse , J . T . Harcourt , W . H . Skinner , W . H . Wood , G . Fayerman , J . F . Barrett , F . A . S : nith , and many others . Visitors : Comps . Col . Bindley , G . Supt ., J . F . Pepper , Prov . G . H ., and A . Candick , P . P . G . J . Staffs . ; and J . Cutting , P . Prov . A . G . S . E . Derby ; and others .

The Piovincial Grand Chapter having been opened , the minutes of the last convocation were read . The PROV . G . SCRIUF . E . read apologies for absence from a number of companions . 1 he roll of the Provincial Grand Officers was called ; all were present , except two , who sent apologies , who were unavoidably absent , after which the roll of chapters was called , and the number representing each chapter recorded .

The PROV . G . SCRIBE E . presented his report , showing a steady increase in numbers in the province , and that the province had only lost through death one companion during the last 12 months . The PROV . G . TREASURER presented his report , which showed a steady increase in the funds ; and , as he had been Prov . Grand Treasurer five years , he expressed a wish that another companion should be appointed in his place .

On the proposition of Comp . G . BEECH , acting G . Superintendent , seconded by Comp . W . SHORT , it was unanimously carried— " That a letter of sympathy ( during his recent illness ) be sent to -Lord Leigh , and congratulation on his recovery , and a hope that he would soon be amongst us again . "

Comp . SHORT proposed , Comp . BODDINGTON seconded , and it was carried unanimously— " That Comp . W . H . Wood be elected Prov . Grand Treasurer . " It was proposed by Comp . WRIGHT WILSON , and seconded by Comp . HILLS— " That Comp . Dalley be re-appointed Janitor . " The officers for the ensuing year were then appointed and invested as follows :

Comp . G . Beech , P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ( re-appointed ) ,., Prov . G . H . „ W . G . Hills , 93 S ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ F . G . Swinden , 5 8 7 , A . G . D . C . Eng . ( reappointed ( seventh year ) ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ M . J . Davies , 254 , 16 30 ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ W . H . Wood , 587 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . Rooker , 587 re-appointed ( sixth year ) ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Dr . Wright Wilson , 43 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W . Bate , 95 S ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S .

„ J . L . Stackhouse , 739 ... ... Prov . 1 st A . G . S . „ J . T . Harcourt , 10 iG ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ F . Foster , 395 ... ... - ' ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Dr . Davidson , 1603 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ T . S . Harvey , 395 ... .. ... Prov . A . G . D . C , - „ E . A . Smith , 1016 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Freedman ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ A . Dalley ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The ACTING GRAND SUPERINTENDENT of the province then addressed

the companions on various matters of interest in the province , commenting on the report of the Prov . Grand Scribe E ., and also that of the Prov . Grar . d Treasurer , mentioning that since the last annual meeting Comp . F . G . Swinden had received the office of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Supreme Grand Chapter , and he felt sure that ' all the companions in Warwickshire were very pleased with the appointment , both as an honour to the province and also to the companion who received it . He

reminded the companions that the Masonic presentation to Lord Leigh on the occasion of his golden wedding would shortly take place , and that the Prov . Grand Chapter should vote a sum of money to the fund . It was proposed by Comp . J . T . COLLINS , P . P . G . H ., seconded by Comp . A . E . FRIDLANDER , P . P . G . J ., "That the sum of 25 guineas be voted to that fund . " . Carried unanimously . The Prov . Grand Chapter was closed , and the companions and visitors afterwards dined together .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday , the 19 th inst ., in the Concert room , St . George ' s Hall , Liverpool . Bro , the Earl of Lathom , Prov . G . Master , presided , and the meeting was one of the largest Masonic gatherings ever held in West Lancashire , the total attendance numbering upwards of 1100 . Amongst the brethren

holding high rank in the Order were the following past and present members of the Grand Lodge of England , viz .: Bros . R . Wylie , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . ; Lord Skelmersdale , P . G . W . ; J . T . Murray , P . G . Treas . ; Rev . T . Barton

Spencer , P . G . Chap . ; S . G . Sinclair , P . G . D . ; J . J . Lambert , P . G . D . ; J . Houlding ( Lord Mayor of Liverpool ) , G . D . ; T . Forrester , P . G . S . Ii . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec . ; and J . Chadwick , P . G . S . B . The number of members holding Provincial rank present was upwards of 130 .

The proceedings having been opened , the roll of Provincial G . Officers and lodges was called . Of the 121 lodges in the province ad were represented save one .

The accounts of the P . G . Treas ., Bro . C . Watson , were submitted . They showed that the balance brought forward as per last year ' s account was £ 833 , and that fees from lodges amounted to £ 859 , other items bringing up the total receipts to £ 1834 . The disbursements during the year included a sum of £ 210 voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , grants

made by the Charity Committee £ 50 , and £ 20 contributed to the Southport Home for Gentlewomen . Salaries , office and other necessary expenses brought up the total expenditure to £ 907 , and the several funds showed balances in hand as follows : Charities Fund , ^ 225 ; Provincial Grand Lod ge Fund , . £ 335 ; and Fund of Benevolence , £ 3 60 —making a total of £ 927 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

Upon the motion of Bro . T . FORRESTER , seconded by Bro . Lord SKELMERSDALE , the financial statement was adopted . Bro . W . GOODACRE , Prov . Grand Sec , presented his 13 th annual statement . He said harmony and progress had characterised generally the proceedings of the year . Four new lodges had been added to the roll of the province , making the number 121 . The number of initiates during the

year was 705 , making the total membership of the province 7910 . ( Applause . ) All the lodges had made their returns and paid their fees . Tne present year stood out as one pre-eminent for the success which had attended the efforts of the brethren in behalf of the cause of benevolence and Charity . The record Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Bjys , when £ 134 000—now increased to £ 140 , 0011— was annouiced , astonished the

country . Let them hope that that large contribution mi ght be wisely applied . The Province of West Lancashire , though not at the top of the list as regarded its donation , occupied a good position , having contributed £ 4000 at the Festival . Two boys , three girls , and an old man had been elected by the province on the foundation of the Institutions in London , and some 500 votes had been placed to the credit of a widow . The local

Institutions were in a prosperous condition , and continued to receive the support of the brethren . The Educational Institution , with vested sums amounting to £ 22 , 000 , had last year an income of £ 1800 , and had assisted 182 children at a cost of nearly £ 1600 . The Hamer Institution had a vested fund of £ 5600 , and had assisted 23 men by grants and annuitants to the extent of £ 408 , its income being £ 660 . Furthermore , the Alpiss Fund , with

investments of about £ 7000 , and an income of £ 1326 , had 6 3 widows on its foundation , and had granted them over £ iooo . The Prov . Grand Master having during the past year completed a quarter of a century in that office , it was considered appropriate to make a comparision of the condition of the province between the year 1 S 73 and the present time . In the first-mentioned year there were 64 lodges in the province , with a membership of 'izQa . That

day the number of lodges was 121 , with 7910 subscribing members . ( Applause . ) To his lordship ' s wise and beneficent rule and to the heartfelt interest he took in all that affected the best interests of the Craft was to be attributed the remarkable progress which had characterised his Prov . Grand Mastership . He ( Bro . Goodacre ) felt sure he expressed the feelings of all when he prayed that the Earl of Lathom might long be spared to continue

that interest , which had been of such benefit to the Order generally , and expressed the hope that the province might , for many years , continue to have as its ruler so noble a Craftsman—trusted by his country , honoured by his Queen , and beloved by his brethren . Bro . the Earl of LATHOM , in reply , said he could imagine no report more satisfactory than that which had just been read to them .

Twentyfive years was a very long time , and a very large share out of any man ' s lifetime . If during his rule over them he had in any way been able to promote the benefit of Masonry , to keep the brethren together , and to inculcate the great and noble objects of the Craft , he felt that his life had not bean wasted . ( Applause . ) They had always been very kind to him . They had always assisted him , and he could say without fear of contradiction that

there were very few if any provinces in the United Kingdom where there had been so little disagreement , so little bickering , and where matters had run on so smoothly as they had done in West Lancashire . Might it always be so . Might their brotherly love always continue ; might they help each other in that noble work of charity so well carried out . He thanked the brethren for the way in which they came forward at the Centenary Festival

of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in London . They had done their work well , because not only had they supported the great parent Institutions in London , but they had not forgotten those charities within their own province . In fact they had been a pattern to every other province . Their educational institution had been copied all over England . That was the way in which they could do good more than in any other . Yet their other great benevolent institutions had not been forgotten .

The Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . R . WYLIE , said that the brethren of the province had felt desirous to mark the 25 th anniversay of his Lordshi p ' s installation as Provincial Grand Master by giving him an indication of their esteem , respect , and fraternal love , and a proof of their deep gratitude to him for the noble work that he had done in the interests of Masonry . It was his privilege to ask his Lordship to accept from the brethren of the province

a rose bowl and suite of silver vases . The bowl bore an inscription stating that the gift was in commemoration of the 25 years of his rule over the province and as a token of their sincere respect and esteem . ( Applause . ) Bro . J . HOULDING ( Lord Mayor of Liverpool ) , in endorsing the sentiments that had just been expressed , said they felt that every lodge in the

province would only be too pleased to do something to mark that occasion . He had to hand over to the Earl of Lathom a cheque for him to dispose of in any way he thought fit . No doubt it would go to help some charity , but whatever charity it was devoted to he asked his Lordship to give it in the name of Alice , Countess of Lathom . The amount of the cheque was £ 500 . ( Loud cheers . )

Bro . the Earl of LATIIOM , who rose to acknowledge the presentation amid a renewed outburst of cheering , spoke under deep emotion . He said words failed him to express the deep sense he had of the high honour they had done him and of their great kindness . He assured them that he accepted the beautiful tokens of esteem which they had given him with hearty thanks to them all , and he could promise them / and his son , who was present with

him on the platform , could also promise , that their gifts would remain as an heirloom in his family to show what his West Lancashire brethren thought of him . If he had been able to do his duty in his office he thanked God for it , and if it pleased Him to spare his life yet a little longer he hoped to be able to continue those duties . ( Loud cheers . ) From the bottom of his heart he thanked them for that tribute . But he was more deeply touched by

the second presentation made by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool . Last year perhaps the greatest misfortune that could fall to any man fell to him . It was a heavy , a sudden blow . He had received comfort from many people who had been kind to him in his allliction , but never , so long as he breaihed , would he forget the sympathy which came from the brethren not only of West Lancashire , but all over the globs . Their noble gift in memory of his wife was one that he could only hope to use in a way that she would have

approved . They were raising a fund , he was told , to obtain the services of a a local nurse at Ormskirk to visit the sick in that neighbourhood in connection with the cottage hospital there . He therefore did not think he could do better than hand the cheque over to the Treasurer of that fund . ( Applause . ) He was quite certain it was an object his beloved wife had at heart . He could not say more , but would beg of them to accept his most sincere thanks . ( Cheers . ) Upon the motion of Bro . R . J . BRADLEY , P . P . G . D . C , seconded b y Bro ,