Provincial.

their Order , but had , until now , been unable to carry his wishes into effect , he might have joined the lodge to wliich his brother on the left belonged ( Bro . Oakshott , Lodge of Ecomomy , 90 , Winchester , ) , hut being intimately associated , politically with the City of Winchester , he pieferred to wait until an opportunity occurred , such as the present , of being initiated amongst friends and neighbours , when and where ' no possible political motive could be imputed to bim . He certainly was surprised to

iind his friend , Mr . Beach , had come over to perform the ceremony : be had know him for years , and met him for county matters—he had the reputation of being the most amiable man in the county—though they differed on many political questions , he felt sure his friendship ivould be increased and strengthened now that he might call hira a brother . Having been so recently initiated , he would not trust himself to say

much , his public duties ivould , he feared , prevent bis devoting himself so entirely to Masonry as be could wish , and consequently preclude bis taking a high position , but his ambition , would always be to use his best endeavours in the more humble walks of the Order . Tho health of the visiting brethren , proposed by the Chairman , was responded to by Bro . Geo . Oakshott , and that of the W . M . by Mr . Emery . Bro . Dollery replying in an

effective speech . Several toasts and songs followed , the " Entered Apprentice " being well rendered by Bro . Goodeve , and a most enjoyable evening concluded this , one of the most interesting meetings of the lodge .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of JVest Lancashire was held at the Bull Hotel , Preston , on Tuesday , the 3 rd of October , at noon , for the transaction of the business in connection with the province , and for the installation of Lieut .-Col . Thomas George Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., as Grand Master of the Province .

The Craft Lodge having been opened in tbe three degrees bytheW . M . ' s of lodges 86 , 178 , and 203 , assisted by the other senior Masters present ; 34 out of the 39 lodges in tiie province being represented . The following Prov . G . Officers entered the lodge-room in procession to appropriate music ( Bro . Molineux , P . P . G . Org ., presiding)—viz .: Bro . G . Cornwall Legh , P . G . W . of England , and Prov . S . G . W . Cheshire , ns Prov . G . M . ; Bro . Sir Thomas Geo . HeskethJBcn-t . P . G . W . England : Bros .

, , Hamer , Prov . G-. Treas . as D . Prov . G . M . ; Le Gendre N . Starkie , S . G . W . ; J . T . Bourne , Prov . J . G . W . ; Wylie , P . Prov . J . G . W " . ; Dmik . ev , Prov . G . Chap . ; O'Neill , Prov . Assist . G . Chan . ; Sherloek . ' P . G . R . ; Edwards , P . Prov . G . R . ; Mawdesley , Prov . G . S . ; Birchall , Prov . G . D . ; H . Armstrong , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Haddock and Haddock , P . Prov . G . Supts . of Works ; AllenderProv , G . Dir . of Cers . ; PepperP . Prov . Assist .

, , G . Dir . of Cers . ; Younghnsband , Prov . G . S . B . ; Armstrong , Prov . G . P . ; and Hughes , Mott , Shuttleworth , and Beazley , Prov . G . Stewards , together with the following visitors—Bros . Cope , G . S . B . England ; Lambert , P . Prov . G . D . East Lancashire ; Gibbons , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . East Lancashire ; Dack , P . Prov . G . S . B . East Lancashire ; Bowes , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . Cumberland and Westmorland ; Southam , Prov . G . Purst .

Cheshire ; and Binckes , Secretary to the Boys' School , London . Bro . Cornwall Legh , P . G . W ., and acting Prov . G . JI ., having taken the chair , the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in form and with solemn prayer . The acting Prov . G . JI . explained to the brethren present that the object of the meeting , in addition to the transaction of the annual business of the province , was to install Lieut .-Col . Sir

Thomas George Hesketh , Dart ., M . P ., whom it bad pleased the M . W . Grand Master to appoint to tho high aud important office of Grand Jlaster of this province , in tiie place of their late lamented Prov . G . M . Bro . Le Gendre N . Starkie .

Bro . Sir Thomas George Hesketh was presented by seven P . JI . 's , and bis patent of appointment from the M . W . Grand Master read . The ancient charges having also been read by the Prov . G . Sec . and suitably responded to , and the necessary obligation having been administered , he was duly invested witli the gold collar and jewel of his office , and enthroned as Grand Master of the province of West Lancashire . _ The Prov . G . Jlaster , after having acknowledged the responsibilities of his office , and requested the co-operation of the officers whom lie was about to appoint in carrying out the duties attached thereto , called the following brethren to the dais , and

having caused their appointments to be announced , invested them with the collar and jewel of their respective offices , viz ., Bro . Lieut .-Col . Thomas Birchall Prov . J . G . JYarden . „ Vernon „ G . Chaplain . „ Wylie „ G . Registrar . „ Mawdesley , G . Secretary . „ Althani „ S . G . Deacon . Younghush-and J . G . Deacon .

„ „ „ Armstrong „ G . Supt . of Works . „ Allender „ G . Dir . of Cers . „ Mott , G . Sword Bearer . „ T . Armstrong „ G . Pursuivant . „ Hansbrow „ G . Stand . Bearer . „ S . White 1 „ H . B . White |

" ?' i ) n ' "V i- » G - Stewards . „ J . R . Boardman [ „ T . Shuttleworth | „ N . H . Beazley J Bro . R . Townley Parker was appointed D . Prov . G . M ., and Bro . Gilbert Greeiiall , M . P ., Prov . S . G . W ., but , owing to unavoidable absencetheir investiture was deferred until the next

, meeting . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , as well as those of the meetings of the Fund of Benevolence , were read and separately confirmed . Letters of apology , regretting their inability to attend , owing to absence from home , were read from Bros . Lord de TableyProv . G . M . Cheshire ; Lord SkelmersdaleP . Prov .

, , S . G . W . ; Lord R . Grosvenor , Gilbert Greenall , M . P . ; Banister , and others . Bro . Hamer , Prov . G . Treas ., presented his accounts for the year , and the W . JI . ' s of Lodges 178 , 203 , and 220 having been appointed auditors , retired for the purpose of examining the same , after which they re-entered the Provincial Grand Lodge , and delared the accounts correct , there appearing the sum of

£ 98 os . Sd , to the credit of Provincial Grand Lodge , and the sum of £ 539 9 s . 1 ... to the credit of the Fund of Benevolence . On the motion of the Prov . G . M ., the accounts were received , and ordered to be printed and circulated .

Bro . Hamer was re-elected to the office of Prov . G . Treas ., and invested accordingly , and a vote of thanks unanimouslypassed for bis services during the preceding year . On the motion of Bro . Mawdesley , Prov . G . Sec , seconded by Bro . Allender , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., Bro . Evans was reelected Prov . G . Tyler tor the ensuing year , with the usual allowance , and Bro . Ball , Assist . Prov . G . Tyler . The Prov . G . Sec . then read the following report : —

" Liverpool , 3 rd October , 1865 . " In submitting the customary annual report it affords me much pleasure to be able to state that Freemasonry continues to make steady and satisfactory progress in this province . "During the past year warrants of constitution have been granted for four new lodges , viz ., the Prince of Wales Lodge ( No . 1035 ) , Kirkdale , Rowley Lodge ( No . 1051 ) , Lancaster ,

Lodge of Triumph ( No . 1061 ) , Lvtham , and tbe Starkie Lodgo ( No . 1070 ) , Fleetwood . " For some time past the members of St . John's Lodge ( No . 325 ) , Pendleton , found themselves much isolated , owing to their great distance from any other lodge in this province , and in matters of charity could not effectually carry out the objects they had in view . . Theythereforewith the consent of the

, , R . W . Provincial Grand JIaster , petitioned Grand Lodge for permission to transfer their lodge to the eastern division of the county , and at the close of last year the M . W . Grand Master was pleased to grant the prayer of the petition by transferring Pendleton from JVest to East Lancashire . That removal reduces the number of lodges in this province to 39 . " It was my painful duty to refer in my last report to serious

differences which had arisen in one of the lodges in this town , aud it was much feared the matter would have to be investigated by this Provincial Grand Lodge . I am glad , however , to say that the offending brethren had the good sense to admit their error , and make an ample apology , which being accepted , the business of the lodge wassubsequeutly resumed with greater harmony . "During the year only one complaint has been received ,

which emanated from members of a lodge in the northern part of this province , against their Treasurer , but as the complaint was made in May last , and nothing further has reached me on the subject , I am not ivithout hope that they have arranged