Provincial.

The committee also ask Provincial Grand Lodgo to sanction tie adoption of the two following resolutions : —proposed by Bro . Shepherd , AV . M . 838 , and seconded by Bro . Hildred . WM . 272 , " That all stewards of the province to the various charities be added to the list of members of the charity coinmittee . " Bro . Hildred , AA' . M . 272 , proposed , and Bro . Shepherd , AV . M . 838 ,

seconded" That for the future afc least 21 days notice be given to the Secretary of tlie Charity Committee , of tlie proposition of candidates , and that the Secretary do give , wherever practicable , afc least 14 days notice of tbe next meeting after such noticeo . " The committee trust that- W . Masters , members of the Charity Committee , and all brethren posssessing votes , will exert themselves to secure as many votes from their friends as they can , and immediately forward all voting papers , not filled up , but only

signed , to Bro . AA' . H . Radley , of Bostor , the Secretary . Even the much increased contributions from tho province to the central charities would fail to secure the return cf our candidates were it not for the combination by which all proxies are placed in the bauds of this Committee . There is no doubt that the receipts of almost all the established charities of England were more or less affected last year by fche lamentable continental war . But the coinmittee have

great pleasure in announcing that fche charities belonging to the order were hardly at all influenced hy it , especially their own province—ifc is very gratifying to find that by means of our Stewards an amount of £ 338 10 s . has been handed over to tbe charities since last January , which sums are made up as under—Bro . Radley , Aged Masons £ 82 4 0 Boys' School 31 10 0 Bros . Radley , Locock , Lucas , Sutcliffe , Josse and Hall—Ghk'School 224 16 0

Total £ 338 10 0 Still , with this very gratifying result , tho committee have to regret the small annual subscriptions from some lodges to the various institutions from which we are receiving such great benefits every year , at a cost which may easily he determined , estimating each boy and girl at £ 45 , and each male and female annuitant at £ 26 and £ 25 per annum respectively .

'Ihe accounts have been audited , and there is a balance in favour of your committee of £ 7 5 s . 2 d . after payinerfc of all expenses . The committee beg , in concluding this report fo express a hope that , in future , all lodges and brethren proposing candidates for the charities will inform Bro . Radley , the Secretary , of the ( act , as soon as possible , as much confusion and embarrassment have arisen from the neglect of forwarding this

necessary information . The coinmitlco appended a list of those male annuitants , widows and children , who are recipients of tlie respective charities ; also those who are receiving the benefit of our own Lincolnshire Benevolent Fund , with the date of admission and name of lodge with whicli they are connected . The brethren then walked in procession to the site of fche

proposed new Masonic Hall for tho purpose of laying the foundation stone . There was a good attendance of spectators , but the platform erected for the accommodation of ladies was nofc so crowded as had been expected , owing doubtless to the heavy shower of rain which fell during the morning . The D . Prov . G . M . laid the corner stone with the usual Masonic observances , a bottle containing a scroll , on which the following was written , being previously deposited in the cavity :

" The foundation stone of this Masonic Hull was laid , in the absence of his Grace the Duke of St . Albans , Prov . G . M . of Freemasons of Lincolnshire , by Bro . IV . H . Smyth , D . Prov . G . M ., and other Grand Officers , upon the occasion of the Prov . G . Loilge , held at Lincoln , August 17 th , 1871 . Bro . W . AVatkins , W . M . of the W itham Lodge , architect ; Messrs . Otter and Binns , builders . "

Then follow the names of the officers of the AVitham Lodge , and also those of the Chairman and Directors of the Masonic Hall Company . The new building is in the geometrical style of English architecture , having deeply recessed entrances , and windows next Newland on the ground storey , with three tracery-headed windows in the centre of the iirst floor , over which are four

medallions with Masonic emblems carved in the centre , aud these are surmounted b y an ornamental cornice and pierced parapet . The Masonic apartments will consist of a room 35 feet by 24 feet , and IS feet high , with preparation and reception rooms convenientl y adjoining . There will also be a concert-room , 78 feet by 32 inside , and 25 feet high , having galleries on both sides and at the south end , with the orchestra and retiring

rooms and the attendant conveniences afc the north end . The latter rooms will be fitted up with cooking range , hot plate , boiler , and every convenience necessary for providing for large public dinners , tea meetings , & c After the ceremony the brethren returned to tlie lodge-room , and transacted the usual routine business . Subsequently a banquet was provided at the Saracen ' s Head by Brother Thornton , the duties of chairman being ably discharged by the

D . Prov . G . M . LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . LANCASTER . —Lodqe of Fortitude ( No . 281 ) . —The reaular

meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms , Athenanim , on AVednesday llth instant , under the presidency of the AV . M ., Bro . Dr . Moore , G . S . B . England . There were also present : — Bros . John Hatch , I . P . M . ; John Barrow , as S . W . ; W . Fleming , J . AV . ; James Hatch , P . M . and Treas . ; E . Simpson , P . M . and Sec ; E . Airoy , S . D . ; G . Ingall , as J . D . ; John Harrison , I . G . ; . James Taylor , Org . ; J . Watson , Tyler ; J . Beeley , Serving Bro . Christopher Hartley , AV . M . 1353 ; R . Batcson , J . Bell , Bradshaw

Bailie , R . Balfour , E . A . P . Visitors : —Bros . Edwin Lambert Lieut , in the Prussian Artillery , who was wounded in the Franco-Prursian war , and received the well-merited decoration of the Iron Cross ; W . Robinson , P . M . 730 ; J . Conlan , R . Harger . The lodge was opened punctually at the time appointed , and the usual business transacted . The lodge then took into consideration tbe terms upon which the lodge room and furniture should be let to the Rowley Chapter and to

the Duke of Lancaster Lodge , the result being that the use of the lodge Room , & c , was granted upon such terms as amply indicated the truly fraternal feeling which existed on the part of the Lodge of Fortitude towards the other Masonic bodies in the town . Bro . I ! . Balfour , E . A . P ., having g iven proof of his proficiency in the first degree , was duly passed to the degree of F . C . by the W . M ., the working tools being presented by Bro . Barrow , the acting S . AV . The lecture on tlie tracing board of the second degree was I hen delivered by the AA ' . M . A candidate for initiation was proposed hy Bro . James Hatch , P . M ., and the business of the evening being ended , the lodge was closed iu due form .

LIVERPOOL . — St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 673 ) . — The regular meeting of this Lodge was held afc the Royal Mersey Yacht Club Hotel , 90 , Duke Street , on the 5 th ult ., for the purpose of installing Bro . Henry Nelson . There was a numerous attendance of visitors , including Bros . James Hamer , Prov . G . Treas . for West Lancashire : J . Ashmore , P . M . 823 ; S . AA . Sutton , P . M . 464 ; T . Sergeant , AA' . M . 594 ; P . M . Larson , P . M . 594 : J . Pembertou , P . M . 1262 ; J . Taylor . AV . M . 1261 ; J . K .

Smith , W . M , 249 ; and R . Hill , P . M . 546 . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , two candidates were regularly initiated by Bro . T . Clark , AV . M . The Lodge was then opened in the second degree , Bros AA ' . T . May , P . M ., and Bro . J . Ilncken , P . M ., presented Bro . A . Nelson for installation . The W . M . elect having agreed to the Antient Charges , was referred to a Board of Installed Masters , who iu due and solemn manner , performed the ceremony of installation .

Tho Lo . lgc having been closed down in regular order to the first degree , the W . M . proceeded to invest his officers : —Bros . J . T . Callow , S . AV . ; E . Kyle , J . AV . ; R . Pearson , P . M ., Treas ; AA'idclcws , Sec . ; Digges , S . D . ; Roberts , J . O . ; Burrows , I . G . ; Mealor and Buck nail , Stewards ; AV . J . May , P . M ., as D . C . ; Crawford , Tyler . A vote ofthanks was passed to Bro . Hamer , P . G . T ., and Bro . T . Clark , P . M ., for I he able and efficient manner iu which they had discharged tlie duties of installation . A Past Master ' s

jewel was also uniiniinonsly voted to Bro . Clark , P . M ., af ' ter which thelodge was duly and solemnly closed . Aparty of about 150 ladies and brethren subsequently proceeded hy steamer to Eastham , where they engaged in dancing and various games till a late hour . A sumptuous repast was provided by Mr . Gough at the hotel , and fche usual Loyal and Masouic toasts were honoured