The Meeting Of Grand Lodge.

THE MEETING OF GRAND LODGE

THE Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , to be held on Wednesday next , will doubtless attract a large gathering of Craftsmen , by reason of the proposals made with a view to carrying out the suggestion of Grand Lodge , as to the future management of Masonic affairs in the colonies . The

Board of General Purposes proposes to abolish the Colonial Board , with which object Rules 282 to 287 of the Constitutions are to be repealed , and we have no doubt it will be found much more beneficial to the English Craft to have all its

affairs controlled by the one Board , rather than by two distinct ones as is now the case , with occasional friction and complications by reason of having to conduct business in a roundabout fashion .

It is further proposed that the Board of General Purposes shall be strengthened by the addition of the Treasurer , Registrar , Deputy Registrar , and Director of Ceremonies of Grand Lodge together with Past Presidents of the Board of General Purposes , and the President of the Board of Benevolence , while the Grand

Master will in future only nominate six of the other members of the Board , leaving eighteen members to be elected by Grand Lodge , instead of the fourteen as now arranged . Other minor

alterations are also proposed for the consideration of the Craft , and will doubtless receive due attention at next week ' s assembly , the business of which includes the annual election of different

officials , as arranged for the June meeting year by year . Another proposal is the appointment of an Assistant Grand Secretary for German Correspondence , instead of the former Grand Secretary , for that section of the work , the latter office having been vacant since the death of Dr . Wendt in 1892 .

There is the annual notice of motion standing in the name of Bro . J . A . Farnfield , asking for a grant of £ 70 to provide the inmates of the Benevolent Institution at Croydon with coals for the winter months , which will doubtless be

carried ; and another by Bro . W . Woodward P . M . 1920 , asking Grand Lodge to issue a circular setting forth the scheme suggested by him , under which the Freemasons of England would contribute to the Decoration Fund of St . Paul ' s

Cathedral , so as to ascertain the opinion of the Craft on the point , but we venture to think there will be no need for the circular , as we shall be much surprised if the representatives

of Grand Lodge present on Wednesday do not show in an unmistakable manner that such proposals are not regarded by them as coming within the scope of the work of the Craft . The suggestion should be vetoed at the outset .

Seventeen new Lodges have been Warranted by the Grand Master during the quarter , of which no less than six are situate in the London district , while another noticeable feature

18 the scarcity of new Lodges for places beyond the seas . t is not often that the new list is made up as in the present ln -stance , but it proves that at home , at least , Freemasonry is prospering .

East Lancashire.

EAST LANCASHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of the Eastern Division of the County Palatine of Lancaster was held at the People ' s Hall , Denton , on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult . The Brethren began to assemble in the neighbouring schools at an early hour in the afternoon , and shortly after 3 p . m . formed in procession . Passing under a wide and substantial awning which

spanned the road , they entered the hall , where Brother Col . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie Past Grand Warden of England Provincial Grand Master occupied the chair of K . S . In the absence , through illness , of Bro . George Mellor Deputy Prov . Grand Master , the position was assumed by Bro . Edmund Ashworth P . G . Deacon England Prov . Grand Senior Warden .

The Provincial Grand Master having been saluted m the customary manner , Bro . Wm . Goldthorpe Prov . G . Registrar called the roll , when it transpired that there were one or more representatives present from each Lodge in the Province . Bro . John Chadwick P . G . Sword Bearer England Prov . G .

Secretary then called the roll of Prov . Grand Officers , and read letters of apology for unavoidable absence from Bros . George Mellor D . P . G . M ., who enclosed a certificate from his medical attendant , Geo . H . Holt P . G . Deacon , Thos . Stott Prov . G . Treasurer , T . H . Williams P . G . Standard Bearer , E . G . Harwood

P . P . G . W ., J . W . Allison P . P . G . Treas ., Major John Heap Prov

S . G . Deacon , James Kershaw P . P . G . D . C , and John Kenyon P . P . G . J . D . Past District Grand Warden Malta . In spite of these defections , however , 120 Provincial Officers , and nearly 350 Brethren subscribed their names as being in attendance . The printed minutes of the meeting held at the Town Hall ,

Salford , in November last , were accepted as read , and accordingly confirmed . The Treasurer ' s accounts were then submitted , but in the absence of Bro . Stott , the holder of the Office , Bros . W . H . Brown P . M . 231 , Eli Winterbottom P . M . 1773 , and

Thomas Murphy P . M . 37 , the Auditors , commented most favourably upon the same , making the qualifying announcement that , through the exercise of economy , a balance of over £ 4 . 00 stood to the credit of Provincial Grand Lodge in the Manchester and County Bank .

From this report it appears that there are 108 Lodges in the Province , with an aggregate of 4 , 645 members , each of the following six Lodges claiming 80 or over : Zetland 92 , Integrity 87 , Perseverance , Blackburn , 86 , Strangeways 82 , Unity , Oldham , 81 , Tudor , Oldham , 80 .

Two Brethren had been nominated for the position of Provincial Grand Treasurer , but one of them withdrew , and the other , Bro . John Wrigley , Duke of Athol Lodge , No . 210 , was elected .

Bro . John Chadwick Prov . Grand Secretary then read his 16 th annual report , which contained some very interesting items . He stated that during the year a new Lodge , the Abbey , No . 2529 , had been consecrated at Whalley , by the Prov . Grand

Master of Surrey , who had also installed the W . M .-designateina manner that would not be forgotten by those who witnessed it , and whose sudden demise some time afterwards had created among his Brethren feelings of sincere sorrow . Death had taken from the Province during the vear twenty-eight Brethren .

When their present Provincial Grand Master was installed the Province contained 76 Lodges , with 3 , 419 members , a contrast to their present position with 108 Lodges , and 4 , 645 members . One Lodge , the Manchester , No . 2554 . awaited

consecration . The reduction of members during the year by resignations , deaths , and exclusions was 336 , while the increase had been : Initiates 402 , Joining Members 110 . The report was adoDted .

Brother Starkie Prov . Grand Master then addressed the Brethren . In very flattering terms he expressed himself as delighted with the excellent arrangements which had been made by the Managing Committee for the reception and entertainment