East Lancashire.

of Provincial Grand Lodge . He reverted to the increased prosperity of the Province , and again impressed upon his hearers how necessary it was to be cautious in the admission into Lodges of members who were likely to bring discredit upon them . The gathering of that day had been a most successful one , and he congratulated the Duke of Athol Lodge upon this fact . Bro . Starkie ' s remarks were received with the greatest enthusiasm .

Bro . Chadwick Prov . Grand Secretary then read the report of the Charity Committee , which , after being commented upon in detail by Bro . Sillitoe , who appealed to the Masters of Lodges to send in as early as possible their proxies for the use of the Committee , were adopted .

The following five Brethren , being donors or subscribers to the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , were elected members of the General Committee : Bros . W . T . Allitt , A . Clegg , H . Heys , Jas . Walker and Chr . Wren .

A notice of motion stood in the name of the Prov . Grand Secretary , which was seconded by the Prov . Grand Master , " That the clothing for Provincial Grand Stewards be purchased by and remain the property of Provincial Grand Lodge . " It was explained that great benefit would accrue to the Province if this arrangement were carried into effect , and upon being put to the meeting the proposition was carried .

The next proposition was by Bro . Sillitoe , seconded by Bro . Major Booth P . M ., viz ., " That there be a Finance Committee appointed , consisting of three Past Provincial Grand Officers . " After discussion the number was ultimately altered to five , three to form a quorum , their duties to be defined , the final settlement of the question being deferred until the meeting in November .

A resolution " That the Assistant Provincial Grand

Secretary have an allowance of £ 25 per annum " was passed . The function which followed was a very imposing one , and a just tribute to the Duke of Athol Lodge , which had attained its centenary . The Worshipful Master and principal Officers approached the pedestal , and were presented by the Prov . Grand Master with the Centenary Warrant and Jewel .

Bro . Starkie Prov . G . M . was the persona grata of the next incident , he being presented by the W . M . of the Duke of Athol Lodge with a jewel , which bore a suitable inscription . The donor stated that in honouring Col . Starkie they were only conferring honour upon themselves . The ceremony , which was of short duration , elicited great applause .

Bro . Jas . Heelis moved , and Bro . J . Andrew seconded , " That the sum of £ 50 be contributed from the Provincial Grand Lodge fund in aid of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . " This led to

amendments that the sum be increased to £ 100 and £ 200 , seeing that there was over £ 400 in the bank . Ultimately it was resolved that the grant be £ 100 , and Bro . Heelis gave notice that at the November meeting he should move that £ 200 be contributed to various Masonic Charities , £ 50 each to the Boys , Girls , Old Men ' s and Old Women ' s Funds .

Bro . Starkie then invested his Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year as follows : — Bros . Hon . Lord Stanley 37 - - - Senior Warden Henry Whitehead 1253 - - - Junior Warden

Rev . John Ivclty 210 - - . )„ , , . Rev . John Thos . Challenor 2322 - - j Chaplains John Wrigley 210 - - - - Treasuror R . T . Sutcliffe 1064 - - - ) _ . W . H . Norton 1534 - - - r -Begistrar

John Chadwick 44 ... Secretary Arthur Middleton 64 - - - -. Dr . Thos . D . Foreman 210 - - £ Senior Deacons A . P . Millar 2193 - - - - i

William Barntt 191 - - - , J . B . Goulbourn 1723 - - - \ Junior Deacons Thomas Ramsay 2387 1 ' J . W . Millward 992 ... Superintendent of Works A . H . Duffin 1134 .... Director of Ceremonies James Frost 2320 .... Dep . Dir . of Ceremonies William Bee 1459

Jas . Norman Woolmer C 78 - - C Assist . Dir . of Ceremonies Fred W . Wollaston 2363 - - - ) Thomas Rigby 42 - - - . L , George Jackson 1077 - - . Sword Bearers

• James Bromley 210 - - ) „ . , , _ Wm . Bear jun . 2529 - - - J Standard Bearers Thos . Wolstenholme 1634 - - - Organist James Newton 37 - - - - Assistant Secretary W . T . Allitt 993 - - - . ) Councl . William Oilier 935 - . " Pursuivant

Jas . E . Smith 210 - - - - \ Wm . Thorniley 210 ... Edwin Walker 210 ... Clement Wallworth 1459 - - . h Stewards

Wm . Hy . Bcastow 1459 - - . James Beardmore 852 - - . / E . H . Flower 999 - - - - Tyler .

Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , the major portion of the Brethren adjourned to the Christ Church Schools , where the usual banquet followed . Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , which were agreeably diversified by songs , & c .

Gloucestershire.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Master , Sir M . Hicks Beach , Bart . M . P ., P . S . G . W . of England , has arranged that the annua Festival of this Grand Lodge will be held , by permission of Brother the Dean , Grand Chaplain of England , in the Chapter House of Gloucester Cathedral on the afternoon of Wednesday , There will be a special service in the Cathedral , when the DeaD *

Dr . Spence , will preach , and a collection will be taken on behalf of the Lady Chapel Restoration Fund . After the transaction of business , a banquet will be served at the Bell Hotel .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE COLONIAL BOARD . To the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIB AND BBOTHEB , —The proposals of the Board of General Purposes submitted " for tho purpose of bringing the jurisdiction of the Colonial Board under that of the General Board , and unifying the affairs of the General Craft , as was the case before 1838 " go , I think , far beyond what was expected or intended by Grand Lodge in March , and require very careful consideration before adoption .

They require to be carefully scrutinised from two points of view : First , with regard to their alleged intension , and their effect on Colonial matters ; and second , their intentional or unintentional effect on homo affairs . From both they seem distinctly objectionable , and will , I hope , be most jealously as well as carefully , scrutinised and debated .

As to the first point which most affects us abroad , the President of the Board of General Purposes stated in March last that the Colonial Board was constituted in 1856 " because there happened to be an unusually heavy amount of correspondence with the Brethren in Canada . Now , " he went on to say , " it is thought that , for the benefit of the Craft at home , and for the benefit of the Craft abroad and in the Colonies , it would be better that there should be one Board responsible to Grand Lodge , and responsible , at all events , to Brethren wherever situated . "

This would almost seem to imply that a special reason existed in 1856 which now has ceased to exist .

That a special reason did exist in 1856 is true ; it was the struggle attending the foundation of an Independent Grand Lodge in Canada , and the Colonial Board was tho outcome of the report of a special Committee of Grand Lodge appointed in March 1856 . To show what was the state of things then , it may not be amiss to quote a few words from the speech of the Grand Master in June 1856 : " There were Masons who desired to adhere to

the Grand Lodge of England in contradistinction to the rebellious Brethren ( hear ) , he would repeat the term rebellions Brethren , who would throw off their allegiance from the Grand Lodge of England , and form themselves , without authority , into an independent body . " In a letter written to Canada by order of the Colonial Board , on 16 th

April 1857 , the Grand Secretary said , " I am also desired to direct your attention to the appointment of a Colonial Board , for the sole purpose of transacting all business between the Grand Lodge of England and the district Grand Lodges , as an assurance that no efforts will be wanting to prevent all ground of complaint for the future . "

If this was the object for which the Colonial Board was constituted as a distinct Board and for which provision was made that when practicable three of the Board should be Past Masters of Colonial Lodges , I would ask whether it can be contended that there is no longer the same need for the

protection afforded us by the present system as existed in 1856 ? Are there no struggles going on of a similar nature now ? Are there no Brethren " wishing to adhere to their allegiance " in Australia ? in New Zealand ? in India ? in South Africa , and elsewhere , who need protection ? Let the proceedings in Grand Lodge for the last few years give the answer 1

The Colonial Board was constituted when the necessity for it arose ; and I think the general feeling of the Loyal Brethren throughout the Colonics will be that there was never a greater necessity for it than now I If , in the opinion of the Board of General Purposes , the Colonial Board has proved itself incompetent , or unfaithful , that may be a reason for changing the present men and putting in new blood ; but it is not a reason for taking the

work from a special tribunal , and giving it to a committee of a body elected for other duties . The scheme submitted is crude and imperfect ; and it is possible that on explanation it may not prove so objectionable as it seems ; but 1 have already trespassed too much upon your space , and will simply point out that as it stands :

1 . The Colonial Board is to be entirely abolished . 2 . There is no provision that there shall be a special Committee for Colonial affairs . If it is intended to appoint one we have no information as to its intended duties or composition . 3 . There is no provision for a single Colonial on the Board ; and if a Colonial should be elected by chance , it would not follow that he would be on the Colonial Committee .

I trust the whole scheme may be thrown out , or at least referred back for further consideration , and full time given to the Colonies to show their mind upon it . The 2 nd part of the subject , the home side of the question , is important also , but this I will not go into at present . Yours fraternally , LEX SCBIPTA .

A new volume of the Pseudonym Library is to appear next month under the title of " Cause and Effect . " The contents will be found more attractive than their title ; " Cause ana Effect" being , by all accounts , a bright story .