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23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C

Provincial G. Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL G . LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

WEDNESDAY , 21 st September , was a memorable day in Macclesfield—the town being honoured by the visit of the Prov . G . L . of Cheshire Freemasons , who mustered in greater force than at any previous Provincial meeting . Every one of the 38 Lodges in the province was represented , and tbe assembly of Provincial Grand Officers was a very influential and imposing one . The brethren of

the two Macclesfield Lodges ( 295 and 267 ) bad made very complete arrangements for the reception of the P . G . Lodge , and their efforts were very generously seconded by the inhabitants generally . His Worship the Mayor kindly granted the use of the Town Hall for the banquet , and for the accommodation of the Right Hon . Lord de Tabley and the Prov . Grand Officers in the earlier part of the day , and the

spacious Drill Hall was secured for tbe purposes of Prov . Grand Lodge , being very effectively and tastefnlly arranged nnder the supervision of the painstaking stewards and their zealous assistants among the junior brethren . The route of the procession—from the Drill Hall to the Old Church—was very beautifully decorated with garlands of evergreens , flags , banners , & c . A most effective design

bearing the word " Welcome , " contributed by Bro . Williams P . M . 267 , surmounted the portico of the Town Hall ; poles , wreathed with evergreens , supported a pendant wreath at the entrance to Chestergate ; handsome flags fluttered gaily from nearly every window and point of vantage , and the suspended wreaths at several stages in Cbestergate , marked the steps in tbe emblematical ladder of

Freemasonry , signalizing Faith , Hope , and Charity . The Assembl .-room was beautifull y decorated for the banquet , the Park Committee kindly lending plants and flowers for the decoration of the staircase and vestibule , and many kind frieuds lending flags and designs suitable for the occasion . Universal testimony was borne by the Brethren to the cordiality and generosity of their reception by the

inhabitants . At the honr fixed for the opening of the P . G . Lodge—one o ' clockthere were some four hundred brethren assembled in the Drill Hall nnder their respective banners . Soon after the timo named a flourish of trumpets signalised the arrival of the P . G . Master , who shortly afterwards entered the P . G . Lodge , being precedprl by the Heralds

and a most imposing and brilliant array of P . G . Officers , numbering upwards of sixty . On taking his seat npon the Throno the P . G . Master was saluted in ancient form . Amongst tho P . G . Officers present were Bros , tho Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., D . P G . M ., G . W . Latham , S . W . Wilkinson , H . Hall , Rev . C . E . firnh- < m . Jones . F . S . Gosling , G . Barlow , S . Bull , T . M . Lnckwood , H . Holbrook ( British

Columbia ) , W . I . Bates , H . Finch , J . Beach , J . K . Digges , R . Sykes , H . Collier , W . Matthews , T . Smith , F . ' A . DtVkson , A . E . Cokavn ' p , P . Wadsworth , T . H . "Kirk , J . Chadwiek , J . Hibbert , G . Mpllor P . G . Deacon of England and D . P . G . M . ( East Lancashire ) , E . Fripnd , J . A . Birch , J . Beresford , W . Greatorex , T . Morwond , J . Salmon , W . Mellor , T . Clesworth , W . Lyon , Rev . J . Camming Macdona , R . Risrbv , T . D . Simcock , T . Moore , T . Brookes , F . Jackson jnn ., E H . Griffiths , C .

Button , H . Bnlle . y , Rev . J . W . Tanner , W . Fair , R . Beales , G . A . Fernley , C . J . Howard . H . Jackson , & e . The Grand Lodgo having bpen opened by the Provincial Grand Master , the P . G . Secretary ( Bro . E . H . Griffiths ) called tbe roll and read the minutes of the last Provincial mpeting , held at Runcorn , which were confirmed , as were also the minutes of a meeting held at Frodsham last month , when the Cholmondeley Lodge was consecrated .

Bro . Lord De Tabley R . W . P . G . M ., who was received with loud applause , said that it was only three short months ago since he thought that he should not be present in Grand Lodge again ; and he now desired to express his gratitude to the Great Architect of the Universe ^ for his restoration to comparative health , and for having permitted him once more to meet so many of his brethren—not for

the last time , he hoped . He was happy to inform the brethren that during the past year there had been nothing of a startling nature to disturb ^ the tranquillity of their several Lodges , and not a single complaint had been made to the Provincial Grand Lodge—a fact which conld only he acconnfed for by the increaFed goodwill and brotherl y feeling which prevailed amongst the brethren as the

distinguishing characteristic of their Order . After referring to the improved manner in which tbe minntp books of tho Lodges were Kept , and to one or two points upon -which greater care ought to bp exercised , his lordship said that with regard to the general aspects of Freemasonry , it was refreshing and consoling to them as Masons to turn from the tormenting events which wero taking place in tho

outside world , and to find themselves within the calm atmosphere of an Order whose peculiar object was charity . While thoy had nothing to mar their qnietitude there wore many things disturbing ( ho ontsiVIe world most gricvonsl y . He need only to allude to that most terrible event across the Atlantic , which had sent a thrill of horror throno-h r . hn # » T „ : ii __ - •» ii ...... . _ . . _ .. f * uivmseo world

— = , and which ho knew would be shared in by every loyal Freemason . They sympathised with their brethren iu tho TJniteo states in having lost a most distinguished and most honest win ; ndthev most sincerely sympathisp . l with his widow and family in Qeir affliction . His lordship , in conclnsion , expressed the great pleasure he experienced in again flnding himself in Provincial Grand

Provincial G. Lodge Of Cheshire.

Under the direction of Bro . H . Finch P . G . D . C , and after trumpet flourishes by the Heralds , the Deputy P G . Master and the P . G . Wardens and other 0 ( Beers were proclaimed and saluted according to their rank . Bro . J . P . Piatt P . P . G . J . W . was re-appoiiited Chairman of the Fund of Benevolence , the P . G . M . referring to the valuable services which he ( Bro . Piatt ) had rendered during the time he bad held that office .

Lodgo at Macclesfield . They had not met there since 1868 , and ho need only tell the brethren of the town that they had given him even a more hearty welcome on this occasion than they had done at the last visit . Bro . F . Jackson P . G . Treasurer W . M . 295 ( Macclesfield ) , read the annual statement of accounts , from which it appeared that the amount now in the bank to the credit of the P . G . Lodgo was £ 165 ,

and the money invested was still in the bank . The sum of 100 guineas had been paid to tho Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution from the funds of the P . G . Lodge Fund of Benevolence , and there remained in hand a sum of £ 165 or £ 170 . On tho motion of Bro . the Hon . W . Egerton D . P . G . M ., the accounts were passed , and Bro . F . Jackson , on the motion of the P . G . M ., was unanimously re-elected P . G . Treasurer .

The R . W . P . G . M . then proceeded to appoint his Officers as follows : Bro . Hon . W . Egerton , M . P ., 321 - D . P . G . M . ( re-appointed ) G . W . Latham 321 - - - P . G . S . W . ( re-appointed ) J . H . Bellyse 293 - - - P . G . J . W . Rev . R . Hodgson 1045 . - P . G . Chaplain ( re-appointed ) Rev . J . F . Rounthwaite 428 P . G . Chaplain J . Hibbert 1166 - - - P . G . Registrar ( re-appointed )

E . H . Griffiths 293 - - - P . G . Secretary ( reappointed ) T . Lockitt 295 . - . P . G . S . D . R . Wood 267 .... P . G . J . D . J . J . Cunnah 721 P . G . Supfc . of Works H . Finch 104 .... P . G . Dir . of Cer . ( re-appoiated ) J . Siddeley 1945 - - . P . G . Asst . Dir . of Cer .

J . Dutton 477 - - - P . G . Sword Bearer H . Collier 104 .... P . G . Organist ( re-appointed ) J . H . Hartley 1126 - - . P . G . Pursuivant J . H . Holtaway 1289 - . P . G . Tyler ( re-elected ) Bros . J . H . Brookes 295 , S . Orme" ) 295 , R . Brown 295 , W . Harrison fpr Q 267 , G . H . J . Gundry 267 , and C , tr - bt 6 ward 3 C . A . Hordern 267 . . . . )

Bro . Lord De Tabley then invested Bros . J . B , Deakin , J . Hamilton , and Captain Gilbody with Charity Jewels in recognition of their services as Stewards at the Masonic Charity Festivals in London ; and Bros . T . Marwood , T . Chesworth , and H . Bully , were handed bars to add to the Charity Jewels which they had already possessed , iu recognition of further services in the same direction .

Bro . G . W . Latham P . G . S . W ., in pursuance of notice of motion , then moved that the sum of 100 guineas be voted from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge iu aid of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , London , and that the money should be invested in the name of the P . G . Lodge . He pointed out that the education and mainten . ance of the candidates elected from that Province at present cost the

sum of £ 120 annually , and he accordingly thought that the brethren would show their appreciation of this fact by unanimously voting the sum he had named . Auannual outlay of about £ 600 was now necessary to support the candidates from that Province iu the four Masonic Institutions in London—those for old men and women and for the boys and girls—aud , therefore , he asked for confirmation of his proposition

not merely as an act of charity , but also as an act of justice . The motion was carried by acclamation . The P . G . M . said he heartily endorsed all that bad been said on tbe subject , and congratulated the brethren generally on the proud position which the Province of Cheshire now held with regard to the Masonic Charities . On the motion of Bro . H . Bnlley , seconded by another Provincial

Grand Lodge Officer , it was unanimously resolved to increase the salary of Bro . H . Griffiths P . G . Secretary , from £ 80 to £ 100 per annum , the increase to date from last September . The P . G . M . expressed great satisfaction with the motion which had been passed , and spoke of the value and increased importance of the services which Bro . Griffiths had now to perform . The vote of the

P . G . Lodge was acknowledged with much feeling by the P . G . Secretary . On the motion of Bro . Lord Do Tabley , a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Rev . E . C . Turner , Vicar of St . Michael's Church , Macclesfield , for kindly granting the use of the Church for the service which followed during the afternoon . The P . G . M . afterwards

annonnced that he would hold his next annual meeting at Northwioh , and the P . G . Lodge waa then closed . The brethren then formed in procession , and , headed by the Militia Band ( under tho able leadership of Bro . Drum-Major Clarkin ) , proceeded through Chestorgate to the Old Church . The route was densely thronged i'i every part , every window being filled with

spectators , the ladies evidently being greatly interested in the proceedings . Tho brethren were attired in full Masonic clothing ; and one highly interesting feature to the spectators was the bearing of the open Bible en a handsome cushion , supported by Masters Jackson , Moore , Gaskell , and Goodwin , sons of members of tho Macclesfield Lodges . Arrived at tho chnrch , the brethren opened out right and left , aud

allowed the Prov . G . M . and the P . G . Officers to pass through , tho P . G . M . being preceded by his standard and sword-bearer , the brethren following in succession from the rear , thus inverting the order f procession . Notwithstanding the unpromising weather of the early morning , it was fortnnately fino during the procession , whioh

was thus of a very effective character . The body of-the church was reserved for tho Masonic brethren , the galleries being filled with general worshippers . The sermon was • reached by tho Provincial Grand Chaplain ( Bro . the Rev . J . F , Rounthwaite , of Northwioh ) , who selected as hia text the 17 th