Provincial Grand Lodge Of Ayrshire.

1814—since the Freemasons of Kilwinning were employed in a similar ceremony as that which had just been completed . On that occasion they laid the foundation of the kirk tower , which was familiar to them . Ho had no doubt a great many of them , and particularly the ladies , who , generally speaking , were supposed to be more curious than men —( laughter)—might wonder what the object

of Freemasonry was . Well , the object of Freemasonry was in itself a most excellent one , as the Craft consisted of a vast number of men , throughout the whole world , banded together in order to promote that which is good . People mig ht sometimes say to themselves , " Are Freemasons better than any other body ? " All he knew was that if thev were not , they ought to be , because they bound

themselves by solemn vows to be better than other people . ( Laughter and applause . ) With regard to education , he would say this for the Freemasons in Ayrshire , that , quite independent of the great educational movement which had been going on for some years in this country , they had tried to do a little for education , because they had already collected a subscription among themselves by which

they could afford to give £ 20 a-year to enable the son of a Freemason to leave the parish school with the prospect of securing a higher education , and do , as many Scotchmen had done before him , raise himself in condition and intellectual power . That was not a very great great thing , but it was a step in tho right direction . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho quite admitted , however , when he knew what a

vast organisation Freemasonry is , and when he looked at the enormous ramifications of Masonry throughout the world , that he would not grumble if they did a little more good than they had done . ( Applause . ) The gallant Colonel then referred to the various emblems which had been used in the ceremony , and explained their meanings and applications . In the course of his remarks on these heads , he

observed that when he took the sheaf of corn in his hand he could not help thinking that it formed in some parts of this island not only the emblem of prosperity , but in some sense it might be said to be not an unfit emblem of the ignorance that prevailed in certain parts of Her Majesty ' s dominions . He alluded to the wretched condition of the children employed in agriculture in the South of

England , and in various counties in this country ; and when he thought of that , and also remembered that it was not so very long ago that the standard of their education was lowered , in order to meet the blind folly of the farmers of England , he could not help congratulating himself that in Scotland , at least , our farmers had not come forward and said , " We cannot afford to collect tho gift

of a bountiful Providence unless our children are kept in ignorance . ( Hear , hear . ) That in itself was to him a subject of sincere congratulation , and looking , as they ought to do , with a more extended eye , let them hope the day was not far distant when the compulsory powers we had in this happy part of Her Majesty's dominions might be welcomed by all classes and trades in the whole of this great and

otherwise prosperous island . ( Applause . ) Ihe lion , gentleman then commented on the harmony which had prevailed at tho school board , congratulating the gentlemen engaged on having sot aside their relig ions differences in their desire that little children who were ignorant might be taught . He also congratulated tho people of this country that while the leading men of other nations had to

take up their time considering questions which stirred up the worst passions of their countrymen , or questions of peace or war , our great men devoted themselves to public education , and to efforts to improve the condition of the children of the country . By our future Acts , by our reformatories , by our industrial schools , and by this great effort—this great educational scheme—he hoped , by the

blessing of God , we would become before many years were passed a happier , better , and more Christian people . ( Applause . ) The Hon . Mr . Vernon , on behalf of his colleagues , the members of the School Board of Kilwinning , thanked Colonel Mure and those who assisted him for their kindness . Eeferring to an observation which fell from Colonel Mure regarding the importance of unanimity , he

remarked the board had worked most harmoniously and unanimously . Colonel Mure acknowledged the compliment . Three cheers were then given in succession , for the Queen , for Colonel Mure , and for the members of the school board . The Freemasons subsequently formed into procession , and marched into town , followed by the people who had witnessed the proceedings at the ceremony . In the evening a large company of gentlemen , including the members

of the school board and others who took part in the ceremony , met at dinner in the hall connected with the Eglinton Arms Hotel . The Hon . Mr . Vernon occupied the chair , and Mr . Eoger Montgomerie , M . P ., and Mr . Ealston Patrick officiated as croupiers . After dinner , the Chairman intimated the receipt of letters of apology for absence from Lord Rosslyn , Sir Wm . Cnninghame , M . P . ; Dr . Taylor , secretary to tho Education Board ; Mr . Smollett , and other gentlemen .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

BY command of Bro . the Eight Hon . Lord de Tabley , Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , the annual meeting oJ the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire was hold on Thursday , the 23 rd of September , in tho Mechanics' Institution , at Hyde , which is situated a few miles from Manchester , for the purpose of transacting the annual business of tho province . The Masonic province ol

Cheshire comprises Chester , Stockport , Birkenhead , Cheadle , Staleybridge , Runcorn , Congleton , Seacombe , Egremont , Newton , Macclesfield , Hyde , Nantwich , Northwich , Knutsford , Crewe , ana other towns , there being altogether about 40 Lodges , and each oi these sent representatives , some in large numbers , to attend tht annual meeting of tho province . Besides the It . AY . P . G . M ., then were present about 40 Provincial Grand Officers , about 360 AY . M . ' s

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

P . M . ' s , officers and members of Lodges in the province , and nearly 50 visitors from East and AYest Lancashire and other provinces . Tho town of Hyde , which is certainly not attractive in situation nor surroundings , wore quite a holiday aspect , banners and flags floating in nearly every direction , and at various points the motto " Welcome to Lord de Tabley " was displayed , this welcome being given especially

by the members of the Lodge of Industry , No . 361 , Hyde ( which sent 61 representatives ) , and the Clarendon Lodge , No . 1166 , Hyde . The annual meeting was held under the auspices of these Lodges . Business was announced to begin at half-past twelve o ' clock , and shortly after that time Lord de Tabley opened the Provincial Grand Lodge in due form . Letters and telegrams of apology for

nonattendance were read from Bro . G . Cornwall Legh D . P . G . M ., Bro . Lord Grosvenor , and others ; after which tho rolls of P . G . officers and Lodges were read . The minutes of tho last annual meeting at Chester on the 17 th September 1874 , were also read and confirmed , as well as the minutes of the committee of the Fund of Benevolence , held at Crewe in March , of which Bro . Captain Copo P . G . S . B . of

England was unanimously re-elected chairman . Bro . Lord de Tabley P . G . M ., in accordance with his custom in previous years , then addressed the brethren on the present position and prospects of Masonry in his province . It was to him a great happiness to be able to continue the same congratulation which he expressed last year in reference to the Craft in his division .

Freemasonry was flowing on uninterruptedly in its prosperity—increasing in numbers , and he hoped increasing in the influence it exercised on the opinions of the society in which it existed . He had the greatest pleasure in seeing the Lodges of the province over which he had tho honour to preside so fully and numerously represented as they were that day ; and it was also a source of satisfaction to him to have the

welcome given to the P . G . Lodge in that North-east portion of tho province—a welcome , he was sure , which would long remain green and fresh in their memories . He had before spoken of the care which ought to be exercised as to the respectability of those initiated into their Order , and he would again urge them to exercise this caution , striving not to secure mere numbers , but assuring

themselves of tho characters and sterling worth of those they introduced . ( Applause . ) He would also say that , proud as he was of the number of the Lodges over which ho presided , be was above all anxious for the stability of those Lodges in every part of the province . The minute books of the different Lodges , ho said , had been carefully kept , and showed considerable improvement ; but he would remind

the secretaries of Lodges of tho necessity of stating in each case in the minutes , and also on the circulars , the cause for holding Lodges of Emergency . The gift of a pulpit , which they had last year made to the cathedral at Chester , was still incomplete owing to tho whole of the promised subscriptions not having been received ; but he was certain he had only to mention this to have the

moneys paid up without delay . He had no doubt that be would soon bo able to report that tho pulpit , which was being erected under tho direction of Mr . Gilbert Scott , would be one in every respect worthy of their Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) Their charities had again been very successful during the year , and they had succeeded in electing ono old woman for the London institution , and there was every prospect

of their boy candidate being elected in October . He trusted that their charity in the future would enable them to be successful in connection with coming elections , and he cordially urged tho claims of all their charities on tho hearty support of the brethren . His lordship then referred to the deaths of prominent members of the Craft in that province during tho year , alluding specially to Bros .

Crutenden , Dr . Evans , Terry , and William Bullcy , eacb of whom had done honour to Masonry . The P . G . Treasurer stated that the balance to the credit of tho funds of P . G . Lodge amounted to £ 406 7 s 9 d , and the sum of £ 1 , 236 18 s 6 d was the balance to the credit of the fund of benevolence . The financial report was adopted , and Bro . F . Jackson was

unanimusly re-elected P . G . Treasurer . Bro . G . W . Latham P . P . G . Eeg . then moved , "That a grant of 500 guineas bo made from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the purpose of aiding in the purchase of a perpetual presentation to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys ; such grant to be on tho condition that a sufficient additional sum be raised in tho province to

make up the amount required by the governors of the institution for such privilege . " He stated that this was probably tho largest sum which the brethren had ever been called upon to vote for charity , but he had no doubt they would cordially fall in with the proposition . The usual cost of a perpetual presentation was 1 , 500 guineas , but tho governors of tho Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys had generously

agreed to reduce it to 1 , 000 guineas . The raising of the other 500 guineas would take some consideration , but he thought a way was already seen by which the sum might be raised . He also proposed that Bros . Horatio Lloyd P . G . S . AY ., J . AYood P . G . Reg ., G . VY . Latham P . P . G . Eeg ., and J . E . Williams P . M . of the Costriau Lodge , Chester , be appointed a committee to confer with tho governors of tho

Cheshire Educational Institution , and also with tho governors of tho Boys' School , London , with reference to tho matter . Bro . Bulley seconded tho moiiou , which was adopted unanimously . Tho following were then appointed P . G . officers for tho ensuing year : —Bros . G . Cornwall Legh D . G . M ., Horatio Lloyd P . G . S . W ., Captain H . A . Bennett P . G . J . IV ., Eev . It . Hodgson P . G . C ., Rev . J . S .

Uarvell P . G . C ., F . Jackson P . G . Treas ., J . Wood P . G . R &<; ., E . H . Griffiths P . G . Sec , J . E . AYilliams P . G . S . D ., J . Hibbert P . G . J . D ., E . I ' . Bowden P . G . S . of W ., AYilrnot Eardley P . G . D . C ., P . Wads worth P . G . A . D . C ., Captain Arrowsmith P . G . S . B ., J . Travis P . G . O ., Ji . Sykca L' . G . P ., J . Swindells P . G . Tyler , and Bros . J . Boaulmau , F . Bread-> mith , M . H . Bradley , W . Berry , G . Hosketh , and J . Turner , P . G . Stewards .

Bro . Horatio Lloyd P . G . S . AY ., in a few well-chosen words , conveyed io the P . G . M . the pleasure felt by the brethren at bis restoration to health , which would enable him to stay during the whole of tho day ' s proceedings . Lorcldo Tabley briefly acknowledged the kind expression of sympathy by tho brethren . The P . G . M . then weseiitod charity