Grand Lodge Next Week.

GRAND LODGE NEXT WEEK .

'"PHERE is a full agenda of what we may term * routine business to come under the notice of Grand Lodge on Wednesday next , although happily there is little of a controversial or unpleasant nature .

Members of different Boards have to be first elected , and then Grand Lodge will consider the Report of the Board of Benevolence , in which are recommendations of five grants of ^ " 50 each , one of £ 6 o , and one of £ 150 .

The Report of the Board of General Purposes contains a reference to an appeal to Parliament which was rendered necessary in order to maintain the rights possessed by Grand Lodge in property scheduled in the

" London Improvements Bill . " Happily an amicable arrangement was arrived at , and it may be possible at no very distant period for . Grand Lodge to secure a much better frontage for its property than it at present

enjoys , but even if this does not happen , Grand Lodge will certainl y reap some benefit from the improvements contemplated b y the London County Council in its

neighbourhood . The improvement has been talked of for twenty years and more , but appears to be now likel y to be carried into effect .

New Trustees of the personal property of Grand Lodge being required , to fill vacancies caused by death , the Board recommends the election of the Earl of Lathom and ViscOunt Dungarvan .

•Bro . Frank Richardson proposes to expunge Rule 137 of the Book of Constitutions , which requires the Master and Wardens of London Lodges to sign their

names m a book at the office of the Grand Secretary , and the Board approves the suggestion—a very wise course , we consider , seeing that the Rule is more often honoured in the breach , than the observance .

We give a full " copy of the Agenda elsewhere in this issue , as also of that in connection with the Grand Lodge of Mark Masons .

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge met on Thursday at the Public Hall , Preston , for the purpose of installing the Right Honourable the Earl of Lathom as Provincial Grand Master , in succession to his father , the late Earl . Earl Amherst Pro Grand Master presided , and among the chiefs of the Craft present were Bros . E . Letchworth G . SecR .

, Wylie P . G . D . D . P . G . M ., J .-D . . Murray P . G . Treas ., T . T . Lambert P . G . D ., Rev . T . Barton Spencer P . G . Chap ., John Houlding P . G . D ., G . S . Sinclair P . G . D ., W . F . Smithson

P . G . D ., R . Newhouse P . G . S . B . Prov . G . Sec ! Cheshire , James Newton P . G . S . B . Prov . G . Sec . East Lancashire , W . Goodacre P . G . S . B . Prov . G . Sec . West Lancashire , T . M . M'Leod P . G . S . B ., and J . J . Thomas P . G . S . B .

The Earl Amherst installed Lord Lathom in regular form , and , in addressing the Brethren , referred to the very valuable Masonic work which the late Earl performed during his occupancy of the same position , extending over a period pf 25 years . He expressed the hope that the Province as a

West Lancashire.

whole would give its new Grand Master the support which he thoroughly deserved . At the close of the installation ceremony the Provincial Master appointed and invested Bro . Robert Wylie as his Deputy .

The roll of Provincial Grand Officers and Loages , the latter numbering 121 , was read by the Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . W . Goodacre , and showed that all the retiring principal Officers were present with three exceptions , and that all the Lodges were represented with one exceptionthe . Sefton , No . 680 .

The minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge and the accounts of the Provincial Grand Treasurer were taken as read , and passed . The financial statement showed

that the income on the Chanties Fund , the Provincial Grand . Lodge Fund , and the Fund of Benevolence amounted to £ 1 , 965 5 s , and the disbursements to £ 799 19 s 7 d , leaving a balance in hand of £ 1 , 165 6 s 5 d .

Bro . Dr . R . Prosser White was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , and the Auditors for the ensuing year were appointed . On the motion of Bro . R . Wylie , it was resolved that 200 guineas be voted from the Charities Fund of West

Lancashire to the Lord Lathom Memorial Fund , in connection with the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , for the purpose of securing the presentation of candidates on the foundations of the London Schools for Boys and Girls , and the Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows .

The Provincial Grand Secretary , in his report , remarked that in mourning the loss of their late Provincial Grand Master the lining of the cloud was brightened by the choice of His Royal Highness the Grand Master , who , in selecting his lordship to fill the position held by his revered father , had

carried into effect what those of them who were privileged to enjoy the confidence of their late Provincial Grand Master knew to have been one of the dearest wishes of his heart . During the year over 800 candidates had been initiated , and the roll of members had been increased to over 8 , 000 , an

average of 67 per Lodge . The Benevolence and Charity Committee had made grants to Brethren and Widows amounting to £ 95 . The West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution had now invested about £ 23 , 000 . Its income for the year 18 9 8 was £ 2 , 000 , and its expenditure

upon 215 children on the foundation amounted to £ 1 , 500 . The Hamer Institution had vested funds amounting to £ 5 , 200 . Its income in 18 9 8 was £ 700 , and it assisted 25 Brethren by grants and annuities amounting to £ 4 63 . The Alpass Institution , with vested funds amounting to £ 7 , ,

and an income of £ 1 , 200 , had 65 Widows on its foundation , who received annuities amounting to £ 1 , 300 ; whilst the Victoria Fund had made grants to several deserving cases , to the amount of £ 70 . The Provincial Grand Officers were invested .

In the evening a banquet was held , and during the proceedings an excellent selection of music was performed by the Euterpean Ladies' Orchestra , under the direction ot the Misses Scott .

HHHE Provincial Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons JL was held in Preston , on Thursday morning , at which the Earl of Lathom was installed Provincial Grand Superintendent in succession to his father , the late Earl .

R.M. I. Girls.

R . M . I . GIRLS .

WE are asked to announce that Thursday , Sth inst ., is the last day for receiving petitions for the October election of this Institution .