Additional School Vacancies.

particular candidates , but we depart from our rule on this occasion on behalf of the lad Dixie , whose father was known to us for many years , we having been schoolfellows together , continuing our friendship in after life , and ultimately cementing

it by frequent meetings in Masonic Lodges . Happily our late Bro . Dixie made many friends in his lifetime , not a few of whom are working most strenuously on behalf of his son , whose

success , we sincerely hope , will be assured at the election on Friday . If any of our friends can spare a proxy or two for him we shall be specially obliged to them , and a really deserving case will be assisted .

Northumberland.

NORTHUMBERLAND .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge will be held in the Grand Assembly Booms , Newcastle , on the 30 th inst ., under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master Bro . the Bight Hon . Sir M . W . Eidley , Bart ., M . P . The consecration of three new Lodges will take place at the meeting ,

says the " Newcastle Daily Journal , " viz ., " The Temperance , " " The Delaval , " and "The Holmes , " which shows that Freemasonry is making good progress under the regime of Sir . M . W . Eidley .

Lincolnshire.

LINCOLNSHIRE ,

THE annual convocation of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Lincolnshire was held at Grimsby , on the 26 th ult ., Comp . William Harling Sissons , J . P ., D . L ., Grand Superintendent presiding over a large assemblage . The Provincial Superintendent delivered an interesting address , in the course of which be alluded to the excellent work done by the late Comp . Kirk as Grand Treasurer .

The Eegistrar reported an increase in tbe number of Companions , and the Acting Treasurer a balance in hand . Comps . F . J . Sowby ( Gainsborough ) and Wormald ( Lincoln ) were nominated for the Treasurership , and Comp . Sowby was elected , Toeing seconded by Comp . Sissons .

Ten guineas was voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and the Provincial Grand Officers were invested as follow : —

Comp . Jas . B . Morton - - - - 2 nd Principal W . H . Moore - - - - 3 rd Principal B . Vickers ----- Scribe E . W . Hirst Scribe N . B . Beeson ----- Principal Sojourner

F . Barrett - - - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner W . W . Sowby .... 2 nd Assistant Sojourner F . J . Sowby .... Treasurer J . L . Reyner .... Registrar

H . J . Atkinson .... Sword Bearer R . G . Pearson .... Standard Bearer W . H . Gane .... Master of Ceremonies G . H . Gregory .... Organist .

Worcestershire.

WORCESTERSHIRE .

BY command of the Provincial Grand Master Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., the annual Provincial Grand Mark Lodge

will be held at the Masonic HaU , Worcester , on Wednesday next , 9 th inst ., under the banner of the Lechmere Lodge , No . 59 , which will be opened at 4 o ' clock , when the ceremony of

Advancement will be worked , after which tbe Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Officers will enter the Lodge , and having been received with the customary honours , the Provincial Grand Lodge will be opened in due form at 5 o ' clock .

The business of the meeting will be of the ordinary character , and will include an address on the subject of Mark Masonry , delivered by the Eev . Bro . J . W . Down P . G . Chaplain , after which a collection will be made on behalf of the Mark Benevolent Fund , for the Festival of which a Steward will be nominated , as representative of the Province .

Somersetshire.

SOMERSETSHIRE

PROVINCIAL Graud Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Somerset was held on Tuesday of last week , in tbe Masonic Hall at Bath , when all the Lodges in the Province were represented . The Brethren attended in large numbers , among them being Viscount Dungaivan Deputy Grand Mark Master of England ,

Somersetshire.

Bro . C . F . Matier Grand Secretary , and Bro . Baron de Ferrieres Provincial G . M . Worcestershire P . P . G . M . Gloucestershire and Hereford . Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in ancient form by the Prov . G . M . Bro . E . C . Else , who was supported by a full muster of present and past P . G . L . Officers .

Tbe Treasurer ' s accounts were highly satisfactory , and a substantial sum was voted to the Mark Benevolent Fund . The Prov . G . M . appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : — Bro . Col . Long ----- Deputy

Col . A . T . Perkins P . G . D . - - - Senior Warden Bro . C . J . Baldwins P . M . K . C . - - Junior Warden G . M . Wilson P . M . 171 - - - Master Overseer F . Bendle P . M . 155 ... Ssnior Overseer G . R . Wilson W . M . 155 - - - Junior Overseer Rev . T . E . W . Thomas Chaplain 162 - Chaplain

C . W . Redway P . G . D . England - - Treasurer H . Bevin W . M . 177 ... Registrar F . T . Elworthy P . G . S . D . England - Secretary E . E . Baker W . M . 102 - - - Senior Deacon E . W . Loveless VV . M . R . C . - - Junior Deacon H . Davies J . W . 191 - - ' - Inspector of Works

F . W . Bishop S . W . 191 - - - Director of Ceremonies T . F . Coggan M . O . 191 - - - Standard Bearer J . A . Miiborne 162 .... Organist T . Colenutt S . 9 119 - - - Inner Guard T . Bamfield P . S . W . 119 - - - Sword Bearer H . Rogers 119 - - - - ) c , , „„„ . Eustace Fuller 177- - - - / Stewards A . G . Salter .... Tyler .

After Provincial Grand Lodge had been closed , the Brethren dined together on the premises , an excellent repast being provided by Bro . W . Fisher .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

ON Sunday afternoon a special Masonic service was held at St . James' Church , Laird Street , North Birkenhead , when a collection was made on behalf of the Cheshire Masonic Educational Fund . The service was choral , tbe musical arrangements being under the dirjcfcioa of Bro . Millwurl Hughes 2496 P . Prov . G .

Organist , assisted by the choir of St . Anne ' s Church , Birkenhead , and Brethren from various Lodges , and during the collection the solo " Crown ye with Palms " ( Faure ) was impressively sung by

Bro . Walter Baker . The Brethren , numbering about 200 , assembled in St . James Schools , Miriam Place , Laird Street , from whence they marched in procession to the church , wearing the clothing and insignia of the Craft .

The sermon was preached by the Eev . G . Johnson P . M . 1289 P . P . G . ChapIain , who took his text from Exodus ii ., 9 , ' * And Pharoah ' s daughter said unto her , take this child away , and nurse it for me , and I will give thee thy wages . " In the course of his sermon the preacher referred to the many

benevolent and charitable schemes which existed in the 19 th century for the care and education of children , speaking in high terms of the great good which had been accomplished by the Cheshire Masonic Educational Fund . Its special object was to give education and maintenance , as well as affording means for

advancement in life , of the children placed on the foundation of the Institution . He especially commended the plan pursued of not removing the little ones from their mother ' s care , in order that they might still enjoy home influences which were so benefical to them . After alludin » to the benefits of education , Brother

Johnson said that the income of the fund dnring the past year had been £ 341 , and that forty-nine children had been cared for at a cost of £ 363 . He concluded by making an appeal to the Brethren for liberal contributions on that occasion . The collection amounted to the sum of £ 15 12 s 2 d . — " Liverpool Mercury . "

Burns And Freemasonry.

BURNS ANO FREEMASONRY

THE claim of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , No . 2 ( S . C ) , that Burns was the Poet Laureate of tbat Lodge , and that the well-known picture representing his installation was an accurate reproduction of the gathering on that occasion , was challenged in some Masonic quarters , and the question has been for a long

time under the consideration of Grand Lodge . The Grand Committee have recently unanimously adopted the following resolution : — " Grand Committee having considered the report of the sub-committee re the picture in the board-room of Grand

Lodge , inscribed—' The inauguration of Eobert Burns as Poet Laureate of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , Edinburgh , 1 st March 1787 , presented bv James Burnes , K . H ., F . R . S ., & c . to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , 1862 , '—and ' facts' brought before them anent the same , refuse to recommend any alteration on said inscriptiou . "