Prize Day At The School.

the " charming girls" were really the boys of the Institution in disguise . The following was the caste :

Major-General Stanley ... ... ... R . P . Chinneck The Pirate King ... .. ... ... F . P . Turner Samuel ( His Lieutenant ) ... ... ... S . Thompson Frederick ( The Pirate apprentice ) ... ... H . W . A . Long Sergeant of Police ... ... ... H . V . Moreton HXu . be ! ) ... — » . C . Michael Edith >• ( General Stanley's Daughters ) ... W . A . Spain

# ate J ... ... — H . H . Martin Ruth ( a pirate maid of all work ) ... ... E . E . Whale Chorus of Pirates , Police , and General Stanley ' s daughters . The music was provided by a String band , the following kindly giving their services :

1 st Violin and Leader ... Mr . A . C . Handley-Davis , R . A . M . 1 st Violin Mr . J . Howes 2 nd Violin ... ••• Messrs . Scott and A . Pitman Cello ... ••¦ •>• Messrs . Hannit and Popham Piano ... ••• Mr . H . Hadley , A . R . C . O ., and others .

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

ON Saturday , 22 nd ult ., a large number of Cheshire Brethren assembled at the Mechanics Institution , Stockport , for the purpose of holding the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Cheshire , when there was an exceptionally large attendance , both of Cheshire members and of Visitors from other

Provinces . The Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . M . opened the Lod ^ e at three o ' clock , and the roll of the Lodges was immediately called over , all being found to be represented . After the various items of business set forth in the agenda had been carried out , Bro . Col . Dean was installed as D . P . G . Master , and the following Brethren were invested as Officers for

the ensuing year : Bro . John Broadsmith - - - Senior Warden H . E . Heywood - Junior Warden Owen Jones .... Master Overseer Joseph Clark .... Senior Overseer J . R . R . Jefieroy - Junior Overseer

Rev . G . R . Johnson - - - Chaplain William Cartwright - - - Treasurer R . Stephenson - - - - Registrar R . Newhouse ... - Secretary J . Wagstafi .... Senior Deacon G . Forrester .... Junior Deacon

J . H . Jackson ... - Inspector of Works H . G . Small .... Director of Ceremonies J . W . Newton ... - Assistant Director of Cers . J . Taylor ---- - Sword Bearer H . P . Jones ... - Standard Bearer J . S . Derbyshire - Assistant Secretary

G . S . Smith ... - Organist G . Brown ----- Pursuivant Wm . Dykes ) R . E . Burgess - - - - > Stewards R . Browne - - - - - j Alfred Huxley .... Tyler .

A most interesting part of the business of the meeting was reached when a vote oi thanks was unanimously accorded to Brother Stevenson in recognition of the eminently satisfactory manner in which he had conducted the duties of P . G . Treasurer for the last seventeen years . He was presented with a Masonic token as a memento of the occasion , and in recognition of his

. Tbe Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , in his closing address , referred to the cordiality of the relations between the various Lodges and members in his Province , and expressed a hope that the steady progress which distinguished Mark Masonry in Cheshire would continue unabated .

An excellent banquet awaited the members at the close of the meeting , after which the usual Loyal and Mark toasts were honoured . — " Stockport Advertiser . "

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

A T the invitation of the Kev . Augustus Jackson , Vicar of All O . Saints Church , Gravesend , Provincial Grand Chaplain of Kent , a large number of Masons representing the Lodges of the district assembled last Sunday to hear a Masonic sermon by the Eev . J . E . Player P . P . G . C . Norfolk . The text was taken from

I Kings vii , 13 and 14 . The sermon was in every respect a most admirable one . and it is to be hoped Bro . Player will allow it to be printed and circulated among the Brethren of the Craft . The visitors proved their gratitude by contributing liberally to the collection in aid of the Church Restoration Fund .

After the service the Brethren proceeded to the Vicarage , where they were regaled with refreshments , and complimentary speeches were made thanking Brother Player for his discourse and Brother Jackson for his hospitality . Among those present were Brothers William Bussell Grand Treasurer of Kent , Thomas Nettlingham "W . M . 77 , John Russell

Church Service.

P . G . S . D . and W . M . 1164 , C . A . Paine , Mayor of Gravesend , William Hills P . G . J . D ., Thomas Deane P . G . S . B ., W . Barlow P . G . Org ., J . C . Biggs P . G . D . C , R . J . Beamish P . G . D . C , Joseph Solomon P . M ., G . Rackstraw P . M ., F . Hitchins P . M ., J . P . Moore P . M ., W . J . Hayward P . M ., George Masters , J . Davis , Dr . Sells , E . B . Wilks , F . Mitchell , W . Gunn , W . H . Hedges P . M ., A . Coster P . G . J . D ., Bovven , Axell , Austin , Mason , Swaffer , Rayner , Bridgeland , Macartney , Gates , Ross , Nash , S . Stanley , W . Stanley , H . R . Buckle , Rowlestone , E . Davis , & c .

Masonic Cricket Match.

MASONIC CRICKET MATCH .

rpHE members of the Borough Lodge , No . 1064 , Burnley , and tho Queens I Jubilee Lodge , No . 2193 , Nelson ( Lane . ) met for the second time at Whalley , on Wednesday , 26 th ult ., play being interrupted by the thunderstorm , though it did not prevent a decision being arrived at , Burnley winning easily .

Afterwards tho teams and members of the respective Lodges had a capital knife and fork tea at tho Assembly Rooms , tho rest of the evening being spent in a convivial manner . During the evening a few toasts of a complimentary nature were honoured , and several members gave songs , duets , quartettes , choruses , & c .

Francis Memorial Fund.

FRANCIS MEMORIAL FUND .

A SCHEME is on foot for organising a testimonial to the family of the late Bro . E . A . Francis P . M . P . Z . Preceptor of the Brixton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1949 , who died at the early age of 45 years , in December . The idea is to raise such a sum of money as will enable the widow to clear off , or at all events materially reduce , the mortgage on her house , and if this is done , there is a reasonable probability that she will be freed from all serious care as to the future .

Bro . Francis was a most exemplary Mason , and held in high esteem by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance . He was initiated in Vermont , U . S . A ., in 1873 , and on returning to England joined , in 1872 , the Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 1658 , and was installed W . M . in 1890 . He was also a P . M . No . 183 , and P . Z . of the Burdett Chapter , No . 1293—having been exalted to the Royal Arch iu tho Panmure Chapter , No . 720 , in 1885—and P . A . G . Soj . of Middlesex . Ho was al = o a Life Governor of the Masonic Institutions , and

had served sundry stewardships on their behalf , but his most successful work was done in his capacity of Preceptor of the Brixton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1949 , Treasurer of the Industry Chapter of Improvement , No . 186 , and as Preceptor of the Rose of Denmark Lodge of Instruction , No . 975 . He was also President of the Brixton Lodge of Instruction Masonio Benevolent Association from its inception , and during his presidency a sum of upwards of 2 , 000 guineas was contributed through tho Association to the Masonio charities .

In these several capacities the late Bro . E . A . Francis did very great service to the Craft , more especially in South London , and it is hoped this appeal on behalf of his widow and children will bo productive of benefit to them . Further particulars can be had of Bro . George R . Langley , 18 Gowlett Road , East Dulwich . — " South London Press . "

Japan.

JAPAN .

THE " Trestle Board " has an article entitled " Masonry in Japan , " from which the following extract is taken : Freemasonry does not make much progress in this country . There are no Lodges composed of natives . The United Grand Lodge of England founded two "Lodges at Yokohama : Lodge No . 1092 , in 1867 , with a , R . A . Chapter , and O'Tentosama Lodge , No . 1263 , in 1869 ; one at Tokio , Niphon , Lodge , in 1870 ( the existence of a second Lodge is uncertain ); and at Kobe .

Rising Sun Lodge , No . 1401 , in 1872 . These Lodges formed , in 1874 , District Grand Lodge , under the U . G . L . of England . There is , besides , the Hiogo and Osake Lodge , No . 498 , which holds from the Grand Lodge of Scotland . These foreign Lodges , it is said , have never initiated a native . Some years ago Grenoral LeGendre , an American , made an attempt to erect

a Lodge for the natives , but ho did not succeed on account of the many difficulties he was unable to overcome , both on the side of his American Brethren and on that of the Japanese themselves . The Japanese are represented as having little aptitude for our Institution , as they are children without any ideal aspirations , having ouly sense for what is immediately useful or beneficial .

The Midland Railway Company has now arranged its regular summer service of trains , and offers tho usual facilities for tourists and others visiting the Peak Distiict , the English Lakes , Scotland , Ireland , and , in fact , tho whole of the wide district served by its main line ancl numerous branches .

We have so olten referred to the attractions of the Midland route that it is hardly necessary to do so again . In nur advertisement columns are given particulars in regard to the service to some of the chief holiday resorts , while the time tables and other works published by the Company will give all other necessary details .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE funeral of Bro . John Bradford , of Paignton , took place on Saturday , 29 th ult . Our deceased Brother was initiated thirty-two years ago in the Apollo Lodge , Oxford . Before residing in the west , he attained the rank of P . P . G . S . B . of Oxon ., and P . P . G . Chap , of Berks , and Bucks , and since

settling in Devon P . P . G . Reg , of the Province . He passed through the chair of the Torbay Lodge in 1885 , and had for fourteen years carried out the duties of Secretary of the Lodge and Scribe E . of the Chapter . There were a large number of Masons present at his funeral .