Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

had been acted upon by the brethren . With regard to their finances , they would understand from the explanation given that , though their funds appeared to be low , yet they were , as a matter of fact , in a very prosperous condition . The report as fco the Chirifcies was most satisfactory . This

Province always had been to the front , and he hoped they would continue to show the way to other Provinces . It was quite true that charity began at home ; they had begun at home , and done it well , and even then their charity bad spread outside as well . With regard to the

proposed increase of Provincial Officers , he must express his regret afc not having been able to be present when the matter was brought forward , as hefelfc sure he shoull have been able to explain away some of the difficulties which seemed to exist in the minds of some of the brethren . It

was intended that tho measure should take effect only in a few of the larger Provinces . If they took tho Province of Bristol , with five Lodges , thoy would find there exactly

the same number of appointments as there were in West Lancashire . He hoped that next year , however , he should have the pleasure of placing collars on the necks of af least six more brethren .

A resolution was then adopted requesting the Grand Lodge to concede the increases asked for . The Provincial Grand Senior Warden ( Bro . J . de Bels Adam ) then proposed the election of Bro . William Savage , P . M . and Treasurer of the Dramatic Lodge , No . 1609 , as

Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . He detailed Bro . Savage ' s progress in Freemasonry since his initiation in tbe Merchants' Lodge in 1872 , and said that from all points of view he would be worthy to follow in the footsteps of all Past Provincial Grand Treasurers .

Bro . John B . Newell Past Provincial Grand Warden briefly seconded the proposal , remarking thafc Bro . Savage had invariably performed his duties in a zealous , careful , and painstaking manner , and if the brethren elected hira they would have no cause to regret it .

No other candidate was proposed , and Brother Savage was accordingly declared dnly elected , amidst loud applause . On the motion of Bro . Wylie , the following motion was unanimously adopted : — " That the sum of 80 guineas be

voted from the Provincial Grand Lodge Charities Fund to the three local Institutions , viz ., 40 guineas to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution ; 20 guineas to the West Lancashire Alpass Institution ; and 20 guineas to the West Lancashire Hamer Institution . " Tlio Provincial Graud Master invested the following as bis Olficers for the ensuing year : —

Bro . W . Johnaon ... ... ... Senior Warden John Christie ... ... ... Junior Warden Rev . F . R . Pearson ... ... ) n , , . Rev . J . Pimblett j Chaplains William Savage ... ... Treasurer \ V . Goodacre ( re-appointed ) ... Secretary W . Dwerryhouae ... ... " ) „ . ,-, J . W . Bursas Senior Deacoua

W . M'Ganley ) T ™ Eli Brooks ... } Junl 0 r Deacona Isaac Platts ... ... ... Superintendent of Works C . Heywood ... ... ... Dir . of Ceremonies J . Hocken ... ... ... Deputy Dir . of Cers . J . N . Hounsell ... ... Assistant Dir . of Cers . J . J . Tickle ... ... ... Sword Bearer

R . * Townley ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . '" j Standard Bearers Q . H . Whitaker ... ... Organist H . Stones ... ... ... Assistant Secretary R . Nicholson ... ... ... Pursuivant W . Taylor ... ... ... Assistant Pursuivant J . L . Houghton ... ,..- \ G . Beeken

W . Wilkinson ... ... j a . -, R . Sharrock f Stewards Charles Fothergill ... ... j R . G . Bradley J H . Ball Tyler

The following brethren were invested by the Provincial Grand Master with charity badges in recognition of their services as Stewards to the Festivals of the Masonic Institutions : —Bro . J . de Bels Adam , A . Buttrick , G . R .

Lloyd , W . J . Read , John Hatch , C . E . Hindley , Eli Brooke , J . H . Marsh , E . H . Cookson , W . Troughton , G . A . Myers , H . F . Neale , J . Slyman , J . J . Marsh , W . Bond , J . W . Bnrgess , and F . J . Hubbard . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed according fco ancient form .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

AT tho conclusion of the business of tho Provincial Graud Lodge , theannual meeting of the Provincial

Grand Chapter was held , under the presidency ot Gump . Lord Lathom Provincial Grand Superintendent . The following appointments wero made : — Comp . J . de Bels Adam ... ... J .

W . Goodacre ... ... Scribe E . W . Dwerryhouse ... ... S . N . R . Armitage ... ... Registrar S . Locke ... ... ... Principal Soj . J . M . King ... ... ... Assistant Soj . W . Whiteside ... ... 2 nd Assistant Soi .

C . Wadsworth ... ... Sword Bearer W . Taylor ... ... ... Standard Benrer H . P . Jones ... ... Director of Ceremonies P . Yates ... ... ... Assistant Dir . of Cers . H . Ronnd ... ... ... Organist J . Williams ... ... ... Assistant Scribe E . H . Ball ... ... ... Janitor

At the close of the Provincial Grand Lodgo and Chapter business , an excellent banquet was served at the Bear ' s Paw , Lord Street , Liverpool , under the personal superintendence of Bro . Fletcher , the manager , whose catering gave universal satisfaction .

Prov. G. Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROV . G . LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

I iHE Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire mot on _ Tuesday , the 4 th insfc ., at the Borough Hall in the county town , under circumstances which wero peculiarly depressing . The Province has not yet recovered itself from the deep sorrow into which it waa suddenly plunged in the early part of the year on the occasion of the death

of its energetic and beloved chief , the Provincial Grand Master Colonel Foster Gougb , who wa « probably the most hard-working and painstaking of the Provincial Chiefs who have worked under the English Constitution of the Ancient and Honourable Craffc for very many years . Aa

yet no successor has been appointed , and Provincial Grand Lodge met under the Presidency of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Lient .-Colonel J . A . Bindley P . P . G . S . W ., who is now in temporary charge of the Province ; There were about 250 brethren present , aud the Acting Provincial Grand Master was assisted in the conduct of the

business by Bro . Frank James , M . P ., who is a Past Deputy Grand Master of the Province . The brethren having assembled nnder tho banners of their respected Lodges , the Provincial Grand Lodge Officers entered the room in procession , and hav ing taken their seats Provincial Grand

bodge was opened according to ancient form at half an hour after high noon . Grand Lodge Officers having been saluted the business of the meeting was proceeded with ; and on tbe roll of private Lodges being called each was found to 1 3 represented , the actual members being as

follows : —St . Martin ' s Lodge , No . 78 , Burslem , 19 ; Noah ' s Ark , 347 , Tipton , 10 ; Menturia , 418 , Hanley , 14 ; St . Peter ' s , 419 , Wolverhampton , 11 ; Sutherland , 451 , Burslem , 7 ; Foresters ' , 456 , UttDxeter , 6 ; Sutherland Unity , 460 , Newcasfcle-under-Lyme , 12 ; St . James ' s , 482 ,

Handsworth , 15 ; Honour 526 , Wolverhampton , 11 ; St . Matthew ' s , 539 , Walsall , 6 ; Etruscan , 546 , Longfcon , 9 ; Abbey , 624 , Burton-on-Trent , 5 ; Portland , 637 , Stoke-on-Trent , 4 ; Dartmouth , 662 , West Bromwicb , 7 ; St . Bartholomew , 696 , Wednesbury , 2 ; Staffordshire Lodge ,

726 , Stafford , 17 ; St . Edward , 967 , Leek , 1 ; Sfc . John , 1039 , Lichfield , 4 ; Marmion , 1060 , Tamworth , 1 ; Earl of Shrewsbury , 1520 , Cannock , 8 ; St . Giles , 1517 , Cheadle , 3 ; Tudor , 1792 , Harborne , 6 ; Tudor Volunteers , 1838 , Wolverhampton , 17 ; St . Thomas , 1914 , Stoke-on-Trent ,

13 ; St . Augustine , 1941 , Rugeley , 4 ; Minerva , 1942 , Fenton , 5 ; Smithchild , 2064 , Tnnstall , 25 ; Gordon , 2149 , Hanley , 8 ; Josiah Wedgwood , 2214 , Etruria , 6 . The Treasurer ' s accounts , which had been duly audited , were presented in abstract by the Treasurer , Bro . C A . Newnham . The statement showed that dues had been

received up fco the March quarter from Lodge ? , in amounts representing 2 , 284 members . The document also showed tbat the liabilities of Provincial Grand Lodgo bad baea met , and that there remained a satisfactory balance at tho

bankers . The acting Provincial Grand Master moved the adoption of the accounts , and at the samo time tendered to fche Treasurer the thanks of Provincial Graud Lodge for hia past eminent and valuable services ^ and moyed his re *