Ar00902

SATURDAY , 10 TH OCTOBER 1891 .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Cheshire

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE

rpHE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of - *¦ Cheshire was held at the Public Hall , Rnncorn , on Wednesday , 30 th September . Lord Egerton of Tatton , the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , presided , and he was supported by Bro . the Rev . C . WT Spencer ^

Stanhope P . G . Chaplain of England , acting as Deputy Provincial Grand Master , in the absence of Bro . Sir Horatio Lloyd , Terry P . G . S . B . of England , J . McLeod Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and a large number of P . G . Officers and others . The P . G . Lodge having been opened in due form , the rolls of P . G . Officers arid

of Lodges were called . It was found that every Lodge in the Province was represented , and that the attendance numbered 443 . Letters of apology for non-attendance were received from a number of brethren , including Bros . Sir

Horatio Lloyd , the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P , T .. Ward , and Stanhope Bull . The minutes of tbe last annnal meeting , as printed were taken as read , arid confirmed , on the motion of Bro . the Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope ,

seconded by Bro . 0 . C . the Rev . J . W . N . Tanner . Bro . Gibson , as one of the auditors , moved , that the auditors ' report and the P . G . Treasurer ' s financial statement , as

printed , be taken as read . This was seconded and agreed to . On the motion of the Rev . J . W . N . Tanner , a vote of thanks waa accorded to the P . G . Treasurer and the

auditors for their services during the past year . Bro . Salmon , chairman of the Committee of Benevolence , read the annual charity report , and moved " that the annual report of the Committee of Benevolence be adopted . " Bro . Clayton seconded . Carried . The Prov . Grand Master then

addressed P . G . Lodge . He thanked the brethren for their attendance that day Considering that Runcorn was riot , perhaps , the most convenient town in the Province to get at , the attendance was very large . It was very satisfactory

to find that Masonry had increased , and larger support had been given to it since they last visited Runcorn , eleven years ago . Three Lodges had been consecrated in the Province dnring the past year , and he was glad to see that those new

Lodges were so well and numerously represented that day . It showed that they were not only new , but vigoronjyand gave every hope that Masonry would flourish at Middlewich , Hoy lake , and Chester . There was also an increase of members in the whole Province , the numbers on the roll

now being 1836 , as against 1737 in the preceding year . This showed also that the principles of Masonry were steadily and gradually gaining ground in the Province . He was sure that the best way to ensure that steady and

gradual increase was that the practical work of Masonry should be increased and improved and consolidated in every way . He was pleased to notice that tbe recommendation made at Stockport last year , that Charity Representatives

on the Committee of Benevolence should be elected by ballot , every year had been carried out successfully , and he thought that the work that the Committee had done during the past year had given an additional stimulus to all the

Charities in the Province . It was a matter for congratulation that at the Annual Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in London , the Stewards from the Province of Cheshire represented donations , amounting to over a thousand

guineas , and thereby gained 240 votes , which increased the voting strength of the Province at each election of candidates for the School to nearly 1000 . During the ensuing year would be celebrated the Jublilee of the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institntion . They had from time to time received help from that Institution for Masons in that Province , but their voting power was not sufficient always

to obtain the success of their candidates . Special advantages were offered to donors during the Jubilee year . A donor of five guineas was offered three votes instead of two , for ten guineas eight votes wonld be received instead

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Cheshire

of four , donors of 50 guineas got 80 votes instead of 20 , and so ou . He trusted that an effort would he made to secure to the Province the 240 votes which are given to subscribers of 1 , 000 guineas . Ho should himself bo happy to head the list with 50 guineas . Mention was made in

tbo report of the Committee of Benevolence of the desirability of starling an additional fond in the Province in order to provide assistanca for the aged Masons and the widows of Masons in oases where they were unable to obtain the advantages and benefits of the London

Institution . It was suggested that a local fund of £ 1 , 000 be raised to enable an annuity of £ 20 and £ 16 to be given respectively to an old Mason and the widow of a Mason until they were elected on the Central Institution in London . If the brethren in the Province would

endeavour to raise a fund of that kind , he would , in addition to sum he had already mentioned , contribute 50 guineas towards it . He was glad to say that the books had been admirably kept during the past year , and reflected great credit upon the Officers of . tfyo

varions Lodges . in the Province . They had to regret tho loss , during the past year , of one of the founders of . the Cheshire Educational Institution , * in < the death , of Brother Piatt , who was a most constant and energetic supporter , pf the Charities . In conclusion , bis Lordship expressed . the

pleasure it afforded hint to meet them again io P . G , Jiodgo , and he hoped that their meeting that day would tend to the spread of the principles of their order in that particular locality . He regretted that his numerous engagements

had prevented him from visiting the Lodges as of ten . as he could have wished , but he was happy to say th . at he h ^ d received excellent reports of the various Lodges from the P . G . Secretary , who had visited them . Bro . Herbert Pinch proposed the re-election of Brother

J . Cookson , P . M . of Unanimity Lodge , 287 ,. as Provincial

Grand Treasurer . Bro . McClellan seconded . Bro . Mellor proposed the election " of"Bro . T . 'H . . ' Annett , PJM . < of' the Ellesmere Lodge , Runcorn . This was seconded by Brother Ja , mes Littler W . M . of the'Ellesmere Lodge . On a vote

being taken , Bro . Annett was declared elected by a large majority—a result which was received with loud applause . Bro . Annett briefly acknowledged the compliment that had been paid him . Bros . Gilbody , Ramsden , Gibson , Wildgoose , and Preston were re-appointed Auditors .

The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —

His Honour Sir Horatio Lloyd D . P . G . M . William Robinson Senior Warden Frederick A . B . Liusdoll Junior Warden Eev . It . Hodgson ~ i „ . „„ , „ „ Kev . Thoa . Wm . Sturgeon j P laiuB T . H . Annett Treasnrer

Herbert Finch Eegistrar B . Newhonse Secretary M . Longridgo Assistant Secretary Henry Jackson " ) g . D Wm . Henry Finohett j

James Gamlin 1 T „ „ , „„„ John Staiuforth j Junior Deaoons Henry Matthews Superintendent of Works

G . H . Brown Director ot Ceremonies John Lewis Depnty Dir . of Cers . Artbnr C . Muir Assist . Deputy Dir . of Gere . John Morris Sword Bearer

JJ." i £ T n i , \ Standard Bearers Charles Edrannd Brooku ) Alexander J . Phipps Organist W . H . Collier Pursuivant Seth Flitcrof t Assistant Pursuivant

Thomas Litherland T . W . Markland ThomWaddon ^ towards C . W . Phillips Thomas S . Bnrgess

Charity medals were paesented to the following brethren : —H . Bratt P . P . G . D . D . C , P . M . Sincerit y 428 ; J . T . A ppleby P . M . De Tabley , 941 ; G . T . Kertin , Earl of Chester , 1565 ; H . G . Small S . W ., Alau 2368 ; W .

Ramsden P . P . G . J . D . Bars were presented to Bros . J . Clayton P . P . G . J . W . ; James Cookson P . P . G . Treasurer ; ! Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope P . G . Chaplain of England ; James Salmon P . P . G . SrW . ; R . Newhouse P . G . Sec ; aud T . C . Thorburn P . P . G . S . of W .

The R . W . Provincial Grand Master proposed "That tho by-laws of tbe Committee of Benevolence , as prepared by the Committee in pursuance of Article 34 of the by-laws of Provincial Grand Lodgo , with the alterations and additions