Lodges Of Instruction.

system , and should like to see this principle of '' Officers ' nights " extended until every Lodge of Instruction adopted it , and the Brethren concerned made a feature of supporting it to the fullest extent . So much of the

impressiveness of our ceremonies depends on the careful and regular delivery of the ritualj that it seems almost imperative that the Officers who are to see a candidate through one or other of the degrees should have the

opportunity of rehearsing actually with each other their respective parts , and no better occasion of doing this can possibly be found than in a Lodge of Instruction

working under the sanction of the Lodge itself , arid generally numbering a large proportion of the members among its patrons .

Some Lodge Officers prefer a private meeting for rehearsal before each assembly of their Lodge , but that course has many objections , not the least among which is the lack of Masonic surroundings , in the form of Lodge

furniture , & c , which is generally then apparent , and which makes the whole assembly so unreal as to virtually rob it of most of the benefit that might otherwise accrue , besides which , the absence of one Brother may so far upset the

arrangements as to put an end to any hope of useful instruction . Both of these objections are overcome when the Lodge of Instruction is made the meeting placethere the work can be gone through with virtually the

same surroundings as will be found in the Lodge itself , and if a Brother is unfortunately detained there is sure to be someone present ready and willing to act as his deputy . Our Lodges of Instruction have been neglected by

many distinguished Masons in days gone by , but their usefulness is becoming more apparent day by day , and they are becoming more widely supported in consequence ,

so that there is no saying what good they may achieve in the future . We shall be glad to see their work extended and , as we have said , shall be pleased to devote our space , as far as possible , to aid in the good cause .

Cornwall.

CORNWALL .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge held its annual meeting at the Public Hall , Liskeard , on Tuesday , 31 st ult ., under the banner of St . Martin Lodge , No . 510 . The town was gay with bunting , and the local Brethren made excellent

preparations for the reception of the visitors , who numbered about 400 . The Brethren assembled at 10 . 45 , and Provincial Lodge was opened at 11 . 15 under the presidency of the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe Prov . G . M .

About noon a procession was formed outside the Public Hall , and the Brethren proceeded to the Parish Church for divine service . The procession was a very long one , and was headed by the regimental band of the 2 nd V . B . D . C . L . L , under Bugle-Major Phillips , immediately followed by the

Sword Bearers . Then came the members of the various Cornish Lodges , with their banners , the rear being brought up by the Prov . Grand Master , and the Deputy Provincial

Grand Master Sir Charles B . Graves-Sawle , Bart . Preceding the Chaplain came four Lewises of Past Masters of St . Martin ' s Lodge , bearing an open Bible , square , and compasses on a velvet cushion . The procession was a most

imposing one . The service at the church was short and hearty , and was attended by a large number of the general public as well as the Freemasons . Prayers were intoned by Rev . Canon C . E . Hammond , vicar of Menheniot , and the special lessons

( 1 Chron . xxii . 1-17 and 1 Peter iii . 8-13 ) read , by Bro . the Rev . J . Norris , vicar , and Bro . the Rev . W . E . Waddington , curate . Clarke ' s anthem , "Behold , how good and joyful a thing it is , Brethren , to dwell together in unity , " was well sung by the surpliced choir , Mr . T . A . Smythurst presiding at the organ . The sermon was preached by the Rev . H . W . Millett , vicar of Millbrook Prov . Grand Chaplain , from 1 Peter ii . 17 ,

Cornwall.

' Honour all men . Love the Brotherhood . Fear God . Honour the King . " His text , he said , contained four maxims , as plain and vigorous as they were short and pithy , and there was a ring about the words which went straight to a Freemason ' s heart . They were an epitome of the

virtues which God required of men , and they were comprised under three heads—humility , love , and duty . Humility came first as the groundwork of all that was good . Then they must love every member of the Brotherhood , extending their sympathy to the lowly as well as to the high-born , to

the poor as well as to the rich , to the erring as well as to the righteous . The Brotherhood of man was a name given " to the children of men by God himself , not only to remind them of their common origin , but also to implant within them the principles of fraternal love , which should make

nations respect each other , communities work together for the common good , arid individuals live side by side in peace and affection . Christ , their elder Brother , taught not onl y the Brotherhood of man , but the Fatherhood of God ' .

Freemasons called each other by the endearing word Brother because they recognised and acknowledged the divine teaching of the Brotherhood of man , and they endeavoured by God ' s help to give practical effect to that teaching . At the conclusion of the Church Service Provincial

Grand Lodge was resumed at the Public Hall . The annual report showed that Freemasonry is exercising greater influence in Cornwall than on any previous

occasion . There are thirty existing Lodges , containing an increased number of members , which now total 1 , 868 . The liberal subscriptions of the Brethren have considerably increased the charity funds .

Bro . B . F . Edyvean Charity Steward , on presenting his statement as manager of votes for the Masonic Charities , expressed his thanks to Cornish Freemasons for their admirable support . His re-election to office gave universal satisfaction .

Bro . R . L . Randall was unanimously chosen Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . The distribution of the church collection , amounting to £ 16 5 s , resulted in the Liskeard Cottage Garden Hospital , the Cornwall Masonic Benevolent Fund , and the funds of the Liskeard Parish Church benefitting thereby .

At 3 p . m . an excellent luncheon was provided at the Market Hall , by Bro . J . Cleave . The gathering was large , and after the usual formalities congratulatory speeches were indulged in . Altogether Freemasons in Cornwall have every reason

to be satisfied with their eminent success , says the " Western Mercury , " and it must be admitted that the eulogies of the 31 st were well deserved . To Bro . E . D . Anderton Provincial Grand Secretary the greatest praise is due for the efficient manner in which the Secretarial duties were performed .

West Lancashire Charity.

WEST LANCASHIRE CHARITY .

A CONCISE and interesting historical sketch of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution

since its foundation in 1850 has just been written by Bro . Jos . H . Tyson , the joint Hon . Secretary , who appeals for continued and increased support for the excellent work which has and is being carried on for the education and advancement in life of the children of distressed Freemasons ,

says the "Liverpool Daily Courier . " The first child was elected in 1853 , in which year the receipts amounted to £ 909 8 s 4 d , the number of Lodges in the Province being then about twenty , as compared with 116 now on the roll . Last year 19 8 children were aided by the Institution , at a total

cost of £ 1 , 4 8 4 2 s 3 d . The total receipts from the commencement of the Institution to the end of 1896 amounted to £ 58 , 272 12 s 5 d . The amount paid on account of children during that period was £ 31 , 708 16 s iod , while the present value of presentations stands at £ 1 , 451 10 s , and

the total invested funds and cash in bank at £ 23 , 079 18 s gd . Unfortunately , says Bro . Tyson , some Lodges do not at present show their zeal in the cause of this Institution , whilst they do not fail to avail themselves of its advantages . Though , as already indicated , the total payments for

children during the forty-seven years aggregate to £ 31 , 708 16 s iod , the donations and subscriptions of Brethren and others have been more than £ 1 , 000 short of this amount . The above splendid record of work should stimulate the backward Lodges to which Bro . Tyson appeals to accord the fullest measure of support to so deserving an Institution .