The Boys School Centenary.

THE BOYS SCHOOL CENTENARY .

¦ T ^ HE final meeting of the Board of Stewards of * the Centenary Festival of this Institution , which took place on the ioth June last , will be held on Tuesday next . 20 th inst .. at four o ' clock , at the .

j , , f _ Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen Street , London , when the Auditors' report with statement of accounts will be submitted , and the work of the Stewards brought to a finish .

This meeting , the date of which , we understand , has been fixed for some time past , is looked forward to with considerable interest throughout the Craft , as it will afford the opportunity of , in a measure , reviewing the action of the Quarterl y Court of the Institution , in granting a gratuity of one thousand guineas to the Secretary as a special recognition of his services in

connection with the Centenary Festival , and which action has called forth very strong expressions of disapproval on all sides . If there is a balance of a thousand guineas on the Fees account the Stewards

had better give it to the Secretary in place of the sum voted from the general Funds of the Institution , on the understanding that the latter amount is to be refunded ' ¦ if there is not so large a balance we see

nothing for it but to wait for the tempest which may be expected to break over the Masonic Charity world when the minutes of the meeting at which the money was voted come up for confirmation in January next .

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

THE Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master of England has appointed the Earl of Lathom Provincial G . Master for Lancashire ( Western Division ) , in succession to his father the late Earl . We tender our hearty congratulations to the new chief of this important Masonic Province , and feel

convinced the present Lord Lathom ' s appointment will be hailed with delight by the Brethren over whom he is called to preside , as well as by Masons throughout the country , who will desire to honour so worthy a son of a worthy father .

Nottinghamshire.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE .

A MEETING of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held on _ Thursday , 8 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Goldsmith Street , Nottingham , especial interest attaching to the proceedings by reason of the fact that it was the first occasion upon which the Duke of Portland had presided

since his appointment to the office of Prov . Grand Master , in succession to the late Duke of St . Albans . There was a large and representative gathering of members of the Craft from all parts of the Province .

After the formal opening of the Lodge , the Provincial Grand Master said that before proceeding with the business of the meeting it was his painful duty to refer to the great loss the Craft had sustained in the death of the Pro Grand

Master Lord Lathom , one of the brightest ornaments of Freemasonry . This duty was the sadder for him to perform because he was well acquainted with the deceased nobleman , and for many years was privileged to enjoy his friendship .

Nottinghamshire.

He was associated with him in all Court functions , which he so greatly adorned , and certainly he spared no trouble or pains to bring them to a successful issue . Together they passed through the two Jubilees of her Majesty the Queen . When in his position of Lord Chamberlain a vast amount of

work fell upon him . This work he most conscientiously performed , and in all ways showed himself a devoted servant of his Sovereign . Courteous , quiet , genial-hearted , and

dignified , it would be difficult to find a man more upright in life than he was , or one whose memory they could hold in higher esteem . As a Freemason he filled the highest offices , and was devoted to the welfare of the Craft . He worked

with all his might and main to forward its interests , and it would , indeed , be difficult to fill his place . He should like , on . behalf of the Masons now assembled , and on his own , to tell his family that they deeply regretted the great and irreparable loss which they had sustained , that . they

sympathised with them in their sorrow , and assured them that Lord Lathom's memory would long be revered and held in the highest respect , both as a man and as a Freemason , thoughout the Province of Nottingham . His Grace concluded by moving the following resolution , which was carried unanimously : —

That this Provincial Grand Lodge tenders its most respectful sympathy and condolence to Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , and other members of the family , and records upon its minutes our appreciation of the valuable services our late Brother has rendered to our Order , and the great loss we have sustained by his death .

The Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were then appointed . After the reception of the reports , and the transaction of other business , the Provincial Grand Master said he had

to congratulate the Province upon the reports which had been received of the prosperity of Freemasonry in Nottinghamshire . It was gratifying to find that the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge were in credit , as well as those of the Benevolence and Educational branches . He understood

that these latter had not been long established ; consequently they were not large in amount , but he had no doubt that as Freemasonry prospered the funds would soon be materially increased . He would remind the Brethren , however , that Freemasonry did not consist entirely of financial gifts . The

watchword of the Order was "Charity , " and each day ought to be marked with a white stone of a good deed done . In every relation of life , towards each other , towards their relatives , towards their friends , towards neighbours , and towards strangers , let them practice charity , not only in

almsgiving enjoined by their Order , but that more precious charity which thinketh no evil , speaketh no evil—charity in thought , charity in word , and charity in deed . Let them do this and the world would see how dearly Masons loved each

other and their fellow-men , and they would be leading that true Masonic life which was but darkly shadowed forth by the emblems and secrets of their Order ; for beautiful as they were , they were as nothing when compared with the bright and warm reality of Freemasonry .

Subsequently the Provincial Grand Master announced that he had made arrangements in connection with the Masonic ball , to be held in the Albert Hall , Nottingham , on 5 th January , for special trains to convey Brethren to and trom Retford , Worksop , Mansfield , and Sutton-in-Ashfield .

A ball , under the auspices of the Cambrian Lodge , was held at Neath on the gth inst ., the company numbering one hundred and fifty .

The Brethren of Farnborough and district recently gave a ball on behalf of the funds of the Farnborough Fire Brigade .