Prov Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

P . G . D . C , Walter Kenworthy P . G . D . D . C ., John Coxhill P . G . A . D . C ., William Chadwiok P . G . S . B ., Eichard Walker P , G . Std . B , John Barnes P . G . S . B ., William H . Maxfiold P . G . O ., Sampson Booth P . G . P ., William Barker P . G . A . P .,

William Pears P . G . S ., Alfred Ingham P . G . S ., J . IT . Turner P . G . S ., Stephen Smith P . G . Tyler , and a large number of Past Provincial Officers . Between 400 and 500 brethren assembled , all the Lodges in tho Province , with ono exception being represented . Iu the course of his address ,

tho Provincial Graud Master alluded with regret to tho loss the Province had sustained by tho death of Bro . E . H . Griffiths , who was Provincial Grand Secretary for nearly 50 years , Bro . Jphn Wood P . G . S . W ., Bro . James Arthur Birch , Bro . W . 0 . Fleming , and Bro . Steward , who was a

Mason 60 years , and attended at 50 Provincial Grand Lodge meetings in succession . On the other hand ho c mgratulated them on tho largo attendance , and had pleasure in stating that thero had been a steady increase of numbers , from 1538 to 1683 . Ho had had excellent

reports from nearly every Lodge in tho Province . His feeling was that if tho principles of Masonry were to be furthered they should do their best to mako it a reality in the Province . His distinguished predecessor initiated an excellent work in the way of educational charities , bufc ho

thought they ought to havo power to spread the benevolent fund over a variety of purposes and for general objects , such , for instance , as in a great colliery disaster , which might happen in that populous district . He thought he should be supported by a majority of the brethren in

endeavouring to show thafc Masonry was a living and progressive thing , and thafc they were ready to lend a helping hand , and show that in cases of distress they wero not confined to their own body . The Provincial Grand Master referred wifch satisfaction to the marriage of the

Princess Louise , and concluded by moving that a congratulatory address be presented to H . R . H . the Princo of Wales M . W . Grand Master , on the auspicious marriage of the Princess Louise to Bro . tho Duko of Fife , Provincial Grand Master * of Banffshire . This was seconded by tho

Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and carried with acclamation . On tho motion of Bro . VV . Booth , seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel Wilkinson , tho Provincial Graud Lodgo placed on record its high appreciation of the valuable services rendered by the late Brother Griffiths to

tho Freemasonry of the Province , ancl its sorrow and regret at his decease . Bros . James Salmon , Major Preston , and John Clayton were elected auditors . Tho Provincial Grand Master , amid applause , announced his intention fco

contribute , on behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the sum of 50 guineas to the funds of the Royal Aiasonic Institution for Boys . The following Officcw were then invested : —

Bro . His Honour Judge Horatio Lloyd Deputy Master Lient .-Col . Wilkinson ... Senior Warden Captain Gilbody ... ... Junior Warden Eev . II . Hodgson ... ... Senior Chaplain Rev . Jamea Grant Bird ... Junior Chaplain Thos . A . Mason ... ... Treasurer

Frederick Broadsmith ... Registrar R . Nowhouse ... ... Secretary William Pritcbard ... ... Assist . Secretary R . Audrow ... •••)¦ = •„•-r , Samnel Wm . Ramsden ... J Semor Doacona Charles S . Dean ... ... " ) T , •^ n ,, „ m v i * Jllnior Deacons iloraco 1 . Aeivman ... ... ) A . Parkes ... ... Inspector of Works Georgo II . Browuo ... ... D . of C .

Edward G . Mason ... ... Deputy D . of 0 . Georgo Richardson ... ... A . D . of C . Georgo L . Collier ... Sword Beaver Owen Jones ... ... ) ^ , , ,,. J . ¦ Wa' - 'staffo ... > ;> ta * n ( lu 5 * ,, Bwi' *<* rH

William II . M-tifioiJ .. ... 'h-gauLa Robert Bebbiugton ... ... Pursuiivtiifc George Holland ... ... Assist . Pursuivant Walter Jas . Cotsworth ... * - > Tho * -.. Martin Cairns ... ... i

Richard Stovoiuori ... ... ; C 1 i Jonathan Bailey ... ... ] " & t 0 wa " * - Frederick G . Thomas ... j E . Dibley ... ... , J Stoithc'i fc 5 niitii ... ... Tyler

Stockport was selected as fcho place of mooting next yea ;* . Bro . Salmon wan oloetod Chairman of tho Board y £ Benevolence , and n , vote of th . v-ika \ rn , n " .. ocorcled to Bro . FlrJl . for hi .-j par-t ooidcos . The tuvihron - •tt . uicle * : ! ? .. [ , [ : ] ' service hi Sh . Ovovc ^ n Church , whero rho ; : orr * * -, . ** . preached by tlm Lie .- . h ,. r-. G . Bh-d P '' J-C , * . \\ 7 r ¦ •¦¦ >! . ¦¦' •.- ' ¦ * 't . on mr * - . ¦ •. ' ••¦ ' . ; .-. * ! - * y- P ' * :. '" i * .: " '' u -: \ . 1 ' ,. * . ¦

Prov Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

The musical arrangements wero under tho direction of Bro . W . H . Maxfiold P . G . O ., assisted by Bros . W . H . Kershaw , Mark Stafford , J . T . Clarke , Stephen E . Jupp , J . Hamilton , and A . Lowta ? .

Centenary Of The Royal Clarence Lodge , No. 271.

CENTENARY OF THE ROYAL CLARENCE LODGE , No . 271 .

IN the past ir . orith of Augu-fc 1889 occurred au evout unique in tho annals of Susses Freemasonry—tho first Centenary of a Masonic Lodgo indigenous to tho county , viz .: tho Royal Claroiio ** Lodg " , Brighton , tho warrant for which was dated 8 th August 1781 ) . We

propose , therefore , to take this opportunity of giving a brief hisfcoz y of the Craft in Sussex , basing our remarks to somo extent on tho excellent History of Freemasonry in Sussex by Bro . Thomas Francis . It is not onr purpose to pry iuto tho hidden soevcta aud mysteries of the Craft , although a Masouic poot observes : —

" The world is aflamo Our secrets to gain . " Tho Ordor , no doubt , is aucient , though it is not clear whether tho Masonic poet is correct when he saya of the ' * ' mystic apron " that it is " Tho badge of inncconco , I mean tho royal robe Which Noah he did wear , whon in tho ark ho stood , When the world waa destroyed by a deluging fbod . "

But Snssox Freemasonry claims a considerable antiquity , anl it ia allege . ! , and probably correctly , that tho Collega of Smiths ( Collegium Fabrorum ) referred to in the noted Chichester Roman inscription , now preserved at Goodwood , waa of a Masonio character . It is a curious coincidence that tho second of the extinct Sussex Ledges , St . Rook's Hill , Chichester ( dating from

1730 ) , is described in au early list of Lodges aa " from the time of Julius C-josar . " The marks of the fishermen and landsmen of Brighton attached to the curious "Book of all the Ancient Customs " of Brighton , in 1581 , bear a strong affinity to some of the early Masons' Marks , though it ia true they may be partly derived from the marks of the early wool shippers . Tho firsfc distinct mention

of Sussex Masonry is in Mr . William Preston s ' Illustrations of Masonry , " which states that in 1697 tho Duke of Richmond , who was elected Grand Master , was Master of a Lodge afc Chichester . But no records of this LoJgo are preserved . In 1717 the Grand Lodge of England waa formed , and in 1721 isauod a warrant for a Lodge at Chichester , which first mot afc the Swan Inn , and

afterwards at tho Dolphin but it became extinct before 1770 . Tho second Duko of Richmond , son of tho boforo-named Duke , soems to havo belonged to this Lodge , and ib may be observed that the Dukes of Richmond have always taken a deep interest in Sussex Freemasonry . The first Provincial Grand Master of Sussex Freemasons was

Captain F . G . Minsba'J , of the Horse Guards , appointed by Lord Potre in 1774 , but hi disappeared from fcho lists after 1782 , and tho office was vacant , nntil , on 20 th May 178 S , tho Duko of Manchester ( 'hen Graud Master ) appointed Mr . ( at ' tor Major-General Sir ) Samuel Hulso to tho post . He waa Treasurer to lI . ll . H . the Princo of Wales . Previously ( in February 1788 ) the Princo himself had

boon initiated into tho mysteries of anciont Freemasonry at tho Star and Garter , Pall "Mall . The Royal approbation thus bestowed upon tho Craft seama to havo given it a great impetus in Sussex , aa the Princo had settled at Brighton in 1781 , aud thij no doubt led to the fo ; iiiation of the Royal Clarence Loclgo , tho wanaut for whioh was granted on 8 th August 1789 , being named from hia Royal brother ,

Prince William Heury ( afterwards William IV . ) , shortly before created Duko of Clarence , who in October wrote approving of tho Lodge ' s title . ; , 'fho firgt meeting of tho Royal Clarence Lodge took placo on 26 th August 1789 , at the White Horse Inn , East Street ( uow tho site of Brill ' s Baths ) , but in 1800 the headquarters wero at the Old Ship , being moved to tho Pavilion in 1863 . As tho first

Brighton Lodgo , the Royal Clarence has always taken the lead in Sussex Freemasonry . In 1881 tho late Mr . J . H . Scott Depnty Provincial Grand Master stated that " siace its formation the Lodgo had initiated 036 brethren , and admitted 216 joining members , amongst them many of Brighton ' s oldest , best known , and most rearrested inhabitants aud . independently of tho benefactions of

it . ! member * . * , ifc had expended from its fundi- * moto than £ 2000 in ivorka of charity aud public usefulness . Iu November 1793 tho Prince of Wales , u . i Grand Mast * : !!* of tho Masons , laid tho founujiLion stono ¦ . £ thu Chapol Royal , in Nurtb- ¦ itroet , Brighton , bur , ¦ . viiofchor with Mai . or'i-. ' . rites is not o ^ resaly suited , though i ! , rr . u / y bo n . ;);* . unip ( "l , ¦

Te * .. * . . ' . ifc oieijet indigenous Sussex Lodge ( for fc ' eo actual oldcafc ia tho c : Uov / ard Lodgo of Bro : Surly Lovt * , " Auiudel , founded in London iu 1736 ) ia the South Saxon , Lowes , dating from 1796 , and in April 1797 Major-General Hul ? e , with tho aid of tho South Saxon a ;* d Roval Glareac * Lodge * * - * , laid the founrlation-atone of a Masonic

f [ . * 'li ct L ' j ' . ves for the former Loclgo , and this afcil ! remains tho only ' . ee > in tho county . Public Masonic funotioaL * have boon rare iu iV , r ,. - ;! r 2 . lv . it io IS 17 the U * v . * -d Ulavonco Lodgo agisted in driving e * ii' ^ e : );[« : ; ¦ " * ' - \ hor *;•e ! r * i Iiarb : it . tr ; ir ; 132-1 iho firs '; stono of ' ¦'¦¦ ;*' e ' e ; - ' a Civ .. *'* :: . : J ! i .. c ; iii . ; i ! . ! ; Mid ia JM ^ ii i-. ii ! the ii * . ' . ' * t atone of In j

No : folk Bridge , iShi . rcli . im . Oil 2 / th Ltiny looii ihuhuo Mi : Daniel . . iaiitiiorp Fuikars * :, as W . M . of iho Royal G ! aiv . *; cu L ' -dgr *** , laid the fv ' er . lt . tiot .-uU . iicj t ) f tho ' . l-. io Viaduct io New England . hill , ten rlt . iusand . noi ' iior . a r . ^ embling ou the nei ^ h ' oonriug Iii ! 1 = 1 to witness tho

I o ' .. * roirioiiy . 'Tho i , roch . ** ofi walked in •. r .-c .- 'n ^ ion t ' r * j-ii Iho Old Shin i * : ••; - ; . ! . Tii Jc-iO tiio samo Lod * . *;; lai ! t ! re flt- ^ t stou •> of trio A-toldido \ - : ¦¦ 'i ¦ •: ( i ! io :- ! i- - ; t : * c C * .. ,, i .: * y iroot . ita ' , Bri .-di ' on . Tito next ¦ r * n * ii * -ir ! e * . e * : U . ee ! .....- ! . ? : u > v- ^? i . i ^ L ^ -U . , y [ ^ of tlr ; Sick Chiidron' :,