Special Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

denied until the Provincial Graud Officers had taken their seats . Among those present were the following : —Lord Egerton of Tatton R . W . P . G . M ., hia Hononr judge Sir Horatio Lloyd D . P . G . M .. A . C . Meir P . G . A . D . C , H . Finch P . G . Registrar , T . Letherland P . G . Steward ,

W . M . Collier P . G . P ., II . Jackson P . G . S . D ., J . 0 . Jolly P . G . S ., M . Longridgo P . G . Assist . Secretary , 0 . AV . Phillips P . G . S ., \ i . Newhonse P . G . S ., T . H . Arnett P . G . Treasurer , T . W . Si urges P . G . C , J . Norris P . G . S . B ., J . Dennis P . G . S . B ., V . W . Lockwood P . P . G . Supt . Works ,

Thomas Coxlicad P . P . G . S . W . ( North Wales ) , S . W . Ramsden P . P . G . S . D ., H . A . Steer P . P . G . D . C . ( North Wales ) , J . Lewis P . G . D . C , J . M . Cantland P . G . S ., T . Haddon P . G . S ., Thos . E . Mason P . P . G . T ., J . B . Piercey P . P . G . J . W . ( Staffordshire ) , Hon . H . Holbrook P . P . G . S . W . ( Cheshire ) , and P . C . G . M . ( British Columbia ) , J . H . Evans

P . P . G . St . B ., J . H . Betlyse P . P . G . J . W ., G . H . Denby P . P . G . A . D . C ., H . Howard P . P . G . S . D ., W . J . Ogg

P . P . G . S . W . ( Shropshire ) , H . R . Giles P . G . Registrar ( Shropshire ) , J . Clayton P . P . G . J . W ., J . Leigh P . P . G . S ., W . Peers P . P . G . S ., F . Broadsmith P . P . G . Registrar , Atf . Ingham P . P . G . Steward , G . M . Milland P . P . GHD ., W . Wildgrovo P . P . G . Treasurer , R . B . Pill P . P . G . P .,

R . Hunter P . P . G . S . D ., W . H . Finchett P . G . S . D ., S . Smith P . G . T ., T . J . E , Young P . P . G . S . W . ( North Wales ) , J . Matthews P . G . Supt . of Works , Edward Cnyner P . P . G . O ., F . Booksou P . P . G . Treasurer , D . Kinsey

P . P . G . T ., H . E . Heywood P . P . G . S . B ., and others , including Present and Past Officers and members of the various Lodges in the Province . Provincial Grand Lodge was thon opened in due form .

Subsequently the R . W . P . G . M . moved that a sum of £ 10 be granted by Grand Lodgo to the Randlo Holme Porch Fund as an index of the good feeling of tho Lodge to the object for which they had assembled that day , and

by which they would be contributing to the erection of a lasting memorial of one of the oldest Freemasons of whom they had any record in the Province . The D . P . G . M . seconded the motion , which was agreed to nnanimonsly .

Ihe brethren then formed in procession , with the prescribed regalia and in tho order decreed for such occasions . At the door of the Castle , the Venerable Archdeacon Barber , of Chester Cathedral ; the Rov . J . R . Price , Curate of St . Mary ' s ; and the surpliced choir of tho

church , with cross-bearer , met the Masonic body and led the way to the church where divine service was held . The nave was occupied by the members of the Fraternit y , while the aisles aud other portions of the sacred edifice wero crowded with parishioners aud visitors . The service

was conducted by tbe Archdeacon , assisted by the Rev . J . R . Price . Bro . G . Tinkler presided at the organ . The processional hymn was "The Church ' s one foundation . " The lesson read was 1 Chronicles xxviii . 1 to 12 . This was followed by the Apostles' Creed and four

collects . During the singing of the hymn , " Christ is our corner-stone" thc offertory was collected , the Archdeacon announcing that it would be devoted to the porch fund , for thc completion of which between £ 40 and £ 50 was

still required . Tho choir then snng tbe anthem , " This is the day " ( Johnson ) . Tho recessional hymn was " Christ is made tho sure foundation . " The ceremony of laying the fonndation stone with full Masonic ritual was then

proceeded with . By this tunc there was a largo attendance in the churchyard and its vicinity . A considerable number of persons , including a number of ladies , had gained access to the roof of tho church , from which they obtained an uninterrupted view of the proceedings . All the available

roofs of buildings in tho vicinity wero also requisitioned for tho same purpose , and there was a crowd of anxious sight-seers iu the adjoining street . Thc ceremony opened with tho singing of tho Old Hundredth hymn , after which the Archdeacon , ou behalf of the Building Committee , asked the P . G . M . to lay tho corner-stone .

Lord Egerton then delivered a brief address . Ho said ho mnst congratulate tho brethren on the lartre numbers

present on tho occasion . The porch to be erected was in memory of one of the oldest Freemasons of tho county of whom they had any record , Randlo Holmo , and who had written tho first book printed in Chester which had any reference to Freemasonry . There were five generations of the Randlo

Holme family which had been connected with that city , aud especially with St . Mary ' s Church . Ono of them had been mayor aud another sheriff of tho city in 7 t Tu p bl 0 aS times iu Eu glisl > history . He was glad that the Freemasons of the Province had decided to take

Special Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

part in tho erection of tho porch to a church which had for so long a period been dedicated to the service of Almighty God . The porch would remain au integral part of the fabric , and would be a lasting memorial of a celebrated Freemason . His lordship then quoted from a

work written by Randlo Holme , sotting forth the objects of Freemasonry , and tho hig h , ideal sought to bo attained by the brethren , and said those present could not do better than endeavour to attain that ideal which Randle Holmo had so carefully and so beautifully laid down .

The stone having been laid in the prescribed form , an ode , " Now thank we all our God , " and tho " Gloria in Excelsis " were sung . In the cavity below the stone a bottle , hermetically sealed , was placed , containing several coins of the realm ,

three circulars of Provincial Grand Lodge , and a copy of the " Times , " The cavity was covered with a polished brass plato bearing the following inscription : — " Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire . This corner-stone was laid by tho Right Hon . Lord Egerton of Tatton P . G . M ., Easter Monday , 18 th April 1892 . "

Brother E . Brassey W . M . Cestrian Lodge 425 , on behalf of the Building Committee , moved a vote of thanks to the P . G . M ., tha D . P . G . M ., aud the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Cheshire for their attendance . Brother H . Taylor , S . S . A ., S . W . of the Cestrian Lodge ,

425 , in seconding the vote of thanks , gave some details of the history of the Holme family . Thomas Holme , the first member of the family , came from Tranmere , and settled in Chester in the 16 th century . He died in 1610 , and was buried at St . Michael's Church . His son .

Randta Holme , who was bound apprentice ia 1598 to Thomas Challoner , "herald , antiquary , poet , player , and permanent member of the Chester Company of paynters , glasiers , imbroiderers , and stacioners . " He was sheriff of the city in 1615 , Mayor in 1633 , and churchwarden of

St . Mary ' s . He died in 1655 , and was buried at St . Mary ' s , where his monument still exists . Randle Holme , son of the preceding , who was baptised at St . Mary ' s on the 16 th of July 1601 , was sheriff in tho same year that his father was Mayor ( 1633 ) , and was

himself Mayor in 1643 , when the city was besieged by the Parliamentary forces , and in the defence of whioh he took a leading part . He was also a justice of the peace and one of the city treasurers , likewise a churchwarden of St . Mary ' s , at which church , he was hurried in 1659 .

Another Randle Holme , who was baptised at Sfc . Mary ' s on tho 30 th of December 1620 , similarly distinguished himself in life , and died in 1699 . A fourth descendant was born in 1659 , filled the office of sheriff in 1705 , was also a churchwarden of St . Mary ' s , and died on tho 13 th

August 1707 . This ended the line of the Randlo Holmes , his only son dying before him . All were Freemasons , all distinguished members of the Stationers' Company , and all filled various important offices in the city .

The vote of thanks was accorded with acclamation . Tho National Anthem ( Masonic version ) was then sung ; the members of the P . G . Lodge then returned to the Castle in reversed order , where the especial Lodge was closed .

Dedication Of A New Hall At Budleigh Salterton.

DEDICATION OF A NEW HALL AT BUDLEIGH SALTERTON .

rilHE new Masonio temple , erected in connection with Lodge J- Harmouy , No . 372 , at Budleigh Salterton , waa dedicated on the 11 th inat . iu the presence of a large gathering of metribera . Lodge Harmouy , in existence for about seventy years , baa held its meetings at the ltolle Anna Hotel . Some time since it was thought advisable that a Masonic hall should bo ore ' eted , aud a suitable site was

procured . The building ia not of a pretentious character , but it ia admirably designed and provides ample accommodation . The dedication ceremony waa performed by Bro . Eogers D . P . G . M . acting on behalf of the Prov . Grand Master Lord Ebrington , M . P . A procession waa formed in the aute-room , as follows : —Officera of Lodge

Harmony , P . G . OJHeera Past and Present , threo P . M . ' s of 372 , carrying corn , wiuo , and oil , architect with plan aud tools , P . G . Secretary , P . O . Wardens , D . P . G . M ., visiting brethren , members of Lodge Harmony . The Lodge having been opined , tho P . G . Secretary requested the D . P . G . M . to dedicate the building , and this was done

io accordance with tho impressive ritual of the Graft . Amongst thosJ who assisted ware Bros . Stocker P . M ., Davie I ' . G . S ., Gregory ( Exeter ) P . A . D . C , who acted as Dir . of Cera ., aasiated by Bro . Grey Dir . of Cers . 372 . Bro . Fulford ( Exeter ) P . M . 125 ^ , who performed

it similar olfice at the laying of tho i ' oundatiou-storiK , delivered un oration . Afterwards thoro was a banquet at the Hollo Arms , tho entering of Bro . Mortimer , who haa recently taken over the hotel , g iving every satisfaction . The hall , which waa dedicated to Morality