Death Of The Pro Grand Master.

DEATH OF THE PRO GRAND MASTER .

WHEN we stopped our paper last week and were •able- to publish the somewhat reassuring telegram from Lord Skelmersdale , as to the condition of his father on Saturday morning , we . felt we were

able to in a measure relieve the anxiety which was then pretty general throughout the country as to the health- of the- Pro Grand Master . Unfortunately , . however , a short time after our issue was published the news reached us that the Earl of Lathorrv had

passed away , his death occunngon Saturday afternoon . It is not our intention to devote space to any lengthy details of the deceased Earl ' s services to the Craft—we deem it sufficient to say that he was

beloved by every , member of the Order who had been brought in contact with him , and respected by all who knew him only "b y repute . For twenty-five years he ruled ' over the important Province of West Lancashire ,

while his record as one of the higher rulers of the whole English Brotherhood goes almost as far back , he being appointed Deputy Grand Master in 1874 , at the time H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ascended to the Masonic

throne , and rising to the yet higher honour of Pro Grand Master in 1891 . It is of melancholy interest to record the fact that his lordship ' s last public' appearance was in " connection with the Order of which he was So' brilliant

an ornament , and of which he was so proud . We refer to the occasion of his attendance at Liverpool , when he was presented with a cheque for ^" 500 and a silver salver , & c , & c , to mark the completion of his

twenty-five years service as Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire , reported . in our pages at the time . The remains of the late Earl were interred , at , Ormskirk , on Wednesday , the anniversary of the day

on which his beloved Countess was killed , amid such surroundings as will make a lasting impression on those who attended , it taking place amid a . perfect blizzard of snow , wind and sleet . Representatives were present

of many great and distinguished in the country , from ' the Queen and the Prince of Wales downwards ,, a . conspicuous feature of the funeral being the , large attendance of members of the Craft— -to the number , of '

between four and five hundred—headed by representatives of Grand Lodge , Grand Mark'Lodge , and his lordship ' s own Province . : . ?'; /'' _ ' Needless to say the wreaths were both numerous

and magnificent , while the closing scene , at the grave side was rendered all the more pathetic by the thought that one of the noblest and best men . of the times was

being laid to his rest—beloved and deeply mourned by his Queen , his country , his Brother Masons , and all with whom he had ever come in contract—surely a noble representative of the noble race of true English gentlemen .

East Lancashire.

EAST LANCASHIRE .

THE half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire was held on Tuesday , 22 nd inst ., at the Hulme Town Hall . Colonel Le Gendre . N . Starkie

Provincial' Grand Master presided , and there was present Bro . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds P . G . D . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and other prominent members of the Order , the total number in attendance being between 300 and 400 .

The Provincial Grand Master said that before proceeding with the business of the meeting it was his painful duty to refer to the' loss the Order had sustained in the death of the Earl of Lathom . Pro Grand Master of England , and one of the greatest ornaments of Freemasonry . He was one of the

most able and conscientious of men in the performance of the duties assigned to him , and one whose character stood preeminent—well beloved by his Sovereign , highl y esteemed by the nation , and an ornament to humanity in the noble attributes he possessed . He was a pattern to themselves as

Freemasons , and to the country at'large . The memory of his good deeds would be long cherished in their minds , and his hope was that in their several positions in life , and especially in connection with that particular movement , they would imitate and appreciate his character . The Province

of East Lancashire had received many evidences of his kindness and generosity , and on occasions difficulties might have . arisen between themselves and the adjoining Province of West Lancashire , over which he ruled ,, had a man of less noble spirit and less comprehensive grasp been at the head of affairs . In conclusion Colonel Starkie moved a vote of

condolence with the members of the deceased Earl's family in their bereavement . Bro . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds seconded the motion ,

which was passed in ' silence . The business of the meeting was then proceeded with . The roll was called , and it appeared that all the Lodges in the Province were represented save one .

The following Brethren were appointed Auditors of the Provincial Grand Lodge accounts , viz . : —Bros . S . Lord ' P . G . Organist ; R . H . Beswick , St . George ' s Lodge , N 6 ^ , 1723 , Bolton ; and W . A . Bover , The Manchester Lodge , No . 2554 . ,

The minutes of the Chanty Committee stated that at a meeting held on the 16 th September two boys , the sons pf , deceased . Salford Freemasons , were adopted for election to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the Election Committee reported that at the election in October both were ' admitted to the benefits of the Institution .

Bro . C . D . Cheetham P . P . S . G . W . Chairman of . the Charity Committee , in moving that the proceedings of" that Committee be adopted , said there were at the present time considerable numbers of persons travelling about ; . East Lancashire and other Masonic Provinces soliciting aid . from

the Almoners of Masonic Lodges , who were not entitled to such assistance . He asked all who were appealed to b y . these persons to take steps to ascertain the genuineness of . their applications before acceding to them . . v . Bro . T . J . Hooper P . P . G . T . Vice Chairman seconded the motion , which was passed .

A letter was read from Bro . McLeod Secretary to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , stating that on making up the final list of subscriptions in connection with the recent Festival in aid of that Institution , he found that the 180

Stewards from East Lancashire had raised a total sum of £ 5 , 772 —the second largest amount contributed from any Province . He expressed his deep thanks to the Provincial Grand Master , the Stewards , and the Brethren of the Province , for the splendid work they had done , and the