Durham.

Mr . Nicholson the shipbuilder lived at that date ( who owned the docks opposite the house ) , and on to the crowded banks of the river , over which they passed at the Panns on a platform or bridge of keels admirably constructed and disposed for that purpose . At the

north-west part of the intended bridge was formed a large area , where the first stone was to be laid , around which the Brethren were arranged ; and on the cliff above a conspicious station was railed in for the grand honours , the oration , and other purposes ; from this position Mr . Burdon delivered his speech . "

Warwickshire.

WARWICKSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire was held on Tuesday , under the banner of Holte Lodge , No . 1246 , in the Victoria Hall , Aston . The Lodge was opened at a quarter-past three in the afternoon , the Provincial Grand Master the Right Hon . Lord Leigh being present , with the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . James T . Collins , and many distinguished Brethren .

In obedience to the expressed wish of Lord Leigh , Provincial Grand Secretary Beech declined any information of the proceedings , or fche names of those taking part . The Holte Lodge was first opened , and afterwards the Provincial Grand Master and Officers were received wifch due ceremony , and the Grand Lodge was opened .

The report of the Audit Committee was read by Bro . Harris , and approved , on the proposition of D . P . G . M . Collins . The report from the Grand Secretary of the state of Masonry in Warwickshire was not complete , from the fact that two Lodges

had not sent in their returns . The Grand Secretary , however , pointed out that there were upon his list 1 , 368 subscribing members at the present time , and Masonry in the Province was in a very healthy condition . Bro . Harris was elected Grand Treasurer .

Later in tbe afternoon the Brethren formed in procession outside the Victoria Hall , and marched to St . Paul ' s Church , Lozells . The long train of Masons , attired in full Masonic clothing , naturally attracted a large amount of public attention in the vicinity .

A shortened form of the evening service was used , and Bro . the Rev . R . A . Edgell Provincial Grand Chaplain preached from Nehemiah iv ., 17 , 18 , and 21 . He urged that his hearers , like their Brother Masons of old , had their rebuilding to carry on , but it was the rebuilding of a spiritual edifice , the restoration of

that Temple of God , of which each one of them was assuredly a member . Like the Masons of Nehemiah ' s time they must stand to their work , sword in hand , resolute to beat off the enemy , and with the Almighty ' s aid they should be able to carry out the work which every true Mason was called upon to

perform—to erect the spiritual edifice of their lives square and true according to the plan of the Great Architect of the Universe . If Masonry was to be real and effective , one of the chief objects of the Brotherhood must be mutual help , the protection and encouragement of its members , to the help and encouragement

of tbem in the work they had themselves individually and collectively to perform . Concluding , the preacher urged the claims of the Warwickshire Masonic Benevolent and Pupils Aid

Fund , and a collection was afterwards made on behalf of the same , the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Provincial Grand Secretary , and Bros . Smith-Ryland and Prichard handing round the plates .

Subsequently a banquet took place at the Victoria Hall , under the presidency of the Deputy of the Province . —" Birmingham Gazette . "

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire was held on Friday afternoon , 20 th inst ., in the Town Hall , Bootle , by command , and under the presidency of the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., M . W . Pro G . M . R . W . Prov .

Grand Master . The attendance numbered upwards of 1 , 000 Brethren , including many Provincial Officers , headed by Brother Lord Skelmersdale S . G . W .

The Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers , present and past , entered the Lodge in processional order , and the Prov . G . Lodge was duly opened , the Prov . Grand Master being saluted according to ancient form . The Prov . Grand Secretary ( Brother W . Goodacre ) read the roll

s of the P . G . L . Officers and Lodges in the Province , showing that each of the 111 Lodges , with the exception of Furness ( Ulverston ) , No . 995 , and Arthur John Brodgen , No . 1715 , was represented . The minutes of the proceedings of last year ' s P . G . Lod ge were passed , after which The Provincial Grand Treasurer Bro . J . D . Crawford submitted his accounts for the past year , showing total receipts

West Lancashire.

£ 1 , 718 7 s 9 d , including £ 814 4 s 9 d brought forward from last year ; fees from Lodges , £ 776 9 s ; fees of honour from Provincial Grand Officers , £ 46 4 s ; and collection at Provincial Grand Lodge , Lancaster , £ 36 3 s . The principal items of expenditure

were : —Grants by Charity Committee , £ 215 ; R . M . I , for Girls , £ 105 ; Provincial Grand Secretary , £ 400 ; printing , & c , £ 55 ; deputations , £ 41 ; Royal Albert Asylum , £ 36 15 s . The credit balance was £ 948 15 s 8 d .

The Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . W . Goodacre reported that the past year had not been marked by any exceptional event . The roll of Lodges had been increased by one , the Tyldesley Lodge ( 2572 ) , and the number of members by 593 , making the total membership 7 , 256 . As an instance of what

might be done in the way of benevolence , one Lodge had contributed £ 329 during the year in support of the three West Lancashire Institutions . The West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , with an income of £ 1 , 850 , had assisted in the education and advancement in life of 206 children at a

cost of over £ 1 , 500 during the past year . The Alpass Institution had received £ 924 , and aided 42 widows at a cost of £ 520 . The Hamer fund had received £ 564 , and assisted twenty Brethren at a cost of £ 357 . The Provincial Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence had granted thirteen petitioners £ 215 , supplemented since

the accounts were made up by further grants of £ 75 to six petitioners . The Grand Lodge had assisted Brethren and widows of the Province to the extent of about £ 300 during the past four months . Three boys had been placed in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

The Provincial Grand Master remarked that the report was very favourable and acceptable indeed . As far as the increase of members and Lodges was concerned , he did not think they wished for it very much . He did not want it to be taken , however , that where there was ample room for a new Lodge , or

where a Lodge had become too large , he was not ready to receive an application . What he meant was that there should be no increase without real necessity . In regard to Charity , they could not help patting themselves on the back . He thought the Province had done admirably well ; and it would go forth to

the world that West Lancashire had done its duty . Roughly speaking , they had given in charity nearly £ 2 , 000 in the year . He was very much pleased with such a result , and hoped they would not fall behind in the future , but be able to uphold their credit and reputation . In view of the large number of

applications for relief , he quite agreed with the Provincial Grand Secretary as to the great necessity for very careful supervision over candidates proposed into Freemasonry . This was a topic he had spoken upon in London and elsewhere during the past twelve months . Wherever he had gone he had impressed again

and again upon the brethren that theirs was not a benevolent institution . They wished to enrol amongst their numbers men of means—men who would be able to keep up the best traditions of the Order as regards charity , and not men who joined with the simple object of getting what they could out of it . He did

not say one word of reproach against that Province , but he was sorry to say that the evil was growing in other parts to a very considerable extent . They were charitable and willing to support

and educate their children , support their widows , and assist their old men , but they were not a benevolent institution , and if they would impress that fact everywhere they went they would do good .

Brother J . J . Lambert proposed fche election as Provincial Grand Treasurer of Brother Henry Nail 1375 , Provincial Grand Treasurer of Royal Arch Masons . This was seconded by Bro

Salter P . P . G . D ., supported by Bro . J . D . Murray P . G . Treas . England , and unanimously agreed to . The following were elected Auditors : —Bros . H . W . Johnson , James Piatt , J . T . Callow , J . J . Lambert , and Dr . Crawford .

On the motion of Bro . R . Wylie D . P . G . M . it was agreed that twenty guineas be voted from the fund of benevolence for the benefit of Mrs . Banning , a candidate for election on the foundation

of the R . M . B . Institution , and the following donations were voted from the charities fund : —W . L . M . Educational Fund fifty guineas , W . L . Alpass Benevolent Institution and W . L . Hamer Benevolent Institution thirty guineas each .

The following Provincial Grand Officers were then invested

Bro . T . Wilde Rico .... Senior Warden W . H . Arnott .... Junior Warden Rev . C . C . Bluett - - - - 1 r ,, . Rev . T . H . Lesson - - - - [ Chaplains H . Nail ..... Treasurer

W . Bowden ..... Registrar W . J . Worden .... Deputy Registrar W . Goodacre .... Secretary W . E . Harwood - - - - " ) J . L . Wolfenden - - - - £ Senior Deacons J . Cunlifto \

W . J . Fleetwood - - - - 1 R . R . Ellis - - - - - r Junior Deacons W . Swectman - - - - / J . Milne . - - - - - Superintendent of Works rrr v ( iriinn — » ^ Wbittaker Band . " . ' . ' . j Directors of Ceremonies