West Lancashire.

forget the sympathy which came from the Brethren not only of Lancashire , but all over the globe . That noble gift in memory of his beloved wife was one that he could only hope to use in a way that she would have approved . They were raising a fund , he was told , to retain the services of a local nurse at Ormskirk to visit the sick in that neighbourhood , in

connection with the Cottage Hospital there . He therefore did not think that he could do better than hand that cheque over to the Treasurer of that Fund . He was quite certain it was an object his beloved wife had at heart . He could not say more , but would beg them to accept his most sincere thanks .

On the motion of Bro . R . G . Bradley P . P . D . G . D . C , seconded by Bro . J . B . Mackenzie P . P . G . D ., and supported by Bro . Kite P . M ., Bro . E . R . Latham was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer .

Bro . Wylie proposed , and it was carried unanimously , that 150 guineas be voted from the Charities Fund , to be divided equally between the West Lancashire Educational Institution , the Alpass Benevolent Institution , and the Hamer Benevolent Institution .

The Provincial Grand Master then invested the following Brethren as Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing

year : — Bro . F . Smitton .... Senior Warden Miles Kennedy .... Junior Warden Eev . Canon 3 . Henn - - - " I riv , „ -i „;„„ Bev . 3 . A . Pattinson - - - CH ?^

T . J . Smith jun . ... - Begistrar Maxwell H . Boyd - Deputy Begistrar E . B . Latham .... Treasurer W . Goodacre - - - - Secretary J . Hardwicke Marsh - - - j W . B . Brandwood - - - - > Senior Deacons

3 . G . Batty- . - - - - I F . Fletcher - " ) ¦ 0 . A . Whitney - - - - [• ¦ Junior Deacons J . Edwards - - - - W . M'Lachlan - Superintendent of Works J . Bain .... - Director of Ceremonies

J . M'Kmnell .... Deputy Dir . ot Cers . Harrison B . Jones - - - - "") J . Partington - - - - [• Assistant Dire , of Cers . Alexander Naylor - - - - J B . Holgate ----- Sword Bearer J . Wortbington - - - - Deputy . Sword : Bearer C . Burohall - - - - )„ ... „

W . Bagot - - - - - ( btanaarcl -Bearers 0 . H . Barker .... Organist D . Connor .. ... Assistant Secretary P . Chambers .... Pursuivant W . S . Hodgson .... Assistant Pursuivant E . O . Jones - - - \

J . Fmeberg- .. . . S . Jude - - - - „ . , A . K . Boothroyd - - - - [• Stewards B . Bawlinson - - - - J . Williams - - - - ; W . J . Doran . ... Tyler .

Brother J . W . Burgess P . P . G . D . was unanimously appointed the representative of the Province on the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . A collection was made on behalf of the West Kirby Convalescent Home for Children , the sum of £ 42 is 6 d being gathered .

The Brethren afterwards dined at the Bear ' s Paw , Liverpool , under the chairmanship of Lord Skelmersdale . About 200 Brethren thoroughly appreciated the cuisine of Bro . J . A . Brown . During the after-dinner proceedings the Lyric Glee Company contributed an enjoyable musical programme .

The presentation consisted of a massive silver rose bowl and four silver flower vases . The bowl is of very noble proportions , being twenty-four inches in diameter and stands with its ebony pedestal twenty inches in height . It is designed in the Italian renaissance period of art . The mounting at the foot of the bowl is handsomely chased with a decorative ornamental border , the underneath part of the bowl being fluted ; above this is a richly chased border on a matted ground of scroll leafage , entwined with griffin heads .

This border is divided in four equal cabochon sections with beaded edges , containing a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen , taken from the Jubilee coinage , also a portrait of His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales in Masonic regalia as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England . The other cabochon panels bear the arms of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons , also the arms of tbe Earl of Lathom . The inner and outer top borders are both beaded , and between this beading on the curved mount appears the following inscription : —

To the Bight Honourable the EABL OF LMHOM , G . C . B ., M . W . Pro Grand Master , B . W . Prov . Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Western Division of Lancashire . The Brethren , members of the Lodges in West Lancashire , respectfully request your lordship's acceptance of this rose bowl and four vases in silver

in commemoration of the twenty-five years during which they have had tho privilege and distinguished honour of having your lordship to preside over them , also as a token of their sincere respect and esteem , aud to mark their appreciation of the great services rendered to Freemasonry by your lordship , more especially in West Lancashire . The Brethren further desire to convey

West Lancashire.

their ardent wish that by tho grace of the Great Architect of the Universe your lordship may be long spared to preside over the Province of West Lancashire . Provincial Grand Lodge at Liverpool , 19 th October 1898 . Bobert Wylie P . G . D . P . Pr . G . W . Deputy Pr . G . M . John Houlding S . G . D . P . Pr . G . W ., Lord Mayor of Liverpool . William Goodacre P . G . S . B . P . Pr . G . B . Pr . G . Socretary .

There are also four beautiful chased tall flower vases designed en suite to match the bowl . These stand seventeen inches in height , and bear the arms of the Earl of Lathom . This beautiful service is entirely hand-wrought in repousse chasing . Messrs . Elkington and Co . were entrusted with the execution of these costly and unique -works of art .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

THE Quarterly Convocation of the Supreme Grand Chapter will be held at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Wednesday next , 2 nd November , at 6 p . m .

BUSINESS . The Minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE BEP 0 BT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENEBAL PUEPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Boyal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the Accounts from the 20 th July , to the 18 th October 1898 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follow : To Balance , Grand Chapter - - £ 955 4 5

„ „ Unappropriated Account 248 13 6 „ Subsequent Receipts - ' - 401 1 6 £ 1 , 604 19 5 By Disbursements during the Quarter 336 0 8 „ Balance - 1 , 006 3 3

„ Unappropriated Account - 262 15 6 £ 1 , 604 19 5

which Balances-are in the Bank of England , Law Courts Branch . The : Committee have * likewise to report that they have received the following Petitions : lst . From Companions Lawrence William Kershaw as Z ., Norman John McQueen as H ., Walter Sandys Thomas as J ., and thirty-three others for a Chapter to be attached to' the Adam ' s Peak Lodge , No . 2656 , to be called "The Campbell Chapter , " and to meet at Hatton , Ceylon .

2 nd . From Companions Evan Ormiston as Z ., Frederick Mitchell as H ., Walter John Napier as J ., and eleven others for a Chapter to be attached to St . George Lodge , No . 1152 , to be called " The St . George Chapter , " and to meet at Freemasons' Hall , Coleman Street , Singapore . 3 rd . From Companions Thomas W . A . Napier as Z ., Squire Chapman as H ., John Bewley jun . as J ., and twelve others for a Chapter to be attached to the Egerton Lodge , No . 2132 , to be called " The Egerton of Tatton Chapter , " and to meet at the Albert Masonic Hall , Kew Brighton , Cheshire .

4 th . From Companions William Bee as Z ., John Clayton as H ., Thomas D , Foreman as J ., and eleven others for a Chapter to be attached to the Ashbury Lodge , No . 1459 , 'to be called ' ¦ The Ashbury Chapter , " and to meet at the Justice Birch Hotel , Hyde Boad , West Gorton , Manchester , Lanes . Eastern Division .

Sth . From Companions John Colpas Clark as Z ., Adolphus Cozens as H ., John Miller as J ., and six others for a Chapter to be attached to the Victoria Lodge , No , 2329 , to be called " The Silver Biver Chapter , " and to meet at Calle Cuyo , No . 1230 , Buenos Ayres . . The foregoing Petitions being regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

The Committee have also received a Memorial with * extract . of Minutes , for permission to remove the following Chapter : " The Wiltshire Chapter , " No . 355 , from the Masonic Hall , to the New Masonic Hall , Swindon .

The Committee having satisfied themselves of the reasonableness of this request , recommend that the removal of this Chapter be sanctioned . The Committee further recommend that inasmuch as the Friendly Chapter , No . 383 , Jamaica , has made no return since 1874 , and a report having

been received that there are no Principals or Members existing , the Chapter be erased from the Roll of Chapters . ( Signed ) GEORGE DAVID HABBIS , President . Freemasons' Hall , W . C ., 22 nd October 1898 .

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter was held on Wednesday , 19 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Queen Street , Chester , when the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Provincial Grand Superintendent presided ,

supported by His Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd P . G . D . England , and others . The minutes of the last Provincial meeting , held at Birkenhead , on the 30 th October 18 97 , were read and confirmed .

The Treasurer s statement of accounts was presented and approved , showing a substantial balance in the bank , after paying all expenses , and contributing a donation to the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys of twenty guineas .