Staffordshire.

Rector of Shelton ( Rev . E . D . Boothman ) invited Lord Dartmouth , in his capacity as Provincial Grand Master , to unvejl the reredos . Prior to doing so his lordship , standing at trie doorway in the chancel screen , said he did not think he ought to allow that opportunity to pass without expressing ,

as Provincial Grand Master of that great Province of Staffordshire , the satisfaction which they as Freemasons of the Province felt in Being allowed to participate in that ceremony . The reredos was the work of one who had won a world-wide reputation , and the fact that he was intimately

connected with the neighbourhood would enhance its value to those who resided in that district . The work made a fitting completion of the edifice dedicated to the worship of the Great Architect of the Universe , and the ceremony of unveiling was one which was very congenial to Freemasons

as a body . He trusted that the part which the F reemasons had taken in that perernony , and the generosity with which the local members of the Craft had contributed towards providing the necessary funds , would remind those who resided in those parts that Freemasonry was not useless and

meaningless , as some who were uninitiated might be inclined to suppose . There was a deep rooted principle which Jay at the foundation of the edifice upon which the Craft had been raised , and it was shown in such works as those which were for the promotion of the glory of God , and the furtherance

of charity in its highest form . His lordship then unveiled the reredos , the panel of which represents the scene on Calvary , at the moment when Christ speaks to His

mother and the beloved disciple ; and as the screen was removed from before the reredos a ray of electric light was thrown upon the upper part of the figure , greatly increasing the effect of this beautiful work .

The sermon was preached by the Rev . Byrom Holland P . G . C . and Vicar of Hednesford , and was from the text , " The House that is to be builded for the Lord must be

exceeding magnifical . " The offertory was on behalf of the reredos fund , and amounted to £ 25 17 s 3 d . At the conclusion of service the procession was reformed and returned to the Central Hall , where Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . Luncheon was provided b y Bro . J . Munro , Hanley . — " Lohgton Times . "

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — DORSET . THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Portland , under the presidency of the Prov . G . Superintendent Companion Montagu Guest . The gathering was one of the largest held for many years . The reports presented were of a satisfactory nature . Colonel Brymer , M . P ., Prov . G . H ., was appointed to represent the Chapter at the Centenary Festival of the Boys School next year , and £ 20 was voted to his list .

The following were invested as the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : —

Comp . Colonel Brymer - - - H . A . H . Lock - - - - J . Rev . M . Heath ... - Treasurer W . B . Morgan - Scribe E . E . Mills - --- - Scribe N . J . H . Bowen - Registrar C . J . Freeman - Princi pal Sojourner

C . Tomlin - - - - ) . . . . _ . J . Habgood - - - - J Asslstant Sojourners A . Knight .... Sword Bearer H . Budden .... Standard Bearer F . Hetley .... Director of Ceremonies W . J . Board .... Organist W . Talbot .... Janitor ,

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

LANCASHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Masons of Lancashire was held on Saturday afternoon , in the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool , when the Earl of Lathom Prov . Grand Master presided over an

attendance of upwards of 200 brethren , his lordshi p being supported by Bro . Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Lord Euston Deputy Grand Master of England , and most of the Officers of the Province .

Mark Masonry.

More than ordinary interest was attached to the gathering , owing to the fact that the day was the 21 st anniversary of the installation of the Earl of Lathom as Provincial Grand Master . In the course of the proceedings , Bro . Le Gendre Starkie presented an illuminated address to his lordship , conveying to him the congratulations of the

Brethren on the completion that day of 21 years service as Provincial Grand Master . The brethren expressed their Sense of th , e very great kindness which they had invariably received at his hands during that long period . The difficult arid onerous duties which he had been called upon to perform during the jubilee year had been fulfilled with the utmost courtesy , dignity , and ability . The Brethren recognised the

fact that they belonged to a society which was the oldest on record , and one which demanded that they should be always firm , loyal , and faithful in their allegiance to the Sovereign , and to those who were placed in authority , particularly to the Provincial Master . They united in the hope that his lordship might long be spared in health and strength to retain his present exalted position .

The Earl of Lathom , in acknowledging the address , reciprocated the kind words of the Brethren , and expressed his continued interest in the welfare of Mark Masonry in Lancashire .

Bro . Chadwick Prov . G . Sec . presented his 27 th and last annual report , in the course of which he gave a sketch of the growth of the Provincial Grand Lodge . The first was opened in October 1870 , when there were go brethren present . At the commencement of that meeting there were only 120 Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge , while at the present moment there were over 500 , showing the

extraordinary hold the Mark degree had had upon the intelligence of the country during thirty years . The growth of the Lancashire Grand Lodge had been unexampled , there being now nearly forty Lodges in the Province , with 930 effective members . He was pleased to say that the Lodges were in a healthy condidion , and perhaps in a better working order than ever before .

The Prov . Grand Master invested the following Officers : Bro . J . D . Murray ... . Senior Warden T . D . Foreman ... . Junior Warden J . H . Wells- - - - . Master Overseer r Evan Williams - - - '' - Senior Overseer -1 W . H . Brown - Junior Overseer

Rev . J . Pimblett - - - - )„ ,.,. Rev . F . E . Thomas - - . - ( Chaplains Edwin Helliwell - Treasurer Wm . Goodacre - Secretary Nathan Keywood - Registrar W . Alcock ----- Senior Deacon

J . J . Tickle ----- Junior Deacon A . Ingleby ----- Inspector of Works Max H . Boyd - Director of Ceremonies W . H . Robinson ... - Assistant Dir . of Cers . Wm . Longbottom - Sword Bearer W . Stansfield - Standard Bearer

R . H . Pearson - Organist J . H . Isherwood ... . Inner Guard J . N . Patterson - - -. - \ G . Marsden - - - - ~ ¦ , R . Armitage ... . \ Stewards Alfred Cross - - - - ) W . J . Doran ... . Tyler .

ST . MICHAEL LODGE , No . 175 . THE annual festival was held on Tuesday , 12 th inst ., when Bro . A . E . Radcliffe was installed W . M . for the ensuing year . Three candidates were advanced and two joining members received . The Brethren afterwards adjourned to Bro . S . J . Partridge ' s , where a sumptuous banquet was served . The usual Loyal and Mark toasts were given and responded to . '

CHELMER LODGE , No . 342 . rplHE annual installation meeting was held at the White Hart Hotel , J _ Chelmsford , on Tuesday , 12 th , when Bro . J . E . Pegram was installed W . M . by Bro . J . P . Lewin P . P . G . W . and P . P . G . Trcas . East Anglia P . G Std . B . England . The W . M . afterwards appointed and invested his Officers , and the ceremony was followed by the customary banquet .

Freemasons , in view of their universal toast of " The Queen and the Graft , " will peruse with particular pleasure the following paragraphs from the columns of our contemporaries : " If the life and example of Queen Victoria mean so little for Mr . Ben Tillett , it is not because they are without claim to universal admiration , but because he is too small-souled to appreciate them . " Bravo 1— " The Australasian . "

" We rejoice to see that Mr . Ben Tillett was well snubbed in the loyal city of Ballarat recently . No refreshments were offered him , the Mayor declined the honour of receiving him , and his audience at the Alfred Hall drowned his Commonwealth song with ' God save the Queen . ' Altogether a capital day . " —The " Evening News " ( Sydney ) .