East Lancashire.

Province ; and , secondly , the feeling—to which he was only too glad to testily—that in entrusting their votes to Bro . Cheetham and those who worked with him they would be put to the best possible use . The resolution was passed . Bro . C . D . Cheetham proposed that the sum of ioo

guineas be granted from the Provincial Grand Lodge Funds to the Male Fund of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows . He said that no November meeting of the Province since he had seen Chairman of the Charity Committee had passed without his

proposing a resolution similar to that he now moved . They had , as a rule , two or three aged candidates at each election for this Charity , and it was absolutely necessary , strong in votes as they were—and there was no Province in England

which had more votes than that of East Lancashire for that particular Institution—that they should strengthen their position . Bro . J . B . Goulburn seconded the motion , which was adopted .

An invitation was tendered from the Egerton Lodge , Heaton Norris , to hold the next annual meeting at Heaton Norris .

The Provincial Grand Master said he had received invitations also from Accrington , Ashton-under-Lyne , Burnley , Haslmgden , and Todmorden . There had been no

meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge at Accrington since 1877 , and he thought in those circumstances the next meeting should be held in that town . A convenient date would be the Wednesday or Thursday nearest to the 15 th May .

Bro . Cheetham said that Bro . Captain Barlow would be proposed for the Office of Grand Treasurer at the meeting or the Grand Lodge of England the week after next . It was likely , as far as could be at present ascertained , that he

would be unopposed . In the event of any other candidate being nominated , however , he hoped he would receive as strong support from the Provinces of East and West Lancashire and Cheshire as was extended to him when he was a

candidate last year . The Provincial Grand Master said he voiced the feelings of all memoers of the Order in the district when he said that

if Captain Barlow were elected to the Office of Grand Treasurer it would give them all great pleasure , and be to the advantage of Freemasonry in general . Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

East Lancashire.

the Gracedieu Lodge , Coalville , was constituted and dedicated . The annual Lodge returns have been delivered with much greater promptitude , and increased care has been shown in their preparation . On the 24 th June 1900 there were 809 Brethren attached to the Province , and on the 24 th June 1901

the number had increased to 820 . During the year 54 new members had joined , viz . : 41 Initiates and 13 Joining Members . 'ine withdrawals numbered 43 , and included 29 resignations , 13 deaths , and I exclusion . Of the 820 members of Lodges , 55 subscribe to two Lodges , and 4 to three

Lodges ; the net total of the Province is thus 761 . The membership of nine Lodges has increased , three show-a decrease , and two remain stationary . Forty-two Brethren are returned "' in arrear " ; this compares with 34 last year , and 29 the year before .

Including 3 emergency meetings , 117 meetings have been held in the Province , and the work performed includes 42 initiations , 45 passings , and 47 raisings . A precis of the financial returns shows that seven Lodges

have increased their balances , and seven have added to their deficits . The aggregates of the increases and deficits amount respectively to £ 130 8 s 2 d and £ 89 17 s 3 d , giving a gain on the year of £ 40 10 s nd .

The Committee desire to express their high appreciation of the able manner in which Bro . Rev . H . S . Biggs , B . A ., P . P . G . Chap . continues to discharge the editorial work connected with the Provincial Calendar . The only proceedings of Grand Lodge during the year

to which it seems necessary to request the special attention ' of Worshipful Masters and Lodge Secretaries is the addition made to Article 210 of the Book of Constitutions , which , as now approved by Grand Lodge , reads as follows : —" Every Lodge has the power to permanently exclude any of its

members for sufficient cause , provided that such member shall have received due notice in writing of the complaint made against him , and of the time appointed for its consideration , when he may attend and be heard . Such notice shall

be considered duly served if sent to the last known address by registered post . " The added words are .- —" Such notice shall be considered duly served if sent to the last known address by registered post . " The usefulness of this addition win be apparent to all .

The Committee very heartily recommend that the portrait of Bro . William Vial be inserted in the Provincial Calendar next year . Bro . Vial was initiated in 1007 , on 28 th April 1874 , and was W . M . in 1877 , he was Provincial Senior

Grand Warden in 1891 . During the twenty-seven years Bro . Vial has been a member of 1007 , he has never missed a meeting of that Lodge , and his great interest and efficiency in Lodge work is admitted and admired by all who know him . *

Much to the regret of the Province generally , many deaths have occurred during the year .

Leicestershire And Rutland.

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

BY command of the Provincial Grand Master the Earl Ferrers a Provincial Grand Lodge will be holden at the Colles Hall , Melton Mowbray , under the banner of the

Rutland Lodge , No . 1130 , on Thursday , 5 th December , for the transaction of the ordinary business ; when and where all past and present Provincial Grand Officers , together with the Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and acting Wardens of the several Lodges of the Province , as members of Provincial

Grand Lodge , are summoned to attend , and all Master Masons being subscribing members to a Lodge within the Province are invited . Brethren of other Provinces , being Master Masons and subscribing members of Lodges , are also cordially invited to be present .

The Provincial Grand Lodge will be opened at 3 . 30 p . m . precisely , and at the conclusion of business , the banquet will be served , at 5 . 30 o ' clock ; tickets for dinner and dessert are 6 s each .

I he report of the Provincial Committee of General Purposes , to be submitted at this meeting , states , among other matters , that the most noteworthy event of the year was the Consecration , on 14 th November , of a new Lodge at Syston , called the East Goscote Lodge , No . 2865 . The Provincial

Grand Master issued a special summons to his Officers to attend him on the occasion of the Consecration , and the ceremony , in the much regretted absence of the Provincial Grand Master , was most impressively rendered by the Deputy Prov . G . M ., in the presence of a very large attendance of

Brethren from all parts of the Province . The petition for the Lodge was signed by no less than twenty-two Brethren of the Province , thirteen of whom are Past Provincial Officers . Several eligible candidates have expressed a desire to become members , and there seems every probability ' that this new

Lodge , so auspiciously started , will have a very successful career . The constitution of this Lodge raises the total number in the Province to fifteen , viz .: —Six in Leicester , eight in the County , and one at Oakham . The last previous addition was made on 16 th November 1892 , on which date

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — WEST YORKSHIRE . THE half-yearly meeting of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held in the new Masonic Hall , Great George Street , Leeds , on Wednesday , 27 th inst .

Comp . R . Wilson Prov . G . H . presided . Pie remarked that in the West Riding they had the largest number of Chapters and Companions of any Province in the country . They had received three petitions for new Chapters to be attached to Lodges in Bradford , and as there was room there for only

one additional Chapter , had thought it best to recommend . a Charter to Shakespeare Lodge , No . 1018 . Grand Chapter would therefore be asi < ed to grant that Charter . A petition for a Chapter to be attached to the De Warren Lodge , No . 1 ^ 502 , Halifax , was under consideration .

The Chapters were invited to send to the Librarian photographs of their Charters , in order that they might be reproduced in case of accident , and for reference . ******************

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

KENT .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Masters was held at the Guildhall , Rochester , on Wednesday , 30 th ult , under the auspices of the St . Andrew Lodge , No . 237 .