Demonstration At St. Helens.

Greenall , Whitley and Co . The plans for the new buildings were prepared by Messrs . Willink and Thicknesse , architects , Castle-street , Liverpool , and the contract for their erection was obtained by Mr . Whittakor , builder , St . Helens . The total cost , including the site ,

furnishing , and incidental expenses , will be about £ 8 , 000 , towards which over £ 5 , 000 has been raised . Accommodation will be found for about 400 boys and an equal number of girls , and the premises will include classrooms , private rooms for the headmaster , headmistress , Ac .

The scheme also contemplates the use of the lower premises as a mission church . The plans include a screened chancel and seating accommodation for about 700 persons . It is expected that the buildings will be completed towards the end of the present year .

The Earl of Lathom arrived at St . Helens about noon , aud was met by Colonel D . Gamble , C . B ., and the Rev . J . W . Willink , vicar of St . Helens , and other gentlemen . The noble lord was driven in Colonel Gamble ' s brougham to Windlehurst , where Colonel Gamble entertained a

small party of Masons , including Lord Lathom ; the vicar of St . Helens , and his brother , Mr . W . E . Willink , architect , of Liverpool . The Masonic proceedings commenced with a special Provincial Grand Lodge at the York Street National Schools , where a large number of

Brethren assembled . Wearing their regalia and carrying their emblems of office , the Masons , headed by the band of the 2 nd Lancashire Engineer Volunteers , subsequently walked in procession along Talbot and Duke Streets

to the site of the new schools . Here they took up positions on the prepared platform , where also gathered the clergy , wardens , sidesmen , and other officers of the Parish Church and York Street Mission Church . The

arrival of the Pro Grand Master was signalised by a flourish of trumpets , and after the officials had taken up their allotted places , the hymn " O Lord of Hosts" was

sung . The Rev . J . W . Willink , vicar , and chairman of the building committee , then presented to the Earl of Lathom a handsomely chased silver trowel , which bore

the following inscription : — " Presented to the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., M . W . Pro Grand Master , R . W . Prov . Grand Master of the Western Division of Lancashire , on the occasion of laying the memorial stone of the new schools and mission church in the parish of St . Helens , Lancashire , 27 th March 1894 . "

In asking the noble lord to accept the trowel , the vicar expressed the great indebtedness he and members of the building committee felt they were under to his lordship and those by whom he was surrounded , for their attendance that day . In obedience with that feeling

of loyalty and enthusiasm which had ever been characteristic of English Freemasons , they had come from far and from near to grace that occasion , and he assured them from the bottom of his heart of the gratitude which was felt in the parish of St . Helens for a kindness the

recollection of which would not readily pass away . The school they were engaged in erecting that day was the outcome of the very large development which for many years had marked the town of St . Helens as a whole , and the parish of St . Helens in particular . It

was also the outcome of the very great development of the work of the national schools which had been a conspicuous feature of the parish work for the last few years . In the year 1891 the average attendance of scholars in their national schools was 727 , and last week

there were present in their places at school 1396 children , nearly double the number of children that attended three years ago . That vast increase meant that more accommodation must be provided , and their action in that direction was stimulated by an intimation received from

the Education Department . That admirable site for the new schools had been obtained at one-half its cost from Messrs . Greenall , Whitley and Co ., and they trusted the new buildings , both as an educational institution and a mission church , would prove a lasting benefit to the surrounding population .

The Earl of Lathom , who was well received , said it had fallen to his lot on several occasions to have the pleasure and honour of laying foundation stones of buildings for various purposes , and he had always found

that whenever he had called upon the Brethren of the

Demonstration At St. Helens.

Province of West Lancashire to assist him in performing such a duty , they had come in their numbers and willingly and joyfully rendered their help . He had found them to do so move readily in the case of churches or of schools , or other institutions which were intended

to benefit the future of mankind . That truly Brotherly feeling had always been acted upon , and he felt it always would be . He could assure Mr . Willink and his friends that it had given him very great pleasure to

attend and perform that duty , and he sincerely hoped when the building was completed that it would prove all that was hoped by the promoters it would do for the population of that busy town .

The memorial stone , which was suitably inscribed , was then laid , in accordance with the full Masonic ritual , the Worshipful Pro Grand Master afterwards declaring that it was laid plumb , level , and square , and that the Craftsmen had done their work well and truly .

He scattered corn on the stone as an emblem of plenty and an abundance of God ' s best gifts ; he poured wine upon it as a symbol of strength and gladness , with the hope that God would give them grateful hearts to care for and relieve the wants of others ; and he sprinkled the

stone with oil as an emblem of peace and harmony . The beautiful ceremonial was witnessed with remarkable interest by the vast congregation . After another hymn

had been sung , and prayer offered , the architect ( Mr , W . E . Willink ) submitted the plans to Lord Lathom , who signified his approval , and desired the work to be completed in conformity therewith without any loss of time .

The proceedings concluded with the National Anthem , after which the procession was re-formed , and returned to York Street Schools , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was formally closed . —Liverpool Mercury .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

nnHE regular monthly meeting of the Board of I Benevolence was held on Wednesday of last week , at Freemasons' Hall , and was very well attended . The three chairs were occupied by Brothers Robert Grey

( President ) , James Brett ( Senior Vice-President ) , and C . A . Cottebrune ( Junior Vice-President ) . There was a long list of applications for relief , no less than forty-two petitions having been presented . The President , before

the commencement of the proceedings , said he was sure all the Brethren would be gratified at seeing Brother W . H . Lee of the Grand Secretary ' s office again among them after his long illness . The Brethren heartily

cheered the President ' s kind remark . They then confirmed recommendations made at the last meeting to the Grand Master to the amount of £ 270 , and afterwards dealt with the new list . The work was done

extremely well in a little under four hours . One petitioner was recommended to Grand Lodge for a grant of £ 50 ; two petitioners were recommended to the Grand Master for £ 40 each : and nine for £ 30 each . Immediate

grants were made to eleven petitioners of £ 20 each , to " seven petitioners of £ 10 each , and to two of £ 5 each . Total £ 700 . Three petitions were dismissed , and six deferred , being incomplete .

The object for which the Grand Masonic reception and ball was arranged to be held at Grimsby yesterday was to assist in raising a fund of £ 1 , 000 for " The

Anderson Bates Masonic Benevolent Pund , " for charitable purposes . We hope to report in our next issue that the meeting was an unqualified success .

o o o The installation meeting of the United Pilgrims Lodge , No . 507 was held on the 22 nd inst ., at the Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . Our report of the proceedings is unavoidably held over until next week .

o o o THE funeral of the late Bro . C . A . Sharp took place on the 20 th inst ., at Brighton , and was attended by several members of the St . Cecilia Lodge , No . 1636 , of which he was a member , as well as by other Craftsmen .