Provincial Grand Chapter Of Cheshire.

John Siddeley Prov . G . S . N . Mathew McNcrncy Prov . G . P . S . S . Meadows Prov . G . ist S .. J . Blackhurst Prov . G . 2 nd S . CI I . llinde Prov . G . Reg . John Siddeley ( 1045 ) Prov . G . S . I 5 . It . M . Townsend ... .. ... Prov . G . S . B .

W . Mathews Prov . G . D . of C . T . H . Kirk Prov . G . Org . Fcrdinaiido Jackson , juu . ... ... Prov . G . Treas . Mark Alcock ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . 'The Treasurer's accounts , showing a balance in favour of the province of £ 6 S 6 s . 41 b , were submitted ami passed . The sum of £ ( 13 was voted to the Masonic Institution for

Girls , which sum , with previous contributions , wili entitle the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent to become a Vice-President . Lord lie Tabley having selected Crewe as the town in which to hold the next annual meeting , the P . G . Chapter was closed according to ancient custom . The whole meeting was eminently successful and

marked by that enthusiasm and cordiality which the Masonic brethren of Cheshire have displayed so frequently ; but it was in the arrangements and decorations of the banqueting room that perhaps fie greatest spirit and taste were displayed , to au extent rarely equalled in the province .--. The decorations of the Masonic Foams , in which the festive hoard was spread , vveie of the . most anisiie

character , and many hours of anxious consideiation , arduous toil , and no small expenditure of money must have IK-CII necessary to the proper carrying out of the elaborate scheme of oinauicnlaiioii by Comp . S . Williams , Argyle-St ., Birkenhead , and valuable help was given by Comp . Holtaway , Janitor 477 . A first-class banquet was provided by Comp . Berry , Runclagh Hotel , Birkenhead , who

again sustained his good name as a purveyor of " creature comfort- ! . " Comp . Lord de 'Tabley presided at the banquet , which commenced at 4 o'clock and was numerously attended , and expressed himself as thoroughly delighted with the manner in which he hail been received that day , as well as with the really effective style of the decorations of the room .

A Masonic Oration.

A MASONIC ORATION .

The following oration was delivered b y Bro . the Rev . W . C Lukis , M . A ., F . S . A ., Prov . G . Chaplain West Yorkshire , on the occasion of the dedication of a Masonic Hall at Shipley , reported in our pages of October 1 2 tli . Brethren , —We have met together to assist in a stirring and inleicsling ceremi nial , and our heaiticst wishes

accompany the performance ofthe act . In addressing the mem . hers of the Airedale Lodge on this auspicious occasion , I am not addressing a young lodge , but one that has already attained to a respectable and respectful age . It is composed of well-instructed brethren , many of whom arc better qualified to teach mc than I am to tell them anyl ' -iing which they have not already learned , anil endeavoured to

practice as true and loyal Masons . 'The Airedale L-, dge is in the fifty-second year of its existence , its Warrant of Constitution hearing date 12 th March , 1 H 27 . It seems in its origin to have risen , phoenix-like , out of the ashes of an old lodge , viz ., the Duke of York ' s Lodge , No . 42 S , originally constituted at Doncaster in 1788 , ami removed ' In Bingley in 1807 . In 1815 the Duke of York's Lodge at

Bingley is supposed to have closed its career , and the Airdale Lodge sprang into existence , ; U Uaildon , in 1827 , ils originators being liro . Wainninn Holmes , of lhc l . e , ih , 'e of Hope , Bradford , and other brethren of the defunct Bingley Lodge-. From Uaildon it finally settled here at Shipley , where we trust it will long continue , to pursue an honourable and useful career . This wandering life will account

for the circumstance that no dedication of the lodge should have occurred earlier . During the period between i 8 ? 7 and 1877 its number has been twice changed , owing to the erasure of extinct lodges ; the first lime in 1832 , when from 814 , it was recognised on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England as No . 543 , and the second time in 1863 , when it obtained ils present number , 3 S 7 . It is not

necessary that I should enter more at length into the history of the lodge and its vicissitudes , because that history has been compiled by liro . P . M . Hiley , and printed in . 1 very handsome volume . 1 shall simply add what I believe will be felt by every member of the lodge , that the bnillnr who must always lie gratefully recognised as ils founder and mainstay , and whose long aril active sen ices have

contributed toils prosperity , is the venerable liro . P . M . Waininaii Holmes , who , lo quole his own winds , bl iled list year that " out of the fifty years th . it the Aird . ile Lo . lge has been conslituitil , I think 1 should be W . M . and Secretary at lean thirty or more years ( peril ips 40 -tears ) , rind whatever I h . id 10 do I did il -. villi pleasure , and particularly in my younger days , when Masonry was my

' hobby hoiue . ' " 1 will venture to say that there is probably no either lodge in this province that can grasp the warm hand of its living founder at Ihe end of " fifty-one years . May the prayer of the lodge , uttered last vear be fulfilled thai the G . A . O . T . U ., may make Uro . Holmes ' s closing years happy and contented . Before making a few general remarks I cannot forbear alludins ; very

briefly to two points which come to light in the printed history of this lodge , because they indicate in a forcible manner that the brethren have been in the past , and continued lo be at the pres . nt time , imbued with the true spirit of Masonry ; tl at they have not only maintained a careful adherence to its ritual , bi . t have practically

illustrated its principle :-. Firstly , the brethren have , thoughout the- long oncer of their lodge , manifestol the deepest sympathy in the sufferings and distress of sielc anil mourning members . Secondly , to the Masonic Charities the lodge has been a liberal contributor ; anil owing to the zealous exertions of its indefatigable Charity Steward , Bro .

A Masonic Oration.

F . W . Booth , P . M ., a large increase of charity voles has been secured . This example is worthy of imitation on the part of all lodges ofthe province . You are no doubt , as in duty bound to be ' , firm believers in the great antiquity of the Craft , and you have been taught that as regards structural science , there was a period in the history of mankinda period dark , dreary , and comfortless , when Masonry had

not laid her line or extended her compasses ; when men took refuge from storm and tempest , and the attacks of savage beasts in thickets of woods , and in dens and caverns of the earth ; and that from these poor recesses and gloomy solitudes the Grand Geometrician of the Universe in pity drew them and instructed them to erect buildings cf a rustic kind in artless imitation of simple nature . This

icmark of the aulhor of the Fourth Section of the Second Lecture contains the element oE a truth of which he was probably little conscious at the time . The earliest buildings of which antiquarians have any knowledge were not of the 'Tuscan order , as he states , however rustic that order may be , but were structures of cyclopcan architecture , many of which in all their majestic proportions and solidity

have survived through tens of centuries of civilization ( in spite of civilization itself which is not always disposed to show a conservative reverence towards the works of former times ) , and remain to this day as footprints of Masonry . 'These rude monuments may be briefly described as constructions whose walls are composed of ponderous unquarried sloncs selected with a certain amount of care and

suitableness , on which are placed , so as to term a ceiling , blocks of far greater dimensions and weight , the whole being hidden ' from . si g ht by an outer covering of earth or of sinall stones , often of considerable altitude , and constiluting a chambered mound . In process of time , and from various causes , natural and regrettable , which need not be detailed here , these mounds fell away , or have been

in many instances partially or wholly removed , and the denuded chambers now stand forth in imposing nakedness and grandeur , and pioclaim to us lhc mighty power of united action , of the enduring nature of works undertaken with combined energy and resolution , even when those woiks havi : been accomplished with the aid of simple and mean appliances . In their exposed condition they are

commonly called cromlechs , which are ignorantly considered , by some persons ( happily an i . lmost extinct family ) to have been connected with the bloody riles of Druidic worship . 'These const : uctiems , which have been observed in all parts of the world , are rude , yet , in a certain sense , skilful Masonic institutions of those natural dens and caverns in which men of the pakv-olithie age lived , died , and were

oftlimes buried , ami wire intended for sepulchral purposes only . 'They are , however , standing , and imperishable witnesses lo truths of considerable importance , for they tell of a belief in the G . A . O . T . U ., the Almig hty and Eternal 'Teacher of His people , ofthe immortality of the soul , and of a future life . 'They speak also of respect and reverence for chiefs and heroes , of brotherly and family affection ,

and of mystic rites of religion , which have been , from the earliest ages , inseparable from burial customs . May we not perceive in this parallel how the grand principles of the Craft are amply illustrated ? If the origin of Frce-111 isonry is not lost in the mists of prehistoric antiquity a-i some sceptics suppose , it possesses similar attributes to those possessed by the monuments t . f vvh ' ivh I have spoken .

It can hoist of an immemorial existence . It is universal in its distribution , and its chief g lories are reverence for the Eternal Architect and Ruler of the Univeisc , loyally to the throne , brotherly love , and truth , based upon a comprehensive faith . It leaches us that in our perishable frames there resides a v ' Hal an I i . innoitil principle , and that when we consign the mortal remains of a faithful

and true brother to the cold bosom of the grave , it is with a holy confidence thai the immortal princip le is in the merciful hands of the Lord of Life . A Provincial Grand Matter o-ce remarked that if any brother wishes to raise to eminence in the Craft , he should g ive to the subject deep study , much thought , and constant antiquarian research , for Masonry is a well stored mine , in which treasures are

deeply hidden . Research thus directed may never be able to decide to the satisfaction of the fraternity the conjectures that lulius Cesar and his generals were patrons and protector . * of the Ciaft in England , that ihe Emperor Carausius held its tenets in the ' hig hest veneration , that Alban , the canonized martyr , pre sided over British Masons as their Grand Master , and that Athelstane was a promoter

of the art in the same capae-ily ; but , however interesting these investigations may be to the- inquirer , we may rest assured that a wide field of stuely is open in the direction of tho . ^ e grand principle .-:, which have trailed Masonry into a moral science , ami have helped lo humanize mankind . Ii is au iii .-. piingrcllcction that our God-honouring institution advocates and upholds a morality of the

highest kind , und .: never failing charity in a cold unsyinpathizing world . 'The G . A . of the Univer-e has not placed in here and endowed us with various gifts that wc may live lor ourselves alone . 'The immortal bard has uttered this sentiment in these sublime words : — ' Heaven doth with us , as we with torches do , Not lifht them for theniseves , for if our virtues

Dili not go forth of us , t ' we-re all alike As if we had them not . Spirits arc not finely touched , But to fine issues . " With one other quotation I will conclude . In 1 S 76 , our very excellent and greatly respected Provincial Grand Master expressed a wish that there might be

" on the part of the fraternity in his province an earnest desire to study the piincip les upon which our ancient and time honoured Order is founded , " being well convinced , that dy doing so , they would become better men , and belter fitted for higher things than if they confined their attention to the mere routine work of the lodge . As , in the monuments of which 1 have spoken , the outer coverin ;; of earth hid fiom sii'ht the massive and im Miishablc

A Masonic Oration.

portion of the sepulchral structure , which , when its solid materials are brought into view , is a token of marvellous engineering skill ; so should the externa ! ceremonial of Masonry be regarded as the simple clothing which conceals from the superficial observer those everlasling principles of Heaven-born truth , which it is our duty to study and to

teach . May the lofty purposes of Masonry , which have been so earnestly fulfilled in the past by the members of the Airedale Lodge , continue to animate them through a long future , causing them to work harmoniousl y , in obedience to the will of Him who would have all men to be steeped in the effulgence of His Divine love .

Dramatic Notes.

DRAMATIC NOTES .

The Sheffielel Masonic Amateur Dramatic Society gave its opening performance on Thursday , October 24 th , at Ihe Freemasons' Hall , and when we say that it was a perfect success we do not exaggerate in the slightest degree . This society was instituted by the Sheffield brethren to give a series of entertainments , in which their wives ,

sisters , daughters , and lady friends might participate ; and all praise to those brethren in their practical determination to enlist the interests of the " fair sex " in Masonry—directly or inelirectly . Each member of the society received a certain number of tickets—admission could be obtained only by such tickets—and , as was anticipated , the gathering proved to bc a very select one , in fact , like

a large family party . A temporary stage was creeled in the spacious banqueting hall , 250 seals were arranged , and as many tickets were speedily subscribed for . At seven o ' clock the curtain rose , when Bro . Thomas Blair rcciteel a prologue written b y himself expressly for the occasion , it was at once witty , sententious , and , we

may say , epigrammatic ; being , delivered in an easy style , every point told and received marked applause . " Charles the Second " was then presented , King Charles being most ably represented b y Bro . Captain Mills . 'The Earl of Rochester was rendereel by Bro . Iteauey in a manner which showed careful study and great ability . Edward , a page , was played by liro . Lieut . Tallin , most

naturally , in fact , as if " to the manner born . " Captain Copp proved a masterly conception in the hands of Bro . Gatty , whose facial powers alone are nearly sufficient to insure the success of any part he may undertake . 'The " discreet " Lady Clara was earnestly , carefully , and admirably rendered by Miss Frederica Taylor ; whilst Miss Marie Montgomery as Mary , "the fair maid of

Wapping ( Copp's mece ) , left nothing to be desired . 'The after-piece was "My Uncle's Will , " in which Charles Cashmore was cleverl y played by Bro . Joseph Brailsford , jun . ; Mr . Barker , by Bro . Gatty , was simply inimitable , his get up was a complete metamorphosis from Capt . Copp ; the rapid changes in his mobile countenance again eliciting roars of laughter .

Miss Marie Montgomery , Florence Marigold , was simply charming ; the pointed , yet graceful , delivery of the witty repartee which fell to her share was very clever , as was also her bye-play , especiall y in the scene with the handglass , and the photograph of her supposed rival , which brought down the house . On the following evening was presented 'Tom Taylor ' s

celebrated comedy of "Still Waters Run Deep . " Mr . Potter found a careful and consistent representative in Bro . St-argill , who not onl y looked but played his part well . Capt . Hawkslcy was entrusted lo Bro . Gatty , and , certainly , he left nothing lo be desired . John Mildmay fell to Bro . Capt . Mills , and received thorough justice at his hands .

I lie minor characters of Dunbilk , Bro . j . M . While ; Langford , Bro . Blair ; Markham , Bro . Garnett ; Gimblet , Bro . C . While ; and Jessop , Bro . Styring ; were all ably given . 'The Mrs . Mildmay of Miss Marie Montgomery was easy and natural , from the indifferent , at the outset , to the 1-jviug wife , at the close .

Miss Frederica Taylor played Mrs . Stcrnhold in an exceedingly clever style ; in the scene with Capt . Hawksley she was fully equal to the occasion , infusing into the part a dramatic lire which fairly rivetted the attention of the . 'lutlieiie'e * .

1 he comedietta of " Cup of 'Tea " was lo have followed , but by especial desire " My Uncle ' s Will " was repeated , and a most wise decision too , for the very excellent manner 111 which that charming ( , iece was played the previous evening n was no wonder ; indeed , its repetition was inevitable , sooner or later .

I lie arduous duties of " prompter " were ably executed by Bro . Blair . 'he bind , under the superintendence of Bro . G . E . " - " '' ster , was a thorough success , it is not too much to wy that it was very superior to many regular theatre l > a » s it has been our lot to listen to . , '' . e stage was very pretly ; the costumes , from Messrs .

d II . Nathan , ot 1 iciiuorne-street , London , were very 111 ' , admired . 'The scenery , though modest , was exccl-, , in short the " mise en scone " was as near perfection as eve amateurs can hope to attain—this , and the selection of tbe tivo lady-professionals , reflects great credit on the managers , Bros . Reaney and Robertshaw ; the former

also acted as Hon . Sec . of the society , and infinite credit is due to him for bis untiring zeal and energy , not only did he work " con amorc , " but he seemed to inspire all others around him similarly . It strikes us that but a few of the audience were prepared for the treat in store for them , they went to sec " amateurs , " and were not a little surprised to sec the histrionic abilities which had been lying latent in

then * very midst . 'Two more performances arc announced to take place the end of this month , and we shall look forward to them with considerable interest ; in conclusion , wc congratulate the Shellield brethren on their biilliantly successful entertainment , and wc say , " go on and prosper . "