Mark Grand Lodge.

Master , he said : I beg to nominate Brother William Mason Stiles as Grand Treasurer for the ensuirg year , and I have very great pleasure in doing it en two grounds , not only on the ground of private friendship , but because I recognise the great and permanent interest Bro . Stiles has taken in Freemasoniy for a very long time . I feel that his name is well known not only to many breihren present , but ( o those who may not

be here . Of his Masonic history I would , with your leave , mention a sketch . Bro . William Mason Stiles was advarced in the Old Kent Time Immemorial Mark Lodge , and he is now a Past Master of that lodge ; he was founder and Iirst Senior Warden of lhe Royal Savoy Mark Lodge , and he is now Past Master of that lodge and its Treasurer . He was a founder and is Treasurer of the St . Pancras Mark Lodge , and Treasurer of the

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Midd / esex . He has served two Stewardships to the Mark Benevolent Fund . He was also elevated in the Prince of Wales Atk Mariners' Ledge , and is now Past Commander Neiah ; he was perfected in the Shadwell Cleike Rose Croix Chapter , and has served as Most Wise Sovereign of that chapter . He is a member ol the Grand

Matter ' s Council , No . 1 , of Koyal and Select Masters , and is Past Grand Treasurer of the Craft and Royal Arch . Such a very large series of offices has been held , I think , by but few Alasons , and it shows that he is a man worthy of the post I have the great pleasure of nominating him lo . ( Cheers . ) There was no other nomination .

Bro . HUGHES HALLETT : M . W . Pro Grand Master , —As Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Kent , I am deputed to have the honour and pleasure ol presenting to Grand Lodge a portrait of the ntble and worthy brother whose kine ! and genial face and maimer are known to everyone within this hall . Of course , I allude to Brother Earl Amherst , who is not only known within these walls , but I can assure you ,

Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , he is known by every Maik Mason in the County of Kent . His genial and kind way leads him to be beloved by us all . Not only is he loved and respected in the Mark Degree , but also in the Craft and the Royal Arch Chapter , and as our Provincial Grand Master in the Craft and Grand Superintendent cf Ihe Chapter he has filled those offices so

worthily that our much esteemed Bro . Ha ) roan Cummings conceived the idea that we thould present his portrait to Grand Lodge where his lordship ruled over Grand Lodge for three successive years . I could only wish that Bro . Hayman Cummings had been present himself to make this presentation for it wouldhave been done much better than I can do it . However , with these few remarks on behalf of thebrethren I see around me of the Province of

Kent and all other Mark Masons unable to be present to-day , I present the portrait of our much esteemed Lord Amherst . I may say the hope arises that he may be spared many years to be among us to receive those kind greetings for the services he is able and willing to give us on all occasions . May his life be spared many years and may he be among us many years in Grand Lodge and see that portrait , and may it be a token of one who has " marked well I " With those few words I present Grand Lodge wilh that portrait . ( Cheers ) .

The Had of HUSTON : Breihren of the Province of Kent . I fake it that

this Grand Lodge will allow me , on their behalf , to thank you for that handsome gift you have presented of Lord Amherst . As you say he is one we all look up to as one of the hard workers in Mark Alasonry when we first started . I only wish we jaw him oftcner among us , at the present time . At the same time I thank ycu and move " That this Grand Lodge do give its hearty vote of thanks to the brethren of lhe Province of Kent for the present they have made , " and I say we have much pleasure iu accepting such a handsome present . ( Applause ) .

Bro . Viscount DVXGARYAX , D . G . M .: I have much pleasure in second ing it , Most Worshipful Pro Grand Maslcr . The motion was carried . Bro . HUGHES HALLETT : Brethren , —I thank you . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

The half-yearly meeting of the above Prov . Grand Lodge was held on a recent dale in lhc Gentlemen ' s Concert Hall , Manchester . Bro . Col , Le Gendre N . Starkie * , Prov . G . M ., presided , and among a large number of prominent members of the Order present were Bros . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds , P . G . D ., Dep . Prov . G . M . ; Vice-Chancellor Hall , O . C , P . S .

G . W . ; Capt . J . Barlow , P . J . G . W . ; J . Newton , P . G . Sec . ; W . Gold

thorpe , P . P . G . Reg . ; and the following Present and Past Grand Officers of England , v ' z . - . Bros . Edmund Ashworth , P . G . D . ; J . Clayton , P . G . D . ; J . Chadwick , P . G . S . B . ; R . Newhouse , P . G . S . B ., P . G . Sec . Cheshire ; and J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . Upon the roll of lodges being called two were found to be unrepresented , and will bc fined for non-attendance in the absence of a satisfactory explanation . Before commencing the business of the meeting ,

The PROV . GRAND MASTER referred to lhe bereavement which had

befallen the Earl of Lathom , Pro Grand Master of England , and Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire , in the death of the Countess of Lathom . He said a lamentable accident had smitten deeply one who was held in the highest regard by the Masonic Fraternity—to whom he had greatly endeared himself—and , indued , by all , from the highest to the lowest . Providence , overruling all things ; , and circumstances over which no man had control ,

had caused a great affliction to lall upon their distinguished brother . Both the Earl and thc late ; Ccunless bad long associated themselves with the life of lhe Counly Palatine of Lancaster , and held a hi gh place in the regard cf all with whom they had ccme in contact . He was sure all present felt the deepest sj inpathy with the noble carl in his sorrow , and would , with

one accord , assent to thc proposal he now made , viz ., that a letter expressing their sympathy be prepared by thc Provincial Grand Secretary , s ' gned by himself , and sent to the Earl of Lathom in the name of the Prov . Gr . uid Lodgeof East Lancashire . The D . P . G . M ; seconded the motion , whicli wa * i passed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

The minutes of the annual meeting held at Bolton on the Kjlh May last were read and confirmed . The Prov . G . M . invested the following brethien , upon whom Past Prov . Grand rank had been conferred in honour of her Majesty ' s D ' amond Jubilee : Bros . J . T . Newbold , 1012 , and If . Heys . 1 ( 134 , P . P . l . G . WS . ;

N . Heywood , 44 , P . P . G . Reg . ; W . Brookes , 1170 , R . Rushton , 1145 , and J . A . Hanson , 2-541 , P . P . S . G . Ds . ; T . Howe , 816 , and T . H . Smethurst , 277 , P . P . J . G . Ds . ; I . W . White , 815 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; E . Froggatt , 1 = 52 , R . Hudson , 226 , and ' T . A . Lever , 24 S 2 . P . P . G . D . Cs . ; T . Tyers , 5 S 1 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; and J . Gregson , 1504 , P . P . A . G . P . Bros . Goodfellow , I . Whittaker , anel \ V . Clarke were elected Auditors .

The report of the Charity Committee stated that one giil and two boyb ( children of deceased members of lodges in the province ) had been elected to the London Masonic Schools . The report was adopted . Bro . C . D . CHEETHAM , P . P . G . W ., moved that the sum of 100 guineas be granted from the Provincial Grand Lodge funds to the Royal Masonic

Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows . He pointed out that the Province of East Lancashire had at thc present time upon the funds of the Institution 20 aged men and women , receiving £ 720 a year . That was a large amount , but it was no more than the province was entitled to , because they held a larger number of votes in connection with the Institution than any other province in England .

Bro . J . T . NEWIIOLD , P . P . G . W ., seconded the ruction , which was carried .

Bro . CHEETHAM gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that a sum of 200 guineas be given from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge in aid of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , which was about to celebrate its centenary , under the presidercy of the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England . He made an earnest appeal to ihe members present to augment that sum to the largest possible extent , and to maintain the position which East Lancashire had alway held in connection with lhe Masonic Charities .

lhe PROV . GRAND MASTER expressed his hearty concurrence with thc proposal . Bro . MCLEOD , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . LB .. addressed the meeting upon the work which they were doing in the education and maintenance of sons of deceased members of the Order , and urged that they were deserving of all lhe support that could be extended to them .

Bro . Capt . Barlow , P . J . G . W ., having invited the Prov . Grand Master to hold the next Prov . Grand Lodge meeting at Bury , the business of the meeting was concluded .

Consecration Of The Milton Chapter, No. 1239, At Sheffield.

CONSECRATION OF THE MILTON CHAPTER , No . 1239 , AT SHEFFIELD .

Wednesday , the 24 th ult ., was a red-letter day in the annals of Royal Arch Masonry in Sheffield , by reason of the meeting of Prov . Grand Chapter , at the Freemasons' Hall , and the subsequent consecration of a new Royal Arch chapter , to be known as the Milton Chapter , 1 X 0 . 123 . 1 . The consecration of a chapter is a very rare occurrence locally , and prior lo the consecration of the VVhite Rose of York Chapter , some 18 months ago , the

ceremony had not been witnessed in Sheffield for more than a century . It was hoped that the Grand Superintendent of West Yorkshire , Comp . lhe Ri ght Honourable William Lawies Jackson , M . P ., would perform the ceremony , but pressing business engagements prevented his attendance , and hedepu . ed the task of consecration to a zealous and popular companion , Comp . Ensor Drury , P . Z . 139 , 290 , P . Prov . G . H ., Past G . Soi . of England . There was

a record attendance of companions , comprising representalivis of the majority of the chapters of the province , when Prov . Grand Chapter entered . Comp Drury acted as Grand Superintendent , being supported by—Comps . Henry Siritli , l ' . G . Soi ., Prov . G . H . ; T . R . Vaii ^ s , Prov . G . I . ; H . G .

E . Green , Prov . G . Scribe E . ; W . Laycock , Prov . G . Scribe N . ; E . Billington , P . P . G . D . of C , as P . Soj .-, W . W . Clayton , Prov . Asst . G . Soj ; W . D . Quarmby , Prov . G . D . of C . ; J . H . Gration , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . C . Bell , J . T . Simpson , J . Constable , E . Lord , James Jenkin , W . Skinner , H . j . Garnett , U . Arnison , ' J , Shaw , Z . 2491 , and J .

Gibbs-Prov . Grand Chapter having been opened in due form , the ACTING GRAND SUPERINTENDENT briefly addressed the companians . He recalled the fact that Prov . Grand Chapter last assembled in Sheffield , in May , 1892 , and after alluding to the changes which had occurred in thc interval , he touched upon the various matters interesting to Koyal Arch Masons . A sum of 50 guineas was voted to the K . M . I , for Bjys , for the further endowment of the G . Superintendent ' s chair .

IheAe ii . Nc , GRAND SUPERINTENDENT referred in feeling terms lo the loss sustained on Tuesday , the J 3 rd tilt ., from a carriage accident , by Comp . the Karl of Lathom , Pro G . First Principal , by the tragic eleath of Lady Lathom . A vote of condolence was passed in silence . Prior lo the termination of the business of Provincial Grand Chapter , an invitation for the next half-yearly meeting was extended by the Chapter of Sincerity , No . 1010 .

The ceremony of the consecration of M hon Chapter was then commenced . The founders present were Comps . II . T . E . Holmes , P . / . 159 , P . P . G . Treas ., M . E . Z . designate ; j . P . Hewitt , P . Z . 139 , P . P . G . S ., H . d sign ale ; T . E . Barker , 139 , P . P . G . S ., J . designate ; J . Robertshaw , P Z . 1 59 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; V . G . S . Dearden , P . Z . 159 and 90 . 1 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; F .

S . 1-1 . WiFon , M . E . Z . 139 ; Charles Stokes , 11 . 139 ; C . Barber , II . Nixon , T . Rowbotham , W . Fcrnehough , C A . Ma ) s , A . J . Fursdike , E . G , Whiteley , K . E . Ariel Wri ght , H . Cawood , E . Rowbotham , and J . Birton . The CONSECRATING PRINCIPAL briefly addressed the companions on the nature of thc ceremony , and the petition to Grand Chapter and the charter issued in response were read .

After the sin .-mg of the IValm , " Behold , how good and | 0 \ lul a thing it is , brethren , to dwell together in unity , " the invocation was given . Portions of the Volume of the Sacred Law were read , and lhe several manual ads of consecration were followed by the solemn dedica io _ i and constitution of the chapter , thc Consecrating Principal performing his work in a manner which elicited the admiration ol all the companions prcsvnl .