Freemasonry In West Lancashire.

Lodge meetings had been read and confirmed , Bro . Wylie , P . G . Reg ., moved that the following vote of condolence with the family of the late R . W . P . G . M . should be passed : — " The Prov . Grand Lodge cannot

meet without recording upon their minutes how deeply they deplore the loss which T . G . A . O . T . U . in His wisdom has permitted them to sustain by the decease of the late R . W . P . G . M ., Sir T . G . Fermor-Hesketh ,

Bart , of Rufford , and they earnestly desire to sympathise and to condole with his sorrowing mother and orphan family in their painful and sudden bereavement , and

resolve that a copy of this resolution be sent to them . " The motion was seconded by Bro . Mawdsley , P . P . G . R ., and unanimously agreed to .

The P . G . Treasurer read thc financial statement , from which it appeared that the amount in the bank was £ 1 , 228 2 s . gd ., and in hand £$ o 5 s . lid . On the motion of Bro . Sherlock , P . P . G S . of W ., seconded by Bro . Mott , P . G . S . W ., Bro . T . Armstrong

was unanimously re-elected P . G . Treasurer . The Prov . G . M . then appointed and invested the following as his officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . Lord Lindsay , P . S . G . W . ; Major T . Wilson , P . J . G . W . ; Rev .

J . F . Goggin , P . G . C . ; T . Wylie , P . G . Reg . ; H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec ; R . Wylie , P . S . G . D . ( by proxy ); Pickering , P . J . G . D . ; Rowson , P . G . Sup . of Works ; G . Broadbridge , P . G . D . C . ; J . W . J . Fowler , P . G . A . D . C .

J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; Baxendale , P . G . Pur . ; Dr . J . Mercer Johnson , P . G . C . S . ; Doyle , Robinson , G . de la Perelle , J . W . Baker , and Landless , P . G . S . ; and Sharrock , P . G . S . B . Bro . Ball was re-appointed P . G . Tyler , and Bro . Ball , jun ., P . G . A . Tyler .

Bro . Alpass , P . G . S ., announced that Lord Skelmersdale had consented to preside at the annual festival , to hc held in London in May next , in connection with the Royal

Masonic Girls School , and he moved that the sum of 50 guineas be given by the province to the Girls' School Fund , in commemoration of his lordship ' s installation .

Bro . Armstrong , P . G . T ., seconded the motion .

Bro . Captain Mott , P . S . G . W ., moved as an amendment that the sum be 100 guineas , and Bro . Broadbridge , P . G . D . of C seconded thc amendment , which was carried unanimously ; Bro . Alpass withdrawing his

resolution in its favour . It was also resolved that the sum of £ 1 $ , being thc balance of the ten per cent , fund , bedevoted to thc same purpose . Bro . R . Wentworth Little , Secretary to

the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , thanked the Prov . Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , in eloquent terms , for the munificence displayed towards the institution which he represented .

Bro . Thomas Wylie , P . G . R ., said it was his very pleasing duty to ask the P . G . M . to present to Bro . Hamer a P . G . Treasurer ' s Jewel , and also an address , expressive of the Lodge ' s high sense of the valuable

services rendered by him as P . G . 1 reasurer . The P . G . M . then made the presentation in suitable terms , referring to the valuable services rendered by Bro . Hamer . The Jewel , which was a very handsome one ,

bore the following inscription : — "Presented to Bro . James Hamer , P . M ., 220 , 249 , 580 , P . Z . 220 , 249 , 580 , 1094 , on his retiring from the office of P . G . T ., which he has

filled for eleven years . Provincial Grand Lodge , Western Division of Lancashire , Town Hall , Liverpool , 27 th January , 1873 . " Thc following are the terms of the address : —

Presented , together with a P . P . G . Treasurer ' s Jewel , to liro . James Marner , P . M ., P . Z ., P . P . G . Treasurer of West Lancashire , & c , at a meeting of

Freemasonry In West Lancashire.

the P . Grand Lodge , held at the Town Hall , Liverpool , on Thursday , the 27 th February , 1873 , on his retirement from the office of P . G . T . of West Lancashire , which he had filled for a period of eleven years ; in token of the respect and esteem , with which he is regarded by his brethren , and to record the founding in his honour of the Hamer

Benevolent Annuity Fund for the assistance of decayed Freemasons ; the money for which was subscribed by the various lodges and brethren in the province , to show their appreciation of the very great services rendered by him to Masonry for many years past . ( Signed on behalf of the brethren ) , SKELMERSDALE , P . G . M ., W . L .

The address is bordered by the Craft and Royal Arch Emblems , and surmounted by Bro . Hamer ' s Crest and Coat of Arms , the

whole being enclosed in a massive frame . Mr . J . O . Marples , of Liverpool , who was entrusted with the execution of the address , performed his work in a highly artistic

manner . The presentation was acknowledged by Bro . Hamer in suitable terms . The P . G . M . then said he had been called upon to perform a pleasing duty , as he had

been asked by the brethren of Liverpool to present to his worship , the Mayor , the chair in which hc ( the P . G . M . ) then sat , as a memorial of the greatest Masonic event which had ever taken place in the Town

Hall . The brethren thought that there ought to be some remembrance of the Mayor ' s kindness in granting the use of the Town Hall , and in that spirit they asked his worship to accept the presentation .

Bro . Samuelson , in acknowledging the gift , said he little thought , when he offered the use of the Town Hall for that P . G . L . meeting—hc little dreamt that the brethren of Liverpool would have thought so much

of the offer as to recognise it in the way in which they had done . Hc felt that that hall could not have been appropriated to a higher purpose than that to which it had

been devoted that day . As the hall which was now being erected in Hope-street , could not be used for that purpose , he * felt thc Town Hall could not be more

worthily occupied . In accepting the civic chair he felt as if thc duties were very similar to those hc fulfilled in passing through thc chair of a Masonic Lodge ; and when he occupied thc chair which

had now been presented he would feel a still greater obligation resting upon him to perform his duties to the best of his abilities .

Hc hoped that future mayors , when they sat in it , would feel it an honour as he now personally did . Hc concluded by saying that he considered that as one of the " red

letter days " of his mayoralty , and would do all in his power to further the interests of the Craft . Thc chair , which is a splendid work of art in thc Gothic style , was manufactured

by Bro . Chuck , Rcdcross-strcet , and designed by Messrs . Danson and Davies , Architects of the new Masonic Hall now approaching completion . Thc carving of the chair , which is made of Spanish

mahogany , ebony , and sandalwood , was executed by Mr . Shairett , Slater-street . The medallion ornaments , consisting of the Freemason ' s Arms and the Emblems of Office of thc P . G . M . of West Lancashire were

richly engraved on metal by Bro . George Kenning , Monument Place . The following inscription is engraved on a plate at the back : — " This chair was presented to thc Worshipful the Mayor of Liverpool

( Bro . Edward Samuelson ) , Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon , Cheshire , by the Freemasons of Liverpool , to commemorate the installation of the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of

Freemasonry In West Lancashire.

the county of Lancaster , in the Town Hall , Liverpool , on the 27 th day of February , A . D . 1873 ; A . L . 5 S 73- " The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in due form .

THE BANQUET . As a fitting close to the highly interesting and brilliant day ' s proceedings , upwards of 200 brethren dined in the evening at the Adelphi Hotel , under the presidency of Lord Skelmersdale ,

who was supported by Bros . Lord de Tabley , Lord Lindsay , the Hon . F . Stanley , Major Starkie , the Mayor and ex-Mayor , W . Romaine-Callender , & c . After an excellently served dinner , the Provincial Grand Master gave the

toast of " The Queen , " remarking that the brethren knew how thoroughly she appreciated every effort to extend the works of charity and benevolence in this country . ( Cheers . ) He knew personally that Her Majesty took a great

interest in Freemasonry , as being the most benevolent institution in her kingdom . ( Cheers . ) The Prov . Grand Master in giving the toast of " Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . P . G . M ., the Princess of Wales , and the rest of

the Royal Family , " said that any brother who had the good fortune to he in London on the previous Monday , and he believed there were two or three now present who had been there , would bear him out in saying that the Prince o £

Wales was a thorough Freemason . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Any one who heard his speeches on that occasion ; as well as on other Masonic occasions , must have felt deeply impressed with the conviction that the Prince had Freemasonry

at heart . ( Loud and prolonged cheering . ) Bro . Le Gendre Starkie next proposed " The Earl de Grey and Ripon , M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . D . G . M ., and the other officers of the Grand Lodge . " He said their

G . M . would have been present that day had not imperative engagements detained him in London . The M . W . G . M . took a very deep interest in the Craft , and would appear amongst the brethren more frequently did not his high

vocations and duties as one of Her Majesty's Ministers render it impossible for him to do so . ( Hear , hear . ) The D . G . M . had also requested him ( Bro . Starkie ) to say that he would have been present on that occasion had he not sailed

on the previous day for the Mediterranean , which the brethren would doubtless think a good reason for his absence . ( Laughter . ) He ( Bro Starkie ) thought that no better evidence of the fraternal spirit and principles of the Craft

could be found than to see two noblemen politically opposed , joining in the most harmonious manner in the good and noble work of Freemasonry . ( Loud cheers . ) Bro . Starkie said he had now the greatest pleasure in giving

the health of "Our newly-installed R . W . P . G . M ., the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale . " lie used the word " our , " because he [( Bro . Starkie ) considered himself as belonging to that province . If they regarded their newly-appointed chief

either socially or Masonically , they only found qualities which they could admire , and which they would all do well to imitate . ( Cheers . ) In the responsible position he occupied as one of her Majesty ' s Ministers , he had exhibited

high qualities in the performance of the duties of his oflice , and he was quite sure that * in thc manner he would fill the office to which hc was now called hc would endear himself to every member of the Order , not only in the

province but in the whole country . ( Cheers . ) Freemasonry in Kngland tabooed all questions of political , polemical , or religious scruples—in lhat respect drawing its principles from purer and more sacred fountains than was

in other countries unhappily thc case . ( Cheers . ) 'Phis province had done nothing more than its right and proper Masonic duty in paying honour to its new chief , who would , he hatl no doubt . in the discharge of the duties of his office ,

exhibit those manly qualities which had distinguished him from boyhood . ( Loud applause . ) The newly-installed Provincial < Irand Master had been invested with the clothing presented to their late lamented Provincial Grand Master , Sir Thomas G . Fermor-Hesketh . and he trusted