Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

Goodall , choirmaster of St . George ' s . The hymn " Come forth , O Christian brothers , " was sung by the choir as a processional as Bro . the Right Hon . Earl Egerton of Tatton , Prov . Grand Master , with the Prov . Grand Officers and the general body of Masons entered the church . The building was well

filled , the " Nunc Dimittis" was rendered to Stainer in B flat , and the anthem was Dr . Clarke- Whitfields' " Behold , how good and joyful . " A collection was taken in aid of the Provincial Fund of Benevolence and the Altrincham Hospital , and as a recessional hymn " O Lord of Heaven and earth and sea " was given . In the evening a banquet was held under the presidency of the Prov . Grand Master .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

On Wednesday afternoon , the 28 th ult ., the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Witham Testimonial Hall , Barnard Castle , this being the first time that the Provincial Grand Lodge has held its annual meeting at this place . There was a large gathering , about 300 Prov . Grand Officers and Masters and officers of lodges attendinp . Bro . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., P . G . M ., presided , Bro . Lord Barnard ,

P . G . W . Eng ., P . P . S . G . W ., was acting Deputy P . G . M ., and they were supported by Bros , the Hon . Victor Williamson , Past G . W . England ; Richard Luck , acting P . S . G . W . j John Robinson , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . Hartley Jennings , acting P . G . Chap . ; Rev . J . Lawson , P . P . G . Chap . ; R . Hudson , P . G . S . B . England , P . G . Sec ; John Joel , P . P . G . W ., P . A . G . Sec ; Babington Boulton , P . P . S . G . W . ;

J . R . Cutter , P . P . G . T . ; Robert T . Richardson , P . P . G . Reg . ; Dr . Alfred H . Sevier , P . J . G . D . ; F . Wade , P . P . G . T . ; Will . Hutchinson , P . S . G . D . ; W . Barlow , P . P . G . D . C . ; John S . Roy , P . G . Std . Br . ; D . Finlay , P . P . G . P . -, W . C . Barron , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . J . Sanderson , P . P . G . D . C ; John Smith , P . P . G . S . B . ; Jos . Robson Pattison , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . M . Thompson , P . P . A . G . D . C ; R . M . Wilkes , P . P . G . Retr . ; J . Metcalfe , P . P . G . S . B . ; John Holt , P . P . S . G . D . ; G . H .

Heslop , P . P . G . Std . Br . Northumberland ; W . E . Moffett , P . S . G . D . ; Chas . F . Sutcliffe , P . P . G . T . ; James Robinson , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . R . Staveley , P . P . G . W . ; J . D . Todd , P . P . G . S . B . ; E . G . Watson ,. P . D . G . D . C . ; F . H . Bennett , P . P . J . G . W . ; Richard Brown , P . G . D . C ; Thos . McCarthy , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; B . S . Beckwith , P . P . G . W . ; Chas . S . Lane , P . P . G . W . ; T . C . Jones , P . G . Stwd . ; George Robson , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; George Harland , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . H . Jackson ,

P . P . S . G . D . ; Jos . E . Wilson , P . G . Treas . ; Thomas Banks , P . P . A . G . D . C ; George S . Shaw , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; Chas . F . Dawson , P . G . Stwd . ; John M . Moore , P . P . G . O . ; A . Farmer , P . P . S . G . W . N . and E . Yorks ; W . Watson , P . A . G . D . C . ; T . R . Short , P . J . G . D . ; Adam Dodds , P . P . G . Stwd . ; J . G . Hall , P . P . A . G . D . C ; Edward Hodson , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . J . Wilson , P . P . G . S . B . ; Thos . Coulson , P . P . S . G . W . ; Robert Farmer , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . F- Allan , P . P . G . S . B . ; James Rose ,

P . P . S . G . D . ; John C . Moor , P . P . G . W . ; Nicholas Lee , P . P . G . Stwd . ; J . R . Thompson , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Swales , P . P . G . O . ; Chas . W . Anderson , P . P . S . G . D . ; D . Cameron , P . P . J . G . D . ; Thos . Elwen , P . P . G . P . ; R . Hauxwell , P . P . G . S . B . ; John Barnet . P . P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Goodenough , P . G . P . ; Richard Walker , P . P . G . Stwd . j T . A . Moffit , P . J . G . D . ; F . Toogood , P . P . G . P . ; T . G . Garrick , P . P . G . P . ; J . F . Douglas , P . G . Stwd . ; Jno . Howe , P . P . G . Stwd . ; Thos . Grieve , P . G . Tyler ; and W . Clarke , P . G . S . B .

Bro . J F . WILSON , P . G . Treas ., read the financial statement for Ihe past year , which showed a balance in the National Provincial Bank , Newcastle-on-Tyne , of £ 354 . The report was adopted . Bro . C S . LANE , P . P . S . G . W ., presented the report of the Fund Committee , in which it was recommended that the sum of 200 guineas be

subscribed to the Durham Masonic Benevolent Festival Fund ; 30 guineas to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , * and 20 guineas each to the Royal Masonic Girls' School and the Royal Masonic Boys' School . Bro . RICHARD LUCK , P . P . S . G . W ., said it was hoped that such a good foundation having been laid forthe Durham Masonic Hudson Benevolent Fund last year , by a festival to be held next year this Charity Fund of the province would be placed in a substantial position . ( Applause ) .

Bro . Sir HEDWORTH WILLIAMSON , P . G . M ., expressed his approval of the proposal , and trusted that the example of Bro . R . Hudson , P . G . Sec , in devoting this sum to the formation of this fund , which was last year subscribed > n recognition of his long and faithful services to the province , would lead to a most successful result , and place the Provincial and Educational Funds upon a firm and substantial footing . ( Applause ) . The roll of lodges having been called ,

The Prov . G . M ., Bro . Sir HEDWORTH WILLIAMSON , Bart ., in addressing the Provincial Grand Lodge , thanked the W . M . and officers of the Barnard Lodge for the ample accommodation they had made for their reception . He also thanked the brethren who had come from long distances for their attendance . After referring to the losses the Craft had sustained by death during the past year , he made reference to the regret which all felt

at the severe accident which had befallen H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Grand Master of England , and recognised the patience and fortitude of his Royal Highness during the time he had been laid aside from his public duties . He also made feeling reference to the recent accident to the Rev Canon Tristram , D . D ., Dep . P . G . M ., and to the loss sustained bv the Earl

of Lathom in the lamented death from accident of the Countess of Lathom . The Prov . G . M . also referred to the number of Freemasons in the province —a total of 3092 , a steady increase for the year . He also was pleased at the presence of Lord Barnard —( applause )—who was near to the chair , and would in time , he hoped , occupy it . ( Applause . ) He trusted that Masonry in the Province of Durham would continue to prosper . ( Applause . )

Bro . R . HUDSON , Prov . G . Sec , read the acknowledgment of the address of condolence sent to Lord Lathom , and it was agreed , on the motion of Lord B ARNARD , seconded by the Hon . VICTOR WILLIAMSON , that Lord Lathom's reply be entered on the minutes . Bro . Robert Stewart , P . M . 424 , was elected to the office of Treasurer of the province , and Bros . W . J . Heppell and W . J . Jobson were elected as Auditors .

The PROV . G . M . announced , in reply to an invitation from the Gateshead lodges , conveyed by Bro . Holxnpiel , W . M . 48 , that in all probability the next annual meeting would be held at Gateshead . ( Applause . ) The Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested the following as his officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . Rev . Canon Instram , D . D ., | P . G . C ... D . Prov . G . M . „ Cecil F . De Pledge ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ William Waldy ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

Bro . Rev . F . D . Brookes ... ... ... " In „ n r ~\ . „ Rev . R . E . Parr . ... I Pr 0 Vl G * Cha P s-,, Robert Stewart ... ... . ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, Thomas Metcalfe ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ R . Hudson , P . G . S . B . Eng . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . ,, E . D . Walrond ... ... ... ) o C < - n ProvSGDs

" rr ., ,, r . ., , . ... ,, Thomas McCarthy ... ... ... ) ' ,, Abraham lobling ... ... ... *) n T < - ¦ r \ II Adam Dodds * j Prov . J . G . Ds . „ C . J . Wallon ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ C . T . Johnson ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ George C Askev ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C .

„ John Lidster ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ John Taylor ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, Ernst Lauttbach ... ... ... ") D ^ c ., 0 . I G . T . Hyden j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ John T . Ross ... ' ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ John Joel , P . P . J . G . W .... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec .

,, James Lee ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Richard Jack ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, R . Teasdale ... ,, Thomas Rutherford „ James Willan ... ... ... I r > r * 0 . J „ William Hunter j > Prov . G . Stewards . ,, G . J . Clarkson „ James Bell ... „ Thomas Grieve ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

At the festival afterwards held at the King ' s Head , Bro . Lord Barnard presided , and was supported by a large number of Provincial Grand Officers . His LORDSHU ' , in felicitous terms proposed the toasts of " The Queen , " and "The Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . "

Bro . R . LUCK having proposed the toast of "'lhe R . W . P . G . M ,, Sir Hedworth Williamson , " Bro . Lord BARNARD , in responding , referred to the very able and efficient manner in which their Prov . G . M . had fulfilled the duties of the

office , in which Sir Hedworth had succeeded the late John Fawcett and the late Marquis of Londonderry , If Freemasonry continued to flourish in the Province of Durham , they all knew that it was due to the great interest which Sir Hedworth took in all that concerned its welfare . ( Cheers . ) Bro . J ROBINSON , Darlington , responded to the toast of " The Masonic Charities , " and the proceedings concluded .

Light On Masonry.

LIGHT ON MASONRY .

BY BRO . THE REV . WM . ARNOLD SHANKLIN , ORATOR OF METROPOLITAN LODGE , DUBUQUE , IOWA . Freemasonry is an ancient and respectable institution , embracing among its members men of every rank and condition of life , of every nation and clime , and of every religion which acknowledges the Supreme Being , and has faith in the immortality of the soul . It stands pre-eminent among the institutions established for the improvement of mankind , as far above other secret associations in usefulness as it is beyond them in age .

Freemasonry is an institution , not as the ignorant and uninstructed vainly suppose , founded on unmeaning mystery for the encouragement of Bacchanalian festivity and support of mere good fellowship , but an institution founded on eternal reason and truth , whose deep basis is the civilisation of mankind , and whose everlasting glory is supported by those two mighty pillars—science and morality .

The creed of a Mason is the belief in God , the Supreme Architect of Heaven and Earth , the Dispenser of all good gifts , and the judge of the quick and the dead , and a belief in the soul's immortality . It is brief and comprehensive , free from scholastic or sectarian controversies . Masonry prescribes no sectarian test . It asks only for a declaration of that universal

religion in which all sects agree—the belief in God , His superintending Providence , and in the immortality of the human soul . Let a man ' s religion or mode of worship be what it may , he is not excluded from the Order , provided he believes in the Great Architect of the Universe , in his own eternity , and practices the sacred duties of morality .

In all Christian lands the Holy Bible , that great luminary in Masonry , is always open in the lodge , as a symbol that its light should be diffused among the brethren . It is to be the Mason ' s rule anrJ guide in life . The three great tenets of a Freemason ' s profession inculcate the practice of these

truly commendable virtues—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . By the exercise of Brotherly Love we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family—the high , the low , the rich , the poor—who , as created by one Alm ' ghty Parent , are to aid , support , and protect each other . On this principle Masonry unites men of every country , sect , and

opinion . To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men , but particularly on Masons , who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection . To soothe the unhappy , to sympathise with their misfortunes , to compassionate their miseries , and to restore peace to their troubled minds , is the great aim we have in view . Oa this basis we form our friendships and establish our connections .

We regard truth as a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue . To be good and true is the first lesson we are taught in Masonry . On this theme we contemplate , and by its dictates endeavour to regulate our conduct . Hence , si long as we are influenced by this princip le , hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us ; sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us , and the heart and tongue join in promoting each other's welfare and rejoicing in each other ' s prosperity .

Such is the Mason ' s creed . While not so comprehensive as the Christian religion , there is nothing in it that is opposed or antagonistic to the Christian faith . The Mason ' s creed leads to the Christian faith . The true Christian ' s faith includes all that even advanced Masonry teaches . The Mason's creed , if followed to its natural and logical sequence , will make a Christian . Now do not let me be misunderstood . Masonry has its foes within as well as without . He is a foe to our Order who claims , as we sometimes hear from the unwise , " Masonry is good enough religion for me . " Masonry does not