Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

H . S . Alpass , G . Std . Br ., stating that the boy was one of three children , each of whom was entitled , on attaining the age of twenty-one , to a third share of £ 1598 . Bro . C . H . WEED then said he regretted that at the previous meeting he had overstated the amount to which the boy Herring would be entitled at twenty-one ; but still the result of the enquiries had justified his bringing the

case before the brethren . Let them consider what the money would bring in by the time the boy was twenty-one . He , therefore , now gave notice of motion , " 1 st . That the resolution of the Quarterly Court of April last be rescinded so far as relates to the candidature of F . A . Herring . 2 nd . That F . A . Herring be ineligible for the benefits of this Institution ( except by purchase ) , and that his election in October last be declared void . 3 rd . Subject to the above being carried , that the hig hest unsuccessful candidate at the Webb said

election in October last be declared duly elected . " Bro . Herring ' s case was peculiarly a case for purchase . He also gave notice of the following motion , which he considered would be in the interest of candidates : " That the General Committee have power to place to the credit of every accepted fatherless candidate at each election any number of votes not exceeding the number the father was entitled to at the time of his death , multiplied by the number of years he had been so qualified . " A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

ANNUAL MEETING AT PRESTON . By command of Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master of England , Prov . Grand Master of West Lancashire , the annual Provincial Grand Lodge of that division was held at Preston , on Thursday afternoon , the 29 th ult . The yearly assembly of the Craft usually takes places on the first Wednesday in October , but owing to the absence of Bro . Lord Lathom in America the meeting was postponed until his

return , as his lordship did not wish to be absent from a single meeting of his province , as he had not been since his appointment to the chief place in the province exactly 11 years ago . No more popular Masonic ruler has ever held sway over any division , and therefore the presence of our esteemed chief at this gathering , even alter nearly two months' postponement , was in itself sufficient to attract a gathering which was at once numerous and most

influential . The total attendance reached between 606 and 700 brethren , largely composed of Provincial Grand Lodge Officers Past and Present , W . Ms ., P . Ms ., Wardens , and junior officers , and the fact that the whole of the 82 lodges comprised in the extensive province were represented ( several of them very numerously ) gave further conclusive indication of the vitality of the Order in this division of the county .

The meeting place was the Corn Exchange , Preston , and no better centre could have been secured than this for the transaction of the important business of the day . No doubt those entrusted with the arrangements had a very difficult duty to perlorm ; and while they merit much commendation for the manner in which the preliminaries were arranged and provision made for the large influx of the Fraternity , it would have conduced greatly to the

completeness of the meeting if 1 yler's sheets had been provided tor tne purpose of being signed by the members of the Craft lodges . As these were not provided , the brethren had no opportunity of signing their names , and therefore nothing like a list of attendance could be secured . The Craft lodge was opened by Bro . S . Gibson Sinclair , W . M . 32 , Bro . J . de Pennington , W . M . 113 ( Unanimity Lodge , under whose banner

the Prov . G . Lodge was held ) , being the Senior Warden , and Bro . J . M . Ashurst , P . M . 1335 , the Junior Warden . Bro . W . Gick , W . M . 203 , acted as I . P . M ., Bro . \ V . Olver , W . M . 220 , was the J . D ., and Bro . J . Pendleton , W . M . 241 , officiated as I . G . The Craft lodge having been duly opened , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge entered in procession , the Right Worshipful Master and Colonel F . A . Stanley , Grand Warden of

England , and D . P . G . M ., being received with the usual Masonic honours . Bro . J . F . Newell , P . M . 1035 , P . P G . S . W ., at the opening of the Prov . Grand Lodge , occupied the Senior Warden ' s chair , and J . P . McArthur , P . M . 1473 , P . P . G . J . W ., that of the Junior Warden . The members of the Provincial Grand Lodge present , in addition to the R . W . P . G . M . and the D . P . G . M ., were

Bros . Beswickt-Royds , P . G . W . ; J . Newell , P . P . G . S . W . ; Lieut .-Col . G . Turner P . P . G . Treas . ; Dr . J . Kellett Smith , P . P . G . Reg . ; T . Buxton , P . P . G . R . ; W . J . Lunt , P . G . T . ; Rev . C . VV . Spencer Stanhope , P . G . C . ; A . H . Whitehead , P . P . G . l . D .: W . Longman , P . P . G . D . C ; Rev . H . G . Vernon , P . P . G . C ; T . Wilson , P . P . G . I . W .: VV . Whiteside , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Pemberton , P . P . G . S . of W . ; VV . Bowden , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . J . Bailey , P . G . S . D . ; Henry A . Tobias , P . G . S . of VV . ; J . Skeaf , P . P . G . O . ; C . Banister , P . G . S . B . of Eng . ; H . S . Alpass , P . G . S . B . of Eng ., P . G . Sec ; G . Broadbridge , P . P . G . D . C ; R . Brown , P . P . G . Treas . ; R . Wylie , P . P

G . S . D . ; H . VV . Johnston , P . P . G . J . D . ; T . Salter , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . Prescott , P . P . G . I . W . ; R . Washington . P . P . G . b . D . ; T . Evans , P . G . S . D . ; T . Tunstall , P . G . S . ; 1 . W . Maycock , P . G . A . D . C ; J . Hayes , P . P . G . S . B . ; H . Williams , P . P . G . A . D . C ; " . Wells , f . P . G . D . C ; D . VV . Finney , P . P . G . D . C ; J . P . McArthur , P . P . G . J . W . ; 1 . P . Bryan , P . G . O . ; J . Greaves , P . G . C E . Lane ; R . Pearson , P . P . G . R . ; R . Butterivorth , P . P . G . P . ; H . Gardner , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Brackenbury , P . G . A . D . C . 5 I . Houlding , P . P . G . R . ; T . Forrester , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . T . Callow , P . P . G . Treas . ; K . Brown , P . P . G . Treas . ; S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . B . ; and C . Drew , P . P . G . S . W .

There was a large attendance of the brethren of the various Liverpool lodges , who travelled to Preston by special train . Among the lodges most numerously represented was the Dramatic Lodge , No . 1609 , the members present from that lodge being Bros . J . L . Shrapnell , W . M . ; J . M . Boyd , J . W . ; J . Atkinson , P . M . ; J . B . MacKenzie , P . M . and Treas . ; C . Buchanan and

and Dr . E . H . Allen , Stewards ; E . Graham , T . Burnside , B . Hughes , D . Gumming . Amongst others we noticed Bros . R . A . Davies , S . W . 1380 ; H . H . Smith , I . P . M . 1505 ; 'R . Foote , P . M . 1505 ; Councillor Poole , P . M . 32 ; H . M . IMolyneux , P . M . S 23 ; W . Newsome , P . M . 13 S 4 ; R . Martin , P . M . 11 S 2 ( Hon . Sec . of the W . L . M . E . I . ); T . Whitehead , I . P . M . 241 ; E . J . Callow , S . W . 1094 ; J . C . Robinson , P . M . 149 ; and others .

The minutes of the last annual meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge having been approved of , the accounts of the Grand Treasurer were taken as read . From these it appeared that the provincial fees received from provincial officers amounted to , £ 25 5 s ., and from lodges £ 518 18 s . 6 d . To the West Lancashire Educational Institution £ 105 had been voted out of the Charity

Fund ; , £ 105 was voted out of the Prov . Grand Lodge Fund to the Koya Masonic Institution for Boys ; £ 130 was voted to the widows and orphans of brethren , and after paying all expenses , there remained a balance of £ 2 , 506 9 s . 6 d ., agfcinst £ 2 , 519 18 s . iod . last year , this balance being invented in a dock bond of £ 1000 , in the North-Western Bank £ 1 , 236 os . sd ., and in the Savings Bank £ 330 os . id .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

On the motion of Bro . Col . TURNER , P . G . Treas ., the accounts were approved of . Bro . WYLIE , P . P . G . S . D ., then moved that Bro . VV . J . Lunt , P . M . 823 , be re-elected P . G . Treas ., which was seconded by Bro . Dr . J . KELLETT SMITH , P . P . G . R ., and carried by acclamation .

Bro . LUNT , in acknowledging the compliment which had been paid to him , said he felt deeply sensible for this renewed mark of confidence on the part of his brethren in this great province . He hoped the accounts which had been delivered to them that day were perfectly satisfactory , and that at the end of the present year he would be able to produce as good a balancesheet as had been presented to them that day . ( Applause . )

The Provincial Grand Master next invested his officers for the year as follows : Bro . Col . F . A . Stanley , G . W . ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M , „ James Poole , P . M . 32 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ P . Murray Hunter , P . M . 1313 ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . T . W . Richardson , 1384 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ William Goodacre , 1588 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W . J . Lunt , 823 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . S . Alpass , 155 , P . G . Std . Br . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Henry Vollmer , 1140 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ J . B . MacKenzie , 1609 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ X'homas Schofield , 1387 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D .

„ H . Firth , 667 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ Thomas Tunstall , 148 ... ,., ... Prov . G . S . of W „ James Andrew , 1345 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Maurice Hart , 1502 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . D . C . „ J . Walley , 249 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ W . Newsome , 86 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ J . B . Bryan , 10 35 ... ... ' ,.. Prov . G . Org . „ Thomas Davies , 1182 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ James M . Kerr , 730 ... ... ... "' „ James Elton , 343 „ K . Foote , 1045 ... ... ... n / - e » J , ; G . B . Nalder , 122 5 ... . ... ... > Prav' G' Stwds " „ W . Longbottom , 101 3 „ E . Paul , 135 s ... „ P . Ball ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . „ W . H . Bali ... ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Tyler

Bro . H . S . ALIMSS , Prov . G . Sec , read his annual report , in the course of which he said it was this duty during the year to bring under the notice of the Provincial Grand Lodge the question of the admission of visitors to lodges . The Book of Constitutions on this point said that " a brother who is not a subscribing member of a lodge shall not be permitted to visit any lodge in the town or place where he resides more than once during his

secession from the Craft . This law , Bro . Alpass said , was not carried out , and , in consequence , many brethren visited lodges who should be refused admission and the privileges of attending the ceremonies without contributing to the funds of the Craft . During the past year candidates from the province of West Lancashire for admission into the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys and Girls had teen successful , but in the case of

a son of a late brother , elected in October last , notice had been given for the next Quarterly Court that further inquiry be made , and the matter investigated as to whether the boy was a proper subject for admission iito the Institution . If a majority of the governors were of opinion that the boy ' s election should be annulled , and the " 2400 votes polled for the boy lost , it would be scarcely worth while to continue their

support to the School . It would be better that the brethren of the northern provinces should associate themselves , and found an institution which would be under their own management and control ; and , from the success which has attended the West Lancashire , Cheshire , and other provincial institutions , there could be no doubt that the result would be in every respect satisfactory . Bro . Alpass continued to state that at the Grand Lodge to be held on the

5 th inst ., very important matters would arise on the motion to confirm the minutes of the two previous Grand Lodges , at which the revision of the Book of Constitutions was decided on . He thought that the attempt to increase the quarterage of the Prov . Grand Lodge , to make it equal to the metropolitan lodges , should be strongly opposed on the ground that the

result of such a proposed amendment would be that , instead of being on an equality with London brethren , they in West Lancashire would tie taxed one-half more . The rebuilding of the Temple would also be considered at the Grand Lodge , and the report of the Special Committee submitted with reference to the subject .

The RIGHT WOUSHU ' PROV . GRAND MASTER said Bro . Alpass had given a most useful and most practical hint as to what course they ought to pursue in the future in regard to the Masonic Schools in London . In the northern provinces they had West Lancashire , East Lancashire , and East

Yorkshire , and the number of brethren in these provinces nearly equalled the whole of the rest of England altogether . He thought it would be a very grand thing if they could establish these schools , and he would make it his duty to put himself in communication with the Grand Master of these provinces , with the view of talking the matter over .

The report was then agreed to . The following brethren were appointed members of the Charities Committee : Bros . J . T . Callow , J . B . Mackenzie , R . Martin , G . Morgan , J . K . Smith , Henry A . Tobias , and R . Wylie , of Liverpool ; and Bros . Finney , Gardner , W . Goodacre , H . W . Johnston , Pilkington , Piatt , and Orr .

Bro . Dr . KELLET SMITH , P . P . G . R ., in accordance with notice , moved that £ 50 be voted from the Provincial Grand Lodge Fund to make a suitable presentation to Bro . Skeaf , P . P . G . O . In submitting the motion , he said they would all appreciate the service Bro . Skeaf had rendered to the Craft . He had been Grand Organist for fifteen years , and for many years after his appointment his services were frequently called into request , there being at that time not so many musical brethren belonging to the Craft as at present .

Bro . J . B . MACKENZIE , P . M ., and Treas . 1609 , P . G . S . D ., seconded the motion , which was carried by acclamation , Bro . R . WYLIE , P . P'G . S . D ., moved that the sum of 100 guineas be voted from the Charity Fund to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . Bro . R . MARTINP . M . 1182 seconded the motionand referring to the

, , , suggestion in Bro . Alpass's report respecting the establishment of schools of their own , said that the province had in existence an institution which would meet all the claims of every child belonging to it if the money they sent up to London was retained for its benefit . The motion was then carried .