Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

To the Right Hon . Wilbraham , Earl Egerton of Tatton , in the County Palatine of Chester , and Viscount Salford , of the County Palatine of Lancaster , Right Worshipful Grand Master of Freemasons of the Province of Cheshire . May it please your lordship , we , the Deputy Grand Master , Grand Wardens , and Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , and th ^ Masters , Past Masters , Wardens , and members of lodges within the Province of Cheshire , in Provincial Grand

Lodge assembled , the 29 th day of September , 1897 , beg permission to tender to your lordship our most hearty congratulations upon the hi gh honour conferred upon you by her most Gracious Majesty the Queen , on the occasion of the celebration of the Jubilee of her Majesty's long and glorious reign . We arc , indeed , pleased that at the head of our ancient and honourable Fraternity in the Province of Cheshire we have in the person of your lordship one whom his

Sovereign has delighted to honour , and it is peculiarly gratifying to us that the dignity of an earldom has been annexed to the ancient name so long and honourably borne by your lordship and your predecessors , and that the public spirit you have shown , and the long , arduous , and valuable services you have rendered to the cause of education , agriculture , the Manchester Ship Canal , and other public enterprises , have been such as to gain the approbation and esteem of her Most

Gracious Majesty , and the bestowal by her upon you of the title of Viscount Salford , ol the County Palatine ' of Lancaster , a dignity which will carry down to posterity your eminent services , and perpetuate your name as one of the pioneers of a great public enterprise . We humbly pray that the Great Architect of the Universe will endow your lordship with continued health and strength to enjoy the

favour of our beloved Queen , and to continue the valuable work which your lordship has undertaken to the benefit of our ancient and honourable Fraternity , and to the advantage of the community generally . Signed , on behalf of the Grand Lodge of the Province of Cheshire , HORATIO LLOYD , Deputy Prov . Grand Master . RICHARD NEWHOUSE , P . D . G . S . B . England , Prov . Grand Secretary .

The Earl of EGERTON , who was received with cheers , said it had been his privilege to be connected with Masonry in various capacities for a long time , and he felt deeply the many kindnesses which he had received from his fellow Masons . He warmly thanked them for the address , and said he should treasure it as long as he lived , and it would be an heirloom in his family . During the past 10 years there had been a great increase in the

number of lodges and in the membership of the Province of Cheshire , and he hoped the numbers would continue to increase . The progress of that province had elicited the sympathy of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who , in commemoration of her Most Gracious Majesty ' s reign of 60 years , had empowered him to confer P . P . G . rank on six brethren , members of the

province . The six brethren were Bros . H . Gordon Small , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Holt , P . P . S . G . W . ; R . Finlow , P . P . J . G . W . ; George lbeson , P . P . G . R . ; E . J . Sidebottom , P . P . S . G . D . ; and C . H . Andrews , P . P . J . G . D . He thanked the Deputy Prov . Grand Master for the kind way in which he had spoken of him , and he should value the address as a mark of their esteem . ( Applause . ) Bro . William Holloway was tlected Prov . G . Treasurer . The following Prov . Grand Officers were invested by the Prov . G . M .: Bro . His Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd ... Dep . Prov . G . M .

„ Fredk . Broadsmith ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Armstrong ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . C . H . Hylton Stewart ... ... I p ™ , r- ri ,, „ „ Rev . C . E . Jackson ... ... ] Prov . G . Chaps . „ W . Holloway ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ T . W . Markland ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Richard Newhouse ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ W . Newton ... ... ... ... ) n o / - r » „ J . J . Tinker | Prov . S . G . Ds . „ Peter Jackson ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ R . Robinson ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ H . Gordon Small ... ... .. Prov . G . D . of C . „ W , R . Wass ... ... ... ¦} ; : icKS ::: ::: ::: ::: p ™ v . u . G . D . « f & „ S . Sherratt ... ... ... ... J

,, Tom Simpson ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . Davidson . . . . . . ... In ^ . J u „ P . Davies j Prov . G . Std . lira . ,, George Brookes ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ George Young ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . Ramsey ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ A . Moore ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ F . R . Oke ... ... ... ... ^

„ T . Marriott ... „ S . Jude ... ... ... ... J n ,, .,, , „ T . W . Stanbury j-Prov . G . Stwds . ,, T . Browne ... ... ... ... I ,, R . G . Hawkins ... ... ... J „ A . Husley ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Altrincham and Liscird were nominated for the place of the next annual

meeting , but the nominee of Liscard withdrew in favour of Altrincham . Provincial Grand Lodge was afterwards closed . The weather was so wet that the procession to church had to be abandoned .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Worcestershire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WORCESTERSHIRE .

A meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult ., at the Institute Buildings , Moseley , under the banner of the Masefield Lodge , No . 2034 , and by direction of Bro . A . F . Godson , M . A ., M . P ., P . G . D . Eng ., P . P . D . G . M ., Prov . G . Master . There was a large attendance of brethren , among whom were the Prov . Grand Master , and Bro . Lieut .-Col . Warner Ottley , P . P . G . D . C , Prov . Dep . G . Master .

A Craft lodge was opened in the Three Degrees by the Worshipful Master of the Masefield Lodge , after which the Prov . Grand Master and Prov . Grand Officers entered the lodge , and were received with the customary honours , which were acknowledged by the Prov . Grand Master .

The muster roll was called , and the Piov . Asst . G . S ? cretary reported the returns for the year . 1 he Worshi pful Masters of the various lodges submitted reports of the work done , and also of the financial position of their respective lodges , all of which were considered to be satisfactory .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Worcestershire.

The Prov . G . Master appointed and invested the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . T . Vale , 560 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ A . Cockson , 573 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . J . C . Sneath , 2034 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . H . McKean , 2385 ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Chap „ A . E . Guy Pritchard , 498 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ., A . B . Kowe , 280 ... ... ... Ptov . G . Treas .

,, W . T . Page , S 2 J ••• ••• Prov . G . Sec . ,, W . E . Williams , 529 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . ,, J . Sidaway , 252 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . ,, j . Round , 238 s ... ... Prov . G . Supt . Wks „ G . D . Eaton , 1 S 74 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, li . Hepworth , ; 77 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ A . Brockatt , 1204 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ R . Rhodes , ^ 64 ... ... ... ) _ / - c . 1 » r «„ , i „ .,.. ^ ,- . 7 , 1 Prov . G . Std . Bis . „ J . Hodgetts , 573 ... ... ... ) ,, J . Irving Glover , 560 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ M . L . Stevens , 20 34 ... ... ... , G p „ C . P . Perry , 2654 ... ... , Prov . L .. Pursts . „ C . M . Griffiths , 20 34 ... ... ... " ) ,, E . O . Reece , 20 34 ... ... ... |

„ Wilfred Owen , 20 34 ... ... ... I D r- c , J I ; H . G . Mason , 203 4 j- Prov . G . Stwds . ,, W . G . Robbins , 20 34 ... ... ... | „ C . H . Averi'lf , 2034 " ... ... ... J The brethren afterwards adjourned to the banquet , the Prov . Grand Master presiding .

Consecration Of The Past And Present Lodge, No. 2665.

CONSECRATION OF THE PAST AND PRESENT LODGE , No . 2665 .

Amongst the large number of "Class" lodges now existing , some of the most successful are to be found in those formed from Educational Institutions . This number was still further increased on Monday , the 4 'h inst ., by the consecration at Blanchard ' s , Beak-street , W ., of the Past and Present Lodge , which will consist almost entirely of old boys of Brighton Grammar School . The new venture started with every indication of future prosperity , and amongst the large number of brethren present to give it a good send off it was but natural that Sussex should be largely represented .

The Consecrating Officer was Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , assisted by Bros . R . Eve , P . G . Treas ., as S . W ., C . E . Keyser , P . G . D ., as J . W ., Rev-J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; and J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B ., as I . G .

1 he founders are Bros . C . W . Hudson , P . P . G . W . Suss-.-x ; Geo . Cole , P . M . 16 3 6 , P . P . G . Org . Sussex ; C . B . Carter , P . M . 16 ( 12 ; W . Vincent Jull , W . M . 2264 ; J . M . Newnham , S . W . 155 G ; A . H . Tester , J . W . S 74 ; H . Mainwaring , Sec . 732 ; G . C . Breese , I . G . 2581 ; E . H . Payne , Stwd . 1636 ; T . Carr , and W . Swaysland , 315 .

Visitors : Bros . G . Everett , P . G . Treas . ; V . P . Freeman , P . G . D . ; J . Stephens , A . G . D . of C . ; Jame ; Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . Royal Masjnic Bcnevokn Institution ; Richard P . Clowes , P . G . S . 13 . ; W . Martin , A . G . P . ; H . Sadler , G Tyler ; Geo . Corbie , P . P . J . G . W . Essex ; Col . H . Tester , P . P . S . G . W . Sussex ; E . H . White , P . P . A . G . Sec . Kent ; H . Schartau , P . P . G . Org . ; F . Carr , P . M . 1456 ; S . Eldridge , P . P . G . W . Surrey ; F . J . Bevis , W . M . 732 ; A . Buntinc , 1821 ; F . Bevan , P . P . G . Org . Essex ; Owen Embling , Prov . G . D . C . Sussex ; E ,

L . Norris , 1636 ; Dr . W . H . Kempster , P . G . Stwd . ; T . H . Challis , P . M . 315 ; A . Howes , 1829 ; W . J . Everett ; H . Davey , P . P . J . G . W . Sussex ; W . J . Lancaster , 21 j R . D . Cummings , P . M . ; F . Hallows , P . M . 19 82 , Prov . G . Stwd . Surrey ; J . Wood , P . M . 1636 , P . P . G . D . ; J . Speller , P . P . G . D . Essex ; A . Lambert , P . M . 1556 ; J . Hampson , W . M . 1571 ; J . C . Pearce , 1694 ; G . G . Reichman , 2581 ; J . Glass , P . M . 453 ; W . E . Home , 1820 " ; W . W . Lee , P . P . G . D , Middx . ; and others .

The lodge was opened in the Three Degrees , and the hymn " Ha l , Eternal , by whose aid , " was sung . The CONSECRATING OITICER then addressing the brethren , said : We are met together to-day for the purpose of constituting and consecrating a new lodge which will be composed almost entirely of those who have been associated together in connection with an educational establishment at

Brighton , known as the Brighton Grammar Schoj . I sincerely trust that the new lodge may be the means of uniting , if possible , more closely those who have been associated together in their boyhood , and that it may attain all those particular objects the founders have in view . This lodge is about to be dedicated—as all lodges are—to the service of Almighty Gjd , and I will therefore call upon the Reverend Chaplain to give us the benefit of prayer .

The ceremony was duly proceeded with , and an oration was delivered by Bro . Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . Chap ., the lodge being afterwards solemnly dedicated and constituted with the usual formalities . Bro . Charles W . Hudson , P . P . G . W ., the W . M . designate , was then installed by Bro . E . Letchworth , Grand Sec , and the following officers

invested : Bros . Col . Tester , 1636 , P . P . G . W . Sussex , acting I . P . M . ; Charles B . Carter , P . M ., S . W . ; W . Vincent Jull , J . W . ; John M . Newnham , Sec ; Thomas Carr , S . D . ; A , H . Tester , J . D . ; George Cole , P . M ., P . P . G . O . Sussex , Org . ; H . Man waring , I . G . ; George C . Breese , D . C ; E . H . Payne and Walter Swaysland , Stwds . ; and Arthur Rawles , Tyler .

Twelve gentlemen were proposed for initiation , including Mr . E , J . Marshall , the Head Master of the School , and two brethren's , names were submitted as joining members . On the proposition of the WORSIIU'IUL MASTER , the Consecrating Officers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks for their services , and were unanimously elected honorary members .

The GRAND SECRETARY returned thanks for himself and colleagues , and wished the lodge the greatest possible prosperity . Lodge was closed , and after banquet the usual toasts followed . " The Queen and the Craft " and " H . R . H . the Prince of Walts , M . W . G . M ., " were first heartily honoured on the proposition of the WORSHIPFULMASTER . Bro . C . B . CARTER , S . W ., then gave "The Grand Officers , " rc-narking that they knew how hard the Grand Officers worked , a good example of