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—Bro . EDWARD BACON was granted a deputation as Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk . We are justified in assuming that the brethren of the province must be proud of its antecedents , and that with as many as eight of their lodges dating from last century , of vvhich five have been granted centenary warrants , they must be desirous of playing a part in Masonry

that comports well with their past history . For these reasons we are glad that , after a rest of some nine years , a move has been made in the right direction , and that a new lodge has at length been established under most

favourable circumstances in a part of the county where there is every likelihood of its being well supported . The Earl of Leicester Lodge has our "heartiest good wishes for its success . * .. *

The West THE report for the past year of the West Lancashire Masonic Lan caUoiiai " Educational Institution is considerably more favourable than Institution . any of ils predecessors , and demonstrates not only the efficiency of the management , but likewise the increased favour with which the Association is regarded by the lodges and brethren in the Province .

The income from all sources , amounting to upwards of A 2632 , is stated to have been larger than in any previous year , the excess of Donations and Subscriptions alone over 1886 being £ 463 , owing to the special efforts made by the lodges to signalise the year of the Queen ' s Jubilee by a more than usually generous exhibition of their bounty . The number of children

benefited by the fund was 18 3 , for whom clothing and education were provided out of the Educational Fund , and 20 , for whom maintenance as well as clothing and education were provided out of the Combined Fund , the number to whom grants were made for their advancement being eight . The sum dispensed under these various heads vvas close on £ 1792 , and is in

excess of lhat of other years , while , as regards expenses of management , they amounted to a few pence under £ 77 ios ., including the price of a fireproof deed box . There was also disbursed in the purchase of five Rights of Presentation for 21 years—namely , one to the British Orphan Asylum , two to the London Orphan Asylum , and two to the Orphan Working School—the

sum of _ £ 1575 , and steps have been taken towards purchasinga sixth Right on payment of ^ 350 , the balance remaining in hand on the 31 st December , 1887 , being ^ 764 6 s . Sd . The property invested amounts , including cash in hand , to ^ 18 , 792 13 s . Sd ., and the sum received in interest during the year was no less than £ 750 us . Sd . If to this we add the estimated present

value of tlie five Presentations , the assets of the Institution will be found to exceed £ 20 , 344 , which is larger than the capital of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . From the statement of these particulars our readers will see clearly lhat this Institution , which is only one out of several established to meet the requirements of necessitous brethren in the Province of

West Lancashire , is instrumental in doing a large amount of good , while its cost of management is a mere trifle . It is generously and increasingly supported by the brethren in the district , and its assets are very valuable . We know , of course , that West Lancashire is one of our strongest and richest provinces , and it is not surprising it should set so admirable an

example to those in other parts of the country . But when due allowance has been made for this , it strikes us it will be found that they have succeeded in placing this particular Institution upon a larger and more ambitious footing than we are accustomed lo look for among Institutions that are intended for merely . local purposes . However , we need not stop to consider this point .

It is enough for us that West Lancashire , though it is not the only Province vvhich has adopted this plan , has carried out most successfull y its system of helping those of its members and their belongings who need help , by providing for them out of local funds . We congratulate them most sincerely on

what they have done , and vve trust that this and their other Associations will always continue to be as ably conducted and as successful in achieving the purposes for vvhich they have been established as this one has been during the year of the Queen ' s Jubilee .

* * * THE full report which appears in another part of our columns United Northern will serve to show that the United Northern Counties Lodge , uuntiesLodge . - ^ 212 8 , ; p 0 pU | ar and as prosperous as ever , and that from the manner in vvhich its proceedings are conducted it well deserves its

good fortune . Its installation meeting on Tuesday was a conspicuous success , and we congratulate Bro . W . MASTERS , who is well-known in Masonic circles , on having been elected to succeed so able and genial a brother as the retiring W . M ., Bro . SMITHSON , whose services to Masonry are so widely known .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England vvas held on Wednesday evening in the Temple , The R . W . Deputy Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , presided . R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M .

of Hants and the Isle of Wight , acted as Deputy Grand Master ; and R . W . Bro . Thomas W . Tew , Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire , as Past G . Master . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , P . G . W ., acted as S . G . W . ; and Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldnev , Bart ., P . G . W ., as J . G . W .

After Grand Lodge had been formally opened , the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of December , 186 7 , were read by Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . Sec , and put , and confirmed . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . S ., then said he had to report for the

information of Grand Lodge that with respect to two resolutions come to at last Grand Lodge , the first £ 500 voted towards assisting the unemployed of the Metropolis , H . R . H . the M . W . G . M ., after due consideration , had been pleased to allot the moneys placed in his hands as follows : £ ioo had been allotted to the Mansion House Fund raised b y the Lord Mayor for

United Grand Lodge Of England.

the employment of people out of work ; 150 guineas had been given to the principal London Police Courts , including the Mansion House ; 50 guineas had also been given to other principal Police Courts , and the Guildhall - , and the remainder of the £ 500 had been sent to the other principal Police Courts of the Metropolis . With respect tothe £ 500 voted for a present to her Royal

Highness the Princess of Wales on the Silver Wedding-day of the M . M . G . M and the Princess of Wales , he had to report that the R . W . D . G . M ., the ' Earl of Lathom , having ascertained the feelings of her Royal Highness on this matter , it had been arranged that the present should take the form of a diamond ornament of a certain description , vvhich had been manufactured

and it was hoped that it would be presented by the Deputy Grand Master in a very few days . ( Applause . ) ( The handsome present vvas subsequently exhibited to the brethren . ) The Earl of LATHOM then rose and said ; Brethren , few words are needed from me to recommend the motion that stands in my name , for I believe

that there is not a single person in this country who does not watch with the deepest anxiety the reports received from time to time of the illness of his Imperial Highness the Crown Prince of Germany . ( Hear , hear . ) And why ? Because he is known to be one of the most honest and one of the most upright men of the day —( hear , hear)—a man who has made himself

beloved by all , an example to all as a son , a husband , a warrior , and a statesman . ( Hear , hear . ) We know how the destinies of Europe are hanging on this one man ' s life ; vve know also how closely allied he is to our own beloved Royai Family ; vve know also that his wife , the Crown Princess of Germany , has followed in the footsteps of her mother , and has shown what a watchful

untiring nurse she can be during his long period of trial and suffering . ( Hear , hear . ) I feel sure that I say what you all vvill say , that she and all her family have our deep sympathy . ( Hear , hear . ) I vvill now move the motion that stands in my name on the paper . — "That this Grand Lod ge offers to the Most VVorshipful Brother his Imperial Highness the Crown

Prince of Germany , Protector of Freemasonry in that country , its most fraternal and heartfelt sympathy in the affliction under vvhich he is suffering , and begs to express its earnest hope that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to restore his Imperial Highness again to health . "

R . W . Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the Chair—I have the greatest possible pleasure in seconding this motion , vvhich I am sure vvill be carried with the utmost unanimity , on tvyo grounds , vvhich you have already alluded to , the private and the public one—the private one from the relationship the

illustrious person bears to the Sovereign of our country , vvhich would commend itself to the hearts of every Englishman , especially to the Masons ; and the public one , because of the important position vve are aware he occupies amongst potentates of this world . VVe know that in this life , as you have justly said , Most Worshipful Grand Master in the Chair , hangs the destiny

of Europe , because he is well-known to incline to lhat love of peace which must tend so much to the benefit of the civilised world . ( Hear , hear ) . Let us hope that the Great Architect of the Universe may be graciously pleased to spare this important and illustrious person . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) The motion was put and carried unanimously , and amidst loud cheering .

Bro . G . PRIOR GOLDNEY , VV . M . 259 : Brethren , —You are all aware that the chief business to be transacted by us this evening is , in exercise o ( our constitutional rights , to elect a Grand Master to preside over our Order for the ensuing 12 months . This large assembly of brethren testifies unmistakeably to the great interest taken by Masons from all parts of the

country in this election . It is my good fortune to have the honour of proposing for that high office the most distinguished Mason among us . Apart from the exalted position held by the Prince of Wales as Heir Apparent to the Crown of these realms , his Masonic career points him out as pre-eminently the most fit and proper brother for the office . It is now some 15

years since his Royal Highness was , under the most auspicious circumstances , installed in the chair of the Royal Solomon at a memorable gathering of Masons in the Albert Hall , the recollection of vvhich is still green amongst , I think , most of us here . The number oi years lhat elapsed before lhe next meeting of Masons beneath that dome are not many in a life time ; but still

they mark a distinct epoch in the history of the Craft . During that period —but a short one—not only has the stem of Masonry grown larger and more solid , not only have the branches spread wider , but the roots of the stately old tree have struck so deeply into tt » e home and colonial life of the nation , that the grand , commemorative assembly of last summer may well be said

to have been a physical representation of Masonry universal , exemplif y " ^ as it did Freemasonry spread over that great empire of ours , as to some parts of vvhich the sun is ever at its meridian . To the Royal ruler of t » e Craft are we largely indebted for the remarkable progress , stability , alicl public appreciation of Freemasonry in that period , and for the benefice '

hold it has taken upon the best feelings of our race . The mere numeration of the tens of thousands of pounds subscribed and spent by Freemasons upon their Charitable and Educational Institutions and private benevolence to the unfortunate , by no means expresses all the good vvhich our Order confers . There still remain the comforts it conveys , the advantages for

doing good it extends , and the bond of union it affords amongst those vy hose better fortune enables them to hold out the right hand of fellowship to struggling humanity . They are well knovvn and felt by us all , and have been admirably cherished and fostered by our Royal brother . With a force of character peculiarly his own , H . R . H . hasexhibited in amarked degree an abilitv to lead and control larsre nublic assemblies : and further , he na

been blessed by the Great Architect of the Universe wilh that magne " influence , socharacteristic of his family , which attracts to himself the persona attachment and devotion of those with whom he is brought into p erso 1 * contact . Firm of purpose , just and patient , he is a model for eve ^ Master of a lodge to emulate . Hard working , painstaking , and sym ? ' thelic , he sets an example for every Entered Apprentice to lollovv . Our p