New College For The Northern Counties.

Pennington and Bridgen , architects ; W . Slade , F . M . R . S ., Sec . " After the plate had been p laced over the cavity , the cement was placed on the . upper face of the lower stone , whicli the Prov . G . M . adjusted with a handsome silver trowel handed to him by Bro . Pennington ,

bearing a suitable inscription . During the lowering of the upper stone , a hymn was sung by the assembled choristers , after which the P . G . AL , directed the P . G . J . W ., the P . S . G . W ., and the acting D . P . G . M ., to prove the just position and form of the stone by the

plumb rule , level , and square . This being done the cornucopia containing the corn , and the ewers with the wine and oil , were handed by Bro . Capt . Cope , to thc P . G . AL , who strewed the corn and poured the wine and oil over the stone with the accustomed

ceremonies : A suitable prayer was then offered by Bro . the Rev . H . Hodgson , M . A ., P . G . C , and the P . G . M . having inspected and approved of the plans submitted , the ceremony closed with the National Anthem , and three cheers for the success of the coll lege .

The band of the 95 th Regiment , was present on the ground . The whole of the proceedings were watched with the liveliest interest by the immense crowd on the ground . After the ceremonial , a luncheon , at which from 400 to 500 ladies and gentlemen sat down ,

was provided in an elegant and well-ventilated marquee , erected by Air . Benjamin Edgington , London . The tables were richly decorated with rare plants and flowers from the nurseries of Alessrs . W . G . Caldwell and Sons , Knutsford . The luncheon , which was exceedingly will

served , was purveyed by the Alessrs . Jennison of Alanchester . The Provincial Grand AIaster , Lord De Tabley , presided , and was supported by the leading members of the Provincial Grand Lodge , who names have already been given , Sir Harry Mainwaring , Colonel Egerton Leigh ,

M . P ., thc Rev . W . AL Hatch . M . A ., Warden of the College , Archdeacon J ohnson , and others . The Chairman commenced the proceedings by proposing " Church and Queen , ' after which Sir Harry Mainwaring , proposed " Lords and Commons , " to which Colonel Leigh , M . P .,

replied . The Chairman next proposed the "Bishop of the Diocese , " who , after thanking the company for the honour , proposed " Success to the College of St . Paul . " He said the question of education , as they all knew , was beset with a great many difficulties and complications ; but

these mig ht be dismissed that day while looking at the way in which education then came before them . Education was much more widely diffused now than it used to be ; but he did not think that it had lost in quality by that diffusion . It seemed that education was as highly

appreciated now as ever it was , and particularly the hig h order of education . They all knew that great schools had risen up within recent times alongside the time-honoured Eton and Winchester , and Harrow and Rugby , such as Marlborough , Cheltenham , ALilvcrn , Clifton ,

and Hatley bury , and had every reason to believe that St . Paul ' s , Knutsford , would be worthy to be added to the number . The existing great public schools were situated exclusively in the southern counties , and he welcomed with satisfaction the establishment of an analogous institution within his own diocese .

The Rev . W . AI . Hatch , the future Warden of the college , in the course of a long reply , spoke ofthe many anxieties attending such a work , and referred to H . M . ' s commission , which had been empowered ten years ago , to inquire into the question of the cdncationof the upper and middle

classes . It was then found that of thc sons of the middle classes , eighty out of every hundred were pupils at private schools , and only twenty per cent of the upper and middle classes were scholars at endowed or public schools . Air . Hatch went on to say a great and prosperous community like that of Cheshire and of

Lancashire ought not to leave its highest intellectual interests to amateur effort and private adventure . It may be , however , that the actual facts are not realised nor generally known . h \ this respect the labours of her Majesty ' s commission are very valuable . By utilising the facts within the range of the Registrar-General , and by a comparison of the results of different methods of

New College For The Northern Counties.

heir own , the commissioners are arrived at the conclusion that there are two million boys in England between the age of 8 and 18 ; and that of these boys about 300 , 000 belong to the upper and middle classes . According to their proportion in the population , there are in Cheshire and

Lancashire alone 45 , 000 boys of the upper and upper middle classes who ought to be at great public schools . He then urged the necessity there existed for such an institution as Knutsford College , and described the principles upon which it would be conducted .

The Venerable Archdeacon Johnson , proposed the " Health of Lord De Tabley . " The Chairman having responded . Bro . G . W . Latham proposed the" Health ofthe Architects , " and Bro . Pennington acknowledged the

compliment . This concluded the proceedings at the luncheon . The Provincial Grand Lodge then marched back to the Royal George Hotel , where it was closed in due form .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cumberland And Westmor Land.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMOR LAND .

' The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons of the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland was held at Whitehaven , on Tuesday , September 30 , under most favourable auspices . The province , of which the Earl of Bective , Iii . P ., is the Provincial Grand

Master , and Bro . J . Whitwell , MP ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master , comprises 17 lodges , viz .. No . iip . Whitehavcn ; No . 129 , Kendal ; No . 310 , Carlisle ; No . 327 , Wigton ; No . 339 , Penrith ; No . 371 , Alaryport ; No . 412 , Longtown ; No . 812 , Applcbv ; No . 8 / 2 , Whitehaven ;

No . 9 62 , Workington ; No . 1002 , Cockermouth ; No . 1073 , Keswick ; No . 1074 , Kirkby Lonsdale ; No . 1 220 , Silloth ; No . 1267 , Egreinont ; No . 1390 , Millom ; and No . 1400 , Harrington ; The brethren representing the above lodges met in the Freemasons' Hall , College-street , at

hall-past twelve o clock , under the presidency of Brother John M'Kelvie , Brother Lord Muncaster ' s Deputy , who opened the Craft Lodge in the Iirst degree . The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Alaster ( the Earl of Bective , M . P . ) and his

deputy , Brother Whitwell , M . P ., and R . W . P . G . W . England , together with the rest of the Provincial Grand Lodge , including Brothei Lord Aluucaster , ALP ., Provincial Giand Registrar , having arrived , the Provincial Grand Lodge was

formally opened by the Ri g ht Worshipful Provincial Grand AIaster . There wer present a large assemblage of Past and Present Provincial Grand Officers , and the W . Masters , Wardenss , antl brethren of tlie various lodges in the Province .

The minutes of the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge having been read and conlirmed , and there being no other business , the Rig ht Worshipful Provincial Grand Master proceeded to appoint the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year . —

John Whitwell , M . P ., Prov . D . G . M . Lord Muncaster , M . P ., Prov . G . S . W . Canon Ware Prov . G . J . W . Rev . f . Tyson Prov . G . Chaplain . ltev . F . W . Wicks Prov . G . A . C J . Lemon Prov . G . Treas . W . B . Gibson Prov . G . Sec .

W . White Prov . G . A . Sec . E . G . Hughes Prov . G . S . D . C . J . Smith Prov . G . J . D . Talbot Prov . G . Reg . Alexander Taylor Prov . G . D . C Shannon Prov . A . G . D . C . J . Bentiey Prov . G . S . W .

J . Mills Prov . G . Sword 11 . ( esse Banning Prov . G . O . W . Alsop Prov . G . Purst . W . Sandwith Prov . G . Tyler . E . Alter Prov . G . Steward .

Armstrong „ „ .., Dick „ ,, „ T . F . Taylor ,, Thomas Dodgson „ ,, „ Daniel Crosthwaite „ „ „

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cumberland And Westmor Land.

Bother James Porter , P . Prov . G . S . O ., P . M . 327 , 343 , and 1256 , alluding to the resignation by Bro . Busher ofthe office of Provincial Grand Secretary ' , proposed , in suitable terms , that th « best thanks of the Provincial Grand Lodge be given to Brother Busher for the valuable services

rendered b y him in that capacity during the past seven years . Bro . Hayward , P . Prov . G . S . W ., 310 , seconded the proposition . The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Alaster , in a highly complimentary manner , endorsed all the Bro Porter had said . His Lordship acknowledged his indebtedness on very many occasions to Bro .

Busher s zeal and assiduity as Provincial Grand Secretary , as well as his uniform courtesy and kindness . The vote having been unanimously passed in the most cordial manner , Bro . Busher briefly acknowledged the compliment in feeling and appropriate terms , after which the lodge was formally closed .

The brethren were thenformed in procession in proper Alasonic order by the G . D . of Ceremonies . Bro . Edward Fearon , P . AI . 119 , and marched up Church-street , along Duke street , down Scotch-street and Lewther-street to St . Nicholas Church , headed by the Volunteer Band .

The brethren attended divine service in St . Nicholas Church , occupying the body of the edifice , which was reserved for their accommod .-ition . thc general public occupying the galleries . The prayers were '' intoned " by Bro . the Rev . R . 1 J . Labarte , Chaplain of Lodge 872 . The

Psalms were those ofthe day , namely , 147 , 148 , 149 , and 150 . Bro . the Rev . Joshua Tyson read the First and Second Lessons . The Alagnificat was chanted to Elvey in E ; and Nunc Dimittis after Uackett ' s Service in D . The Anthem was

from the 122 nd Psalm , verses 1 , 5 , 6 , and 7 . The first Hymn was , " O Lord , how joyful ' tis to see the brethren join in love to Thee , - " and the second , " Praise we our God with joy and gladness never ending . " The prayer before the sermon was as follows :

— " Let us pray for all sorts and conditions of men . And herein , for Our Sovereign Lady the \ .-lueen , that she may be endued plenteously with heavenly gifts , and long reign over a loyal , united , and happy people ; for Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and all the Roval

Family . Let us pray especially for the Ancient Order , as members ot which we have this day assembled : particularly for the Most Worshipful the Marquess of Ripon , our Grand Master ; for the Officers of the Grand Lodges of England , especially for that Provincial one to which we

belong ; for the Most Worshi pful the Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy . Let us further implore the Alost Hi gh to bless all private Lodges , particularly those now gathered together in this His Hol y Temple . May God prevent us in our doings with His most gracious favour ,

and further us with His continual help ; that in all our works begun , continued , and ended in His holy name , we may promote the happiness ol our fellow-creatues , and ever set forth His honour and glory , through Jesus Christ our Lord . —Amen . "

The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . F . W . Wicks , who selected for his text the 13 th chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews , verse [ 6 : — " But to do good and to communicate , forget not ; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased . " After the sermon a collection was trade ,

amounting to £ 14 65 51 I , which will be aporopriated to the building fund of St . Nicholas Boys School . immediately after divine service thc brethren repaired to the Town Hall , where a substantial

dinner , provided in Mrs . Todhunter ' s well-known style , awaited them . There were three tables , the full length ofthe h . ill , and one cross table , at whicli were seated 200 brethren . About 30 were obliged to go elsewhere to dine , being unable to find accommodation .

The chair was occupied by Hro . the Earl of Bective , R . W . P . G . M . of Cumberland and Westmorland , who was supported by Bro . J . Whitwell , D . l ' rov . G . M . Cumberland and Westmorland ;

J . Lemon , P . Prov . G . Treasurer ; E . Busher , P Prov . G . Secretary ; W . C Steward . P Prov . G , It . ; Rev . It . B . Labarte , Chaplain , Lodge 87 a ; Rev , f . Tyson , l ' rov . G . Chaplain ; J . Robertson , P . M . 672 , and 1 ' Pmv . jG . S . D . ; J . S p i . till , I' . M ,