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Article THE APPROACHING GIRLS' SCHOOL ELECTION. ← Page 2 of 2 Article ROSE CROIX MASONRY IN PORTSMOUTH. Page 1 of 1 Article ROSE CROIX MASONRY IN PORTSMOUTH. Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Girls' School Election.
more prosperous days done service as Stewards or Subscribers to our Charitable Institutions . We may add that the list contains the names of 32 children , but the candidature of one of them , a girl from Staffordshire , standing fourteenth in order , has been withdrawn , so that the number of competitors , as we have said , is only 31 .
Rose Croix Masonry In Portsmouth.
ROSE CROIX MASONRY IN PORTSMOUTH .
" BY-LAWS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL CHAPTER ROSE CROIX OF H . R . D . M ., No . 9 . "
A little book of 57 pages , bearing the above title , has just been issued to the members of the foregoing chapter . Its general interest is not in the by-laws , however , but in the "Historical Notes , " with which the Recorder of the chapter , Bro . 1 . Fordham Starkey , 30 , has prefaced the book . Since Bro . Starkey only
joined the chapter in January of the present year , he deserves not a little credit for the celerity with which he has digested the records of the chapter , and comp iled a brief history relating to it—a history which cannot fail to be of great interest to the members of the Royal Naval Chapter in particular and to all Rose Croix Masons in general .
The Royal Naval Chapter of Rose Croix was constituted in the month of October , 1858 . by warrant from the Supreme Council , " duly issued under seal , dated the Fourth day of Heshven , Anno Hm . 5619 , Anno Lucis , 5862 , which corresponds to the Twelfth day of October , Anno . Christi , 1858 , Anno Ordinis , 740 and 544 . " This warrant was signed by Henry Beaumont Leeson , M . D .,
S . G . C ., 33 ; Lieut .-Col . George Augustus Vernon , Lt . ajr . C , 33 ; Charles John Vigne , Grand Treasurer-General , H . E ., 33 ; John Axteli Deacon Cox , Grand Secretary-General , H . E ., 33 ° ; Sir John George Reeve De La Pole , Bart ., Grand Chancellor , H . E ., 33 ° ; Lieut .-Col . Henry Atkins Bower , S . G . I . G ., 33 ° ; and Georee Beauchamp Cole , S . G . I . G ., 33 ° .
The first signatory to the warrant , Dr . Leeson , was the first member of the Supreme Council , 33 ° appointed after the institution of that body in England in October , 1845 , whilst the last signatory , Bro . G . B . Cole , was the last member of that body prior to the warrant being signed . From the remarks made at the last meeting of the chapter by Bro . George Felton Lancaster , P . M . W . S ., we gather that the warrant so granted should have
been one of confirmation rather than of constitution , since the brethren who petitioned the Supreme Council for the warrant had all received the Degree of Rose Croix of H . R . D . M . in the Royal Naval Preceptory of Knights Templar , No . 2 , which was cons'ituted in March , 1791 , and of which they were then members . Bro . Lancaster states that the fact of the Rose Croix Degree having been conferred in that preceptory can be traced back in the preceptory books to the year 1791 , and the Degree is expressly mentioned in its warrant .
The transactions of the Royal Arch Chapter of Friendship , No . 257 , warranted nth Aueust , 17 69 ; the Phoenix Lodge , No . 257 , warranted 20 th May , 1786 ; the Royal Naval Preceptory and Priory , No . 2 , warranted nth March , 1791 ; the Phcenix Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 2 , warrant of confirmation dated 7 th July , 1856 , with minutes commencing in 1769 ;* and the Royal Naval Chapter of Rose Croix , warranted 12 th October , 1858 , are very intimately connected ; the
Royal Arch chapter , the Craft lodge , and the preceptory being founded by the same brethren , and the Mark lodge and Rose Croix chapter being founded by others who belonged to the trio already in existence . The Phcenix Lodge was an offshoot from the Chapter of Friendship . The preceptory grew out of the chapter and lodge . The members of the Royal Arch chapter practised the Mark Degree
from the first —[? editor]—and in 1856 obtained a warrant of confirmation from the recently formed Grand Mark Lodge , and the members of the preceptory had conferred the Rose Croix Degree from the date of their warrant , and in 1858 obtained a separate warrant , unfortunately one of constitution instead of confirmation , from the Supreme Council , 33 " .
The Royal Naval Rose Croix Chapter was consecated at the Phoenix Lodge rooms , High-street , Portsmouth , on the 15 th October , 1858 , all the signatories to the warrant , except 111 . Bro . Bowyer , attending for the purpose , and there were also present Bros . Matthew Dawes , S . G . I . G ., 33 , and Hy de Fallen , then 31 ° , the M . WS . of the Vectis Rose Croix Chapter , Ryde , Isle of Wight , which had been warranted
in January , 1857 . The last mentioned brother acted as Installing Master . Bro Richard William Bradley , who is still alive , was the first M . W . S ., and there were ten other founders , of whom at least three are still living , but only one remains as a member of the chapter at the present time , viz ., Bro . Mark Edwin Frost , who filled the chair in 1866 , and who has , for many years , discharged with great care and fidelity to the interests of the chapter the office of Treasurer .
It appears that until January , i 860 , there were no fixed periods appointed for the meetings , the matter being left to the discretion of the M . VV . S . for the time being . In the month named , however , by-laws were agreed to , which provided for regular meetings on the second Wednesday in January , April , July , and November , the last meeting being afterwards altered to the month of October . These rules never received the authority of the Supreme Council , but meetings have been regularly held on the days named until the present time .
At the same meeting the M . P . S . G . C , Dr . Henry Beaumont Leeson , 33 ° , was elected an honorary member of the chapter , and the same distinction was , on the 12 th October following , accorded to Bro . Hyde Pullen , then 32 ° , who had rendered invaluable aid to the chapter from the date of its foundation . The chapter appears to have received three official visits from members of the Supreme Council 33 ° viz ., in 1862 , 1872 , and 18 7 8 .
From its foundation to July , 1880 , the chapter met at the Phcenix Lodge rooms , but then it removed to the rooms of the Portsmouth Lodge , where the meetings have ever since been regularly held . At the last meeting of the chapter ( September 10 th , 1890 ) the Provincial Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , P . M . W . S . of the Adoniram Chapter , London , and 0
his Deputy , Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , 32 , were elected honorary members . The present M . W . S . is Bro . Colonel-Commandant John Frederick Crease , C . B ., 30 , a brother not only distinguished as a military officer , but known to a wide circle of Masons through his recent paper read before the Quatuor Coronati Lodge on " The Masonic Character of the Roman Villa at Morton , Isle of Wight . "
It is impossible to deal thoroughly with the history of the Rose Croix Degree in Portsmouth until the chief records of the Royal Naval Preceptory and Phcenix Lodge re-pectively are made public . The latter I have had in hand for the last two years , whilst no doubt Bro . G . F . Lancaster will have a good deal to say
with reference to the former when the preceptory celebrates its centenary in March next . As before stated , the lodge , Royal Arch chapter , preceptory , Mark lodge , and Rose Croix chapter are , and always have been , very closely allied , and it is impracticable to thoroughly investigate the history of one without reference to the records of the others .
Bro . Starkey has also given us a complete list of the P . M . W . Sovereigns of the chapter and a copy of the names in its Golden Book , from which it can be seen that very many distinguished Masons have from time to time joined it . The Golden Book is particularly rich with names of members of the learned professions
Rose Croix Masonry In Portsmouth.
resident in Portsmouth during the last 30 years , and of officers in her Majesty ' s Army and Navy , the latter being , of course , due to the chapter meeting in Portsmouth and to its close connection with the Phcenix Lodge . The chapter now numbers 41 members , one of whom is a member of the 32 ° and four belong to the 30 ° .
The by-laws of the chapter , which have been the raison d ' etre of the book , have just been revised and sanctioned by the Supreme Council . They call for no particular comment , unless mention be made of one which requires the ballot for every candidate for perfection , for joining , or for election as an honorary member
to be unanimous , and another whereby " any officer in her Majesty's services ordered to duty in this port or garrison , being a member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , shall be elig ible for election as a member for 12 months on payment of a joining fee of 5 s . and the current subscription for the year . " Annexed to the book are the rules and regulations of the Supreme Council 33 . ALEXANDER HOWELL , Local Sec . in Hants for the C . C . No . 2076 .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .
A most numerously and influentially-attended meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire was held on Wednesday , the ist inst ., at the Public Hall , Preston , this specially large assembly of the " supreme and subordinate " rulers of the mystic Craft being very largely caused by the exceptionally important business which was set down for consideration . Rarel y has so much interest been displayed in the annual proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge , which now embraces no fewer than 104 lodges , thus ranking as the strongest province holding
authority under the Grand Lodge of England . The meeting-place was admirabl y adapted for the purposes of the gathering , and the Preston Committee , who took the arrangements in hand , are to be congratulated upon the very satisfactory arrangements so successfully carried out . Shortl y before one o ' clock the Provincial Grand Lodge Officers entered the hall , the floor of which was occupied by W . M . 's , P . M . ' s , and Wardens , while in the galleries were seated the junior officers and Master Masons . Bro . J . Cantor , P . G . O ., presided at the organ , and as the members of Provincial Grand Lodge entered the room he played appropriate
music . There were upwards of 120 Grand and Prov . Grand Officers present , and it was estimated that the Craft lodges were repre-ented by something like 800 members . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom P . G . M ., was present , and he was accompanied by the following P . G . Officers who had served during the past year -. Bros . E . H . Cookson , Prov . S . G . W . ; W . B . Richardson , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . K . Turner , Prov . G . Chap . ; T . Clarke , Prov . G . Reg . ; W . Goodacre , Prov . G . Sec . ; Thomas
Adams , Prov . S . G . D . ; Wm . Webster , Prov . S . G . D . ; R . Walker , Prov . J . G . D . ; G . S . Willings , Prov . J . G . D . ; J . Brindle , Prov . G . S . of W . ; E . George , Prov . G . D . C ; J . N . Patterson Prov . D . G . D . C ; J . C . Robinson , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; J . Queen , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . Pilling and J . Turnbull , Prov . G . Std . Brs . ; J . Cantor , Prov . G . Org . ; R . Betley , Prov . A . G . Sec . ; P . Yates , Prov . G . P . ; J . E . Boden , J . M . King , J . Chadderton , G . Nelson , and VV . Turvey , Prov . G . Stewards ; and P Ball , Prov . G . Tyler .
The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . W . GOODACRE , read the rolls of attendance of the Provincial Grand Officers and of the Craft lodges , which showed that the whole of the lodges in the province were represented , several very numerously . A lively and prolonged discussion took place as to the confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held last year at Barrow-in-Furness , an amendment of Bro . TYSON * being rejected by an overwhelming majority , as he only found about a dozen supporters .
1 he accounts of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . f . R . Jolly , showed that the fees and contributions from lodges within the province during the year to the Charities Fund amounted to ^ 146 5 s ., to the Provincial Grand Lodge Fund ^ 222 os . 9 d ., and to the Fund of Benevolence ^ 222 os . 9 d . ; total , . £ 590 6 s . 6 d , The receipts , with balances from the ist October , 188 9 , to the 3 rd September , 18 90 , were as follows : Charities Fund , . £ 306 14 s . 4 d . ; Provincial Grand Lodge
Fund , ^ 516 17 s . 2 . Vd . ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 1145 7 s . 2 . 1 d . ; total , £ 19 68 . The payments under the three headings were respectivel y ^ 105 , ^ 269 14 s . 4 d ., and £ 254 19 s . id ., total , ^ 629 13 s . 5 d ., the total balance being ^ 1339 5 - 4 < L After some discussion the accounts were taken as read and adopted , The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY , in his annual report , stated that during the past year the roll of lodges in the province had been increased to 104 , there
having been eight consecrations . There had been 635 initiations , and the roll of members had reached 6561 . Reviewing the progress of Masonry , the Provincial Grand Sec . stated that in 1872 there were 61 lodges with 3016 members . In 18 7 8 the lodges had increased to 81 , with 513 S members . The next six years were not years ol progress in membership , for though the lodges had increased by one , the membership had fallen to 4588 , a decrease of 550 members . This falling off in
the membership had , however , been more than compensated by the increase of the last six years , during which period 22 new lodges had been added , and the number of members increased to 6561 . It thus appeared that during the part 18 years the lodges had been increased from 61 to 104 , and the members from 3016 to 6561 . This increased the necessity for greater supervision as to the selection of candidates . Further , the fact that there were upwards of 100 lodges in the province , and the
number of appointments to office in the Provincial Grand Lodge being no greater than in a province less than half its size , led him to suggest that if Provincial Grand Masters of large provinces were granted a power either to duplicate other offices than those already duplicated , or to confer past rank on brethren in proportion to the number of lodges , it would be conducive to the happiness of many worthy brethren who , loyal in their desire to preserve the influence which must
attach to a large province , have frequently long years to wait—for many years to wait—for appointment to office in Provincial Grand Lodge . Referring to the increased development of the work in connection with the Charities , the Prov . G . Secretary submitted that if the privilege of wearing the Charity jewel , which is now confined to those who have rendered service to the three Royal Masonic Institutions , were conceded to brethren performing similar service to any Charity
of a purely Masonic nature , whether metropolitan or provincial , it would be highly appreciated by the brethren , and would conduce to the increased prosperity of the local Masonic Charities . The Benevolence and Charity Committee , at its meetings during the past year , had made grants to six distressed brethren and six widows , amounting to ^ 163 . It had been considered that if the annual returns from the lodges were made up to the 31 st December , instead of the 30 th June as at present provided , it would be better , inasmuch as it would enable Secretaries to
make their returns during the working part of the year , and not when many of the lodges are having their vacation . The report concluded— " We have to record another visitation of the G . A . O . T . U ., who , in his divine providence has removed from his sphere on earth that most distinguished brother the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro G . M ., one whose good name and many excellences will live long in the annals of his country and Masonry . May the Carnarvon Lodge , which has been warranted to meet in West Lancashire , and named after so distinguished a Mason , prove worthy of the name it bears ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Girls' School Election.
more prosperous days done service as Stewards or Subscribers to our Charitable Institutions . We may add that the list contains the names of 32 children , but the candidature of one of them , a girl from Staffordshire , standing fourteenth in order , has been withdrawn , so that the number of competitors , as we have said , is only 31 .
Rose Croix Masonry In Portsmouth.
ROSE CROIX MASONRY IN PORTSMOUTH .
" BY-LAWS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL CHAPTER ROSE CROIX OF H . R . D . M ., No . 9 . "
A little book of 57 pages , bearing the above title , has just been issued to the members of the foregoing chapter . Its general interest is not in the by-laws , however , but in the "Historical Notes , " with which the Recorder of the chapter , Bro . 1 . Fordham Starkey , 30 , has prefaced the book . Since Bro . Starkey only
joined the chapter in January of the present year , he deserves not a little credit for the celerity with which he has digested the records of the chapter , and comp iled a brief history relating to it—a history which cannot fail to be of great interest to the members of the Royal Naval Chapter in particular and to all Rose Croix Masons in general .
The Royal Naval Chapter of Rose Croix was constituted in the month of October , 1858 . by warrant from the Supreme Council , " duly issued under seal , dated the Fourth day of Heshven , Anno Hm . 5619 , Anno Lucis , 5862 , which corresponds to the Twelfth day of October , Anno . Christi , 1858 , Anno Ordinis , 740 and 544 . " This warrant was signed by Henry Beaumont Leeson , M . D .,
S . G . C ., 33 ; Lieut .-Col . George Augustus Vernon , Lt . ajr . C , 33 ; Charles John Vigne , Grand Treasurer-General , H . E ., 33 ; John Axteli Deacon Cox , Grand Secretary-General , H . E ., 33 ° ; Sir John George Reeve De La Pole , Bart ., Grand Chancellor , H . E ., 33 ° ; Lieut .-Col . Henry Atkins Bower , S . G . I . G ., 33 ° ; and Georee Beauchamp Cole , S . G . I . G ., 33 ° .
The first signatory to the warrant , Dr . Leeson , was the first member of the Supreme Council , 33 ° appointed after the institution of that body in England in October , 1845 , whilst the last signatory , Bro . G . B . Cole , was the last member of that body prior to the warrant being signed . From the remarks made at the last meeting of the chapter by Bro . George Felton Lancaster , P . M . W . S ., we gather that the warrant so granted should have
been one of confirmation rather than of constitution , since the brethren who petitioned the Supreme Council for the warrant had all received the Degree of Rose Croix of H . R . D . M . in the Royal Naval Preceptory of Knights Templar , No . 2 , which was cons'ituted in March , 1791 , and of which they were then members . Bro . Lancaster states that the fact of the Rose Croix Degree having been conferred in that preceptory can be traced back in the preceptory books to the year 1791 , and the Degree is expressly mentioned in its warrant .
The transactions of the Royal Arch Chapter of Friendship , No . 257 , warranted nth Aueust , 17 69 ; the Phoenix Lodge , No . 257 , warranted 20 th May , 1786 ; the Royal Naval Preceptory and Priory , No . 2 , warranted nth March , 1791 ; the Phcenix Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 2 , warrant of confirmation dated 7 th July , 1856 , with minutes commencing in 1769 ;* and the Royal Naval Chapter of Rose Croix , warranted 12 th October , 1858 , are very intimately connected ; the
Royal Arch chapter , the Craft lodge , and the preceptory being founded by the same brethren , and the Mark lodge and Rose Croix chapter being founded by others who belonged to the trio already in existence . The Phcenix Lodge was an offshoot from the Chapter of Friendship . The preceptory grew out of the chapter and lodge . The members of the Royal Arch chapter practised the Mark Degree
from the first —[? editor]—and in 1856 obtained a warrant of confirmation from the recently formed Grand Mark Lodge , and the members of the preceptory had conferred the Rose Croix Degree from the date of their warrant , and in 1858 obtained a separate warrant , unfortunately one of constitution instead of confirmation , from the Supreme Council , 33 " .
The Royal Naval Rose Croix Chapter was consecated at the Phoenix Lodge rooms , High-street , Portsmouth , on the 15 th October , 1858 , all the signatories to the warrant , except 111 . Bro . Bowyer , attending for the purpose , and there were also present Bros . Matthew Dawes , S . G . I . G ., 33 , and Hy de Fallen , then 31 ° , the M . WS . of the Vectis Rose Croix Chapter , Ryde , Isle of Wight , which had been warranted
in January , 1857 . The last mentioned brother acted as Installing Master . Bro Richard William Bradley , who is still alive , was the first M . W . S ., and there were ten other founders , of whom at least three are still living , but only one remains as a member of the chapter at the present time , viz ., Bro . Mark Edwin Frost , who filled the chair in 1866 , and who has , for many years , discharged with great care and fidelity to the interests of the chapter the office of Treasurer .
It appears that until January , i 860 , there were no fixed periods appointed for the meetings , the matter being left to the discretion of the M . VV . S . for the time being . In the month named , however , by-laws were agreed to , which provided for regular meetings on the second Wednesday in January , April , July , and November , the last meeting being afterwards altered to the month of October . These rules never received the authority of the Supreme Council , but meetings have been regularly held on the days named until the present time .
At the same meeting the M . P . S . G . C , Dr . Henry Beaumont Leeson , 33 ° , was elected an honorary member of the chapter , and the same distinction was , on the 12 th October following , accorded to Bro . Hyde Pullen , then 32 ° , who had rendered invaluable aid to the chapter from the date of its foundation . The chapter appears to have received three official visits from members of the Supreme Council 33 ° viz ., in 1862 , 1872 , and 18 7 8 .
From its foundation to July , 1880 , the chapter met at the Phcenix Lodge rooms , but then it removed to the rooms of the Portsmouth Lodge , where the meetings have ever since been regularly held . At the last meeting of the chapter ( September 10 th , 1890 ) the Provincial Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , P . M . W . S . of the Adoniram Chapter , London , and 0
his Deputy , Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , 32 , were elected honorary members . The present M . W . S . is Bro . Colonel-Commandant John Frederick Crease , C . B ., 30 , a brother not only distinguished as a military officer , but known to a wide circle of Masons through his recent paper read before the Quatuor Coronati Lodge on " The Masonic Character of the Roman Villa at Morton , Isle of Wight . "
It is impossible to deal thoroughly with the history of the Rose Croix Degree in Portsmouth until the chief records of the Royal Naval Preceptory and Phcenix Lodge re-pectively are made public . The latter I have had in hand for the last two years , whilst no doubt Bro . G . F . Lancaster will have a good deal to say
with reference to the former when the preceptory celebrates its centenary in March next . As before stated , the lodge , Royal Arch chapter , preceptory , Mark lodge , and Rose Croix chapter are , and always have been , very closely allied , and it is impracticable to thoroughly investigate the history of one without reference to the records of the others .
Bro . Starkey has also given us a complete list of the P . M . W . Sovereigns of the chapter and a copy of the names in its Golden Book , from which it can be seen that very many distinguished Masons have from time to time joined it . The Golden Book is particularly rich with names of members of the learned professions
Rose Croix Masonry In Portsmouth.
resident in Portsmouth during the last 30 years , and of officers in her Majesty ' s Army and Navy , the latter being , of course , due to the chapter meeting in Portsmouth and to its close connection with the Phcenix Lodge . The chapter now numbers 41 members , one of whom is a member of the 32 ° and four belong to the 30 ° .
The by-laws of the chapter , which have been the raison d ' etre of the book , have just been revised and sanctioned by the Supreme Council . They call for no particular comment , unless mention be made of one which requires the ballot for every candidate for perfection , for joining , or for election as an honorary member
to be unanimous , and another whereby " any officer in her Majesty's services ordered to duty in this port or garrison , being a member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , shall be elig ible for election as a member for 12 months on payment of a joining fee of 5 s . and the current subscription for the year . " Annexed to the book are the rules and regulations of the Supreme Council 33 . ALEXANDER HOWELL , Local Sec . in Hants for the C . C . No . 2076 .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .
A most numerously and influentially-attended meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire was held on Wednesday , the ist inst ., at the Public Hall , Preston , this specially large assembly of the " supreme and subordinate " rulers of the mystic Craft being very largely caused by the exceptionally important business which was set down for consideration . Rarel y has so much interest been displayed in the annual proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge , which now embraces no fewer than 104 lodges , thus ranking as the strongest province holding
authority under the Grand Lodge of England . The meeting-place was admirabl y adapted for the purposes of the gathering , and the Preston Committee , who took the arrangements in hand , are to be congratulated upon the very satisfactory arrangements so successfully carried out . Shortl y before one o ' clock the Provincial Grand Lodge Officers entered the hall , the floor of which was occupied by W . M . 's , P . M . ' s , and Wardens , while in the galleries were seated the junior officers and Master Masons . Bro . J . Cantor , P . G . O ., presided at the organ , and as the members of Provincial Grand Lodge entered the room he played appropriate
music . There were upwards of 120 Grand and Prov . Grand Officers present , and it was estimated that the Craft lodges were repre-ented by something like 800 members . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom P . G . M ., was present , and he was accompanied by the following P . G . Officers who had served during the past year -. Bros . E . H . Cookson , Prov . S . G . W . ; W . B . Richardson , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . K . Turner , Prov . G . Chap . ; T . Clarke , Prov . G . Reg . ; W . Goodacre , Prov . G . Sec . ; Thomas
Adams , Prov . S . G . D . ; Wm . Webster , Prov . S . G . D . ; R . Walker , Prov . J . G . D . ; G . S . Willings , Prov . J . G . D . ; J . Brindle , Prov . G . S . of W . ; E . George , Prov . G . D . C ; J . N . Patterson Prov . D . G . D . C ; J . C . Robinson , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; J . Queen , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . Pilling and J . Turnbull , Prov . G . Std . Brs . ; J . Cantor , Prov . G . Org . ; R . Betley , Prov . A . G . Sec . ; P . Yates , Prov . G . P . ; J . E . Boden , J . M . King , J . Chadderton , G . Nelson , and VV . Turvey , Prov . G . Stewards ; and P Ball , Prov . G . Tyler .
The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . W . GOODACRE , read the rolls of attendance of the Provincial Grand Officers and of the Craft lodges , which showed that the whole of the lodges in the province were represented , several very numerously . A lively and prolonged discussion took place as to the confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held last year at Barrow-in-Furness , an amendment of Bro . TYSON * being rejected by an overwhelming majority , as he only found about a dozen supporters .
1 he accounts of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . f . R . Jolly , showed that the fees and contributions from lodges within the province during the year to the Charities Fund amounted to ^ 146 5 s ., to the Provincial Grand Lodge Fund ^ 222 os . 9 d ., and to the Fund of Benevolence ^ 222 os . 9 d . ; total , . £ 590 6 s . 6 d , The receipts , with balances from the ist October , 188 9 , to the 3 rd September , 18 90 , were as follows : Charities Fund , . £ 306 14 s . 4 d . ; Provincial Grand Lodge
Fund , ^ 516 17 s . 2 . Vd . ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 1145 7 s . 2 . 1 d . ; total , £ 19 68 . The payments under the three headings were respectivel y ^ 105 , ^ 269 14 s . 4 d ., and £ 254 19 s . id ., total , ^ 629 13 s . 5 d ., the total balance being ^ 1339 5 - 4 < L After some discussion the accounts were taken as read and adopted , The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY , in his annual report , stated that during the past year the roll of lodges in the province had been increased to 104 , there
having been eight consecrations . There had been 635 initiations , and the roll of members had reached 6561 . Reviewing the progress of Masonry , the Provincial Grand Sec . stated that in 1872 there were 61 lodges with 3016 members . In 18 7 8 the lodges had increased to 81 , with 513 S members . The next six years were not years ol progress in membership , for though the lodges had increased by one , the membership had fallen to 4588 , a decrease of 550 members . This falling off in
the membership had , however , been more than compensated by the increase of the last six years , during which period 22 new lodges had been added , and the number of members increased to 6561 . It thus appeared that during the part 18 years the lodges had been increased from 61 to 104 , and the members from 3016 to 6561 . This increased the necessity for greater supervision as to the selection of candidates . Further , the fact that there were upwards of 100 lodges in the province , and the
number of appointments to office in the Provincial Grand Lodge being no greater than in a province less than half its size , led him to suggest that if Provincial Grand Masters of large provinces were granted a power either to duplicate other offices than those already duplicated , or to confer past rank on brethren in proportion to the number of lodges , it would be conducive to the happiness of many worthy brethren who , loyal in their desire to preserve the influence which must
attach to a large province , have frequently long years to wait—for many years to wait—for appointment to office in Provincial Grand Lodge . Referring to the increased development of the work in connection with the Charities , the Prov . G . Secretary submitted that if the privilege of wearing the Charity jewel , which is now confined to those who have rendered service to the three Royal Masonic Institutions , were conceded to brethren performing similar service to any Charity
of a purely Masonic nature , whether metropolitan or provincial , it would be highly appreciated by the brethren , and would conduce to the increased prosperity of the local Masonic Charities . The Benevolence and Charity Committee , at its meetings during the past year , had made grants to six distressed brethren and six widows , amounting to ^ 163 . It had been considered that if the annual returns from the lodges were made up to the 31 st December , instead of the 30 th June as at present provided , it would be better , inasmuch as it would enable Secretaries to
make their returns during the working part of the year , and not when many of the lodges are having their vacation . The report concluded— " We have to record another visitation of the G . A . O . T . U ., who , in his divine providence has removed from his sphere on earth that most distinguished brother the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro G . M ., one whose good name and many excellences will live long in the annals of his country and Masonry . May the Carnarvon Lodge , which has been warranted to meet in West Lancashire , and named after so distinguished a Mason , prove worthy of the name it bears ,