Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire At Preston.

of the Provincial Grand Lodge , with a view to ascertain the opinion of the brethren upon the necessity for a division of the province . I hare taken some pains to inquire into the matter thoroughly , and have had some very interesting

conversations with old Masonic friends , I find , after no little consideration , I cannot recommend the motion to be pressed , and now request that it may be withdrawn . I rvzy perhaps add that from the investigation T h : xe given to the

question I am obliged to r . 'r that I could not conscientiously deny icy belief that at tire present time the division of t * . o rrovincc would be an injury to the Craft ; and 1 GIU exceedingly sorry

I cannot be present to explain my reasons for arriving at that opinion . —I remain , dear sir , yours fraternally , En « -rw HUGHES . " —( applause ) .

15 ro . Turner then intimated that he intended to withdraw his proposal for a return of all Provincial Grand Lodge appointments in the province within the last ao years , and with the names and description of the members appointed ,

showing the lodges to which they belong . His notice was intended for the annual meeting , but inasmuch as his object was uot to raise difficulties or dissensions , but to smooth them away , and to use liis best efforts to cultivate good will and

fraternal feeling , he had decided to withdraw it . It was not intended to interfere in any respect with the prerogative of [ the Right Worship ful Prov . G . M ., for there were not in that province more determined or staunch supporters of the Prov . G . M . than those who were in favour of the

motion . There was , however , a grievance , real or fancied , and he believed it was a real eno ; but the Prov . G . M ' s attention having been called to it with a view to its remedy , he had very much pleasure in withdrawing the motion .

A conversation took p ^ ace reference the Binckes ' Testimonial Fund ( London ) , but it was decided not to take any action in the matter . Relief was given in tho following cases : —

The sum of i £ i $ to Bro . Gilpin , Liverpool ; and ^ £ 5 each to the following : The widow of Bro . Page , of Liverpool ; the widow of Bro . Kigby , of Croston ; the widow of Bro . Noble ,

of Everton : and to Bro . Summer , Ashton-in-01 . everton ; ana to tsro . summer , Asnton-in-Makerfield . Bro . Major Wilson sale k was desirable the ) should have a local benevolent fund in this district for the relief of deserving Masons . At

present the } - gave casually , Dili : i would be better to have an organisation for a locge or a number of lodges ; and he wished to know whether they could make their own rules and regulations , and

have their own Treasurer and Secretary , without going to the Provincial Grand Lodge for permission , or laying the scheme of rules before them .

J . he Prov . G . S . replied thai they had such a fund in Liverpool and other large towns . They could appoint their own Iccal officers , and need not submit their rules to the Provincial Grand Lodge .

Bro . Mott said the Liverpool committee was constantly in communication with other large centres , so that there cculd be no abuse in

giving . The Prov . G . S . said he had received a variet y of notices relating to the Hamer Fund . Last Grand

Lodge meeting gave £ 20 , as a nucleus for Bro . Hamer ' s Testimonial Fund , and it was resolved that an appeal should be made to every lodge in the province . One notice was that a scholar-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire At Preston.

ship be founded , to bo called the Hamer Scholarship ; another that a fund be established , called the Hamer Advancement Fund , in connection with the Masonic Educational Institution : and

another was that it should be devoted to a Hamer Benevolent Fund . These notices -would be printed before the next meeting of the committee . Brother Wylie moved that it be a

recommendation to the committee that the money be devoted to an annuity fund for distressed and decayed Freemasons , to be suppleihented by private subscriptions from lodges , members of lodges and

chapters ; the fund to be lodged in the Savings ' Bank , Dock Bonds , Railway Debentures , Government Stock , or freehold security ; that the trustees of the West Lancashire Masonic Benevolent

Fund for the time being , together with the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy P . G . M . the Grand Wardens , and the W . M's of the four senior and the four junior lodges in the province , be the

committee for carrying out the business in connection with this fund ; that lodges giving a donation of £ 5 or upwards have ' one vote for each £ < subscribed : that members of lodges

subscribing £ 5 annually have one vote ; that every member contributing £ 5 or upwards have one vote for each £$ ; the interest and profit arising from this fund to be alone applicable .

Bro . Ibbs seconded the motion , which was opposed by Bro . Hill , on the ground that the committee would not be dictated to .

On the suggestion of the Prov . Grand Master , the subject was deferred . Afterwards tho brethren formed into processional order and walked two " abreast from the

Guildhall , down Fnargate , up Lune-street , and along Fishergate and Church-street , to the Parish Church , where divine service was held . The

street were thronged with onlookers , who seemed quite delighted with the procession and the appearance of the attire and emblems of the brethren . There were one or two banners from other

districts ; and also three most beautiful bannerets from Preston lodges—the Unanimity , the Concord , and the Royal Preston—the production of

Brother Joseph Pritt , of the Black Horse Inn , Friargate . Inside the church was a numerous congregation , and the scene when the Masons had taken their seats was most novel and

effective . Bro . the Rev . C . J , Astbury , M . A ., incumbentof Longton , read the preliminary portion of the service ; the Rev . W . M . Myres , M . A .

incumbent of St . Paul ' s , the first lesson ; the Rev . G . H . Vernon , M . A ., P . Prov . G . C . of Lancashire and Cheshire , the second lesson ; the Rev . James Pearson , M . A ., vicar of Fleetwood , P . Prov . G . C .

of Cumberland and Westmoreland , and the Rev . James Taylor , ALA ., vicar of Bamber Bridge , the remaining portion of the service . The Rev . E . Lee , B . D ., also took part in the service . The

choir sang antiphonally . At the commencement , Hymn 147 ( Carus Wilson ' s collection ) was sung ; before the sermon , the 104 th Psalm ; and afterwards the 334 th Psalm . Bro . J . J . Greaves ably

officiated at the harmonium . When the ordinary service had been gone through , Brother the Rev . J . F . Goggin , Provincial

Grand Chaplain , ascended the pulpit , and preached an able discourse , taking for his text , St . Luke , xiv . 4 . " And he took him and healed him and let him go . "

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire At Preston.

After the sermon , a collection was made , amounting to 3 & 18 16 s . Sir T . G . Fermor Hesketh , Bart . y M . P ., R . W . P . G . M . ; Lord Skelmersdale , the Hon . F . A .

Stanley , M . P ., Colonel Birchall , Major Wilson , and other members of the Grand Lodge , occupied the Corporation seats near the chancel , whilst the general Masons were in the body of the church .

Subsequently the brethren returned in procession to the Guildhall , where the Grand Lodge was closed in due form . A large number of t & e > brethren afterwards dined together at Brother Townsend ' s , the Bull Hotel .

Masonic Tidings.

Masonic Tidings .

BRITISH , FOREIGN , AND COLONIAL . ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . —At the monthly meeting of the General Committee held on Saturday last , Bro . B . Head , Vice-Patron , in the chair , the recommendation of

the Secretary , Bro . Binckes , was unanimously adopted , and in accordance therewith it was resolved—That ^ 2000 be paid to the Bankers of the Institution , Sir S . Scott and Co ., in reduction of the debt due to them , s £ 6 ooo . The

liability now , therefore , stands at , § £ 4000 , which , it is hoped , a special effort will ere long succeed in extinguishing . We are requested to notify to the brethren , that the Fidelity Lodge of Instruction has

returned to its old quarters , Yorkshire Grey , London-street , Tottenham-court-road , where , under the able Preceptorship of Bro . T . A . Adams , it meets every Thursday evening , at eight o ' clock .

The room in which the brethren meet having been thoroughly renovated , a more comfortable Lodge of Instruction is not to be met with in that district .

Wearepleased tonotethatthe movement started by Bros . Stevens and Thomas at the United Pilgrims Lodge of Instruction , is making rapid progress throughout the various Lodges of Instruction in London . The members of the Fidelity Lodge

of Instruction have accepted an invitation from the Burgoyne Lodge of Instruction , to work the fifteen sections in that lodge , on the evening of Friday , the 26 th inst ., and from the reputation which the Fidelity brethren bear for good working , a real Masonic treat may be anticipated .

We have great pleasure in announcing that a tentative Lodge of Instruction is about to be opened by Bro . George Pitt , at the Freemasons ' Hotel , Wandsworth , S . W . It is anticipated that several P . M . ' s of the most unimpeachable

accuracy will be present . Bro . Cryptonymus has also promised to attend , in order at the first meeting , to be held as above , on Friday , the 13 th inst ., to name some few Masonic problems , on which a discussion is likely to be taken .

We are pleased to hear that the M . W . G . M . M . M . has granted a Warrant for the formation of the Bective ( No . 149 ) Lodge of Mark Masters , to be held at Keswick , Cumberland . Bro . Hughan ' s new work , to be entitled "The

Old Charges of British Freemasons , will be ready in a month , and in consequence of several MSS . of importance being added , the cost has been considerably increased in the production . Brethren desiring copies had better write to the

author ( Truro , Cornwall , ) at once , to secure copies . Price , six shillings each . ( Post free , 6 s . 6 d . ) Bro . Hughan , who is anxious that these

MSS . become generally known , will send the Masters of Lodges a dozen or more copies at a reduced price , if applied for on or before the 1 st May .

" MOIIE than a year ago one of my children was attacked with bronchitis , and , after a long illness , was given up by all physicians as ' past cure . ' I was then induced to try your Vegetable Pain Killer , and from the time I began the use of it the child rapidly got better , and it is now strong and healthy . — J WINSTANTLEY , 10 , Whittle-st ., L ' pool , i 869 . —To P . B . & Son . " , -