Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

Bro . Thos . F . Hill ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . " l r Z ^' A f Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ R . C . Yelland ... ... ... ... ) „ R . H . lohnson ... ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ Richard Armitage ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ John Tunstall ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, J . Pendleton ... ... ... " ^ „ J . Queen

„ T . Webster .., ... ... ! D „„ / - c , A „ T u T u n r-Prov . G . btwds . „ Joseph Turnbull ... ... ... i „ T . Adams ,, J . C . Robinson ... ... ... J „ Peter Ball ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Charity jewels were then presented to Bros . E . Brooks , Arthur Bamford , T . Adams , Walter Erwin , Wm . Platt , Thos . Sutton , John Hallwood , William Smith , and J . T . Murray ; and three additional Charity bars were presented to Bro . Robert Foote . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

A grand banquet was held later in the afternoon at the Prince of Wales Hotel . The attendance numbered over 150 . Bro . Lord Lathom , P . G . M ., occupied the chair , and was supported on the immediate right by Bros , the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres , D . P . G . M . ; Wylie , P . G . D . of England ; and W . Goodacre , P . G . Sec . ; and on the left by Bro . the Rev .

J . S . Gardner , P . G . C . ; T . M . Shuttleworth , P . S . G . W . ; and the Rev . T . Barton Spencer , P . P . G . C . To include all the distinguished brethren who were present would , however , necessitate the publication of a list of all who were in the room . A sumptuous dinner was purveyed by Bro . C . O . Wilkinson , the manager ot the hotel . On the removal of the cloth ,

Bro . Lord LATHOM first gave " The Queen , the Patroness of our Order , " which was drunk with Royal honours , the " National Anthem " being sung by Bro . Boyce , the whole company joining in the choral

passages . In proposing "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " Bro . Lord LATHOM alluded to the fact that his Royal Highness had presided over the greatest charitable demonstration ever held in this world . On that occasion he was accompanied by the King of Sweden , by whom he had first been initiated as a Mason , and that Sovereign was quite overcome for a few minutes by his emotion at the interesting sight which was then presented to his view .

Bro . Lord LATHOM next proposed "H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " He was happy to think that they had two members amongst the Royal Family , the Duke of Connaught and Prince Edward , who took a great interest in Masonry , and was this year the Master of a lodge . He could not say enough in praise of that dear lady the Princess of Wales . On two occasions he had seen that she was

deeply attached to the Order , for when he presented her with a butterfly on the occasion of her silver wedding , she said there was good in Freemasonry alter all . When her Royal Highness visited the Girls' School she was quite enthusiastic about their training , for she said a few gratifying words to the three teachers , and added , " I shall never again say a bad word about Freemasonry . I am glad to think my husband and son are both Masons . "

The toast having been duly honoured , Bro . A . E . Bartle gave a very fine performance of Rubinstein ' s " Valse Caprice" on the piano , and was followed by Bro . Leyland , who sang , "The Bay of Biscay" in capital style , Bro . R . H . Johnson , the P . G . Org ., accompanying . Bro . SHUTTLEWORTH gave "The M . W . Pro G . M ,, Bro . the Earl of

Carnarvon , and the Officers of the Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " and pointed out that it was his , and ought to be the ambition of all the brethren , to find their way into that august assembly as the years went on . He expected to get amongst them , and would be an old man indeed before he gave up hope . After the toast had been responded to ,

Bro . Harmer favoured the meeting with a violin solo , " Fantasie Eccossais , " by Papini , his performance being simply superb . Greater combined delicacy and power of touch could not be desiderated , and the grand variations introduced on " The Blue Bells of Scotland " and " Bonnie Dundee" were executed with a brilliancy of manipulative dash amply worthy of the greatest of our contemporary violinists . He quite took his audience by storm , and concluded amidst a perfect whirlwind of applause .

Later in the evening , at the special request , as we understood , of Bro . Lord Crawford and Balcarres , Bro . Harmer repeated his performance , this time introducing " Auld Robin Gray" before " Bonnie Dundee , " and again showed a wonderful mastery over his difficult instrument . He is undoubtedly a coming man—indeed , we may say that he is at the front already .

Bro . CHADWICK , P . G . Secretary of East Lancashire , acknowledged the toast .

Bro . Lord CRAWFORD and BALCARRES proposed " The R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Earl of Lathom , " in highly complimentary terms , which were received with cordial cheers , and the drinking of the toast was followed with the Masonic honours of three times five . Bros . Leyland and Hobart gave a beautiful vocal rendering of Benedict's duet , "The moon has raised her lamp , " which was much and deservedly applauded .

Bro . the Earl of LATHOM , in replying to his health , said he had no homily to preach that evening as to neglect , since everything was going smoothly in the province , Masonry was prospering , and he was convinced that they had all done their duty as far as the Charities were concerned . The spirit of Charity had in fact permeated the whole of West Lancashire , and the brethren understood their duties in that respect .

Bro . BANNER , the W . M . of the senior lodge of the province , gave " The V . W . D . P . G . M . of West Lancashire , and the Officers of Prov . G . Lodge , Present and Past . "

The toast was dul y honoured , and followed by a " Barcarole " by Leybach , cleveriy performed as an organ and piano duet by Bros . Hudson and Bartle . Bro . the Earl of CRAWFORD and BALCARRES , in returning thanks , said he had been for a considerable number of years a member of the Craft and

had passed from degree to degree , and office to office , and had obtained what he thought the summit ot his ambition when he became a P . G . M . in Scotland . He had , however , attained to even a higher position in becoming an officer in the Province of West Lancashire , in which he so frequently resided . As regarded the other Provincial Officers , he was perfectly certain , from the care exercised in their selection , that they would fulfil their

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

duties in such a way as to reflect credit upon those who chose them , and that they would do everything in their power to uphold the honour of the province . On the proposal of Bro . GASKIN , the toast of "The Masonic Charities " was heartily honoured . Bros . MCNAB , J . H . BARROW , and R . FOOTE replied .

This was followed by " Alice , where art thou ? " tastefully sung b y Bro . Leyland . The next toast was " The Visitors , " proposed by Bro . SEGAR ; acknowledged by Bros , the Rev . J . NEWELL-TANNER , P . P . G . C . Cheshire , and the Rev . WM . APPLEYARD . The former brother said he had been a Freemason

since 1846 , and had served as Chaplain under three Prov . Grand Masters , including six years under Bro . Lord Combermere , but that was the first time that he had enjoyed the opportunity , the pleasure , and the honour of being in the Province of West Lancashire , and his visit had given him great satisfaction .

Bro . GOODACRE gave "The Worshipful Masters of Lodges , to which Bro . HOULDING , W . M . 2215 , the junior in the province , except one of which Bro . Lord Lathom is W . M ., made a fitting response . This was followed by " The Musical Brethren , " who had given their services that evening , proposed from the chair , with the remark that his lordship had been much gratified with their performance , and that he had to congratulate Southport on the ability displayed .

Bro . TUNSTALL gave the last toast , " AH Poor and Distressed Freemasons , " and with this the programme was concluded . It may be added that the musical arrangements were admirably carried out , and that Bro . R . H . Johnson ably and fittingly inaugurated his acceptance of office as Prov . Grand Organist .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

[ BY TELEGRAM . ] A meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire was held on Wednesday , the 10 th inst ., at the Technical Institute , Skipton-road , Keighley , and , as usual , was a most successful gathering . After Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., & c , Prov . G . M ., was saluted , as also was his very active Deputy , Bro . Henry Smith , P . G . D ., the roll of lodges and of the Present

and Past Grand Officers was called , apologies were read , and the minutes confirmed of the annual meeting , which was held at Wakefield in April last . Then followed the address of the Prov . G . M . ( which we hope to give next week ) , and the presentation by that zealous Grand Officer of centenary warrant and jewels to the members of the Royal- Yorkshire Lodge ,

No . 265 , Keighley , which has just completed its hundred years of continuous work , & c , as a subordinate of the Grand Lodge of England . There are now in the province five lodges which have proved their right to this special distinction , and if any others can substantiate their claims to a similar position , . it is not likely there will be much delay , as the Prov . G . M . is thoroughly alive to all that concerns the welfare of his province .

The Honorary Librarian , Bro . WILLIAM WATSON , P . M ., S . W . No . 206 9 , Leeds , proposed "That in the opinion of this Provincial Grand Lodge it is desirable that a photographic copy of the warrant of every lodge in West Yorkshire should be obtained , and placed in a suitable book in the archives of the Prov . G . Lodge , and that the lodges be invited to furnish a copy similar to the pattern which he will exhibit , " and the

same zealous brother also moved ior authority to print a catalogue of purchases , and gifts , and subscriptions ( with names of the donors ) to the Prov . Grand Lodge Library and Museum , for presentation to each member of Prov . Grand Lodge . Both of these propositions were carried unanimously , the former not only being honoured by having the esteemed Prov . G . M . ' s approval , but was seconded by his Deputy , Bro . HENRY SMITH .

Bro . Watson proposes to adopt the size 10 by 12 inches , carbon process , so as to be permanent , and now it has been agreed to , the wonder is that he has been the first to suggest such an excellent and authentic method of preserving copies of the old warrants , as well as those of modern date , which register the original places of meeting , the first Master and Wardens , and names of chief petitioners . There are to be three books for 25 lodges each , with leaves for additional particulars , so that these volumes will be real

treasures and storehouses of facts for the historian of the province , who ought soon to be appointed officially , so as to complete the matter in due form . Of the subsequent procession to church , the sermon , and the subsequent business , a rnport will appear in our next issue , but we are now chiefly concerned with Bro . Watson ' s excellent plan for the reproduction of the warrants and for the extension of the Library and Museum , which under his fostering care bids fair to be worthy of the large and important Province of West Yorkshire , over which Bro . T . W . Tew so ably presides .

Consecration Of The Chough Lodge, No. 2264.

CONSECRATION OF THE CHOUGH LODGE , No . 2264 .

On Monday last the Chough Lodge , No . 2264 , was consecrated at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , E . C . The Chough Lodge owes its existence to the Chough Musical Society , which meets at the same hotel , is the most successful of all the City musical societies , has obtained the

highest fame for an evening's musical entertainment , and is able to boast a membership of over 600 . With such a strong following , and the ranks 01 City Freemasons being so strong , it is but natural that there should be in the Chough Musical Society a powerful infusion of the Masonic Order , who take a deep interest in Masonry as well as in music . This was tne

case with the Chough musicians , and the Masonic portion finding that many of their members who were not Freemasons desired to belong to the brotherhood , determined to petition for a warrant for a Chough Lodge , wnic should bind together by the one additional tie of Freemasonry the lovers 0 harmony of the Chough Musical SocietyThey did not encounter mU £

. difficulty , for their claim was considered so good by his Royal Hig hness Prince of Wales that he immediately granted their request . Col . Shadwe H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , undertook the consecration of the lodge , an the brethren assembled to take Dart in the nerformance on Monday an

noon , and right well were they rewarded for any trouble they mig ht ha had in attending , for the ceremony was never more impressively conduc by Col . Shadwell Clerke , and never was he more efficiently su PP £ i QU f ^ his officers and the musical brethren . Bro . General Lord John Tay J J . G . W ., officiated as S . W . ; Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg ., as l- vv- > Bro . the Rev . R . W . M . Pope , M . A ., G . Chap ., as Chaplain ; Bro . ttw