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expenses were £ 33 17 s . 2 d . ; the payments for the education of twentyseven children . £ 197 lis . 6 d . ; and £ 501 16 s . 2 d ., was devoted to the purchase of additional securities . The assets of the Institution represent a total of £ 5353 us . Sd ., of which £ 4996 is . nd ., are invested moneys , and £ 357 9 * 9 ** - > 'he cash at bank , or in hand . This , then , is the position

which has been attained by this Provincial Educational Association during the twenty-three years it has been in existence . Its financial arrangements have been admirable , very little being spent in management , while the bulk of the outlay has been appropriated strictly to the purposes for which the Association was organised . The

lodges , chapters , and brethren support it loyally and liberally , and fully deserve the credit which justly attaches to so beneficent a body . We do not presume to claim for Cheshire a superiority in the management of its local Masonic Charity , but we are justified in asserting that there is not an abler managed institution of its kind in existence anywhere throughout the

length and breadth of the English Craft . We offer our sincere congratulations to R . W . Bro . Lord DE TABLEY , his Prov . Grand Officers , our Cheshire brethren as a body , and last , but not least , to the chief Executive Officers of

the Institution , Bros . J . P . PLATT , P . P . G . J . W ., Hon . Treasurer ; and F . K . STEVENSON , Hon . Secretary , on the success which has blessed their efforts to assist the children of deceased and decayed Cheshire Freemasons .

••• BRO . D , MURRAY LYON , the Grand Secretary , reported to the Grand Committee , on the 29 th ult ., that much misconception existed among lodges with regard to the working of the Mark . Some gave it in strict compliance with the Constitution , viz ., as a section of the Second Degree ; others as a

separate Degree , placed under the control of officers who were not elected by the lodges to which the so-called Mark lodges are attached . He stated that " he was inundated with letters on the Mark and its position , and suggested the appointment of a Special Committee to consider and report on the question . " The suggestion was at once adopted , and a Committee of

six brethren appointed , with power to add to their number . * * * THE position of the Mark Degree in Scotland is unique , for not only is it recognised by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , which Body has decided that it belongs to the Second Degree , but requires the ceremony to be conferred on

none heloio the Degree of Master Mason ( as was the custom originally , so far as we can discover ) , but Mark Masonry is also worked under the wing of the " Grand Royal Arch Chapter , " whose members acknowledge the Mark Masons made in a Craft lodge in Scotland ; the latter evidently working it generall }* with such of their officers , who already possess a knowledge of the Degree .

* # * OUR Royal brother—Prince Albert Victor of Wales—vvas invited by the Grand Master to be present at the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , held last Thursday , to receive the distinction of

Honorary Membership , but the Prince wrote regretting his inability to accept the invitation " his time in Edinburgh will be so very short . " As there are only two Honorary Members , ( the Emperor of Germany and H . R . H . the Dukeof Connaught ) the compliment offered was not a slight one , and doubtless will yet be conferred on a convenient occasion .

» * * IN order that the third jubilee of the Grand . Lodge of Scotland shall be celebrated in a formal and becoming manner , a special Committee has been appointed , in response to the suggestion of Grand Secretary LYON , who stated he was in correspondence with the Grand Master on the subject .

The centenary of the Grand Lodge was duly observed in 1836 , and a commemorative medal was struck . The sesqui-centennial , however , is a much more important occasion , not only because of the greater lapse of years since the inauguration of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in November , 1736 , but especially because of its great prosperity under the new regime . Never

was Scottish Freemasonry so deservedly respected as now ; its management has won the approval of the Craft , and already the beneficient effects of the sweeping alterations made in the personnel of the officers , and in the customs observed , are to be seen in the vastly improved financial condition

of the Grand Lodge . Increasing attention is also being paid to the claims of the indigent and distressed brethren and dependants , who , under the old system—if system it may be called—were generally neglected , and the funds used for other and less worthy purposes .

* •• WE warmly congratulate the Grand Master , and particularly } the Grand Secretary and his efficient staff , on the improvement so manifest , on the enormous increase of its members and funds , and assure them that the celebration in November will be one in which the members of the Grand

Lodges of F . ngland and Ireland are sure to take a great interest . The Grand Lodge is favoured in having so many old lodges on its roll , which have continuously been representative of Scottish Freemasonry from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries , and many even possibly active during stiil more remote periods , so that there is no lack of antiquity , and certainly none of true dignity and excellence .

Consecration Of The Gordon Lodge, No. 2149, At Hanley.

CONSECRATION OF THE GORDON LODGE , No . 2149 , AT HANLEY .

On Tuesday , the 4 th inst ., the Gordon Lodge , No . 2194 , was consecrated at the Mechanics' Hall , Hanley , making the 28 th lodge now held in the Province of Staffordshire . The Gordon Lodge is an offshoot of the Menturia Lodge , the jubilee of which was celebrated two years ago , and most of the founders ol the former are still members of the latter . It appears to

Consecration Of The Gordon Lodge, No. 2149, At Hanley.

have been the great success of the Menturia Lodge which rendered a new lodge in Hanley desirable in the judgment of many of the members , who number nearly So ; and , although opinion on the subject was divided , it may be assumed that all opposition to the formation of a new lodge has been withdrawn , and that the two lodges will work harmoniously .

The founders of the Gordon Lodge have all taken office , viz . : Bros . John Bromley , W . M . ; J . L . Hamshaw , S . W . ; Henry Palmer , J . W . ; E . E . Scrivener , P . P . G . S . D ., S . D . ; J . W .- Jones , J . D . ; John Warner , Treas . ; J . B . Piercy , P . P . G . S . W ., Sec . ; Thos . Taylor , P . P . G . S . W ., D . C ; Fredk . Mountford , P . G . O ., Org . ; and T . Charlesworth , I . G .

Prior to the commencement of the proceedings , Bro . Bromley entertained at luncheon at his residence , The Mount , Penkhull , the founders of the lodge , and the following brethren : Bros . Col . G . S . Tudor , P . G . M . ; Col . Foster Gough , D . P . G . M . ; Dr . J . Clarke , P . G . S . W . ; C . T . Cavendish , P . G . J . W . ; the Rev . Thos . Lloyd , ( Compton ) , P . G . Chaplain ; W . Cartwright , P . G . S . ; H . C . Faram , P . G . S . D ; T . K . Pedley , P . G . Supt .

of Works ; T . E . Fowke , P . G . D . C ; E . H . Croydon , P . G . A . Sec . ; G . W . Walker , P . G . S . B . ; J . Webberley , 546 , P . P . G . R . ; J . Ingamells , 460 , P . P . G . J . D . ; E . B . Jackson , W . M . 418 ; D . Smith , W . M . 637 ; F . Barlow , W . M . 546 ; G . C Kent , P . M . 546 ; W . Savage , P . M . 451 ; J . B . Ashwell , J . W . 637 ; the Rev . F . E . Waters , Chaplain 418 ; and Lawton , 1031 .

At half-past one o clock in the afternoon there was a large assemblage of brethren , when the interesting ceremony of consecration took place . In addition to those whose names are given above , there were present ;

Bros . F . Derry , 539 . P . P . G . S . W .: W . Hales , 41 S , P . P . G . S . W . ; T . Bickley , 418 , P . P . G . J . W . ; A . L . Broad , 460 , P . P . G . J . W . ; R . Tooth , 637 , P . P . G . R . ; F . W . Tomkinson , 451 , P . P . G . S . D . ; F . W . Grove , 1942 , P . P . G . J . D . ; W . Maskew , 98 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; W . Needham , 966 , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; I . S . Crapper , 418 , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; R . Dain . qS , P . P . G . A . D . C ; S . Bennett , S , P . P . G . A . D . C . j J . F . Pepper , 4 S 2 , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; J . C . Clemesha , 966 , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . Weston , qS , P . P .

G . S . B . ; W . Vernon , 456 , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . Unwin , 637 , P . P . G . P . ; J . Mottram , 726 , P . G . A . P . ; G . Woolf , W . M . 93 ; S . Parkes , VV . M . 419 ; J . T . Snape , W . M . 4 60 ; W . Davenport , W . M . 966 ; j . Stevenson , W . M . 1942 ; F . J . Milner , P . M . 966 ; G . Chell , P . M . 9 66 ; J . Clark , P . M . 526 ; W . Brown , W . M . 347 ; A . J . Waller , P . M . 802 ; J . S . Furnival . P . M . 533 ; J . Stringer , P . M . 418 ; B . S . Brough , P . M . 54 6 ; R . Hilditch , P . M . 9 S ; G . Bennion , P . M . 546 , and others , there being altogether upwards of 120 brethren present .

The ceremony was performed by the P . G . M ., Bro . Col . TUDOR , who , having opened the Iodge , addressed the brethren on the nature of the meeting , and Bro . CROYDON , as P . G . A . Sec , stated that the founders had petitioned for permission to establish a lodge to be called the Gordon , and they were anxious to have the lodge consecrated and the officers installed . The

warrant of the Grand Lodge , which was signed by the Earl of Lathom , as D . G . M ., approved the name , numbered tha lodge 2149 , and specified Hanley as the place of meeting . Bro . John Bromley was designated W . M ., and Bros . Hamshaw and Palmer Wardens . The other founders and officers having signified their approval of the officers named , and promised to comply with the laws of the Grand Lodge of England ,

Bro . the Rev . T . LLOYD delivered an oration on the nature and principles of the Order .

Having referred to the proceedings of the meetings of Prov . Grand Lodge at Lichfield nearly a year ago , and at Wolverhampton in October last , he said they had now obeyed the commands of their superiors , and mustered round the standard in the metropolis of the Pottery towns to discharge an agreeable and high duty . The solemn service of that day shouldlead their minds through the paths of serious contemplation to remember on what principles and for what purposes their ancient Order was founded . Freemasonry had its bitter enemies and its doubting despisers . Some there were who complained it

was made a substitute for religion , whereas it was only the handmaid to her fair graces . Others presumed the labours of Masons were trifling , absurd mysteries , or profane mummeries , whereas there was no subject existing within the range and grasp of the human intellect into which the science of Freemasonry did not enter ir . the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge . Some ridiculed the secrets of Freemasons , declaring them to be either hurtful to society or wrong in themselves , whereas those secrets were bonds of their mutual fidelity by which they obliged themselves " to trace wisdom and follow

virtue . " Time was when the members of the Craft were denounced asjdangerous , and every man of eminence known to be a Mason was called upon to renounce his connection with the societies . But in the face of all opposition the Fraternity was calm , and the sun of Masonry had dispersed the clouds which darkened her sky so long . Without territorial possessions , without any other coercing power than that of morality and virtue , Freemasonry had survived the wreck of mighty empires , and resisted tlie destroying hand of time . No other institution could be compared with it . Every other

society sank into insignificance when placed by the side of Masonry . Christianity alone excepted . Like Gray ' s virtuous peasant , Freemasonry kept the noiseless tenour of its way , and rejoiced in the unsullied happiness of doing good . When did Freemasonry first begin to exist , and why had the institution been thus preserved ? Masons' work began with the Creation . To understand the measures of weight and light and sound —to unravel , seize upon , and comprehend those unchanging laws by which the earth , the sun , the moon , the planets were sustained in space—lo follow up the changes of

seasons , and in every step of the investigation , as the intellect climbed from lofty truths to truths still more lofty , to pause in profound admiration , to feel the Creator close to the creature , and to adore—this was the first aim of Masonry , this its task , ever fresh , never ended—a science teeming with new results and adding incentive after incentive to praise and glorify the Great Architect of the Universe . Freemasonry had been preserved because it instructed its members to worship their Almighty Maker , to honour and obey the sovereign of their country , to be peaceful in their stations , diligent in their callings .

honest in their dealings , respectful towards their superiors , gentle and condescending to their inferiors , merciful towards their enemies , kind and obliging in all the duties of their common life . Such was the institution which God had preserved to the world , unlimited in its numbers , and scattered over every land and kingdom . The work of the Fraternity to-day was to be true to the original character of the Order ; to continue to follow the God of Nature through all the wonderful variety of His works j and to keep the silence and observe the sacred rules imposed upon the Crait by Solomon .

It might be said by some scoffer if Masonry be such a pure and ennobling science , should not all Masons be wise , and . good , and temperate , and selfdenying , full of piety and good words ? The answer was that the fitness of any system was not to be tried and condemned because of unworthiness in some . If any men had been led by an impatient curiosity , without higher motive to place unhallowed feet on the tesselated pavement , if any had turned the hallowed purposes of Masonry into mere

convivial meetings , if any had been content with merely acquiring superficial acquaintance with the Craft , let not the system itself be charged with their perversions , their sins , or their folly ; an unworthy brother would perhaps have been a worse man if he had not been a Mason . He concluded with an exhortation to the brethren to use all the passing hours of this life in works of charity towards their fellow-men , and in piety towards God . The chaplain then read the ist to the iOth verses of the 2 nd chapterof the second Book of Chronicles .

The lodge board having been uncovered , the P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., and the P . G . Wardens perambulated the lodge , and at the appointed times scattered the emblems of plenty , of joy and happiness , and of unity . During the greater part of the proceedings music of a solemn and impressive character was introduced , the P . G . O ., Bro . Mountford , presiding at the harmonium .

After the consecration ceremony , the P . G . M . vacated the chair , and the W . M . designate was installed in a very able manner b y Bro . J . L . Hamshaw . After the business of the lodge , about 60 of the brethren adjourned to