Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

The business before the lodge was of little public interest , except that the Dep . P . G . M ., in alluding to the Masonic programme of the day at the technical schools , referred to the ready disposition on the part of the Lord Mayor of London , himself a distinguished member of the Craft , to perform the ceremony which , unfortunately , the Prov . Grand Master was prevented from undertaking .

At the conclusion of the business the brethren formed in procession with other local bodies , and upon arriving at the site of the Technical School , after a parade through the centre of the town , the brethren divided to right and left , facing inwards , and so formed an avenue through which the Lord Mayor , as acting Prov . Grand Master , passed , being preceded by the Heralds , the P . G . Std . Br ., and the P . G . Swd . Br ., and followed by a Past Macter bearing the Ionic Light . The Grand Officers of England , the Deputy

P . G . Master , and the P . G . Officers and brethren then followed in succession from the rear , and thus inverted the order of procession . The arrival of the acting P . G . Master at the site was announced by a flourish of trumpets , and the procession then entered the enclosure . The officiating brethren took the positions assigned to them by the Acting P . G . Director of Ceremonies and his Assistant , and deposited the vessels , & c , borne in the procession on pedestals placed for their reception .

The arrival of the Lord Mayor was the signal for a great outburst of cheering from the many thousands of people who were massed in front of the site , restrained within barricades . The ceremony began by the singing of the Old Hundredth psalm , after which the Mayor read a letter from

Lady Whitworth , and having invited his lordship to lay the foundation-stone , handed him a silver trowel for that purpose , suitably inscribed . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Wilkinson , P . P . S . G . D ., then presented an address on behalf of the four lodges of Stockport , and signed by Bros . W . Gleave , W . M . 104 ; Geo . M'Clelland , W . M . 287 ; David Higson , W . M . 322 ; and J ames Breen , W . M . 323 . The address was as follows : —

"To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London , Brother Polydore De Keyser , VV . M . Emulation Lodge , No . 21 , Grand Steward . " Worshipful Sir and Brother , — The Freemasons of Stockport beg to welcome your lordship amongst us to perform the ceremony of laying with Masonic rites the corner-stone of a school for the technical instruction of the rising population of the borough of Stockport and its immediate neighbourhood .

" As townsmen and members of the Masonic craft , we feel that you have conferred a great honour and favour upon the borough in visiting Stockport at the invitation of the Mayor to discharge this important duty , and we rejoice to be associated in the work with so distinguished a brother . " Freemasonry has ever been identified with objects and institutions tending to promote the well-being , happiness , and prosperity of the community at

large . Believing as we do that the Stockport Technical School , commenced with such good and hopeful intentions , is eminently calculated to yield the most beneficent results , we feel sure that your lordship , and the members of the Craft who have assisted you in this interesting ceremonial , will always look back with pride and satisfaction on the work that your lordship has this day so kindly inaugurated .

" Signed on behalf of the four Stockport lodges—the St . John ' s , No . 104 ; the Unanimity , No . 287 ; the Peace , No . 322 ; and the Concord , No . 323 , by the respective Worshipful Masters , viz .:

"WM . GLEAVE , W . M . 104 . " GEO . MCCLELLAND , W . M . 287 . " DAVID HIGSON , W . M . 322 . "JAS . BREEN , W . M . 323 . " September Sth , 1888 . "

The LORD MAYOR , acknowledging the presentations , testified the pleasure he experienced in being present to lay the foundation-stone of a building which would be the cause of the greater prosperity of Stockport . Regarding the address so kindly given by Colonel Wilkinson , he had the greatest faith in Masonry , and had been a member of the Craft for 28 years . The more he saw of Masonry , the more he was convinced that it

was one of those bonds of union between men , and an Institution that destroyed prejudice , the enemy of mankind . He heartily reciprocated the warm sentiments contained in both addresses . Proceeding , then , to inaugurate the ceremonial of the day , his lordship spoke the following words to those assembled , in accordance with ancient usage : " Men , women , and children here assembled to-day to behold this ceremony , know

all ol you that we be lawful Masons , true and faithful to the laws of our country , and established of old with peace and honour in most countries , to do good to our brethren , to erect magnificent structures , and to fear God , the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which cannot be divulged , but these secrets are lawful and honourable , and not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They

were entrusted in peace and honour to Masons of ancient times , and have been faithfully transmitted to us , and it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless our Craft were good and our calling honourable we should not have lasted for so many centuries , neither should we have been honoured with the patronage of so many illustrious men in all

ages , who have ever shown themselves ready to promote our interests and to defend us against all adversaries . We are assembled here to-day in the presence of you all to assist in laying in ancient form the corner-stone of this building , which we pray the Great Architect to prosper , for the ^ promotion of godliness , harmony , and brotherly love , until time shall be no more . "

Prayer was offered up by Bro . the Rev . R . Hodgson , P . G . C , the upper stone was raised , and a phial containing coins and records p laced in the cavity by the P . G . T ., Bro . Gibson . The P . G . S . of Works fixed the plate in position , and the workmen then laid the cement on the upper face of the stone , this being followed by the acting Prov . Grand Master , the Lord

Mayor , spreading the cement with the silver trowel , which was prudently encased in a handkerchief . The stone was lowered into its position with three distinct stops , an anthem being sung meanwhile by a choir consisting of Bros . Mark Stafford , alto ; W . Dumville and N . Dumville , tenors ; and George Ball , bass .

The acting Prov . Grand Master afterwards adjusted the stone on its bed ' by striking it on the four corners with the setting maul , and the plumbrule , level , and square were each in turn presented to him for use . Having employed them , his lordship announced that he found the corner-stone to be plumbed , levelled , and squared , and he declared it to have been duly prepared and properly laid . Three taps on the stone with the mallet by the acting Prov . Grand Master practically completed the ceremony , and subsequently corn was strewn over the stone as an emblem of plenty , wine

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

was poured across it as a token of joy and gladness , oil was placed upon it as a symbol of peace and unanimity , and salt was sprinkled over it in proof of hospitality and friendship . The P . G . C . recited a second prayer and the ceremony was concluded by the P . G . Treasurer putting money upon the stone for the refreshment of the craftsmen . ^

Mr . THOS . KAY , Hon . Treasurer of the Technical School Committee moved a vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor and the Prov . Grand Lod ge for their attendance , to which his lordship made reply , promising that if they applied to him for aid on behalf of the new school they would never call upon him in vain .

The D . P . G . M . ( Bro . his Honour HORATIO LLOYD ) then presented to the Mayor , as a souvenir of the occasion , on behalf the Prov . Grand Lodge , the ebony mallet , mounted in silver , which the Lord Mayor had used for the ceremony . The Masonic version of the National Anthem followed , and the breth ren re-forming into procession , returned in reversed order to the Mechanics ' Institute , where the Prov . Grand Lodge was duly closed .

Bro . H . Finch and W . Booth were the Directors of the Ceremonies and the Committee who had charge of the Masonic arrangements for the day were Bros . S . W . Wilkinson , P . M . 322 , P . P . S . G . D ., President ; W . Gleave W . M . 104 , Vice-President : G . R . Brady , P . M . 322 , P . G . S . B ., Treas .- T Brooks , P . M . 323 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Sec . ; H . Finch , P . M . 104 , P . P . G . D ' C '

acting P . G . D . C . ; W . Booth , P . M . 104 , P . P . A . G . D . C , acting P . A . G . D . C ¦ G . Balfe , P . M . 104 , P . S . G . D . ; J . Bell , P . M . 104 ; G . M'Clelland ' W . M . 287 ; R . C Blakehurst , P . M . 287 ; A . Taylor , I . P . M . 287 ; D Higson , W . M . 322 ; J . Gould , I . P . M . 322 ; W . C . Fleming , P . M . 322 ' P . G . Tyler ; J . Breen , W . M . 323 ; Joseph Slack , P . M . 323 , P . P . S . G . D and W . Pritchard , P . M . 323 .

An interesting feature in the Masonic part of the procession was the presence of five Lewises , four of whom were told off as bearers of the Volume of the Sacred Law , while the fifth , son of Bro . H . Finch , bore the censer . These young gentlemen were invested with silver-gilt engraved "Lewises" and collars , which had been specially manufactured for the

occasion by Bro . George Kenning , of 47 , Bridge-street , Manchester . We may add that the highest praise is due to Bro . Herbert Finch , P . M . 104 , P . P . G . D . C , for his anxious labours in organising the Masonic ceremonial , which , with the assistance of Bro . Wm . Booth , P . M ., P . G . D . C , was carried out in a most satisfactory manner .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SUSSEX .

CONSECRATION OF THE LEWIS LODGE , No . 391 .

A special meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Lewes , on the 5 th inst ., when the above lodge was consecrated . The P . G . Lodge , in the absence of Bro . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., Prov . Grand Mark Master , was opened by Bro . C J . Smith , Deputy Prov . Grand Mark Master , assisted by the following officers : Bros . R . Pidcock ,

Prov . S . G . W . ; Rossiter , Prov . J . G . W . ; R . Paige , Prov . G . M . O . ; S . Solomon , Pro . S . G . O . ; H . W . G . Abell , Prov . J . G . O . ; W . A . Tooth , Prov . G . Chap . ; J . P . Slingsby Roberts , Prov . G . Reg . ; Seymour Burrows , Prov . G . Sec . ; C . A . Smith , Prov . S . G . D . ; G . Masters , Prov . J . G . D . ; J . Belcher , Prov . G . Swd . Br . ; J . C Buckwell , Prov . G . Std .

Br . ; F . W . Hallett , Prov . G . Org . ; A . F . Lamette , acting Prov . G . I . G . ; C Golding , Prov . G . Stwd . ; and H . H . Hughes , Prov . G . Tyler . There were also present Bros . G . R . Lockyer , P . P . S . G . O . ; S . Peters , P . P . S . G . O . ; S . R . Legge , P . M . 75 ; E . Whittaker , P . M . 139 ; E . Histed , Stwd . 75 ; T . Wickham , I . G . 164 ; G . Farncombe , 164 ; G . Cole , 75 ; and S . Shrivell , 75 .

The following brethren were elected to the honourable degree of Mark Master Masons , viz ., Bros . J . Adames , J . H . Every , W . W . Turner , G . Holman , W . Wright , and R . Weston . The Consecrating Officer , Bro . C . J . SMITH , Deputy Prov . Grand

Master , having addressed the founders of the new lodge on the nature of the meeting , called upon the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY , who stated the wishes of the founders , and the proceedings they had taken with respect to the lodge .

The petition and warrant having been read and approved , the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER addressed the brethren . Three months , he said , had scarcely passed by since they were called together to Henfield to consecrate the Adar Lodge , and he trusted the foundation of the two lodges would prove a happy augury for Mark Masonry in Sussex . Althoug h

many previous years had been passed in comparative idleness , the seeds of Mark Masonry had been sown broadcast , and they vvere now reaping the harvest . During that long period many good brethren had been gathered to their rest—notably Bros . Sir Cordy Burrows , Dr . Cunningham , T . J < Sabine , and George Smith . The gaps had happily been filled up by young

Masons of great ability , of whom they were all proud . He was personally grateful to Bros . H . W . G . Abell and A . F . Lamette for the interest they had taken in the new lodge . The ceremony of consecration was ably carried out by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , while the duty of installing the W . M . elect devolved Bro . H . W . G . Abell .

upon , The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . F . H . Hallet , who presided at the organ . The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : Bros . K < Pidcock , S . W . ; S . R . Legge , J . W . ; S . Peters , M . O . ; J . Adams , S . O . 5

J . H . Every , J . O . ; Rev . W . A . Tooth , Chap . ; H . W . G . Abell , Treas . ; W . Webb Turner , Reg . of Mks . ; G . Holman , Sec ; W . Wright , S . D-j A . F . Lamette , J . D . ; J . J . Abell , D . of C ; R . Weston , I . G . ; and H . H . Hughes , Tyler .

The lodge having been duly closed , the brethren adjourned to the Bea Hotel , where they sat down to an excellent banquet . The usual Masoni toasts were duly honoured and were pleasingly interspersed by song rendered in charming style by Miss Minnie Freeman .

BERKELEY HOTEL ( late St . James ' s ) , 1 , Berkeley-street and 77 . ° "A dilly , London , W . First class accommodation for residents , with a Restaurant nev ^ attached for high class luncheons and dinners , at fixed prices and a la carte . DIETVE , Manager . — [ ADVT . ]