Freemasonry In The North Of England.

FREEMASONRY IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND .

The reports of two important annual Provincial meetings were published in our columns last week , which clearly demonstrate that whatever may be the condition of the Craft elsewhere in England , there can be no doubt whatever as to its prosperity in these Northern Provinces . We are very far from suggesting that Freemasonry is otherwise than prosperous in the 40

and odd Provinces into which the rest of England and Wales is mapped out . We know on the contrary that in the great majority of them Freemasonry has , for many years past , been making steady , solid progress , while in the small minority there is ample evidence forthcoming from time to time that the Craft , though it may not have made any appreciable advance ,

has certainly not lost any of its strength or prestige . The meetings to which we allude were those of the Provincial Grand Lodges of Durham and West Lancashire , which were held on the 27 th and 29 th ult . respectively , and at both of which the reports that were submitted by the principal executive officers were of a most encouraging character . In the case of Durham , the

returns from the 35 lodges gave a total of subscribing members amounting to 2576 as against 2367 at the close of the previous year , while the Provincial Grand Treasurer's account gave a balance in hand of over £ 350 . It was further stated in the report of the Provincial Charity Committee that the voting strength of Durham had very largely increased , while the

Education Fund was doing excellent service by providing for the education of quite a number of children of deceased or indigent members . It is needless to say that the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Sir HEDWORTH WILLIAMSON , Bart ., referred in terms of unqualified satisfaction to these ample evidences of the prosperous condition of the lodges under his rule .

He was careful , however , at the same time to point out as regards the increase in membership that while it was most desirable the lodges should keep on acquiring new members , it was still more desirable that care should be taken to admit none but candidates who would be a credit to

Freemasonry . He also expressed himself well pleased with the support which the Province had given to our Charitable Institutions during the year , bestowing a few words of special commendation on the services rendered by Bro . BARRON in raising upwards of £ 600 for the Jubilee Festival of the : Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

As regards the Province of West Lancashire , which , in respect of the number of lodges on its roll , is three times as strong as Durham , the events of the past year were equally the subject of general congratulation . The Provincial Grand Treasurer's account showed a balance in hand of close on £ Soo , and ted it not been for a recent revision of the Provincial bye-laws , the statement

i would have been still more favourable , the accounts containin ^ a whole year ' s expenditure , but only half a year's receipts from lodge fees . The Provincial ! Grand Secretary—Bro . W . GOODACRE—in submitting his report , must likewise have had a pleasant task before him . He spoke of the " peaceful

condition of the lodges in the Province . " There had been no new lodges ; consecrated during the year , " but those in existence had been quietly consolidating themselves , and he was of opinion that more care had been ; la tan in the selection of candidates for initiation . " At the same time , there

was one point on which he considered it necessary to lay some stress , namely , wat in cases where a candidate was proposed in a place other than that in which he resided the greatest caution should be exercised . " As for the support given by West Lancashire to our Institutions , it is so well known to ° ur readers , that we need hardly refer to it specifically . Bro . GOODACRE ,

"owever , was careful to point out that , whereas seven years ago the Pro-T ' '' ad only some 1500 votes for the Boys' and Girls' Schools , and about he same number for the Benevolent Institution , it now possessed jwie 4100 for the former and 3200 for the latter . The Provincial inties are also doing increasingly good work . The Educational

dilution , which has now close on . £ 22 , 000 invested property , is educating 06 children at an annual cost of £ 1588 , while the Hamer Institution , with ¦ capital of £ 3710 , and the Alpass Institution with one of £ 3930 , are proviin S each of them for 12 annuitants . Bro . GOODACRE concluded his P ^ t with a suggestion which cannot be too highly commended , and which ,

imag ine , will very soon be taken up seriously by a Province which is ooriousl y so strong and wealthy as West Lancashire . It was that a Proc 'al library should be provided , and Bro . GOODACRE emphasised his J > gestion bv Dromisintr to contribute 20 volumes towards its formation .

tenour of the Provincial Grand Master's remarks , after such favourable I fts as those we have alluded to , may very easily be imagined . There 1 however , one subject to which his lordship look the opportunity of 0 ~ '" S very pointedly . We allude to the increase in the number of Grand bro CrS anc * Prov ' ncia ' Grand Officers in the larger Provinces , which was Sht forward by the President of the Board of General Purposes at the

Freemasonry In The North Of England.

September Communication of United Grand Lodge , and in the end withdrawn . His lordship expressed " his regret at not having been able to be present " at that communication , " as he felt sure he wouldhave been able to explain away some of the difficulties which seemed to exist in the minds of some of the brethren . It was intended "—so far as the Provincial

recommendations were concerned— " that the measure should take effect only in a few of the larger provinces He hoped that next year , however , he would have the pleasure of placing collars on the necks of at least six more brethren . " From this it is clear that the withdrawal of the resolution for an increase in the number of Grand Officers , and of the Prov . Grand Officers in certain of the Provinces , is only temporary . His lordship

evidently realises that the proposal fell through in September last , not from any desire on the part of Grand Lodge to reject the resolution , but under a misapprehension as to the proposed office of Grand Chancellor , to the creation of which Bro . EVE and his supporters took exception . VVc shall , no doubt , therefore , hear at no very distant date that the proposal for creating additional officers in Grand Lodge and the large Prov . Grand

Lodges is on the point of being renewed , and as it is clearly to the interests of the Craft generally that such a proposal should be adopted , we are not without hope that at the celebration of Grand Festival in April next the number of brethren who will be honoured with the purple of Grand Lodge will be substantially larger than it was in April last . We heartily congratulate the Provinces of Durham and West Lancashire on the success which has attended their proceedings during the past year .

Consecration Of The Wineslai Lodge, No. 2435, At Winslow.

CONSECRATION OF THE WINESLAI LODGE , No . 2435 , AT WINSLOW .

As in many other parts of the country so in the Province of Bucks , Freemasonry is extending , and on Monday , the 3 rd instant , a new lodge styled the Wineslai , No . 2435 , was consecrated at Winslow by Bro . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , D . P . G . M . Bucks , P . G . Chap . ; assisted by Bros . T . Taylor , P . P . S . G . W ., as S . W . ; I . R . Slator , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ;

and J . Williams , P . G . Treas ., as J . W . The founders were Bros . W . Weston , I . P . M . 1787 , W . M . designate ; Lord Addington , S . W . designate ; J . King , P . M . 1692 , J . W . designate ; W . J . Gough , P . M . 1787 ; C . A . Bennett , P . M . 1787 ; J . Marshall , P . M . 1787 ; H . Bullock , W . M . 1911 ; the Rev . W . M . Myres , G . D . E . Wigley , W . Warnc , W . S . Neal , C . Colgrove , E . Kibble , and H . Dancer .

The warrant was read and the consecration ceremony duly and impressively performed by Bro . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , D . P . G . M . ; Bro . H . Bullock acting as D . of C . ; and Bro . the Rev . W . M . Myres , R . D ., as Chaplain . The lodge having been dedicated and full y constituted , the D . P . G . M . Bro . Brownrigg proceeded to install Bro . W . Weston as W . M ., after which Bro . Weston invested his officers .

The Consecrating Officers were made lion , members of the lodge , and among others the Hon . Evelyn Hubbard was nominated a joining member of the lodge . A vote of thanks was passed to the Consecrating Officers for the manner in which they had carried out their duties , and the compliment was

duly acknowledged . Lodge having been closed , the brethren sat down to a banquet provided b y Bro . VV . and Mrs . Neal . The tables were prettily adorned , and the viands of a choice and varied character . The menu contained many suitable quotations . Bro . W . Weston , W . M ., presided , and the vice-chair was occupied by Bro . Lord Addington , S . W .

At the conclusion of the banquet the W . M . proposed " The Queen and Craft , " which was loyally honoured . "" "The Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " followed , and Bro . WESTON in the course of his remarks

spoke of the great progress in Masonry since the Prince of Wales had been Grand Master , and said he felt sure they all sympathised with his Royal Highness in the loss of his son , the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , who was also a good Mason . He hoped the Prince would long continue to preside over them .

I he W . M . next gave "The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; the R . W . Deputy G . M ., the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers Present and Past , " and the toast was heartily received . The W . M . apologised for the D . Prov . G . M ., who had been obliged to leave .

Bro . Lord ADDINGTON proposed "The R . W . Prov . G . M ., the Right Hon . Lord Carringlon ; the VAV . D . Prov . G . M . the Rev . ] . Studholme Brownrigg ; and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers Present and Past . " His lordship said he knew Lord Carringlon to be a popular gentleman , and also that he was a great friend of the Prince of Wales . He nad also earned great kudos and popularity as a Governor of one of the Australian Colonies , and he believed that in him they had an excellent Prov . Grand Master .

Bro . MCGUBBIN first replied to the toast , and spoke highly of Lord Carrington as Grand Master of the province and the great interest he took in Masonry generally . Bro . McGubbin also expressed his pleasure at the consecration of the new lodge , and said he hoped it would have a long and useful career , and that it would prove a strong link in the province . Bro . the Rev . W . M . MYRES , on behalf of himself and the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , who he regretted had been obliged to leave , thanked the