Funeral Of R. W. Bro. Stephen Blair, P.G.M. E. Lancashire.

FUNERAL of R . W . BRO . STEPHEN BLAIR , P . G . M . E . LANCASHIRE .

The remains of the late Stephen Bhir , Esq ., of Mill Hill House , were interred at the Bolton Cemetery , on Saturday , July 9 th , amidst the profoundest manifestations of respect . Although the unobtrusive character of the deceased

gentleman naturally induced within him a desire that his funeral should be conducted as privately as possible , yet in obedience to the very general wish which had been expressed by the workpeople at Mill Hill Bleach Works , as well as

by the members of the Order of Freemasons , amongst whom Mr . Blair occupied so honourable and distinguished a position , to pay a last tribute of respect to his remains , his relatives and friends were eventually led to relax somewhat their

original intention , and as the mournful cortege wended its way slowly through the town it presented a very imposing spectacle . It left the stately mansion of Peel Hall , in Little Hulton , the residence of the late Harrison Blair , Esq .,

at twenty minutes before twelve , and proceeded via Buckley-lane , Albert-road , Egerton-street , and Granville-street to Manchester . The workpeople of the departed gentleman , the whole of whom were neatly dressed in black , assembled

shortly after eleven o'clock m George Greenlane , Great Lever , and on the arrival of the long line of mourning coaches and carriages , they marshalled in line on Manchester-road , and preceded the cortege through Burnden , and down

Bridgeman-street to the Bath Assembly Rooms . Here a large number of the brethren of the Masonic Order , in white ties and white gloves ,

headed the entire procession , which afterwards walked along Bradford-street and Bury Newroad to the Cemetery , the order at this point being as follows : —

The Freemasons , about 350 in number , walking four abreast , amongst them being the following : Provincial Grand Officers : Robert Hopwood Hutchinson , P . S . G . W . ; William Birch , J . G . W . ; Charles Tiplady , G . T . ; Richard

Radcliffe , S . G . D . ; James Spencer , G . D . C . ; William Gouldthorp , G . O . ; John Smith , G . P . ; R . Geoghegan , John Clough , R . C . J . Duckworth , and Amos Armistead , G . Stcwards ; William Dawson , G . T . Past Provincial Grand Officers : Le G .

N . Starkie , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . L . I-Iine , P . P-S G . W . ; Samuel D . Lees , M . D ., P . P . S . G . W . ; William Henry Wright , P . P . J . G . W . ; Win . P . Pickup , P . P . J . G . W . ; George Mcllor , P . P . J . G . W . ; Thos . G . Parker , P . P . J . G . W . ; Rev . P . C . Nicholson

P . P . G . C ; Rev . J . B . Phillips , M . A ., P . P . G . C . Rev . J . L . Figgins , P . P . G . C ; John Barker P . P . G . T . ; Joseph Dobson Kennedy , P . P . G . T . George Brett , P . P . G . R . ; James Frederick Twee dale , P . P . G . R ; Jas . R . Wolfenden , P P . G . S .

James Booth , P . P . S . G . D . ; Thomas Croxton , P . P . S . G . D . ; William Henry Prince , P . P . S . G . D . ; Charles Affleck , P . P . J . G . D . ; John Dufiield , P . P . G . Superintendent of Works ; Austin Shellard , P . P . G . Director of Ceremonies : Samuel

Titmas , P . P . G . Director of Ceremonies ; Christopher M . Jones , P . A . P . G . Director of Ceremonies ; Reuben Mitcliel , P . P . G . Sword Bearer ; Edmund Wrigley , P . P . G . Sword Bearer

Frederick Andcrton , P . P . G . Sword Bearer ; Henry Maiden , P . P . G . Sword Bearer ; John S . Redfem , P . P . G , Pursuivant ; William Roberts , P . PG . Pursuivant ; Uriah Nichols , P . P . G . Pursuivant . Members of the same lodge as the deceased ( No , 37 ) : C . H . Baylcy , W . M . ; P . Bayley ,

J . W . ; P . M . ' s J . Robinson , S . Isherwood , R . H Barrett , G . P . Brockbank , and R . Harwood ; "W . Slater , R . AV . Knowles , J . Pilkington , H . Veevers , F . F . Onimanney , J . Watkins , C . Hopwood , C . Whowell . J . Walker , and N . Routledge . Other past and present officers in the procession : Bolton , James Young , W . M ., William Dawson , P . G . T ., James Baxendale , W . M ., T .

Mitchell , P . M ., W . B . Birch , P . M ., J . W Taylor , P . M ., T . Mitchell , P . M ., Thos . Foster , P . M ., Thos . Morris , P . M ., William Dawson , P . M ., P . G . T ., Thomas Piatt , P . M ., James Watkins , P . M ., Robert Grime , I . G ., George Ferguson , P . M ., John Morris , S . W ., John

Brandwood , P . M ., Hugh Jones , P . M ., Thos . Chambers , P . M ., James Newton , P . M ., Thos * Raby , P . M ., John Bromley , P . M ., John Alcock , P . M ., William Morris , P . M ., and J . Pilkington , J . . Accrington—T . Hindle , W . M . Ashton , John

Clark , W . M . Bacup—R . Crossley , jun ., W . M . Blackburn—Charles Aspen , S . D ., E . Halliwell , secretary of 345 , and John Proctor , W . M . Blackley ( Wilton Lodge , 1077)—George Piatt , W . M ., George Jackson , S . W ., Joseph Bridgeford ,

J . W ., J . T . Sawyer , P . M ., and Robert Caldwell , P . M . Burnley—George Studdard , P . M ., and John Butler , I . G . Bury—Jonathan Davenport , P . M . Clitheroe—W . Whewell , P . W . Dunscar , William Slater , I . G ., S . Isherwood , P . M .

Farnworth—William llayhurst , P . M ., R . AVhittaker , P . M ., J . L . Pennington , S ., James Hawarth , PS . D ., M . Ernill , S . D . Haslingden—John Booth , W . M . Heywood— R . Gorton , S . W . Levenshulme—William Abby , P . M ., R .

Timperley , W . M ., and W . H . Bibby , P . M . Manchestei —John Smith , P . G . P ., Mark Scarnall , S ., W . H . Piatt , J . ., S . L . Pettit , J . D ., I . R . Birchall . W . M ., J . Bowker , P . P . G . T ., Capt . Kizitaff , and W . D . Brazendale , I . J .

Pendleton—Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett , P . M . Rochdale ( Lodge of Harmony , 298)—James Holroyd , I . P . M ., Jesse Firth , J . W ., Robert Butterworth , S . D ., Thomas Oakden , I . G ., W . T . Stott , S ., Jacob Holt , A . S ., XV . Lucas and William Ashworth , P . M . H . S ., J .

Leach , P . M ., Rev . E . XV . Gilbert , M . A ., chaplain , P . Rawstron , P . M ., James Wild , J . ., and J . B . Chadwick , J . W . Salford—William Heaton , P . M ., and G . Hinkins , G . S . Todmorden—John Walker , P . M ., Thomas Law , P . M ., and Edmund

Hartley , J . W . Whitefield—J . B . Champion , W . M . Wliitworth—J . H , Schofield , P . M ., William Walker , S . W ., Mark Holt , P . M ., and Amos

Stott , P . M . C . R . N . Beswick Royds , P . P . G . S . B . for Worcester ; M . Burgess , S . D ., Herfordshire : John Harrison Blair , S . W ., Cambridge , United States .

The workpeople of Mill-hill bleachworks , no in number , also walking four abreast , headed by Mr . Robert Glaister , agent and book-keeper , who had been in the employ of Mr . Blair

eighteen years ; Mr . Edward Quinn , foreman , thirty-four years ; and Mr . James Heywood , foreman millwright , twenty-three years—these three wearing hatbands .

The following private carriages attended : — 1 st . Containing the Rev . Canon Powell , vicar of Bolton ; the Rev . T . Doughty , of St . John ' s Parsonage , Little Hulton ; and Dr . XV . V " . Martin , of Buckley House , Little Hulton .

2 nd . Thomas Lever Rtishton , Esq ., Moor Piatt , Honvich ; Charles Wolfenden , Esq ., The Height ; and Thomas Glaister , Esq ., of

Millhill ( who , with Mrs . II . Blair , are the executors and executrix of the deceased gentleman ) ; and also Christopher Ihiggs , Esq ., of the Lees , Sharpies , family solicitor .

3 rd . Mr . J . Tumi ih , of Manchester-road , Provincial Grantl Seeret . iry of tlrj Order of Freemasons ; and Mr . W . ' N'ichulson , of Mill-hill Bleackwo / ks .

I he h . urse , drawn by four black horses , richl ) capariso . ied . Mourning coaches : —

1 st . ( . onuuninx Thomas ( . ' .. Horridge , Esq ., of the li . tikv ., ; and Thomas Horridge , Est ] ., of Bolton r . j . itl , i ainwoiih . 2 nd . A . Macduiulil Blair , Esq ., Vivian-terrace ,

Greenheys , Manchester ; H . F . Blair , Esq ., of Marlborough-terrace , Rusholme , Manchester ; and James Knowles , Esq ., Eagley Bank . 3 rd . S . M . Diggles , Esq ., Prestwich Hills , near Manchester ; W . J . Rideout , Esq ., of Charlesstreet , Berkeley-square , London ; andR . J . Wood , Esq ., Dispatch office , Fleet-street , London . 4 th . Edmund H . Sykes , Esq ., jun ., Edgeley Cottage , Stockport ; James Searle , Esq ., Walton Cottage , Whalley Range , Manchester ; and Christopher Haworth , Esq ., Wallsuches , Honvich .

5 . T . , C . Andsell , Esq ., and James Warburton , Esq ., Kersley Chemical Works ; John M . Wike , Esq ., Nelson-street , Oxford-road , Manchester ; and XV . Romaine Callender , Esq ., jun ., Ashburne , House , Victoria Park , Manchester . Closed private carriages : —

1 st . T . G . Horridge , Esq ., of the Raikes . 2 nd . Mrs . Harrison Blair , of Peel Hall . 3 rd . Peter Ormrod , Esq ., of Halliwell Hall . 4 th . Chas . Wolfenden , Esq ., of the Height . 5 th . Christopher Briggs , Esq ., of the Lees . 6 th . William Hargreaves , Esq ., of Darley

Hall . 7 th . James Knowles , Esq ., Eagley Bank . 8 th . W . Romaine Callender , Esq ., jun ., Victoria Park , Manchester . 9 th . Richard Sykes , Esq ., Edgeley , Stockport , roth . Thomas Lever Rushton , Esq ., Moor

Piatt . nth . Thomas Walmsley , Esq ., the Mayor , Brooklyn , Great Lever . 12 th . Frank Hardcastle , Esq ., Firwood . 13 th . James Ormrod , Esq ., Halliwell Lodge . 14 th . Robert Cross , Esq ., of Mortfield House .

The following had also been invited to the funeral , but were unable from various cr . uscs , attend : —John Hick , Esq ., MP , Hill Top . Sharpies ; XV . T . Mann , Esq ., Bowmere Lodge , Taporley ; R . Andsell , Esq ., R . A .,

Lytham-House , St . Alban's-road , Kensington ; D , Whitehead , Esq ., Saddleworth ; Edward Rodgett , Esq ., Higher Walton , near Preston ; Peter Ormrod , Esq ., Halliwell Hall ; and W . Hargreaves , Esq ., Darley Hall .

Large crowds of people assembled at various points along the route of the procession ; and on Manchester-road , Bradford-street , and Bury-road , the blinds were almost universally drawn . The remains of the deceased gentleman were interred in the family vault , beside those of his brother ,

Mr . Harrison Blair , in the Church of England portion of the cemetery . They were enclosed in three coffins—shell , lead , and oak—the latter being covered with black cloth , richly studded with black and brass nails , containing brass handles , of a most massive character . On the

lid was a brass shield on which was the following inscription : — "Stephen Blair , died 4 th July , 1 S 70 , aged 66 years , " while on the pall was a magnificent immortelle , composed of white roses , fuchsias , and geraniums . The body was read into the church by the Rev . Canon Powell , who

also conducted the service at the grave , while the Rev . T . Doughty read the lessons . A large number of persons were assembled at the cemetery , prominent amongst them being the workpeople of the late Mr . Harrison Blair , of the Kersley Chemical Works .

The whole of the funeral arrangements were entrusted to the establishment of the late Mr . G . J . French , of the Manchester-road , and were carried out under the personal superintendence of Mr . Walter E . Brown , the mourning coaches being supplied by Messrs . E . Holden and Co . — Bolton Chronicle .

STORMS IN' TIIH Su . v . —Professor J . D . Steele says the result of observations now heiny taken sliowstli . it storms raj ; e upon lite sun wiih a violence of which we can form 110 conception . Hurricanes sweep over ils surface wilh terrific violence . Vast cyclones wra p its fires into whirlpools , at the bottom of which our earth coufl lie liken boulder in a volcano . Huge ( lames tlart out to

enormous distances , an I liy over ( lie sun with a speed greater than thai of the earth itself through space . At one lime a cone of fire shot out 80 , 000 miles , ami ilten tlicd away , all in ten minutes ' , lime . There is nothing in these phenomena lo alarm us . Tltcy have , in all probability , happened constantly for ayes past . That we have now means uf investigating their nature antl measuring their height antl velocity fmiidics no cause of anxielv .

j » cporls of ihe Lily Lodge , So . $ 20 , of the Kosicrudan Society of England , & c , arc unavoidabl y deferred till our next issue .