Provincial Grand K.T. Conclave Of Lancashire.

Sir Knt . Watson collected the alms , amounting to £ 2 12 s . iod . It was resolved that the sum of £ 5 from the Almoner ' s funds be granted for the relief of Sir Kt . Ledward , an old Mason of fifty years' standing , -a . nd the oldest Templar in the Province .

A committee consisting of E . C ' s ., P . E . C s , and 1 st Captains of Encampments , was appointed to frame by-laws of the P . G . Conclave . It was resolved that the next meeting of the Prov . Grand Conclave be held at Manchester under the auspices of the Jerusalem Encampment .

The D . P . G . Commander , in the name and on behalf of the V . E . P . G . Commander , presented to the E . C . of the Plans of Tabor Encampment , Colne , ( Sir Knt . T . G . Parker ) , a complete set of books , handsomely bound , consisting of Minute Book , Subscribing Members' Book , Cash Books , Declaration Book ,

Equerry's Book , Muster Roll , Register and Receipt Book . Sir Knt . Parker accepted the gift of the P . G . C . with many thanks on behalf of the encampment , and expressed his hope that the generous donor might speedily be restored to perfect health . A circular letter from the Grand Vice Chancellor ,

announcingthat the Grand Conclave had at its meeting in May last made sundry alterations in the fees payable in respect of registry and certificates from Grand Conclave , and also in the annual fees payable thereto . An animated discussion ensued thereupon ,

and the legality of the notice convening the meeting was questioned , but it was finally resolved to refer the whole subject to the General Purposes' Committee to take such action in the matter as might be desirable .

It was resolved , " That the fact of the Banner and Abacus of our last P . G . C . being in the P . G . Conclave be inserted on the minutes of proceedings . " The D . P . G . C . was instructed to convey to the V . E . P . G . Commander , Sir Knt . A . H . Royds , the deep regret of the members of the P . G . Conclave , at his inability to take his accustomed place therein ,

and their earnest wishes for his speedy recovery . The 2 nd Captain of the St . James of Jerusalem Encampment , presented to that encampment as a souvenir of his visit to the Holy Land , a beautifully finished table with marble top , on which , under a glass case , was the stone alluded to in the inscription which was written thereon : —

"' This stone was brought from Jerusalem by Sir Knt . John Fletcher , in May 1869 , it was the quoin stone in the doorway of the Hospital Chapel ( at present in ruins ) built by the Knights Templar , situate near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre . Presented to the St . James of Jerusalem

Encampment , Bolton , June , A . L . 5874 , . D . 1 S 70 , . D . , by Sir Knt . John Fletcher . " Sir Knt . Fletcher explained the circumstances under which he became possessed of the relic , and detailed his difficulties in transit to this country . Sir Knt . T . H . Winder , E . C . of the St . James of

Jerusalem Encampment , accepted the valuable present to the Encampment , and thanked Sir Knt . Fletcher for his addition to the furniture of this already well-equipped Encampment . The Prov . Grand Conclave was closed at 4 . 30 , and the P . G . Officers having retired , the St . James

of Jerusalem Encampment was forthwith closed . The banquet was celebrated in the school-room , vlwch was decorated with banners of Knights Templar . Sir Knt . Wright presided , and the customary toasts were proposed and responded to , and the meeting dispersed by 8 o ' clock .

Fashionable Wedding In Shefeield.

FASHIONABLE WEDDING IN SHEFEIELD .

The marriagcof Miss Felice Lucy Hall , eldest daughter of Dr . J . C , Hall , Sheffield , to William Roddcwig , Esq ., of Lowftcld , . Sheffield , took place on Thursday , the 7 th inst ., in the Parish Church . Long before the hour appointed for the ceremony a large concourse of persons asssembied in Arundel-strcel antl around the Parish Chinch , awaiting the arrival of the Initial party . Shortly

before ten o ' clock the carriages were at the church gates . The bride was beautifully aitirctl in a robe of woile satin , witk a wreath of orange blossom and a long Honiton lace fall . The bridesmaids were ihree in number—viz ., . Miss M . G . Hall ( sister of the bride ) , Miss M . Neville , of Langham , Surrey ; antl Miss Edith Robinson , St . John ' s Wood , London ( cousins of the bride ) . Each was attired

in a while dress , with wreath of pink antl white flowers and lace falls . The groomsmen were Mr . R . J . Hall ( eldest brother to the bride ) , Mr . F . Stephenson , ' and Mr . Ralph Neville ( cousins ) . The matrimonial service was impressively performed by the Rev . J . E . Johnston , . M . A ., Vicar of St . Jttde ' s , Moorsfieltls , of whose congregation the bride was a member . In the absence of Mr . Smith , Mr . Kirk , organist of St . Jttde ' spresitletl at the organ .

, The bride was given away by her father , Or . J . C . Hall . After the conclusion of the service ihe Initial parly were joined by numerous friends , among whom was the Rev . Canon Sale , who relumed to Surrey House , the residence of l ) r . Hall , and partook ol the wedding breakfast . Later in the day the newly-married couple tleparletl from Sheffield for the Rhine , where they intend to spend the honeymoon .

Poetry.

Poetry .

—»—STO RM B EATEN . A storm-beat ship was out at sea , Her ropes and sails were torn to shreds , Her sailors clung amidst the wreck ,

And in despair hung down their heads . In vain they'd toiled all the day , Until dread night had hastened on ; They saw no aid appearing nigh , Lo ! even lingering hope had gone . The captain ' s heart was sore and sad ,

For he would fain have saved his crew ; But helm adrift and boatless , too , Alas I alas ! what could he do ? No raft would float in such a gale , If e'en he could establish one , So he knelt down and prayed to God

For mercy when life ' s sands were run . Fast flying on before the storm , The ship came nigh a rocky shore ; The dismal moaning of the waves Commingled with the breakers' roar . A few short hours passed away ,

And then a score of souls had sped ; The ship had dashed upon a rock , And all the wea > -y men were dead . Had there have been a lifeboat nigh , Manned by a crew of daring men , The ship , perchance , might have been saved , The crew have reached their homes aeain .

To help such shipwrecked sailors , then , Oh ! let our lifeboat kiss the wave ; And , Brothers , we shall blessings win From all she snatches from the grave . Qr . Mas . Sergt . R . SIMMONS , Freedom , No . 77 .

OH ! YE WHO ARE BOUND BY OUR MYSTICAL TIE . Sung at the banquet after the installation of Bro . George E . I-Iawkes , W . M ., Union Lodge , Margate . Words by Bro . ATIIELSTAN HARVEY BOYS , P . M ., P . G . R . Kent .

Oh ! ye who are bound by our Mystical tie , Come join me in drinking a toast , And confess that all over the Globe we descry , The name of our Craft— a proud boast . The Mason may cruise to the East from the West , And yet be with all hand and glove , If his principles will but evince a good test—The test of our Brotherly Love .

Though the world's outer circle may laugh at our Rites , And hold up our Symbols to scorn , We can easily point to our Charity ' s sights , Which our tenets Masonic adorn . Though our Customs be held up to ridicule's view ,

For approval we look up above , His Word is our Guide in whatever we do , While our motto is Brotherly Love . So Masonry , based on Morality ' s source , Us teaches to act on the Square ; While Equality ' s Emblem , uprightness our course ,

The Level and Plumb-rule declare . Then , Freemasons , let each one do well as he lives , That when summon'd to Grand Lodge above , We may reap the reward the Great Architect gives—The reward of our Brotherly Love . ist January , 1870 .

The Freemasons' Life Boat.

THE FREEMASONS' LIFE BOAT .

The Committee met at Bro . Fosters , London-street , E . C , on Thursday , the 71 I 1 inst . There were present : Bios . A . 1 C . Harris ( in ihe chair ) , S . Davis , ( Jottheill , T . Morllock , and C . C . Taylor . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and onfirmcd . Several propositions tending to further the

interests of tl e movement were proposed anil carrictl . The financial position stands as follow : —Acknowledged in Till ' . Fitr . i- - . M \ st > N of June 1 ith , , £ 126 6 s . 61 . Since received : CJosport Lotlge ( 903 ) , £ 1 is . ; liro . Mallett . 5 s . The meeting was adjourned to Thursday , 41 I 1 August next , at S p . m . [ In the list of subscriptions published last month the name of Bro . Frost ( 1306 ) , 10 s ., was omitted . ]

DEFECTS OK ENGLISH BREAD . —Without enteron the discussion of the question , as lo what the effects of the habitual use ol alumetl bread on the digestive organs may be , it is sufficient for our present purpose to note the fact that , as a rule , our English bread lias too much yeast introduced into it , undergoes tjt > little kneading , and that , by the aid of a mincinl substance , inferior , or even damaged Hour , may be made lo do duty in breadmaking as il it had been sound and of prime quality . — Food Journal .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Masters.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS .

We are informed that the following brethren have been appointed members of the Committee to arrange the terms of a treaty bet ween the Grand Mark Lodge and the Grand Red Cross Council : —

Rev . G . Raymond Portal , M . A ., G . M . M . ; W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . M . ; The Right Hon . the Eail of Limerick . Major A . S . Adair , 33 ° ;

R . A . Benson , F . Binckes , T . Meggy , and Ii . C . Levander . The combined Committee mat on Friday , the 15 th instant .

The Reading Mercury of July 2 nd , in its report of the proceedings connected with H . R . H . the Prince of Wales' visit to Reading on the ist inst .,. states the following

" The representative of a Masonic publication having , without authority , taken to London the list of Masons present , we are unable to publish a complete list of the names . "

In justice to the representatives of THE FREEMASON , we think it right to state that we have received official information from the Prov . G .

Sec . of Berks and Bucks , that this unwarrantable act was perpetrated by one W . Smith , who is connected with our contemporary in Salisburysheet , Strand .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

rhc Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents .

BRO . BUCHAN AGAIN . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It would be very amusing , if it were not painful , to see how eagerly Bro . Buchan ( p . 331 ) snatches an error in the punctuation of Bro . Bacon's extract to support his

utterly baseless 1717 theory , which , in fact , proves the exact contrary to what Bro . Buchan supposed , inasmuch as it states that " Masons were made in London many years before that date , " a fact which no Mason ought to doubt , unless he believes with Bro . Buchan that our predecessors were all either

knaves or fools . It is an old saying , " That it is a dirty bird which Fouls its own nest , ' ' Taut what can we think of a Mason who does all in his power to pick holes in the Masonic mantle which covers him ? Bro . Buchan ' s : onstant allusion to the worthy and learned brc-: hren of the last century , as " Desaguliers & Co ., "is

extremely offensive , as well as the manner in which lie invariably speaks of them as if they were charla-: ans and impostors . I sincerely trust Bro . Buchan vill see the advisability of expressing his opinions nore moderately , and of paying a little of that proser deference which , as a Mason , he owes to the listory and traditions of the Craft . Yours fraternally , VIATOR .

LETTER FROM A BROTHER IN LONDON TO AN EDINBURGH BROTHER , WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND . One of the most fruitful sources of injustice in the Grand Lodge of Scotland is the manner in which

proxies ( Masters and Wardens ) arc appointed . Lodges beyond the metropolitan district , who may not care to be represented in the Supreme Body by their Worshipful Masters and Wardens , appoint upon their annual election , in addition to their ordinary Office Bearers , Proxy Masters , who again in

turn appoint two Wardens . These Proxy Masters are expected , not only to attend to all affairs which arise affecting the Grand Lodge , but also to take charge of any matters coming up from the lodge which they represent . These proxies are , to be legal , signed upon the

day of election , and are returnable for approval by the Grand Lodge upon the quarterly communication following the date of their signature . Like every law of Grand Lodge , when it suits the purpose of a certain faction , this law is systematically broken ; but , on the other hand , most rigidly

enforced whenever it endangers the plans of the factionists , and gains their opponents a vote . Very few proxy commissions are signed upon the . day they purport to bear , and many are signed only when it is necessary to defeat a motion—not by

justice , but by votes . Now , every commission should be returnable within fourteen days of the date of granting , the Proxy Master at the same time should be obliged to give in the names of his Wardens , and the ices