Provincial Grand Lodge Of Derbyshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DERBYSHIRE .

A meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Derbyshire was lately held at the Assembly Rooms , Derby , for thc purpose of adopting

addresses of congratulation : on the happy recovery of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales from his severe and dangerous illness .

The Marquis of Hartington , ALP ., Prov . Grand Master , telegraphed to express his deep regret at not being able to bc present ,

consequently the chair was taken by Bro . H . C . Okeover , D . P . G . M . There was a very large attendance of brethren .

Consecration Of Skelmersdale Lodge, No. 1380.

CONSECRATION OF SKELMERSDALE LODGE , No . 1380 .

A highly-significant evidence of the progress of Freemasonry in the West Lancashire province was given on the 31 st ult , by the consecration of thc Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 1380 , which took place at thc

Blundell Arms Hotel ,, Great Crosby , near Liverpool , under thc most promising and auspicious circumstances . Not only was there a large gathering of the brethren , but an unusually large muster of those who

havchcld thc highest office in Craft Masonry gave additional eclat to thc opening of a lodge which promises to become one of the most popular and successful in this division . About eighty brethren , chiefly from

Liverpool , assembled at the "Arms , " and amongst the purpled were the following : Bros , thc Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , R . W . P . G . S . W . of England , D . P . G . M . of West Lancashire , and P . M . 32 ; T . Wilson ,

P . J . G . W . ; T . F . Goggin , P . G . C ; IL * S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ; J . Mawdsley , P . P . G . Sec . ; T . Armstrong , P . G . T . ; J . Hamer , P . P . G . T . ; T . Wylie , P . G . Reg . ; A . C . Mott , P . P . S . G . D . ; G . Broadbridge , P . G . D . C . ; J . Skeaf , P . G . Org . ; G . dc la Pcrclle , P . G . S . ;

T . Armstrong , P . G . T . ; F . Stevenson , P . G . S . B . Cheshire ; S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . B . ; Rev . H . G . Vernon , M . A ., P . P . G . C ; T . Piatt , P . P . J . G . D . Cheshire ; H . S . Danvers , P . G . S . ; P . Ball , P . G . T . ; Rev . P . Hains , C

Caledonian ( 204 ) Manchester . Fermor-Hesketh , M . P ., R . W . P . G . M ., was expected , but an unavoidable engagement prevented him from being present for the purpose of performing the consecration ceremony .

The brethren assembled in the lodge room shortly after two o ' clock , when the Craft lodge was opened by Bro . Mott , as W . M ., assisted by Bros . Kcarnc , as S . W ., J . W . Baker , as J . W ., and G . dc la Pcrclle as I . G . After thc brethren of the new

lodge had been properly marshalled , the lodge was opened in the three degrees , after which the usual formalities previous to the consecration were gone through . Thc P . G . C . ( Bro . Goggin ) then delivered an

oration of the most impressive and appropriate character , which was succeeded by Bro . Skeaf's admirably-arranged anthem " Behold how good , " sung with the most striking effect by Bros . Armstrong , Haswell

( 203 ) , J . Busfield ( 1299 ) , and J . Jones , Bro . Skeaf being at the harmonium . Thc first part of the consecration prayer having been offered by the P . G . C , the lodge was uncovered , and thc corn , wine , and oil wcre

carried according to ancient custom . After thesccond portion of the consecration prayer and another anthem by Bro . Skeaf , thc deputy of thc P . G . M . ( Bro . Mott ) constituted the lodge in ancient form . The whole of

Consecration Of Skelmersdale Lodge, No. 1380.

thc highly-imposing ceremony was performed in the most efficient manner by Bro . Mott , who next proceeded to the installation of the W . M .-designatc , Bro . Lord Skelmersdale . After his lordship had been duly installed as W . M . of 1380 , he invested thc following officers : Bros . A . C . Mott , P . M . ;

G . Broadbridge , S . W . ; G . dc la Perellc , J . W . ; R . Brown , Sec ; R . S . Williams , Treas . ; J . A . Hambleton , S . D . ; T . Mercer , J . D . ; H . L . Richards , Org . ; H . W . Harris , I . G . ; and G . Ladmore . Tyler , P . M . 6 ix .

Thc charges to the different officers were delivered with marked effectiveness , and before the principal business of thc day had concluded five gentlemen were proposed for initiation and one for joining . A letter was

read from the R . W . P . G . M ., expressing his great regret that , in consequence of another engagement , hc was prevented from being present . As an evidence of the spirit which marks thc opening of the

Skelmersdale Lodge , it may bc interesting to know that several brethren now connected with it have presented for its present and future use thc three principal chairs , thc lodge

oilcloth , silver sequare and compasses , salver , frame for thc warrant , working tools in box , Bible , cushion , Sec , and other donations are expected .

After the conclusion of thc consecration and installation ceremonies , about forty of thc brethren sat down to an excellent banquet provided by " nine host" of the Blundell Arms , under the presidency of the

W . M ., Bro . Lord Skelmersdale . During the evening thc usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to with much heartiness . InanexccllentspccchBr Mawdsley proposed the health of the noble W . M .,

who , in reply , thanked thc brethren most heartily for theirkindness . When thier worthy S . W . ( Bro . Broadbridge ) wrote to him , asking

that his ( Lord Skelmersdalc ' s name should bc given to the lodge , hc thought it a great honour ; but he considered it a still greater honour when he was asked to become thc

W . M . lie assured thc brethren that he would strive to do his duty to thc Craft , and if he followed generally thc example set by his father , grandfather , and uncle ( Lord Derby ) , hc was certain not to do

wrong . His lordship concluded by thankihg thc numerous visitors for their attendance that day .

A pleasant gathering was greatly enlivened by thc musical efforts of Bros . Armstrong , J . Jones , Busfield , and Haswell , Bro . J . Skeaf being thc accompanist .

Annual Ball Of The Duke Of Edinburgh Lodge, No. 1182.

ANNUAL BALL OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH LODGE , No . 1182 .

Thc annual ball in connection with this lodge took place on thc Gth instant , in the lodge-room , Wavertree Coffee House , in aid of the funds of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . Upwards

of 170 members and their friends were present . The ball was opened by the W . M ., Bro . Philip Richards Thorn and Mrs . Thorn , the dancing being kept up with great spirit until an early hour in the

morning , Mr . Martin ' s excellent quadrille band being in attendance . The refreshments were supplied by the hostess , Mrs . Thomas Wright , on a most liberal scale , which gave entire satisfaction to all present .

Amongst those present wcre Bros . Cookson , I . P . M . ; Thornton , P . M . ; Williams , J . W . ; F'dgington , S . D . ; Jones and Martin , Stewards ; Myers , M . C . ; Brown , Treas . ; and Bales , Sec . Also Bros . Larsen , P . M . 594 ; Doyle , P . M . 667 ; Jackson , S . D . 667 ; and Mclnnis , 401 .

Consecration Of The Kennington Lodge, No. 1381.

CONSECRATION of the KENNINGTON LODGE , No . 1381 .

Another lodge was added to the roll of transpontine lodges , on the 9 th inst ., at the Surrey Club House , Kennington Oval . Bro . James Brett , Past Grand Pursivant , having bcen appointed by the M . W . Grand Master

to officiate as Consecrating and Installing Master , attended at thc time and place above-mentioned , where a very large assemblage of brethren had gathered to witness the imposing ceremonies .

The lodge having been duly opened in the three degrees , the Consecrating Master addressed the brethren upon thc nature of thc meeting , after which Bro . R . Wentworth Little , P . M ., thc Director of Ceremonies ,

stated thc desire of the founders to be formed into a new lodge . Bro . Brett having signified his pleasure in complying with the request , proceeded with a splendid oration on thc principles of thc Institution , which

was listened to with wrapt attention by the great assembly present , and greeted with enthusiastic applause at its conclusion . The musical brethren—who were Bros . G . T . Carter , P . M . 382 , Baxter , and Theodore

Distin , under the direction of Bro . E . Schubcrth—then sang in superb style the anthem "Behold how good and joyful , " Psalm 133 ,

and the remainder of thc ceremony was rendered in the same painstaking and perfect manner which distinguishes all Bro . Brett undertakes to perform in

Freemasonry . The D . C . then presented Bro . Edward J . Page , Past Grand Steward , for installation as the first W . M . of thc lodge , and a Board of Installed Masters having been formed ,

Bro Page was duly placed in thc oriental chair . Upon thereadmission of thc brethren , and after thc customary salutes , the W . M . invested Bros . W . Mann , P . M ., as S . W . ; F . W . Koch , as J . AV . ; and tlie other officers

including Bro . Lemuel F . Littcll as acting P . M . Bro . Brett then fluently and impressively delivered the several addresses ,

after which it was proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , " That he , as the able Consecrating Master , and Bro . Little as his D . C , bc elected honorary members . "

Both brethren returned thanks , and a large number of propositions for candidates and joining members wcre then read by thc Secretary , Bro . St . John Ingrain . Thc lodge was then closed , and the

brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet supplied by thc Bros . Pope , purveyors to the Club , and who gave immense satisfaction . The genial W . M . presided , supported by his equally-genial Wardens , and good

speeches , good songs , and happy faces were the order of the evening . Wc regret being unable to give the names of all present , but wc noticed , besides those already mentioned , Bros . J . Coutts , G . P . ;

J . Boyd , A . G . P . ; J . Thomas , P . M . ; W . Stuart , P . M . ; R . A . Wright , P . M ., P . P . G . D Herts . ; G . Pymm , P . M . ; W . Piatt , P . M . ;

T . Pulsford , P . M . ; Drysdale , Gardner , Webb , and several brethren of the United Pilgrims' Lodge , No . 507 , by whom the lodge was recommended .

BREAKFAST . —EPPS ' S COCOA . —GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING . — " By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of " digestion and nutrition , and by a careful applicalian of tlie fine properties of well-selected cocoa , Mr . Kpps has provided our

breakfast tables with a delicately-flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills . "—Civil Sei- 'iee Gazette . Made simply with Boiling Water or Milk . Each packet is labelled— "J AMES KITS & Co ,, Homoeopathic Chemists , London . " Also , makers of Epps ' s Milky Cocoa ( Cocoa and Condensed Milk ) .