Peovincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

Past Provincial Grand Chaplains . Provincial Grand Alasters . A isitors of distinction . The Column of the Provincial J . G . AA " ., borne by the Alaster of a Lodge . The Provincial Junior Grand AVarden , with

Plumb Eule . Th eColumn of the Provincial S . G . W ., borne by the Alaster of a Lodge . The Provincial Senior Grand AVarden , with Seal . Provincial Junior Grand Deacon .

Provincial ] The Provincial Grand i Provincial Grand > Chaplain bearing the Sa- > Grand Steward , j cred Law on a cushion . ( Steward . The Deputy Provincial Grand Alaster with the Square .

The Provincial Grand Sword Bearer . Provincial ( m , T > ••I / - j 1 Provincial ~ , 1 Ihe Provincial Grand ( „ . Grand < Mister l G ™ " Steward . ( . - •j steward . Provincial Senior Grand Deacon . The Standard of the Provincial Grand Alaster , borne by the Alaster of a Lodge . Provincial Grand Tyler .

Tlie E . W . P . G . AI . having taken his seat on the throne , opened the P . G . Lodge in due form . The P . G . M . then proceeded to dedicate the hall , the cereinony being commenced by an appropriate prayer , offered by the Eev . J . F . Goffin , P . G . Chaplain . After the P . G . S . of AV . had

handed to the P . G . AI . the general plan of the buildings , The Chairman of the Alasonic Hall ( Bro . H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ) gave an explanatory statement in reference to the progress and completion of the building . He said that in 1856 , when

there was not half the number of Masons in Liverpool that there was now , great inconvenience was felt by the brethren from being compelled to meet at other places than those intended for masonry , which led to considerable abuse . When the committee of that day ,

however , took into consideration the best position for a Masonic Hall , they were met with great difficulties ; and when they fixed upon the old building in Hope-street it was said that it was too far out of town , and that masons would not go that distance . Liverpool had spread so much

since that time , however , that the building was now nearly in the centre of the town , and therefore no more convenient site could possibly have been found . The small building was then adopted for Alasonic purposes , but ultimatel y it was found to be too limited , owing to the great increase of

the masonic body in this part of the province , the hall being occupied every night in the year for some masonic purposes . In consequence of the limited space the progress of masonry was all but stopped . In these circumstances the masonic committee took the matter in hand ;

and when he ( Bro . Alpass ) told the bvethveu that within 18 months the Alasonic brethren in Liverpool had raised about . £ 3 , 000 , that would at once show they had entered upon and carried out the building in an earnest manner They had also to thank Bro . 11 . Danson , the architect , for having erected a building which was

exceedingly convenient , comfortable , and capacious . There was no doubt that the opening of that building would tend as much as anything to the progress of Alasonry ; and he ( Bro . Alpass ) trusted the labours of the committee would meet with the approbation of the E . AV . P . G . AI ., who he asked to proceed with the dedication of the hall .

The following Anthem by Dr . Boyce , was then sung with fine effect by a special choir , including Bros . T . J . Hughes , D . Saunders , J . Busfield Evans , II . C . Harrison , C . Haswell , D . Jones , H . Ashmore , Ac , Bro . J . Skeaf , P . G . O ., presiding at the harmonium . " I have surely built thee an house to dwell iu : a settled place for thee to abide in for

ever . " But will God indeed dwell on the earth 1 behold , the heaven , and heaven of heavens , cannot contain thee : how much less this house that I have builded .

" Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant , 0 Lord my God . " That thine eyes may be opened towards this

Peovincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

house night and day , even towards thc place of which thou hast said , My Name shall be there . " And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant , and of thy people Israel , when they shall pray towards this place : and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place ; and when thou hearest , forgive .

" If there be in the land famine , if there be pestilence , whatsoever plague , Avhatsoever sickness , there be : " AA hat prayer and supplication soever be made by any man , or by all thy people Israel , which shall know every man the plague of his own heart , and spread forth his hands towards this houso .

" Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place , and forgive . " And the Lord said to Solomon , I have heard thy prayer : I ha-ve hallowed this house which thou has built , to put my name there for ever : and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually .

" Amen . Hallelujah , " The Provincial Grand Alaster having descended from his throne , the following procession was formed : — The Provincial Grand Chaplain , carrying on

a cushion the Volunie of thc Sacred Law , with the Square and Compasses . The Provincial Junior Grand AA'ardeu , carrying the Cornucopia with Corn . Tho Provincial Senior Grand AVarden , carrying the Ewer with Wine . Tho Deputy Provincial Grand Alaster , carrying

the Ewer with Oil . The Provincial Graud Sword-bearer . The Provincial Grand Alaster . After again taking his place on the throne , the E . W . P . G . AI . declared the building

"dedicated to pure ancient masonry , " and Bro . G . la Perelle , P . G . D . C , proclaimed it accordingly . After an eloquent Alasonic oration by Bro . the Eev . J . F . Goggin , P . G . C , the interesting ceremony closed with Bro . Skeaf s anthem , " Hail , universal Lord . "

ANNUAL BUSINESS . The annual business of Grand Lodge was then proceeded with . The roll of the lodges iu the division having been called , it was found that all the lodges were largely represented except 1 , 335 and 1398 , both of which the P . G . Secretary reported had neglected to send their minute books

for examination in accordance with the orders of the P . G . AI . The minutes of the last Provincial ; . Grand Lodge held at St . Helen ' s were then read . It appeared that all the lodges wero represented upon that occasion except tlie Victoria Lotlge , which was fined ; but it was now

explained that the notice of grand lodge meeting was not received until after the meeting , and , this explanation being deemed satisfactory , the fine was remitted . The minutes were confirmed . In reply to Bro . Turner , the P . G . Sec . explained

that tho by-laws were in the room , and that copies had been furnished to all the brethren who had applied for them . Bro . T . Armstrong , P . G . Treas ., read a nummary of the annual statement of accounts for the past year , from which it appeared that the

receipts for the educational fund during the year amounted to . £ 205 15 s . ; from Provincial Grand Lodge fees , including balance from last year , . £ 529 Gs . Gd . ; from the fund of Benevolence , including balance , .-1273 ISs . Id , ; total , £ 2008 10 s . 7 d . After disbursement of

£ 523 4 s . 2 d ., there was a net balance of . £ 1485 15 s . 5 d . It appeared that up to the year 1872 , £ 1040 7 s . had been paid to the AA- ' est Lancashire Educational Fund ; in 1873 , £ 170 ls . ; and during the past year £ 205 15 s .

After the accounts had been passed , Bro . Sherlock P . P . G . S . W ., said he had great pleasure in proposing the re-election of Bro . Armstrong , upon whom he passed a very high eulogium for the able and efficient manner in

which he had discharged the duties of Treasurer . He thought an apprenticeship was essential for the office , and he was sure they ought unanimously to re-elect Bro . Armstrong , and not turn aim . out of his office before he had " completed his ipprenticeshrp .

Peovincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

Bro . Lambert seconded the nomination . The nomination of Bro . Armstrong was then put to tho vote and uuanimously agreed to , the P . G . AI . remarking that it was hardly necessary for him to say how thoroughly he concurred in

all that had been said in praise of Bro . Armstrong , and how happy he was that that brother had been unanimously re-elected . ( Applause . ) The E . AV . P . G . AI . then proceeded to appoint and invest the following as his officers for the ensuing year : —

Bros . A . Stoddart , Lodge 32 , P . S . G . W . ; G . Remington , 995 , 'P . J . G . AV . ; the Rev . —Morgan , 1398 , P . G . C ; Reuben Pearson , P . G . Reg . ; Eobert Wilson , 241 . P . S . G . D . ; J . AV . Tin-ley , 1035 , P . J . G . D . ; G . Owen , 786 , P . G . Sup . of

\\ orks ; J . E . Goepel , 823 , P . G . D . C ; Leather , P . G . A . D . C ; AVilson Barker , P . G . Pur . ; Lowe , P . G . S . B . ; J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; Alossop , Bagot , S . Johnson , Dr . J . K . Smith , J . Lunt , and Bowden , P . G . Stewards ; P . Ball , P . G . Tyler ; W . II . Ball , P . G . A . Tyler .

Applications for relief were then taken up , and the sum of £ 45 was voted to deserving widows and several brethren who were in difficulties . Bro . J . Skeaf , P . G . O . moved that the sum of £ 40 from the funds of the P . G . Lodge be appropriated towards the purchase ofa suitable pianoforte for the now Alasonic Hall . This was

seconded by Bro . G . Leighton , AV . AL , 1325 , and carried unanimously , a hope being expressed by the P . G . AI . that thc lodges meeting in thc hall wonld also contribute to the fund , so that a proper instrument might be got . On the motion of Bro . Alpass , P . G . Sec ,

seconded by Bro . Armstrong , P . G . Treas ., the following by-law was adopted : —'' That the annual return made to the P . G . Lodge by every lodge shall be sent to the P . G . Sec . on or before the lirst day of August in every year , made up to the 30 th ot June preceding . "

Bro . R . Wylie , P . P . G . S . D ., moved the repeal of by-law No . 3 , and tho substitution of the following : — " For every brother initiated , a fee of 5 s . ; and for every brother joining a lodge , a fee of ls . be paid to the Provincial Grand Treasurer , who shall pay the same to the West

Lancashire Alasonic Educational Institution in the name of the Provincial Grand Lodge . " — The motion was seconded by Bro . J . K . Smith , P . G . S . Bro . Alawdsley moved , as an amendment , that the money paid to the educational institution

should be in the name of thc contributing lodge , instead of the Provinci 1 Grand Lodgo , This amendment was seconded by Bro . Chudley , W . AL , 241 , and , after considerable discussion , was declared to be carried .

Bro . R . AV y lie moved , Bro . Broadbridge seconded , and the proposition was unanimousl y carried , that the sum of £ 20 be voted to tlie Hamer benevolent fund . —On the motion of Bro . Broadbridge , seconded by Bro . Ibbs , it was unanimously agreed that £ 50 be voted to the

Alott memorial fund . —The sum of £ 30 was also voted for tho pm * pose of securing the admission of a candidate from that province to the Eoyal Alasonic Institution for Boys . —Bro . Pierpoiut moved that in order to enable the P . G . Sec . to secure an assistant and to repay him for

expenses , the sum of £ 100 per annum be paid to him from the funds of tho Provincial Grand Lodge , thc payment to date from the beginning of 1874 . This was seconded by Bro . C . 11 . Hill , and supported by Bros . AV . Doyle , Alawdsley , Ac , and carried unanimously .

Bro . R . AVylie moved , and Bro . Goepel , P . G . D . C , seconded , that the sum of 100 guineas be voted from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge to the Eoyal Alasonic Institution for Boys for the purpose of constituting the P . G . AI . a Vicepatron of that institution . —The vote , which was

carried , was acknowledged by Bro . F . Binckes , Secretary to the institution . Thc P . G . Sec . reported that during the year three new lodges had been consecrated , the existing lodges were increasing the number of

their members , and nineteen dispensations had been granted . Except in the two cases to which ho had already referred , the minute books had been examined , and generally speaking , they were kept in a satisfactory manner .