Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

Wales and the rest of the Royal Family ; " " The M . W . G . M . of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester , kc ; " " The M . W . Pro G . M , the Right Hon . Earl Amherst ; the R . W . Deputy G . M ., the Rig ht Hon . Earl of Warwick ; and the rest of the G . Officers , Present and Past ; " "The Right Hon . Earl Egerton of Tatton , of the County Palatine of Chester , and Viscount Salford , of the County Palatine of Lancaster , R . W .

Prov . G . M . of Cheshire , & c . ; " " The W . Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . his Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd , and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past ; " " The Visiting Brethren " ( responded to by Bros . W . Goldthorpe . P . P . G . Reg . Lancashire , the Mayor of Stockport , and G . L . Vaughan ) ; " The Sister Lodges of Stockport ; " " The Misonic Charites ;" and " All Poor and Distressed Masons . "

Songs were given by Bros . Pritchard , Bebbington , and Todd . The 4 ' . h V . B . C . R . band was also in attendance and gave selections . The whole of the proceedings passed off in a most satisfactory manner , and the Committee having charge of the arrangements—Bros . J . Cookson , as Chairman ; W . Walmsley , as Vice-Chairman ; Wm . Slack , W . Booth , and P . D . Hayes , Sec . —are to be congratulated upon the success with which they were carried out .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Era Lodge , No , 1423 , The above lodge held their 139 th meeting at the Albany Hotel , Twickenham , on Saturday , the nth instant , when there were present Bros . D . Hart Davies , W . M . ; Anderson , P . M ., acting S . W . ; J . Wheatley , P . M ., J . W . ; Peckham , l . P . M . j Saunion , P . M ., S . D . and D . of C . ; Tallack , P . M ., J . D .: Dowling , I . G .: J . Beresford , P . M ., P . G . W . Herts , P . P . G . D . Middx ., Treas . ; Wingate , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg . Middx ., Sec . ; Tallack , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; H . T . Tallack , P . A . G . D . C . ; Anning , Asst . D . otC . ; F . G . Mitchell , Tyler ; Enever , Conway , Skelding , and Stiles . Bro . Batley , P . M . igijG , was present as a visitor .

After the lodge had been opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Bro . Rear-Admiral William II . C . St . Clair , P . G . D ., accompanied by Bro . H . F . Bing . P . M ., P . P . G . D ., P . G . Sec , entered the lodge , and were saluted in due form . This was one of the first lodges visited by them in the province . Bro . Stiles was then raised to the Sublime Degree of M . M ., the traditional history being declaimed . The charges were ably given by Bros . Saunion , P . M ., and Ryley , P . M . The W . M . made some severe comments on the absence ot several of the oflicers without excuse and without having requested a Past Master to undertake their duties , and the Secretary was directed to write the absentees on the subject .

The lodge being closed , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , when the speeches in reply to various toists , made by the Dep . P . G . M ., the P . G . Secretary , Bro . tilliott , P . M ., and others , were exceptionally worthy of the attention they received . Bro . Anning enlivened the evening with some of his amusing recitations .

Acacia Lodge , No . 2321 . A regular meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Rawson-square , Bradford , on Thursday , the 2 nd instant . Bro . R . S . Hird , W . M ., presided . Owing to the holiday season , several ot thc oflicers were absent , but ellicient substitutes supplied their places . Among those present were Bros . J . B . Fearnley , I . P . M . ; S . A . Bailey , P . M ., Treas . ; J . T . Last , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., Sec . ; A . Stephenson , P . M ., P . P . D . G . D . C ;

John Morton , P . M . ; John W . Bland , as J . VV . ; T . P . Sykes , as S . W . ; VV . S . Smith , as S . D . ; R . B . Nicholls , J . D . ; VV . H . Townend , as I . G . ; J . S . Cooper , Tyler ; T . H . Bedford , J . Lee , J . L . Turner , VV . Sykes , VV . Durrance , IL W . Whitley , and R . F . Crow . Visitors : Bros . ; Griff E . Jones , P . M . and Sec . 220 ; J . Ti . ley , I . P . M . 2 OG 9 ; T . 11 . Harnshaw , Org . 2 OG 1 ); and T . Walsh , 115 ( Victorian Constitution , Australia ) .

After the lodge had been opened , and the minutes of the previous mseting read and approved , the ballot was taken for Mr . A . E . Edwards , Mus . Bac , F . R . C . O ., and proving in his favour , he was duly initiattd by Bro . Bailey , P . M ., Treas ., the working tools being explained by Bro . Bland , acting J . W ., and the charge given by Bro . Sykes , acting S . W . Bro . Richard Crow was also passed to the Second Degree by the W . M .,

the working tools [ being explained by Bro . Bland , and the charge delivered by Bro Fearnley , I . P . M . The Audit Committee was appointed for auditing the Treasurer's accounts for the current year . A candidate was proposed ( due notice having been previousl y given ) for initiation at a future meeting , and after ' * Hearty good wishes" from thc visitors , the lodge was closed . The brethren afterwards dined together , and spent a pleasant social evening .

Obituary.

Obituary .

ILL . BRO . J . W . SMITH , 33 , P . M . W . G . M . ALL SCOTTISH FREE . MASONRY IN INDIA . ( 7 * . , / _ ., _ 3 , vii ., 1900 . ) The Masonic career of the deceased has been described in the following terms in the Indian Freemason : "This eminent F . M . was initiated in the

Lewis Lodge , Ramsgate , in April , 1871 . He came out to India in 1877 , and , shortly after , joined Lodge St . George , No . 549 ( E . C . ) , Bombay . In 1 S 79 he was elected to the li . chair , which oflice lie filled for two years . The following year ( lifta ) he became W . M . of Lodge Hiram , No . 17 S 4 ( E . G . ) , a P . Jl . ' s lodge . In 1 S 81 he was appointed D . G . Warden of Bombay , and in 188 * 2 was recipient of a

Obituary.

still greater honour in being invested as Dep . Dist . Grand Mister , a position he held for two years . Bro . Smith was affiliated by Lodge Caledonia , No . 4 ^ 3 ( S . C ) , in August , 1 SS 8 , and the next year joined Lodge Perseverance , No . 351 ( S . C ) , of which lodije he became R . W . M . the following year . The qualities our worthy brother had displayed during his period of service in thi E . C . were not long in receiving recognition in Scottish Freemasonry , for we find him appointed G . M . Depute in iSqo , and on the death of Capt . Sir Henry Morland , G . M .,

A . S . F . I ., in 1891 * , he was chosen by the G . L . of Scotland to succeed him . Ai may be well understood , so energetic and enthusiastic a brother in Craft Freemasonry could scarcely fail to take an interest in other Degress . He appeared to have lost no time in taking the Mark and Royal Arch , the former event occurring in October , 1 S 71 , in Lodge Holmesdale , No . 129 , and the Utter in July , 1 S 72 , in Chapter Thanet , No . 429 . The same year he was elevated to the Degree of Ark Mariner in the Kent Lodge London . He was Master of Mark Lodge

Holmesdale in 1 S 75-76 . He subsequently joined Lodge Holmesdale in the E is :, No . 72 , Bombay , and was Prov . and District Grand Mark Master of thit district from 1881—iSSS . In Janunry , 18 92 , he was affiliated by the Ararat Lodge , attached to Chapter Perseverance , No . 71 ( S . C ) , and was installed as Master in September of the same year . Reverting to the R . A . Degree , he joined Chapter Keystone , No . 757 , Bombay , and became its First Principal in 18 S 3 . In July , 1 SS 9 , he had the honour of installing R . W . Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught ,

Dist . Grand Master of Bombay , as J ., H ., and Z ., of the same chapter , and was in turn appointed Deputy Z . by our Royal brother . In 1891 , he joined Chapter Perseverance , 71 ( S . C . ) , becoming Z . of the same in September of that year . In June , 1 S 92 , he was appointed Dep . P . G . Superintendent of R . A . Maions for Western India under the S . C . His connection with the Allied Degrees dates from May , 1874 , when he was admitted to the Degrees of M . E . Master and Royal Select and Super Excellent Master in the Macdonald Council , No . 3 ( I 3 . C ) . lie

was installed a Knight of Rome , and the Red Cross of Constantine in the Shirland Conclave , No . 92 , in July , 1 S 75 . From the note before us , his connection with the Degrees in India commences in August , 1891 , when he was received as E . M . in Chapter Perseverance , 71 ( S . C ) . In January of the following year he was installed a Knight of the Red Cross of Babylon in the council attached to that chapter , and was elected and installed Royal Grand Sovereign and Chief of thc same council in the succeeding September . In the

A . and A . Rite Bro . Smiths experience spread over a period of 14 years , having been perfected in Bombay Chapter , iS , under the Supreme Grand Council for England in July , 18 S 0 . He was installed M . W . S . of the chapter in February , 1 SS 2 , receiving the 30 ° in May of the same year , and in October , 1 S 84 , the 31 . He was affiliated by St . John ' s Chapter , No . 3 , under Scotland , and by the consistory of W . L , 30 ° , in March , 1892 . He received the 32 ° in the following May , and in February , 18 93 , was appointed Sov . G . I . Gen . for India , 33 . Retracing our

steps to 1883 , we find him installed a knight of the R . S . Y . C . S ., Royal Order of Scotland , in thc Prov . Grand Lodge of Western Indii . He was Dep . Prov . G . M . of the Order in Western India from January , 1885 , to January , 18 ^ 2 , when he was appointed Prov . G . M . In some of the Degrees mentioned , Bro . Smith could claim a connection of a good number of years , in others the position of a vetjran . He was , however , comparatively young in the Order of the Temple , ha / ing bee . i

installed a Knight Templar as recently as 1890 , in St . Andrew ' s Priory ( S . C ) , Bombay . In September , 1891 , he became a Prior of the sime , in Mirch , lipj , a Knight Companion , and the following month a Knight Com . nander . A . will be readily acknowledged , M . W . Bro . Smith ' s Masonic career forms a remirkible instance of untiring energy and zeal . His acquaintance with the laws and usages of Masonry was very extensive , and this , added to a cordial and urbane disposition , eminently fitted him for the high position he had attained in every branch of the Order . "

Graves' Galleries, 6, Pall Mall, S.W.

GRAVES' GALLERIES , 6 , PALL MALL , S . W .

lherc are some stirring war pictures by R . Caton Woodville now exhibited at the above Galleries . The first is " My Brave Irish , " the sympathetic words used by our gracious ( Jueen , who telegraphed to Sir Redvers Buller her deepest concern for the losses they hid sustained at Pieter ' s Hill in South Africa . The sacond picture is " The Dawn of Majuba Day , HJOO , " Paardeberg . Cronje hoists the white flag . The

third , perhaps tne most stirring , is entitled " A Chip of the Old Block "Charge of C Squadron , 5 th Lancers , at the Battle of Elands-Laigte . In the limited space we have at our command it would hi impojsiDle for us to enter into full details of the masterly treatment shown in these remarkable pictures , which enhance the growing fame of the distinguished artist , We would refer visitors to the well-written pamphlet which is giv . n them

when they enter . We must confine ourselves to a few general ob / ersations . The first impression is that the pictures are full of life and action , the scenes represented seem to be in actual , present , existence , and at once appeal to our sympathy . As an instance , in " My Brave Irish , " we may note a soldier bounding over a wall , the action is so natural that he appears to be lsaping out of the picture . In "The Dawn of Majuba Day , 19 JO" there

, is a poetic treatment which is most appropriate . " Above tne battle field , and all its mingled confusion of d ying and dead , flame and simke , rises the peaceful sky of early morning . A few faint stars are still visible in the clear ether , but their radiance is paling . " Whit a striking contrast is here shown . In " A Chip of the Old Block , " the central figure in the foreground

is the boy trumpeter , Jshurlock , who heading the C squadron of Lancers with his revolver has made several of the Boers to bite the dist . Observe the dash of the powerful charger . We heartily command thjse three pictures to the notice of patriotic English psople , the appeal to their loyal national feeling will , we arc sure , not be in vain .

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