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ment , at which the usual toasts were given and responded to . On the following morning a large number of the brethren , accompanied by their wives , daughters , and sweethearts , started shortly before ten o ' clock for their summer pic-nic . After arriving at Chester , the

picnickers took barge , and jiroceeded up the River Dee for the neighbourhood'of Eaton Hall , where they intended " camping out " for the day . The voyage from Chester was as unpleasant as could have been imagined . Thunder , lightning , and

rain , vied with each other in making the situation anything but lively , and nearly the whole party , at the end of the stormy journey , looked the vcry picture of misery . Still there were some who seemed determined to brave all

untoward circumstances , and make things as cheerful as possible . Dinner was served in a pavilion , but the torrents of rain seemed , for the occasion , to have washed away all loyalty , as not a single toast was proposed . Thc brethren ,

afterwards , extemporised amusements as best they could , and special credit is due to Bro . Henry Newman , who sent tiji a number of small balloons during the afternoon , when the storm had somewhat abated , which caused no small amusement and excitement . As the weather

improved towards evening , the spirits of thc " outers " rose , and they returned to Liverpool at a rather late hour , more satisfied with the day ' s proceedings than the ) ' anticipated when experiencing the almost tropical storm on the troubled Dee .

LIVERPOOL . —Hairnr Lodge ( No . 1393 ) . — The brethren of this lodge , whicii bears the muchesteemed name of Bro . James Hamer , P . Prov . G . Treas ., West Lancashire , met for the performance of their Alasonic duties on Tnesday , the 2 ah ult ., in their fine lodge room , No . 2 A ,

\\ inderniere-street , Brcck-rond Liverton . Bro . W . T . May , W . M ., was supported by the following officers : —Bros . J . Jones , S . W . ; J . Cunard Morrow , J . W . ; J . Harriman , Sec ; E . Dutch , Treas . pro lent . ; R . II . Evans , J . D . ; II . Jackson , I . G . and M . Williamson ; and amongst the

members present were , Bros . J . Hamer , T . Mc Carthev , R . Parry , . Ii . Parry , ' H . Roberts , T . Roberts , J . Mc'Robbie , G . Aspinall , R . D . Charles , C . Tyrer , Jonathan Roberts , II . Burrows , R . Cain , E . Wilson , W . S . Ilart . E . -McConnell The visitors included Bros . [ . Pemberton , 249 .

1276 , P . M , 1294 ; W . Crane , 673 ; J . Wood , 249 , Treas . 1094 ; T . W . Riley , and several others . After the lodge had been opened in due form and the minutes ci nfinned , one candidate was initiated , one brother passed , and three raised lo the sublime degree of Masier Mason .

Alter a good evening s work , the brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment , and a very pleasant time was spent by all who were present . LIVERPOOL .- —De Grey and Ripon Lodge , ( No . 1 ; j 6 ) . —The success which has attended

this lodge , since its consecration a year ago , is without precedent in the Province of West Lancashire , as will be at once seen when we statethat it now numbers nearly ninety members of the best standing in the Masonic world . The

first anniversary of the lodge ' s formation , ancl the installation of the W . M . elect , took jilace on Wednesday afternoon , the ioth inst ., and attracted certainl y the largest attendance of brethren seen in this province for many a day . Not only did

the members muster in strong lorce , but the interest taken in the prosperity of the youthful "De Grey and Ripon" was clearly shown by the presence of an unusually large number of distinguished and energetic Masons . The

meeting was held m the handsome lodge-room of No . 1356 , attached to Bro . John Roberts ' s , Royal Park Hotel , North Hill-street , and the proceedings commenced shortly after two o ' clock . The W . M ., Bro . S . E . Ibbs , P . Prov . G . S . B ., opened the lodge according to ancient form , supported

by the following officers : —Bros . A . Winluip , P . M . ; B . B . Marson , S . W . : T .-Evans , J . W . J . Ireland , Treas , ; W . H . Washington , Sec . ; E . Rothwell , J . D .: f . Bell , I . G . ; T . Home , S . ; W . Audley , S . ; W . G . Neale , Org . ; and W .

Crawford , Tyler . The following members of the lodge were also present : —Bros . J . Roberts , J . E . Windel , J . W . Williams , P . Brown , W . Jones , P . Askew , W . Fletcher , S . Nickson , Jos . Jones , T . Maddull , G . Green , W . Griffiths , M . Major , W . Corris , E . Jones , Thomas Lewis , T . W .

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Cockram , T . Roberts , T . Bisson , T . Walter , T . Bisson , T . Walter , j . Cliffe , H . Worthington , C . Costigau , G . H . Ager , W . Williamson , T . Clayton , T . R . Coogan , R . Swainson , W . H . Thompson , A . Woolwich , W . M . Morris , R . B . Lloyd , and some others .

Amongst the visitors jiresent werc : —Bros . H S . Alpass , P . G . Sec ; J . Mawdsley , P . Prov . G Reg ., ancl P . Prov . G . Sec . ; J . Hamer , P . Prov G . Treas . ; G . Broadbridge , P . G . D . C ; W Doyle , P . M . 667 , P . G . S . ; C . H . Hill , P . M . 724 , 1276 , and 321 ; J . Porter , P . M . 667 ; B

L . Johannesin , 594 ; Peter M'Carsen , P . M . $ 94 ; T . H . Hustwick , W . M . 292 : T . Lawson , 667 ; W . AVoods , P . M . 1182 j ' H . Nelson , P . M . 673 ; W . T . May , W . M . 1393 ; J . E . Jackson , 667 ; f . T . Callow , W . M . d 73 ; J . Ridley , P . M . 321 , S . W . 13 50 ; A . Samuels ,

S . D ., 1350 ; J . Hocker , P . M . 673 ; II . Burrows , 67 3 ; T . Sergeant , P . M . 594 ; P . P . Thorn , W . M . 1182 ; R . Ing , W . M . 594 ; W . D . Rowse , S . W . 594 ; J . E . Skillicorn , S . W . 667 ; W . Bennett , 1350 ; G . Scott , 1182 , and others . After two candidates had been initiated by Bro .

Ibbs , the retiring W . M ., 111 a manner which elicited the admiration of every brother ; he , along with Bro . J . Mawdsley , presented Bro . Benbow B . Marson , W . M . elect , to Bro . J . Hamer , for installation . The ceremony was performed by thc Installing Master in the

efficient and comjilete manner for which he has so long been held in the highest repute in the province . A board of Installed Masters was then held , and upon the return of the other brethren to the lodge , the newly-chaired W . M . was , according to the usual custom , saluted in the three

degrees . The following brethren were- subse ijuenlly invested as officers for the ensuing year Ihe ancient charges being given by Bro . Hamer —Bros . S . E . Ibbs , I . P . M . j T . " Evans . S . W . A . M . Abbev , J . W . ( by proxy ) , A . Winkup P . M ., Treas . ' ; W . IT . Washington , Sec . ; E . Roth

well , S . D . ; Jos . Bell , T . D . j T . Home , I . G . j W . G . Veale , Org . ; W . Audley , S . S . ; and Joshua Jones , J . S . On the motion of thc I . P . M ., seconded by the S . W ., Bro . W . Crawford was unanimously re-elected Tyler , and duly invested by the W . M . After the year ' s accounts had been

jiassed , and several communicitions and propositions submitted , the brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment . A splendid banquet was served in the fine billiurd room of the hotel , to whicii nearly roo brethren sat down , under the jiresidency uf the W . M ., who was supported on

the right and left by an iinjiosing array of " purpled " and Past Officers . The catering was entrusted to Bro . W . Vines , P . M . 1299 , whose efforts met have given complete satisfaction . After the toast of" The Queen " hail been given by the W . M . and rcsjionded to with true AIasonic

enthusiasm , Bro . Aljiass jirojiosed " Bro . Albert Edward Prince of Wales , P . G . M ., the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " After referring to the initiation ofthe Prince in Sweden and the distinguished honour conferred upon him

by the G . L ., Bro . Alpass said that if any doubt existed as to whether their royal brother would becontent wilh the honours thus laid upon him , or take an active interest in the Craft , that had been quickly set at rest . After serving as S . W ., H . R . II . had for the second time assumed the duties

of thc W . M . s chair of a private lodge . In other degrees he had taken the same course , showing that if he could have gone through all the grades of masonry , he would have clone so . The toast was received and honoured . Bro Ibbs next proposed " The Marquis of Ripon , M . W . G . M ., and

tlie Earl of Carnarvon , R . W . D . G . M ., " and in doing so , passed a high and eloquent eulogium upon them as statesmen , Masons and philanthropists . The next toast , " Sir T . G . E . Hesketh , Bart ., ALP ., R . W . Prov . G . M . ; Lord Skelmersdale . W . D . Prov . G . M ., and the Prov .

Grand Officers for West Lancashire , ' was entrusted to Bro . Winkup , who referred to the interest taken by all the Provincial Grand Officers in the affairs ofthe Craft generally , ancl that province in particular . Bro . Alpass , in

acknowledging the toast , referred to the onerous duties of the Prov . Grand Officers in that large and increasing province , but no duty gave their G . M . so much anxiety as the appointment of his officers . The time for the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was fast approaching , and he

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( Bro . Alpass ) could assure the brethren it was a time of great anxiety and grave consideration with their chief to give the offices only to those who were really deserving , and it was only those who had to advise him who could appreciate thc difficulty . The " De Grey and Ripon" had

only one P . M ., but in other lodges they would find five or six Past Masters—all worth y Masons —who had never received office in the Provincial Grand Lodge , and who felt rather sore in consequence . When he ( Bro . Alpass ) told the brethren there were sixty-two or sixty-three

lodges 111 thc jirovincc , they would see the difficulty of selection , and therefore they would all give tlieir Provincial Grand Master credit for resolving , as he had done , to change his officers annually . It was certain no eli gible brother was omitted from disparagement to himself , or to

his lodge , but simjil y because of the large number from which the selection had to be made . In concluding an excellent sjieech , Bro . Alpass congratulated the brethren of 135 6 upon the remarkable success of their first year ' s existence , remarking that in no Iodge did

he know so many who were likely to do credit to the craft . As the result of their year ' s work , they had had both quantity and quality , and he trusted they wonld continue to show the same wisdom in their future initiations . Bro . Ibbs gave "The Worshijiful Master , " and referred to

the qualities whicii eminently fitted him fur that jiosition , expressing a hope that the lodge would have as harmonious , hapjiy , and prosperous a year under his care as that which had preceded it . The W . M . thanked the brethren for the honour they had conferred upon him ; for the

manner in whicii they had received the toast , and assured them thai Ue would strive to follow in the steps of his predecessor , and asked for the assistance of his officers and the brethren , so that success might again crown their efforts . In the words of Sebastian to Antonio he would s . iy ,

" Ior your kindness I have but one answer to make—thanks , thanks , for ever thanks . " " The Installing Master" ( in the absence of , Bro . Hamer ) was acknowledged by Bro . Mawdsley . The W . M . next proposed " The I . P . M ., " and in doing so sjioke in the hi ghest terms of the

manner m which Bro . Ibbs had fulfilled the duties of the chair . He also took occasion to present him with a very handsome timepiece , valued at thirt y guineas , whicii bore the following inscrij-tion : — " Presented to Bro . S . E . Ibbs , the first W . M . of the De Grey and Ripon Lodge , 1356 , by the

members , 111 token ol their personal esteem and friendship . " Bro . Ibbs , in eloquent terms , thanked the brethren for their generosity and the manner in which they had received the toast . He had considered it an honour indeed to be tho first W . M . of the first lodge in a townshi p

numbering something like 80 , 000 inhabitants , and therefore he felt that the valuable testimonial was altogether unnecessary and undeserved . " The Officers of the Lodge , " was acknowledged by Bro . Evans , S . VV . "Thc West Lancashire

Masonic Educational Institution , * ' proposed bv Bro . Alpass ( who gave highly interesting detail ' s as to the working of the noble charity ) was responded to by Bro . Mawdsley . " Visiting-Brethren " ancl " Poor and Distressed "Masons "

were tlie remaining toasts . Several excellent songs were given during a pleasant evening by Bros . H . Nelson , T . Williams , Scott , Major , Winkup , Porter , and Veale ; the last-named brother not only deserving "honourable mention . "

for his valuable services at the harmonium during the ceremony of installation , but also for his capital accompaniments in the evening . Bro . Broadbridge , P . G . D . C , was an efficient " master gunner " at the banquet .

MIDDLESEX . POTTER ' BAR . —Acacia Lodge ( No . 1309 ) . — The regular meeting of this well established and prosperous lodge was held at the Railway Hotel , Potter ' s liar , on Wednesday the ioth inst . Bro . J . H . Butten , W . M ., opened the lodge , the minutes of the previous meeting were read ancl

unaimously confirmed . Bro . C . Horsley , P . G . Registrar , Middlesex , P . M ., took the chair and in his usual efficient manner passed two brethren and raised two . The W . M . resuming his position , it was resolved unanimously to increase the lodge meetings from four to six , and meet alter-