Distribution Of Prizes At The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

I am sure that when you go out into different spheres of life you will ever be grateful and always have a kindly feeling for the home in which you were brought up , and for those kind ladies who had done so much in looking' after your health , your education , and your amusement . ( Cheers . ) And I think I should be omitting one of the principal things I ought to say |{ I did not congratulate your Matron , Miss Buck , on the wonderful state of

health in which I see you . I am sure that without good health , without . rood food , and without constant attention , you could not be able successfully to go through all the different educational tests 3-011 have to go through , and 1 must congratulate your Matron on the manner in which you have answered her expectations . ( Cheers . ) I should also like to thank Miss Davis , your Head Mistress , whose duties are of a very anxious and tn-ing description .

I am certain that what we have seen to-day shows us that her efforts have been crowned with the hi ghest success . ( Applause . ) I can assure you how much wc appreciate the excellent music we have heard . It shows that your new Singing Mistress , Mrs . Rowarth , has given a large amount of trouble and of time to this very difficult and charming work , and that you all appreciate what she teaches . ( A pplause . ) I am certain that music is a great charm

in life , and it helps us to get through many tedious and drcar 3 ' hours , and often drives away time that would be otherwise tiresome . I feel that many of you who are standing here are loaded with prizes , and that j'ou will be g lad to sit down so that 3 'ou may' have a rest . I assure 3-011 again it has been a great pleasure to us to come amongst 30 U to-day , and we shall not easily forget your one hundred and fourth anniversary . ( Applause . ) The Royal party then left amidst cheers , and the Earl of Huston took

the chair for the second part of the programme , which consisted of solos , part songs , recitations , & c . The company afterwards partook of li ght refreshment and then inspected the buildings and grounds , and later in the evening there was the usual exhibition of calisthenics and drill , in which this School excels . Dancing helped to make up a very pleasant evening till half-past eight , when the visitors departed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

lhe annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Town Hall , Blackburn , on Thursday , the 12 th inst . There was a large attendance of brethren . The whole of the 103 lodges in the province were represented , which evoked great applause at the conclusion of the roll call . Bro . Col . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , P . G . M ., presided , supported by the Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers .

lhe minutes of the previous meeting , held on the 27 th November last , were taken as read and confirmed . The Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . J . H . GRKENHALGH , next submitted his accounts , which , he said , were very much the same as last year . ^ 150 had been given to the East Lancashire Systematic Institution , and - £ 105 to

the London Chanties . He was thankful for the honour done him in electing him to the office of P . G . T . during his absence in America at the last annual meeting , and grateful to those brethren who proposed and supported his nomination . He was also greatly indebted to the Prov . Grand Secretary for his uniform courtesy and the valuable assistance he had rendered to him in the discharge of his duties .

lhe Auditors , Bros . JOHN BOOTH , P . M ., and WALTER ALCOCK , P . M ., testified to the accuracy of the accounts .

On the proposition of Bro . R . GORNALL , P . M ., seconded by Bro . T . PRESTON , P . M ., and supported by Bro . W . LAMB , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., Bro . J . Pollard , P . M ., was unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . There was no other nomination . Bro . JOHN CIIADWICK , P . G . Sec , read his annual report , which stated that the total number of lodges in the province was the same as last

year , viz ., 103 , the subscribing brethren being 4455 . There had been 85 deaths during the year . The proposition of candidates b y letter was discouraged , and the Prov . Grand Master hoped it would cease altogether . Lod ge funds and Charity funds should also be kept separate . On the 26 th January , 1 S 92 , a Special Prov . Grand Lodge was held , at which the Prov . brand Master proposed , and it was resolved , that a letter of condolence be

sent to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . of England , on the loss of his son , the Duke of Clarence and Avondale . The letter was engrossed on vellum and bound . A letter of condolence had also been sent to the widow of the late Grand Secretary , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . Suit-¦ 'uole replies had been received . The report was adopted , and the votes of condolence and the replies thereto were ordered to be recorded on the minutes .

lhe PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren , complimenting the Prov . Grand Lod ge on the large attendance , and alluding in touching terms to the loss the Order had sustained by the death of his Koyal Hi ghness the Duke of Clarence and Col . Shadwell Clerke . He said jt was gratifying to find Masonry in the province so strong , but would urge the brethren not to admit any candidate into their lodges whose character w - ; s not assured . Their Craft was founded on the grandest and noblest

Principles of any institution in the world . What had been done for their "amies rellected the highest credit on the province , and he would especi-• j- | >' U p *> e tncm t 0 g ' increased support to the Fund for Aged Freemasons , ¦ pi . ' last Lancashire province was the envy of the provinces of Hngland . ¦ ' ^ attendance there that day in such large numbers showed how much they 'Mil Masonry at heart .

p . ! C reports of the proceedings of the Charily Committee and the -tclion Committee were read and adopted . ttr 1 | P Position ° f IJro - K- G- HAKWOOD , P . P . J . G . W ., seconded b y / 1 Y " IN ,: ' P . P . S . G . W ., it was unanimously resolved ^ o contribute § . !' . ! " lrom tllC 1 : W Grand Lodge fund in aid of the Hast Lancashire 'iUeniatic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution

. one 1 rov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his Prov . Grand Ull | cers as follows : Bro - Pritz Reiss ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . " A . H . JcfTcris ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W .

" « ev . K . W . Perry Circuitt ... ... \ 0 n r .. " ' * cv - ]• Jelly . Prov . G . Chaps . " J-Pollard ... . . ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . ' Prov . G . Treas . " y- N . Molesworth ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . " John Chadwick ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . " " H . Holt 7 " A ] ajor J . Booth '" ' j Prov . S . G . D . ' s .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

Bro . R . W . Pickering ... ... ,.. )„ T .- , ,-,, „ T . Preston ... j Prov . J . G . D s . „ I . Davies ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ \ v . ti . reaK ... ... ... frov . Lr . JJ . ot U . „ J . Hothersall ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ ' W . B . Russell ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . H . Watson ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

,, J . Stewart ... ... ... ... \ „ „ , , ., ,, S . Dewhurst j Prov . G . Std . Brs . ,, H . Stevens ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Ore .

„ J . Newton ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . ,, j . Sandiford ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ G . A . Page ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

,, vv . cstirrup ... ,, L . Eddleston ,, E . Hilder ... ... ... ... n „ , , „ E . Howard J-Prov . G . Stwds . ,, R . Duckworth ,, C . Hindle ...

„ T . Higson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Lodge was invited to hold its next meeting at Rochdale . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and the customary banquet was held in the evening .

Consecration Of The St. Stephen's Lodge, No. 2424.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . STEPHEN'S LODGE , No . 2424 .

The consecration of this lodge , the latest addition to the roll of Grand Lodge of England , was performed on Monday , the 9 th inst ., at the Green Man Assembl y Rooms , Dartmouth Row , Blackheath , and the ceremony was very numerously attended . It was the first Craft lodge which Bro . E . Letchworth , Grand Secretar 3 ' , has consecrated since his appointment to the

important office he now holds , and his performance of the ccremoii 3 ' was all that could be desired , and afforded evidence of the wisdom of the Grand Master ' s selection . All who had the pleasure of witnessing the ceremony experienced a great treat , as in addition to the fluency of the Grand Secretary ' s delivery , grace and quietness formed noticeable features of his

execution of the work . The V . W . brother was assisted by Bros . Ralph Gooding , M . D ., P . G . D ., as S . W . ; W . G . Lemon , P . A . G . D . C , as J . W . ; Rev . ] . S . Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., as Chap ., - Frank Richardson , PiG . D ., as D . C ; and C . E . Keyser , G . D ., as I . G . ; and H . Schartau , E . Dalzell , J . Brand , and C T . Johnson , under the direction of Bro . Dr . Warwick Jordan , as choir .

After the formal opening of the lodge , Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , said : Brethren , —Wc arc met here to-day on an occasion of great Masonic importance , viz ., for the purpose of constituting and consecrating another lodge , and of adding one more to the ver 3 ' large number of lodges at present on the roll of Grand Lodge of England . There are not a few among those who take a great and livel y interest in Masonry who consider

that the great increase in the number of lodges which has taken place during the past 18 3 'ears might with advantage have been more extended . But 1 may say this , that H . R . H . our Grand Master entertains a very strong opinion that at the present moment it is not advisable to increase to any very great extent the number of lodges within what is known as the London district ; and , therefore , it is a matter of congratulation to the

founders of this lodge that his Royal Highness without any hesitation acceded to the petition for this lodge , and when we look at the names appended to the petition—names of Masons well-known and honoured throughout the Craft , I think we need not be surprised at the decision his Royal Highness arrived at . It now only remains to me to express my sincere and earnest hope and trust that this lodge we arc about to consecrate to-day may have before it a very

bright future , and that it may have a career of unchequered and unbroken prospcrit 3 ' . It will have the very great advantage of being ruled over b 3 'a brother who has already had great experience in the Craft , who has filled the chair for two successive years in another lodge , and who will be supported as Wardens by two other brethren in whom we have the greatest possible reliance .

Bro . Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , delivered the following oration : The responsibility of founding a new lodge is great , for it is by the character and tone of a lodge that the outside world in each locality judges and either commends or condemns our Order . Each lodge has an attractive or a repellent power . The Craft before the world in this district will stand either the better or the worse

in accordance with the course you take . It will be well , therefore , for a new lodge to pause on the threshold of its existence , and for each member to understand that he must bear his share in maintaining the reputation of the Craft before the world . The increasing prominence which we are assuming in this country is daily making men take a deeper interest in our doings . They have a right to ask , What are you and what are your ends and aims ? To a certain extent we are a

secret Society , but in our highest and best sense we are open to the criticism of all . In our highest sense we have nothing to hide . Our secrets are the mere outside shell—valuable and necessary—but they are the letter and not the spirit of our Institution . We are a human and not a Divine Institution . A religious Society but not a religion . It is important to remember this , because I know that much of the prejudice and opposition which has been shown

to our Order in this country and elsewhere has been not wholly undeserved , but has been the result of ill-advised members of our Fraternity assuming for our Order a position which is false and untenable . Our doors are barred against the man who has no religion , but we supply no man with a religion . He must get that elsewhere . The brother who says ( and I have heard it said ) " Freemasonry is my religion " is uttering a sentiment wholly repugnant to the fundamental principles

of the Order . It is this great principle which enables us to say to men of all creeds—Cherish and maintain with all the strength of your nature the doctrines you believe to be true . You will see nothing and hear nothing within our lodges which will offend your creed or diminish your liberty . All that we ask is the proof that your religious convictions do produce in you the fruit of a clean life and a charitable tongue . Granting every liberty to you , we expect you to accord

the same to your brother who will differ toto caio from you in religion , politics , tastes , and occupation . We do not judge you—we allow you to judge none . So before the world we shall stand a body of men teaching the lesson which this century sadly needs , namely , that Charity and liberty do not mean the destruction of all social order , and the license to impute the vilest motives to the man who

doubts our own infallibility . We shall attract into our Order men who without sacrificing their own principles will become more patient with others by being forced to leave outside the lodge door the bitterness and contention of the world ' s daily strife . The ccreinon 3 ' of consecration was then proceeded with and completed , and Bro . Letchworth installed Bro . H . E . J oyce , P . M . 507 , as W . M . The