Consecration Of The County Palatine Lodge, No. 2503.

CONSECRATION OF THE COUNTY PALATINE LODGE , No . 2503 .

On Friday , the 6 th inst ., a new lodge was consecrated at the Town Hall , Birkdale , near Liverpool , which is to bear the appropriate name of County Palatine , No . 25 ( 13 , in the Province of West Lancashire , the largest under the Grand Lodge of England , having a roll of 113 lodges and upwards of 7200

members . ' 1 he Consecrating Officer was Bro . Robert Wylie , D . P . G . M ., P . G . D ., assisted by Bros . Rev . T . B . Spencer , P . G . Chap ., P . P . G . Chap . ; J . Christie , P . P . S . G . W ., as S . W . ; W . W . Sandbrook , P . G . D .,. as J . W . ; Rev . S . Y . Bradshaw , P . G . Chap ., as Chaplain ; William Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., P . G . S . c ; R . G . Bradley , P . D . G . D . C , as I ) , of C . ; andJ . L . Houghton , P . P . G . Std . Br ., as I . G .

The founders arc : Bros . Walter Simpson , P . M . 2326 , P . S . G . W . ; W . E . Bland , 2295 ; Hugh Lowndes , P . M . 537 ; Rev . Charles Hcsketh Knowlys , P . M ., P . 1 \ G . Chap . ; Dr . Alfred Charlick , P . M . 2295 ; J . S . Thomson , 9 86 ; Milncr Gibson , 320 , and others . The following-visitors were present : Bros . Thos . H assail , P . M ., Prov .

A . G . D . C ; J . Hardwickc Marsh , I . P . M . 1730 ; James Pittaway , P . M ., Prov . D . G . Std . Br . ; W . P . Sutton , P . M . 537 , P . P . G . W . Cheshire ; J . M . Ashurst , P . M ., Prov . G . S . B . ; Thos . Adams , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; Sv . G . Terry , P . M ., Prov . G . Chap . ; K . Sharrock , P . M ., Prov . A ' . G . D . C . ; E . Brown , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . Cheshire ; J . Patten , P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; G .

Bceken , P . M ., Prov . A . G . Sec ; J . Fisher , W . M ., Prov . G . D . East Lancashire ; Rev . S . Y . Bradshaw , P . M ., Prov . G . Chap . ; W . H . Holt , W . M . ^ 7 ; Richard Hill , P . M . 320 ; George Harford , W . M . 613 ;

Charles Watson , P . M . 2325 ; Walter Connard , W . M . 2325 ; C . E . Bea / er , P . M . 2350 ; II . Akerley , P . M . 2326 ; W . Lewis , P . M . 2042 ; R . A . Chadwick , W . M . 2293 ; Dr . J . D . Crawford , P . M . dSo ; and J . C . Robinson , P . M . 1070 , P . P . A . G . D . C .

The lodge having been opened , the CONSECRATING OIT . ICER addressed the brethren and the ceremony was proceeded with . Bro . Rev . S . Y . BRADSHAW delivered an excellent oration on the principles of the Order , and the new lodge was solemnl y consecrated . The chair was then taken by Bro . James Murray , P . M ., Past Grand

Treasurer Eng ., who installed Bro . W . Simpson into the chair of W . M . The officers having been invested , Bros . Wylie , Goodacre , and Murray were unanimously elected honorary members . After a number of propositions

for joining and initiation the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned lo the Palace Hotel where a beautiful banquet was provided , covers being laid for 40 , and at its conclusion the usual toasts were honoured . The jewels , clothing , & c , were supplied by Bro . George Kenning .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DURHAM .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held on Tuesday , the 10 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Durham . There was a large attendance . The Grand Superintendent , Comp . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., presided , and was supported by Comps . Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., P . P . G . H . ; J . Robscm Pattison , P . G . H . ; J . T . Wilson ,

P . G . J . ; R . Hudson , P . G . S . E . ; J . C . Nelson , P . G . Treas . ; W . E . Moffett , P . G . Reg . ; G . F . Allan , P . G . P . S . ; H . Lamb , P . A . G . S . ; T . G . Garrick , P . A . G . D . C . ; W . Thorman , P . G . Org . ; T . Dunn , P . A . G . S . 1 '" .. ; and T . Grieve , P . G . janitor . There was also a large number of Present and Past Principals . Comp . Sir Hedworth Williamson , in his address to the companions , alluded to the great loss Royal Arch Masonry had sustained by the death of the late Comp . Alderman B . Levey , of Sunderland . The deceased companion was looked upon as one of the

greatest authorities 111 Misonry , not only in the Province of Durham , but throughout the country . After the business of the chapter was concluded , the Grand Superintendent appointed the following companions as officers for the ensuing year : Comp . F . H . Bennett , 531 ... ... ... Prov . G . ll .

,, C . II . Backhouse , 111 ... ... Prov . G . J . ,, R . Hudson , So ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . ,, F . S . Cowper , 97 ... .. . ... Prov . G . S . N .

,, T . Watson , ill ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ R . Todd , So ... ... ... Prov . G . Keg . ,, W . Thorman , 309 ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ II . Palmer , 124 . ... ... ... Prov . 1 st A . G . S . ,, W . Richardson , 48 ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ J . Robinson , 111 9 ... ... ... ) ,, ( . „ „ | . W . dialer , 111 9 ... ... ... j - ^ -

-,, T . Dunn , 12 4 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ G . B . Hall , 949 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, W . Vincent , 94 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . . ,, J . R . Pattison , 97 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . T . Grieve , 944 ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The Prov . Grand Chapter was then closed .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Dem)Yswire, Leicestershire, Anl) Northamptonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF DEM ) YSWIRE , LEICESTERSHIRE , ANl ) NORTHAMPTONSHIRE .

ANNIVERSARY OF THE DERBY LODGE . () a Monday afternoon the members of the Derb y Lodge of Maik M . isU-r Masons , No . 302 , celebrated their anniversary at the Masonic Hall , Gowcrslrcel , Dei by , whilst arrangements had been made for the Provincial Grand Lo 'geof Derbyshire , Leicestershire , and Northamptonshire lo meet under its b ' inner . The dual gathering attracted a very large and inflacntial attendance , not only of Derby brethren , but of Mark Masons from all pails of the

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Dem)Yswire, Leicestershire, Anl) Northamptonshire.

united province . Indeed , so gratifying a muster had not been seen for some years . The members of the Derby Lodge first proceeded with the business incidental to their anniversary . The Worshipful Master , Bro . W . Beadon Woodforde , occupied his place and was well supported by his officers . In due course he installed his successor , Bro . Wm . Cooper—well-known and respected as borough accountant and clerk to the Derby Schoil Board--being assisted in that duty by Bro . W . J . Piper , P . M ., and Bro . Percy

Walhs , P . G . D . Eng . Subsequently Bro . Cooper appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . W . Woodforde , I . P . M . ; T . E . Yeomans , S . W . ; E . J . H . Hoskyns , J . W , ; E . D . Hart , M . O . ; T . H . Harrison , S . O . ; W . H . Whetldon , J . 6 . ; J . C . Manton , P . M ., Treas . ; the Rev . ' 1 . Onell , P . P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; T . C . Eastwood , Sec . ; R . Slater , Reg . of M . ; W . H . Wright , S . D . ; John Jones , J . D . ; E . Home , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., Org . ; George Sutherland , D . of C . ; Harry Slater , I . G . ; William Eaton , and Sep Stone , Stwds . ; and T . Day , Tyler .

At a later period the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge were admitted , and received with the customary honours . The venerable head of the province , Bro . Wm . Kelly ( the oldest P . G . M . M . M ., by the way ) , was unable to be present , although he sent a cheery letter intimating that his general health was fairly good , and conveying his fraternal regards to the brethren ,

His place was filled by his worthy Deputy , Bro . Ihomas Cox , Bro . Joseph Young , P . P . S 7 G . W ., being selected to fill the Deputy Prov . Grand Master ' s place . Various matters of interest were discussed , amongst other subjects being the separation of Derbyshire from the other part of the province , and its constitution as a separate province .

A letter was read on this subject from Bro . Kelly , in which he intimated that he was fully prepared to give his consent to any such departure as the one indicated . It being indicated that Bro . the Rev . S . Wathen Wigg had resigned the position of Prov . Grand Secretary , it was resolved that he be thanked for his five years' invaluable services , and that he be presented with a Past Prov . G . Secretary ' s jewel . The following Provincial Grand appointments were then made for the ensuing year :

Bro . Walter J . Piper , P . M . 302 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Thos . Coltman , P . M . 194 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Francis Thompson , P . M . 339 ... ... ' Prov . G . M . O . ., H . 'A . Robinson , W . M . 245 ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ G . Holderness , P . M . 373 ••¦ ... Prov . I . G . O .

„ Rev . R . W . Lancaster , Chap . 194 ,.. ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, A . Woodiwiss , P . M . 302 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . Manfield , S . W . 245 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Rev . H . J . Mason , P . M . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ S . W . Fulshaw . I . W . 30 ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

,, J . Lee , Sec . 414 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . ,, A . Lawrence , J . W . 19 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ A . J . West , J . W . 194 ... ... ... Prov .-G . D . C . „ A . M . Wither , S . W . 353 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ R . L . Gibson , J . 621 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, T . C . Eastwood , 302 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br .

,, C . Clarabut , 245 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . W . Vincent , 1 9 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ,, W . H . Hodges , Sec . 245 ... ... " ^ „ W . D . Grand , S . W . 194 ... ... / „ „ , , ' „ Smedlev . J . D . ^ S j Prov . G . Stwds . ,, W . A . Spencer , Reg , 19 ... ... J

At the close of the business , the brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where Bro . T . Day served a sumptuous repast . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were drunk with great heartiness , and , subsequently , on the proposition of Bro . YEOMANS , " The Health of the New Master " was enthusiastically honoured .

Several of the speakers dealt at considerable length with the question of making Derbyshire a separate Mark province , satisfaction being generally expressed at the communication which had been read from the Provincial Grand Master concerning it . Bro . WOODIWISS , P . G . M . O . England , expressed the hope that no time would be lost in calling together the Past Masters of the province to consider the subject .

History Of No. 289, Leeds.

HISTORY OF No . 289 , LEEDS .

The history of the " Lodge of Fidelity , " No . 28 9 , Leeds , has just been completed and published by two of its Past Masters , Bros . Alfred Scarth and Charles Albert Braim , the printers being Messrs . Beck and Inchbold , of Bisinghall-street . The work is in quarto size , lavishly illustrated and

extends to 240 pages . The edition is limited to 250 copies , nearly all being already subscribed for . The few that remain are offered at 15 s . 6 d . post free , bound in cloth , or 18 s . in half binding ; both kinds being sumptuous copies of one of the most artistic , interesting , and instructive books ever issued in relation to the Masonic Craft .

Though the history mainly deals with the lodge so ably described , there is a short account of Freemasonry in Leeds during the ) 8 ih century , and the Provincial Grand Lodges of the County of York and the West Riding of Yorkshire . Wisely so , because it adds much to the value of the publication , to thus contain particulars of the Craft bsfore the "Fidelity" was

chartered , and as the Earl of Mexborough , Prov . G . M . from 1 S 22 to 18 C 0 , and the Right Hon . Win . Lawies Jackson , M . P ., the present Prov . Grand Master , are on the roll of members of No . 28 9 ( which begins in 1 792 and runs lo No . 0 S 4 in 1 894 ) it is certainly desirable that the Provincial Grand Lodge should be duly attended to in like manner .

Those who are familiar with Bro . William Watson ' s researches will be aware that regular Freemasonry began in Leeds on March j 8 lh , 1 754 . As the authors observe , this lodge " evidently was not a very flourishing one , " for a letter ( reproduced ) - of 1771 proves that it was then in a languishing condition , and was soon afterwards removed from the roll . The second lodge notedjibcgai ) in 17 ( 11 , the minute book of which is owned by Bro . C . L «