Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

in the future meetings of the Prov . Grand Chapter should not be held on the same day as those of the Prov . Grand Lodge , but that they should be held in the spring of each year , the next meeting to be held at Easter , 1 S 95 .

Comp . J . G . Christian ... ... ... Pros-. G . S . B . „ T . Vernon ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . " W - ,, , ' ? , i " . '" " ¦ '"] Prov . A . G . Std . Brs . R H . Webster ... ... ... )

„ R . G . Bradley ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ C Johnson ... ... ... " ] „ G . ' Myers ... ... ... ... ^ -Prov . Asst . G . D . Cs . T Pitlavvav ... ... ... J

„ T . Vernon ... ... ... Prov . G . Orer . „ J . N . Hampsell ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . On the suggestion of the Grand Superintendent , it was resolved that

Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH WALES .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales , Western Division , assembled for the annual meeting- at Haverfordwest recently . The following lodges were represented : St . David's , No . -566 , Milford Haven ; Loyal Welsh , No . 37 S , Pembroke Dock ; Cambrian , No . 464 , Haverfordwest ; St . Peter ' s , No . 47 6 , Carmarthen ; Prince of Wales , No . 990 , Llanelly ; Aberystwyth , No . 1072 , Aberystwyth ; Tenby , No . 1177 , Tenby ;

Castlemartin , No . 174 S , Pembroke ; and Narberth , No . 200 r , Narberth . Having met at the Masonic Hall , the members marched in full regalia to St . Mary ' s Church , where an appropriate service was held . The prayers were read by the Rev . Jonathan Marsden , vicar of Llanllwch , Carmarthen , and the lessons by the Rev . D . Bowen , vicar of Monkton . Special psalms were chanted , and the anthem , " If ye love Me , keep M y commandments , " most excellently rendered by the choir . A most appropriate and eloquent sermon

was delivered by the Prov . Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . Evans , curate of Aberystwyth , who selected as his text the words , " He was a good man , " which forms part of the 24 th verse of the nth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles . A sacred solo , " Nazareth , " was afterwards rendered by Bro . Joseph Richards . The organists were Bro . Joseph Richards , P . G . O . ; Bro . J . Bowen Williams , P . P . G . O . ; Bro . Gilbertson , P . P . G . O . ; and Dr . F . R . Greenish , Mus . Doc . Having left the church , the members again proceeded in procession to the Masonic Hall , where further business was

transacted . The Provincial Grand Officers for the year were appointed as follows : Bro . T . Rule Owen ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Rev . D . Bowen ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . " § ev-G ; Sr R 0 We } Prov . G . Chaps . .. Rev . W . Evans ... ... ... \ v

„ J . D . Perrott ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ D . Williams Hees ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, John James ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ C . G . Baker ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ j . J . Morris ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Lionel Wood ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ W . J . Jones ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . E . J . Lloyd ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . .. lames Harris ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

„ C . Flutter ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . Richards ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . Stephens ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ J . J . Biddlecombe ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ W . Griffiths ... ... ... ... 1

„ C . E . Sparks ... ... ... | „ J . Brigstocke ... ... ... \ Prov . G . Stwds . „ 13 . John ... ... ... ... j „ W . T . Morris ... ... ... J „ G . Bowen ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The members afterwards sat down to their annual dinner , which was provided at the Castle Hotel . The Prov . Grand Master , Lord Kensington , P . G . W ., was unavoidably absent .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

The brethren of the above Provincial Grand Lodge held their annual meeting for the despatch of business , at t ^ e Music Hall , Claughton , on Thursday la ct wlvn there was a very good attendance of both Prov . Grand Officers , and W . Ms ., and P . Ms ., with private members , every lodge being represented , between 400 and 500 brethren being present . In the absence of the Prov . G M ., Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , the chair was taken by

Bro . Sir Horatio Lloyd , D . P . G . M ., who , with the rest of Ihe Prov . Grand Officers , was received with the usual honours on the opening of the lodge . There were present at the meeting -. Bros . A . G . Gumming , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . Hamilton Ring , P . G . Chap . ; Jos . lackson , P . G . T . ; Jas . J . Thompson , P . G . R . ; R . Newhouse , P . G . Sec . ; ] no . H . Brooks , P . AG . Sec ; F . E . Cooper , P . G . D . ; J . Bottomley , P . G . D . ; J . H .

Wild , P . P . G . D . ; G . W . Sidebotham , P . J . G . D . ; J . Armstrong , P . G . S . of W . ; H . Gorton Small , P . G . D . of C ; T . Wood , C Vicars , W . Campbell , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; H . Powell Jones , P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Finlow , P . G . S . ; fas . Salmon , A . G . D . C . England ; ] . M . McLeod , P . P . S . G . W . Derbyshire , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; H . laekson . P . P . S . G . D . ; John Clayton , P . P . J . G . W . ; H . Holbrook , P P . G . S . of W . D . D . G . M . British Columbia ; L . Bentlev , P . P . G . R . : J . R . Simm , P . P . G . T . ; J . H

Belize , P . P . G . W . ; T . E . M ; ison , P . P . G . T . ; James Gamlin , P . P . G . D . ; Walter Simpson , P . P . S . G . W . West Lanes . ; Ralph Andrew , P . P . S . G . D , ; Thos . Bowers , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Simpson Booth , P . P . G . P . ; W . Barber , P . P . G . P . ; R . H . M'Kay , P . G S . ; H . E . Heywood , P . P . G . Std . iir . ; P . 11 . Annr tt , P . P . G . T . ; J . Staniforth , P . P . J . G . D . ; T . Drinkwnter , P . P . G . R . ; C . S . Dean , P . G . D . ; E . G . Mason , P . P . G . D . C ; E . Woodhe ; id . P . P . J . G . W . ; W . S . Sutton , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . Sheriff Roberts , P . P . A . G . Sec ; and Henry Mathews , P . P . G . S . of W .

When the roll r . f the lories was ca ' . Iul it was found that everyone was duly rep'esented by its officers . On the motion of Bro . MORRIS , it was decided that the minutes ( if the last annual and akri of the special meeting sfould be parsed . Tte Treasurer ' s accounts were * lso read and passed , showing a very satisf ictory financial ronton of the funds .

B o . H 01 . IANDS pn posid ; . nd the brethren cordiall y agreed to , a vote ) r I thanks to the Treasurer and Audi ors for their services during ihe p ist year , On ( li e motirn rf Bro . SALMON , it was decided that the report of the Benevolent Committee of ihe Cheshire Prov . Grand Lodge be accepted .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

The D . P . G . M ., in addressing Ihe brethren , expressed regret at the absence of Lord Egerton , but said that although it was a cloud , it had a silver lining in the sense that they all hoped that the alliance which he had happily made , and on which they would congratulate him , would prove a hippy one . He was extremely g lad to speak of the harmony which had prevailed in the province during the past year . Not a single complaint had

come before the Prov . Grand Master . Nevertheless , he would advise the Secretaries of the vaiious lodges to be very careful in the details of their duties , so that no irregularity might occur , and to the brethren generally he wished to recommend caution as to the character of those whom they introduce into Freemasonry . He congratulated those present on the condition of their Charity Fund , - £ 315 having been exceptionally contributed , and on

the successful nomination of their candidates . He hoped that the recommendation to give 100 guineas to ihe Royal Masonic Institution for Boys would be carried . He also referred to the consecration of a new lodge and the celebration of the centenary of an old one during the past year . He concluded by expressing his pleasure at presiding over such a meeting after 40 years' Masonic experience , and by moving a congratulatory address to the P . G . M . on that auspicious occasion .

The address was read by the PROV . GRAND S ECRET \ RY , and unanimously agreed to . The meeting next year , subject to the approval of the P . G . M ., will be at Northwich . The following officers were invested for the ensuing year :

Bro . Geo . H . Brown , 537 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,, Captain Cooper , 2 s 36 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . R . Hodgson , 321 ... ... ... | Prov- G , ,, Rev . Hamilton Ring , 2375 ... •••) „ Enoch Evans ( unanimously elected ) ... Prov . G . Treas . .. H . Nash . - « 2 i ... ... •••Prov . G . Reg .

„ R . Newhouse , 1045 ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ G . F . Bird , 1576 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . " -H ^ M 35 " '" " "" 5 Prov . S . G . Ds . „ P . Duff , 605 ... ... ... •¦•) „ Jno . Bell , 10 4 ... ... ... } prQV T . G . DS . ,, Dr . T . T . Appleby , 041 ... ... ... )

„ H . Jones , 1 9 , 7 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks „ H . Gordon Small , 2368 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Richard Stephenson , 1166 ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ . James Holland , 42 S ... ... •••¦) „ John Cooper , 758 ... ... ... £ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . ,, Thomas Hadden , 2380 ... ... ...

,, George Fountain , 26 7 ... ... ... i „ H . Powell Jones , 1957 ... ... ... f Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ A . E . Stringer , 368 ... .. ... ¦> „ Milward Hughes , 2493 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, Thomas Walker 4 . 61 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ Thomas Perrin ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ R . Olive , 605 ... ... ... " 1 „ R . Poweil , 605 ... ... ... I " & W WaJlace 9 - •" I Prov . G . Stwds . ,, W . Richmonds , 207 ... ... ... j

,, John Simpson , 21 3 ,, John Taylor 426 ... ... ... J „ Stephen Smith ... ... ... Prov . G . Ty ler . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , when the brethren pro ceeded to St . Anne ' s Church , and subsequently dined together .

Class Lodges.

CLASS LODGES .

BY BRO . R . F . GOULD . From the early part of last century , when Freemasonry put on its modem attire , down to a period not very remDte from our own , it was an established practice that every new lodge should be " constituted " by the Grand Master or his Deputy .

These proceedings were of the simplest character , and during the lirst half of the eighteenth century it was a common thing for the noble brethren presiding for the time being over the Society , to discharge the duty of constituting lodges in person , instead of vicariously by their Deputies .

Subsequently , however , and especially in the metropolis , to which these observations more especially refer , the task of inaugurating new lodges , or legitimating such as were already , though irregularly , in existence , devolved upon the Deputy Grand Master .

Later still , the old practice fell into desuetude , and instead of being " constituted" in homely fashion by the Grand Master or his Deputy , the habit sprang up of all new lodges within the London district being " consecrated " with much pomp and ceremony by the Grand Secretary .

The recent proceedings , therefore , at Lincoln ' s Inn , when the" Chancery Bar" Lodge was duly consecrated in the presence of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " Most Worshipful Grand Master , " may be conveniently described as a blend of the old system with the new .

This lodge , as the name denotes , has been established for the association in Masonic fellowship of gentlemen of the long robe who are , or who have bsen , practitioners in the Courts of Equity as distinguished from those 0 ' Common Law . The founders of the new lodge cannot indeed lay claim to having ushered

inln existence the first bodyof the kind , the membership of which is restricted to the higher branch of t ! ie legal profession . This distinction is enjoyed by the original members of the Northern Bar Lodge , an association formed in 1876 , for the convenience ol 1 , 1 fritters practising on what is called the Common Liw side of the profession , and who at the same time have made choice ( if the Northern Circuit .

For the origin , however , of Class Lodges , or lo be more precise , of Masonic sodalities recruited from a single profession , or separate class ol m n , we must look back more than a century and a half . The first of these fraternities would appear to have been a Military ° Regimental Lodge , attached to the ist Foot , now the Royal Scots , in ' 73- ' ' from which date Army or Travelling Lodges increased and multipl ' "