Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

The progress and prominent position of Freemasonry in the Province of Cheshire vvas very forcibly illustrated by the unparalleled gathering on the th inst ., in the Town Hall of the ancient city of Chester , the occasion of the impressivi and significant assembly being the installation of Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Egerton of Tatton as Provincial Grand Master of this Masonic division , in succession to Bro . Lord de Tabley . Brethren were

oresent from every lodge in the province , and besides these there were in the gathering representatives from the Grand Lodge of England , the Provinces of West Lancashire , East Lancashire , Kent , and Shropshire . Altogether there were present about 800 brethren—including an unusually large representation of P . G . Lodge Officers—the largest number which has ever taken nlace in this section owning allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England .

The enthusiasm attending the proceedings was most conspicuously shown , and it is doubtful whether any more interesting meeting has ever been held in this division . It is interesting to note that amongst those present on the occasion was Bro . G . H . Vernon , vicar of St . Stephen's Church , Byromstreet , Liverpool , vvho was formerly Prov . Grand Chaplain under the late Bro . Lord Combermere , preached the sermon at the installation of Bro . 1 ord de Tabley , and was also P . G . Chaplain of West Lancashire a good

many years ago . A very large assembly of brethren vvas present from North VVales and East and West Lancashire . Bro . the Earl of Lathom , D . G . M . of England , Prov . Grand Master of East Lancashire , was the Installing Mastei ; Bro . Earl Amherst , Prov . G . M . of Kent , acting as Deputy Prov . G . M . ; and amongst those supporting them were :

Bros . Col . Le Gendre Starkie , Prov . G . M . of East Lancashire ; Sir Offley Wakeman , Prov . G . M . of Salop ; Hon . W . Sackville West , P . G . W . Eng . ; Rev . G . R . Portal , P . G . C . Eng . ; and Judge Horatio Lloyd , P . G . D . Eng . Past and Present officers of this and other provincial lodges in attendance included Bros . S . G . Sinclair , P . Prov . S . W . West Lancashire j E . Griffiths , Prov . G . Secretary ; R . Foote , P . Prov . G . T . West Lancashire ; W . Goodacre , P . Prov . G . R ., P . G . Sec . West Lancashire ; Robert H . Hutchinson , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; John Chadwick , Prov . G . Sec . East Lancashire ;

T E . Morris , Prov . G . Sec . North Wales ; Rev . E . J . Reeve , Prov . G . C . East Lanes . ; L . J . Howard , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; G . A . Fernley , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; F . Binckes , P . G . Standard Bearer Eng . ; Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope , P . G . Chaplain Eng . ; T . L . Hampton Lewis , Prov . S . G . W . North VVales ; G . Brocklebank , P . G . Standard Bearer Eng * . ; W . Booth , Prov . G . D . C , * A . L . Broad , P . Prov . J . G . W . Stafford ; J . H . Bellyse , P . Prov . J . G . W . ; Henry Piatt , D . Prov . G . M . North Wales ; and many others .

The brethren having assembled in the large hall , the Installing Master and his suite of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers entered , and were received and saluted with proper ceremony , and Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due form , Bro . T . Marwood , Zetland Lodge , 537 , Prov . S . W ., and Bro . J . Wilson , Eaton Lodge , 533 , Prov . J . W ., occupying the chairs of their respective offices , and assisting in the opening .

After assembling and clothing in the outer rooms of the building , the Masters , Past Masters , and M . M . ' s of the Craft lodges took their places in the large room of the Town Hall , admirably adapted for the purpose of the meeting . The Installing Master , Bro . the Earl of Lathom , attended by the Prov . G . Masters of East Lancashire , Kent , and Shropshire , and

accompanied by a brilliant array of past and present officers of Cheshire and other provinces , entered in procession , being received in due form by the numerous members of the Craft lodges while a voluntary was being played . The Installing Master and the other Past Masters having been greeted in proper Masonic form , the choir sang the anthem— " Behold how good . "

In addressing the Prov . G . Lodge , Bro . Lord LATHOM explained the object of the meeting , stating that it was for the purpose of filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of their most worthy and well-beloved Prov . G . Master , Bro . the Right Hon . Lord de Tabley , a resignation , he was sure , which would be regretted by every brother in the Province of Cheshire , and regret because of the cause which had led to his lordship ' s resignation

—namely , his continued ill-health . ( Applause . ) It had been earnestly hoped that Bro . Lord de Tabley would continue to rule over the province for many years , but this wish was not to be fulfilled . While , however , deploring the loss of their former Prov . G . Master , he heartily congratulated the brethren of the Province of Cheshire on the selection which had been made b y H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., in having designated Bro .

Lord Egerton to fill the important office . ( Loud applause . ) The P . G . PURSUIVANT then announced the arrival of the R . W . P . G . M . designate , and the Installing Master instructed the P . G . Director of Ceremonies to retire , and ask the R . W . P . G . M . designate for his patent . This having been obtained , it was presented to Lord Lathom , who directed seven Masters and Past Masters—connected with Lodges Nos . 1045 , 941 , 721 ,

425 , 321 , 104 , and 89—to retire with the P . G . D . C . to introduce the R . W . Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , the P . G . M . designate , while the Master Masons received him standing . The P . G . SECRETARY read the patent of appointment signed by the Prince of Wales , and after prayer had been offered by the V . W . Bro . the Rev . Canon PORTAL , Past Grand Chaplain of England , the " Gloria" was

sung by the choir . The INSTALLING MASTER then addressed the Provincial Grand Master <> n the nature of his duties , the qualifications for the office to which he had heen appointed , and then enquired of him whether he could conscientiously undertake these duties . Bro . Lord Lathom particularly referred to the "importance of care in the selection of his Provincial Grand Officers , who Would be most likely to maintain and advancs the reputation of the Craft

¦ or its pure and sincere Charity . He heartily congratulated the new Prov . wand Master on his elevation to the high office by the M . W . G . M ., and he loro . Lorcl Lathom ) expressed the great pleasure he felt in being present that day to install a kinsman . After the usual formalities in connection with the installation , the Prov . wand Master was conducted to the right of the Installing Officer , by whom e was invested with the apron , chain , and jewel of office , and inducted into ll , 8 chair .

.. Tie P . G . D . of C . then proclaimed the P . G . M ., stating in the course of 15 proclamation that Bro . Egerton was initiated in Lodge No . 321 in the \ iVe l 862 ' served the office of W . M . in 1866 , vvas appointed P . J . G . W . in 1865 , P . S . G . W . in 18 7 6 , and D . P . G . M . in 1877 . i * j " , usual salutation having been given to the P . G . M ., the P . G . SEC .

= and * m * nutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , which were confirmed , T hi " a 8 reecl t ' t-he letter of resignation received from Bro . Lord de l ey should be entered on the records of the Provincial Grand Lodge . Ver ° * Lor d EGERTON briefly thanked the brethren of the province for the ^ y cordial reception which had been extended to him on his appointment . hin / ^ ' sensible of the great honour which had been conlerred upon ' and he assured them that he would employ his best efforts to follow in

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

the footsteps of his esteemed predecessor by endeavouring to promote the general welfare of Masonry throughout the Province of Cheshire . During the last 21 years the roll of lodges and the sums voted for the Masonic Charities had very greatly increased , and he trusted that the same record would be maintained during his term of office . He was certain the brethren of the province would , as heretofore , rally round the P . G . M . and helphim 10 carry out the duties of his office . He concluded by cordially thanking his relative ( Bro . Lord Lathom ) for attending that day as Installing Master , thereby adding lustre to the ceremony .

The roils of the P . G , Officers and lodges were called over , several of the latter being represented by 40 , 50 , and 60 brethren . The P . G . M . then anounced the appointment of Bro . His Honour Judge Horatio Lloyd as the Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who was presonted and invested with the ordinary Masonic ritual . Bro . Simms was re-elected P . G . Treasurer until the annual meeting in September . Bro . T . Marwood was re-appointed P . S . G . W . ; Bro . J . Wilson , P . J . G . W . ; and Bros . Roberts , Tait , Paris , Humphreys , Finchett , and Rush , P . G . Stewards .

Charity jewels were gives to Bros . Parr , Woodhead , Mellor , and Marwood . A congratulatory telegram vvas read from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmorland , and it vvas resolved to wire a reply of a similar nature . Thanks were voted to the Dean and Chapter of Chester for the use of the cathedral , and to the Mayor and Corporation for their kindness in placing the Town Hall at the disposal of the brethren . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren proceeded in procession to the cathedral , which was crowded in every part .

On the entrance of the Provincial Grand Lod ge officers and the brethren , Dr . J . B . Bridge played " God Save the Queen " and the march from " Naaman " ( Costa ) . The anthem was " Blessed be the God and Father " Wesley ) . The following oration vvas delivered by the Rev . Canon PORTAL , G . C . of England , and who took for his text " He cast two pillars of brass . " —I . Kings , vii ., 15 : —

The two pillars of hollow brass , made by Hiram , the widow ' s son , of Tyre , for King Solomon , with their nets of checker work , and wreaths of chain work , their lilies and their pomegranates , were set up , as we know , on either side of the entrance to the Temple . They did not , so far as appears , subserve any architectural purpose whatever , but they were solely for a witness—a witness to the reality of certain great truths vvhich God would teach by them . They were at the entrance of God's earthly Temple , vvhich , as we know from St . Paul , vvas a pattern of the Heavenly . And they taught the

worshipper , as their names imported , by vvhat means he might establish , by God ' s strength working in him , so as to be fitted , not only for acceptable earthly worship here , but for the triumphant worship of Heaven . He must be oure as the lily—for the pure in heart alone shall see God . He must be fruitful in good works , and in a holy life ( as the pomegranate is ever bursting forth with fruitful seed ) , because the unprofitable and idle servant shall not enter Heaven at all , but be cast forth into outer darkness . And as the net work and the chain work denoted unity , that bond of peace and love and mutual which knits God

sympathy ' s children into one family , so did the outstanding clearness , the " undercutting" so to say , of the tracery , teach that transparent singleness of heart and aim vvhich has the promise of the true light of God , the power of His grace and spirit , guiding our footsteps day by day . There were two pillars . As three is the emblem ol the ever blessed Trinity , and seven of perfection , so whenever God wills to set forth a special witness to mankind , that witness is generally twofold . Thus vve have the two trees in the garden of Eden—the tree of Sin , the tree of Life . The pillar

of Fire , and thepillarof the Cloud . Ihe Law and the Gospel—Moses and the Prophetsthe two witnesses in the Revelation . God ' s written Word and his living Church . The two great Sacraments which create and continue the soul ' s life . May I on this occasion , and in this presence , venture still further to illustrate the power of this dual witness for God as shown in the history of the great Society to which so many of us here novv belong ? This place in which we are now gathered is an evidence to us of the mighty works of former days raised to God ' s glory by the Freemasons of old .

The whole of the churches and stately buildings of Europe , and probably of the East as well , were the work of our ancestors in the Craft . Their marks are to be seen everywhere , and right well did they follow the example of the Royal Solomon and his friend Hiram , in spending time and labour and skill in raising Temples to the Most High , and those exceeding magnifical . Here , you see , vve have the double witness to the great truth , that God will have a worthy place in which to record His name , 90 that He may come and bless His people there . The Holy Catholic Church calling for the pious work

to be done , and our brethren devoting themselves to its fulfilment , with all the treasures of their hidden science and mysterious skill . And vve , their children and their successors , are proud of all that verifies our lineage . I am well aware that an unreasoning prejudice causes one great branch of the Catholic Church to look askance at us as little better than Pagans , but numbers of those who hear me know full well tbat whatever may be in certain unhappy instances the case abroad , yet among English-speaking Masons there is but one common sentiment of reverence to Almighty God , the Great

Architect and Overseer of the Universe , and of loyalty to the Government of whatever country vve may call our home . We speculative Masons of to-day have as good a claim as had our Operative brethren of old to be welcomed by the Christian Church as her faithful handmaid . We , as they , are true to our great Masters and Patrons , St . John Baptist and the beloved Disci ple . And not only is the old tradition of the Operative Masons' marks specially cheiished among us , and one important section of our Order exclusively devoted to its elucidation and its memory ; but in how many of the greatest

church works of our own day do not we Masons now come to the front , with our support , our sympathy , and our assistance ? I need scarcely remind you of vvhat the antient parish church of St . Oswald in the south transept of this Cathedral owes to the brother whom vve have installed as our ruler { to-day or , of the antient and beautiful font brought from Italy , vvhich with its surroundings he has presented to this Church , or of the sediliaand the pulpit from which I am now addressing you , which were the gifts of the Masons of this province . And if , leaving these Temples made with hands , Masonic

hands , vve glance at the great and mighty truths which the Catholic Church of Christ has been sent here to teach , and vvhich , with varying success , through good and evil report she has held fast , throughout the world for 1800 years , what wonderful support has she not received from the independent witness of the great Masonic Craft ? Does the Church proclaim with St . Paul that it is God vvho made the heavens and the earth , with all the inhabitants thereof ? We , too , call upon all ture brethren to believe in the Great Architect of the Universe . Does she teach that in the Godhead there are

three persons—Father , Son , and Holy Ghost ? We certainly are not ignorant of the symbolism of the mystic triangle . Does she tell us that all Scripture is written by inspiration of God , and is therefore profitable for instruction in His ways ? We , too , adopt as the fundamental principle of our Order that the sacred writings are to rule and govern our faith . Does St . Paul tell all men to pray everywhere , lifting up holy hands ? We , too , instruct our neophytes as their first lesson that part'of the 24 hours of each day is to be spent in prayer to Almighty God , and pait in serving others in time of need—in

the exercise of Charity , that practical manifestation of brotherly love , without which all our doings are nothing worth . The Church has her colleges , her hospitals , her religious orders of nursing women , to show how she reads the command of her Lord to teach the ignorant , to care for the sick and the helpless . We , too , may point to the great Masonic Institutions as our illustration of that virtue , which blesses him who gives as well as him who receives . The Christian Church has ever warned men of judgment to come , when God will try every work of what sort it is . Are not vve , too , taught something of the

rigid scrutiny to which every stone of the sacred building will be subjected , of the punctual payment of the wages earned , of the due acknowledgment of the good work , of the certain rejection of the bad , of the impossibility of any impostnre passing undiscovered in that day ? And do not we , as Masons , bear our witness to the reality of that glorious Easter-tide message , that this life is but the porch leading tothe palace of the Great King ?—that the darkness of death is the forerunner of a more brilliant light , vvhich

shall follow at the resurrection of the just , when these mortal bodies , which have been * slumbering in the dust , shall be awakened , and , reunited to their soul again , be clothed with immoitality ? As the eye of faith penetrates within the veil , it sees one central figure , before Whom angels and archangels , saints and martyrs , fall down in ceaseless adoration—a lamb as it had been slain , and yet King of Kings and Lord of Lords—Jesus—God and man , And thc Christian Church tells us , as she herself was taught by