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THE large number of unpolled votes at the Royal Masonic Benevolent elections suggests one or two considerations . One is , that a considerable section of the subscribers does not seek to exercise its franchise ; secondly , that despite all the organizations of the hour , and countless appeals , not a

few of our worthy brethren must throw their voting papers into the waste paper basket . We live in a land of freedom , and most things are allowable , but it may make all the difference in the world to some poor candidate this non-user of rightful privileges and lawful votes . Let us hope to note an amendment in this respect .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

The annual meeting was held in the Methodist Free Church , Todwarden , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., and was presided over by the R . W . P . G . M ., Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , who was supported by between 400 and 500 brethren , amongst whom were the following : Bros . George Mellor , V . W . Deputy P . G . M . ; T . VV . Tew , R . W . P . G . M . W . Yorkshire ; Henrv Smith , V . W . Deputy P . G . M . W . V ' orkshire ; J . W . Woodall , G . Treas . ; Geo .

Parker Brockbank , G . Std . Br . ; Jas . Mc Laren , P . G . S . W . ; J . H . Silhtoe , P . G . J . W . ; Rev . VV . R . Clayton , P . G . Chap . ; Rev . E . Parker , P . G . Chap . ; J . Leach , P . G . Treas . ; 1 . T . Worth , P . G . Re ? . ; John Chadwick , P . G . Sec ; Thomas Lowler , P . G . S . D . ; ' J . T . Newbold , P . G . I . D . ; John Roberts , P . G . D . C . ; J . VV . Abbott , P . G . A . D . C ; Richard Pilkington , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Andrew , 2 nd Std . Br . ; Charles Heywood , P . P . G . J . VV . ; Charles Henton-Wood , P . G . Sec . Leicestershire and Rutland ; John lid

Rigby . P . P . G . T . ; J . Gibb-Smith , P . P . G . J . VV . ; R . Timperley . P . P . G . S . D . ; . Ashworth , P . P . G . S . VV . ; H . L . Hollingworth , P . P . G . T . ; VV . O . Walker , P . P . G . J . VV . ; H . L . Rocca , P . P . G . J . D . ; Wm . Jaffrey , P . P . G . J . D .-, T . J . Hooper , P . P . G . T . ; John Bladon , P . P . G . A . D . C ; Benj . Taylor , P . P . G . T . ; Thomas Grime , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; James Kershaw , P . P . G . D . C . ; Charles Jones , P . P . G . D . C ; James Hadfield , P . P . G . J . D . ; William Roberts , P . P . G . P . ; R . Butterworth , P . P . G . P . ; Charles Wood , P . P . G . S . ; Denis Towers , P . P . G . D . C ; Rev . E . H . AldridgeP . P . G . Chap . ; VV . H . Cunliffe , P . P . G . P . ; Geo . Galloway ,

, P . P . G . S . D . ; Jas . Blacka , P . P . G . P . ; J . T . Littlewood , P . P . G . S . ; J . F . Hoffgrard , P . P . G . D . ; Jno . Morris , P . G . Sup . of Works ; Joseph Wildgoose , P . P . G . J . D . ; Rev . E . H . Thomas , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap . ; Saml . Porritt , P . P . G . D . C ; Geo . F . East , P . P . G . D . C ; Jno . Halliwell , P . P . G . Swd . Br . ; J . VV . P . Salmon , P . P . G . D . C ; Jas . Newton , P . P . G . S . D . ; VV . Taylor , P . P . G . P . ; R . Caldwell , P . P . G . Swd . Br . ; jno . Barker , P . P . G . T . ; G . Ferguson , P . P . G . Sup . of Wks . ; Win . Nicholson , P . P . G . S . B . ; R . R . Lisenden , S . W . 317 ( Freemason ); and others .

The brethren assembled at two o ' clock , and at 2 . 25 the R . W . P . G . M . entered , attended by a long array of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers . The Prov . Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . J ROBERTS , called upon the brethren to salute the R . W . P . G . M . ; the V . W . Dep . P . G . M . ; the R . W . P . G . M . West Yorks , Bro . T . W . Tew , the V . W . Dep . P . G . M . West Yorks , Bro . Henry Smith ; the Grand Treasurer , Bro . J . W . Woodall ; the Grand Standard Bearer , Bro . George Parker Brockbank , and , finally ,

the Provincial Grand Officers . At the request of the R . W . P . G . Master , the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . J CHADWICK , called over the roll of 93 lodges meeting in the province , all of which were represented except one . The roll of Provincial Grand Officers was next called over , and letters

of apology reported from absentees . The minutes of the annual Prov . Grand Lodge meeting , held last May , and also the special meeting , held in November , were , after some discussion , taken as read and confirmed . The R . W . P . G . M . read a report , compiled by the P . G . Secretary , on the progress of Masonry in the province during the past 12 months , from which there appeared a loss of subscribing members to the number of 535 , compared with the previous 12 months .

The P . G . Treasurer , Bro . J . LEACH , read a statement of his accounts for the year , which showed a balance in favour of Prov . Grand I ^ odge of £ 165 6 s . 3 d ., against £ 79 9 s . 6 d . the previous year . Bros . J . LOWNDES and E . G . HARWOOD ( Auditors ) reported favourably upon the P . G . Treasurer ' s accounts , and Bro . Lowndes moved they be passed , which was seconded by Bro . Harwood , and carried . A vote of thanks to the Auditors for their services was proposed by the

R . W . P . G . M ., seconded , and carried . Bro . Thomas Oakden , 29 8 , was proposed for P . G . Treasurer , and unanimousl y elected . The R . W . P . G . M . then appointed his officers for the ensuing year , and they were invested as follows : — Bro . Abraham Clegg , 277 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ Jas . Walker , 37 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . E . Parker , 116 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap .

„ Rev . K . J . Reeve , 1030 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Chap . „ Thos . Oakden , 298 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, J . W . Lowe , 1253 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ John Chadwick , 44 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Ch ? . rles Schuster , 62 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D .

„ Wm . lineney , 344 ... ... ... frov . U . h . U . „ Thos . Schofield , 288 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ W . H . Bibby , 999 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ John Greaves , 277 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ Thos . Southern , 935 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ., J . W . Abbott , 1030 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . D . C .

„ W . W . Dawson , 1219 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ Saml . Barnes , 217 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . B . „ Thos . Carter , 42 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Wm . Lamb , 346 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ J . Lee Riley , 1504 ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Purst .

„ E . Ashworth , P . P . G . S . W . ... ... 1 „ ] . Gibb Smith , P . P . G . J . D . ... ... I " ft O . Walker , P . P . G . J . W PrQv „ Chas . Crabtree ... ... ... „ T . Parker „ E . Slater ... ... ... ... J

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

Bros . Col . Starkie , R . W . P . G . M . ; George Mellor , V . W . D . P . G . M . Clement R . N . Beswicke-Royds , P . G . D . ; and Joseph L . Hine , P . P . G . S . W ., were re-elected Trustees of the Prov . Grand Lodge funds . The P . G . SECRETARY read a report from the Charity Committee , which was confirmed . Bros . Henry Poole , 44 ; Benj . Williams , 163 ; and Atkins 300 ; were appointed Auditors for the year .

On the motion of Bro . CHAS . HEYWOOD , P . P . G . J . W ., the sum of ^ 50 was voted from the P . G . Funds towards the East Lancashire Masonic Educational Benevolent Institution . Bro . J AMES NEWTON , P P . G . J . D ., proposed , and Bro . J OSIAH TAYLOR seconded , that the congratulations of Prov . Grand Lodge be tendered to Bro . George Parker Brockbank on his recent appointment of Grand Standard Bearer .

Ihe motion was warmly supported by the R . W . P . G . M . and carried with acclamation . A motion on the agenda paper in the name of Bro . Tunks , of Accrington , having reference to the rescinding of a bye-law made last November at the special meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge , was arranged to be brought forward at the next meeting , subject to some alterations .

Provincial Grand Lo 'ge was invited by the five W . M . ' s of the lodges meeting at Bury to ho ; I its next meeting in that town . There being no further business , Prov . Cand Lodge was closed in due form . A banquet was afterwards presided over by the R . W . P . G . M . in the Town Hall , where the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, And Derbyshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE , NORTHAMPTONSHIRE , AND DERBYSHIRE .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge and General Communication of Mark Master Masons in the province was held at Freemasons ' Hall , Derby , on Monday , ihe nth inst . The Derby Lodge , No . 302 , having been opened , the R . W . Prov . G . M . M ., Bro . William Kelly , F . S . A ., F . R . S ., accompanied by the Prov . Grand Officers , entered the lodge room , the P . G . M . being received with the customary honours . Amongst those present we noticed Bros . E C . Milligan , as D . P . G . M . ; Thomas Worthington , P . G . S . W . ; Thomas

Cox , P . G . J . W . ; S . Cleaver , P . G . Treas . ; Clement E . Stretton , G . Stwd . Eng ., P . G . Sec . ; R . ' Taylor , P . G . S . D . ; Percy Wallis , VV . M . 302 , P . G . J . D . ; VV . L . Ball , P . G . D . C . ; J . H . Lawson , P . G . Std . Br . ; VV . H . Barrow , F . C . O ., P . G . Org . ; H . Brown , P . G . Stwd . ; M . J . Walker , P . P . G . W . ; G . T . Wright , P . M . 246 ; John Walker , S . D . 302 ; T . Coltman , 104 ; R . L . II . Mole , Sec . 302 ; G . Small , 302 ; Rev . T . Orrell , P . P . G . Chap . ; W . Silver Hall ; J . H . Clarke , 302 ; J . O . Manton ; VV . Whittaker ; J . Bland ; J . D . Harris ; J . J . Hart ; VV . J . Curtis ; James Tanser , P . G . Tyler ; and many others .

The minutes of the last annual meeting were dul y confirmed , and the rolls of lodges and Provincial Grand Officers were called over , and met with a general response . The Worshipful Masters of lodges presented their reports , which , together with the Registrar ' s summary of returns , and the report of the Committee of General Purposes , showed that every lodge in the province

is working very efficiently , and that Mark Masonry is making highly satisfactory progress , as evidenced by the fact that during the past year a new lodge , No . 339 , has been established at Winshill , Burton-on-Trent ( bearing the name of the esteemed Provincial Grand Master ) , and a warrant has recently been granted for the constitution of another new lodge in Derbyshire , to be held at Ashbourne , and named the Dove Valley Lodge , No . 353 , which will be consecrated on the l 8 lh inst .

1 he Treasurer s accounts for the past year , showing a balance in hand ° f £ AZ os . id ., were received . A vote of thanks was passed to Bro . S . Cleaver for his past services , and he was unanimously re-elected Prov . Grand Treasurer . The R . W . P . G . M . delivered a very interesting address relating to the prosperity of Mark Masonry in his province , specially referring to the progress made by the Derbyshire brethren , at the conclusion of which he appointed and invested the following brethren as Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . Rev . S . J . W . Sandars ... ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M . „ Percy Wallis , P . G . St . ( Eng . ; , ... ... Prov . G . S . W . ,, Henry Brown ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ Wm . Lawrence Ball ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ Richard Taylor ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O . „ Geo . Thos-Wri ght ... ... ... Prov . G . J . O . „ Rev . Thomas Orrell , M . A . ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Samuel Cleaver ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . 11

„ j . -. Dawson ... ... ... ... rrov . IJ . Keg . „ Clement E . Stretton , G . Std . ( Eng . ) ,.. ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Arthur H . Marsh ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ Wm . Whittaker ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ James O . Manton ... ... ... Prov . G . L of VV . „ John Dove Harris ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ John J . Hart ... ... ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ VV . Rhys Williams ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br .

„ J . R . Cain ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . B ,. „ VV . H . Barrow , F . C . O . ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ James D . Bennett ... ... .,, Prov . G . I . G . ,, Edward Watson ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd . „ W . J . Curtis ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd . „ Joseph Bland ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd . „ Thomas Dunn .,. ... ... ... Prov . G . Ty ler . „ James Tanser ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Ty ler .

A letter was read and ordered to be entered upon the minutes , thanking the lodge for the address of sympathy forwarded to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Albany on the death of H . R . H . the Duke of Albany , P . G . M . The recommendations of the Committee of General Purposes that the transactions of this Prov . Grand Lodge should

be annually printed and circulated amongst the members , and that a State sword be purchased , were adopted . The sum of £ 10 ios . was voted to the Mark Benevolent Fund , to be placed upon Bro . Walker's list as Steward . The invitation to hold the next meeting at Leicester under the banner of the Fowke Lodge , No . 19 , having been accepted by the P . G . M ., the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed in ample form .

The annual banquet then took place , after which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly proposed and acknowledged , and a highly successful meeting was brought to a close .