Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

/ * gS , as against a balance of £ 405 received by himself at the beginning of the year , tte difference being accounted for by the increased donations . Bro . J CHADWICK presented his 17 th and hst report as Provincial Grand Secretary . He said that at the time of his appointment , in 1 S 79 , there were 90 lodges and about 4100 subscribing brethren in the province ; n 0 W there were no lodges and nearly 5000 subscribing members . During

the financial year just ended he had visited a large number of lodges with great p leasure , as he found a due regard being paid to true Masonic working- F ° 36 yeare he had worked sieadily for the good of the prjvince , and he was especially pleased to have been among the founders of the present system of organisation of the Charities of the province . The PROV . GRAND MASTER expressed his great sorrow in losing the

services of Bro . Chadwick , and his confident hope that the Prov . Grand Lodge would recognise those services in a tangible form . Their province was increasing in strength of numbers , both of lodges and brethren , and the lodges which he had consecrated during the past year -were composed of men of hig h and worthy position , who , not only numerically , but socially also , would give dignity and importance to the Order . Those new lodges

had testified their zeal for Charity by liberal donations , such as would compare wilh those from any lodges in this or any other province in the country . They had had thtir accessions , and they had had their losses . Among the latter was a great . loss by the death of their lamented Bro . Hine , who had done giant ' s work in connection wilh their provincial educational and

benevolent institution , as well as in connection with the Charitable Institutions of the Order in London . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( B o . George Mellor ) had sent in his resignation , ; owing to continued ill-health , and he took wilh him into his retirement the sympathy and best wishes of all with whom he had come in contact during his Masonic career .

For the Prov . Grand Trtasurership—ihe onl y office not in the gift of the Prov . Grand Master—there were three nominations , viz .: Bros . Charles Swinn , P . M . 16 33 , W . M . 2387 ; Samuel Moore , P . M . 992 and 1170 ; and Samuel Shorrock , 381 . The taking of the votes resulted in the election of Bro . Shorrock .

Bro . Beswicke-Royds was appointed Deputy Prov . Grand Master by Bro . Col . STARKIE , who spoke of him as a very worthy and trusty brother , of high rank in Knight Templary , and a member and governor in this part of England in the 33 . The installation of Bro . Beswicke-Royds , the Prov . Grand Master added , will take place at a future dale . The Ptov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year were afterwards invested in the following order :

Bro . Dr . D . J . Leech ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ CD . Cheetham ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . J . W . Challenor .. ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Rev . J . H . Latham ... ... Prov . A . G . Chap . ,, Sam . Shorrock ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ S . F . Butcher ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ G . L . Vaughan ... ... ... Prov . Dep . G . Reg . „ Samuel Cadow ... ... ... \

, H . J . Cutter ... ... ... C Prov . S . G . Ds . „ Charles S . Allott ... ... ... ) „ T . L . Buckley ... ... ... S ,. E . Barlow ... ... ... ... C Prov . J . G . Ds . ,, Seth Wrigley ... ... .. J „ Henry Lord ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ James Beardmore ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Eli Winterbottom ... ... ... Prov . Dep . G . D . C . „ I . C . Witham ... ..: ...-,

„ J . S . Horn ... ... ... ... C Prov . A . G . D . Cs . ,. H . Walmsley ... ... ... ) , W . Halstead ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . , R . H . Phillips ... ... ... Prov . Dep . G . S . B . , James Hopkir son ... ... " ) D ,- C . J r > ,. R . Whitworth j Prov . G . Std . Brs . , John Miles ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,. Sergeant Set tie ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . , T . H . Hamer ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . , C . W . Godby ... ... ... " ) ,, J . H . Alden ... ... ... | 1 J . Garside ... ... ... |

, G . B . Blaikie ... ... * > Prov . G . S : wds . , Thos . Thrtlfall ... ... | 1 . Geo . W . Davits ... ... ... | , G . H . Flower ... ... 1

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

The above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Hanley , on the 13 th inst ., upwards of 450 brethren being present , including Bros , the Earl of Dartmouth , P . G . M . ; Lieut .-Col . Bindley , Deputy P . G . M . ; E . V . Greatbach , P * S . G . W . ; C . Taylor , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . O . M . H . lden , P . G . Chap . ; G . Bennion , P . G . Reg . ; C . A . Newnham , P . G . Treas . ; G . VV . Walker ,

p G . Sec ; W . H . Bamber , P . S . G . D . ; T . Af . Heap , P . S . G . D . ; R . '¦ wgden , P . J . G . D . ; S . Jenkin , P . G . S . of W . ; J . Wooldridge , P . G . D * of C . ; G . H . Tortoishell , P . A . G . D . of C . , * E . Martyn Scott , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Edwards , P . G . Org . ; J . D . Steer , P . A . G . Purst ., * E . Jones , W . H . Newby , J . Mason , and W . J . J . W . Heath , P . G . S ' . wds . ; and W . Turst , P . G . Tyler .

> rovincial Grand Lodge having been opened , the brethren gave the "sual salutes to the P . G . M ., D . P . G . M ., P . G . Treasurer , and other P . G . ull | cers ; and the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read the minutes of the last

meeting f Prov . Grand Lodge held at Walsall . Letters of apology were read from Bro * . Col . Tudor , F . James , and '" ers , after which the roll of lodges was called , and it was shown that a " were represented . 1

ne statement of accounts presented by the PROV . GRAND TREASURER s re ad and passed , and Bro . Newnham was re-elected P . G . Treasurer , nd '" ccorded a heartv vole of thanks .

'he PROV . GRAND MASTER , addressing the brethren , said these Prov . and Lod ge meetings afforded an opportunity of , in commercial language ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

taking stock , and on that occasion he congratulated them upon the position of Masonry in the province . His lordship congratulated Bro . W . Bailey upon his election tothe ollice of Grand Treasurer of England , and thanked the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge for their services during the past year , arid for the assistance they had rendered him . Reierring to the

questions of finance and Charity , he spoke most hoptfully of the success of the gathering- to be held at Trentham in July next for the benefit of the Benevolent Fund of that province . The work in connection with the perpetual presentation at Wolverhampton Orphan Asylum was approaching completion , and he suggested that the Staffordshire Masonic Charitable Association should be the authority to deal with it . Bro . Lord Dartmouth then proceeded to appoint and invest the following officers :

Bro . A . Caddick ... ... ... ... Prov . S G . W . „ Major W . Tunnicliffe ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . O . M . Holden ... ... ... * ¦ --, / - r-u „ A . E . Briscoe Owen } Prov . G . Chaps . „ C . A . Newnham ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ A . Reeve ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Major G . W . Walker ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ George Wormal ... ... -. ir , c / - r- > „ James Wearing j Prov . S . G . Ds . ,, | . J . Smith ... ... ... ... * ) .-, T .-. -r . „ W . J . J . W . Heath j Prov . J . G . Ds . „ A . Newton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . Dewsbury ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ GeorgeBott ... ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ E . B . Devereux ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,. I . M . Willdie ... ... ... Prov . G . S . R .

ii NV ^ New ' by i . " . ' . ' . ' . "J Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ A . D . Parker ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . D . Steen ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ Thomas H . Hamer ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ John Forster ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ George Haynes ... ... ... ^ " J . ' H . ° Dewes " . ' . " ' . ' . ' . -f Prov . G . Stewards . „ W . Webster ... ... ... J „ E . R . Lane ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The members of Prov . Grand Lodge attended Shelton Church , where the offertory amounted to / 16 7 s . 6 d .

An invitation was given from the Handsworth brethren for the Prov Grand Lodge to be held under the banner of St . James ' s Lodge in 1 S 98 . A banquet took place in the evening in the Victoria Hall .

"The Old Masonians."

"THE OLD MASONIANS ."

The ioth annual dinner of the above Association of the old boys of our School at Wood Green took place on Friday , the Sth inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel . The attendance was not so good as informer years , but a most enjoyable evening was spent under the Chairmanship of the President , Bro . C . E . Keyser . The Chairman was supported by Bros . J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . Boys , P . G . S . B ., Past President of the Association ; J . Leach Barrett , Vice-President ; and Bro . the Rev . H . Hebb , M . A ., Head Master of the School and Vice-President of the

Association . An excellent dinner , served up in Bro . Clemow's usual good style , received full justice at the hands ot the company . At the conclusion of the repast , the loyal toasts were proposed by the CHAIRMAN , who in particular referred to the recent celebration of the Prince of Wales ' 21 st year of Grand Mastership , and pointed out that it was also his 21 st year of President of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

The toast of "The Old Masonians Association was next given by Bro . C . E . KEYSER , in which he stated the pleasure it gave him to be present and the strong interest he felt in the Association , which he looked upon as a very admirable body , and likely to advance the best interests of the School ; like the proverbial bundle of sticks , he believed in the principle of the old boys binding themselves together for mutual support .

The response on behalf of the Association was made by the Treasurer and Secretary . Mr . R . S . CHANDLER , Hon . Treasurer , spoke of the deep spirit of brotherhood that existed among the old boys of the Masonic School , and the outcome of that had been the establishment of their Association 10 years ago , that since then they had steadily progressed . To show the activity that was in the Association , he pointed out that 50 new members had been enrolled during the

past year , nearly all of them boys under 21 years of age . They had also established this season an excellent cricket club . He continued that although they did not neglect the social aspect of the club , their chief object was a benevoltnt one—to assist old scholars of the School when through misfortune they required it , that thanks to the generosity of some of their many friends in the Craft they had been able to build up a fund ot £ 135 for this purpose , he , however , hoped that this sum would considerably increase as time went on and their objects became better known to the Craft at large .

Mr . G . CROSS WILLETT , Sec , in a lew remarks referred to the possibility of lorming a Masonic lodge in a few years time in connection with the association . The toast of "The Past and Vice-Presidents" was given by Bro . R . H . WILLIAMS , in which he drew the attention of those present to the hi gh and

deserving honour that had recently been conferred on their Past President , Bro , ] . M . McLeod , and hoped he would live long to sustain the rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer of England . He also referred to Bros . J . Leach Barrett and to H . Hebb , mentioning the improvement that had taken place at the School during the regime of the latter .

Bros . J . M . MCLEOU , LEACH BARRETT , and the Rev . H . HEBB each briefly responded . Bro . G . W . MARTIN , in giving the toast of "The Royal Masonic Institution lor Boys , " mentioned that 30 years had elapsed since he entered the School at Wood Green , stating that the number of boys there in his tims was 83 .

Bro . J . M . MCLEOD replied and said the boys at the School had increased from 83 to 28 3 since the last speaker had entered it in 1866 , he also touched on the vast improvements that had been accomplished since then , and now the boldest project of all was about to take place—the removal of the School i nto the country ,