Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

tcrest , not only in this but in other countries . He need not remind them of the active part His Royal Highness took in the late Exhibition held in Paris , when by his praiseworthy efforts he made himself not only the most popular man in England , but the most popular man in France . ( Cheers . ) As to the Princess , she was beloved by all , and the English people would always cherish with pleasant

memory the day when the rose of Denmark came and sat beside the rose of England . ( Applause . ) He hoped the Royal Family might long exist to the benefit oE the nation , and he was sure that as Masons they would ever have reason to be proud of His Royal Highness as the head of the Craft . ( Applause . ) The Chairman then gave " The Right Honourable the

Earl of Carnarvon , Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master . " He said the noble earl was well known to many in the room , and his health would always be received in Lancashire with that warmth and enthusiasm that it ought to be . The earl came down at great inconvenience , putting aside many engagements to instal him ( Colonel Starkie ) in the chair he now occupied , and which the Masonic

brethren had made very pleasant to him by exhibiting a true Masonic spirit . ( Applause . ) Bro . W . Slater , P . P . G . S . W ., proposed " The Health of the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , Deputy Grand Master , and the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He vvas sure the toast needed no eulogy from him . Lord Skelmersdale had worked with them as a brother ought to do , and with

regard to the Grand Officers , he was pleased to say they had all done their duty well and nobly , and he was glad to see such a large number present on that occasion . It spoke well for the Order , and vvas an honour to the Masonic fraternity of Salford . ( Hear , hear . ) That would be a red letter day in the history of the Royal borough , and the Masonic Order in this province would long remember

with pleasure their meeting that day . ( Cheers . ) The R . W . D . P . G . M ., Bro . G . Mellor , in responding , said the officers who had been invited that day would , he had no doubt , do their duty , and at the end of the year their services would be acknowledged by the Grand Master of the province . I le had the honour to propose a toast which he was sure would be received with enthusiasm by

each and every brother present , " The Health of Colonel Le Gcndre N . Starkie . " ( Loud applause . ) Where was there a man more respected than their worthy G . M . ? Colonel Starkie was a man whose universal benevolence , kindly disposition , sympathetic nature , and cheerful countenance commanded their good will , and if they had searched the whole province through he doubtcel whether they could

have found his equal . ( Applause . ) The toast was received with musical honours , and the brethren upstanding gave a right hearty " twenty and one . " The Chairman thanked the brethren for the kind manner in which they hael drunk his health , as the G . M . of that important province , and for theeulogiums which had

been passed upon him , which he was afraid were not deserving in many cases . He was glad to sec so much brotherly love and true friendship prevail amongst them , as it tended to hide the many imperfections of humanity . Having the charge of that important province he had perhaps unwittingly given office to some brother in the discharge of his duties . ( " No , no . " ) If he had elone so , he

wished to take that opportunity of saying to that brother that he felt exceedingly sorry . The most pafect being was apt to make a slip sometimes , but anything he had done wrong had not been done willully , and thtrefore he hoped it might be forgiven . He hael been reminded that day that he used military law . ( Laughter . ) That might be so , but he was then on parade . I le was off parade now ,

and he wished everybody to enjoy themselves . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) He had to thank the brethren for the exertions they had made at a time of great commercial depression and distress in sending such a noble subscription this year—the largest that had ever been obtained to the Masonic Charities . In acknowledgment of that subscription the Committee of the Institution for Aged

Freemasons hael transmitted to him an address beautifully illuminated , and it was his intention to keep it as a memento as long as he lived . ( Applause . ) Changes and vicissitudes in their Masonic circle had occurred during the past year , and they bad to lament the loss of brethren who had long been associated with them . His most intimate neighbour , Colonel Townley Parker , a man who

woiked hard and well for Masonry in his own part of the country , was gone , and they had lost one near and dear to them in their late P . G . S ., Bro . Tunnah . His successor had been appointed that day , and he ( the P . G . M . ) should take care that the business was carried on on the old lines . It was simply the man changed . He ( the P . G . M . ) was the admiral of the ship , and the man who steered it should

steer by his orders . ( App lause . ) The meeting that day had been or . e of the grandest he had ever had the honour of presiding over , and he thanked the brethren for having made it such a great success . ( Applause . ) " The Health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Mellor , and the Provincial Granel Officers , Present and Past , " was next proposed by the Chairman , who said that

he hael to thank them individually as brethren for the great kindness , brotherly , and Masonic feeling which they displayed , which enabled the business of a province lo be conducted in such a creditable manner . During the whole time that he had been Provincial Grand Master he had never had a sing le disagreement with any Grand Officer . The IVputy Provincial Granel Master had proved a worthy riht

successor to Bro . Calender , and the province had a g to be justly proud e . f him . ( Hear , hear . ) He vvas a thorough good fellow to the back bone , and was so highly esteemed by his neighbours and those among whom he lived that he had tluiex- been elected mayor of the town in which he resided , lie ( Colonel Starkie ) should always consider to the best of his ability when brethren ought to be advanced , but in a great province like that there were

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

so many deserving officers that it was sometimes difficult to make a choice . Therefore those who might be kit out were not left out because they did not deserve the honour , but because of the peculiar exigencies of the case . Some Provincial Grand Lodges had only eight or ten lodges , whereas East Lancashire had nearly ninety , and if ill the ofneers could be promoted as they deserved they would

receive very high honours indeed . ( Applause . ) Bro . Mellor , S . G . D ., responded . He said it Vvas always a pleasure to him to be surrounded by brethren at the festive board , because their interests were identical , and were one and the same in all respects . As one of the Provi . iciai Grand Officers he could assure them that nothing should be wanting on his part to forward the best interests

of Masonry . ( Cheers . ) In proposing " The Salford Lodges , " the Prov . Grand Master thanked the brethren of the local lodges for the cxcellentarrangements they had maele , and for their liberality in contributing to the Masonic Charities . He hoped the lodges would always be cartful as to the candidates they admitted into their fraternity . It was better that a brother

should forego the prestige of saying he had carried his man than that he should introduce schism into a lodge . ( Applause . ) The difference between Masonry and an ordinary benefit society was that , while Masons contributed their money for charity , they had no knowledge directly where that money would go . They contributed to universal charity , knowing that their contributions vsouM be

distributed by people of honour and integrity to the most deserving , whereas the contributions of a benefit society were applied to the very object foe which they were paid in . The Masons ought , therefore , to be most careful not to admit into their ranks men of sordid motives , who would seek assistance for worthless objects . He asked them to be on their guard against the hypocrite , the crawler , the perjurer .

the violator of everything that was good—men who would traduce the honesty and independence of Masonry , and bring their Order into cisgrace and opprobrium . ( Applause . ) Bro . T . Hansbrow , Newall Lodge , Bro . Hudson Lister , Richmond , and Bro . Southern , acting W . M . Harmony Lodge , responded .

Bro . Southern said they hael been highly honoured in having a meeting of the Prov . Grand Loelge in Salford . The Salford brethren were very anxious that the gathering should be a success ; that it should be such a meeting as would win the approval , not only of the R . W . P . G . M ., but of all the brethren who should attend . No doubt many of the brethren woulel go away fully impressed with the

remarks that had been made by the R . W . P . G . M . on the necessity of keeping their lodges select . He ( Bro . Southern ) might say that so far as the Salford lodges were concerned , they would bear favourable comparison with most of the lodges outside the province . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Slathana , P . P . G . T ., in a lengthy jpcech , proposed "The Masonic Charities . " He said it was a great honour

to take part , however small , in such an important meeting , and bifore such distinguished and intelligent members of the Craft . As an old Salford Mason he felt that a great honour had been conferred upon the borough by that gathering of the Prov . Grand Lodge o > f East Lancashire , and nowhere could be found brethren more anxious to

forward the best interests of Masonry than were to be found in the Royal borough of Salfoirl . ( Applause . ) It was not necessary to remind the brethren present that one of the most prominent principles of Freemasonry was charity —ijicar , hear)—and if they believed the words of Shakepea re" Charity is twice blessed ;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes . " The institutions of Masonry recognised this , and he felt that each brother would support the Charities to the best of his ability , and would be always ready to assist abrother in need . ( Applause . ) The other toasts were " The Visiting Brethren , " proposed by Bro . B . Taylor , P . G . T . ; " The Mayor and Corporation

of Salford , " proposed by the Hev . Henry Cottam , P . A . G . Chaplain , responded to by Bro . E . Brookes ; " The Army , Navy , and Volunteers , " propesed by Bro . Hoffgaard ( Danish Consul ) , responded to by Bro . Rocca ; and "To all Poor and Distressed Masons . "

The proceedings then terminated . It ought to be stated that the music , which was under the direction of Bro . Hudson Lister , W . M . ion , was admirably rendered by Bros . Miller , Sec . 131 , 7 i N . Dumville , P . M . 152 anel 332 ; W . Dumville , P . M . 1011 ; Lister , W . M . 1011 ; and ' ll . T . Robbards , P . G . Org ., and P . M . 993-

Funeral Of The Late Bro. George Thompson.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE BRO . GEORGE THOMPSON .

The funeral of this lamented brother took place last week , when the mortal remains were deposited in the family burial place of the deceased in Jesmond Old Cemetery . The funeral corte ' ge , which consisted of a

hearse and five mourning coaches , kit the residence of the deceased in Ryehill at eleven o ' clock , and proceeded by way of Westmorland-terrace Grainger-strcet , and Northumberland- street to Jesmond . On the road it was joined by the private carriages of several gentlemen , including that of the Mayor of Newcastle ( Aid . Robinson ) , who himself , with the Sheriff ( Mr .

J . G . Youll ) and several members of the Corporation , was present at ihe funeral . At the Barras Biidge a large number of the Masonic body , of which Bro . Thompson , was also a very active member , were assembled , and fiom thence marched in front of the hearse to the cemetery . The office for the dead was performed by the Rev . Anchor Thompson , M . A ., master of the Holy Virgin Hospital , Ryehill , assisted by the Rev . J . Smithard Hind , D . C . L .,

Funeral Of The Late Bro. George Thompson.

vicar of Cramlington , and Chaplain to St . Peter ' s Lod ge of Freemasons , and one of the many recruits which the deceased gentleman had brought to the Order . The funeral was a most impressive one , and many a silent tear was shed over the grave of the kind-hearted and genial gentleman , while the grief of others who had more directl y experienced the goodness of his heart was uncontrollable .

The following brethren attended : Bros . Richard Eynon W . M . 4 81 , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; VV . W . Smith , P . M . 48 ^ Jos . Cook , P . M . 4 Si , P . P . G . S . W . ; Jno . Hopper , P . M ' 481 ; Henry Sewell , I . P . M . 481 , P . P . G . S . W . ; I . W atson S . W . 481 ; J . Usher , J . W . 4 S 1 , J . Goss , J . O . 4 8 l ; W . B . Ford , S . S . 481 ; G . S . Sims , Tyler , P . P . G . S . D . ; Jno . Page , W . M . 406 ; W . S . Hughes , P . M . 406 ; Jno '

Ridsdale , P . M . 400 , and Prov . G . J . W . Northumberland ; Jno . Spearman , P . M . 406 ; J . Jensen , P . M . 406 ; R . L . Armstrong , I . P . M . 406 ; George J . Dean , P . M . 541 ; E . S . Gibbon , W . M . 541 ; Thos . Blenkinsop , P . M . 341 ; Jno , Harcuss , P . M . 43 r , P . P . G . J . D . ; Bertram P . Ord , W . M . 1427 , P . G . Org . j ' j . C . Mowbray , I . P . M . 1427 , P . P . G . S . Herts ; Jas . Nicholson , P . M . 1427 ; B . J . Thomson , P . M . .

and Prov . G . Sec . Northumberland ; Wm . Cooper , W . M 1342 ; Thos . Forster , P . M . 685 ; J . G . Youll , P . M . 685-, J . S . Wilson , W . M . ( iS : ; Donkin , P . M . ; R . B . Brown , P . M . ; C . Franklin , P . M . ; —Robinson , Prov . G . S . W Durham ; — Clapham , P . M . ; T . B . Winter , P . M . ; C . D . Davis , P . M ., Prov . G . D . C , and P . P . G . S . W . ; W . M . Bell , W . M . 15 i 7 . About iso to 200 brethren attended in all

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . John M . Clabon , President ; Bro . James Brett , Junior Vicc-Presicent ; and Bro . W . Wilson , G . Pursuivant , occupied the three chairs in the early portion of the evening ; and Bros . James Brett , J . M . P . Montagu , P . G . D . ; James

Kench , Asst . G . Pursuivant , occupied the chairs for the remainder of the sitting . Bros . John Hervey , G . S . ; IT . G . Buss , Asst . G . S . ; and A . A . Pendkbury attended . There were also present Bros . Henry Garrod , 749 ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; Chas . Fredk . Hogard , P . M . 205 ; John Wright , P . G . P . ; S . Rawson , P . Dist , G . M . China ; Charles Atkins , P . M . 27 ; W . H . Perryman , P . M . 3 ; W . Maple , P . M . 657 ;

W . J . Christian , 16112 ; W . J . Murlis , P . M . 1642 ; Walter W . Tyler , 1303 ; John Yeomans , 167 ; Edwin Marsh , 1803 ; Frederick Newton , 5 ; J . H . Mather , 143 ; J . Shepherd , 1349 ; Charles Godtschalk , P . M . 7 o ; F . H . Ebsworth , P . M . 73 ; Benj . Lyons , 1227 ; Robert Harman , 871 ; Henry Hill , 8 3 ; John Aspinall , 334 ; John James Gavin , 781 ; A . J . Timothy , 87 ; G . L . Moore , 169 ;

W . Meadway , 504 ; A" Lamargan , 917 ; Alfred Withers , 211 ; A . Mieldkmass , 957 ; John Constable , 185 ; Neville Greene , W . M . 1524 ; R . A . Chamberlain , 1122 ; A . Thomas , jun ., 144 6 ; G . P . Britten , 183 ; J . Stcck , 1 / 73 ; W . Stephens , 16 37 ; Samuel ; Poynter , P . M . 902 ; Charles Dairy , W . M . 141 ; Henry Smith , P . M . 302 ; Alfred A . Drew , 890 ; J . Vaughan , 74 ; Q . S . Taylor , 1421 ; W . G . Turner ,

1472 ; F . J . Holland , 1585 ; W . J . Foster , 19 ; William Butcher , 55 8 ; W . Hammond , 1326 ; W . West-Smith , P . M . 79 ; John Holden , 433 ; Atthur E . Taylor , 1201 ; Chas . Daniel , 6 5 ; J . Russell Clipperton , 66 ; Geo . Fredk . Swan , 1321 ; J . II . Southwood , 1460 ; G . Squirrell , 206 ; G . D . Skeggs , 144 ; F , W . Koch , 820 ; E . J . Allen , 733 ; C . W . Smith , 1382 ; J . W . Gray , 1556 ; G . P . H . Lewis , 1 : 84 ;

Geo . G . Symons , 45 ; M . A . Loewenstark , 1668 ; fc . J . B . Bumstead , 34 8 ; George W . West , 1287 ; C . Digby , 933 ; J . Mander , 1 : 01 ; and H . Massey , P . M . 619 ( Freemason ) . At the Hoard of Masters , which was previously held , the agenda paper lor next Grand Lodge was settled . The Lodge of Benevolence first confirmed grants to the

amount of ^ 410 , recommended at last meeting , and then considered the new list . There were twenty-three cases set down . Three of these stood over , not being complete . The remainder were relieved with £ 530 , made up of one £ 100 , two £ 50 , one £ 40 , two £ 30 , two £ 25 , five £ 20 , two £ 15 , and five £ 10 . Lodge was closed at nine o ' clock .

What Good Is Freemasonry?

WHAT GOOD IS FREEMASONRY ?

Thequestion is often asked—What good is Freemasonry . ' Among the uninitiated a favouiite idea prevails that a man must be in possession of good digestion to fulfil the chief requirements of brotherhood , and that the " grip " consists to a great extent of a firm hold of a knife and fork , At a banquet given by the Yarborough Lodge on Saturday ,

some interesting paiticulars were given by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Sussex on the rapid increase of loelges during recent years . Although he explained to some extent the cause of this , he did not do so fully . He proved that no less than a thousand new lodges had been sanctioned and consecrated during the last 19 years—an average of one a week . Why this great increase ? He admitted that

the accession to the Grand Mastership by the Prince of Wales gave the additional impetus to the movement , but he said the increase had been going on for the last 20 years , thus proving Freemasonry to be no passing fashion , buta stern reality . This large increase of members is not confined to England . On the continent we see Em perois , Kings , and Princes at the head uf the Craft in their respective

countries , and although all Freemasons were excommunicated by the late Pope ol Rome , the number of members increases , even in Catholic countries . What reason is there , then , i <" such large bodies of men—chiefly of the superior classbanding themselves together ? It is on the principle " many

can help one—one cannot help many . " Look at the magnificent institutions which the Freemasons of Eng land have raiseel for the aged and the orphan . Is it nothing that those who are overtaken by sheer misfortune should have extended to them the helping hand ? Mercenary motives are at direct variance with the principles of Freemasonry , but