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dell , P . M . 947 ; and C . Sinclair , P . M . 212 . The vicechairs were occupied by Bros . J . 'Hudson , S . W ., and J . A . Rainbow , S . D . Other principal officers present were Bros . ] . Dixon , J . W . 94 ; J . E . Nelson , J . W . So ; C . McNamara , S . W . ; B . Swan , J . W . 949 ; P- Maddison , 13 S 7 ; and J . C . Monr , J . W . ( Freemason ) . "The Health of the " W . M . was proposed by Bro . Aid .

Potts , and Bro . Smart responded . Bro . Punshon proposed " The Present and Past Officers , " to which Bro . Hudson , S . W ., responded . The W . M . gave the toast of "The Visiting Brethren , " lo which Bios . Kinmond , Leech , Porteous , Sinclair , and T . Maddison ably responded . Bro . J . J Stiles gave " Thc Masonic Charities , " and Bro . Crookes responded . The repast was provided in an excellent manner by Bro . W . Key , of the Northumberland House , Highstreet ,

STOCKPORT . —St . John's Lodge , ( No . 104 ) - — The annual installation festival of this lodge was celebrated on the 12 th inst ., at the lodge rooms , Ashton House , Greekstreet , in the presence " of a numerous and distinguished aesembly of the craft . In the morning some twenty officers and members attended , in response to thc summons of the W . M . ( Bro . Councillor Burrows ) for thc purpose of

advancing candidates who , in view of the more important the several degrees to which they were entitled . Bro . W . Harrison , P . P . S . G . D . initiated a candidate into the order , and Bro . Beresford , P . P . S . G . D . advanced one to the second degree , whilst three candidates for the third degree were severally taken in hand by the Past Masters Finch , P . G . B . C ., Pearson , Secretary , and Beresford , P . P . S . G . D .

after which the lodge was adjourned until the afternoon at two o ' clock . About seventy members and visiting brethren assembled in the afternoon to assist -in the ceremony of installing Bro . Wm . Booth , S . W . and W . M . elect , as Master of the Lodge for the ensuing year . At the request of the W . M ., Bro . Herbert Finch , P . M ., P . G . D . C , Cheshire , assumed the chair as Installing Officer , and having named Bro .

Beresford , P . M ., -P . P S . G . D ., as Director of the Ceremonies for the occasion , and requested the . outgoing officers to hand over the insignia of their respective offices to that Brother' ^ the Installing ( Master invited Bro . J . Chapman , P . P . J . G . D ., Devonshire , to take the chair of S . W ., Bro . J . P . Piatt , P . P . G . J . VV ., Cheshire , and Chairman of the Committee of Benevolence of P . G . Lodge , that

of J . W ., and Bro . W . Hickton , P . P . J . G . D . Cheshire , the situation of I . G . Bro . II . Collier , P . M ., 104 , and P . G . Organist , Cheshire , presided at thc organ , and the ceremony was rendered chorally by a choir consisting of Bros . C . Pearson , P . M ., G . Gaskill , E . J . Edmondson , T . Wilkinson , P . M ., H . Pickford , and G . Balfe . ' In addition to the brethren already named , the following

signed the Attendance Book , viz ., J . Kirk , P . M ., VV . Schofield , P . M ., S . P . Bidder , P . M ., G . F . Bowden , P . M ., W . VV . Shelmerdine , J . W . 5 Major Preston , Treas . ; H . W . Mather , J . D . ; G . Naylor , Joseph Fox . Edmund Johnson , Henry Seel , Lieut .-Col . Wilkinson , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., Cheshire ; VV . Harrison , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., Cheshire ; J . Astington , R . H . Riley , [ as . Stafford , John Kearton ,

W . Pitt , E . Eldridge , A . Brown , Rev . 1 . Newron , M . A ., J . Eaton , J . L . Newton , C . Clarkson , W . Bradley , Joseph Meadows , Tyler ; J . A . Pearson , T . Torkington , Joseph Wood , W . Cleave , " 1 " . llaslam , 'V * . Davies , W . N . Wilson . Visitors : Bros . J . Marshall , W . M ., elect . . -, 23 ; John Neil , P . M ., 2 S 7 ; J . II . O . Coulden , 323 ; J . Leigh , P . M ., 2871 T . Reed , 322 ; L . Bradbury , I . P . M ., 322 ; G . Bennett , Blakehurst

W . M ., 322 ; G . Atkinson , P . M ., 323 ; R . C . , VV . M ., 2 S 7 ; G . L . Vaughan , W . M ., 1930 ; J . A . Barnett , 935 * J- - Burton , P . M ., 430 ; and others . The ceremony of installation was then -irocecded ivilh . Bro . Beresford invested thc officers , and was assisted in that duty by the Installing Master , who "invested the Chaplain , and bv Hro . Pearson , Secretary , who invested the

Director of Ceremonies and Organist . During the proceedings thc retiring W . M ., Bro . Burrows , was presented with a very handsome gold Past Master ' s Jewel , which the brethren had subscribed for in recognition , as the inscription states , " of his faithful ruling of the lodge , during the past year . " The following brethren were invested as officers for the ensuing year , viz * . —T . Burrow :,, I . P . M ; W . W . Shelmer-Tho

dine , S . W . ; Major F Preston , C . E ., J . W . ; Rev . -. Newton , M . A ., Chap . ; George Balfe , Treas . ; Charles Pearson , P . M ., Sec ; II . VV . Mather , S . D . ; E . Johnson , J . D . ; lames Cookson , D . of C . ; H . Collier , P . G . O . ; Organist . ; Joseph Fox , I . G . ; Henry Seel , S . S . ; John Kearton , J . S . ; Joseph Meadows , Tyler , 322 . Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to thc banquet room , where the usual loyal toasts were duly honoured , together with that of the ollicers of Grand

L Bro ? Harrison , P . M . P . P . S . G . D ., proposed "TheR . W . P . Grand Master of Cheshire , Bro . thc Right Hon . Lord De Tabley . " He said they were all aware that Lord De labley was not in the best of health , yet ho always attended to his Masonic duties . He was present at thc provincial meeting

in Macclesfield , and he attended to receive his portrait at Knutsford the other week more to please thc brethren than himself . The history of Freemasonry in Cheshire during the last sixteen years had been a history of progress , and this was due in no small degree to the very able manner in which Lord De Tabley had supported the great principals

Bro Schofield , P . M ., proposed the toast of" The Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Although he was a member of St . John ' s Lodge , and might therefore give an interested opinion , he did not think there was any lodge in tlie province of Cheshire which was more loyal to those in authority over it than the lodge of St . John's .

' { "here were several members of Provincial Grand Lodge present whom he was always very happy to meet , and he be-rged to couple the toast with the health of Bro . Piatt , of whom this lodge had a high appreciation lor liis services in the cause of thc charities , and Bro . Col . Wilkinson , as P P . G . D . of the province of Cheshire ' liro . Piatt , P . P . G . J . W ., Cheshire , said that 111 calling

upon him lo respond to this toast , Bro . Schofield must have for" -otten that they hat ' , in St . John ' s Lodge n . very efficient present officer of Provincial Grand Lodge in the person of Bro . Herbert Finch , their . rand Director of Ceremonies , whose name was held in thc highest respect . But as every good Mason ought to do , he rose as a Past Provincial Ofiicer in obedience lo tbe call which had been made upon him . Their Deputy Pro . Grand Master , the Hon . Wilbrahma

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Egerton , was not perhaps so well known in the province generally as in his own district ; but he was a rising man , and very fast coining to the fore , and there was no more staunch supporter of Masonrv than he . As to the present and past officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , he could only say , as one of the las' * , that it was always to him a great pleasure and pride to belong to Provincial Grand Lodge . So much harmony and discipline prevailed

amongst the lodges of Cheshire , that the duties of officers of Provincial Grand Lodge had been of an ornamental rather than a useful character . Those who were at Knutsford at the presentation of the portrait to the P . G . M . would have heard , and those who were not present might have read , the remarks of the P . G . M . as ro what liad been done for the Chanties by the province during the sixteen years he had presided over it . As chairman of the Charity

Committee , he ( Bro . Piatt ) had great opportunities of knowing , and did know , what St . John's lodge had done for the Charities . When he told them that in the province of Cheshire they had 38 lodges , with a total of Soo votes for the Boys' and Girls' Institutions , and 500 votes for the old people , and that the lodge of St . John ' s had one-eighth of the whole of these vo'es , they would see at once that the province was largely indebted 10 the lodge of St . John's .

He asked them to do more still for the Charities , both here and in London , which were almost getting beyond their means . When they saw that every year the festivals had to realise some £ 50 , 000 , they would see how great was the strain , and he did not see how the strain was to be kept up unless by the increased efforts of the lodges . Coming , as he did , from Birkenhead , he had to thank the lodge of St . John ' s on his own behalf for the support they had given to

the Cheshire Educational Institution , which was doing a great deal of silent work . Bro . Hickton , P . P . J . G . D ., and Bro . Wilkinson , P . P . S . G . D ., also responded , and the latter also proposed " The Provincial Oflicers of Other Provinces , " coupling thc toast with the name of Bro . Chapman , of thc Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon . Bro . Chapman , P . P . J . G . W ., Devonshire , in responding , spoke in the highest praise of the working of the lodge which he

had witnessed during the day , and of the services of Bro . Finch , as installing officer , and also of the contributions of St . John ' s to the various Charities . Bro . Burrows , I . P . M ., proposed the toast of " The VV . M . of St . John's Lodge , 104 , " which was received with great enthusiasm . The W . M ., in responding , said : It was something like eight years since he became an ofiicer in the lodge . He joined it in dark days ; and he worked as an officer during

that dark and gloomy period when it was like a ship in a Storm , in danger at any moment of being lost . By patience , perseverance , and honesty of purpose on the part of thc brethren , thejVlasters , Past Masters , and the friends who came to the rescue , the St . John ' s lodge had survived , and he felt proud of the position he held " as t . ic VV . M . of this glorious lodge . In all that he had done he had been more anxious for the good of the lodge than to gratify his own

ambition , and he believed they had a glorious future before them , lie thanked all the officers for the able assistance they had rendered him that day , and especially Bro . Col . Wilkinson for thc heartiness of his support . Bro . Bidder , P . M ., in an eloquent and witty speech proposed " Ihe Newly Invested Officers , " which was replied to by Bro . VV . W . Shelmerdine , S . W ., and Bro . Major Francis Preston , J . W . Bro . Rev . Thomas Newton , M . A ., the

Chaplain , also thanked them for having complimented him upon being one of the newly-invested officers . A clergyman ought not to shut himself up in a cell , as a celibate , but to come out amongst men , and he thought perhaps , in becoming a Mason he should learn something which would be of uss to him in the pulpit . A Chaplain ought not to be all precept * , there should be a little example , lt had been said that " words are the daughters of earth , deeds the

sons of heaven . " Perhaps , as clergymen , they did not always act up to that doctrine . In mixing amongst them in life they might be doing a great service to the cause which they all had at heart * . He meant to try to do all he could for the good of the lodge , and if they all worked on the same lines , probably before long the lodge would occupy one of the best positions in the country . The toast of " The Visitimr Brethren " was responded ID by Bro . J . Nield , P . M .,

Unanimity , 2 S 7 ; Bro . Atkinson P . M ., Concord , 323 ; and Bro . Burton-, P . M ., 430 . The Senior Warden proposed " Ihe Past Masters of the Lodge , " which was responded to by Bros . Kirk , Bowden , and linch , the latter in response to a loud call . Bro . Col . Wilkinson , P . P . S . G . D ., proposed the toast of " The Masonic Charities , " in which , in an excellent speech he urged thc brethren to bc frugal and careful in their expenditure , and to do all in their power for charity ,

which was the essence of Frccmxsonry . Ihe other toasts were " The Newly-admitted , Passed , and Raised Brethren , " and " The Sister Lodces of Stockport , " which proposed by Bro . Blakehousc , W . M ., of Unanmity , 2 S 7 ; Bro . Bennett , * W . M ., Peace , 322 ; and G . L . Vaughan , Egerton , 1030 . The toast of " I'hc Press , " proposed by Bro . VV . Harrison , P . P . S . G . D ., was responded to by Bro . T .

Reed , Lodge 322 , of thc County Netvs and Chronicle . Bro . Beresford , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., very efficiently performed the duties of Director of Ceremonies , and the toasts were all honoured with the usual Masonic honours . The Director of Music was Bro . H . Collier , P . M ., P . G . O ., and the vocalists were those who assisted in the Installation service , the toasts being interspeised with appropriate songs , glees , and choruses .

LIVERPOOL . — Ancient Union Lodge ( No , 201 ) . —The brethren of this time-honoured and well-known lodge held their monthly meeting on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , for the last time in the current year . The W . M ., Bro . J . Hilton , was unfortunately absent through domestic bereavement , but Bro . Dr . Thos . VV . Sergeant , P . M ., P . P . G . J . D ., M . C , presided In , i verv able manner . The members present included :

Bros . Thomas Hatton , S . W . ; Wm . Gick , P . M . 17 . 5 G , J . W . ; Charles Birch , I . P . M . ; John T . Alston , P . M . ; H . James , P . M . ; lames Winsor , P . M . ; Charles Bromley , P . M ., Treas ! ; 13 . W . Rowson . P . M ., P . P . G . S . of VV . ; Edward Cattrell , Sec . ; John N . Hounsell , S . D . ; K . Donelly , J . D . ; las . Gallowav . I . G .: VV . II . Martin , and 1 . Johnson ,

Stewards ; J . P . Bryan , Org . ; P . Ball , ( P . G . Tyler ) lyler , and others . The visitors were Bros . Edward Graham , 100 9 j W . E . Southgate , SG ( Toronto ); . P . 15 . Dcnahar , W . M . 7 SG ; J . M . Smylhe , J . W . IJS ( Belfast ); Sergeant-Major Dickenson , 7-. 0 ( Dublin ); S . Hollis , 9 S ( Belfast ); A . Child , 1756 ; John Godbey , P . M . ? 5 ( Cork ) . The acting W . M . very impressively initiated Mr . \ V . M .

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Holtum , after which the election of W . M . for the ensuing year took place , and Bro . Hatton was duly elected . Bro . C . Bromley , P . M ., was re-elected Treasurer ; the Auditors ' report for the last year was recived and the accounts passed * . The Trustees of the lodge funds were re-elected , viz . : Bros . Bromley , Rowson , and James . Three gentlemen were proposed for initiation , and after " Hearty good

wishes from the visitors the lodge was closed . The brethren afterwards sat down to supper , after which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly given and honoured . Bro . Serjeant proposed" The VV . M . Elect , " and he said he must pay a highly-deserved compliment to their absent W . VI ., who should have given the toast . No one had ever been more highly esteemed than he in No .

203 . I hey all sympathised with him in his trouble . As regards their newly-elected VV . M ., Bro . T . Hatton , he ( Bro . Serjeant ) had every confieence that he would fill his new office with the same satisfaction to all that he had given in the past , both in lod g ^ and chapter . The toast was very enthusiastically received . Bro . Hatton , in responding , thanked the brethren for thc kindly expressed

sentiments which had been uttered by the W . M . It had long been his ambition to occupy thc chair of the lodge , and he assured them that he would do his best to justify the choice they had made . He hoped , with the assistance of his officers , to bc able to give up his office at the end of the year with a clear conscience . "The Newly-Initiated " was given by Bro . Bromlev , who also referred , in feeling

terms , to the affectionate and amiable qualities of their absent VV . M ., with whom they must all sympathise . Bro . Holtum responded . "The Visitors" was heartily received , and all present responded . The harmony of the evening was perfect , and considerably enlivened by the vocal efforts of Bros . James , P . M . ; Hatton , S . W . ; A . Child , Godbey , R . Wilson , Donelly , Dickenson , and J . P . Bryan .

YORK . —York Lodge ( No . 236 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge took place on Monday last , at four p . m . The brethren assembled under the gavel of Bro . M . Rooke , VV . M ., who proceeded to open his lodge in the First and Second Degrees , after which thc ciiair was assumed by Bro . J . Todd , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., whoappointed Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . M ., Senior , and Bro . G .

Balmford , P . M ., Jun ' icr , Wardens . The W . M . elect , Bro . J . S . Rymer , was then presented for installation by Bro . W . M . Lawton , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., and in due course the lodge was opened in the Third Degree , and a Board of Installed Masters was opened in full form . The W . M . having been installed , then invested his I . P . M . Bro . Rooke , and was duly greeted , and the Board closed . The brethren were

then re-admitted , and the W . M . was saluted and greeted in the Three Degrees , and ^ duly proclaimed . The working tools in the Three Degrees ivere given successively by Bros . M . Rooke , P . M . ; W . H . Gainforth , P . M . ; and A . Buckle , P . M . The W . M . then appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . Geo . Kirby , S . W . ; G . VV . Garbutt , J . W . ; Very Rev . the Dean of York , G . Chaplain ,

Chaplain ; J . Todd , P . M ., Treasurer ; A . Buckle , P . M ., Secretary ; S . Border , Asst . Secretary ; W . Draper , S . D . ; Wm . Powell , J . D . ; VV . Smith , M . C . ; T . Tuke , Org . ; T . G . Hodgson , I . G . ; W . G . Calvert , Tyler ; and VV . Biscomb and J . B Sampson , Stewards . The addresses to the officers were given by the VV . VL , and those to the VV . M . and brethren by the Installing Master . The lodge

was then closed , amid " Hearty Good wishes . " Amongst the brethren present , in additiqn to those already named , we noticed Bros . Rev . W . Valentine , P . M ., P . P . G . Chap . ; J A . Barstow , P . M . ; F . Rawling , P . M . ; Captain Cavenagh , Major Thornton , W . H . Godley , A . White , J . Redfare , C . A . Bmdekin , VV . T . Goivland , W . G . Thomas , E . Houlden , W . McKay , C ' Anderson , T . S .

Cauridge , G . C . Lee , T . J . Russell , and J . Young . Amongst the Visitors were Bros .- G . Simpson , W . M . 1 G 11 ; Col . Nason , 44 ; [ . VV . Marshall , W . M . G 60 ; J . Marshall , P . M . G 60 ; VV . Constable , G 60 ; VV . Wood , p M- 495 ; J . S . Cumberland , P . M . 1 G 11 , P . P . G . W . ; J . Kay , 1 G 11 ; M . Millingtcn , 1 G 11 ; A . T . B . Twiner , 1611 ; J . R . Jackson , 1 G 11 ; J MenntlliGnand others .

, , After the close of the lodge about fifty of the brethren and the visitors sat down to a banquet , provided by Bro . Toes , and at . vhich a number of toasts were honoured . The W . M . gave the usual preliminary toasts , and then " The Health of the Prov . G . M . and Officers , " which was responded to by Bro . VV . H . Gainforth , Prov . G . D . C . Bro . VV . Lawton , P . M ., gave "The Health of the W . M "

who , he was sure , would worthily fill the chair in which he had been placed . He was a Mason of some fourteen years' standing , and they were all aware of his great abilities and the high estimation in which he was held . The W . M ., in responding , said he felt it a great honour to be placed in the chair of a lodge whose age was over a century , and it would be his earnest endeavour to emulate the good

example of those who had preceded him in the high office . Bro . Alderman Brown proposed " The I P . M ., Bro , M . Rooke , and the Past Masters , " and Bro . Rooke , in responding , took the opportunity of thanking the brethren for the generous support they had given him during his year of office , lt had been a year of unmixed pleasure to him , and he hoped to be spared to give his utmost support

to Masonry in general , and the York Lodge in particular . The W . M . then gave the toast of " The Installing Master , Bro . J . Todd , P . M ., " and alluded in terms of high praise to Bro . Todd ' s services to the lodge . He had been to many of them a trusted guide and monitor . He occupied the responsible position of lodge Treasurer , and he was happy in the knowledge that Bro . Todd ' s aid and advice would always

be at his disposal . Bro . Todd , in responding , alluded to thc progress the lodge had made , and said that Tie was happy to announce that it was the W . M . ' s intention to represent the lodge at the next festival of thc Boys' School , and lie hoped the brethren would enable him to carry up a good list . Bro . Buckle , Past Master , proposed "The Masonic Charities , " and referred to the practical education which

was given to the girls in the Schools , cookery and other useful arts being there cultivated . He mentioned the high opinion which he had heard expressed by Mr . Buckmaster of thc management of those Schools . Bro . J . S . Cumberland responded , as Prov . Charity Steward , and pointed out at some length to the brethren the

importance of supporting most loyally their own Provincial Charity Association , without which they could never hope to succeed in carrying their candidates . He also showed that , although the province had done well of late years , it should go on improving and increasing its contributions if it was to keep pace with the rest of the Masonic provinces " .