Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

the cases that were deserving , and it was very rare that a good candidate svas carried over two elections . Dr . STRONG enquired whether ttfiere was any provision for removing the names of those who were never likely to be elected . He thought something 0 f that kind might be done .

Bro . F ARNVIELD said there was no power of that description . Bro . MEAD asked to he allowed to withdraw his motion . ( Cries of » No , no , " and "Vote . " ) The motion was almost unanimous ! } ' rejected . The election of annuitants followed . The result will be found in our advertisement columns .

The Ancient Stirling Lodge Ms.

THE ANCIENT STIRLING LODGE MS .

It is again my privilege and pleasure to announce the discovery , or recognition , of another MS . of the " Old Charges . " It is owned by the Ancient Stirling Lodge , No . 30 , Stirling , Scotland , and in its style is different to all the others known , being some tsvo feet wide and 20 inches long , the writing

running across the full width of the parchment . The document is mounted on card-board arrd kept framed in the lodge , but by vote of the lodge the precious transcript of these regulations and history of the olden time was taken out of its surroundings and sent me for examination and report , throug h the kind services of the R . W . M ., Bro . Thomas Allison .

Owing doubtless to its appearance , this copy of the " Old Charges " has for long . been looked upon by the members as a Charter , and the meetings svould not be deemed legal unless it was exhibited in the lodge room . Possibly osving to this circumstance the real character of the treasure has been overlooked , and thus has remained unknown and unrecognised for

many years . A letter . has been preserved from the Clerk of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ( Bro . Woodman ) , dated July i 8 th , 1854 , to whom it was sent , lo the effect that "the old and curious document , purporting to be the Charter of the Ancient Lodge , Stirling , " could scarcely be so termed , as " it was more like a history or lecture upon Masonry , and contains many of the Charges well-known among Masons of the present day . It has been

written , I should say , about the middle of the seventceth century . " It was the sight of this communication which led me to believe that another copy of the " Old Charges " was about to be traced , and so it has proved to be . The text is similar to that of the " Grand Lodge MS ., No . 1 , " to which " Family " it belongs , and in many respects agrees with the " Kilwinning MS ., " but not uniformly so , for sometimes it more closely follows the

former roll . There is , therefore , nothing new to report in regard to its recital , save a few funny errors , which , more or less , distinguish most of the scrolls . The lodge is very old and of uncertain origin , the year 1708 ascribed to it , being , in my opinion , much too late . It is likely to be the same lodge that was represented on the junior of the two charters granted to the St . Clair family , as protectors of the Craft , which , according to the estimate of Bro .

D . Murray Lyon , was written in 1628 ( circa . ) This copy of the " Old Charges" was evidently used by the lodge at the reception of candidates soon after that period , and , possibly , then it was either wholly , or mainly operative in character . That this was so , is practically established by two forms of certificates which are written at the foot of the document . These are quite new to me , and I do not believe any such have hitherto been made known . The one on the left hand

reads—Wee the Gentelmen Bayliffes and other undersubscribers withine the Toune and Shire of Stirling do by this p ' nts testiefie and declair that Maister Maissone of Stirling , heath lab ' od witine the said brugh of Stirling since his infancie , during which speare he heath behc-swed himseAf . hotsesUie to oiar knowledge

fine of any offence , and heath ffinished all the works and buildings that ever he took in hand within or about this Sheire , as we know no impedement svhy the — may not be accepted to work as Maister Maissone within any part of "lis . He always beheaving himself as offoir , whereof we testifie to between us , as witnesseth our handes

the other form , to the right , is to the following effect—We the nobelmen barons knights Gentelmen Tutors of minors and others under wrot subscribers do by these p ' nts declair that heath ffinished Completed and fullie endit all the mainers of Ouses , Castells , Abays and buildings , that he did tak in hand most deutiefullie ffaithfullie and lionestlie to our contentment and so may be admited to work as Maister Maissone in any place off this Statione when he can heave occaisione . In testimoney whereof subscribit as Ifolosves .

Many portions of the caligraphy are most difficult to decipher , both of the MS . proper and the two forms of certificate , but I believe my transcript will be found to be as correct as possible , under the circumstances . A few of the peculiar readings of this " Old Charge " will be given in a separate isbue of the reproduction ; and I quite agree with the opinion ol the late Bro . WoodmanGrand Clerkthat the period of its transcription be

, , may fixed for 1650 circa . It does not appear to me to be a copy of the " Kilwinning MS . " or at least , not of the one known by that title , but of an older , and in some respects , different document . The lodge was sometimes called " Stirling Kilwinin " ( or Kilwinning ) , so early as 1745 , in the records preserved ; but there is no evidence of such an origin , neither is it at all

iiKeiy ; only it was the fashion last century to describe old lodges as pendicles of "Mother Kilwinning . " I hope to give a few more facts of jntcrcst concerning the " Ancient Stirling Lodge , " in the Transactions of thc Quatuor Coronati Lodge , " No . 2076 , part 2 , vol . vi ., if Bro . Speth can spare the requisite space . W . T . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

\ V A ai"' * ual meeting of thc brethren of this province was held on P edriesday , the 17 th inst ., at the Armoury , Ashton-under-Lyne . Bro . ° ' . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , Prov . Grand Master , presided . There as an unusuall y large attendance of brethren of the Order , amongst them n . ' . r

Sin * , ' ljeor Re Mellor , Prov . Dep . G . M . j Edmund Ashworth , P . G . D . ; J . H . s '' toc > P . G . S . B ., P . P . G . W . ; Arthur Jefferis , P . G . W . ; John Chadwick , P . G . [) "•>t rov . G . Sec . ; E . G . Harwood , P . P . G . W . ; C . D . Cheetham , P . P . G . i . pJ James Cookson , P . P . G . T . ; Hy . Jackson , P . P . G . D . ; J . S . O . Thursby , Gi , t W , > Richard Nesvhouse , P . G . Sec . Cheshire ; James Kershasv , P . P . , u -i Evan Williams , P . P . G . S . of W . ; John Booth , P . G . D . ; James Newton ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

Prov . G . Asst . Sec ; Abram Clegg , P . P . G . W . ; J . Newbold , Vice-Chairman of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution ; 1 . Hothersall , P . A . G . D . C .: W . H . Peak , P . G . D . C . ; Rev . R . W . P . Circuitt , P . P . G . Chap . ; Rev . J . O . Jelly ; Rev . Doxey , P . P . G . Chap . ; Jos . Pollard , P . G . T . ; F . N . MoulsworthP . G . Reg . ; G . H . Holt , P . G . S . D . ; I . Davies ,

, P . G . S . of W . ; John Greaves , P . G . S . of W . ; W . B . Russel , P . A . G . D . C . ; H . Watson , P . G . S . B . ; J . Stesvart , P . G . S . B . ; J . Hancock , P . P . G . S . B . ; Henry Stevens , P . P . G . D . ; J . Sandiford , P . G . P . ; Simpson Booth , P . P . G . P . ; G . A . Page , P . A . G . P . ; J . L . Hine , P . P . G . W . ; G . Galloway , P . G . S . D . ; and H . Smith , P . G . D .

In the absence of Bro . Fritz Reiss , P . S . G . W ., Bro . Thursby , P . P . S . G . W ., acted in his stead , and Bro . A . H . Jeffris , P . J . G . W . Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened by Bro . Colonel Starkiev the roll was called , and it appeared that all the 104 lodges in the province were represented .

The report of the Audit Committee was presented by Bro . J . POLLARD , P . G . Treas . The document showed that the whole of the lodges had paid their contributions , and that there was a balance in the bank of £ " 316 , as compared with £ " 248 last year . Bro . S . H . SHORROCK , P . M ., proposed the adoption of the report and statement of accounts .

Bro . VV . J . ALLITT , P . M ., seconded the adoption of the report , which was agreed to . The meeting then proceeded to the election of a Prov . Grand Treasurer . Bro . G . A . PAGE , P . A . G . P ., proposed the election of Bro . Col . Eaton . Bro . F . W . BROMBY , P . M ., seconded the motion , and there being no other proposition the Provincial Grand Master submitted it to the meeting , and it was adopted .

Bro . Col . EATON , in reply , expressed his great gratification that he had been elected to so important an office by the unanimous voice of Provincial Grand Lodge . The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY presented his report upon the condition of Freemasonry in the province . He stated that the lodges generally werc doing excellent work , but he drew attention to certain points which , he said ,

required attention , among them being a laxity which , in some cases , existed in the admission of candidates into the Order who presented themselves from other towns , where they had possibly not been able to secure election . After deducting 194 resignations and 85 deaths the total number of subscribing members in the province was 4339 . The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , in addressing the meeting , urged that members of working lodges should bear in mind the observations made

by the P . G . Secretary , and do all that in them lay to maintain the credit and honour of the Institution . In particular he asked that all votes possessed by lodges in connection with the Masonic Charities should be forwarded to the Charity Committee , because unless that was done candidates from that province would fail to secure election . The report of the Charity Committee was adopted on the motion of Bro . J . H . SILLITOE , and the Committee appointed for the ensuing year .

It was then resolved , on the motion of Bro . SILLITOE , seconded by Bro . ANDREW , P . G . S . B ., that the sum of £ " 100 be contributed from the funds of P . G . Lodge in aid of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER then invested his officers for the

ensuing year as follows ; Bro . J . B . Lonsdale ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ G . Galloway ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . : : j : °ffiy ::: ::: ::: :: ;} prov . G . cha , „ Col . J . Eaton ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Lieut .-Col . H . J . Robinson ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W . Go \ dthorpe ... ... ... Prov . D . G . Reg . „ J . Chadwick ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ James Andrews ... ... ... *) „ J . Partington ... ... ... } Prov . S . G . Ds . „ F . W . Lean ... ... ... ... j „ J . Smith ... ... ... ... •*• „ P . Lawton ... ... ... ... \ Prov . LG . Ds . ,, J . Potter ...

„ G . Macfarlane ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ F . Hilton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ F . Armstrong ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ P . Wills ... ... ... .., - ) „ C . Turner ... ... ... ... [ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . „ J . Schofield ... ... ., „ . ) ,, E . Moss ... . . . ... ..." I ' D rcn „ J . Sutcliffe ... ... ... j Prov . G . S . Bs . „ | . Glennie ... .., ... ,.. )„ „ „ ., „ „ \ V . Shakleton < Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ S . Smith ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Newton ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ W . Hoyland ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ A . Holt ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ J . Fitton ... ,, J . Rowley ... „ VV . Po . litt ... ... ... ... I p „ G . Bevan ... ... ... }•Prov . G . Stwds .

,, VV . Eastwood ,, J . R . Deakin ... ... ... J „ T . Higson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER presented , in the name of the

brethren of the province , a service of plate to Bro . G . Mellor , D . P . G . M . East Lancashire , in commemoration ol the completion of his jubilee as a member of the Masonic Order , together with a silver tea service and salver for Mrs . Mellor . Bro . Colonel Starkie spoke in high terms of the services of Bro . Mellor to thc cause of Masonry , and of the esteem in which he was held in his native town of Ashlon-under-Lyne .

Bro . J . H . P . LERKSCHE , P . P . G . Registrar , read and presented to Bro . Mellor an illuminated address in connection with the event . He added that the subscriptions to the testimonial had been so liberal that a balance remained , whicii would be handed over to the East Lancashire Masonic Charities .

The presentations were made amid hearty cheering . Bro . MELLOR , who is in somewhat feeble health , had prepared a written reply , thanking the brethren for their handsome gifts , whicii was read b y the P . G . Secretary . At the close of the business the customary banquet took place .