Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

The P . G . M . referred to the losses which the Prov . Grand Lodge had sustained during the year by the death of old and valued Masons . He congratulated his brother Masons upon the large attendance on that occasion . During the year , although no new lodges had been opened , the number of members had risen from J 533 to 1683 , and he had excellent reports from nearly every lodge in the province . His distinguished predecessor initiated an excellent work in the way of educational Charities " but he thought they ought to have power to extend the Benevolent Fund

, for a variety of purposes , and was of opinion their by-laws might be amended with that object , such , for instance , as in the case of a great colliery disaster which might happen in that populous district . He felt sure he should be supported by a majority of brethren in endeavouring to show that Masonry was a living and a progressive thing . Masonry must not stand still . They , as Masons , ought to give assistance to men in distresseven though they were not Masons . If they had

, larger funds more annuities might be given to aged Masons , and their educational benevolence to the children of Masons mig ht be extended . Since their last meeting the Princess Louise , eldest daughter of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , had been married to Bro . the Duke of Fife , an excellent Mason , and he thought it was fitting that they should pass a resolution of congratulation to their Grand Master on the event . He therefore moved a resolution to that effect . The Duke of Fife , he

added , was P . G . M . of Banffshire . The DEPUTY P . G . M . seconded the resolution , which was carried unanimously . Bro . BOOTH , P . P . G . D . of C , moved " That this Provincial Grand Lodge has heard with profound regret of the death of its former much-esteemed Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . Edward Honson Griffiths , Past Grand Standard Bearer England . For a period of nearly half a century Bro . Griffiths fulfilled the arduous duties of his office with a fidelity , zeal , and discretion which could not have been

surpassed . The exemplary manner in which his Prov . Grand Secretarial duties were discharged not only earned for him the complete confidence of the three Prov . G . Masters under whom he served , but likewise won the gratitude and affection of Cheshire Masons in general . This Provincial Grand Lodge desires to place on record its hig h appreciation of Bro . Griffiths' services as a faithful and valued official of the province , and , at the same time , offers to his family its sincere condolence in the bereavement they have sustained . " This was seconded by Bro . Lieut .-Col . WILKINSON , and passed in silence .

The following were appointed Auditors of the Prov . G . Treasurer s accounts Bros . J . Salmon , Major Preston , and J . Clayton . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then moved , and it was resolved , that 50 guineas be contributed from the Provincial Grand Lodge Fund to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , Lord Egerton stating that he should have pleasure in paying the money himself through the lodge . A resolution with reference to increased subscription from the lodges of the province to Prov . Grand Lodge was referred back to the Committee .

A strong and well supported invitation to hold the next annual meeting at Stockport , under the banner of the Unanimity Lodge , was received . Bro . J . LEWIS gave expression to the desire of the brethren from Lymm that the name of that place should be entered in the list for an early meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge . Bro . James Salmon was appointed Chairman and Bro . J . Clayton Deputy-Chairman of the Board of Benevolence , and a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Bro . H . Bratt for his past services as Chairman .

The Provincial Grand Master then invested the following officers : Bro . His Honour Judge Horatio Lloyd ... ... Deputy Prov . G . M „ Lieut-Col . Wilkinson , 322 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Capt . Henry Gilbody , 10 45 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . R . Hodgson , 321 ... ... "' 1 ?™ G Chins „ Rev . James Grant Bird , 324 ... ... _ j Prov . IT . unaps . „ Thomas R . Mason , 3 61 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Frederick Broadsmith , 1166 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Richard Newhouse , 1045 ••¦ Prov . G . Sec . „ William Pritchard , 323 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ Ralph Andrew , 33 6 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . ,, Samuel William Ramsden , 157 6 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ Charles S . Dean , 128 9 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Horace T . Newman , 293 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Alfred Parkes , 425 ... ' ... ... ... Prov . G . L of W ,, George H . Browne , 537 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Edward George Mason , 1276 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . ,, George Richardson , 1565 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ George L . Collier , 1357 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ Owen Jones , 605 ••• " } Prov G Std Rrs „ John Wagstaffe , 320 ... ... _ j Prov . IT . btd . tfrs „ William H . Maxfield , 1957 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Robert Bebbington , 368 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst .

„ George Holland , 1408 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst „ Walter J . Cotsworth , n 56 „ T . M . Cairns , 1166 ... ,, Richard Stevenson , 1166 ... ... ... ~ „ ,,. -, ^ Jonathan Bailey , 3 61 ^ Prov . G . Stwds . „ F . G . Thomas , 320 ... „ Edward Dibley , 461 ... „ Stephen Smith , 425 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The brethren subsequently attended Divine service at St . George ' s Church , at which there was a large attendance . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . J . Grant Bird , P . G . C . The musical services included the anthem , " O , Rest in the Lord , " and " Cast th y burden " ( Mendelssohn ) , the solo being taken by Bro . W . H . Kershaw , P . M . Bro . W . H . Maxfield , Mus . Bac , I . P . M ., P . G . O ., had charge of the musicai arrangements .

At the conclusion ot Divine service , the brethren returned to the Mechanics ' Institute , and afterwards proceeded to St . George ' s School , where the banquet was served .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

The annual meetingof the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday afternoon in the Victoria Hall , Sunderland , when there was a very large attendance both of Provincial Grand Officers and the officers and brethren of the lodges in the province . The Fund Committee and the Charities Committee met prior to the meeting to transact their usual business at the Masonic Hall , Park-terrace Sunderand _ '

The Victoria Hall was very suitably upholstered and decorated for the occasion , a beautiful suppl y of plants being sent b y Mr . Kemp . The Provincial Grand Lodge having assembled , the brethren were in their places to receive the brethren of provincial rank . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., presided , and was supb

ported y Bros . Victor Williamson , Prov . G . W ., acting , in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Rev . Canon Tristram , as D . P . G . M . ; Thomas Bradley , P . P . S . G . W ., acting as Prov . S . G . W . ; Alderman J . Potts , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . Jas . Haworth Prov . G . Chaplain ; John Stonehouse , Prov . G . Treas . j W . M . Pybus ' Prov . G . Reg . ; R . Hudson , Prov . G . Sec . ; G . D . Leng , Prov . S . G . D . D p ' Huntly , P . S . G . D . ; W . Mayson , P . J . G . D . ; R . Singleton , P . J . G . D . ; W . Logan '

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

P . G . D . C ; J . Heppel , P . D . G . D . C ; J . G . Hall , P . A . G . D . C ; S . Chadwick P . G . S . B . ; J . G . Greener , P . G . Std . Br . ; G . Rutherford , P . G . Std . Br . ; j 0 s ' Lax , P . G . O . ; j . Robson Pattison , P . A . G . S . ; John Reed , P . G . P . ; T . Hard y ' P , G . P . ; and T . Potter , P . G . Tyler . Among other Provincial Grand Officers present were Bros . A . Farmer , P . P . G . D . C . North York ; W . Liddell , P . P . J . G . D W . Hobson , P . P . J . G . D . ; John Richardson , P . P . G . P . ; Charles H . Backhouse ' P . P . J . G . W . ; F . Wade , P . G . Steward ; Rev . Richard Coulton , P . P . G . Chap '

G . Carter , P . G . S . of W . ; J . W . Gatt , P . P . G . Stwd . ; Walter Ross , P . P . G . Std Br . ; Robert M . Cooke , P . P . S . G . D . ; James Monks , P . P . S . G . W . ; Chas . S Lane , P . P . J . G . D . ; E . Hudson , P . P . G . D . C . ; John C Moor , P . P . J . G . D . Rev W . C . Harris , P . P . G . C . ; J . H . Morton , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Rev . P . W . Clarke P . P . G . Chap . ; W . Coxon , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Gray , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; L . Booth

P . P . S . G . W . ; G . J . Wilson , P . P . J . G . W . ; S . Bell , P . P . S . G . D . ; R . Woodliffe Simpson , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . G . Smith , P . P . S . G . D . ; H . Turnbull , P . P . J . G . W . ; 1 Hudson , P . P . G . Stwd . ; G . Stillman , P . P . G . D . ; T . M . Watson , P . P . G . DJ . G . Kirtley , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . J . Athey , P . P . A . G . D . C ; Rev . J . J . Brown , P . P . G . C ' Rev . W . P . Swaby , P . P . G . C . ; A . T . Munro , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . C Lawson , P . P . G . P ' George Davies , P . P . G . Stwd . ; W . Barlow , P . P . G . Stwd . ; J . Sinclair , P . P . G . P ' .

J . D . Todd , P . P . G . S . B . ; George Robson , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; John Bailey , P . P 1 G . W . ; Alfred Gray , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; Samuel Finney , P . P . G . Std . Br W . T . Tate , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . McCulloch , P . P . J . G . W . ; Henry Charles Jepps P . P . G . Reg . Sussex ; John Wood , P . P . J . G . W . ; Geo . Porteous , P . P . G . O . ; \ y Davidson , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; T . Coulson , P . P . J . G . D . ; M . Corbitt , P . P . G . D . ; B Levy , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . Beattie , P . P . G . Treas . ; F . Maddison , P . P . G . D- R

Shadforth , P . P . G . D . ! J . Topling , P . P . G . D . ; J . E . Nelson , P . P . G . P . ; Mark Douglass , P . P . G . D . ; J . H . Jackson , P . P . G . D . ; W . Brandt , P . P . G . D . of C . ; C . D . Hill Drury , P . P . G . R . Norfolk ; and others . There were also present Bros T . A . Moffitt , W . M . ; J . C . Lawson , P . M . ; John Cooke , P . M . 424 ; William Brown , W . M . 4 8 ; William Rutter , W . M . 1932 ; T . D . Marshall , W . M . IQ 70 C . F . Sutcliffe , W . M . ; A . E . Cowling , P . M . 240 ; J . W . H . Swan , W . M . ; w '

Dawson , P . M . ; T . G . Garrick , P . M . ; G . Wanless , P . M . ; John Scarborough I . P . M . 94 ; Barrett Wells , W . M . ; D . G . Smith , P . M . ; E . Atkinson , P . M J . B . Wells , P . M . ; T . Richardson , P . M . 661 ; Henry Soderburg , W . M . ing R . W . Klyne , P . M . ; James Sedcole , P . M . 1119 ; W . A . Priestly , W . M . ; R . A ' Brown , S , W . ; Rev . H . Becher , M . A ., Chap . ; F . S . Cowper , J . W . ; Thomas Hutchinson , 2039 ; T . Spedding , W . M . 1643 ; G . W . Bain , W . M . ; R . Blake

S . W . ; L . R . Davies , J . W . 949 ; A . Peters , W . M . ; T . Pinkney , P . M . ; J . B Wilkinson , P . M . ; H . H . Pinkney , I . P . M . 1389 ; James Hudson , W . M . ; T . Atkinson , P . M . ; James Dobson , P . M . 80 ; J . G . Marshall , W . M . ; Taylorson Sharp , P . M . ; C . M . Wake , I . P . M . ; W . Birch , Sec . 97 ; Edward Milburn , W . M . ' ; John Graham , I . P . M . 2019 ; Richard Coulton , W . M . in , P . P . G . C ; J . M . While ' W . M . 1379 ; Jas . Chambers , W . M . ; G . S . Shaw , P . M . ; R . Maxwell , P . M . 1334

T . Dunn , W . M . ; Wm . Crawford , M . P ., P . M . 124 ; Alex . Inglis , W . M . 509 ; Jonathan Fowler , W . M . ; T . F . Pearce , P . M . ; H . Tompkins , W . M . 1418 ; W . Sudlow , W . M . 2104 ; C . J . Seaman , J . W . 2104 ; Walter Shaw , W . M . ; M . Harrison , P . M . 531 ; H . B . Olsen , P . M . 7 6 4 ; J . H . Olmes , W . M . 1230 ; John Fawcett , W . M . 1650 ; J . Robinson , P . M . ; T . Coates , P . M . ; J . Lax , P . M . 1650 ; H . Graham , P . M . 2019 ; G . Renton , I . P . M . 2135 ; J . Todd , P . M . ; M . A . Lax , W . M . 1274 ; John George Wilson , I . P . M . 375 ; and others .

Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed , the Provincial Grand Lodge rose to receive the D . P . G . M , and officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland—Bros . R . H , Holmes , P . G . D . Eng . ; Addison Potter , C . B ., P . G . Supt ., P . G . D . Eng . ; Rev . T . B . Nicholls , P . P . S . G . W . ; Faraday Spence , P . S . G . W . ; John Strachan , P . P . G . R . ;

H . S . Bird , P . P . G . R . ; Thomas Gillespie , P . P . G . R . ; J . Straker Wilson , P . P . S . G . W . ; G . F . Charlton , P . P . J . G . W . ; A . Hepburn , P . S . G . D . ; W . Mures Lyon , P . P . S . G . D . ; R . H . Dickenson , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . W . Lambton , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Carmichael , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Seaton , P . G . O . ; and G . Elphick and T . Waters , P . P . G . Stewards .

Bro . J . STONEHOUSE , P . G . Treas ., read the annual financial statement , showing a balance in hand of ^ 251 . The report was adopted ' . Bro . VICTOR WILLIAMSON , P . G . W ., read the report of the Fund Committee , which made several recommendations respecting grants to be made in response to

applications for relief . These in the aggregate amounted to ^ " 75 , in addition to which it was proposed that the sum of £ 25 be given to the Durham Education Fund , in addition to the fees of honour ; that the sum of 25 guineas be given to the Masonic Boys' School ; that 50 guineas be given to the Masonic Girls' School , and that £ 62 13 s . 7 d . be donated to the Masonic Benevolent Institution .

On the motion of Bro . R . LUCK , P . P . G . R ., seconded by Bro . BABI . VGTOX BOULTON , P . P . G . Treas ., that the latter sum be 50 guineas , it was adopted . Bro . T . BRADLEY , P . P . S . G . W ., Secretary of the Durham Masonic Education Committee , read the report of the Charities Committee of the province , which was of an eminentl y gratifying character , showing the hi gh position the province stood in relation to the Royal Masonic Charities , and the excellent management and valuable work of the Durham Masonic Education Fund .

Bro . C . S . LANE , P . P . J . G . D ., chairman of the Charities Committee , moved the adoption of the report , and had pleasure in announcing that the Durham Masonic Education Fund would have , with the grant of the Provincial Grand Lodge that day , a capital fund of ^ 1000 . Bro . D . P . HUNTLEY , P . S . G . D ., seconded , and the report was adopted unanimously .

The roll of lodges was then called , when the Worshipful Masters of the respective lodges responded . The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Sir HEDWORTH WILLIAMSON , Bart ., said , after having heard a very satisfactory record of the lodges in the province , it became his duty to offer a few observations to them with respect to the Province of Durham during the past year . Before doing so he was sure he would be expressing the opinion of all the brethren of Durham Grand Lodge when he called attention ,

with the utmost satisfaction , to the presence on that occasion of the Deputy 1 r ? Grand Master of Nouthumberland , and the officers of Northumberland Province Grand Lodge . He had received a letter from his old friend , Bro . Sir Matthew White Ridley , who was unable to be present with them on that occasion-He had once more to thank Bro . Holmes very warmly for the kind way in whjC

he had visited them that day . He was glad to find that they had been pay ing «" attention to what was taking place in Durham , and it would be a satisfaction the brethren of the province that their report met with the approval of so exper ^ Mason as Bro . Holmes . He thought that was not the first time that Bro . Hon" had visited one of the lodges , because he thought that in November last he VIM the St . Hilda Lodge at Shields . He was oe . rfectlv certain if they got . '

opportunity they should reciprocate the kindness of their Northumbrk brethren , for he felt sure that nothing was so encouraging as these visitation various lodges , and it was particularly desirable when they met together in ^ way in Provincial Grand Lodge . He proceeded to allude with very great regrtthe losses the orovince and the Craft had suffered dunno- the . nast year , spep

alluding to the lamented death of Bro . J . J . Clay , for some time the P ^ J " . ind Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . Laxenb y of Stockton , P . G . S . of W ., ^ Bro . Knowles , also of Stockton , Past Grand Deacon . Masonry in S e ra boS e also suffered a severe loss in the death of Bro . _ ffineas Mclntyre , Q- * - " * ^^ valuable services were rendered to the Grand Master for some time as ^ | ] C Registrar of England . He then referred to the fact that during his : Qr aii ( l province had been under the direction of the most esteemed Deputy P ^ - | . j 0 ii Master , Canon Tristram , who attended at Monkwearmouthand laid the fo"