Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

much applause , and Bro . Small had a cordial reception o i acknowledging the address . At the close of the business of the Prov . Grand Lodge , the PROV . G . M ASTER said he must refer before they separated to one matter which was present to all their hearts—the loss that their American cousins had sustained in the death by murder of their President . They could not forget

that Masonry existed very strongly indeed in America , and that they were practically all one cousinship . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought on that occasion they should record their sympathy with the American nation in the loss they had sustained , especially in view of the fact that to the policy of the late President there was due that very great increase in the brotherhood between the two nations which had been achieved . The expression of sympathy was agreed to in silence .

It was stated that invitations had been received from Knutsford and Runcorn to hold the next Prov . Grand Lodge at each of these places , and that the place selected would be announced later . At this meeting , Bro . John Armstrong , P . P . G . W ., had the pleasure of p lacing before the R . W . P . G . M . a copy of his new work on the History of Cheshire Freemasonry . The " get up " of the work , as well as its contents , elicited high approval .

Ireland.

Ireland .

NEW MASONIC HALL AT KELLS . BRO . THE HAUL OF SHAFTESBURY LAYS THE FOUNDATION-STONE . A very interesting ceremony took place at the village ; of Kells on thu iSth instant , when thu foundation-stone of a new Masonic Half in the course of erection there was laid by R . W . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Shaftesbury , P . G . M . More than ordinary importance was associated with the event , inasmuch as this was the first occasion on which the Earl of Shaftesbury had attended a Masonic meeting since his accession to the earldom .

The building is being erected at the end of the village towards Connor , almost opposite the school in connection with Kells Presbyterian Church . It is being built by the Connor Lodge , No . 18 9 , and promises to be a credit and an ornament to the place . The site for the new hall was granted by the representatives of Major Gray on very reasonable and satisfactory terms , and the building is being erected by Mr . William M'Keown , contractor , Connor , to plans prepared by the architect , Mr . John Frew , Antrim .

The weather was beautifully fine , and there was a large attendance , not alone of the members of the Masonic brotherhood , but of their friends and supporters . Prior to the ceremony the brethren met in one of the local hulls in the direction of Connor , and Bro . Henry J . Hill , Prov . G . D . C , marshalled them in the following processional order : Tyler , Bro . Gault ; Stewards , Bros . Jo , ce and Andrews ; Prov . G . I . G ., Bro . Harpur ; Prov . G . Stewards , Bros . D'Evelyr . and Boyd

Architect , Bro . A . Boyd ; Organist , Bro . T . Given ; Superintendent of Works , Bro . Cordner ; Trowel , Bro . John Dinsmorc , J . P , ; Three Lesser Lights , Bros . D . H . Mathews , Murdock , and Henderson ; Great Light , Bro . Wallace ; Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . W . Rankin j Prov . G . Treasurer , Bro . John Kirkwood ; J . G . Warden , Bro . Erskine ; S . G . Warden , Bro . thc Right Hon . W . Ellison Macartney , M . P . ; D . G . Master , Bro . Hilton , J . P . ; Deacons , Bros . M'Cormick and Leech ; and Sword Bearer , Bro . ] . H . Woods .

The procession marched to the site of thc new hall , where , afier the usual ritual on such auspicious occasions , the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone was performed hy R . W . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Shaftesbury , Prov . G . M , of Antrim , assisted by Bro . R . J . Hilton , J . P ., and the Prov . Grand Ollicers . Alter the interesting ceremony and the closing benediction , the procession re-formed , and returned to thc place from whence it came .

Afterwards a luncheon was provided in the schoolhouse connected with Kells Presbyterian Church , the interior of which was beautifully and artistically decorated with flags and bunting , amongst which the Union Jack was tastefully conspicuous . The tables were chastely and charmingly laid by Mr . Thomas Carrol ) , Clarence Hotel , Ballymena , who did the catering . The chair was occupied by Bro , John Dinsmorc , J . P ., Crebilly House , who Was supported by Bros , thc Earl of Shaftesbury and R . J . Hilton , J . P .

Bro . WILLIAM RANK ™ , Prov . G . Sec , read letters of apology from Bros . S . Leighton , A . Tate , James Watson , — Montgomery , and Colonel James M'Calmont , M . P . The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim . " In giving the sentiment he asked who had not heard of Bro . the Earl of Shattesbury ' s illustrious grandfather , the good Lord Shaftesbury , who was celebrated for everything that was good , and hi < rh , and noble . ( Applause . ) But by Lord Shaftesbury ' s

mother s side of the house they knew more about him , as they were aware that that great Lord Deputy ruled in Ireland , and planted in that Northern province their English and Scotch forefathers . In that Plantation of Ulster thc name of Sir Arthur Chichester would for ever be associated as the Sir Alfred Milner of that age . Through many vicissitudes and very many dark and evil days their forefathers held all the land that Sir Arthur Chichester gave them , and they , he thought , intended to do the same in the years that were to come . They hoped

that , as in the centuries past , their Grand Master and his noble house would be connected in the future with the county of Antrim . Some of them who heard their Grand Master speak last year in thu Ulster Hall at the banquet given to Sir George White formed a high opinion of his abilities , and concluded that at no distant date he would rise to some noble place in the British Empire , as he ( the Chairman ) was sure that day he was an ornament to the branch of Legislature to which he belonged . ( Applause . ) They had been successtul in procuring a site for their hall , thanks to thuir friend and brother , H . D . M . Barton , the estate

agent , who a few days previously wrote him ( the Chairman ) saying that he would be unable to be present at the ceremony that day , and in his letter enclosed £$ towards the building fund . Mr . Gray , the lord of the soil , in the most generous and kindl y manner gave them thc site where they saw the foundation-ston ? laid for their tuture hall . He not only gave them it for ever , but gave it on terms that were merely nominal . He asked them to drink " The Health of thc Provincial Giand Lodge of Antrim , " coupled with the name of the Rt . Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Shaftesbury . ( Loud applause . )

1 ^ 'lr' ° ^ S IIAI ' TESIIUUY , who was enthusiastically received , said he »| tnem very heartily fur the reception they had given their Prov . Grand Master , It was with the greatest pleasure that he came to Kells to perform the ceremony which he had already accomplished . Perhaps they were aware that had it not been for the generosity , and the ability , he might say , of the Northern Counties Railway , the Provincial Grand Master would have been a few minutes too late to perform the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of their hall . He would treasure most earnestly the beautiful gitt which they had given him for pertorm ' mg the ceremony , and he would also treasure it as a memento 0 ! the first

Ireland.

ceremony he had executed as their Provincial Grand Master . ( Applause . ) On behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge , he desired to thank Bro . Dinsmore and the brethren for having so kindly entertained them that day . There were other things he would like to talk to them about—one was that he sincerely trusted that that building , of which he had laid the first stone that day , would be a means of establishing friendship and brotherly love throughout the district and neighbourhood , lie could not help thinking but that they were lacking a little in

kindly feeling towards one another . They very often found fault one with another in matters of little importance , but he anticipated that Masonry in that village would be a help in some way to establish a friendly feeling one towards the other , and , therefore , it was with sincere pleasure that he presided on that occasion as their Provincial Grand Master and took part in the ceremony they had performed that day . They lived in wondrous times . They knew not what to-morrow might bring forth , and even at that moment a great nation

was suffering from a great shock . They knew that across the great Atlantic Ocean Masonry had grown to a very large degree , and in the United States they had many brethren , and true Freemasons . He could not help thinking that that was a very fitting occasion upon which to show their sympathy from thu brethren there in Antrim for their brethren across the seas in the loss they had sustained by the death of their President . Therefore he could not help feeling that they should lament him from their very hearts , and pour out their

sympathy to their brother Masons in their irreparable loss . He should say that they could do nothing without money , and he sincerely trusted that , when the appeal went forth from the representatives of the Prov . G . Lodge to assist them in putting up that building , that it would meet with a very ready response from all thc lodges in the Province of Antrim . He thanked them for the hearty reception they had given him coming there as their Prov . G . Master , and also of the kindly reception they had given the Prov . Grand Lodge of Antrim . ( Loud applause . )

The proceedings then terminated , and as Bro . the Earl of Shaftesbury left the room to proceed to the railway station he was greeted with the hearty strains of " For he's a jolly good fellow . " Through thc kindness and courtesy of Mr . James Cowie , traffic manager , Belfast and Northern Counties Railway , the brethren from the northern metropolis were provided with a saloon carriage .

A notable incident of the ceremony lay in the fact that the Earl of Shaftesbury missed the 12 . 5 train , and , in order that he might not disappoint the brethren of Kells and the district , he engaged a special train on the Northern Counties Railway , and arrived but a few minutes late , amidst great enthusiasm .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Lodge of Research , No . 2429 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . J . J . W . KNOWLES . The installation meeting of this well-known literary lodge was held on Monday , the 23 rd instant , at Freemasons'Hall , Leicester . There was a very large attendance of members and visitors , among whom were the following : Bros . Rev . H . S . Bints , B . A ., P . P . G . Chap ., acting W . M . ; J . J . W . Knowles , P . P . S . G . D ., S . W ., and W . M . elect : H . Howe , P . G . D . C . J . W . ; W . D . Grant , P . P . J . G . D ., Treas . ; 1 . T .

Thorp , P . P . S . G . W ., Sec ; G . Neighbour , P . P . S . G . W ., S . D . ; L . Staines . P . P . G . Org ., D . C ; W . A . Lea , P . P . G . P ., I . G . ; R . W . Maries , Tyler ; S . S . Partridge , D . P . G . M ., P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ; F . W . ' Billson , I . L . B ., P . P . G . Reg . ; and J . R . Frears ! Visitors : Bros . A . C . Smith , P . M . 50 , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Ciifton , P . M . 270 , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . B . Wilraer , P . M . 202 S , P . P . J . G . W . ; A . Smith , P . M . 1007 ; W . Tyler , P . M . 1007 , P . G . S . B . ; A . Fergusson , P . M . 1391 , P . P . J . GD . ; I .

Cleaver , W . M . 1330 ; A . Laurence , P . M . 523 , P . P . G . Org . ; H . G . Marriott , P . M . 202 S , P . P . A . G . D . C ; Geo . Newsome , P . M . 523 , P . P . S . G . D . ; G . J . Rodway , J . D . 202 S ; A . S . Nice , 1391 ; A . J . Marshall , 2 ; y ; G . Gibbons , 1391 ; G . D . Potts , 523 ; E . R . Fox , 20 S 1 , P . P . G . Org . ; A . H . llampson , 523 ; H . E . Clayton , J . D . 523 ; CPoynor , 523 ; E . A . Morris , Org . 202 S ; H . Westron , 523 ; W . A . Porter , 523 ; W . Bream , Stwd . 523 ; R . W . Harvey , J . W . 523 ; A . J . Stork , 523 ; G . F . Black , 1391 ; S . F . Poynor , 523 ; and many others .

The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed , a number of brethren were elected to the Correspondence Circle of the lodge , a similar system prevailing in this lodge as in the famous Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 207 G , London . The installation of the W . M . elect , Bro . J . J . W . Knowles , followed , the ceremony being carried through by the D . P . G . M . of the province , Bro . S . S . Partridge , assisted by Bros . Geo . Neiehbour and F . W . Billson . The W . M . appointed and invested the following

brethren as the ollicers of the lodge for the ensuing year , viz . : Bros . H . Howe , S . W . ; W . D . Grant , J . W . ; Rev . H . S . Biggs , Chap . ; F . W . Billson , Treas . ; J . T . Thorp , Sec . ; G . Neighbour , S . D . ; K . B . Starkey , J . D . ; L . Staines , D . C . ; W . A . Lea , I . G . ; and R . W . Maries , Tyler . The Treasurer ' s accounts were submitted , and being considered satisfactory , were passed , after which representatives were elected to the local Masonic Committees . Other matters of lodge business were considered and disposed of , a long list of apologies for inability to attend was read .

" Hearty good wishes " from visiting brethren were tendered , and the lodge was closed . As usual , the meeting was followed by a conversazione , which was exceedingly well attended . The W . M . welcomed the brethren in a short speech , refreshments were provided , and a very enjoyable evening was spent . During the evening the Secretary exhibited and described the fine collection of

English Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter certificates belonging to the Leicester Masonic Museum , which , supplemented by a few specimens from the Secretary's own collection , comprised examples of nearly every variety known to have been issued . Among the 07 documents exhibited were some of the oldest specimens of the various classes known to be in existence . It is scarcely necessary to add that this exhibition formed a rich treat for all who were interested in the study or collection of similar documents . The meeting was a success in every way , and adds one more to the red-letter days of the Lodge of Research .

Instruction.

Instruction .

ISLINGTON LODGE , No . 1471 . The usual weekly meeting was held on Tuesday , the 2 . ( th instant , at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , N ., when there were present : Bros . R . K . Maskall , W . M . ; E . Lucas , S . W . ; II . Coxon , J . W . ; W . Hancock , P . M ., Preceptor ; A . F . Hardyment , P . M ., P . G . D . C . Noiiolk , Asst . Preceptor ; C M . Coxon . P . M .. P . P . G . D .

Herts , Treas . ; J . Duncan , P . M ., Sec . ; D . Taylor , S . D . ; M . Relph , J . D . ; G . Mortlock , I . G . j J . Birks , P . M . ; C . Nicole , H . J . Dunaway , W . E . Ranger , W . Lee , E . Richards , C . Weston , M . Cohen , j . Foxcroft , E . Morris , A . Noel , H . C . Kerly , Dr . C M . Simpson , F . Mollis , A . E . Maskall , G . Wales , J . W . White , F . 11 . Johnson , F . Linfoot , J . Horstead , and J . Graves .

1 he lodge was opened and the minutes read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was then rehearsed , Bro . Dunaway being the candidate . The ceremony of raising was afterwards rehearsed , Bro . Hjrstead as candidate . Bros . Frank I lollis and Allred Ernest Maskall were elected members of the lodge . Bro . E . Lucas wis elected W . M . for the ensuing week and appointed the ollicers in rotation . The lodge was then closed .