Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

that she may be endued p lenteously with heavenly gifts , and long reign over a loyal , united , and happy people ; for Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and all the Royal Family . Let us pray especiall y for the ancient Order , as members of which we have

this day assembled , particularly for the Most Worship ful the Marquess of Ripon , our Grand Master ; for the Officers of the Grand Lodge of England , especially for that Provincial Lodge to which we belong ; for the Most Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , and his Deputy . Let

us implore further the Most Hig h to bless all private lodges , particularly those now gathered together in this holy temple . May God prevent us in all our doings with His most gracious favour , and further us with His continued help ; that in all our works begun , continued , and ended in His Holy Name , we may promote the

happiness of our fellow creatures , and ever set forth His honour and glory . " So mote it be . Bro . J . Skeaf's anthem , "Behold , how good , " was then sung very impressively by Bros . C . Haswell , 203 ; D- Jones , 1 J 5 ; B . Rowson , 203 ; T . Armstrong , P . G . T . ; and T . Yeatman , 667 ; Bro . Skeaf , P . G . O ., himself presiding at the

harmonium . Bro , H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec , then called the roll , when it was found that of the 63 lodges in the Province , only one was not represented , viz ., Victoria Lodge , 1345 , Eccles , and the usual penalty of £ 1 was inflicted . The P . G . Sec .

subsequently read the minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , held at the Town Hall , Liverpool , on the occasion of the Installation of the R . W . P . G . M . The P . G . Chaplain said he had been deputed by Mr . Hesketh , son of the

late P . G . M ., to convey to Lord Skelmersdale , the J Provincial Grand ! Officers , and the brethren generally , his thanks for the vote of condolence with the family which they had passed at the last meeting . The P . G . Sec . said he would record this on the minutes .

From the financial statement submitted by Bro . Armstrong , P . G . Treas ., it appeared that the total balance from last year was ^' 1278 8 s . 8 d . The receipts for the educational fund during the year amounted to £ 176 ts . ; for the Provincial Grand Lodge , with balance , £ < 34 / S . lod . ; for

the fund of benevolence , £ 1096 16 s . / d . ; making a total of £ 1807 5 s . f > d . The disbursements for the same period amounted to £ 423 13 s . 3 d ., leaving a balance of £ 1383 12 s . 2 d . There had been paid in 1872 to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution the sum of

£ ii 7 ; and during the present year £ 17 6 is . Bro . G . Turner , P . M . 86 , moved that the accounts ( a copy of which was furnished to most of the brethren ) be taken as read , and in doing so he suggested that in future the number of members belonging to each lodge should be given in

connection with the financial statement . Bro . T Wylie , P . G . Reg ., seconded the motion as to the accounts , but was understood not to agree with the suggestion made by Bro . Turner . The motion was agreed to , and the annual financial statement , on being put by the P . G . M ., was carried unanimously .

On the motion of the Rev . J . F . Goggin , P . G . C ., seconded by the Rev . H . G . Vernon , P . P . G . C , Bro . Thos . Armstrong , was unanimously and by acclamation re-elected P . G . Treas ., and Bro . Armstrong briefly but feelingly acknowledged the renewal of the confidence of his b ethren .

Bro . G . Turner said that there was a feeling amongst the brethren in that province that it was not fair this office should be confined to one brother year after year , but that if there were offices of honour , such as that of the P . G . Treas ., they should be shared by other brethren . ( Hear ,

hear . ) It did seem somewhat inconsistent that this office should be held without change by one person , and it was natural that brethren who had done good service in the cause of Masonry should feel aggrieved at this system . In making these remarks he desired it to be distinctly understood

that he did not do so from any personal feeling against Bro . Armstrong , for whom he had the highest respect , but from a desire to give expression to the feelings of many of the brethren . It was generally felt that the appointment of P . G . Treasurer should be left freely to the P . G . Lodge ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

and not be influenced by the nomination of the P . G . Officers as a body . ( Applause . ) The R . W . P . G . M . said he had only one remark to make , and that was that the appointment lay absolutely with the P . G . Lodge , and not with himself .

Bro . Sherlock said he must protest against the remark that the appointment was unfair , and he felt bound to resent it in the strongest manner . The subject then dropped . The R . W . P . G . M . then proceeded to invest the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year : —

Hon . F . Stanley D . Prov . G . M . Sir James Ramsden , Bart ... Prov . G . S . W . J . Prescott Prov . G . J , W . Rev . J . F . Goggin Prov . G Chaplain T . Armstrong Prov . G . Treas .

C . H . Hill Prov . G . Reg . H . S . Alpass Prov . G . Sec . E , Pierpoint Prov . G . S . D . W . Doyle Prov . G . J . D . F . Baxendale Prov . G . S . of W

G . De la Perelle Prov . G . D . C . R . Robinson Prov . G . A . D . C . R . Landless Prov . G . S . B . " J . Skeaf Prov . G . Org . R . Pearson Prov . G . Purst . VV . Leather Prov . G . Steward

J . R . Goepel „ „ „ T . Lowe „ „ „ G . Owen „ „ „ S . Johnson ,, „ ,, J . W . Turley „ On the motion of Bro . Captain Mott , seconded

by Bro . Broadbridge , Bro . P . Ball was re-appointed P . G . Tyler , and Bro . W . H . Ball P . A . G . Tyler . Bro . T . Wylie , P . P . G . Registrar , presented his jewel of office to P . G . Lodge , to be worn by by his successor , and the gift was received with

cordial thanks , The P . G . Lodge then proceeded to hear applications for relief , which were dealt with as follows : —Widow D . and three orphans of a brother of No 220 , ij )/ . ; widow T . and three orphans of a brother of No . 673 , \<\ l . ; widow R ., whose

husband was a member of No . 9 86 ( second application ) , 5 / . ; widow D ., Lodges 241 and 103 5 ( second application ) , 5 / . ; widow Mc , 15 / . ; widow L ., Lodge 11 S 2 , 15 / . ; widow S ., Lodge 580 , 10 / . ; widow W ., Lodge 249 , 5 / . ; widow A ., Lodge 216 , 15 / . ; widow B ., 5 / . ; Bros . J . P .,

Lodge 995 , 15 / . ; H . T ., Lodge 292 , <\ l . Bro . T . ' Wylie , P . P . G . R ., moved that £ 50 , in addition to £ i $ , being 10 per cent , of P . G . Lodge fees , be paid to the Institution for the Relief of Aged Freemasons and their Widows , so as to constitute the R . W . P . G . M . a Vice President of the Institution . The Province was

deriving great benefit from the charity , and he thought the ) ' could not devote the funds to a better purpose than by thus aiding the charities of their Order . At the same time , P . G . Lodges would be aff ' jrded an opportunity of paying a deserved tribute of respect to the P . G . M ., who had taken a very warm interest in all the Masonic charities .

Bro . Capt . Mott seconded , the motion , and dwelt upon the necessity of supporting these grand charities . The R . W . P . G . M . said he took the vote as a

compliment to himself , and having been deeply interested in the Masonic charities , he could say from experience , and on authority , that he did not know a nobler object to which they could devote their funds .

The motion was earned unanimously . Bio . Sir James Ramsden , Bart , P . G . S . W ., moved that the sum of , £ 100 be voted towards decorating Ruffbrd church , as a memorial of the late R . W . P . G . M . Sir T . G . Fermor-Hesketh , Bart .

Bro . Prescott , P . G . J . W ., seconded the motion and said , that if this tribute to his memory was somewhat tardy , he hoped the brethren would now go forward in it with all the greater heartiness .

Bro . Alpass P . G ., Sec , reminded P . G . Lodge that if this proposed grant were made , only ^ 189 would be left to meet the exp-nses of P . G . Lodge during the ensuing year . After some lively diicussion the motion was

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

carried , and the following brethren were appointed a committee to control the expenditure and carry out the arrangements , viz . : —The R . W . P . G . M ., Bro . the Rev . J . F . Goggin , Bro . C . Sherlock , Bro . T . Wylie , and Bro . Danson . Bro . R . Wylie read the following report of the proposed Hamer Benevolent Fund : —

" Right Worshipful Grand Master and Brethren—The Provincial Grand Lodge having in 1871 voted twenty guineas to form the nucleus of a fund for providing a testimonial to Bro . James Hamer , Past Provincial Grand Treasurer , a committee was formed for carrying out this

object , and an appeal was made to the lodges and brethren in the province , which has so far produced the sum of £ 2 . 27 19 s . 6 d ., and this may be augmented , as there are several donations yet to be received . The committee , after mature consideration , decided to present to Brother

Hamer an illuminated address and a Past Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s jewel , at a cost of twenty guineas , and with the balance , to form a fund for benevolent purposes to perpetuate the name of our brother among Freemasons , a subcommittee being deputed to carry out the idea ,

the details of which will be laid before you . The committee , desirous of producing a scheme which would permanently secure from every Freemason in this province an interest in the sacred cause of charity , believe that the * Hamer Benevolent Fund' is calculated to effect this most

successfully . From the rapid increase of the Order in this province , it may reasonably be expected that there will be a very large number of claims upon our charity , and the committee think that the ' Hamer Benevolent Fund ' may be made the means of alleviating a great amount of distress , without pressing heavily upon individuals or

lodges , there being practically no limit to the relief that may be granted , provided the brethren will support this institution with small annual donations and subscriptions . ( Signed . ) " Charles H . Hill , P . M ., 734 , Chairman . "Robert Wylie , P . M ., 115 , Hon . Sec . "Liverpool , 14 th Nov . 1873 . "

The bye-laws in connection with the scheme were also read ; and on the motion of Bro . R . Wylie , seconded by Bro . Mott , the whole plan and report were cordially approved by the P . G , Lodge . Bros . J . Pearson , A . Stoddart , and H .

S . Alpass , were appointed Trustees ; Bro . W , Laidlaw , Treasurer ; R . Wylie , Secretary ; Bros . Hill , Armstrong , J . K . Smith , Wilsen , Ashmore , Baxendale , J . W . J . Fowler , R . Pearson , W . Vines , and G . Morgan , Members of Committee . Bro . Alpass , P . G . Sec ., '_ then read the

following : — " Since the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge in February , a period of nine months , fifteen dispensations have been granted to ten lodges in Liverpool , to initiate more than five candidates on the same day ; one lodge has had

four , another three , eight others one each . I think it my duty to call the attention of the R . W . P . G . M . and the W . M . ' s of the lodges to the fact that members of lodges frequently propose brethren for joining and candidates for initiation by note to the W . M ., when there is not

any emergency justifying that mode of proposal . I must also call the attention of W . M . ' s of lodges to page 83 , Bee 1 and 2 of the Book of Constitutions , whereby it is clearly laid down that a joining member must be proposed in open lodge , his name , occupation , and place of abode , as well

as the name and number 01 the lodge in which he is or was last a member , should be sent to all the members in the summons of the next regular lodge meeting , when he must be ballotted for . Candidates for initiation must be proposed in like manner , except in such cases as are

mentioned in page S 4 , which says— ' Any two members of a lodge may transmit in writing the name , & c , of any candidate they may wish to propose , and the circumstances which cause the emergency ; and the Master , if it be proposed , shall notify the same to every member of his

lodge , & c . ' It is , therefore , evident that the responsibility of preventing the abuse of proposals by note rests with the W . M ., and that he should not permit it unless he is satisfied that the circumstances justify it ; and no emergency should be allowed in the case of a person residing in the neighbourhood except , perhaps , in the case of a