Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

T . J . Hughes , the accompaniments being played by Bro . J . Skeaf , P . G O . Previous to the P . G . Lodge meeting , centenary jewels were presented to Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , Rev . Bro . J . F . Goggin , P . G . C ., by the brethren present from ' the Lodge of Loyalty , 86 , Prescot .

As the whole of the brethren could not be accommodated at the Fleece Inn , about 80 of the members connected with the Downshire , Earl de Grey and Ripon , Harmony , St . John ' s , and Hamer Lodges , sat down to an excellent banquet at the " Raven , " and a very pleasant evening was spent .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham Iwas held in the Central Hall , Darlington , on Tuesday , 21 st October , 1873 . There were present : —R . W . Bro . John Fawcett , Prov . Grand IMaster ; R . W . Bro . Sir H . Williamson , Bart , M . P ., D . P . G . M . ; Bros .

Joseph Doods , M . P ., as P . G . S . W . ; J . E . Denham , P . G . J / W . ; Rev . C . Dale Trotter , P . G . Chaplain ; John Trotter , P G . R . ; W . H . Crookes , P . G . S . ; John Morrc-1 , P . G . S . D . ; William Liddle , P . G . J . D . ; Robert Hudson , P . G . D . of C . ; James Young , P . G . Sword

Bearer ; W . J . Marshall , P . G . O . ; J . Riseborough , P . G . P . ; John Thompson , P . G . T . ; together with a numerous gathering of Past Provincial Officers , Past Masters , and brethren of the Province . The lodge was opened in due form .

The Minutes of a Provincial Grand Lodge , held in the Masonic Hall , Durham , on Tuesday , 22 nd October , 1872 , were read and confirmed . The Minutes of an Especial Provincial Grand Lodge , held in the Public Free Library in South Shields , on Thursday , 18 th September , 1873 ,

called for the purpose of assisting the R . W . Bro . Sir . H . Williamson , Bart , M . P ., D . P . G . M . in laying the foundation stone of the New Chapel of St . Mark ' s , were then read and confirmed . The Treasurer ' s accounts were read , approved , and signed by the R . W . P . G . M .

The Fund Committee s Report was read , which stated they had granted the following sums for the relief of the petitioners ; viz .: The widow of a Brother of Palatine Lodge sti * , ; widow of a brother of Williamson Lodge , £ \ ; widow of [ a brother of St . Hilda ' s Lodge , c £ j

widow of a brother of St . Hilda ' s Lodge , dl <{; and they recommend that a further grant of s £ f } each should be made to them , as all the cases were such as would warrant the R . W . P . G . M . in rendering them additional assistance . The P . G . M , . " cordially consented to this , and agreed to the recommendation .

They further stated that they had granted the sum of £ 5 each to the widow of a brother of the Williamson Lodge , and to a brother of the Borough Lodge . They also recommended that the following donations be given to the Masonic Charities ,

viz : —To the Girls' School , ^ 52 10 s . ; to the Boys' School , J ? $ 2 10 s . ; to the Royal Institution for Aged Freemasons ; JJ 25 ; and to the Widows Fund , £ 2 ^ . which , on the proposition of Bro . Sir H . Williamson , seconded by Bro . Crookes , was agreed toby Prov . G . Lodge .

The Committee further recommended that the sum of , £ 100 in the hands of the P . G . Treasurer be funded as heretofore . This on being proposed by Bro . James Groves , and

seconded by Bro . W . A . Malcolm , was agreed to unanimously . The roll of lodges was next called , when all appeared by their representatives except the Wear Valley Lodge , No . 1121 .

The R . W . P . G . M . then addressed the brethren , and expressed bis great pleasure in again meeting them in Prov G . Lodge . In taking a retrospect of the affairs of the Craft since they last met , he said the principle circumstance was the loss Freemasonry had sustained by the death of the M . W . P . G . M . the late Earl of Zetland , a nobleman whose name would ever be associated with occurrences of deep interest and advantage to Freemasonry , and whose memory would be

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

cherished with feelings of respect and esteem . To him Freemasonry was deeply indebted , —for the sedulous attention he had paid to its interest , and for the firmness , wisdom , and conciliatory disposition with which he had for so long been its ruler . He was lost to us , but he had in his

exalted position left an example to all who wish successfull y to discharge the duties of a ruler of the Craft in private lodges . The Prov . G . M . then observed that he had little to communicate about the affairs of Freemasonry during the last year , but it might be

well to inform them that a question on which there had been some doubt was now wisely settled by Grand Lodge , and that it was now a Masonic offence for any brother to appear at any place of public resort in Masonic costume . This would make no change in this Piovince , for he

was happy m acknowledging the kindness and consideration with which the brethren had always attended to his wishes on the subject . The Prov . G . M . also alluded to the changes made , and he thought most reasonably made , in the rules of the two Masonic Institutions for

children , whereby lodges and chapters would be required to contribute more than individuals for the attainment of the same privileges . He was much gratified at the prominence given to the subject of the Masonic Charitias in the

reports he had heard of the state of the several lodges . He thanked the officers for the valuable assistance received from them on several important occassions . The Rev . John Cundill , was re-elected P . G . Treasurer

Ihe Provincial Grand Master then appointed the Officers for the ensuing year , and invested them with the insignia of their office , viz : — Sir . H . Williamson , D . Prov . G . M . A . H . Hunt , Prov . G . S . W . John Bailey , Prov . G . J . W .

Rev . F . W . Bewsher , Prov . G . Chaplain W . Brignall , jun Prov . G . 11 . Rev . John Cundill , Prov . G . Treas . W . H . Crookes , Prov . G . Sec . Robert Humphrey Prov G . S . D . John Hunton , Prov . G . J . D .

Robert Hudson , Prov . G . D . ofC . George Ellis , Prov . G . S . of W . James Davison , Prov . G . S . B . James Hoggett , Prov . G . Organist J . Wortley Prov . G . P . J . Thompson , Prov . G . Tyler .

The following were appointed Stewards : —J . E . Robson , 4 8 ; Robert Lutert , 94 ; Thomas Johnson , ; 531 George Pickering 1274 ; John Tindall , 1334 ; F . Maddison , 1389 . The lod ge was then closed in due form . The brethren afterwards dined together at the Fleece Inn .

Presentation To Bro. James Wallace And Z Chap.79.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . JAMES WALLACE AND Z CHAP . 79 .

The many services of Bro . Wallace to the whole Masonic Craft in Glasgow , having induced his friends to propose to present him with some testimonial of their respect , the proposition was at once cordially taken up and responded to b y every lodge in the province , and

on the evening of the 51 I 1 inst ., the presentation was made at Bro . P . Macdotvald ' s , the Imperial Motel . Councilor James Steel , P . M ., of No . 4 , and P . G . S . M ., was called on to preside , and at once proceeded to the business nf the evening , stating that though himself no novice in Masonry ,

lie could remember at his entrance into the craft , that Bro . Wallace was even then looked up to ay the Newton of Masonry . He need not remind them of his exertions for the benefit , not only of Glasgow , but of the whole West of Scotland , in the Grand Lodge at Edinburgh , or in his dibits to raise the Provincial Lodge of

Glasgow . These efforts had produced beneficial effects , and to mark in a sli ght degree their approbation of these labours , he had now the pleasure of presenting him with an address embodying their view :: , this he could keep as a memento of their feelings , lie had also to give , for Mrs . Wallace , a handsome set of gold earrings and brooch , and for his own use . a purse

Presentation To Bro. James Wallace And Z Chap.79.

of sovereigns . These tokens were to be taken , not as the value of his services , but as merely indicating , in a slight manner , the feelings of his friends . Bro . Wallace said , if anything could enhance the value of the gifts , it would be

receiving them from the hands of so old a friend as Bro . Steel , a man who was so well known for his blunt outspokeness , as one who was in the habit of saying what he thought to be true , even if by so doing he might offend even an old friend . He valued this quality , for it was one on

which he prided himself , and if he had gained any good for the West of Scotland from the governing body in the East it was because they had come to know that Bro . Wallace would tell them truths , even though they might

be unpalatable to them . He accepted the gifts in the spirit in which they were given , and he should deeply prize that to his wife . She was indeed , his better half ; and , though Masonry had taken him from his home many and many hours , she was never the woman to find fault with him .

or say , give it up . On her behalf , as well as his own , he thanked them . The Chairman then gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which were duly honoured . Bro . J . Crabb proposed the P . G . L . of Glasgow . The Chairman , as Substitute Master ,

responded ; as did Bro . M'Taggart , P . G . S ., who proposed the " Health and F'ireside of Bro . Wallace . " In doing so , he dwelt at some length on Bro . Wallace ' s services , not only to the Province , but to the whole Craft of Scotland , by his efforts to heal the breach between the Grand

Lodge and Mother Kilwinning—efforts which had settled the whole question by deciding the claims for the past , giving them their status for the present , and legislating for the future . This alone was enough to claim their admiration ; but when they added to this the fact that it was

mainly owing to him that they had a Benevolent F ' und for Glasgow nearly equal to that of the Grand Lodge itself , he need add no more to induce them to join in this toast . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Wallace replied , and gave " Bro . G . Sinclair , " Treasurer of the Glasgow

Benevolent Fund , who suitably acknowledged the toast , saying the state of the funds had not only enabled them to quadruple the amount of their gifts to deserving objects , but also to invest the sum of £ 400 . Bro . G . Wheeler proposed " The Committee

who had got up the testimonial and present meeting . " Bro . Crabb replied . Bro . Smith proposed the " Lord Provost and Magistrates of the City" in a highly humorous speech . Councillor Steel replied . Bro . G . McDonald gave " The Musical

Brethren who have delighted us . " Bro . Robert Eraser replied by an impromptu song , in which he brought in the whole of the company , ( which elicited repeated rounds of applause . ) The Chairman gave " The Host , " whom he

thanked for the very excellent way in which he had catered for the party . Bro . Peter Macdonald replied . Bro . Crabb proposed " The Masonic Press , " which was responded to by Bros . Bassett and Wheeler on behalf of The Freemason . The

whole company then , out of respect to ihe guest of the evening , Bro . Wallace , sang the national song , " Scots wha hae wi' Wallace Bled . " The Chairman then gave the final toast . We cannot close the account of this meeting without saving that great credit is clue to Bro .

Lalfour , the acting Secretary , for the unremitting attention he has paid to his duties , without which it would not have proved so very successful ; and also according a mede of praise to Bro . Grant for the artistic way in which he had written the address on vellum , and the splendid border with which he had enriched it .

Besides , those named , there were present Bro . J . Steel , P . G . S . M . ; A . M'Taggart , P . G . S . ; G . Thollum , P . G . S . R . ; J . Gillis , P . G . I . G . ; J . Balfour , P . C . D . C . ; and A . A . Smith , Convener of P . G . Committee : T . Tweed , S . M . Mother

Kilwinning ; J . Smille , R . W . M ., No . 3 ; J . Baird , No . 4 ; J . Crabb , P . G . ; Crab , N . ; G . Maeilonald , Z . Chap . 73 ; G . W . Wheeler , H . 73 ; G . Adams , 11 , , 50 ; W . Bell , J . <; o ; W . Bassett , 6 y ; and about twenty other brethren .