Weekly Summary.

WEEKLY SUMMARY .

Since our last impression we have had to regret the loss of two eminent merchants of London—Mr . Russell Ellice , and Mr . Thomas Baring , both of them high in the opinions of their fellow citizens . The death of Lord

Richard Cavendish , brother to the Duke of Devonshire , is also announced . The elections for the School Boards continue actively all over the country . In Sheffield no

election has taken place , a course , we venture to think , of very doubtful legality , and still more doubtful propriety . From the Gold Coast comes the first news of

Sir Garnet Wolseley ' s proceedings , which took the form of a successful " reconnaisance , " with no material loss . There has also been a skirmish at Escaboo , under Col . Festing , in which five

English officers are " slightly wounded . " Two good regiments , "the 23 rd Royal Welsh Fusileers , and the 2 nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade , have been despatched to the seat of war , and

the 42 nd Hi ghlanders , are to follow . This fine brigade is to be commanded , it seems , by Sir A . Alison , and there can be little doubt all that can be done by British soldiers will be

effected by these excellent representatives of our English army . The Times states that some progress has been made in drawing up the new rules for the new

arrangements of our law courts , which are to come into effect in the summer of 1874 . Mr . Disraeli has made a most effective speech , and . given very good advice to the students and

others at Glasgow , and following the many very distinguished men who have preceded him in the office of Lord Rector , there can be little doubt that he has well sustained his character for

elocpaence and oratory . In the foreign news , as we anticipated , Marshal MacMahon has received a prolongation of his high powers for seven years , and we sincerely

trust that under his firm and temperate sway , our good neig hbours of " Outre Manche , " may happily regain the flow of national prosperity , and he signal blessings of order , liberty , and peace .

In Spain , no material change is announced , though great uneasiness and confusion seem to prevail in the beleaguered fortress of Carthagena .

The Italian Parliament has been opened in a Royal speech , all " couleur de rose , " but , Italy ' s old enemy , a financial difficulty , seems looming in the distance .

Another very startling robbery of jewellery has taken place at Lady Waldgraves , at Strawberry Hill , somewhat similar to one not long ago at Earl Russell's in Richmond Park . The thieves

are described as gentlemanly and well-dressed , one'Jight , the other dark , and we would commend the care and consideration of these interesting

professors of "legerdemain" to the speedy handling of our useful and meritorious fellow citizens in Scotland-yard .

If the demands of the American Government are correctly given by Baron Von Reuter , they are very simple , but excessively comprehensive .

They amount to a restoration of the vessel , the setting at liberty all who are still in confinement , indemnification to the living , and to the friends of those so unjustly executed , an open repudiation

Weekly Summary.

of , and expression of regret for such uncalled for cruelties , and the signal punishment of all those who had any hand in inflicting , or permitting the unjust sentence of an incompetent court to be

carried out , so hastily and so unmercifully . Though we are Freemasons , and as such have nothing to do with politics , per se , we are still citizens , and let us hope patriots , endowed with

the princip les of common humanity and consideration for our fellow creatures . Probably another week will bring us decided news one way or the other . Having said this , we are glad to be able

to express our hope that peace may not be disturbed , and that we all may learn more and more , that , the best way of maintaining tranquility in

the world , and avoiding the horrors of war , is always to respect the rights , and laws , and . liberties of others .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

By command of Bro . the Rig ht Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , R . W . P . G . M ., the annual Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire was held on Wednesday , the 19 th instant , at the Brook-street Sunday Schools , St . Helen ' s . As this was the first meeting his lordship has held

since his appointment and installation as Provincial Grand Master of one of the most influential provinces throughout the kingdom , the W . M . ' s , P . M . ' s , Wardens , and brethren of the lodges in the province assembled in strong force to show their interest in the meeting and their

admiration for their Masonic head . Probably there were present nearly 400 brethren , and the fact that the whole of the 63 lodges in the extensive province , with one exception , were repiesented at the meeting , showed how deep and strong is the interest taken in Masonry , and

how much his lordship is esteemed and respected . The first act of his lordship with respect to the allotment of " purple " in the Provincial Grand Lodge is sure to increase his popularity , and on Wednesday there was almost universal satisfaction among the brethren that all

the officers , with one or two exceptions , were changed for the first time in the memory of many . It is understood that this will now be the yearly course taken by his lordship , and as a consequence brethren who have , so to speak , grown grey in the service of Masonry , will now

have a prospect of honourable recognition , while those who are manfully struggling to the front will have increased incitement to perseverance and zeal . With the best weather , St . Helens , with its myriad of smoky chimneys and chemical breezes ,

is not ihe most inviting place , but on this occasion it was fortunately seen at its best , as if it were determined to do honour to the occasion . The Liverpool contingent of the brethren started from Lime-street Station at io 5 o , special arrangements having been made with the railway

company , and as the other trains came from the other places in the provinces the " natives " stared with undisguised astonishment at the crowds of black-coated and white-chokered strangers who had apparently taken full possession of the town . The accommodation at the

Brook-street Sunday Schools was of the most satisfactory character , and the arrangements generally were very complete . To save a good deal of confusion and delay , however , we would suggest that at future meetings of Provincial Grand Lodges ,

more than one Tyler ' s book should be furnished . A dozen smaller paper covered books might be provided , thereby enabling a number of brethren to sign simultaneously , and , if necessary these mig ht afterwards be collected and bound together The effect of having only one book on this

occasion , was that many had to struggle to get to it , others only signed after the business was over , while others left altogether without signing . In every other respect , however , there was nothing to which exception could be taken , and the St . Helens' meeting may , in every sense , be

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

reckoned the most successful and pleasant ever held , with the exception of that held at the Liverpool Town Hall .

THE P . G . LODGE MEETING . After the brethren had assembled in the large and handsome school room upstairs , the Craft lodge was opened in the three degrees by Bro . Hall , P . M ., of Lodge 32 ( the oldest in the Province ) , as W . M ; , supported by Bros . J . W . R .

Fowler , I . P . M . 86 , acting as S . W . ; J . Beesley , W . M . 216 , as J . W . ; and R . Brown , J . W . 241 , as I . G . Amongst the principals and leaders of the different Craft lodges represented , we observed the . following : —Bros . Dr . J . K . Smith , P . M .

249 ; H . Pearson , P . M . 248 , - C- Humphries , S . W . 1013 ; Dr . J . Worthington , W . M . 220 ; G . F . Robinson , W . M . 1375 5 s - Studd , S . W . 1375 ; W . Boulton , W . M . 823 ; J . Devaynes , P . M . 667 , T . Ashmore , P . M . 823 ; J . Healing , 1263 ; J . Piatt , P . M . 613 ; H . Nelson , P . M .

673 ; £ . Kyle , W . M . 673 ; J . T . Callow , I . P . M . 673 ; R . Hooker , S . W . 1225 ; R . Pearson , P . M . 673 ; T . Fair , W . M . 1256 ; William Williams , W . M . 1182 ; W . Pugh , P , M . 1182 ; P . R . Thorn , P . M . 1182 ; W . Pugh , P . M . 1182 ; P .

R . Thorn , P . M . 1182 ; W . Edginton , S . W . 11825 T . Clark , P . M . 673 ; T . Jackson , P . M . 580 ; P . B . Forshaw , S . W . 1403 ; J . Wells , S . W . 580 ; M . Corless , S . W . 673 ; S . Johnson , P . M . 673 ; J . W . R . Cook , W . M . 178 ; R . Pearson , P . M . 995 ; J . Bell , W . M . 1353 ; P . Pennington , P . M . 484 ; W . Bates , P . M . 484 ; T . Shaw , J . W . 823 ; J . W . Turley , P . M . 1035 ; T . Fozzard , P . M .

1035 ; G . Sculthorpe , P . M . 1035 ; W . Shortis , W . M . 724 ; W . G . Veale , Org . 1356 ; J . A . Vandyke , 241 ; J . B . Bunting , P . M . 1035 j J- - Hughes , P . M . 1013 ; Dr . Samuels , W . M . 1350 ; Captain W . Newman , W . M . 786 ; J . Jones , W . M . 1393 ; T . W . Sergeant , W . M . 203 ; T .

Lowe , W . M . 1013 ; G . Roswell , S . W . 1356 ; R . Langley , P . M . 477 , - T . R . Goepel , P . M . 155 j W . C . Marsh , P . M . 521 ; H . Scott , W . M . 86 ; W . Evans , W . M . 1356 j C . M'Nab , S . W . 1035 > F . P . Poole , W . M . 343 j G . Morgan , P . M . 1035 ; J . Clegg , W . M . 1 299 ; P . Macmuldrow , S . W . 1299 : R . R . Martin , W . M . 1004 ; W . Cottrell ,

S . W . 823 ; R . G . Manning , P . M . 930 ; S : Cookson , P . M , 1182 ; H . Williams , P . M . 1035 ; R . Young , W . M . 1384 ; H . Owen , P . M . 786 ; J . Wray , W . M . 1061 ; W . S . Blackhurst , W . M . 1070 ; P . R . Thorn , P . M . 1182 ; J . Rigby , P . M . 1070 ; C . Leighton , S . W . 1325 ; J . Lunt , P . M . 1086 ; W . E . Edge , W . M . ' 1403 ; S . Wylde ,

P . M . 1403 ; P . Ashcroft , S . W . 986 ; D . W . Finney , P . M . 148 : J . A . Hall , P . M . 32 ; D . Stansfield , P . M . 730 ; R . Brierley , S . W . 1250 ; Martin , W . M . 1032 ; G . Turner , P . M . 86 ; J . J . Rose , W . M . 249 : W . Melbourne , S . W . 343 ; J . Wood , Treas ., 1094 ; C . Bee , W . M . 314 ; P . M . Larsen , P . M . 594 ; T . Chesworth , P . M . 724 ; J . Davison , S . W . 724 ; E . Dutch , I . G . 1393 ; W . Harrison , P . M . 897 ; A . Davies , W . M , 126 4 ; J , Thornton , P . M . 673 ; J . Pemberton "

P . M . 1264 ; R . Washington , J . W . 1 094 ; S . Schonstadt , 1299 ; J . W . Ballard , J . W . 724 ; R . Martin , jun ., S . D . 1182 , & c . Shortly afterwards the Provincial Grand Lodge was announced , and Bro . the lit . Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , R . W . P . G . M ., entered the room

preceded and accompanied by the following P . G . Officers , past and present : —Bros . J . F . Goggin P . G . Chaplain ; T . Armstrong , P . G . Treas . ; T Wvlie , P . G . Reg . ; H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ; R Wylie , P . P . G . S . D . ; B . W . Rowson , P . G . S . of W . ; G . Broadbridge , P . G . D . C .: J . W . J .

Fowler , P . G . A . D . C ; J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; R . Robinson , P . G . S . ; P . Ball , P . G . Tyler ; W . H . Ball , P . G . A . Tyler ; . T . Birchall , P . P . J . G . W . ; P . Maddox , P " . P . G . S . of W . ; W . Laidlaw , P . P . G . S . of W . ; S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . IL ; J . Hauler , P . P . G . Treas . ; A . C . Mott , P . P . S . G . D .

and P . P . G . S . W . of Westmoreland and Cumberland ; II . G . Vernon , P . P . G . C . ; C . Sherlock , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Bowes , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Baxendale , P . G . Pur . ; C . J . Banister , P . G . S . B . of England . The R . W . P . G . M . having ascended the throne , he was greeted with the royal

honours , led by Bro . G . Broadbridge , P . G . D . C . The P . G . M . then proceeded to open the Provincial Grand Lodge according to ancient form , the following prayer being offered by Bro . Goggin , P . G . C . : " Let us pray for all sorts and conditions of men ; and herein for our Sovereign Lady the Qiieen