Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

Mayor of Chester , who remarked that he felt the responsibility of that office more than those in connection with his native city , because he followed one ( Bro . Cope ) who had long and ably performed the functions devolving upon him . The P . G . M . then proposed the toast of " The

W . M . s of the Moira and RoyalEdward Lodges , " and , in reply , Bro . Davies , D . C . 324 and W . M . 1218 ( who spoke on behalf of the brethren referred to ) , said he deeply regretted to hear the remarks which had been made upon other orders , which fulfilled their duties as sincerely as

Freemasonry itself . ( Hear , hear . ) He regretted this all the more because he felt bound to say that four-fifths of the brethren present belonged to other orders . ( Cries of " No , " and " Yes . " ) They ought to give the members of those orders credit for honesty ; but he quite agreed with

Bro . Latham in thinking that there ought to be no Masonic processions through the streets , and therefore he hoped that " brother would not carry away with him the impression that they were fond of parade .

After thetoast of " The Visiting P . G . Officers of the neighbouring Provinces " had been responded to by Bro . Kennedy , P . P . G . T . E L ., Lord De Tabley gave " The charities within the Province , " referring especially to the Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution .

Bro . J . P . Piatt acknowledged the toast , remarking that in their educational institution they had 24 children who where receiving its benefits . That institution had great claims upon the brethren within the province , and he trusted they would continue their efforts for its prosperity .

" The London Charities " ( proposed by Bro . J . P . Piatt , and acknowledged by Bro . Cope ) , " The Visiting Brethren , " and , " All Poor and Distressed Masons , " were amongst theother toasts on the list . During the evening an excellent se'ection of music was sung at intervals by Bros . Edmondson , Stafford , Andrew , Ball , Vaudrey , and Moss , under the direction of Bro . Barlow , P . G . O ., who presided at the pianoforte .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Warwickshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WARWICKSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire was luld at Kenilworth . The brethren assembled at the King ' s Arms Hotel , where proceedings were opened in the Stoneleierh Lodcre . of

which Bro . Bushell is Worshipful Master . Lord Leigh , as Prov . G . M ., assumedthe chair . Therewere alsopresent : Lieutenant-Colonel Machen , Deputy Provincial Grand Master .

Officers of the Stoneleigh Lodge : F . Bushell , W . M . ; J . D . Whitty , P . M . ; H . E . Barton , S . W . ; B . Hicks , J . W . ; H . Bursell , J . W . ; F . Stonhouse , Chaplain ; J . Overton , Secretary ; G . Godfrey , S . D . ; W . Manton . T . D .:

J . Owen , I . G . ; W . Turner , Tyler ; D . R . Wynter , Senior Steward . Members : Flinn , Stockwell , Hammond , Owen , Adams , Hicks Eaves , Corbett , and Masters .

Visitors : J . R . Chirm , P . M . 473 ; J . Darwen , P . M . 473 ; M Bilker , W . M . 1016 ; C . H . Williams , W . M . 43 ; W . K < ttcy . W . M . 739 ; E . Worrall , P . P . G . D . C . ; H . Hardin ? .

587 ; Henry Watts , Athol Lodge ; S . Wood , S . W . 1163 ; J . Walker , W . M . 254 : W . Hall , W . M . 1031 ; J . Goffe , J 246 ; J . Hutton , W . M . 473 ; G . Rogers , 1246 ; H . Swinson , J . Kennedy , J . D , 1031 ; F . Cohen , W . M . 1333 ; J . Somers 1153 ; H . Holemshaw , W . M . 138 ; W .

Walters , P . M . 74 ; M . Suffield , P . M . 925 ; J . W . Taverner , P . M . 432 ; W . M . Cooper , 1180 ; W . H . Powell , VV . M . Leigh Lodge ; J . W . Vivian , J . G . Biermas , J . W . Temperance 739 : J . Beech , P . G . Secretary : H .

Smith , W . M . Holte Lodge ; R . Redman , 892 ; W . D . Fairfax , P . M . 43 ; Edward Bushell , 254 ; Thomas Jackson , Old Globe Secretary ; G . P . Dunn , P . M . 301 ; P . Packwood , P . M . 1014 ; T . Clarke , 284 ; T . H . S .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Warwickshire.

Cundall , 284 ; R . D . Vaughton , W . M . 567 ; G . S . VV . dton , 567 ; W . Hawkins , 1180 ; C . A . Horton , 11 S 0 ; W . H . Hayward , S . W . 8 S 7 ; W . Shakespeare 887 ; C . F . Crich , l . W . 395 ; T . Pursall , P . G . S . W . ; T . Griffiths ,

395 i T . Bragg , P . M . 7 A ; J- P . Salt , P . G . S . B ., 887 ; C . Lee , P . G . S . D . ; J . Bragg , P . M . 473 ; T . Clarke , P . P . G , S . W . 254 ; V . Taylor , Q 2 q , P . G . P . ; G . W . Dickenson , P . P . G . Supt .

Works , 502 ; H . Swete , P . G . O . 1222 ; J . W . Hance , 395 ; J . B . Hall , 1031 ; E . Burfield , 395 ; W . Walby , 395 ; H . Slantey , 393 ; W . Green , 395 ; and many others .

After the opening of the lodge in the customary form , the various lodges were called . After which the roll of P . G . officers was submitted . The minutes of the P . G .

Lodge , holden at the Grosvenor Lodge , Birmingham , on April 19 , 1871 , were then confirmed . The reports ofthe Audit Committee and the Benevolent and Annuity Fund Committee were next laid before the

meeting and approved . P . G . S . B . Saltpresented the lifeboatreport , which stated that the first meeting of the committee was held at the Masonic Hall on May 3 rd , at which the following officers

were appointed : —Bro . Lord Leigh , P . G . M , president ; Bro . Colonel Machen , D . P . G . M , chairman ; Bro . Capt . Salt , P . G . S . E , treasurer . At a meeting of the committee , held on

7 th September , additional subscriptions , amounting to £ 100 ns , were announced , making a total of £ 263 iSs . 6 d , leaving to be collected £ 216 iSs . 6 d . The committee

had issued 1 , 000 circulars to brethren in the provinces , ancl it was hoped that when the lodges resumed labour , the amount required to complete the subscription list would be speedily forthcoming . The committee was

of opinion that thc time had arrived when a vigorous effort should be made to close the list , and urged upon the brethren the desirability of taking steps to accomplish that object .

D . P . G . M . Machen , in moving the adoption of the report , remarked that the lodges of the province were deeply indebted to Bro . Sale for the kind interest he had taken in . and great labour he had bestowed upon ,

the scheme for purchasing a Warwickshire Masonic Lifeboat . He hoped that before the lodge met again , the whole of the money required would be subscribed . He was gratified to announce that the Provincial

Grand Master ( Lord Leigh ) had authorised the Hon . Secretary to double his subscriptionof ten guineas . Hetrusted that theliberal act of his lordship would be an incentive to those who had not yet contributed to the fund .

The adoption of the report having been duly seconded , Bro . Salt announced that the committee had arranged to hold their next meeting in November , for the reason that by that time

all the lodges in the provinces would have met for business . It required only the small sum of ; £ io from each lodge to complete the subscription list . If it were possible to launch thc boat before winter ,

the Freemasons of Warwickshire would have the satisfaction of feeling , when they ate their Christian dinner , that something had been clone by them for those whose dangerous business it was to go down into

thc deep waters , and brave the tempest , for a livelihood . Looking to the temper of the lodge , ancl the Freemasons generally , upon the subject , he had no doubt that before tlie next meeting the balance required to purchase the lifeboat would be subscribed .

Bro . Ouiltcr ( Holte Lodge ) rose to present to the P . G . M . a cheque for 20 guineas , the proceeds of a garden party held the other day at the Aston Lower Grounds in

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Warwickshire.

aid of the Masonic Lifeboat scheme . Bro . Ouilter said he had hoped the contribution would have been double the sum ; but there was the satisfaction of knowing that the introduction of ladies into the gathering had

resulted in the collection from them , after tea , of a sum of nearly seven guineas . The P . G . M , on behalf of the Grand Lodge , thanked Bro . Quiltcrforhis kindness , and for his handsome subscription . He

added that the brethren must be deeply indebted to Bro . Salt , for the warmness and energy he had displayed in the movement . The report was then adopted , and notice of motion was given that at the next

meeting a vote of twenty guineas towards the lifeboat , from the funds of the Prov . Grand Lodge , would be proposed . The only Warwickshire candidate for the Masonic Charities was a girl named

Jennings , whom it was unanimously resolved to support . Her father was an old and a deserving member of a Birmingham Lodge . After the lodge meeting , the brethren proceeded to church , where a sermon was

preached by the Rev . Bro . Harris , Provincial Grand Chaplain . He selected for his text the 6 th verse of the 133 rd Psalm , " Behold , how good and how joyful a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . "

After speaking generally on the blessings of peace and concord among men , and the horrors of warfare , such has had been witnessed recently on the Continent , he proceeded to remind his brother members of

thc peaceful principles on which their order was based . They called themselves , and were proved to be so , an ancient and honourable fraternity , and without question that appellation was strictly true and

appropriate . Ancient they were , and honourable they must be , if they only carried out in their daily lives theirprofessed principles . In proof of antiquity , they could point to a countless number of stately

edifices , the foundations of which were laid hy members of their Craft , in remote ages gone by ,- and were by them erected for purposes of worship , defence , or beauty . Even in thc neighbourhood ofthe church in which

they were now assembled , stood the ruins of a proud castle which once over-awed the nation with its towers ancl battlements , among the walls of which were stones speaking to the initiated of thc labours of their

ancient operative brethren . As to their being an honourable body , he need scarcely remind them that for many a century past , thc best and noblest in thc land , had regarded it as a high honour to have their

names enrolled as members of their order . But that was not all , there was still another and a higher sense in which they might claim to be regarded as honourablenamely , those glorious principles to which

they hacl given in their adhesion , and to carry out which was their solemn profession . These were faith , hope , charity , brotherly love , relief , truth , loyalty , justice , and virtue—a trial of three-fold cords , which

neither thc malignity nor subtlety of their foes could rend asunder . Here were to be found true " liberty , equality , and fraternity , " words much abused by the world , and but slightly comprehended by many ;

but they represented principles really ancient , which lay at the bottom of all true religion , of all civilisation , of all that constituted a man ' s duty to his God and his neighbour .

At the conclusion of the service , a collection was made in aid ofthe benevolent fund of the Order . Tlie brethren then marched back to the King ' s Head , where a first-class dinner was provided by Mr . Dempster , die landlord . Lord Leigh presided ,