Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

S . Partridge , P . G . Secretary ; J . C . Duncombe , P . J . G . D . ; J . M- 'Allister , P . G . Superintendent of Works j J- J- Fast , P . Prov . G . S . of Works ; J . Hunt , P . Prov . G . A . D . C ; C . P . Neweome , P . G . S . B . ; C . Johnson , P . Prov . G . S . W . Jersey , P . Prov . G . O . : E . J . Crow , P . Prov . G . O . ; F .

J . Baines , P . G . Purst . ; J . F . Bright , P . Prov . G . Pnrst . ; E . Mace and P . P . Goodchild , P . G . Stewards . The list of visitors included Bros . Samuel Inns , D . P . G . M . Norths and Hunts , F . Binckes , Grand Stewards Lodge , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Rev . C . Stopford , P . G . Chaplain Norths and Hunts , J . Denton P . Prov . Purst . West Yorks ,

and many others . The John of Gaunt Lodge was opened at io a . m ., after which the R . W . Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Lodge were received in due form , and the Prov . G . AL was saluted with the customary honours . Bro . Inns , the D . P . G . AL for Norths and Hunts , was received and saluted .

Thc Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , the roll of lodges and roll of P . G . Officers called , and the minutes of the last annual meeting and of two subsequent lodges of emergency were read and confirmed , after which the report of the Committee of General Purposes was submitted

and adopted . The report , besides referring to the very satisfactory state ofthe Grand Treasurers account and congratulating thc P . G . Lodge upon the prosperous condition of the several lodges under its control , contained a review of the principal events

connected with Freemasonry in the Province during the past year , prominent amongst which were the installation of Bro . the Earl of Ferrers as D . P . G . AL in February last , and the establishment of the Commercial Lodge at Leicester , now in a most flourishing state , under the

leadership of a most zealous W . AL , and possessing an efficient staff * of officers . Reference was also made to the loss the Province had sustained by the deaths of two members of the P . G . Lodge : Bro . Williams G . Palmer , Senior P . Prov . G . S . W . one of the

oldest Masons in the Province ; and Bro . R . W . Widdowson Prov . G . Purst ., a young Alason of great promise . The lodge was then adjourned , and at noon the brethren went in procession to St . George ' s Church , where Divine service was held .

A most able and eloquent sermon was preached by the Right Rev . Bro . the Lord Bishop of Peterborough , in the course of which he made a most gracious allusion to the memory ofthe late Earl Howe , and to thc great loss Churchmen

and others had had sustained by his death . At the close of the sermon the Alasonic procession was reformed , and , followed by a procession of the Bishop and the Clergy of the district , proceeded to the site of the Alemorial Church .

The Old Hundreth Psalm having been sung and an appropriate service conducted by the Vicar of St . George ' s , the Provincial Grand Mastcr addressed the spectators according to ancient custom , and the foundation stone was laid with full Alasonic honours , the ceremony

being completed by H . L . Powys Keck , Esquire , who , after striking the stone three times with the mallet , declared it to be laid in proper form . Air . Keck then said he should not detain them long , but he wished to say a few words on the occasion whicli had brought them together ; and

he must iirst express his thanks to the honourable Craft of Freemasons for having permitted him to lay that stone , although uninitiated in the mysteries of their Craft . He was glad the stone was laid with proper Alasonic ceremonies , as no doubt it would have been the wish of the

nobleman whom they had met that day to commemorate . They had met to give practical effect to the wish which had been so long prevalent in this town and country , to erect a substantial , and he hoped a beautiful memorial to the memory of the late revered , and honoured , and beloved Earl Howe . He trusted that it needed no word of

his to recall him to their memories , or to bring to mind the kind heart , and willing and generous hand , and liberal spirit , and warm sympathy with everything that affected the well-being both of this town and county , both those qualities would bc all present with them on this occasion . Nor did it require words of his to recall in this town

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

the high respect and gratitude , and esteem , and love , in which that name was held for years- It had been a great pleasure to him to lay that stone , and he trusted that the work which they had begun would go on , and that it might be a worthy memorial of the nobleman who had

been so long and highly esteemed among them . At the conclusion of the ceremony , the Alasonic and clerical processions were reformed , the former returning to Freemasons' Hall , when the business of tho lodge was resumed . Bro . W . B . Smith was unanimously re-elected Treasurer .

The R . W . Provincial Grand Alaster then addressed the brethren at considerable length , announcing his intention of resigning his office early next year , on the completion of the third year of his rule over thc Province , and , after reviewing the principal events of his long and

active Alasonic career , concluded by thanking the brethren for the great courtesy and kindness he had invariably received from every brother in the province , and assuring them that although their official connection might be severed , his heart would still be , as it had ever been , in Alasonry , and that such service as might be in

his power to render would at all times be readily accorded , not only to his successor in the chair ol Prov . G . AL , but wherever they might be required in any of thc private lodges in the province over which hc had felt so much pride and pleasure in presiding . Thc address was listened to with the greatest

attention , and the intimation of the intended resignation of the esteemed Prov . G . AL was received with expressions of profound regret , which was increased by the fact that one of the chief causes of his retirement was that of failing health .

The D . Prov . G . AL , the Right Hon . Earl Ferrers , said that he was sure every one present on that occasion would concur with him in

expressing the regret he lelt at the announcement they had just heard . The retirement of Bro . lvelly would be felt to be a most serious loss , the flourishing state of Alasonry in the province and the great progress made being mainly due to thc untiring exertions of their worthy Prov . G . AL

The report of the Committee of General Purposes , recommending that a stained glass window be placed in the intended new church , as a Alasonic memorial to the late Earl Howe , P . l ' rov . G . AL , was then discussed , and it was resolved that the recommendation of the

Committee bc adopted , and that the question as to the design , & c , of the proposed window be referred back to the Committee for further consideration , the brethren expressing a hope that the memorial would be one worthy of the

pro-. The Prov . G . AL , referring to the resignation of the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . G . Toller , jun ., P . Prov . G . Reg ., moved that the best thanks of thc lodge be given to him for his zealous and highly efficient and valuable services during the

past three years , and that as a slight recognition of those services a sum of money be voted from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the purchase of a suitable testimonial for presentation to Bro . Toller . The motion was seconded , by Bro . the Rev . Wm . Langley , P . Prov . S . G . W .,

and carried unanimously . Bro . Toller said he was entirely unprepared for the very handsome compliment paid to him , and felt somewhat at a loss for a suitable expression of' his thanks for their kindness . He resigned the office with regret , as he had always

received the greatest consideration at the hands of all with whom his official duties had brought him into communication , and for that consideration , and also for the honour they had conferred upon him in passing the foregoing resolution , he tendered his most sincere thanks .

ihe sum ol ten guineas was voted as a donation to the fund now being raised b y St . John ' s Lodge , No . 279 , for the purpose of purchasing the admission into the Royal Alasonic Institution for Boys of one of thc sons of a deceased member of that lodge .

The R . W . P . G . AL then appointed and invested his officers , as follows : — J . J . Fast , P . M . 1130 Prov . S . G . W . C . Stretton , P . AI . 271 ; , Prov . J . G . W .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

Rev . P . H . Phelp , W . AL 50 Prov . G . Chaplain . Rev . W . T . Fry . S . D . 523 Prov . G . Chaplain . I " . H . Douglass , Sec . 1330 Prov . G . Registrar . W . B . Smith , P . AL 523 ... Prov . G . Treasurer . S . S . Partridge , J . W . 523 Prov . G . Secretary .

E . J . Crow , W . AL 279 ... Prov . G . S . D . E . Ison , W . AL 779 Prov . G . J . D . T . Barnard , 1130 Prov . G . S . of W . J . B . Hall , W . AL 1391 ... Prov . G . D . of C . [ . Halford , J . W . 1 , 391 ... Prov . G . A . D . C . Capt . H . B . Burnaby , P . AL

1007 Prov . G . Swd . B . W . T . Rowlett , J . D . 523 Prov . G . Organist . F . Amatt , Sec . 1007 Prov . G . Purst . F . Kemp , S . W . 1330 Prov . G . Asst . Purst . T . G . Bennett , S . W . 1265 Prov . G . Stand . B . J . W . Smith , 279 Prov . G . Steward . J . T . Thorp , 523 „ „

S . E . Johnson , 779 „ J . AI . Kew , 126-5 t „ „ ,, F . Grant , ALD ., 1330 „ G . Clifton , ALD ., 1391 ... ,, „ „ Charles Bembridge Prov . G . Tyler . Thomas Dunn , „ ,,

Thc Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and thc Provincial Grand Alaster and his officers retired , after which the Craft Lodge was closed . On the conclusion of the business the brethren sat down to a most excellent banquet , which had been provided under the superintendence of the Stewards , whose efforts gave the greatest

satisfaction . The usual loyal and Alasonic toasts were duly honoured , and in the intervals between the speeches the proceedings were enlivened by the singing of Bros . Rowlett , P . G . Organist , Crow , P . l'rov . G . Org ., W ykes , Tebbutt , Atwood , Taylor , and others , and also b y the instrumental performances of Tiros . Rowlett , Wykes , and Crow , on the oboe , bassoon , and pianoforte .

Mark Masonry In Lancashire.

MARK MASONRY IN LANCASHIRE .

ihe rapid strides which Alark Alasonry is making in Lancashire , especially , and in the North of England generally , is something to be wondered at . During a period of a little over two years , say two years and a half , no fewer than ten Alark Lodges have been opened in the

County Palatine , besides the resuscitation of some two or thiee lodges which had been lying almost dormant for some time , During that time , the Provincial Grand Lodge has been established , and that , in its turn , has been instrumental in assisting at the formation and constitution of two other Provincial Grand Lodges , those of the

West Riding of Yorkshire , with Bro . Thomas l ' erkingtou at its head ; and Cumberland and Westmoreland , with Bro . the Earl Bective as its head . And very shortly we may expect to see ( for we suppose such is the case ) the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lancashire once more exercise the functions of Grand Lodge , in assisting at the formimr and constitutin . i- a Provincial Grand

Lodge for Cheshire . These results cannot but bc gratifying to all who have the prosperity of the degree at heart . On Tuesday the number of Lancashire lodges was increased by the opening of the Starkie Lodge , No . i j 9 , at the Red Lion Hotel , Accrington . The meetincr was held under a

dispensation from the Prov . G . AL , Bro . Callender , pending the arrangements for the consecration and inauguration of the lodge , to enable a sufficient number of candidates to be advanced to the degree , so as to be able to take part in the abovenamed ' ceremonies . Bro . Thomas Hargreaves ,

P . AL 1 13 , J . G . D ., occupied the chair temporarily , and was supported by the officers of the Blair Alark Lodge , 113 . After the lodge had been opened , and the dispensation read , Bro . Thomas Hindle , the W . AI . designate , proposed , ami Bro . John Royston , thc J . W . designate , seconded , a

number of brethren as joining members , and for advancement . Twelve of the brethren being present , eight were affiliated as Mark Masters , under the English Constitution , and four were advanced to the degree by the W . AL , Bro .

Thomas Hargreaves . The lodge was afterwards closed , when the brethren adjourned to refreshment , and a pleasant evening was spent . Bro . Hargreaves , in responding for the Grand Officers , gave a very interesting history of Grand Alark Lodge from its formation .