Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

had more votes than that of East Lancashire for that particular Charitythat they should strengthen their position . Bro . J . B . GOULBURN seconded the motion , which was adopted . An invitation was tendered from the Egerton Lodge , Heaton Norris , to hold the next annual meeting at Heaton Norris . The PROV . GRAND MASTER said he had received invitations also from

Accnngton , Ashton-under-Lyne , Burnley , Haslingden , and Todmorden . There had been no meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge at Accnngton since 1877 , and he thought in those circumstances the next meeting should be held in that town . A convenient date would be the Wednesday or Thursday nearest to the 15 th May .

Bro . CHEETHAM said that Bro . Captain Barlow would be proposed for the office of Grand Treasurer at the meeting of the Grand Lodge of England the week after next . It was likely , as far as could be at present ascertained , that he would be unopposed . ( Hear , hear . ) In the event of any other candidate being nominated , however , he hoped he would receive as strong support from the Provinces of East and West Lancashire and

Cheshire as was extended to him when he was a candidate last year . The PROV . GRAND MASTER said he voiced the feelings of all members of the Order in this district when he said that if Captain Barlow were elected to the office of Grand Treasurer it would give them all great pleasure , and be to the advantage of Freemasonry in general . ( Applause . ) Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

Consecration Of The Egremont Lodge, No. 2872.

CONSECRATION OF THE EGREMONT LODGE , No . 2872 .

LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF A NEW PARISH HALL . The ceremony ' of consecrating the above new lodge took place recently in the Concert Hall , Liscard . There was a large gathering of the chiefs of the Order . The Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., presided as the chief officer , and was supported by Bros . F . Stevenson , P . S . G . W . ; H . G . Small , P . P . G . W . ; T . A . Jackson , P . G . S . of W . ; H . Jackson , P . P . G . W . ; W . Shephard , P . G . Reg . ; W . Davidson ,

P . P . G . Std . Br . ; F . Pinder , P . G . S . ; James Cookson , P . S . G . W . ; L . Ellis , P . P . G . W . ; J . C . Armitage , P . P . A . G . P . ; R . L . Bonrne , P . G . S . B . ; F . Johnson , P . G . S . B . ; Rev . H . Parry , P . G . C ; G . Callow , P . A . G . D . C ; A . Saunders , P . P . G . S . B . ; Rev . W . Hollowell , P . P . G . C ; J . Appleton , P . G . S . ; G . Austin , P . G . S . ; ] . Morris , P . G . Treas . ; A . Sharpe , P . G . S . ; W . Chapson , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . C . Atkinson , P . P . G . C . ; F . Broadsmith , P . P . S . G . W . ; and C . S . Brewer , P . P . S . G . D .

Previous to the consecration ceremony the brethren attended the laying of the foundation-stone of the new parish hall in connection with St . Mary's Church , which was attended with Masonic ceremony . On returning to the Concert Hall the ceremony of consecration , was proceeded with , the Presiding Officer being assisted by his Chaplains and other representative oliicers .

Subsequently Bro . A . Alcock was installed as first W . M . of the Egremont Lodge , the presenting oflicers being Bros . J . Lee , P . P . S . G . D ., and W . Bowler , P . M ., the ceremony being performed by Bro . W . H . Moore , P . M .

The officers invested were Bros . W . J . Boler , I . P . M . ; J . Boughey , S . W . ; G . 1 ) . Beattie , J . W . ; E . C . Gaskill , P . M ., Treas . ; B . H . Williams , Sec . ; H . H . Crew , S . D . ; W . Boughey , J . D . ; John Lee , D . of C . ; G . S . Thomas , Charity Representative ; W . P . Hartwell-Jones , Org . ; G . Routledge , I . G . ; J . A . Francis , T . Johnson , H . W . B . Hely , J . Lawrenson , J . A . Clough , and G . Holden , Stewards ; and J . Bunting , Tyler .

A banquet was subsequently served by Bro . Rollwagen , and musical items were given during the evening by Bros . H . Collins , George Piatt , Ben Roberts , Arthur Weber , the Cathedral Glee Singers , and W . P . Hartwell-Jones , accompanist .

Consecration Of The Ceres Lodge: No. 2879.

CONSECRATION OF THE CERES LODGE : No . 2879 .

Tuesday last was the occasion of a large and representative gathering of Ihe Norfolk Craft at the quaint and ancient little town of Swaffham , to participate in the consecration of the Ceres Lodge , No . 2879 . This is not the first lodge at Swaffham , as , according to the late Bro . Lane ' s " Records , " there was one started there in 1 S 05 at the Greyhound Inn , an

hostelry that still nourishes . The title was the bwaffham New Lodge , No . 86 , and renumbered 108 at the Union . The warrant , however , had originally been issued by the Grand Lodge ( " Moderns " ) , in 1751 , to meet at the Hole in the Wall , Norwich , from which house it was removed to different places in the cathedral city up till 1805 , when the warrant lapsed , and in that year was transferred to Swaffham . In its new home the

" Swaffham New Lodge enjoyed a short and fleeting existence , seeing lhat after the year 1813 no returns had been made , whilst in 1 S 27 it was erased . During the past few years various efforts were made by resident brethren to found another lodge , and a few months ago it was seriously determined that thc time had arrived for action . A warrant was accordingly applied for , and granted by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , the M . W .

Grand Master , under the name and style of the Ceres Lodge , No . 2879 . I he title to the casual observer would seem to be singularly appropriate , consideiing that the goddess of corn and tillage so signally holds sway over this fair portion of his Majesty ' s dominions . On the other hand , the title has a local significance , in the shape of a a statue of the deity , which

surmounts the market cross of SwalTham , erected by the first Lord Orford , a member of the old lodge , we believe . A native of the town though , many years ago , put a different construction on the aforesaid statue , by likening it to the goddess of dancing , which he emphatically pronounced " Tipsykerry , " a distinction which has stuck to the unoffending Ceres ever since .

lurning to the new Ceres Lodge , it commences under most encouraging auspices , as amongst its founders is Bro . Lord Amherst of Hackney , P . M . 3-, P . G . W ., the oldest officer of the Prov . G . Lodge of Norfolk , and whose great grandfather was a founder of the old lodge . This incident is , theretore , a pleasing repetition ol history . Further , his lordship most willingly

Consecration Of The Ceres Lodge: No. 2879.

accepted the post of I . P . M . for the first year . Another distinguished founder is Bro . Sir W . H . B . Ffolkes , P . M . 107 , P . P . G . W ., who in the course of the consecration proceedings was elected Treasurer . The remainder of the founders are brethren of position in the town and neighbourhood , so that the new lodge is particularly fortunate in this important

respect . The place of meeting for the ceremonies of the day was the Assembly Rooms , one of the two large halls in which had been handsomely fitted up and furnished , whilst the other was set apart for the banquet . Shortly before three o ' clock there was a large attendance , headed by the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Hamon Le Strange , accompanied by the following of his officers , who were to assist him in the consecration : Bros . H . J . Sparks ,

siveness by the Prov . Grand Alaster that left a deep appreciation on all who were privileged to be present ; whilst the lengthy , learned , and eloquent oration of the acting Chaplain was listened to with the greatest attention . Nor must the incidental music , given with fine effect by the Norwich Cathedral Glee Party , under the veteran direction of Bro . J . H . Brockbank , be overlooked .

P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . ; W . G . Stevens , P . S . G . W . ; C . J . Muriel , P . J . G . W . ; the Rev . H . Wimble , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap . ; G . W . G . Barnard , P . A . G . D . of C , P . G . Sec . ; and A . F . Hardyment , P . G . D . C . There were also a number of other Provincial Officers present , and amongst the visitors outside the province , Bro . W . F . Lamonby , P . A . G . D . C . The consecration ceremony was performed with a dignity and

impres-The next ceremony was the installation of the W . M . designate , Bro . George Hare , P . M . 1193 , P . P . G . O ., Head Master of the Swaffham Grammar School . The whole of this work was also performed by the Prov . Grand Master , and with a verve and diction that , if anything , was intensified so far as the large auditory was concerned , there being 48 in the Board of Installed Masters . The W . M . invested the officers as follow 1 Bros . Lord Amherst of Hackney , P . G . W ., I . P . M . ; G . A . Walker ,

S . W . ; J . Green , P . M . 99 6 , P . P . J . G . D ., J . W . ; Sir W . H . B . Ffolkes , P . P . J . G . W ., Treas . ; H . R . Heyhoe , Sec . ; T . S . Matthews , S . D . ; Dr . A . W . Thomas , J . D . ; S . F . Stackard , P . P . G . D . C , D . C . ; H . T . Arnold , I . G . ; J . E . Brown , Org . ; F . R . Sadler , Stwd . ; and C . Brewster ,

Tyler . A committee was elected to frame bye-laws for the government of the lodge , and Bro . Stackard was elected Charity Representative of the lodge at the Provincial meetings , after which no fewer than 10 candidates were proposed for initiation .

A vote of thanks was moved by Bro . Lord AMHERST OF HACKNEV to Bro . Hamon Le Strange , P . G . M ., in recognition of his invaluable services , and the Consecrating Officers were elected Hon . Members . With a running fire of " Hearty good wishes " from the visiting brethren , the lodge was closed .

Subsequently an adjournment was made to the banqueting hall , where a . sumptuous and well-spread repast had been prepared by Bro . W . Grix , of the Cafe Central , Norwich . Bro . George Hare , W . M ., presided , supported right and left by the R . W . Prov . G . M ., R . W . Bro . Lord Amherst of Hackney , Bros . Sparks , Barnard , Muriel , Wimble , Lamonby , and others .

A lengthy toast list was gone through , interspersed with some beautiful music by Bro . Brockbank's choir and other brethren , and a most enjoyable entertainment , that had been carried through without a single hitch , was not brought to a close till 10 o ' clock , prior to which many brethren had been

obliged to leave by the last tram to Norwich , King s Lynn , Fakenham , and elsewhere . It should be added that before " The Health of the W . M . " was proposed , the R . W : Provincial Grand Master made the pleasing announcement that he had appointed Bro . Hare a Past Provincial Grand Warden , in conformity with the recent addition to the Book of Constitutions .

In the course of the installation ceremony , the R . W . Provincial Grand Master intimated that he had received a communication from Bro . Sir W . H . B . Ffolkes , the elected Treasurer of the lodge , regretting his inability to be present .

Consecration Of The Temperance Lodge, No. 2876.

CONSECRATION OF THE TEMPERANCE LODGE , No . 2876 .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . JOHN ARMSTRONG , P . P . G . W ., AS W . M . The consecration of the above lodge ( the 57 th now on the roll of the Province of Cheshire ) took place on Tuesday , the 21 st instant , at the ; Masonic Chambers , Hamilton-street , Birkenhead . The Prov . G . Master , the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W ., was the Consecrating

Officer , and was ably supported by Bros . F . Broadsmith , as D . P . G . M . ; James Cookson , Prov . S . G . W . ; Dr . Napier , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . R . H . Pring and Rev . W . Hollowell , Prov . G . Chaplains ; Richd . Newhouse , P . D . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Secretary ; and H . Gordon Small , as Prov . G . Dir . of Cer .

The musical arrangements were in the hands of Bro . Fred Owens , the leader of the Minster Quartette , his assistants being Bros , Reginald Mountfield , Tom Barlow , W . Redmond , and C . Aspinall , and , needless to ' say , the anthems and responses were magnificently rendered . The Prov . Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . R . H . PRINO , delivered an admirable oration on the nature and principles of the Institution , and after the Patriarchal Benediction by the P . G . M ., the lodge was resumed in the Second Degree .

The W . M . designate , Bro . John Armstrong , was presented for installation by Bros . F . K . Stevenson , P . P . G . W ., and Lilley Ellis , P . P . G . W ., the Installing Master being Bro . Edward W . Armstrong , the son of the W . M . designate , who worked the ceremony from beginning to end in an admirable manner , his rendering of the three charges being especially fine .

The lirst oliicers were appointed as follows : Bros . H . E . Howtdl , S . W . ; Wm . Darby , P . M ., J . W . ; Wm . Pyke , Treas . ; A . C . G . Wallace , P . M ., Sec . and Charity Representative ; Alderman Henry Roberts , J . P ., Asst . Sec ; M . Poncin , S . D . ; Abdallah Quilliam Bey ,

Sheik ofthe British Isles , J . D . ; John Evans , D . of C . ; Wm . Williams , jun ., I . G . ; and Robert Sandham , T . H . Mason , and A , A . Anear , Stwds . The Consecrating Officers and Installing Mister were elected h > n . members ot the lodge , and Bro . the Hon . TATTON EUKHTON addressed a few words of congratulation and encouragement to the W . M . and numbers .