Provincial.

William Dawson , of Bolton , Prov . G . Tyler ; Prov . G . Stewards : G . B . Diamond , William Steele , J . O . Surtees , E . L . Glover , P . Bleakley , S . J . Samson , and William Summerskill . The chief business of the day , and which will render this meeting memorable in the annals of Freemasonry , was the establishment of a <( Masonic Benevolent and Annuity Fund , " in connection with the Prov . Grand Lodge of Lancashire .

This grand object has been in contemplation for nearly twenty years , and the honour of complete success has been reserved for this meeting , when it was happily initiated in conjunction with the installation of the new Prov . G . M ., whose zeal in the cause of Masonry is well known and appreciated . The subject was introduced by Bro . John Bell , P . S . G . W ., who proposed for adoption a code of bye-laws , which had been framed by a committee of Grand Officers , and Masters of Lodges within the Province .

Bro . T . F . Pollitt , P . G . R ., seconded the motion , and in doing so remarked that the creation of a Benevolent and Annuity Fund in the province was a new feature in Masonry . Hitherto their charitable funds had been confined to the metropolis , but now , he was happy to say , the sphere of Masonic benevolence would be extended , and the principles of the Order must become better known and more fully appreciated . By the byedaws now proposed the fund was divided into four sections . The first provides that a portion of the fund be appropriated to the maintenance of the honour and dignity of the Prov . Grand

Lodge ; the second portion to form a fund of benevolence ; a third portion an investment fund ; and the fourth an annuity fund . The fund of benevolence to be applied annually in granting relief to aged , distressed , or necessitous Brethren of the province , who may require the same , or to the indigent widows or children of the same , and for other benevolent purposes ; the investment fund to be Constituted of donations , fines , & c . ; and the annuity fund to J ) e composed of the fees of honour , payable by the officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge , & c , and shall be exclusively applied in providing annuities for aged and decayed Freemasons of sixty years of age , who are or have been subscribing members to a

Lodge within the province for a period of Hve years . The only objection he had heard to these byedaws was as to the election of the managing committee , and this regulation it was proposed to alter . The intention was , in order to avoid delay , to adopt the byedaws at that meeting , to be called so soon as the regulations had been properly considered by the various Lodges , and time allowed for each to make suggestions , if they thought proper . Bro . Wolfenden , P . Prov . G . Sec , of Bolton , suggested to the mover to omit the word " adopted" in his resolution , and insert the word "received" in its place , inasmuch as the resolution as it stood would have the effect of

confirming the byedaws at once , whereas it was most important that an opportunity should be given for their fullest consideration . One great reason for urging this was that the byedaws had not been sufficiently circulated among the Lodges ; and another , that in his opinion they contained provisions of an objectionable nature . One provision was to the effect that a committee should be constituted for the dispensing of charitable funds , but he contended that this was wholl y out of place—that no machinery of such a character was at all called for , and that the privilege , for such it undoubtedl y was , belonged of right to the Masters , Past Masters , and Acting Wardens of Lodges , together with the Provincial Officers

for the time being . He recommended this view of the case most strongly to the notice of the province , in order that all parties possessed of privileges might not lightly part with them . In his opinion also , the exercise of this privilege , in the mode suggested , was the only safe means of perpetuating the charity , because parties would work it by virtue of holding offices which , as they all knew , were hereditary to the existence of Lodges . He did not desire to move an amendment , but he hoped the mover would give way to this view of the case ., as he should bo very sorry to damage the charity , which was one in which he had ever felt a warm interest .

Bro . Hollinshead , Prov . J . G . W ., agreed with Bro . Wolfenden that the byelaws should be well considered in the respective Lodges before they were adopted , audit appeared to him that if they wore adopted by this provincial meeting they