Reviews.

and obstinacy combined ; " but wo must give him due credit for the excellent intentions that prompted him to undertake this labour at the age of 84 yeai-s . We are sorry to hear Bro . Oliver say , " I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do . " We hope , on the contrary , that the Craft may rejoice , for years to come , in the continuance of his meritorious co-operation .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . TOAFXLEY PAKKEU LODGE , WHITTLE SPRINGS . The first grand Masonic ball in connection with the above lodge , took place at the house of Bro . Settle , the Howard ' s Arms Hotel , Whittle Springs , on the 1 st ult ., and certainly surpassed any public ball held in the neighbourhood for many years . Some people in modern times

have charged Freemasons with being a society of men who have no good object in view , but , independent of the benefits to be derived from a connection with any lodn-e of the " secret fraternity "—as they are called—we think the fact of their maintaining establishments for the education and welfare of the children of distressed or deceased brethren is quite a sufficient proof that they "

-are doing a real work iu the world . Inthe province of West Lancashire , a " Masonic Educational . Institution for the advancement in life of the children of distressed and deceased Freemasons" was founded in 1850 , and has increased in usefulness from year to year . According to the last published report , the amount received on behalf of the societyin the previous twelve months

, , was £ 306 16 s . 6 d . ; and the funds of the institution then amounted to £ 4 , 717 13 s . 7 d . The payments for the education of children , in 1861 , were £ 110 18 s . 5 d . ; in 1862 , £ 143 2 s . lOd . ; in 1863 , £ 166 17 s . ; and in 1864 , £ 24-3 8 s . 4 d . In the last-mentioned year thirty children were educated under the auspices of tho society , and the benefits conferred haveno doubtbeen of a lasting

, , character . Public balls , to which only highly respectable persons are admitted , have frequently been the means of increasing the funds of the institution , and at one of these , held in Liverpool , the sum of £ 130 3 s . 5 d . nett

was realised . Following this course , brethren in other parts of the country have assisted similar societies iu a similar waj r , and the principal members of the Townley Parker Lodge ( 1 , 032 ) , recently established at Whittle Springs , determined not to behind in this direction . They consequently publicly announced their intention of having a ball to which the public would be admitted , and intimated that the

surplus would be handed over to the treasurer of tho society to which we have alluded . Bro . Lieut .-Coi . Sir T . G . Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., tho R . W , Prov . G . M . for West Lancashire , to whose exertions the great increase in the number of Freemasons in this district is prineipally owing , kindly accepted the presidency ; Bro . R . Townley Parker , Esq ., the R . W . D . Prov . G . M . for West Lancashire

, in whose honour the lodge received its designation , and who on all occasions displays his deep interest in Freemasons and Freemasonry , consented toehold'the office of vice-president ; Bro . J . M . Rigby , M . D ., the W . M . of Lodge 1032 , was elected chairman of the committee ; Bro . G . Hoult , Esq ., P . M . of Lodge 1032 , the vice-chairman ; Bro . D . Stansfield , Esq ., S . W . 1032 the treasurer

, ; and Bro . John Tates , J . W . 1032 , the hon . sec . Extensive arrangements were made , every effort was put forth , and the ball , which , as we have said , took place on Thursday night , was a decided success . The rain poured down in torrents about the time the ladies and gentlemen were expected to leave home , and there is reason to believe that a goodlnumber

every y from neighbouring districts were thus prevented from attending . Notwithstanding this great drawback , however , about 120 ladies and gentlemen assembled , and the proceedings commenced shortly after nine o ' clock .

On entering the room tho party were at once struck with the very profuse and tasteful manner in which the walls were decorated . At the head of the room there was a portrait of Bro . R . Townley Parker , Esq ., and tho words , " Townley Parker Lodge" were formed immediately below it in very neat characters . Emblems of Freemasonry wore placed underneath these , on each

side of which was a coloured flag . The implements of the Order were also displayed conspicuously , and a handsome mirror made the general appearance very striking . On the left side of the room the motto , " Prosperity to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational-Institution , " was inscribed , with various Masonic emblems . At the lower end were the Royal Armssupported on each side

, by a large flag . On the right side an ancient flag , with the arms of the Townley Parker family , and tho words , ' „ ' Old England and freedom for ever" upon it , was stretched along a portion of the wall ; and there was also a representation of the crown of the realm , with the initials Y . R . above it . All the windows were draped with white lace ; garlands of evergreens ran across the

roof ; narrow , but lengthy banners were suspended from various parts of it ; the doorways and gas chandeliers were beautifully adorned with evergreens and artificial flowers ; and the whole room was decorated in a gorgeous manner . Some most costly bannerets were displayed in different parts of the room , two of which are said to be worth not less than 100 guineas . They were

magnificently completed , and are such specimens of workmanship as are very rarely seen . The orchestra was occupied by Bro . J . Norwood's first-class quadrille band from Preston , and to its strains dancing commenced with the Contra Dance ( triumph ) , and concluded with Sir Roger de Coverley . Like the ball room , the place iu which the refreshments were supplied was beautifully decorated . A large blue flag—evidently one that had seen many a good electioneering fight—was hung upon the wall . It bore

the words " Parker for ever , " iii large gilt letters , and also the arms of the Townley Parker family , and reminded the Preston visitors of the days when Rro . Townley Parker fought the battles of the Conservative party in their old constitutional town . In another part of the room were the words " Townley Parker Lodge ( 1032 ) of Free aud Accepted Masons— -Welcome to our

Festival ; " and on one side was another portrait of che highly respected and talented owner and occupier of Cuerden Hall . Portraits of the Queen , the lato Prince Consort , the younger members of the Royal Family , and several other celebrities also adorned the wall , and evergreens , artificial flowers , and red and white drapery gave the whole an imposing appearance . Rather out of

place , but with the best intentions , Bro . Melledew , of Liverpool , a Knight Templar of the Encampment of St . Jacques de Molay , proposed "Prosperity to the Townley Parker Lodge , " whilst the refreshments were being partaken of . He said he was so greatly pleased with the arrangements that had been made , and so much delihted with the whole proceedingsthat ho could not

g , resist giving utterance to his feelings . The proposition was cordially acted upon by the company , and suitably responded to by Bro . Hoult , who , by the way , was most assiduous in his efforts to make the ball one of the most agreeable that has ever been held . Bro . Hoult , P . M ., officiated as Director of Ceremonies , and the Stewards were Bros . John Yates , J . W . ; John

Heald , M . M . ; and S . Fowler , M . M . ; all of Lodge 1032 . In consequence of the death of a relative , Bro . R . Townley Parker was unable to attend , and Bros . Sir T . G . Hesketh , Barb ., M . P ., and the Hon . F , A . Stanley , M . P ., were unavoidably absent . Through an arrangement which had been made being found impracticable , we were unable to procure a full list of the names of the . ladies and gentlemen present . The whole of the arrangements were carried out satisfactorily , and there was not a person in the room