Provincial.

positions which the boys took whenever they came into competition with other schools , and was forced to * the conviction that they were splendidly educated . Since the institution of the Oxford local examinations , the boys from the Masonic school had gone up every year for examination , and had never failed to come anay with prizes . The Oxford local examinations were the highest test of efficiency possible , and there were very few grammar schools which conhl the ordeal and it with

pass pass such murks of merit as the boys of what was known as tlie Royal Masonic Institutions . But he could say that that education was not the only thing taught . The scholars bore the marks of the most careful supervision all through the day , and brethren could never properly appreciate tho value of the schools unless tlioy liad been over them . Such a sight would do more to impress upon them the benefits of than thing ho could

Freemasonry any say \ They would seethe boys taught to regard Freemasons as a . family , and to regard them as their dearest ' friends . They would see the boys brought up with a better moral tone , and better fitted to become members of society , than they would havo been if they stayee ut home . A blessing had certainly followed the exertions of ( be promoters of these schools , and tbe choice of masters , matrons , and assistants , was admirable . The scholars looked

were upon as their own children , and nothing could excel the pride taken in the governance of tho schools . He came now to another point . AVhat was their use to this province , and in what relation did they in this district stand with regard to them ? It might be said that we in East Lancashire are subscribing : a great deal ; what do we get in return ? That would lie a question very properly to be put by commercial men , aud if not answered

would be a good reason for withholding support . When they were called upon to give their support to institutions which claimed it day by day and year by year , they had a right to know whether it returned advantages in proportion to what they ought to expect . He would therefore proceed to give a little information on this point . The donations given up to this time in lihist Lancashire for permanent votes—excluding Vr . Dlairdonation of 1

' s , 000 guineas—was a little over £ 5 , 000 . He was not now alluding to annual subscriptions , but simply to donations given for the purpose of purchasing permanent votes , and the 1 , 000 guineas being given for tbe purchase of a

perpetual presentation to tho Boys' School must be omitted from their calculations . He considered that when £ 5 , 000 was put out at interest , a really good return would be 5 per cent . If they were to invest to get interest to keep ( heir children aud old people , they ivould not get more than £ 250 a year . Instead of only weiring- that , he would detail the advantages they were receiving in East Lancashire from their donations to the Masonic charities . They had eiht old in the recei of

g women pt £ 20 a year each , which would give a total of £ 203 per ammni four widows at £ 25 ench- £ 30 S ; and one widow in receipt of half her husband ' s annuity— £ 321 . They had iu tho girls ' school four iu the school and one elected last Thursday , making five ; and in the boys' school six already in school and one elcc ^ ted ou Monday—7 , or in all twelve children from this province . Ihe average cost of the education and maintenance of these children £ 13

was per year , or as he would call it £ 10 , giving a total for the children alone of £ 480 a year ; or in other words they were receiving £ 800 a year in East Lancashire on an e-cpemhtm-e of £ 5 , 00 i " ) . If that was not good inteivs . for their money be had nothing more to sav . That was exactly the position in which they stood . How was it that they were receiving so large an interest for their money in this province ? because it not

was possible tbat everyone could obtain such result . —that . for every £ 5 , 000 expended , £ 300 a year should be received . ihe reason was that East Lancashire was the only province in the worid carrying out a perfect system of organization . One naif of toe candidates elected were elected in " a spasmodic , dosultoiy kind of manner . Friends took up tbe case , and cot -votes as they could from ~ Sorth , South , East , and AA est , and ' iu failure followed

many cases a . In this province , instead of everyone giving his vote according to his lanev , I hey had a Charity Committee which collected those votes , and mod them as it thought best . They bad thus been aide in mimv cases to acc Hint for every single vote , and the consequence was that they were able to carry their candidates at the very first election . 11 msat the election of girl Thursday weekand of

, s on ( ) , boys on Monday , they elected both children at ' tlie first attempt , and were able afterwards to lend 200 votes to another election . This great success bad excited a feeling of jealousy amongst their London friends , who found that East Lancashire could elect with / OO votes what they iu London could not do with 1 , 400 . The

explanation of this was simple . The Charity Committee in East Lancashire never tried to get their caudidates to the head of the list . Say that there were 50 candidates for election , out of which 12 only could get in . What did it matter if their candidate was the lowest of the twelve , provided he was one of that number ? The effect of such an organisation was that , instead of throwing away a hundred votes where fitly wou'd ha sufficient , they husbanded all which were not wanted , and so had always some votes

to carry over . Bro . AVike then gave a further explanation of the success which had attended the efforts of tho committee of East Lancashire , and continued . There was another point iu connection witVi these institutions which was not often considered—the good Masons did themselves ia being hit -rested in a charitable work . So man can do a good action through a good motive without doing himself some good . All men are engrossed iu avocations of daily life which tend to selfishness ,

aud though the maxim of the necessity of looking after No . 1 was a good one , yet no man cmld enjoy true happiness unless he was able also to enjoy and participate in the happiness of others . Masons should remember that in supporting these charities , they were not giving their money to strangers . They were either helping men bound iu tho bonds of brotherhood with them , or acting the part of fathers to the children of their brethren . They should never forget that they wore not simply

taking charge of an orphan aud educating it , but should bear in mind that they were instilling into the minds of the children , by the best practical lessons , that there was something in Masonry to he proud of , and to be grateful for . Bro . Wike then spoke of the absence of any degrading badge of charity , or any air of pauperism iu these institutions , and closed an eloquent address with an appeal to the fraternal love of the brethren . He sat down amidst applause . A hearty vote of thanks was afterwards recorded on the minutes of the lodge to Bro . AVike for his kindness .

WARWICKSHIRE . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . Tlie Provincial Grand Lodge of Wurwieksliiro assembled ou Monday , the 25 th ult ., for the purpose of dedicating the new Masonic Hall , Birmingham . The ceremony was performed by the R . W . Lord Leigh , Prov . Grand Master , who was assisted by V . AA . Colonel Macheu and other officers of the Provincial Grand

Lodge . There were representatives from every lodge within the province , with one exception . Lord James Murray , Past Senior Grand Warden , Scotland , was present as a visitor . Thc Prov . Grand Master took his position in the east , and after tbe usual routine of business , proceeded to perform the ceremony of dedication . The elements of consecration , corn , wine , and oil , were carried respectively by the AVorshipful Masters of Lodges St . Paul ' s , No . 43 ; Faithful , No . 473 ; and

Howe , Ivo . 5 S 7 . Bro . the Rev . E . C . Webb , the Prov . Grand Chaplain , read the customary passages from Scripture , and the music was performed by Bro . Stimpson , Prov . Grand Organist . After the con--ceralion ivas completed , the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened In due form , and the minutes of tbe lust meeting read and confirmed . Tlie report of the Provincial Benevolent and Annuity Fund was presented , the funds of which appear to be increasing . The

sum of £ 13 was collected at this meeting . An eloquent oration was delivered by Bro . the Rev . P . S . Hains upon the advantages of Masonry , which was particularly listeuded to by the brethren present . 'llie business concluded , the Prov . G . Master closed the lodge , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , of which the steward of the Masonic Club was the caterer , and at which Lord Leigh , Prov . Grand Master , presided . A band of vocal performers , including Bros . Glydon , Bragg , and Kennedy , gave a choice selection during the evening . Bro . Gaul officiated at the piano .

YORKSHIRE ( WEST ) . BI . AOTOM .. — Lodge of Hope ( No . 302 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , ou Monday , the ; 18 _ h ult ., at six p . m . The W . M ., Bro . J . D . Sugden , occupied the chair , and the following officers and brethren were present : —Bros . G . Richardson , S . \ V . ; J . Ambler , J . W . ; Rev . T . H . Flynn , Chap . ; J . Lumb , P . M ., Treas . ; B . Broughton , Sec ; W . A . 1 ) owsou , S . D . ; J . Clark , J . D . ; W . Hoy . e , I . G . ; W . Sharp , L . Std . ; J , J . Holmes , O . G . ; M . Rcgerson , P . M .