Craft Masonry.

the purposes of advancing the holy cause of charity as well as for kindly and cheerful social enjoyment , who might without the influences of the order have remained at a perpetual distance from each other . Bro . Thompson also paid a very affecting tribute of respect to the memory of tbe Iato Bro . Charles Sloman ( which will be found in another column ) , the worldrenowned improvisatore , who had passed away from the sublunary abode since tbe previous meeting of the lodge , and whose name

would ever be cherished in kindly remembrance by the brethren of tbe Southern Star Lodge , who had so often benefited by the exercise of the extraordinary facility of composition which tbe lamented brother always displayed . A Banquet was held in the new ball , which was very tastefully decorated for the occasion . Amongst tho visitors to the Southern Star were Bros . AV . Page , of New Jersey , U . S . ; E . Dodson , AV . Iu ., 72 ; C . L . Marshall , P . M ., 22 ; AV . Stuart , P . M ., 141 ; G . Broad , 184 ; King and Ebblewhite .

INSTRUCTION . A meeting for the purpose of establishing a new Chapter of Instruction was held ou Saturday , 24 th ult ., at the Caledonian Hotel , Robert-street , Adelphi , and was presided over by Comp . John Hervey , Grand Scribe E . The meeting was very numerously attended by distinguished R . A . Masons , and the necessitfor another good Chapter of Improvement having been full

y y di-cussed , the Comps . decided ou launching the new project , and , in furtherance of the design , settled the bye-laws . ' The Chapter is to hold warrant under the celebrated Prudent Brethren ¦ Chapter ( No . 145 ) , and to meet every Thursday evening at Freemasons' Hall in each month of the year except June , July , August , and September , from seven to half-past nine o'clock , the first Convocation to be held on the Gth of October . Comp .

James Brett , P . Z . ( Nos . 177 , 975 , & c ) , was elected first President of tbe Chapter unanimously , and amidst great applause . Comp . Hervey was also elected Treasurer nem . con . ; and Comp R . AVentworth Little , S . E . ; Comps . J . Boyd , Z . ( No . 145 ) j Chairman ; G . States , S . E ., No . 145 , Deputy-Chairman ; E . If ! Finney , No . 255 ; R . S . Warrington , P . Z ., No . 8 ; and John L . Thomas , J ., No . 13 , were chosen as the Committee ; and a cordial vote of

thanks to the Chairman for presiding , and to Comp . George States , the manager of the Caledonian Hotel , for granting the nee of the room in whicli the meeting was held , closed the proceedings .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKS AND BUCKS . AIAIDENHEAD . —St John ' s Lodge ( So . 795 ) . —A regular meeting of this Lodge was held on Tuesday , the 20 th ult ., at the . Orkney Arms ; Bro . C . Gammon , I . P . M ., as WM . in the chair-A \ . Worrell , S . AV , ; T . A . Carr , J . AA . ; Fonlger , P . M ., and L . H . Isaacs , P . AI . The Lodge was opened and the minutes confirmed . Bro . W . Fisher was , by the courtesy of tbe AV . AI ., passed to the 2 nd < le rce bBro . LHIsaacsPMThis being the niht

y . . , .. g for the election of the AV . AI . for the ensuing year , Bvo . AV . Worrell was unanimousl y chosen by the votes of the brethren present to fill that office . Bro . C . Gammon , I . P . M ., was elected 'Ireasu ' . vv , and Bro . Noel , Tyler . The usual sum subscribed by the lodge was voted to Bro . Gammon , I . P . M ., for the able and efficient manner be had conducted the duties of the chair during his year of officein the unavoidable absence of the AVM

, .., was carried unanimousl y . The lodge was then closed , and the usual Banquet-followed in Bro . Spindle ' s best style . The usual loyal and Alasonic toasts were given . The AV . M . proposed the toast of the AA- . AI . elect , Bro . Worrell . Bro . AVorrell was one who , during the time he had become a member of tho lodge , had always been at Ids post , and would be ever ready to give , his services for its benefit . Bro . Gammon having responded to tho health of tbe

AV . M ., alKl Bro . L . II . Isaacs fur the P . AI . ' s , tbe brethren separated . CHESHIRE . PIIOVINCIAL GEAND LODGE . An especial Provincial Grand Lodce of the Cheshire Freemasons was held at the Crewe Arms Hotel , Crewe , on Wednesday

20 cliE ult . for the purpose of considering and . deciding upon a motion proposed by the Rt . Hon . Lord de Tabley , R . AV . Prov . G . M ., for a grant of £ 50 towards tbe fund now being raised under the auspices of Ecr Majesty the Queen aud H . R . H . the Prince of AVales , ICG ., P . G . M . of England , for "Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War . " The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened by Bro . Lord De Tabley , R . AV . Prov . G . M ., and amongst those present were Bros . G . AV . Lathom as R . AV . D . Prov . G . M . ;

Captain Cope , Prov . G . S . AV . ; Beales , JI . D ., Prov . G . J . AV . ; AA ood , Prov . G . R . ; Terry , Prov . G . C . ; Griffiths , Prov . G . Sec . ; Butler , P . Prov . G . S . D . ; Major Hitehen , Prov . G . S . B- ; Fair , P . Prov . G . S . B . ; Newbold , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; Lewis , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; II . Bulley , P . Prov . G . J . AV . ; J . Piatt , P . Prov . G . J . AV . ; Jackson , Piov . G . D . of C ; Twiss , P . Prov . G , 0 . ; Folliott , P . Prov . G . C . ; H . Howard , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; B . Cooper , Prov . G . P ., and J . A . BirchProv . G . J . D . The R .

AVProvGAIsaid—, . . .. . Brethren , I rise to bring before the consideration of this Provincial Grand Lodge the resolution of which you have had notice in the circular just now read . It was not without some hesitation that I decided on summoning the Provincial Grand Lodge , knowing how very inconvenient it would be for many of you to be here so soon after the assembling of the last Prov . G . Lodge ; but when I knew the cause was charity , and that you were prepared

to make sacrifices for that sacred cause it was a satisfaction to me to bring this resolution before this , not numerous , but most influential meeting of the craft in Cheshire . Very few words are necessary to explain my reasons for making this motion . Since onr last Provincial Grand Lodge , the Lodge of England has unanimously voted £ 500 in aid of the sick and wounded in war . Some private lodges have also contributed ; but the Provincial Grand Lodges , so far as I am aware , have not yet moved in the matter , and it well becomes the dignity and position of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire to bo the first to move

in a question which so nearly concerns us as Christians , and as men inspired with tbe sentiments of charity and goodwill towards our neighbour . It may be an objection that the cause I now advocate is one not strictly Alasonic , and that Alasonic Charity should be confined to the members of our own craft ; but I confess I do not so regard Alasonic Charity . It is something much larger and more comprehensive than that , for we are told in tbe volume of the Sacred Law to "do good unto all

men , especially unto them who are of the household of faith . " AVe should all support Alasonry , and indeed I look forward to the time when Alasonry will so flourish that our craft may stretch forward its hand not only to a Mason , but to every suffering creature . The Society in whose aid I have called you together to-day has been established under the hi ghest auspices , has been very successful , and has furnished substantial means to alleviate tho sufferings of the sick and wounded in this most wicked war

. By its aid the Knights of Malta and the brethren carrying the red cross on a white ground have been enabled to afford great relief and comfort to our wounded fellow creatures . It is to help and cheer on in this work of mercy thus devoted brethren that I ask you to grant £ 50 to-day . It may be said the recipients of our charity are foreigners and not Englishmen , but the cause of charity is much larger than any nationality . Again reof

ferring to the volume the Sacred Law , we have recorded one of the best known illustrations of charity . You will all remember that it refers to one who was sick aud wounded by the wayside , aud that the one who g . tva him charity was not one of his own race , kindred , or even religion , but be was a foreigner and a heretic . It therefore well becomes the craft of England to endeavour to assist their suffering fellow creatures by following so hol

y an example . The 11 . AA . Prov . G . AJ . then moved a grant of £ 50 to -the Society . Captain Cope , Prov . G . S . W ., seconded the motion , wliich was supported by tbe Rev . F . Terry , Prov . G . C . and carried unanimously , after which , the P . G . Lodge was closed ,

The Lodge of Unity ( So . 321 ) , Crewe , then assembled , and on the motion of the AVorshipful Master , five guineas were voted for the relief of the sick and wounded iu war . ISLE OF MAN . DOUGLAS . —Tynwald Lodge ( So . 1242 . —On Wednesday , 2 Sth ult

,, an emergency meeting of this lodge was held at the lodgeroom , St . James ' s Hall . There was a fair number of brethren present , amongst them being several visitors from 1 , 104 . An initiation having been performed by Bro . El wood Tibbits , P . M .,