Freemasonry In East Lancashire Under The Right Worshipeul Bro Stephen Blair.

unfortunate , brethren , and their wives , sons , and widows are cared for . Thus , my brethren , in the midst of all our social enjoyments , as on this occasion , we have the * atisfaction of knowing that our poorer brethren are not forgotten . These are the buildings good Masons are now engaged in . The foundation stone of them is ¦ Charity , and their pillars Benevolence . Ib is a proud

position for East Lancashire to hold to be the second largest province in the kingdom , and we may congratulate onr Ri ght Worshipful host on his endeavours . It 3 ias been mentioned that I shall shortly receive one of the Wardenships of England . I shall be proud so to do , ¦ as I am proud to have any honour in Masonry conferred upon me , but I don ' t attach any merit to myself in being

npon the hi ghway to the honours . What merit there is due , is due to the Right Worshipful Master , who first gave me office in the province over which he presides , and long may he do so . The High Sheriff resumed his : seat amid repeated applause . The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master said before they partedhe wished to add one word . They

, must all be aware that a gathering like the present ¦ could not have been brought about and carried through in the manner , which he hoped they would think with him , it had , withcut some one undergoing a great amount ¦ of labour . He had been indebted to the kindness of the Provincial Senior Grand Warden , Bro . Hine ( not by any means the first service of his to himself and the province ,

which he had to recognise ) , and to Bro . William Birch , the Prov . S . G . Deacon , for the assistance they had furnished in arranging all the details connected with the present assembl y . He proposed " The Health of these worthy Brethren , " which was enthusiastically received . Bro . J . L . Hine , Provincial Senior Grand Warden , in responding , said that ths > ishes of the Provincial Grand

Master were to him a command , and on the present occasion that was specially so . He acknowledged the hearty response which had been given to the toast , and expressed his gratification at the success which had followed the endeavours of himself and Bro . Birch to carry out the Provincial Grand Master ' s wishes . Before he sab down he felt he could not let the present

opportunity pass without reminding the Worshipful Masters of lodges ( fifty-six of whom were present ) how desirable it was for them , in their official capacity , to bring before their respective lodges the claims of the different charitable institutions connected with Freemasonrymore especiall y the Institution for Boys , which had a debt of £ 10 , 000 hanging like a millstone round its neck ,

and ha hoped that the province generally would assist to remove that encumbrance . Bro . William Birch , Prov . S . G , Deacon , also acknowledged the toast , but he thought his name ought not to have been coupled with that of Bro . Hine , who had really made the arrangements ; however , he begged to thank the Provincial Grand Master and the brethren , for the kind manner in which his name had been received . The proceedings terminated about half-past nine .

COVETOPSNESS hath cut away tbe large wings of Charity , and plucketh all to herself . She is never satisfied . She hath chested all the old gold of England , and much of the new . She hath made that there was never more idolatry in England than at this day ; but the idols are hid ; they come not abroad . Alas , noble Prince , the images of your ancestors , graven in goldand yours alsocontrary to mindare worshipped

, , your , as gods , while the poor lively images of Chirst perish in the streets through hunger and cold . This coineth when covetousness hath banished from amongst us Christian charity ; when , like most unthankful children , we have forgotten Christ ' s last will , which He so often before His passion did inculcate , Love one another .

Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

THE MASONIC MIRROR . * * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , W . C .

DEPUTATION TO THE EAEL OP ZETLAND . —On Wednesday April 30 th , just previous to the meeting of the Grand Lodge , an influential deputation waited upon the Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , in the Grand Master's room , to solicit Mm to lay the foundation-stone of the Royal Albert Asylum for Idiots and Imbeciles of the Northern Counties , with Masonic ceremonial . Amongst the members of the Craft present were Bros . Earl de

Grey and Eipon , the Marquis of Hartington , Lord Kenlis , Lord Pelham , Sir Thomas G . E . Hesketb , Gilbert Greenall , ilf . P ., Dr . Moore , W . Gray Clarke , John Hawen , Albert Woods , & c . Dr . de Vitri , chairman of the central committee of the Asylum , attended , and presented a memorial from the committee , and Dr . Moore , W . M . 1 , 051 , supported the prayer of

the memorial , and presented petitions to his lordship from nearly the whole of the prov . Grand and D . Prov . Grand Masters of the seven northern counties , and from the W . M . ' s and Wardens of nearly 150 Craft lodges in the aame district . His lordship was kindly pleased to accede to the request of the deputation , and fixed the 17 th of June for the ceremony .

Sr . JOHN ' S LODOE , GALASHIELS ( NO . 262 ) , having received the authority of the Grand Lodge of Scotland to open their lodge for Masonic purposes in the town of Melrose , it is intended to do so on Thursday , the 14 th inst . It being the first occasion on which a lodge in connection with the Grand Lodge has ever been opened in that ancient and historic town , a numerous muster of the Craft is expected . The R . W . Substitute Grand Master of Scotland will take the chair .

Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

INSTALLATION or THE GEAND MASTEB . Through want of space last week we could but briefly refer to the banquet which took place after the installation of Bro . the Eight Hon . tbe Earl of Zetland , K . T ., as M . W . G . M . About 130 brethren sat down to an elegant repast served in Bro . Gosden ' s best style .

The cloth being drawn , The M . W . G . M . in rising to propose the first toast said ; you will anticipate that which I am now about to propose—the first toast that is given iu every Masonic meeting in this country ; but on this occasion we perhaps have to drink it under circumstances more peculiar and more interesting than usual , because on this

day the Grand Lodge has voted an Address to her Majesty , sympathising with her in the sorrow she must have had on learning that in one of her colonies an attempt was made on the life of her illustrious son , the Duke of Edinburgh . And in sympathising with her Majesty we congratulate her on the providential escape which H . E . H . has had . I mention this because

there are many in this Hall who were not present in Grand Lodge . I am quite sure that every man who pretends to be a Mason will cordially agree in the Address that was voted by Grand Lodge to her Majesty this evening . Although the atrocious attempt on the life of the Duke of Edinbugh and the Address we have voted to the Queen render this toast more

prominent than usual , I am quite sure that no circumstance will make the health of her Majesty more acceptable to the great body of Masons in this country than it always has been . I would , therefore , not add another word , knowing that every