Provincial.

113 ( Preston ) as S . AV ., the W . JI . of Lodge No . LIS ( Warrington ) as J . W ., and the W . JI . ' s of the other senior lodges present , in the subordinate offices , opened a Craft lodge iu the three degrees . The Prov . G . Officers having assembled in the Committeeroom , and the lodge being ready to receive them , they entered in processional order to solemn music , the Prov . G . Organist , Bro . John Molineuxpresiding .

, The Provincial Grand Lodge ivas opened in form by the D . Prov . G . M ., as Prov . G . JI . ; Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , S . G . W ., and P . Prov . S . G . W ., acting as D . Prov . G . JI . ; Bros . S . P . Brabner , Prov . S . G . W . ; James Billmge , Prov . J . G . W . ; the Rev . John Dunkley , Prov . G . Chap . ; James Hamer , Prov " G . Treas . ; Joseph JIaudesley , Prov . G . Reg . ; Thos . AVylie , Prov . G . Sec . ; C . Sherlack , Prov . S . G . D . ; John Thorley ,

Prov . G . J . D . ; Peter Maddox , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; J . Pepper , Assist . PI-OA ' . G . " Dir . of Cers . ; Horace S . Alpass , Prov . G . Sword-bearer ; John Molineux , Prov . G . Org . ; W . Alexander , Prov . G . Purst . ; and Thos . Armstrong , Prov . G . Standardbearer , with the Prov . G . Stewards ; and there were also the following distinguished brethren present : —Bros . J . Moss , P . Prov . G .. T . W . Gloucester and Cheshire ; AV . Bullev and H . Bnlley , P . Prov . G . DeaconsCheshire ; II . R . Edwards " P . Prov .

, , G . Reg . ; Geo . Haddock , P . Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks ; Jas . T . Bourne , P . Frov . G . Sword-bearer ; Frederick Binckes , Sec . Royal JIasonie Institution for Boys ; It . Townley Parker , ox-Guild Mayor of Preston ; Shaw Tliewlis , J . P ., AVavrington , &_ c . After prayer , offered up by the Rev . Prov . G . Chap ., and an anthem had been sung by the musical brethren ( who so kindly attend at all the Provincial Grand Lodge meetings , and give

their services gratuitously ) , thereby rendering the ceremony most impressive , The business commenced by the Prov . G . JI . requesting the Prov . G . Sec . to read the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge and the Provincial Grand Lodges of emergency held during the year , and also the minutes of the meetings of tho Committee of the Provincial Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence , Avhich included votes of several sums of money from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge , —one of Avhich was £ 50 , paid to

the funds raised for the relief of the distressed operatives in Lancashire and the neighbouring counties ; and from the Provincial Fund of Benevolence for the relief of several aged Freemasons , and for the support of ividows and orphans of deceased Freemasons in the province ,- — -which Avere all confirmed . Letters of apology ivere read from Bros . AVm . Gray Clarke , G . Sec . ; the Rev . John Leighton Figgins , Prov . G . Chap . East Lancashire ; E . G . AAlllougbbP . Prov . G . W . Cheshire ; and

y , the Prov . G . Jlaster , L . G . N . Starkie , the latter enclosing the sum of five pounds as a donation to the West Lancashire Educational Fund . The Paov . G . TKEASUKEII presented his report of the Funds of the Province and Fund of Benevolence , and his accounts for the past year , when the W . M . ' s of Lodges 32 , 113 , and 148 ivere appointed auditors , and retired to the Committee-room to

examine the accounts and vouchers . Notices of motion hai'ing been given at the last annual meeting , a sum of ten guineas ivas voted towards the support and maintenance of the JIasonie Temple , Liverpool ; a sum of twenty guineas towards the purchase of a new organ for'the Temple ; and a sum of ten guineas each to the Aged Freemasons' and Widoivs' Annuity Fund in London , to be paid in the name of the D . Prov . G . M ., to make

him a Life Governor ; this latter proposal , in the absence of Bro . C . J . Banister , G . Sword-bearer and Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., who ivas confined to his bed with rheumatic fever , and AVIIO , from letters received and read by command of the Prov . G . M ., Avas understood to be dangerously ill , was moved by the Prov . G . Sec , permission having been granted for his so doing ; and being Avarmly seconded bBro . BillingeProv . J . G . W . ivas

y , , carried unanimously . A notice of motion given by Bro . AV . Young , P . JI . of Lodge late 255 , London , a subscribing brother of Lodge No . 203 , ivas then brought forward ; but as it was a motion infringing on the prerogative of the Prov . G . JI ., in appointing his Prov . G . Officers , the Provincial Grand Lodge decided that it could not be put to the meeting .

The Auditors reported that they had compared the Treasurer ' s accounts Avith the vouchers and the returns , and found them correct . A vote of thanks ivas unanimously given to' Bro . Jas . Hamer for his services as Prov . G . Treas . for the past year , and the accounts ivere ordered to be printed .

Bro . ILVIIER ivas unanimously re-elected Prov . G . Treas ., and in a neat speech returned thanks for the honour conferred . The following report was read by the Prov . G . Sec .: — "In making the annual report of the condition of the lodges and of Freemasonry , in accordance Avith the usual practice in this province , it affords great pleasure in being able to state that , notwithstanding the extreme suffering and deprivation

ivhieh have been so long felt and endured by the manufacturing population of this county , consequent on the almost total stoppage of the usual supply of cotton from America , the lodges ; generally in the province have continued in good working order ; -. and it is a gratifying fact that no cases of complaint from eitheilodges , or brethren as members of lodges , have been brought , under the notice of the Provincial Grand Lod nor has any

ge , lodge ceased to exist during the past year . A new warrant , orcharter , of constitution has been obtained for a lodge to be held , at FleetAvood , under the title of the Hesketh Lodge ( No . 1252 ,. new number 750 ) , making the total number of lodges 31 IIOAV under the control of the Provincial Grand Jlaster .

"The Croxteth Lodge ( late _\ o . 1088 , new number 786 ) , has removed from West Derby to Liverpool , and the brethren have subsequently applied for and obtained the consent of the Prov .. G . JI . that the name of the lodge shall in future be designated the Croxteth United Service Lodge ( No . 786 ) . "The AV . JI . 's of lodges have been individually informed by the-G . Sec . of the alteration Avhich has taken place in the distinguishing numbers of their lodges , consequent upon the revision

of the numbers of their lodges holding their charter of constitution under the Grand Lodge of England . As this involves analteration of the numbers by which all the lodges in this province have been formerly distinguished , it is recommended that an especial minute of this alteration he recorded in the hooks of each of the lodges ; and as , in order to facilitate communicating between the various lodges of the province , a list of the old and

new numbers of the lodges has been prepared and published by the Prov . G . Sec , it is recommended that this list should be afiixed or copied into the minute-book of each lodge , thereby affording ready reference in future , should it bo needed in applying to the Charities on behalf of any of its members or their descendants . " The Provincial Grand Lodge ivill be gratified to learn that

the appeal to the lodges on behalf of the distressed operatives , in this and other neighbouring counties , produced the sum of £ 351 10 s . 6 rf ., including the contribution from the Provincial Grand Lodge Funds ; this amount , it ivill be found , ivas not Avhat might have been accomplished had all the lodges contributed , and though it may be regretted that some of the lodges did not respond to the call , allusion to them is not made by way of censurebut that those lodges which did contribute may

, have the more honour . " Several dispensations have heen granted during the year , two to lodges to make serving brothers , and the others principally for meeting in procession , in costume , in places out of the usual lodge room . " No questions or matters calling for special notice have arisen during the year . The Provincial Charities have been Avell

supported , and it must be taken as a cause of rejoicing that other provinces have been induced to imitate West Lancashire in providing means for educating the children of deceased and decayed Freemasons belonging to the lodges in their OAVH provinces , and for establishing committees in large towns for relieving the deserving poor and distressed who belong to the Craft-, "

On the conclusion of the report , the Prov . G . Sec , divesting himself of his collar and jewel , addressed the Prov . G . JI . in > the following terms : —And now , Prov . G . M ., nothing remains for me but to place the emblem of my office in your hands for the purpose of enabling you to entrust itto the keeping of some more worthy and skilful brother as my successor . Jly thanks are specially due to yousir ; most sincerel

, y do I offer them , for the continued kindness I have received at your hands , for your forbearance in overlooking my many short-comings , for your forgiveness of my numerous errors and failings ; in short , for your uniform goodness in all our intercourse , as your medium of communication Avith the Provincial Grand , Lodge and the lodges in the province . Iu resigning the office of the Prov . G . Sec , I would , with your permission , tender

my acknowledgments to the W . JI . 's , P . JI . 's , and the various members of lodges Avith Avhom I have been brought in contact , for the kindness with Avhich I have heen received and treated on all occasions , and to my colleagues , the past and present