Provincial.

had been gone through , the "W . M . being worthily assisted throughout by Bro . Pearson , I . G ., acting as S . W ., and Bro . Kitching as J . W . ; Bros . Charles Price and F . Rutherford , having previously been initiated , and now proving themselves worthy , were passed to the second degree of F . C . ; Bro . Kirk , as J . W ., officiating in that capacity ; and Bro . Rank , S . D ., assisting the newly obligated brethren throughout the ceremony . The worthy W . M . performed

his arduous duties in a very able manner , and delivered the usual charges in a manner likely to impress both the novice and the more enlightened brother with the dignity of our Order and the beauty of its teachings . It had been determined to raise Bros . I . J . Cackett and Joseph Bird , to the sublime degree of M . M ., hut time did not permit , and in consequence the lodge was adjourned to Wednesday night , when the brethren would be duly raised . The lodge was then closed in due formwhich being done the

, brethren retired to refreshment . A substantial banquet was served in the large room of the Royal Hotel , which did credit to the liberality and taste of " mine host ; " Bro . Benjamin Murray , who , hy the way , is P . M . of No 1066 , a R . A . Mason , and the father of the Tees Lodge , Stockton . Ample justice was done to the viands , and the brethren did not the less enjoy the feast that they had amongst them a brother in distress , who was initiated in 1813 , under the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and who had sought that aid .

which no Masons ever refuse . The aged Mason , we need scarcely add , was sent on his way rejoicing . The various loyal and Masonic toasts of the Queen , the M . W . G . M ., and D . G . M ., the R . W . Prov . G . M . of Durham , and D . Prov . G . M ., and the newly initiated brethren , were all given with Masonic honours , and in the last instance accompanied by the Entered Apprentices' song , sung in capital style hy Bro . J . Sutcliffe . The evening ended in harmony . [ We have made some remarks on the proceedings of this lodge in our first page . ]

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . PKOVINCIAD GBAND LODGE . On Tuesday the Sth insfc ., the annual meeting took place in the Masonic Temple , Hope-street . The object of the meeting was to receive the report and transact the business of the province , after which a court of the governors of the West Lancashire Institution for the Education and Advancement in' Life of the Children of

Distressed Freemasons , was held in the same building . The following Provincial Grand Officers were present : —Bro . Sir Thos . G . Hesketh , Bart ., D . Prov . G . M . ; S . Brabner , P . Prov . S . G . W ., acting for Lord Skelmersdale , Prov . S . G . W . ; H . Gambell , Prov . G . J . W . ; Rev . Dunkley , Prov . G . Chaplain ; Jos . Mawdsley , Prov . G . Registrar ; Thos . Wylie , Prov . G . Sec . ; C . Sherlock , Prov . G . S . D . ; S . Yates Hess , Prov . G . J . D ; Maddox , Director of Works ; James Hamer , Prov . G . Treas . ; C . J . Bannister , Prov . G . D . of C . ; Jno . Pepper ,

A . Prov . G . D . of C . ; W . AUender , Prov . G . Pur . ; J . B . Hughes , Prov . G . Steward ; T . W . May , Prov . G . S . ; — Smith , Prov . G . S ., & c . The following Lodges were represented -. —Nos . 35 , 101 , 130 , 173 , 181 , 207 , 245 , 263 , 267 , 294 , 310 , 350 , 368 , 393 , 407 , 418 , 429 , 711 , 845 , 864 , 889 , 965 , 971 , 980 , 1005 , 1026 , 1032 , 1088 , and 1125 . The Provincial Grand Lodge marched into the lodge-room in procession about eleven o ' clock , and was received by the brethren , the grand organist playing a voluntary on the organ . The musical brethren afterwards sang the anthem " To Heaven ' s high Architect all praise . " After prayer by the Rev . Bro . Dunkley , Prov . G . Chap ., xi . n TJ .. — . r * c ? j , i j . i . ~ i- ~ c j . i . „ Ti i— : « i r , -.. t vjuui uu retiu tiie report ux IUB II \ jtritiiu

mc nuv . . ^ uy , AIUVIIIUI . . Lodge for last year , and afterwards read the minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge for present year , of wliich the following is an abstract : — The history of the past year has , through the painful dispensations of that mysterious Providence by which the Great Architect of the Universe sees fit in His wisdom to visit communities , to be written as an eventful year for the Grand Lodge of the Province of

West Lancashire , for since the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge two of its most eminent officers have been summoned from this active and busy scene of labour in the lodge below to the Grand Lodge above , where the world ' s Great Architect lives and rules for ever . The brethren of the various lodges which compose this province have to deplore the loss which they have sustained by the death of Bro . Thos . Littledale , V . W . Prov . G . Warden , and of Bro . Joshua Wahnsley , V . W . Prov . G . Treas ., both of whom were so

intimately connected with our educational institution , and took such , a lively interest in its welfare . Bro . Littledale was one of those who boldly advocated its cause in this Grand Lodge , and was one of its first vice-presidents and trustees , and was highly esteemed and respected in his office as Senior AVarden of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and Bro . Wahnsley was at once the founder and advocate of our trul y noble Masonic educational institution ; and his disinterested zeal for the extension of the great principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , on -which freemasonry is founded , will vender his memory dear to the heart of every brother who has had the honour

of his Masonic acquaintance . He was accidentally killed near his own door when returning from giving orders in connection with this meeting . Six dispensations have been granted to five lodges during the year , and the committee of the Fund of Benevolence have had two meetings to consider petitions wliich the Prov . Grand Lodge was requested to confirm . A petition was received from some of the brethren at Fulwood , near Preston , to form a new

lodge , hut it was afterwards withdrawn , the brethren informing the Prov . G . Secretary that it was the intention of the petitioners to join one of the Preston lodges . Bro . H . S . AEPASS , Prov . G . S . B ., moved the following resolution : — " That this Prov . Grand Lodge has learned with deep regret that since its last meeting it has pleased the Almighty Architect of the Universe , who is the Alpha and the Omega , the first and the last , and in whose hands are the issues of life and death , to remove from

amongst us our highly esteemed and respected Bro . Littledale , V . W . Prov . S . G . AVarden , P . M . of Lodge No . 35 , and P . M . E . Z . of the Chapter of Jerusalem , and in remembrance of his honourable conduct as a merchant , and as chief magistrate of this town , and his noble exertions iu the cause of Freemasonry in this province with which he was so intimately connected as a grand officer , this tribute be inscribed on the minutes as a mark of respect to his memory . " Bro . Alpass said their late worthy brother was a member

of one of the most eminent mercantile firms in this towns . There might have been many more wealthy men than he was , but none were more deserving of being called a " merchant prince" than he . He was foremost in every good work , as evinced -by his noble conduct when instrumental in saving a number of lives from the Ocean Monarch , which was destroyed by fire some years ago . He was also a warm supporter of the AA esfc Lancashire Educational Institution ,. and was one of its strenuous friends in fche early part of its career ,

when the institution was not very favourably received . The PEOV . G . M . said he desired to have the privilege to second the motion , as he had known Bro . Littledale more intimately than perhaps any one in that room . He was an officer in his regiment , and he liacl a long acquaintance with him , and no person could possess a more true and kind heart than he . —Carried unanimously . Bro . THOMAS AVYIIE , Prov . G . Sec , with some , emotion , and after speaking in the highest terms of Bro . AValmsley , proposed the following resolution : — "That this Prov . Grand Lodge has learned with the deepest regret that since its last meeting ifc has pleased the Great Architect of the Universe , in his mysterious providence

and in his infinite wisdom , suddenly to summon from our midst Bro . Joshua AValmsley , V . AV . Prov . G . Treas ., P . Prov . G . AVarden , P . Prov . G . See ., P . M . of Lodges No . 101 , No . 368 , and No . 864 , aud P . M . E . Z . of the Chapters of Lebanon , of Liverpool , and of Harmony , whose loss we deplore , whose memory as Masons we desire to cherish , and whose virtues are so worthy of imitation , and in remembrance of his worth as a man , his disinterested labours as a Mason , and his talent in promoting and carrying out the great

principles on which Freemasonry is founded in this province , of which , for the last 22 years , he has been so distinguished an ornament , this tribute be inscribed on the minutes as a mark of respect to his memory . " Bro . S . Y . HESS seconded the motion . The PEOV . G . MASTEE said , Bro . AValmsley was in every sense a . good citizen and a worthy Mason . The motion was carried unanimously .

The | brethren afterwards proceeded to the election of Prov . G . Treas ., which resulted in the appointment of Bro . James Hamer , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . Bro . Hamer afterwards returned thanks . The PEOV . G . SEC said he had the pleasure to announce that the D . Prov . G . Master had appointed Bro . the Eight Hon . Lord Skelmersdale to the office of Prov . G . S . W . ; and in consideration of the valuable services which Bro . Brabner had done as Treasurer to the AVest Lancashire Masonic Educational Institutionhe had

, appointed him P . Prov . S . G . AV . The report of fche Benevolent Fund was afterwards read by the Pro G . See ., and several sums wore proposed to be granted to its recipients . A memorial was read from the musical brethren urging the necessity of a new organ , in the place of the one about to be removed from the temple , and announcing their intention to give a concert iu aid of the funds for a new instrument . The proposal was well received , and several sums were subscribed at once to the

new instrument . - After the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge were concluded , a special court of Governors of the AVest Lancashire Educational Institute for Education and Advancement in Life of Children of Distressed Masons was held . Bro . Joseph Mawdsley , Hon . Sec ., read a report of the proceedings of the various committees which had been held during the year , and also a resolution expressing the regret of the court of governors at the untimel y

death of Bro . Joshua AValmsley . The committee for the ensuing year was afterwards appointed . Bro . S . P . Brabner was appointed Treasurer , Bro . Jos . Mawdsley ]