Provincial.

Churton , J . Dunstan , A . Tait , W . Jones , H . Ford , J . Huxley , jun . H . Piatt , T . Johnson , J . R . Boardman , W . J . Bullock , A . C . Mott , J . C . Chetliam , William Gosling , R . G . Parry , J . W . Baiubridge , John Sykes , William Ellis , A . F . Watts , Jos . New , Thomas Lewin , R . Parry Jones , and several brethren from the various odges in the province . The candidate having been ballotted , was duly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry , the ceremony being performed in a manner that for

solemnity and a due appreciation of the importance of the occasion could not have been excelled . At the conclusion of the initiation , the brethren sat down to the banquet , Avhich Avas provided in excellent style Bro . Banks , of the Green Dragon . The Hon . Col . Cotton presided , supported by Lord de Tahley , the Mayor of Chester , Mr . Stapleton Cotton , and about " seventy-five of the brethren . —The cloth having been drawn , The CHAIBMAN gave " The Queen and the Craft , " " The Prince

and Princess of Wales , Earl and Countess of Chester , and the rest of the Royal Family , " "The Army and Navy , Yeomanry and Volunteers , " ( responded , to by Capt . BUSH , R . N . )—The CHAIBMAN , in proposing "The Most Worshipful the Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , the Deputy Grand Master , and the Officers of the Grand Lodge of England , " acknowledged the high honour conferred on his father by the Grand Master , also the proud . position in which the Craft had just placed his son ,

by initiating him into the privileges of the fraternity , and likewise the distinguished honour conferred upon himself by having been elected as Deputy Provincial Grand Master . With this toast was associated the name of Lord De Tabley . —His LOBDSHIP , in reply , expressed the pleasure he felt at being present on so interesting an occasion , adding that all the honour and respect they could show was due to the venerable and gallant veteran who had honoured them with his presence that day . With regard to the Earl of Zetland , his devotion to the Craft , and the services he had rendered to

Freemasonry during a . long period of years , would never be forgotten . If rumour be true that the Prince of Wales was about to unite himself to the Craft , the noble earl would be only too proud to resign the chair to his Royal Highness , yet they should , whilst Avelcomiug with Masonic loyalty the initiation of our future King , ever remember the dignity and influence which the Most Worshipful Grand Master had brought to bear on his long connection with the fraternity . Lord de Tabley , in conclusion , in

the most eloquent terms proposed "The Health of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , Field Marshal Lord Cornbermere , G . C . B ., " and said he hoped the noble lord might continue in health and strength to enjoy the office for many years . —Colonel COTTON returned thanks , and expressed the great pleasure the day ' s proceedings had afforded , to his father , and his regret at not being-able to stay for the banquet . —Lord DE TABLET next proposed " The Health of the Chairman" which

, Avas most enthusiastically received , and mosteloquentlyresponded to . —Bro . MAAVDSLEY proposed " The Health of Bro . Robert Stapleton Cotton , " which was equally enthusiastically received . —Bro . TEEVOE proposed " Lady Cornbermere , " which was rapturously received , and handsomely responded to by Col . COTTON . —The remaining toasts were : " The Past and Present Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , " responded to hy Bro . Butler ; " The Worshipful Master and Officers of the Cestrian Lodge , "

acknowledged by the W . M . ; " Sir W . W . Wynn , Bart ., R . W . Prov . G . M . of Salop and North Wales , " responded to by Bro . Dyuiock ; "The Visiting Members , " responded to hy Bro . Baiubridge ; " Bro . Arthur Dickson , and thanks for the tasteful decoration of the rooms , " which was duly acknowledged ; "The Mayor and Magistrates of the City of Chester , " which was replied . to in suitable terms hy the Mayor ; and finally , "To all Poor and Distressed Masons throughout the World . "—The brethren were then called from refreshment to labour , and , after disposing of the remaining business of the day , the proceedings terminated .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . PEOVINCIAL GEAND LODGE . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire was held at the Masonic Temple , 22 , Hope-street , Liverpool , on Tuesday , the 4 th inst ., at twelve o'clock noon , under the presidency of Sir Thomas George Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., B . W . D . Prov . G . M . and P . G . W .

The Craft lodge having-been opened in the three degrees by the W . M . 's of Lodges Nos . 220 , 314 , 703 , 786 , 995 , and 1 , 021 , the following-Prov . G . Officers then entered the lodge-room in procession , to appropriate music ( Bro . Sanders ; Prov . G . Org ; ,

presiding ) , viz .: —Bro . Sir Thomas George Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . D . Prov . G . M ., as Prov . G . M . ; Bro . R . Townley Parker , Prov . J . G . D ., as R . W . D . Prov . G . M . ; Bros . G . N . Starkie , jun ., Prov . S . G . W . ; J . T . Bourne , Prov . J . G . W . ; Billinge , P . Prov . J . G . W . ; Gambell , P . Prov . J . G . W . ; Wylie , P . Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . Dunkley , Prov . G . Chap . ; Eev . A . A . O'Neill , Assist . Prov . G . Chap . ; Hamer , Prov . G . Treas . ; J . L . Hine , Prov . G . Treas . East Lancashire ; Banister , P . G . S . B . ; Mawdesley ,

Prov . G . Sec ; Busker , Prov . G . Sec . Cumberland and Westmoreland ; H . Armstrong , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Maddox , P . Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Haddock , P . Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Allender , Prov ; G . Dir . of Cers . ; Eastham , Prov . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; Pepper , P . Prov . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; Molineux , P . Prov . G . Org . ; T . Armstrong , Prov , G . Purst . Cheshire ; May , Hughes , Beazley , Mott , and Younghusband , Prov . G . Stewards ; twenty-nine out of the thirty-six lodges in province being represented . The R . W . D . Prov . G . M . having taken the chair , the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in form

and with solemn prayer . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , together with those of the Provincial Grand Lodges of Emergency and of the committees of the Fund of Benevolence having been read and confirmed , a letter was read from Bro . Le Gendre N . Starkie , R . W . Prov . G . M ., regretting that through indisposition he was unable to attend the meeting and enclosing a donation of £ 5 in aid of the Educational Institution of the province .

Bro . Hamer , the Prov . G . Treas ., having presented his accounts for the past year , the W . M . 's of Lodges 148 , 203 , and 220 were appointed auditors , and retired for the purpose of examining the same ; after which they re-entered the lodgeroom , and declared the accounts correct , there appearing thesum of £ 81 6 s . to the credit of the Provincial Grand Lodge ; and . of £ 464 Is . 9 rf . to the credit of the Fund of Benevolence . A petition for relief was presented from the W . M . and brethren '

of Lodge No . 673 on behalf of the widow of Bro . Cockson , lateof that lodge , and the sum of £ 5 was granted . A sum of £ 15-was also voted to Bro . Evans , the Prov . G . Tyler , who has been , suffering a considerable time from ophthalmia . Bro . Hamer having been re-elected to the office of Prov . G . Treas ., and a vote of thanks unanimously passed for his services

during the preceding year . The Prov . G . Sec . then read the following report : — " In making the customary annual report of the province it affords me much pleasure to state that Masonry continues to make very satisfactory progress , both as regards the number of lodges and subscribing members . " Since our last annual meeting , warrants of constitution havebeen cranted for five new lodges , viz ., the Hesketh Lodge ( No .

986 ) , Croston ; Lodge of Furness ( No . 995 ) , Ulverstone ; Royal Victoria Lodge ( No . 1 , 013 ) , Liverpool ; Hartington Lodge ( No . 1 , 021 ) , Barrow-in-Furness ; and the Townley Parker Lodge ( No .. 1 , 032 ) , Whittle-le-Woods . A petition for another lodge , to becalled the Prince of Wales , and held ' at Kirkdale , has recently been forwarded to Grand Lodge ; and should the prayer of thepetition be granted , there will then be thirty-seven lodges under the control of the Prov . G . M ., being an increase of six lodges within the year .

" It is gratifying to report that the lodges generally are m good Avorking order , and , with two exceptions , brotherly love and harmony prevail amongst them . In one of the exceptions referred to no official complaint has yet been received , and it is to be hoped the members will see the desirability of settling their differences amicably . In the other ease , however , more serious difficulties have presented themselves , into which a searching investigation will have to be made . It Avould appear

thatbe-, cause a majority of the members thought fit to elect a P . M . tothe chair in June last in preference to the S . W ., several friends of the latter took offence , and expressed their determination to blackball every candidate submitted for initiation , which threat they repeatedly carried into effect , thereby not only damaging the prosperity of the lodge , and casting discredit on the Order , but offering an unwarranted insult to upright and unoffending

individuals . The lodge at its last regular meeting excluded tAVO of the offenders , who have since sent in petitions to be re-instated , and it will be for the Provincial Grand Lodge to determine Avhat idterior steps shall be taken in the matter . The two lodges referred to hold their meetings at taverns , and the charges to be submitted will add additional evidence to the arguments already adduced , against holding Masonic lodges at such houses in large towns . "It is my pleasing duty to state that the Masonic Charities