Provincial.

207 , 247 , 263 . 267 , 294 , 310 , 350 , 368 , 393 , 407 , 418 , 429 , 711 , 845 , S 6-1-, SS 9 , 065 , 971 , 9 S 0 , 1005 , 1026 , 1032 , 1088 , and 1125 . The Craft Lodge was opened up to the third degree by Bro . Bromley , AA ' . M . of lodge " Ancient Union , " No . 215 . After the receipt of the various contributions to the funds of Prov . G . Lodge by the several lodges , the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge formed in procession in the committee-room , and marched , accompanied on the ors' .-in . info the louse-room . In the absence of the R . AV . Prov .

G . M . iiro . Le Gendre N . Starkie , the D . Prov . G . AL , Sir Thos . G . Kesketh , Bart , opened the Provincial Grand Lodge in the third degree . The Prov . G . Chaplain offered up prayer , after which the musical brethren sang the anthem " To Heaven's High Architect , all praise , " Bro . John Mulineux presiding on the organ . ' . ! Bro . AA ' xiiE , Prov . G . Sec , read the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , which mentioned that the sum of 50 guineas was voted to the fund for the erection of a Masonic Hall , as well as the

sum of 25 guineas towards the fund for the alteration of the present building . A further sum of 50 guineas was also afterwards voted towards the building of the intended new hall . During the year there had bee :: a meeting of emergency of Provincial Grand Lodge , which had been summoned at the instance of Lodge 971 . It appears that after one of the meetings of the last named lodge , Bro . Pepper , P . M ., No . 310 , lost a jewel which had been presented to himand at a meeting of his own lodhe caused to be inserted

, ge into the minute book the circumstance , which the AV . M . of lodge I'fo . 971 , considered to be a slur on his lodge . The jewel was afterwards left by some unknown person at the residence of Bro . Pepper , and notwithstanding several advertisements in the Liverpool newspapers , offering a reward of £ 5 to any person who would give

information m reference thereto , lodge No . 971 had failed to fasten the theft upon any one , and they therefore urged the withdrawal of the objectionable portion of the minutes of lodge No . 310 , which , after the deliberation of Provincial Grand Lodge , was accordingly done—it being considered that the members of lodge No . 971 were blameless . The report for the present year stated that the lodges in the province were in a satisfactory position , though some of them by their returns were stationary in their proceedingand the

; charities , more especially the Educational Institution for the prorince , were not well supported in consequence . The Educational Institution should be one of the best charities ; and the way in which it was supported by some of the lodges , would , it was hoped , be an incentive to those which had not hitherto accorded it — their warm support to do so for future years . A warrant of constitution had been granted for a new lodge , called the Grenton Lodge ,

( No . 1125 ) , which was to meet at the Clarence Hotel , Grenlou-road . This made 29 lodges in that province . The claims upon the Prov . G . Lodge ' s Fund of Benevolence had been rather heavy during the past year ; but it was thought that the fund had thus been the means of fulfilling the intentions of its promoters in solacing the minds of their brethren , and the widows of others of their brethren in tho hour of their affliction . It had been considered desirable to state that a General Relief Committee had been appointed for

Liverpool and the surrounding districts ; and as this Committee sat at the Tea . ple , Hope-street , every Friday evening , lodges at a distance were invited to correspond with the Committee with the view to ascertain if applicants for relief in country districts were really , what they were sometimes found not to be , " worthy brothers in distress . " > The 1 ) . PROV . G . AI . read a letter from the R . AV . Prov . G . AI ., Bro . le Gendre N . Starkie , in which he regretted not being able to be present at Prov . G . Lodge through indisposition , but sent a cheque for £ 20 to be added to the fund for erecting a new Masonic hall .

lbe PROV . G . SEC ., Bro . AVylie , afterwards read a list of the sums granted to brethren in relief from the Benevolent Fund . Bro . AVAOISLEY proposed , and Bro . AETASS seconded , that the sum of fifty guineas be this year presented out of Prov . G . Lodge funds towards the erecting of a Masonic hull in that town , which was carried unanimously . The sum of £ 12 per annum ivas voted to Bro . Carroll , Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . AVYLIE Prov . G . Secsaid it was the wish of the ProvGAI

, , . .. to appoint Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , who was on tlie Continent , to the office of Prov . G . Junior AAbirdcn , and accordingly he invested Bro . Hess , ivho was acting Prov . J . G . AV ., in his stead . " Bro . Joshua AValmsley was again elected unanimously Prov . G . Treasurer . This concluded the business of Grand Lodge , and the meeting resolved itself into a Court of Governors of the AVest Lancashire Institution for the Education and advancement in Life of Children

of Distressed Masons for the transaction of the business of the Institution . Bro . HORATIO GAJIBEEL , P . Prov . G . D . and Hon . Sec . of the Institution , read the report of the proceedings of the Institution during the past year . There were now ten children on the funds of the Institution , of whom the report spoke in high terms of commendation . The fund of the charities now scarcely reached

the sum of £ 3 , 500 . A committee was elected for the ensuing year , and the following brethren were elected Honorary Officers : —S . P . Brebner , Trcas . ; J . S . Mawdsley , Sec . ( vice H . Gambell , now A ice-President ); H . AV . Collins , Legal Adviser ; and J . Fenton , Surgeon . Bro . AA ' YIIE said , before closing the court , he would wish to press upon the attention of all the brethren to the claims of the Educational Institution . It was one of the best charities in connection with the Order . He hoped , therefore , that those lodges which had

not contributed towards its funds would do so at once . The object of the Institution was to give a good education to those who had to battle with the world ; and , as one of tho principles of the Order was the spread of knowledge and the education of their offspring-, he hoped and trusted all would feel an interest in the welfare of the charity , and that by their aid it would go on prospering ., as it had done . The Prov . G . Lods'e was afterwards adjourned to the Adelphi Hotel .

TUB BAKQUET . About four o'clock upwards of eighty of tho brethren assembled at the above-named hotel , and partook of an excellent repast , served up in Bro . Hadley's wide-famed style . Sir Bro . G . Hesketh , Bart ., D . Prov . G . M ., presided , and Bro . Thomas Littledale occupied the vice-chair . Grace was sung before and after dinner by the musical brethren . The D . PEOA 7 . G . M . said he had great pleasure in drinking " The

Health of the Queen , " who was so highly prized by the Alasons of England , and none more so than the brethren of the county of Lancashire . ( Cheers . ) The D . PROV . G . AL , in proposing "The Prince Consort , the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family , " said he had no doubt that the Prince of AVales would join their ranks and be an ornament to the Craft when monarch of these realms . ( Cheers . ) The D . PROA ' . G . AI .: I had great pleasure in proposing the first

Masonic toast of the evening— "The Health of the Earl of Zetland , M . AV . G . M . of England . " They all knew what an amount of attention and courtesy he had given to the interests of the craft . Having held an office in Grand Lodge during the past year , he could , as every one could who had any transaction with G . Lodge , speak of the zeal with which their Grand Alaster attended to his duties , and it was , no doubt , through his devotion and attention to the duties of his office that Masonry had prospered

so much under his sway . He therefore called upon the brethren to give the toast with Masonic honours . ( Cheers . ) The D . PROV . G . M . then gave "Lord Panmure , Deputy Grand Alaster of England . " They all knew what an excellent Mason he was , and the good he had done to the craft . ( Applause . ) The D . PROV . G . M . said , no doubt they all felt with him , regret at the absence of the R . AA " . Prov . G . Alaster , Bro . le Gendre N . Starkie , who had been prevented from being amongst them through age and infirmities . Although he was not amongst them , still at heart he felt the deepest interest in their proceedings and the welfare of

the Order . He wished the Prov . G . Alaster was present , for he individually felt that he done greater justice to the chair . ( No , no . ) He would thank them to give the toast with all Alasonic honours ., ( Cheers . ) Bro . GIBBOJTS , Prov . G . D . of Ceremonies for East Lancashire , said he was sorry the toast which had fallen to his lot to propose had not been placed in abler hands , but he had great pleasure in proposing " The Health of the D . Prov . G . Alaster , Sir G . Hesketh ,

Bart . " ( Loud cheers . ) The manner in which his name had been received ivas additional evidence that the high enconiunis which had been passed on the D . Prov . G . Alaster were well merited , and the very flattering tones ho had used in reference to the AI . AV . G . M . and his Deputy were justly due to himself . ( Cheers . ) The D . PROV . G . M . said he could not express how much he fel at the manner in which his health had been drunk . AA'hatever he could do for the benefit of the craft they might be sure he would

willingly do . He could not refrain from alluding to the AVest Lancashire Alasonic Institution for the Education and Advancement in Life of Children of Distressed Masons , the excellent report of which they had that day heard read . He had great pleasure in proposing •' Prosperity to that Institution , " coupling with the toast the health of two brethren who had strenuously worked on its behalf , and to whom the institution was indebted for the success ivhieh had been the result of their labours . He gave the names

of Bros . AA ' almsley and Gambell . ( Cheers . ) Bro . AA Amsi / i ; r , after returning thanks , urged the importance of the institution on the attention of the brethren . He characterised it as tho best institution in the country . Bro . GAMBELE was happy to say that the income of the institution had considerably exceeded that of last year . During the last twelve months three of the children of the institution had finished their education . They had four applications , which would be submitted to the next Court of Governors . Bro . AVALAISLEV said that the great increase in the last year ' s