Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

The P . G . Treasurer submitted his financial statement , r , _ m which it appeared that £ 41455 . i od . was invested on account of thc P . G . Lodge , £ 470 14 s . d . for the Fund f Ben-volence , and £ 1250 had been paid for the per-° tual presentation to thc Boys' School . To raise 500 ' ' umeas , £ 39 8 bad to be borrowed from the bank , but ? .-. rite ' that he had received £ 213 , and , with certain sums

reived tbe debt to the bank had been reduced to nearly r eo which he hoped would be paid off by next year . The P . G . Treasurer concluded by pointing out the necessity for Secretaries of lodges sending in the returns without delay . On the motion of the P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . G . Cornwall Legh , the accounts were passed , and Bro . F . Jackson was re-elected the P . G . Treasurer .

Bro . Wood , P . G . Reg ., moved , and Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton seconded , a motion to the effect that a silken banner , emblazoned with appropriate Masonic emblems , should be provided for the use of the Provincial Grand Lodge , at a cost not exceeding £ 20 . —The P . G . M . You will all remember how our banner came to an untimr-lv end while battling with the breezes on Newton

Moor . ( Laughter . ) Ihe motion was carried unanimously . The P . G . M . then invested Bros . H . Lloyd , Marwood , Sutton , J . P . Piatt , and J . Hanson with charity jewels , as they had served the office of Steward to one or other of the charities . Bro . Lord De Tabley next invested the following as his

officers for the ensuing year : — The Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P .. Prov . G . S . W . T . Marwood Prov . G . J . W . Rev . E . R . Parr Prov . G . Chaplain I . Wood Prov . G . Reg . E . H . Griffiths , Prov . G . Sec . E . Simpson Prov . G . S . D .

John Siddeley Prov . G . J . D . F . Smith Prov . G . S . of W R . Baker Prov . G . D . C . J . M'Gill Prov . G . A . D . C . S . F . Gosling Prov . G . S . B . | . Beech Prov . G . P . I . Travis Prov . G . O .

j . Burgess , W . Nicholls , J . Hodgkinson , D . Kinsey , C . Sherwin , and J . Whitlow Prov . G . Stewards . On the motion of the P . G . M ., Bro . Captain Cope was re-appointed the Chairman of the Fund of Benevolence , and the proceedings were brought to a close , votes of thanks being subsequently passed to Lord Egerton for the

use of the hall , and to the Rev . H . Barnacle , vicar , for the church accommodation . A procession was formed , and nearly the whole of the brethren proceeded to St . John ' s Church , where an excellent sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . E . R . Parr , P . G . C , from Philippians iv ., 8 : " Whatsoever things are true , whatsoever things are honest , whatsoever things are

just , whatsoever things are pure , whatsoever things are lovely , whatsoever things are of good report ; if there be any virtue , and if there be any praise , think on these things . " The musical service was under the direction of Bro . J . Travis , P . G . O ., assisted by Miss Travis , Mrs . Hilton , Bros . Stafford , Dumville , Roscoe , Throop , and other vocalists . The collection , amounting to £ 17 ios .

3 d ., vvas on behalf of the Provincial Fund of Benevolence . A banquet was subsequently served at the Royal George Hotel , but there the arrangements were not quite so satisfactory as could have been desired . The tables were inconveniently crowded , and a number of brethren had to retire without dinner . Bro . Lord De Tabley presided , supported bv Bro . Eneas Mclntvre . Q . C . G . Recr .: Bro . 1 .

Hervey , G . Sec . ; Bro . G . Cornwall Legh , D . P . G . M . ; Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., P . G . S . W . ; and a host of other distinguished brethren , After giving the toasts of "The Queen , " and " Thc M . W . G . M . the Prince ol Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family , " Bro . Lord De Tabley submitted " The Prov . G . M ., the D . G . M ., and Ihe other Officers of Grand Lodge . " In doing so , he said

_ e had that day been honoured with the presence of two Grand Officers , one of whom—Bro . Mclntyre—they might reckon as one of themselves , and most glad were they to see him on all occasions ; and the other was their most distinguished brother in the Craft , Bro . John Hervey , who had kindly come down from London to be present on that occasion . Both of _ these distinguished officers were

wellknown in the Craft , and he gave the toast of their health with the greatest heartiness . _ Bro . Mclntyre , whose name was coupled with the toast , jn the course of an eloquent speech , said he considered it indeed a great privilege to return thanks on that occasion •or the Officers of the G . L ., and he was quite certain that Cheshire , which was so strong in Masonry , would fully

a Ppreciate the services rendered by the brethren whom he •hen represented . After referring to thc excellent qualities possessed by the Earl of Carnarvon and Lord Skelmersk ^ " Mcl y re said ¦ ' was in the province of Cheshire jnat he put his foot on thc first rung of the Masonic wider , and he would never forget the kindness shown to n 'm when he was the ruler of the Cestrian Lodge . He concluded

by proposing "The Health of the P . G . M ., " to * "nom the province owed its present proud position in connection with the charities , and also with reference to the numerical strength and position of all the lodges . Lord De Tabley , in responding , said it was with feelings th . ? nnd gratitude to the Great Architect of the Universe at he found himself presiding over that province . Not

'one through his efforts , but principally through the t . ° of those who had supported him , had Masonry in at province been raised to the present proud position , he s giaa to sayj which it held amongst the otncr pr 0 . Unrf V . En S land - He could only pray that the lodges an _ _ contr ° l would continue to work with that love _ re _ , ,. \ - which he desired so much to see . The Ud » ! i ance t £ > this was ovcr zeal in some caxs - ges got over-numerous and over-wieldy , as it were ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

thus tending to cut them up into sections . His lordship concluded by cautioning them against these dangers , and strongly advising the brethren to cultivate the true spirit of Masonry . Bro . G . Cornwall Legh responded for " The D . G . M . and the other Prov . Grand Officers ; " Bro . H . S .

Alpass , P . G . Sec . W . Lancashire , and Bro . Bodley , P . G . Sec . Oxfordshire , for " The Visiting P . G . Officers ; " and Bro . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., P . G . S . W ., for "The W . M . of the De Tabley Lodge , " " The Visiting Brethren , " " The P . G . Stewards , " and " All Poor and Distressed Masons , " were the remaining toasts .

Continental Freemasonry.

CONTINENTAL FREEMASONRY .

The following appeared in the " Glasgow News : "Monsignor Nardi , in his description last winter of Lord Ripon ' s reception at the Vatican , was naturally led to refer to British Freemasonry , and he was careful to explain to his Roman readers that this was a very different thing from Continental Masonry . It consisted , he said , in

eating and drinking , which was sometimes too freely indulged in to be conducive to health , but it was comparatively a harmless institution ; and although Lord Ripon on joining the Roman Catholic Church necessarily resigned the presidency t f it , no reproach could be cast on him for his long connection with it . Indeed , the fact of his willingness to abandon Masonry , as a sacrifice called for by

the Church , redounded to his credit , and made his conversion thermore noteworthy . This semi-apology for British Masonry naturally attracted notice , contrasting as it did so strongly with the unmeasured denunciations habitually lavished by Roman Catholic authorities on the Craft in general . It was refreshing to find that , even on Roman Catholic testimony , all Masons were not revolutionists

and atheists , and that some were only venial offenders , blameable for belonging to a secret society , but not chargeable with grave delinquency . It is sometimes alleged that the Pope himself was formerly a Mason , and that this accounts for his animosity against the Craft . A more pointed retort would be that the Roman Catholic Church has not always set its face so

rigidly against secret societies . During the reign . of the First Napoleon such organisations were formed—some of them designed to rescue the Pope from captivity at Fontainebleau , others to bring back the Bourbons—and they continued to exist under the Restoration . We do not say that they were sanctioned by the Vatican , but it is certain that its censure would have led to their dissolution , and

that that censure was withheld . M . de Carne relates that on visiting a high official of the French Foreign OfRce in 1825 his hand was shaken in a very peculiar manner , his friend interlacing his fingers with his own , and evidently expecting some corresponding word or gesture . He was afterwards told that he had lost a chance of political advancement by not being posted up in this Legitimist

grip . Even now there are rumours of an Ultramontane secret organisation in the South of France , entitled the King Jesus Society , and Republican papers have urged Government to proceed against this alleged conspiracy . Without discussing these recriminations , however , we are bound to say that Continental Freemasons appear fully to reciprocate the ill-will cherished towards them by the

Roman Catholic Church . It is notorious , indeed , that they are anti-Roman Catholic , and , almost without exception , anti-Conservative . It is needless to discuss whether lhey spontaneously adopted this attitude , or whether it was forced upon them by their opponents . It is sufficient to take things as we find them , and to remark that while a loyal Roman Catholic could not join thc Masonic lodge , a

stray Conservative who happened to do so would find himself a fish out of water . French Masonry in particular is a Radical body . Just twelve months ago M . Littre , the disciple and successor of Comte , was admitted into its ranks in the presence of M . Gambetta and other leading Radicals . He had a subject allotted him on which to read a

paper , and with significent irony the subject thus chosen was " Man ' s Duty towards God . " M . Littre , of course , affirmed that thc existence of a God was problematical , and that man could have no duties towards a hypothetical being . In a few days the annual Congress of French Masons resolved , by no to 63 , that the recognition in their First Article of a Great Architect of the Universe

ought to be expunged . Ihe resolution does not take effect until it has been considered by all the lodges in the country , but it will very probably be ratified ; and in any case it indicates the temper of a large section of the Craft towards not merely Romanism , but all religious belief . Thus , so far from disguising their scepticism , they openly avow it .

The moral of all this is , that from whichever quarter the hostility originated , Roman Catholics and Masons on the Continent are at daggers drawn , and that many at least of the latter are not only anti-Romanists but Materialists . British Masonry , therefore , Mgr . Nardi is quite right in saying , is sui generis . It is not revolutionary ,

and it is not irreligious . It embraces men of all parties and creeds , and men of almost all classes , including clergymen . Us aims are not merely harmless , but laudable . It is in no way responsible for the tenets or objects of Continental Masonry . Tbe only pity is that two bodies of such different complexions should have one common name and a semblance of identity .

HOLLOWAY ' PILLS . —Good Digestion . —With Ihe weather alarmingly changeable , and foul miasmas penetrating to the very sources oflile , ( he skin will become inactive , and the digestion impaired , unless corrected by suitable means . Holloway ' s Pills are universally acknowledged to be thc safest , speediest , and best corrective of imouritv . Loss of appstite . acidity , flatulencv . and

nausea are a WHICH are case by these purifying Pills . They strike at the root of all abdominal ailments ; they excite in the stomach a proper secretion of gastric juice , and regulate the action of the H « er , promoting in that organ a copious supply of pure , wholesome bile , absolutely necessary for digestion , These Pills remove all distention and obstruction , —A DVT .

Valuable Presentation To An Esteemed Brother.

VALUABLE PRESENTATION TO AN ESTEEMED BROTHER .

One of the distinguishing features of Freemasonry is that its adherents rarely forget valuable services ; and the brethren connected with the Everton Lodge , No . 823 , fully exemplified the article of Masonic faith at their usual monthly meeting at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street ,

Liverpool , on Wednesday evening , the 20 th inst . The Eveiton is one of the most numerous lodges in the province of West Lancashire , and while great credit is due lo all the Masters who have filled the chairs , special praise is due to Bro . William John Lunt , P . M . and Treasurer , who has most effectually contributed by his efforts to the present material prosperity and standing of the lodge . While in

the chair he distinguished himself as a Mason of a high order , and during the last ten years he has fulfilled the onerous duties of Treasurer in a manner which has gained for him the universal esteem of the entire membership . This esteem took a practical form at the last meeting , when Bro . Lunt received a testimonial which was valuable and appropriate . Bro . W . Wilson , W . M ., was in his

place , supported by Bros . J . Houlding , S . W . ; II . Ashmore , J . W . ; J . Holland , P . M . ; a large gathering- of the " Everton" members , and about thirty visitors , including a number of the members of Boards of Guardians , Bro . Lunt belonging to the West Derby Union . After the usual lodge business , Bro . W . Wilson , W . M ., on behalf of the officers and members of the lodge ,

presented Bro . W . J . Lunt , P . M ., Treasurer , with a most beautifully chased silver salver ar . d skeleton time-piece ( supplied by Wordley and Co ., Lord-street ) , as a token of their great appreciation of his services to the lodge . Bro . Wilson's remarks were most suitable to the occasion , and in the course of an excellent speech he complimented Bro . Lunt on his consistency as a member of the

fraternity , practising out of the ledge those principles which he was taught within it . Bros . J . Houlding , S . W ., and J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C , P . M . 823 , also bore testimony lo the many admirable qualities shewn by Bro . Lurit in every portion of his public , private , and Masonic relations and duties . Bro . Lunt acknowledged the gift in a neat and concise

speech , remarking that ascertaining there was a desire on the part of the brethren to show him some mark of respect he would have preferred it had assumed a form in which the members generally could have participated—say a scholarship or something of that nature ; but as the brethren had preferred it should be personal to himself , he had no alternative but to submit to the " stern will" of

those who sought to do him this honour . In the course of his remarks Brn . Lunt pointedly and happily referred to the prcminent principles of Freemasonry , and the various watchwords of the Craft , stating that the liberty of conscience , natural equality , and mutual dependence of its members , thc non-political , unsectarian rules which were fostered within the walls of every Masonic

lodge , tended to show that there was something more in Freemasonry than that which pedantry and bigotry gave it credit for ; in fine , that their guiding principles had made the Order what it was—a bond of unity which brought peace on earth and good will among men . Bro . Lunt then referred to his early connection with the lodge , the way in which it had been conducted , and the

progress it had made ; and concluded by cordially thanking the brethren for their very handsome gift . After voting five guineas for the Masonic gift to Chester Cathedral from the lodges in West Lancashire , the brethren retired to the bar . queting-room , where a merry meeting

tf thc most enjoyable kind was held . Amongst Bro . Lunt's guardian and ex-guardian colleagues , and other friends present , were Bros . J . Jones , P . M . 216 ; G . Fowler , 216 ; H . Pearson , P . M . 249 ; Major Turner , P . M . 823 , Lancaster ; H . Gillmore , 216 ; Bevan ; J . Lunt , P . G . D . C , & c .

Laying Foundation Stone Of New Docks At Ayr.

LAYING FOUNDATION STONE OF NEW DOCKS AT AYR .

With weather such as wculd have satisfied even thc most fastidious ; with all thc pomp and ceremony of the Craft , and in presence of a vast assemblage of persons , the foundation or memorial stone of the new dock at Ayr was laid on Tuesday with due solemnity by Sir James

Fergusson , Bart ., of Kilkerran , Past Provincial Grand Master Mason of Scotland . Not for a considerable number of years has an event occurred in the quaint town of Ayr which has caused so much commotion , and scarcely ever has any ceremony been performed which has been looked forward to with a greater degree of interest by the inhabitants . The fact

of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master having kindly consented to lay the stone with what is known as full Masonic honours , was naturally thc means of causing numbers of the members of the secret Craft from all parts of the West of Scotland to wend their way to Ayr . So large was the contingent from Glasgow that it was found necessay to biing a special train into requisition to

convey thc Freemasons to their destination . Before proceeding further , it may be interesting to give a brief description of the dock , to advert to the causes which led to its construction , and to refer to the progress of the operations . In th ; first place it may be mentioned that the present harbour is faulty in many , if not every respect —its area is too limited , the water is too shallow , and it

is , in short , totally unsuitable for thc rapidly increasing trade of the port of Ayr . In a district like that of Ayrshire where , in the interior of the county , the coal trade is making such terrible strides and is considered capable of being more extensively developed , increased facilities for shipment were absolutely necessary if the town desired to maintain their connection with the shipment of that