The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-01-27 00:00:00

GRAND MASONIC BALL.

A magnificent ball was given on Wednesday last by the
Freemasons of West Lancashire, the proceeds of which are
to be applied in aid of the funds of the West Lancashire
Masonic Institution, for the education and advancement
in life of children of distressed Freemasons belonging to
the district named. This was the third occasion on which
a similar assemblage has been gathered, and the Town_
hall rooms were promptly granted for their use, by the
Town Council of this borough ; with the greater propriety,
perhaps, inasmuch as the social meeting was not limited
to the members of the order, but was thrown open to the
public at large. _

- As might have been expected from the objects which it
was intended to serve, from the high standing of the
society in which it originated, and from the distinguished
patronage conferred upon it, the ball brought together
upwards of twelve hundred persons, including the most
respectable masons in Liverpool and the vicinity, and a
large number of the most influential inhabitants of the
town and neighbourhood.

PATRONS AND GRAND OFFICERS PRESENT.
The Bight Hon. Lord Viscount Comhermere, Grand Master
for Cheshire, and Viscountess Comberrnere.
Henry Charles Verron, Esq., Grand Master. Worcestershire,
Past Grand Senior Warden of England, Knight Commander,
Knights-Templar, &c.
Matthew Day" es, Esq.' F.G.S., &c., Past Grand Senior
Warden, and Grand Commander, Knights-Templar. &c..
East Lancashire, and Mrs. Dawes.
Albert H. Royds, Esq., Junior Grand Warden, and Knight
Commander. Knights-Templar, Fast Lancashire.
Charles John Vigne, Esq., Bath, Worshipful Master, Knight
Commander, Knights-Templar, Rose Croix, &c.
Thomas Litt ledale, Esq., the Mayor of Liverpool, Junior Grand
Warden, West Lancashire.
John Blayds Molyneux, Esq., Junior Deacon, West Lan-
cashire.
Samuel Yates Hess, Esq., Junior Deacon. West Lancashire.
Lewis Samuel, Esq., Grand Treasurer, West Lancashire.
Joshua Walmsley, Esq., Grand Secretary, West Lancashire.
Arthur Henderson, Esq.. Grano Registrar, West Lancashire,
and Chairman of the Commii tee.
James, Eckersley, Esq., Grand Standard Bearer, West Lanca-
shire.
C. B. Clayton, Esq., Grand Superintendent of Works, West
Lancashire.
Thomas Wylie, Esq., Grand Pursuivant, West Lancashire.
Thomas M. Hopkins, Esq., Grand Officer, Knight-Templar,
&c., Worcestershire.
Edward Giles, Esq., Grand Officer, Worcestershire.
Joseph Hess, Esq., Past Junior Grand Warden, West Lanca-
shire.
Augustus R. Martin, Esq., Bangor, Past Junior Grand Warden,
west Lancashire.
John Molineux, jun., Grand Organist, West Lancashire.
Samuel Moss, Esq., Past Junior Grand Warden, Gloucester.
Lewis Hornblower, Grand Superintendent Works, Cheshire.
Edward G. Willoughby, Esq., Past Grand Deacon. Cheshire.
Alfred.Stephens,Esq.,M.D2, Grand Deacon. Cheshire.

Robert Brown, Esq., Grand Director Ceremonies, West Lan-
cashire.
Edw ward
Aleu
Pegelens E., Esq., } Vice-Chairmen, Committee.
ck ,
Many other Grand officers of this and neighbouring provinces,
together with the Past Masters, Worshipful Masters, and
Wardens of most of the Lodges in the town and province.
The Honorary Secretaries, John J. Banning, Esq., Worshipful
Master of Lodge 35; R. H. Hardey, Knight Commander,
and Grand Hospitaller Knights-Templar, Ang. Wal.
Henry Holbrook, Senior Warden, Lodge 368, Knight-Templar,
b'l'he Steivards were selected from the various Lodges, and
numbered thirty, presided over b) the Chairman of the Com-
mittee.

Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie, Esq., Grand Master of this
Province, and the Rev. Gilmour Robinson, his deputy, were
unavoidably absent through illness, and Richard James Spiers,
Esq., the Grand Sword Bearer of England, Knight Commander,
Knight s-Templar, &c., Lieut.-Colonel George Augustus Vernon.
Past Senior Grand Warden, and Grar,d Commander, Knights-
Templar, of Staffordshire, with other Patrons, were unavoid-
able detained by pressing engagements in London.
Nearly one half of the company present were Masons
of different degrees of rank, a large number of whom wore
the jewels and other insignia of the ancient order, some of
which were eminently beautiful and attracted considerable
attention, as well as excited much curiosity among the
guests, especially among those of the gentle sex.
At the bottom of the great staircase were two fylers
with drawn swords, and, near them, others of the
brethren in official capacitiea, who took an active part in
the arrangements for securing the comfort of the guests.
The band of the Liverpool pensioners, under the direction
of Mr. Davies, bandmaster, was stationed in the vestibule,
and added a charm and animation to the proceedings by
the performance of a selection of popular music. The
orchestra, in the ballroom, was occupied by Mr. Gribbin's
effective quadrille band. Another band, also under the
direction of Mr. Gribbin, was stationed in the smaller ball-
room.

The dancing commenced shortly after nine o'clock, but
the receptions continued until nearly eleven, a continuous
stream of arrivals pouring into the superb suite of rooms
till they were completely thronged. And what gave its
greatest zest to the meeting was the sociality which per.
vaded it, and the general participation of delight which
each seemed anxious to share with every neighbour with-
ont regard to the ordinary demarcations of rank or station.
The programme of the dances was as follows :-1, qua-
drille; 2, polka; 3, valse; 4, quadrille; 5, schottische;
6. gallop ; 7, quadrille ; 8, polka ; 9 La Tempete ; 10,
quadrille ; 11, valse ;_ 12, schottische.

- The arrival of Lord Combermere and party was greeted
by the band with " See the eonquering hero comes," and
his lordship and Lady Combermere were shortly after-
wards introduced to a number of the most distinguished
ladies and gentlemen in attendance, to whom not only his
rank and position rendered him an object of special inter-
est, but the high station he occupies among Masons, as
the provincial grand master of Cheshire, and' the hand-
some donation which he is known to have given to the
Masonic Institution of the western division of this county,
which entitles him to be a life governor. It was also
known to many of those assembled that his lady supports
a school in the neighbourhood of Chester, in which a
number of the children of Masons are educated at her
expense. Not long after the arrival of this noble party,
they were entertained at a collation set out in the Mayor's
private room. _

The general refreshment rooms were thrown open about
eleven o'clock, when the company were supplied with an
elegant collation—tea, coffee, negus, &c., the arrangements
for which were under the direction of Mrs. Castle, of the
George Hotel, and were such as to afford universal
satisfaction.

Dancing was afterwards resumed, and maintained with
spirited energy by the younger and more enthusiastic
spirits of the party till after four o'clock in the morning,
when still

Soft eyes looked love to eyes which apake again,
and there seemed reluctance even then to separate.
It should be added that the secretaries, Messrs. R. H.
Hartley, J. J. Banning, and Henry Holbrook; the
stewards—thirty in number,—and Mr. Charles Harwood,
the master of the ceremonies, were attentive and polite to
every guest, and, so far as we were able to judge, were
eminently successful in making every lady present feel at
home, and therefore happy. a

We are informed thai is-sum of money exceeding £250
will accrue from the pleasant meeting of Wednesday
evening last—a result which must needs add to the grate-
ful reminiscences of alt who were present on the occasion.
This Masonic Institution has been established for the
purpose of raising a fund to be applied towards the educa-
tion and advancement in life of the children of distressed
freemasons in this division of the county, whether the.
parents of such children be living or dead. The manage-
ment of the affairs is vested in a court, of which the
P.G.M. of freemasons for this division will be the presi-
dent, and the D.P.G.M. and the S. and J.P.G. wardens for.
the same division, the vice-presidents. There is no simi-
lar intitution out of London connected with the masonic
order, and no political or religious differences will have
any influence in its management. The children who may
receive the advantages of it will be sent to any school
suggested by the parents or guardians. We understand
that before the anniversary of the institution the trustees
will be in a position to invest £l,OOO in aid of the objects
contemplated.

Subscriptions and donations in aid of the funds will be
received by the vice-presidents and trustrecs; the Rev.
Gilmour Robinson, incumbent of Tockholes; Joseph Per-
rin, Esq., Warrington ; Thos. Littledale, Esq.,
mayor of
Liverpool ; Lewis Samuel, Esq., treasurer ; and by the
bankers, Messrs. Moss and Co.

The 6llowing is a list of a portion of the lodine a!)d gen.