The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-10-29 00:00:00

GRAND MASONIC DEMONSTRATION.

On Wednesday the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand.
Lodge of free and accepted masons was held at Birkenhead.
The brethren assembled at the Craven-rooms, Chester-street,
at ten o'clock in the morning. The Craft Lodge was opened
by the worshipful masters of the different lodges, who received
the grand officers. The Provincial Grand Lodge was then
opened in ample form. The business of the province having
been transacted, the brethren formed into procession, to the
number of 250, and proceeded to St. John's Church. Amongst
others present .ere Lord Viscount Combermere, R.W.P.G.M.
for Cheshire; R.W.D.P.G.M. Brother Finchett Maddock, of
Chester; and W.P.G.S.W. Captain Antrohus ; V.W.P.G.J.W.
the Hon. Wellington Cotton; V.W.P.G.R. Brother Smith;
V.W.P.G.S. Griffiths; V.W.P.G.T. Rayner; W.P.G.S.D.
Cruttenden ; W.P.G.J.D. Bland ; Brother Lewis Hornblower,
who acted as grand director of ceremonies ; Brother Brown, of
the Cestrian Lodge, who acted as deputy provincial grand
director of ceremonies; W.P.G. Pursuivant Hyde, besides
several provincial officers. The greater portion of those who
composed the procession were adorned with the Jewels and
various marks of distinction peculiar to the order; a great
deal of curiosity was excited amongst the inhabitants of the
Cheshire side, and hundreds followed the masonic body to the
church, where a number of ladies and gentlemen had assem-
bled, and were present during the service. Prayers were read
by the Rev. George G. Dowty, provincial chaplain for West
Lancashire ; the lessons by the Rev. C. Hamilton, incumbent
of St. John's; and the Rev. Brother G. Cockroft, incumbent
of Oxton-hill Church, preached the sermon. Brother J. Twiss,
W.P.G., organist, presided at the organ; and the choir con-
sisted of Miss Stott, and Miss E. Stott, of the Liverpool Phil-
harmonic Concerts, and Brothers Dixon, Edmonson, and Hull,
of Stockport. The selection of Keat's anthem, from xxv.
chap. of Matthew, 31st to 40th verses, was admirably adapted
to the occasion.

The Rev. G. Cockcroft preached a masonic sermon, selecting
as his text the 16th verse of the 14th chapter of St. Paul's
Epistle to the Romans, " Let not your good he evil spoken of."
He pointed to the peculiar principles of masonry, to the uni•
versality of the art, and to the mistaken notions which exist
respecting it, and urged the masonic brethren present, to let
their actions be such as to accord with the order to which they
belonged. In conclusion, he made an eloquent appeal in be-
half of the Provincial Fund of Benevolence.

bout

Jim procession returned to the Craven-rooms, and, after
transacting some business, proceeded to the Monk's Ferry
Hotel for refreshment. The ban uet took place in the even-
ing at the hotel. about 100 of the brethren being present.
Lord Viscount Combermere, P.G.M. of the province, presided.
He was supported on theriaht D.P.G:M. Brother Finchett

The seats' at the president's table, and at the upper end of the
room, were occupied by the principal officers; and a few
favoured ladies were accommodated with seats in a recess.
The following brethren acted as stewards on the occasion .
Bi..thers C. Sherlock, J. Hay, E. Samuelson, J. Gill, J. Pickup,
and W. M. Maxfield. Brother Twiss, W.P.G.0., presided at
the piano-forte, assisted by Brothers Edmondson, Dixon and.
Hull, from the different lodges •f the province of Cheshire...
Before the withdrawal of the cloth the P. Grand Master drank
the health of the whole of the brethren, who lose simultane-
ously in response. This was succeeded by the usual loyal and
other toasts.

The health of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master,
Lord Viscount Combermere, proposed by D.P.G.M. Brother
Finchett Maddock, was drunk with much enthusiasm, and
responded by his lordship, who assured his brethren that he
never was more happy than when he found himself in their
company. It was some time wince he had the honour of meet-
ing them ; and he trusted the common enemy had been as
lenient with them all as it had been with him. (Applause.)
The band of the 52nd Regiment attended the banquet.